A new Marvel video game venture, influenced by anime, but with PC casting involved

Polygon talks about Marvel Tokon, a new game project by Arc System Works (producers of the Guilty Gear series, IIRC), who're doing something like a followup to Capcom's earlier fighting games starring or co-starring Marvel casts:

Whether you’re mourning Capcom’s absence or thrilled that Arc System Works is taking the reins of a major franchise, the reveal of Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls made waves across the gaming world. Its connection to Marvel vs. Capcom is unmistakable, not just because of the Marvel branding, but due to its fast-paced, multi-character tag team 2D fighting style that Capcom helped pioneer. While Capcom broke new ground by blending Marvel’s comic book flair with innovative storytelling, Arc System Works is set to do the same, this time by infusing heroes like Iron Man and Captain America with bold, anime-inspired re-imaginings. It’s a stylistic shift that signals the end of Capcom’s comic-inspired Marvel era and the beginning of Marvel’s bold new chapter in anime.

[...] This time, Arc System Works aims to do for Marvel what Marvel once did for Capcom, by immersing Marvel’s characters in Japanese culture, particularly anime and manga, which have largely overtaken Western comic books in terms of sales and popularity. Due to the MCU and titles like Marvel Rivals, Marvel characters’ brand recognition is on fire and has far outgrown the comic panels that made them famous. Anime is one of the few forces truly rivaling Marvel in global popularity, thanks to the success of several key franchises. Anime has become so popular that even corporations and Japan itself are turning to AI and cybersecurity to combat the millions lost to piracy. But the tangled web of anime and manga licensing is a whole other story.

Well unfortunately, it appears that, sadly but perhaps not surprisingly, the cast here includes a character who was introduced nearly a dozen years ago based on political motivations, which dampens the impact:

In Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, Kamala Khan has googly anime eyes, Captain America is spouting Shonen one-liners about freedom, and Iron Man has Gundam eyebrows for heaven’s sake! Even the trailer uses the Japanese dub (although SAG-AFTRA shenanigans may be the culprit). The material for this crossover was all there from the start, it just took a dev team steeped in Japanese culture to bring it forth. Arc System Works has long since overtaken Capcom in the tag-team 2D fighter subgenre, especially after the misfire that was Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, the franchise’s prolonged absence afterward, and MvC2’s eventual replacement at EVO by ArcSys’s own Dragon Ball FighterZ in 2020.

The way they keep putting a character whose general "popularity" has remained unproven into these video game projects is just plain laughable. The last time this was done, in an Avengers game, it tanked in sales. I have no idea so far if the Islamic background remains intact in whatever story elements appear in Tokon, but if it is there, such politically motivated elements will be precisely the reason why this is not worth playing, and doesn't make a good successor to Capcom's earlier productions. One can also reasonably ask why the Khan character has to be cast in this game, but not Carol Danvers, if she's not here, and even if she is, any retainment of the Capt. Marvel role is problematic. What's so "bold" about perpetuating a propaganda tactic? No, a fictional character isn't to blame for any bad political components applied to them and their narratives, but if said components are retained in the video game as much as the comics, then it's obvious this project didn't have all the creative freedom one might hope it could have, or, the designers could regrettably share the same politics as the Marvel staffers who foisted the Islamic propaganda upon the comics output.

Unshockingly, this article fails to make clear why anime/manga's overtaken USA comics in popularity, but may not much longer if they turn to Orwellian PC - because Marvel and DC sold out to wokeism long ago, particularly by the mid-2000s, and licensed merchandise is no substitute for comics storytelling. Recalling when Capcom produced Clash of Super-Heroes in 1998, they were only allowed to use War Machine rather than Iron Man for the Marvel side of the cast, it doesn't take too much to guess Marvel's marketing department's influence over casting choices in Tokon was prevalent here as well, so you can see why the Muslim Ms. Marvel wound up being added rather than say, Mr. Fantastic from the Four, who also has stretching powers. And Khan's not the only newer character to be cast in Tokon - even Robbie Reyes, possibly the 5th character to take the role of Ghost Rider, was cast in this instead of Johnny Blaze, Danny Ketch, or even the Silver Age western-based precursor, Carter Slade, who was co-created in 1967 by Roy Thomas, Dick Ayers and Gary Friedrich prior to Blaze's 1972 creation. Far as I'm concerned, nothing with the title GR past the turn of the century is worth putting to use in games like these any more than comics, based on how pedestrian the writing's long become.

