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fantastic

Kevin Feige Is Trying to Throw Us off the Scent of That ‘Fantastic Four’ Tease

by admin June 6, 2025

We all saw what happened after the credits of Thunderbolts. We jumped ahead a few months into the world of Avengers: Doomsday, and in a scene directed by Doomsday helmers Joe and Anthony Russo, Yelena and the rest of the New Avengers saw something very unique flying toward Earth. The movie is pretty upfront with what it wants us to think that is, but in a new interview, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige is making us second-guess ourselves.

As we’ve discussed previously, in the end credits scene, New Avengers get word of an “extra-dimensional” ship entering Earth’s atmosphere and see a ship with a giant “4” on the side flying through space. This is accompanied by a few notes of Michael Giacchino’s score to The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the only Marvel movie coming out between Thunderbolts and Doomsday. And, since all of the Fantastic Four and all of the New Avengers are in Doomsday, it doesn’t take a genius to connect the dots. This is the Fantastic Four leaving their dimension and coming into the MCU.

Or is it? Speaking in Empire Magazine (with a quote that isn’t online yet but is apparently in print), Feige said the following in regards to the Thunderbolts/New Avengers end credits scene. “Their ship is the Excelsior, and there is a Fantastic Four ship entering the MCU … But I’m not sure they’re the same ship,” Feige said. Which means one of two things. One, Feige is just being Feige and trying to make people argue and debate about his movies with his trademark vague but admittedly fun statements. Or, two, he’s giving us a new, crucial piece of the puzzle.

For the record, we’re guessing it’s the first one. Clearly, Feige loves messing with us and sparking debate. He’s been doing it for years and is all but impossible to get a straight answer out of, especially in terms of future movies. If there is any doubt about something, Feige will lean into it. So while the most obvious implication is that this is the Fantastic Four, we do not see any of the characters. There is, if you want to be literal, a bit of a grey area there.

For argument’s sake, let’s say Feige’s implications are real. This is a ship owned by or related to the Fantastic Four, but they aren’t on it. What else could be happening? Maybe a character has stolen one of their ships? Maybe this is a later piece of the story and it’s being sent empty for another reason? Or, is this a whole other multiversal Fantastic Four team? There are a million potential explanations, any one of which could be true.

Or, because Yelena doesn’t know what she’s watching, because their computer system isn’t aware of it, because we see the “4” and because we hear the music, it is indeed the Fantastic Four.

Which way are you leaning? If Feige messing with us or setting us on the right path? Do you think we’ll find out in Fantastic Four: First Steps or will we have to wait till December 2026 and Avengers: Doomsday? Let us know below.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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June 6, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

Fantastic Four Director Denies Doom’s Involvement In His Film

by admin June 5, 2025

Image: Disney

Ever since Robert Downey Jr. blew our multiversal minds at San Diego Comic-Con last year when he revealed he was returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom, Marvel fanatics have been trying to figure out just when Victor Von Doom would appear. After the Thunderbolts* post-credit scene appeared to hint at Dr. Doom’s arrival in the upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps, director Matt Shakman has emerged to slightly crush those dreams.

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In an interview with Empire Magazine, Shakman plainly asserted that “Doom is not a part of my film, and therefore not a part of my purview.” That should be it, right? Wrong. Fans in denial (and delusion) are interpreting Shakman’s statements as technically true but not the full truth.

Some fans are focusing on how Shakman specifically mentioned that Doom is not part of his film or his purview. That sounds, they argue, like an attempt to establish plausible deniability, given how Marvel has separated certain duties on its films. After Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier revealed to ComicBook.com that the film’s post-credit scene was filmed weeks before the theatrical release, the Russo Brothers confirmed they were the ones who filmed it, rather than Schreier himself. That told Marvel fans that a film’s director doesn’t have to be involved with any post-credit reveals, which would align with Shakman’s assertion that Doom has nothing to do with his efforts on the film.

In the Thunderbolts* post-credit scene, the New Avengers get a notification that an unidentified aircraft had entered Earth’s atmosphere before we see the iconic “4″ logo of the Fantastic Four emblazoned on the side of the ship. Doom has hijacked the Fantastic Four’s ship multiple times in the comic books, so it’s not far-fetched to believe he might do the same in the MCU.

We’ll have to wait until July 25 to see if these theories are anything more than just fanboy fantasies.

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June 5, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Aventon Level 3 Review: A Fantastic First Electric Bike

by admin June 4, 2025

I love step-through ebike frames, not just because it allows my much-shorter wife to borrow the bike when she’s wearing a skirt but also because when a bike is this heavy (67 pounds), it makes it much easier to balance and hop on and off. I never felt sketchy hitting an intersection or trying to keep my bike upright when I had a saddle bag full of groceries.

The gearing and drivetrain is entry-level Shimano Altus stuff and includes an 8-speed trigger-controlled transmission. It also comes with decent Kenda tires that provide plenty of grip, even on slippery Portland roads.

There is a built-in 4G connection that allows you to GPS track the bike—nice for thefts and also in case you, like me, forget where you parked your bike at the Portland Timbers game. The 500-watt motor was more than powerful enough to get me over hills, even with gear or food in tow.

Even for my large, 210-pound body, the range proved more than enough for long commuting rides. I took it over 20 miles across town in a single session, over big hills, and still ended at my destination with over 20 percent battery. If I hadn’t run the bike at full speed the entire way and had pedaled more on the flats instead of using the thumb throttle, I would easily have made it with half my battery left.

Good for Most

Photograph: Parker Hall

Most folks aren’t riding 40 miles a day on their ebikes. They’re riding just a few, and this bike is more than capable of doing that. The included charging brick easily charges the bike in a few hours. You will really need to charge only once a week if you’re doing a shorter commute or just riding a bit around town.

There aren’t a lot of downsides to this model, but the main one is the gearing. I just wish that the top gear allowed me to keep up with the 20-mile-per-hour speed limit on the motor with more ease; I sometimes felt like I was pedaling like a crazed hamster when trying to go max speed.

At lower speeds and assistance rates, the gearing works just fine, so you’re better off riding slower when you want to pedal, then using the thumb throttle to go full speed. I generally prefer mid-drive ebikes for this reason; they use the actual drivetrain of your bike rather than a motor on the hub of the rear wheel to deliver the power, so things pair better together. That said, it’s nice to have the option of a thumb throttle when you’re feeling lazy and just want a glorified electric scooter to take you home, which isn’t offered by mid-drive ebikes.

For daily commuting, trips to the farmers market, and occasional long weekend rides, the Aventon Level 3 is a great choice. The price is right, the specs are solid, and it’s a confidence-inducing ride that has every feature most folks will need. Just snag a good helmet and a solid bike lock. These bikes look more expensive than they are.

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June 4, 2025 0 comments