Marvel's Ironheart dares to grapple with a morally complex Black female protagonist and to meld magic and science in a way that shouldn't make as much sense as it does. We delve into how grief and trauma manifest in Riri's life and how N.A.T.A.L.I.E. leans into questions of humanity and AI. We discuss the Hood's backstory and his role as a villain who, alas, never breaks out into song. Also, Obadiah Stane in a handheld vacuum. If you know, you know.
We want to thank everyone for their support over the years as we've geeked out about Marvel. Although our lives have pointed us in another direction for the time being, we hope you can enjoy all the content we've left behind for your listening pleasure.
It's the end of an era and the dawning of a new one. Fantastic Four: First Steps was phenomenal in ways that the Nerd Alert Girls cheer about. Johnny Storm gets to show off his emotional intelligence; Sue Storm gives major Mama Bear energy; Reed Richards is a precious, neurodivergent bean; and Ben Grimm is the best boi who deserves the world. From the superb casting to the emotionally evocative family themes, this movie was a slam dunk and, hopefully, a foreshadowing of things to come for Marvel.
Anti-heroes, assemble! How did this ragtag group of morally gray characters become the driving force of such an emotional storyline about mental health? From exploring the corruption of politics to extractive science experiments to cycles of trauma, Thunderbolts* does not pull any punches. Bridgette and Genn discuss Yelena bonding with Bob, Alexei’s Wheaties box dream, parallels to Megamind and the Emperor’s New Groove, and more.
TW: discussions of child abuse, mental health issues, and suicide ideation. Please take care of yourself, folks.
The distinguished competition that is DC finally gets scrutinized by Nerd Alert Girls' Genn and Caroline. Listen as they discuss the differences between Marvel and DC, what works and what doesn't, and why DC's heroes and villains are considered legendary and iconic.
Daredevil: Born Again... more like try again. Genn has a lot of Feelings about Born Again's debut and, unfortunately, most of them aren't positive. Marvel, Charlie Cox, and Brian Michael Bendis...we expected more. There's some good stuff... you just need to know what to do with it.
Article mentioned found here: https://screenrant.com/daredevil-born-again-karen-foggy-kingpin-op-ed/
Here comes the Spider-Maaaaaan. Season 1 is done, folks, and the Nerd Alert Girls have feelings to share! Listen as Genn gushes about Daredevil in between all the Spider-Man bias, while Bridgette keeps the conversation on track. We contrast Norman's emotional manipulation with Harry's emotional intelligence, delve into Nico's psyche and burgeoning powers, and discuss how Lonnie's "villain" era subverted our expectations.
With his signature charm and deep-hearted compassion, Sam Wilson has come into his own as Captain America. Bridgette and Genn discuss how Sam navigates his mentorship role for Joaquin Torres, his heartwarming (and heart-wrenching) friendship with Isaiah Bradley, and his contentious relationship with Thaddeus Ross. Can flawed people really change? Does wanting to see the good in people make you naive? We address these questions and more in our review of Captain America: Brave New World.
Our favorite wallcrawler is back in an animated series. Listen as the Nerd Alert Girls pick apart "Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman." Although we lament the lack of using other Spider people, Genn and Bridgette could admit that this show has potential (and no, that's not just Genn's bias talking).
The home stretch ranges from a wild Western adventure to dark sci-fi to philosophical explorations on the very title of the What If...? series. Listen as Bridgette, Caroline, and Genn discuss the last four episodes of What If...? Season 3. Some ficus villains were redeemed, others remained jerkfaces, and all of our heroes made a splash! How dare Peggy Carter, with all her main character energy, BE the main character?! Scandalous! In all seriousness though, the final goodbye and what if's were tough to let go, but they're what made the show work.
An homage to kaiju movies and the power of friendship. A love letter to the Golden Age of Hollywood and Agent Carter season 2. The Red Guardian and Winter Soldier taking a buddy cop road trip. Mr. and Mrs. The Duck doing a better version of Thor: Love and Thunder. Bridgette and Caroline are here to discuss (and sometimes gush) about the first half of the final season of Marvel’s What If…?