And the material was "all there" from the start? Sorry, but some of that material reeks of more PC directions in the past 20 years, and what if this video game leaves out any connections between Spidey and Mary Jane Watson? I seem to recall one of the Capcom games featured MJ in the epilogue for Spidey, but won't be shocked if she has no place in this newer game, even though these mandated omissions are already beginning to reek of embarrassment. Besides, I long lost interest in licensed merchandise based on Marvel/DC, because of how they turned it out at the expense of their comics, and DC probably fared worse in terms of producing video fighting games based on their comics than Marvel did in past decades.

Rob Liefeld quits associations with Marvel after he wasn't invited to Deadpool & Wolverine screening

Well isn't this something. Variety reports one of the worst artists of the 1990s - something many press sources may not dwell upon - decided to cut off contact with Marvel after they didn't give him proper credit, and never invited him to a Deadpoor & Wolverine screening:

Deadpool co-creator Rob Liefeld has declared he has “cut ties in all ways” with Marvel after he and his family weren’t invited to Disney’s afterparty for last July’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” premiere.

Liefeld has other gripes with Marvel, involving the placement of creator credits in the film and what he perceives as a lack of respect from the film and television studio’s chief, Kevin Feige. Liefeld attended the screening at Manhattan’s Lincoln Center and says he posed on the red carpet with the “Deadpool & Wolverine” creative team but alleges the photos were deleted before they were posted anywhere.

“It was meant to embarrass, diminish, defeat [me],” he said of his experience at the New York City premiere on the latest episode of his “Robservations” podcast. He added that his reps tried to get the Liefeld family into the party but they were ultimately turned away by the studio’s publicity team. “Disney is the deciding factor here. To have them say, ‘You and your family are not welcome here. We tolerated you for the screening.’ At that point, I knew in my heart I couldn’t go forward.”

He continued, “At some point, you go, ‘I’ve received the message, and the message is clear.'”

He also emphasized that he never felt slighted by 20th Century Fox during the first two “Deadpool” movies, before the studio — including the film rights to the Deadpool character — was acquired by Disney.

So in other words, it would seem as though, under Disney management, they no longer respect creators, no matter their talent or personalities, and are dumping them ungratefully. Now, I don't find Liefeld appealing, but that doesn't excuse Disney management's non-reception for him.

Of course, some could argue that embarrassing is just what Liefeld wound up doing as an artist when he worked for both Marvel/DC, and his shoddy artwork was diminishing and defeating too. Yet it's doubtful that's the reason why he wasn't welcome at the party. More possible is that selfishness has gotten the better of the Disney staff in more ways than one.

There's plenty of other contributors to Marvel with far better reputations than Liefeld who'd do well to distance themselves from what it's become now. I recall there was a time when they disrespected Gary Friedrich of Ghost Rider fame, and this sounds like a repeat of the problem. Maybe that's why creators with more decent resumes shouldn't even attend the premieres of these movies anymore.

Marvel's tired take on WW2 using a variation on Ghost Rider

ComicBook gushed over a new Marvel book called Hellhunters, which is supposed to be set around the 2nd world war, and even features a variation on Ghost Rider in the cast:

World War 2 is always a fun time for Marvel’s super heroes, which makes sense considering characters like Captain America, Bucky, and Nick Fury were born as a result of the conflict. With teams like the Invaders and the Howling Commandos normally being the “go to” examples of super heroes fighting against Adolf Hitler’s forces, Marvel Comics is looking to branch out with a new World War 2 fighting force unlike anything seen before. In the premiere issue, we see the early formation of these Hellhunters, but do we also get a worthy opening salvo for this new Marvel band of heroes?

