Greene guested on a recent episode of Steve Bannon’s podcast to tout her completely unsubstantiated claims that the Coronavirus was actually a bioweapon released by, we assume, the Chinese government. That conspiracy theory makes zero logical sense as China was one of the hardest-hit countries when the COVID-19 outbreak first occurred, but it does piggyback on a growing concern that the pandemic originated because of a lab leak at the Wuhan Virology Institute. There have been calls by government officials to trace the source of the virus but, as of now, no official origin has been named so really, Greene and the rest of her anti-vax QAnon groupies are only talking nonsense right now.
Fortunately, AOC is active on social media and always willing to put science-denying public officials in their place. Case in point: Greene argued that COVID had to be a bioweapon because “Why is there any need to create a virus that could spread rapidly to a population, to make people sick and kill them?” on Bannon’s podcast before affirming that she doesn’t believe in evolution, she believes in God. What she was basically suggesting is that COVID had to be a bioweapon because God would never allow a naturally occurring virus to kill millions of people around the world.
Unfortunately for her, AOC came with those Biblical receipts.
Tell me you’ve never read the Bible without telling me you’ve never read the Bible https://t.co/ttMBi1lrXp
Anyone who’s flipped through the Old Testament — or seen that Ridley Scott movie where Christian Bale played a Hebrew prophet whose eyeliner suggested that he was going through a real My Chemical Romance phase — would know that God loves a good plague. Weird, since Greene claims to be a devout Christian. But AOC wasn’t the only one willing to nail Greene to the proverbial social media cross of shame — another Biblical reference she probably won’t get.
Didn’t god flood the earth in the Old Testament and pretty much thanosed all human life?
Marjorie Taylor Greene, who believes wildfires are caused by a Jewish space laser, doesn’t believe in evolution.
— The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) June 13, 2021
All jokes aside, please don’t get your scientific theories from a woman who’s associated with a movement that believes lizard people are secretly ruling the masses. It won’t end well.
Getting compared to Larry David is a great thing if you’re working in comedy, and perhaps not as great a thing if it’s in reference to your social skills. But for Lil Dicky, that kind of comparison is exactly what he’s been going for all along.
The rapper and brain behind the surprise hit Dave is known for a lot of things, all of them sort of referencing parts of his own life and the musical persona that first made him famous. His success with Dave only tightens the connections between his persona, his real life and the show’s plot points loosely including all of the above. And if that sounds a bit like David’s work on Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, well, you’re not alone in thinking that.
In a GQ profile of Dicky, the Larry David connections are front and center in a very flattering way. Early in the piece his mother quite literally says “You’re no Jerry Seinfeld. But you’re funny” when describing Dicky (real name Dave Burd) and his big ambitions. Apparently he used to straight-up ask his parents if he was a comedic genius, though he didn’t like the answer he got:
His friend Benny, the producer and hitmaking songwriter Benny Blanco, remembers this too. “Oh my God,” he says. “He’d be like, ‘Mom, Dad, am I a genius?’ And they’d be like, ‘Eh.’”
With two seasons of Dave now under his belt, though, the comparison isn’t nearly as absurd. And one longtime David collaborator is willing to broach the subject. The piece discusses Burd’s creative process and OCD tendencies at length, exploring how he first learned he could make people laugh and the stress that introduced into his life. The juxtaposition between attempted genius and the mental strain of actually realizing that makes him a difficult person to work with at times:
At work, the neurosis has a name: The No Stone Unturned Method. This means he must try out every single possible version of something, whether it’s a lyric or a joke, before he’s satisfied. “He’s the worst person I’ve ever been in the studio with,” Benny Blanco tells me. “But also the best person.”
The flipside of his neurosis is stratospheric confidence. The co-creator of Dave, Jeff Schaffer, remembers the first time he met Burd: “He’s talking to me, a stranger, about how he’s going to be so huge. He’s telling me he’s going to be the biggest entertainer in the history of entertaining. And I’m like, Oh, he’s delusional. This is great. I love this.” Schaffer, who’s also worked on Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, adds that he sees “a lot of Larry” (that would be David) in Burd.
