Every Major Reveal From Marvel Animation Panel At D23 Expo Ft. What If? S3, X-Men ’97 S2, Marvel Zombies & More

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Oh, Marvel fanatics unite! After the electrifying D23 Day 1 and 2 presentations, I feel like a kid on Christmas morning, bursting with excitement! From the thrilling trailers of Daredevil: Born Again, Iron Heart, and Agatha All Along to the tantalizing updates on What If..? Season 3 and X-Men ’97, my heart is pounding with anticipation!

Day 1 at Marvel Studios’ D23 Expo primarily showcased live-action films and series, with sneak peeks into upcoming projects like “Daredevil: Born Again”, “Iron Heart”, and “Agatha All Along”. On Day 2, Marvel Animation unveiled updates about ongoing shows and future seasons. This includes the third season of “What If..?” and progress on the second season of the revival series, “X-Men ’97”. Here are all the latest developments for your perusal.

What If..? Season 3

At the Marvel Animation D23 event, it was revealed that the third season of “What If…?” would be its last, showcasing various multiverse ideas and even an episode inspired by Voltron anime. This final season will present an Avengers squad under Captain Sam Wilson’s command, consisting of Moon Knight, Photon, Red Guardian, and pilots of colossal mecha suits, battling gamma monsters. Additional episodes will delve into the stories of characters such as Moon Knight, Ironheart, Shang-Chi, and White Vision.

X-Men ’97 season 2

During the Marvel Animation D23 event, a glimpse of X-Men ’97 showed that the team members will don suits inspired by Grant Morrison’s designs. Characters like Havok, Polaris, Bishop, Apocalypse, and Danger are expected to make an appearance. The footage also verified Wolverine’s survival after Magneto’s attack. Unfortunately, no additional details about the series were shared.

Eyes of Wakanda

During the Marvel Animation D23 event, it was revealed that a new animated series called Eyes of Wakanda is in development. This series will delve into the enigmatic city of K’un-Lun and its unique societal norms. Additionally, a fresh Iron Fist character will be introduced, who in the comics serves as the protector of K’un-Lun. Ryan Coogler was present at the presentation, discussing the series’ direction and hinting that “Wardogs face the task of preserving Wakanda’s secrecy. This allows us to revisit the sacrifices made to maintain that secret.”

In the animated show “Eyes of Wakanda,” we meet Noni, a character who uncovers dishonesty within Wakanda. This series serves as a companion to the Black Panther films and delves into the nation’s background and its connections with various other places. It employs 3D animation to showcase different eras of Wakanda, similar to an anthology program. Moreover, events depicted in this series are considered part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) continuity.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

At the Marvel Animation D23 panel, it was revealed that the upcoming Spider-Man series will present a fresh narrative compared to the Marvel Cinematic Universe trilogy. Instead of Happy Hogan or Tony Stark being his mentor as in the MCU, Peter Parker will be guided by Norman Osborn. This character employs dubious tactics and draws lessons from Tony Stark’s missteps and ethical principles. Colman Domingo has been chosen to portray Norman Osborn, a shift away from the Tony Stark role and mentorship seen in the MCU.

Following this data, we presented unique clips from the series to D23 attendees. They were treated to an animated introduction that combined the traditional Spider-Man theme tune with contemporary rap beats. The sneak peek then unfolded Peter’s first day of Freshman Year. His school entrance was instantly disrupted by Doctor Strange battling a creature resembling Venom.

In one of Doctor Strange’s portals, a radioactive spider from the universe of the Venom villain finds its way to Peter and bites him during his encounter with Nico Minoru, a character in the Runaways comic book series. The animation style is reminiscent of comics, featuring cell animation and scenes divided into comic panels to mimic the experience of reading a comic book.

In the continuation of the series, five months later, we witnessed a new sequence featuring Peter using high-tech equipment to combat street thugs. Amongst them was a boy who possessed metal structures enabling brief bursts of incredible speed, and a woman armed with a cybernetic blade.

In a futuristic-looking suit reminiscent of the one from Homecoming, but with its own unique twist, Peter battles a group of tough guys. Just as things get tough, Norman Osborn calls in on his communicator to offer guidance on how to subdue them. The scene emphasizes the growing mentor-student relationship between Norman and Peter, hinting at the budding fatherly affection. With Norman’s tips, Peter successfully overpowers the thugs.

Marvel Zombies

At the Marvel Animation D23 event, it was announced that the Marvel Zombies animated series will be a mature TV-MA production, consisting of a four-episode special. During the panel presentation, we got a glimpse of Shang-Chi, Katy, and Jimmy Woo battling zombies on the streets. The Mandarin made an appearance, utilizing the Ten Rings to vanquish the undead horde. A notable scene featured a kaiju-like zombie being slain by hurling rings at its forehead. The Mandarin ordered Shang-Chi to evacuate civilians and flee with him; however, Shang-Chi was bitten by a zombie, triggering the infection to spread through his arm.

In the Mandarin selflessly relinquishes his Ten Rings to Shang-Chi, who gets abducted by the Death Dealer. The scene then transitions to five years later, where we see Shang-Chi and his companions in a post-apocalyptic landscape, traveling in vehicles reminiscent of Mad Max movies. They encounter a Skrull Biker gang and engage them in combat using the Ten Rings. This humorous sequence features Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” playing, with Jimmy Woo joining in the singing. However, it was announced that this series won’t be released anytime soon.

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2024-08-11 17:55