Since Hellhunters is a series that focuses on Marvel’s old and new heroes uniting under a supernatural banner, it makes sense that the series would have a definitive horror theme. Our issue begins with a band of German forces wandering into a bewitched wood that holds secrets and madness unique to this cursed locale, setting the stage for a threat that will unite this ragtag band of oddballs. The series works as both an origin story for the Hellhunters themselves and for “Ghost Rider ’44”, a new take on the Spirit of Vengeance who recently made his eruptive debut in the pages of The Incredible Hulk. Luckily, Hellhunters delivers on its unique blend of horror and action for its preliminary adventure.

I think this beggars the query whether war itself is "fun", when looked upon in the context of a real war like the 2nd in the 20th century. And the answer to that would be an absolute "no". No matter how justified it was to battle Germany's National Socialists, it's not fun, it's grueling and terrible when one considers the innocent victims, Jewish, Roma or otherwise during the period, and the same can be said about the war Israel's now been forced to go into after October 7, 2023. On which note, it goes without saying that for a long time, much of the comics medium vehmently refuses to tackle the subject of Islamic jihadism, even long after September 11, 2001. So what's the point of a comic set during WW2, when refusal to write about a serious modern day issue in any way only diminishes the impact of the subject from the past century? One more reason why this is not a "worthy" opening salvo for such a story.

Phillip Kennedy Johnson is the perfect choice to helm the writing responsibilities for this series, being the creative mind responsible for WW 2’s Spirit of Vengeance. Having honed a fantastic level of horror to his recent take on Bruce Banner, Johnson brings that same spirit here in creating creepy creatures that add a new level of danger to the worldwide conflict. [...]

Oh, and that's just what the Hulk needs too. Sure, there were past stories where the Hulk had themes of darkness, but it was anything but horror-themed, and decidedly better that way. Even Dr. Strange was never that far into horror themes when it originally ran from the early 60s to the late 90s. This new Hellhunters series is just another tired example of Marvel milking its properties dry. When will they be closing their publishing shop already?

Actor Nicholas Cage dislikes talking about comics movies

Uproxx says the veteran actor Nicholas Cage isn't fond of comics movies or the overall subject, even though he'd appeared in 2 or 3 adaptations himself:

Nicolas Cage did not seem to enjoy a question about his comic book collection. While promoting his new movie Arcadian at SXSW, Cage participated in a Q&A where he got a little testy when asked if he’d ever return to the realm of comic book films after previously starring in Ghost Rider and Kick-Ass.

“Would I return to the comic book genre? I guess never say never, right?” Cage said before venting his frustration with the topic. “But, you know, much has been made about that. My comic book collection just goes viral so quickly and exponentially and I feel like it’s in some ways eclipsed by what I’m really reading. You know, like The Overcoat or Herman Hesse. It’s like I’m still stuck in 12 years old with the NyQuil and the lemon cookies reading The Incredible Hulk #72. I mean, c’mon, I’ve grown up.”

Funny thing about these arguments, however, is that the Hollywooders who make them never seem to raise a meaty discussion about any of the challenging issues past storytelling was able to tell, like the time Stan Lee tackled the subject of drug addiction in Spider-Man back in 1971, or even topics like racism and sexism. So what's the use of saying you've "grown up" if and when comicdom's doing the same over past decades is not acknowledged?

More recently, the actor had a very brief cameo in The Flash where his version of Superman was finally brought to life, but he has openly spoken out about the overly-CGI’d final product.

“When I went to the picture, it was me fighting a giant spider. I did not do that. That was not what I did,” Cage told Yahoo! back in November. “I literally went to shoot a scene for maybe an hour in the suit, looking at the destruction of a universe and trying to convey the feelings of loss and sadness and terror in my eyes. That’s all I did.”

He may be dismayed with the end result, but why did he even bother to associate with that now notorious insult in the first place, despite all the trouble its star, Ezra Miller, caused? Not only was the story based foremost on one of Geoff Johns' worst PC retcons, it also built on what's become a sad staple of modern entertainment - darkness.

If Cage wants to move on from comics-based movies, however, that's okay, because they have been run into the ground of late, and Hollywood put way too much effort into science-fiction than into more down-to-earth dramas. Even live action movies based on cartoons and video games have made the industry a joke. It'd be a whole lot better if we could see more movies not based on those anymore, because it's gotten very absurd, and made Hollywood look more silly than need be.