That’s high praise for a guy many know from funny rap songs, though the perception of Burd is certainly changing with Dave. The show is funny, and very successful, and as we see more of Burd’s work, it makes all of his talk about a wildly successful career not just more reasonable, but an actual reality.
Since getting their first No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 a bit over nine months ago, BTS have become accustomed to spending time on top of the charts. Now, they’ve done it again: On the Hot 100 dated June 19, BTS’ “Butter” remains in the No. 1 spot for the third straight week. “Butter” is now tied with “Dynamite” for the group’s longest-running No. 1 song on the Hot 100, although since “Dynamite” had a break between its second and third weeks, “Butter” is the first BTS song to spend three consecutive weeks on top.
“Butter” staying at No. 1 comes thanks in part to the “Cooler” and “Sweeter” remixes of it, which came out on June 4 and therefore factored into the new chart, which reflects sales from June 4 to 10. “Butter” is the fourth No. 1 song from BTS, following “Dynamite,” “Savage Love (Laxed Siren Beat),” and “Life Goes On.”
After learning the news of this week’s chart triumph, BTS once again shared a celebratory message with their fans, writing, “YES! #BTS_Butter is on top of the chart for three weeks in a row. Thanks #BTSARMY.”
Elsewhere in the top 10 of this week’s chart, Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U” stays strong in the No. 2 spot for the third consecutive week. Her “Deja Vu” also remains in the top 10, at No. 9 this week.
Festival season is all the way back. After Made In America revealed its rap-heavy lineup headlined by Justin Bieber and Lil Baby, Day N Vegas got in on the action, announcing its massive lineup just minutes later. Headlined by Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, and Tyler The Creator, Day N Vegas will return to Las Vegas Festival Grounds on November 12-14 with three days of new and rising stars building on the success of the first iteration of the festival in 2019.
On Friday, Kendrick Lamar is billed to play songs from Section.80 up to DAMN. (no Overly Dedicated?? I will FIGHT), with DaBaby, YG, Ari Lennox, and Polo G top-lining a lineup that includes Kendrick’s TDE compatriot Isaiah Rashad, Flatbush Zombies, D Smoke, IDK, Yung Baby Tate, and more. Then, on Saturday, Travis Scott leads a roster of Lil Baby, Doja Cat, Saweetie, and Baby Keem. Undercards on Saturday include Cordae, Joey Badass, Freddie Gibbs, BIA, Blxst, and Audrey Nuna. Sunday, Babyface Ray, Flo Milli, Rico Nasty, Snot, Kota The Friend, Earl Sweatshirt, and Griselda build up to the big-faced names: SZA, Lil Uzi Vert, Snoh Aalegra, and Don Toliver, with Tyler The Creator closing out the festival.
Tickets go on presale Friday, 6/18 at noon Pacific. Get more info at DayNVegas2021.com.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Single malt and blended Scotch whisky generally fall into two flavor profiles: Sweet or smoky. Smoky scotch can have sweet flavor notes, but it’s often the peaty smoke that’s the star of the show. The sweet Scotch whiskies, on the other hand, tend to lean into florals, fruits, and honeyed sweetness (even if they carry a little smoke). While we enjoy all of the many notes prevalent in Scotch whisky, today we’re turning our attention solely to honey.
So where does this flavor come from and how can we find whiskies in which it’s heavily featured?
Honey flavor is most often prevalent in whiskies that have been aged in American white oak barrels, primarily ex-bourbon casks. Flavors reminiscent of clover, heather, and various types of honey come from the charred wood as well as the sweet esters that are created during the fermentation process, which layers in the honey notes.
To find these sweet, mellow bottles of scotch, we reached out to fifteen of our favorite bartenders and asked for their picks. Check their creative, often surprising answers below and click on the prices if you want to order a bottle for yourself.
The American oak brings notes of vanilla and coconut. The 12 years brings smooth notes of crème brûlée. The whisky is distilled three times and has a smooth, mellow finish. It’s definitely one to seek out for lovers of honeyed, floral flavors.
Dalwhinnie 15 is an easy-drinking, delicate choice. Its lack of smoke coupled with honey, citrus, and dried fruit notes make it very approachable. It delivers a creamy, inviting mouthfeel on the palate.
