AP Marvel

The holiday season is always a time to reflect back on the past year, so the AP Marvel crew takes a look back at the mess that was 2018. Chris, Izzy, and Anthony are rejoined by Erin Beasley and introduce Leila Jordan (@galaxyleila), the newest teacher for the Carnegie Mellon Marvel StuCo class. The quintet gives a proper burial to Daredevil, look back at their experiences watching Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Ant-Man and the Wasp in theaters, give their takes on Sony's Spidey madness, and set their expectations for Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, and Spider-Man: Far from Home. Most importantly, AP Marvel hints at the show's plans for 2019.

Next Week: Media Oversaturation and the MCU (with special guest Matt Storm aka Stormageddon)

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Theme Music: Steve Molitor

Logo: Charles Villanueva (@cfsvillanueva)

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There probably isn't a soul in the multiverse who dislikes Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, so Chris and Anthony brought on Syfy Wire's Karama Horne (better known as @theblerdgurl) to break down the animated film. What is it about the unique art style(s) that appealed to audiences? How did Miles Morales represent and normalize certain cultures? And what will Sony do with this Spidey subfranchise moving forward? 

Chris’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse review (Flixist)

Next Week: Christmas, 2019, and Beyond (with our friends Erin Beasley and Leila Berger) 

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Theme Music: Steve Molitor

Logo: Charles Villanueva (@cfsvillanueva)

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Probably more so than any other superhero series, the Spider-Man franchise probably has the most "tragic" and sympathetic villains in its rogues' gallery. From the Sam Raimi trilogy to the MCU version of Spider-Man, Chris, Anthony, Izzy, and special guest Thomas Loughney (@ThomasLoughney) of the Major Casts Network give their thoughts on each Spider-Man movie villain, how they were handled thematically, and how they reflected some populist ideals. 

Next Week: Into "Into the Spider-Verse" (with special guest The Blerd Gurl) 

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Theme Music: Steve Molitor

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is undoubtedly a critical and commercial success, but how has it specifically succeeded where others faltered? Can Hollywood learn something from the MCU, or is it impossible to duplicate? Chris and Thomas bring in the man behind YouTube channel Now You See It, Jack Nugent (@jacknugent27), for an exchange of ideas surrounding film production. Somehow, the trio also gets caught up in Breaking Bad and Fast & Furious discourse. 

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Next Week: Spider-Man's Sympathetic Sinisters (with special guest Thomas Loughney) 

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Theme Music: Steve Molitor

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There was a lot to chew from Daredevil season 3, so Chris once again brought in Sabrina and Thomas to dissect a Marvel-Netflix show. Starting with an article read of Chris’s recent piece, the three discuss the character arcs, the action sequences, and how the season depicted real fears and anxieties from American society. 

And yeah, this episode is now kind of an accidental eulogy for Daredevil after its sudden cancellation. Whoops. 

Next Week: Lessons from the Superhero (with special guest Jack Nugent) 

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Theme Music: Steve Molitor

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This Thanksgiving, the trio of Chris, Izzy, and Anthony share what they’re most thankful for in the MCU. Whether it’s the community itself, the family they’ve created, or just the memes alone, there’s a lot. The AP Marvel crew also discusses the legacy of Stan Lee, and how his work with peers like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko were able to pave the way for tolerance and progressivism in the fiction we enjoy today. 

Next Week: The Politics of Fear in Daredevil Season 3 

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Theme Music: Steve Molitor

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In this follow-up episode, Thomas, Izzy, and Anthony explore the different corners of the MCU from the Quantum Realm to Wakanda to various locations in space, and yes, even Attilan and Hawaii. The crew talks about the functions that corners serve, and speculate on the future of the Shared Universe. 

Next Week: A Very Stan Lee Thanksgiving 

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Theme Music: Steve Molitor

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In part one of a two-part episode, Thomas, Izzy, and Anthony discuss the shared universe model and the pitfalls of trying to make one work. The crew dives into compromising artistic styles, the ever-increasing burden of continuity, and what tricks the MCU has come up with to deal with these issues. Plus, the three discuss some other cinematic universes, and how they’ve failed to avoid these pitfalls. 

Next Week: Corners of the MCU (Part 2 of 2) 

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Theme Music: Steve Molitor

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With tragic news and external fears in the United States, Chris of AP Marvel brought in comic artist and storyteller Nat (@NatRoze) and Laura Berry (@laubeary) of Sapphic Zines to talk about why representation for marginalized communities in media carries great importance. The trio takes a deep dive into the few queer characters in the MCU, namely Valkyrie, Jeri Hogarth, Joey Gutierrez, Karolina Dean, and Nico Minoru.

As former and current students of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, the people behind AP Marvel urge you to help the victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill in any way possible.

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Next Week: The Shared Universe Model (Part 1 of 2) 

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Theme Music: Steve Molitor

Logo: Charles Villanueva (@cfsvillanueva)

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It’s been a tough week for fans of the Marvel-Netflix shows, but the AP Marvel crew tries to make the best out of it. Instead of speculating what business goings-on are happening behind the scenes, Chris brings in substitute hosts Sabrina Clarke (IG: @sabrina.m4v, Twitter: @sabsclarke) and Thomas Rasmussen to talk about their favorite moments from Luke Cage and Iron Fist. The discussion ranges from the socio-economic, cultural, and political relevance of the shows, before delving into just how weird it is to have specific branches of the growing MCU die out.

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Next Week: Queer Visibility in the MCU (with special guests Nat Rozeand Laura Berry)

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Theme Music: Steve Molitor

Logo: Charles Villanueva (@cfsvillanueva)

Email suggestions for topics or your own MCU viewing anecdotes to [email protected]!