Marvel appears to be doing away with Johnny Blaze as Ghost Rider

Screen Geek posted a fluff-coated item about what Marvel appears to be doing as a publicity stunt - killing off Ghost Rider protagonist Johnny Blaze:

The new series, beginning with Ghost Rider: Final Vengeance #1, is seemingly set to conclude Johnny Blaze’s arc as Ghost Rider. While there have been other iterations of the fan-favorite Marvel character over the years, Blaze is perhaps the most associated with the role. This makes the following description shared by Marvel on their official website all the more enthralling:

“Continuing Benjamin Percy’s acclaimed and thought-provoking work on the Ghost Rider mythos, the new series will see the Spirit of Vengeance fall into the wrong hands and fans won’t believe who it is! Now, Johnny Blaze must embark on an epic quest to become Ghost Rider again before the newly possessed uses its demonic power for a dark purpose.”

I have no idea why they think Marvel fans would find this "enthralling". The House of Ideas was destroyed long ago, and while some will say it'd be for the best if they closed shop altogether, that still doesn't mean it's great to see them going out on such insulting notes as possibly having Ghost Rider die in a very bad way. If anything, nobody should buy what C.B. Cebulski and company have in store, no matter how things turn out for Johnny Blaze.

Much too late for Louise Simonson to return to anything X-related, ditto Frank Miller

Newsarama's reporting veteran writer and editor Louise Simonson, who's the wife of artist Walter Simonson, is going to write a story connected with another X-Men crossover, spotlighting Jean Grey:

Fans of the '80s golden age of the X-Men rejoice: Louise Simonson is back on a new X-Men title launching in August.

And not just any title: Weezie is writing a Jean Grey solo limited series with artist Bernard Chang tying into the upcoming 'Fall of X' crossover, which promises big, sweeping changes to the world of the X-Men and the mutant nation of Krakoa.

Marvel's announcement of Jean Grey #1 also points to tragedy, indicating that Jean will be reeling from some tragic events at this year's Hellfire Gala event, which has been heavily foreshadowed as a turning point for Krakoa.

[...] "I loved writing X-Factor and Jean was a pivotal part of those stories, from the escape from her Phoenix-created cocoon to her life and death battle with the Goblin Queen in 'Inferno.' So It's really exciting to explore Jean's part in this new mega-adventure," Simonson states in the announcement.

This suggests the Phoenix - an idea that got way out of hand over the years that followed - is going to be a focus of this tale. One more reason I don't see why we must rejoice, because Marvel's long past its prime, and even veterans are unwilling to admit this. Tragedy's a concept that's been long overplayed, and it's getting insufferable already.

It was also announced Frank Miller's going to draw the cover for a new Wolverine/Ghost Rider story, and this is particularly laughable:

Legendary comic creator Frank Miller has the distinction of being the lead artist on the first Wolverine solo title alongside writer Chris Claremont all the way back in 1982, and his art on the story helped define Wolverine as a character for decades to come. Now in 2023, over 40 years later, Frank Miller has drawn Wolverine again for a new cover - and the modern Frank Miller Wolverine is absolutely bonkers.

Miller's art style has evolved significantly since his early Marvel days in the '70s and '80s, becoming more stylized, more graphic, and more experimental. Though the evolution of Miller's art has been polarizing for some fans, his 2023 take on The Best There Is At What He Does shows why Miller has often been lauded as one of the most innovative and interesting superhero artists of all time.

When I looked at the sample they provided, it was so stiff and mediocre, I can't understand what they're driving at. Miller's far older now, and one can't be surprised if some veterans lose their shine during old age. If that's what they mean by "experimental" they've only resulted in pure comedy gold.

I don't feel great about having to put down these veterans, but they're making a joke of themselves by continuing any associations with the Big Two many years after they lost their coherency.

Marvel cancels a Ghost Rider and Dr. Strange series before all issues are completed

More suggestions Marvel is feeling the economic effects of the Corona pandemic, as Newsarama reported they've canceled a Ghost Rider volume 2 issues and 2 specials short of completion:

Marvel Comics has canceled the ongoing comic book series Ghost Rider after seven issues. Series writer Ed Brisson announced the cancelation on Twitter.