Aberfeldy 12
Aberfeldy
Eugene Lee, founding bartender at Mix Lab in Los Angeles
These days, I’m loving Aberfeldy 12. It’s fantastic as an easy sipper as well as mixed into cocktails. Try it in a classic gold rush. It’s filled with all of the flavors you want in a whisky from caramel to vanilla, and especially honey.
The Balvenie 12 Doublewood
The Balvenie
Chris Stevens, general manager of Five Sisters Blues Cafe in Pensacola, Florida
The Balvenie 12 is sweet with a good body. This scotch has a gentle spice with hints of vanilla and honey. This single malt is going to be a little easier to drink as an introduction to single malts and has also withstood the test of time with enthusiasts around the world.
Glenmorangie The Original
Glenmorangie
Andy Printy, beverage director at Chao Baan in St. Louis
I think one of the most approachable single malts has to be Glenmorangie. They have many expressions, but their flagship label is easy to get into. And with 17-foot stills, this expression is distilled with subtlety in mind.
The nose reminds you that it’s malted barley, but the palate is packed with honeysuckle and vanilla. The finish is lightly toasted oak and just a bit of praline.
Aberlour 12 is a fantastic single malt scotch for honey-lovers. It’s super smooth and filled with honey sweetness. It’s heavy on caramel-like bourbon notes and smooth like an Irish whiskey.
The easiest single malt scotch for me is The Macallan 12. I think it’s because it was one of the first single malt scotches introduced to me. I find the whisky to be extremely smooth, clean, light, and crisp for this category. It might be a little cliché because of its popularity, but I honestly think there isn’t a smoother or easier single malt to drink.
It’s also a perfect beginner single malt for someone wanting to get into this category, especially because of the honey flavors.
The Balvenie 14 Year Caribbean Cask
The Balvenie
Ryan Cunningham, bartender at Anchor and Brine in Tampa, Florida
Anything aged in rum casks is going to grab my attention every time and this is why The Balvenie 14 Year Caribbean Cask is easily one of my favorite Scotches. This Highland scotch is going to be mellower and more approachable for bourbon drinkers and the aging in rum casks just adds to the honeyed sweetness.
For people wanting to explore entry-level single malt scotch with flavors like honey, I like to steer them towards some great Speyside distilleries. Glenfiddich 12 is great because you get mellow notes of rich barley, pears, baking spices, and sophisticated wood alongside that honey.
Bruichladdich’s Classic Laddie has a signature flavor profile of the Islay region in Scotland. This Classic Laddie is a non-age statement single malt that is light and full of citrus, sweet malted barley, vanilla, and honey notes. Sip it neat or elevate a simple highball cocktail.
The absolute most outstanding single malt is The Dalmore King Alexander III. It’s a 10/10 for every single malt nerd with a very rich smooth finish and a combination of flavors of berries, spices, honey, and orange. This is one of those single malts that shift time and space.
The Balvenie 17 Doublewood
The Balvenie
Nikole Calvo, bar manager at SIX in Tampa, Florida
The most mellow and honeyed single malt scotch whiskey to drink would have to be The Balvenie Doublewood 17 Year. It’s finished in sherry oak casks and is absolutely delicious over a large cube. The water enhances the flavor of the malt, opening up the wood and honey flavors for an easy-drinking experience.
As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.
“Most tequilas hitting the U.S. market are great quality and will work for any beginner tequila drinker as long as it’s well-balanced,” says Evan Hosaka, lead bartender at Electra Cocktail Club, inside The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas.
We agree with Hosaka that balance is key for an entry-level tequila. To find the bottles you should start your journey with, we turned to the professionals. 18 well-known bartenders were gracious enough to give us their picks — from blancos (also called silver or plate tequilas) to reposados — below. Click the prices if you want to grab a bottle for yourself.
Fortaleza is my pick. I cannot recommend this brand enough. I love all their products, but I lean heavily toward their Reposado. It’s exceptionally smooth with wonderful notes of caramel and citrus and can easily be enjoyed on the rocks for beginners.
There’s definitely a reason why so many bartenders swear by Fortaleza.