If you want a straight answer, ask a straight lady. The Nerd Alert Girls need that on a T-shirt yesterday. Agatha All Along is done and finished beautifully. Marvel crafted a spell-binding story that Caroline and Genn adored and proved that they can treat their audience well with solid characters, surprising twists, and strong emotional hits.
Alright, folks. This is a meaty one. After Agatha threw us for a loop, we Nerd Alert Girls had MUCH to say about motherhood, LGBTQ+ themes, gender roles, the history of witches, comic book context, and the intense FEELINGS we have about Agatha All Along.And then there's the realization that Marvel is our hot n' cold romantic partner that either treats us really fine or...not. Give us a moment to process that...
We're almost halfway through Agatha All Along, and we're off to a solid start. Listen as Genn and Caroline reunite to discuss episodes 3 and 4, dissecting make-up, queer representation, and possibilities for the remainder of the show. No plot sweaters here, just friendship bracelets~
We’re capping off our series with a bonus category: transgressive masculinity. How does “coming out of a bottle” disrupt the inherent contradictions of what makes the ideal man? How does “feminized” framing influence how male characters are perceived by other characters and the audience? We look at Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes to answer these questions. It's been a time with this masculinity series—thanks for riding the elevator with us today!
For more context, read the fan commentary: “‘Nice boots, Tinker Bell!’: Steve Rogers as an allegory for the impossibility of performative masculinity.”
Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble. The witching hour is upon us as Agatha All Along premieres on Disney+. Listen as Genn and Sorceress Supreme team up to analyze the first two episodes and express their hopes and fears...all while cooing over Joe Locke and tapping into their dark little hearts
So far we’ve discussed male superheroes who get stuck in the rigid (and sometimes toxic) rules of the traditional masculine code. But what about the positive side of masculinity? How do other heroes embody the flexibility and fluidity inherent to healthy masculinity? How do family, race, and culture influence how they express their gender? Peter Parker, T’Challa, and Sam Wilson become our next three case studies for masculinity in Marvel.
The toxicity is at tolerable levels, folks, with our Middle Ground Men. These MCU boys have their moments of toxicity and their moments of being healthy humans. Listen as the Nerd Alert Girls explain the good, the bad, the ugly, and the complexity of three more Marvel heroes and how their evolving interpretations of masculinity affect themselves, their storylines, and even the multiverse itself! Let’s take a close look at Thor Odinson, Shang-Chi, and Bruce Banner.
What defines a man in the hypermasculine genre of superhero movies? Is it being a genius/billionaire/playboy/philanthropist? The Nerd Alert Girls aren’t so sure. We’re looking at the good, the bad, and the ugly side of masculinity in our heroes - starting with how they break free (or don’t) from their more toxic traits. From the tech bro archetypes to the slogan “boys don’t cry,” we’ve got a lot to discuss. We kick off this series with a focus on Tony Stark, Peter Quill, and Hank Pym.
How many cameos can you stuff into one movie? Deadpool & Wolverine’s answer is yes. As the Nerd Alert Girls dissect the film, we parse through the gratuitous violence, the jokes, and the nostalgia in search of the plot. While we certainly had fun, we couldn’t help but wonder how this movie reflects Marvel’s broader trends in romance, women, and deeper storylines.
But hey, they brought back a certain someone to play a hot superhero... no, not that one, and Ryan and Hugh are giving maximum effort!
For Pride Month, Caroline takes a look at the queer characters in Marvel movies and television and asks whether or not the MCU is guilty of queerbaiting. Some may be wondering what that means while others might be having flashbacks to 2010s Tumblr discourse. To all of you: don’t worry, we are going to get through this and have a thoughtful discussion in good faith about queer representation in Marvel. Caroline is going to define some terms and demonstrate how the franchise keeps seeming like it might leave the closet only to continue to stay behind the last decades’ fashions.