[...] The Ghost Rider title was solicited through #9 prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Once comics distribution resumed after a pandemic-influenced shutdown, Ghost Rider #7 - which was originally intended to go on sale April 8 - was released on July 8.

[...] Prior to the COVID-19 comics distribution shutdown, Marvel solicited a Ghost Rider #8 and #9, along with two one-shots: Empyre: Ghost Rider #1 and Ghost Rider Annual #1. Empyre: Ghost Rider #1's release was already considered canceled due to its dis-inclusion from a revised checklist of Empyre tie-ins released in June.

Those four issues have not been re-solicited, and Brisson's announcement of the series cancelation with #7 would seemingly close the door on them being published later - especially issues #8 and #9.

Then there's a Doctor Strange series that's been shut down in a similar manner:

The current volume of Marvel Comics' ongoing Doctor Strange comic book series has come to a somewhat surprising end with this week's Dr. Strange #6. The surprise finale was confirmed in a letter from series writer Mark Waid and artist Kev Walker on the final page of the issue.

[...] Waid wrote all six issues of the series, as well as 20 issues of the preceding volume of Doctor Strange. A seventh issue was initially solicited for release in June, prior to industry-wide delays caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

[...] This is the latest in a string of ongoing comic cancelations by Marvel following the sudden ends to Black Panther & the Agents of Wakanda, Ghost Rider, and Strikeforce.

After all the PR disasters Waid caused over the past several years with his repellent politics and getting himself sued by a graphic novelist for tortious interference, not many are likely to be sorry this Dr. Strange volume's gone down the drain. IMO, the Sorceror Supreme hasn't seen a good series since the turn of the century, ever since Joe Quesada first got his foot in the door, and let's not forget Bill Jemas either. What all these cancellations of lower selling titles starring 3rd tier characters before the last issues may have been solicited means is that Marvel has taken a considerable blow to their sales. The 4 dollar-plus cover price is no improvement at a time when people want to spend their money more carefully during the pandemic.

It's going to be very difficult for Marvel to recover from this, and based on their conduct ever since Quesada came about, not to mention Sana Amanat, that's what they get for driving away their audience.

Ghost Rider movie producer wants to use Atlas catalog just for movies

The producer of 2 Ghost Rider movies that weren't particularly successful wants to take charge of the old Atlas Comics brand from the 1970s, just so he can use it for making more movies:

At Cannes last week, Ghost Rider producer Steven Paul revealed that he had purchased the library of 1970s comic book publisher Atlas Comics, with a view to reviving the brand and relaunching it as a movie universe akin to what Marvel Studios has done.

But it won't be an easy road. While Paul may have acquired a majority interest in the publishing properties of the short-lived outfit, an entirely different comic book company says he does not own the trademark to the name Atlas Comics itself. Dynamite Entertainment maintains that it owns that trademark, and has for a number of years. [...]

When Paul announced his purchase of the majority interest in the Atlas Comics library, he also announced a partnership with Akiva Goldsman’s Weed Road Pictures with the intent of producing one superhero movie a year, starting in 2021, based on the defunct publisher’s output.

So the guy's bought into an archive he may find legal hurdles to overcome with Dynamite, and, he's joining up with another guy whose screenplays for the 3rd and 4th Batman films from the late 90s aren't held in high esteem. And, he's doing all this just for the sake of moviemaking, not because he'd like to develop comics stories per se. This is just more exploitation of the medium for the sake of another medium, and it's unimpressive at this point. IMO, it shows how Hollywood will do anything to turn a fast buck at the expense of comicdom.

Gary Friedrich dead at 75

I'd almost missed this news from nearly a week ago, but Gary Friedrich, the creator of Ghost Rider in the early 70s, passed away at 75 years of age.

I think the saddest part is how in the past decade, Marvel studios screwed him over for royalties when they were making the films based on the supernatural hero, forcing him to pay money, one of the reasons why the sequel's failure was deserved. I know he appealed the ruling, but I'm not sure if he ever won, and artistically speaking, Marvel decidedly made things worse by changing GR into a teen protagonist built on pretty much the same social justice pandering as other steps they took, and still are.