Coca Pura Plata
Coca Pura
Young Kim, director of spirits education and bar manager at Fine & Rare in New York City
Coca Pura (pronounced “cosa” pura) is made with agave from both the Highlands and Lowlands of Jalisco, which captures the flavor from both locations. You can sip it thanks to the barrel-aging or make a margarita. It is also gluten-free and kosher.
If you’re a beginner and trying to enjoy tequila neat, go for something a little nicer like Clase Azul. You’ll appreciate how smooth it is compared to other tequilas. This “Unrested” tequila is a blanco tequila that goes directly into the bottle after it’s distilled. It pulls more vegetal agave notes and it much brighter than the aged stuff.
El Tequileño Platinum
El Tequileno
Andy Shannon, bartender and co-founder of Candra Drinks in London
This is less about being a beginner brand and more about just being a great tequila. El Tequileño Platinum is my recommendation. With freshly cooked agave on the nose and a slight spice on the palate, it’s great with the orange and lime oils and fresh orange juice we mix together in our margarita recipe.
I prefer mezcal over tequila but if I had to pick anything, I would probably go with Dos Artes. It comes in a festive ceramic bottle, so it’s already dressed to party for summer ’21. It’s beautiful and clean with a great agave flavor.
Agave spirits are some of the most amazing on the planet. But with popularity, comes over-farming. I try to support those who work towards sustainable practices to ensure future generations can experience wonderful agave spirits. Arette is one of the companies doing it right and their Arette Blanco is one of the best tequilas I’ve had. It is earthy and citrusy with a slight salinity.
The tequila shows the greatest aspects of the Blue Weber Agave plant. Plus, it’s incredibly priced for the quality.
Libelula Blanco
Libelula
Mark Phelan, beverage director of 16” on Center in Chicago
Libelula is a blanco mixed with reposado to provide a great balance of fruit and earthy tones alongside soft vanilla from the barrel-aged portion. It is our well tequila, due to its versatility and price point — making it an all-around winner.
Lunazul Blanco
Lunazul
Aaron Lambert, bartender at Whiskey Kitchen in Durham, North Carolina
I like Lunazul Blanco. It’s refreshing and crisp with bright flavors that also finish cleanly, almost in a flash. It disappears into drinks easily, which, though dangerous, also allows a novice drinker to still imbibe and celebrate without being punished by powerful booze flavors.
Hussong’s is the tequila that got me into tequila (specifically Hussong’s Silver). It’s bolder than a Patron but still smooth. It has a weightier texture even after it’s been shaken and chilled for a shot. No lime needed.
Casamigos Blanco
Casamigos
Ethan Skaggs, bar manager at Gris-Gris in New Orleans
From entry-level tequila drinkers to those of us more seasoned with the spirit, Casamigos is a crowd-pleaser. For aspiring tequila lovers, I recommend Casamigos Blanco. This is surely a sipping tequila and at its price point, should be utilized as such. What makes this tequila unique is the amount of creamy texture you get from the earthy, ripe agave. It’s unmatched by comparable brands.
I really enjoy the more oily mouthfeel of the initial taste that quickly fades into an unrivaled sweetness with more complex notes of vanilla, lemon meringue, and chili peppercorn.
La Gritona Reposado
La Gritona
Brenna Gay, bartender at Bradford House in Oklahoma City
La Gritona Reposado is my favorite tequila to introduce to newbie tequila drinkers. It’s smooth, lightly rested in barrels, and has a great quality that doesn’t lead to hangovers (unless you try hard enough). It’s a great way to start loving tequila. It’s also made and owned by a woman, uses recycled materials for bottles, and has sustainable growing practices.
I recommend it with soda on a hot day to appreciate the flavor, or in a Jalisco old fashioned when the evening cools off.
Don Julio 1942
Don Julio
Myles Holdsworth, director of food and beverage at The Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans
Don Julio has a wonderful array of tequilas. If you really want to introduce yourself to tequila in style, pick up a bottle of Don Julio 1942 and enjoy it on the rocks.
El Tesoro Blanco
El Tesoro
Chris Amirault, bartender and co-owner of PARMBOYZ in Los Angeles
El Tesoro Blanco is my pick, hands down. They distill to proof which makes their tequila deliberately flavorful. The soft, vegetal notes pair perfectly with citrus and other flavors associated with your favorite tequila-based cocktails.