If there's any case where Marvel's modern hijackers really wronged a veteran contributor, it's with Friedrich, who deserved far better than the ill-treatment they gave him several years ago, and still don't see repentant about.

Ghost Rider becoming a teenager

USA Today says there's a new protagonist who'll take up the role of the supernatural biker:

The new Ghost Rider has the same need for speed as his predecessors but with a totally different set of wheels.

Robbie Reyes is the kid driving an otherworldly muscle car and sporting the familiar racing suit and flaming skull head. He's the spirit of vengeance in Marvel Comics' All-New Ghost Rider, writer Felipe Smith and artist Tradd Moore's reinvention of the popular cult comic-book character.

"We're tapping into the spirit of the property, taking it in a new direction and coming out swinging," Moore says.

Much too late, of course. They destroy their continuity, characterization and consistency and then expect us all to overlook that? Not anymore.

All-New Ghost Rider, which makes its debut Wednesday, offers a teenage protagonist with a wholly different set of problems. Robbie's world revolves around his little brother, Gabe, who is confined to a wheelchair. A quiet sort, Robbie tries to keep Gabe safe from the violence on the streets of their East Los Angeles neighborhood, but one night, Robbie enters an illegal street race that goes south and ends with him transformed into Marvel's newest hero.

Marvel editor in chief Axel Alonso says Robbie has a lot in common with Peter Parker's Spider-Man, who learns that great power comes with great responsibility. But Robbie also has to deal with the temptation of riding with a speed demon in tow.

"Typically, past Ghost Riders have felt the Spirit of Vengeance to be a curse and personal burden," Smith says. "Robbie finds himself in a very difficult situation when he meets his Spirit and, rather than a curse, finds it to be somewhat of an opportune blessing."

I've got a feeling they'll do everything to ensure it'll be a failure nonetheless. As for Alonso's comparisons with Spider-Man, they've all said that, yet recent iterations have proven otherwise. In fact, since the mid-90s, even Peter Parker hasn't been himself, recalling the Clone Saga fiasco.

Even though his ride is different, Robbie has a style that's heavily reminiscent of Blaze, who, Alonso teases, will cross paths with the newcomer sooner than later.

I wonder if this succession has something to do with the lawsuit involving Ghost Rider's creator Gary Friedrich two years ago? Good question. But we're at a point where too few are left to care about a new protagonist in an old role, and even that's starting to get old, with little or no convincing effort made to produce character development that works.

Gary Friedrich has appealed the previous court ruling on Ghost Rider

Daniel Best has reported that Ghost Rider creator Gary Friedrich's been able to file an appeal over the previous ruling in Marvel's favor where they even made the ludicrous demand that he pay them. I hope Friedrich can win this time, and I definitely think Marvel would do well this time to pay him back triple the money he's had to spend for his own defense expenses. Otherwise, they're bound to create the impression that they really are greedy and ungrateful to contributors like him.

2nd Ghost Rider movie burns out

Well, it looks like the Ghost Rider sequel is not going to do good business, having opened around 4th place at the box office, and it wasn't even screened for critics. And many of those who did get to see and write about it gave it a sound panning.

And maybe this is what Marvel's getting for the embarrassingly bad way they've treated Gary Friedrich. Now that this has happened, they'd be advised to start mending fences with him by letting go of their demand that he pay them money they don't need and won't serve to cover the costs of this failed movie either. They really did blow it big time, and now, it looks like it'll cost them a fortune.

Unfair of Marvel to force Gary Friedrich to pay

Gary Friedrich, the creator of Ghost Rider in the early 1970s, has not only lost his suit with Marvel over getting any credit for creating the supernatural biker, he's even being forced to pay them $17,000! He can't even legally say he's the creator for any form of gain or advertising. And the worst part is that he's not in good financial shape, meaning that this could have a bad impact on his wallet.

He can file an appeal, but until then, the heads of Marvel today like Joe Quesada should be ashamed of themselves for belittling Friedrich, presumably because they think they can get away with slighting the writers who conceived minor heroes just because Ghost Rider doesn't have the recognition that Spider-Man and Capt. America do. If they don't want to grant him any special rights to the character, that's one thing, but throwing him out so cavalierly by forcing him into something that could put him in worse financial situation than he's already in is a very low act.