Cazadores is a quick and easy jump into the agave bucket. The cooked agave notes are heavy and there is a backing of vanilla. It pairs very well in a citrus-forward cocktail similar to margarita or paloma.
Gran Centenario Plata is a perfect entry-level tequila for people who want to join in and discover the tequila world. Made in Los Altos, Jalisco, Centenario possesses fresh citrus notes with hints of tropical and stone fruits. This tequila is aged for almost one month in Limousin barrels which producers used in France to age their Cognac. It makes this tequila unusually rich and multi-dimensioned even though this is a Plata (or Blanco) tequila.
The palate is very refreshing and smooth with a touch of spiciness. Gran Centenario Plata has a reasonable price paired with great quality which makes this tequila especially attractive for shots! If you prefer long drinks instead of shots, I suggest preparing a refreshing tequila highball.
For tequila that’s super approachable make sure to stick to good quality juice. I particularly enjoy the soft, sweet flavors from Espolòn Reposado. It makes a great paloma, too.
Partida Reposado
Partida
Gabe Lozano, general manager of Avila’s El Ranchito in Orange County, California
The best beginner tequila to drink this summer would be Partida Reposado. Partida Reposado is a very smooth tequila and aged perfectly to enjoy neat. Partida Reposado goes great in a fresh lime juice margarita, spicy margarita, or a paloma, especially if you’re using fresh grapefruit juice.
Tequila Ocho Plata
Tequila Ocho
Mike Gaines, director of food and beverage development for Xperience Restaurant Group in Cypress, California
Tequila Ocho Plata is an easy-drinking tequila that is mildly floral and clean with lively flavors. The flavor of this unaged tequila honors the essence of the agaves of Arandas and the Camerena Ranch, which is why it is a great tequila to sip all summer long.
As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.
The Dallas Mavericks had a wild ride this season, stumbling out of the gates due to a variety of absences due to injuries and COVID-19 protocols before hitting their stride late to earn the 5-seed in the West. In the playoffs, they took the first two games off the Clippers in L.A., but weren’t able to finish the job, losing in seven games and entering an offseason with questions abound about how they move forward and what changes are needed to a roster that couldn’t keep up with its star to get across the finish line in the series.
As soon as Game 7 ended, discussions began about who was at fault for their collapse. Luka Doncic was sensational in the series, but the toll of carrying the offense was evident in fourth quarters when his production waned and the rest of the Mavs struggled to pick up the slack around him. Kristaps Porzingis was a focal point as he was quiet in the series and failed to produce at the secondary star level the Mavs expected him to fill. The center rotation and inconsistent shooting on the wing also came into focus, as the roster is being dissected every which way to figure out why it can’t meet the expectations of their young star.
On Monday, a story from The Athletic dove into organizational dysfunction that the Mavs are dealing with beyond questions of the roster, centered on former pro gambler turned executive Haralabos Voulgaris, who has reportedly gained immense power within the organization, while creating tensions with others in the front office and even being a source of Doncic’s frustrations with the team. It was quite the account of an organization dealing with power struggles at the top and a star who has grown frustrated with some of Voulgaris’ input in team decisions — it was reported he goes so far as to dictate rotations and lineups at times.
Not long after the story began circulating, Mavs owner Mark Cuban — who it should be noted is quoted in the story — called it “total bullsh*t” on Twitter.
This is, of course, what you would expect Cuban to say. He’s not going to happily confirm that his organization has rampant dysfunction and much of the story focuses on Voulgaris’ relationship with Cuban and how he’s gained favor from the Dallas owner. It is a bit funny that a story that quotes Cuban on the record pushing back on its claims would get called “total bullsh*t” by that same person, but it is what he effectively has to say.
As with most things, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Voulgaris is not some omnipresent figure who is the soul reason for every mistake the Mavs have made in recent years, as the sources for the story seem to paint — and it’s not hard to figure out who are likely the main sources for that. On the other hand, his presence clearly is creating tensions if this story is even coming out from disgruntled members of the organization who seemed more than happy to pile on someone they see as over stepping their role as an analytics expert. In any case, it certainly creates some great fodder for conversation and sets the tone for what could be a wild offseason in Dallas.
A couple weeks ago, Amazon announced that they had recruited Billie Eilish, Kid Cudi, and HER for their “Prime Day Show,” a trio of exclusive performances set to drop on Prime Video on June 17. That’s just a few days away, and now, Amazon has shared a trailer for the program. Included in the video are snippets of each performance, all of which look more cinematic and narrative-based than most livestream or online-only concerts.
Amazon previously offered descriptions of each performance, saying of Eilish’s, “Billie brings a timeless, Parisian neighborhood to life with a series of cinematic performances. Set in the city known as the birthplace of cinema, it was directed by Billie Eilish and Sam Wrench, and features new music from Billie’s upcoming album, Happier Than Ever. This breathtaking musical tribute was inspired by Billie’s long-time admiration of a long gone era.”
They noted of Cudi’s show, “As he embarks on his biggest mission to date, Kid Cudi departs Earth to establish a new community on the moon in this intercosmic performance. Featuring music from his album Man On The Moon III, Cudi collaborates with the International Space Orchestra, the world’s first orchestra composed of space scientists from NASA Ames Research Center, the SETI Institute, and the International Space University as his backing band, in a musical collision defying sight, sound, and space.”
They also said of HER’s performance, “Once known as the hub of Los Angeles Black culture in the 1930’s and ’40s, the iconic Dunbar Hotel hosted some of the most prominent figures of its time, including musicians Duke Ellington, Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, and many more. In a modern day musical tribute to this legendary and important piece of history and culture, HER imagines what The Dunbar Hotel would be like if it existed in 2021 featuring new music from her album, Back Of My Mind.”
Jay-Z’s Made In America Festival is returning in September after taking a year off due to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting shutdown of live entertainment, and today, the festival’s organizers revealed the rap-heavy lineup, headlined by Justin Bieber and 2020 MVP, Lil Baby.
Further down the lineup are Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, Bobby Shmurda, Baby Keem, Lil Durk, ASAP Ferg, Moneybagg Yo, Freddie Gibbs, Tinashe, Morray, 42 Dugg, and EST Gee, as well as the ever-enticing “and more.” Of note is the fact that nearly all the names listed are in the midst of huge career years marked by either breakouts as in the case of 42 Dugg, EST Gee, Baby Keem, and Morray, or resurgences, which came about for the recently-released-from-prison Bobby Shmurda, Freddie Gibbs, and Tinashe.
Then, of course, there are the huge favorites, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, and Roddy Ricch, who all had dominating performances throughout the year — each of them had at least one single go No. 1.
Made In America is celebrating its 10th year, and returns to Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, PA Saturday, September 4, and Sunday, September 5, with a portion of proceeds going to ACLU of Pennsylvania and The REFORM Alliance. You can find more information here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
On Sunday, we finally got to see a game that has been rumored for a long time and that was Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy from Square Enix’s, Eidos Montreal studio. It looked fun! There are still plenty of questions to have about the game as a whole, but what we saw from the game so far has created a lot of excitement. It’s also led to a pretty good question that needs to be answered. With Marvel’s Spider-Man being developed by Insomniac, Marvel’s Avengers coming from Crystal Dynamics, and now Guardians of the Galaxy, what Marvel heroes should get their own games next?
The Marvel universe is full of potential video game candidates. Plenty of them we know from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Marvel has been around since 1939, and that means we have 82 years’ worth of comics to choose from. Some of these characters are well known and popular, others are on the rise, and at least one is a character most people have probably never heard of. On top of this, there’s going to be an attempt to apply a genre of game to each character. It’s easy to just say that a character should get a game, but what kind of game we’d love to see them in adds a whole new layer of fun.
Black Panther
Yes, Black Panther just got added to the Marvel’s Avengers game as an expansion, but that isn’t enough for this legendary hero. Black Panther needs his own game so we can get more of him, Wakanda, and that entire universe in a video game story. He’s also a character that in an open-world environment, in particular, would be a blast to move around with. Let him climb the way Spider-Man does, but make him move around quicker in combat and dash around to get around environments quicker. More importantly, just unleash him into the sandbox and let people go explore. Add a great story on top of it and a Black Panther game would be a delight.
Iron Man
There are two reasons Iron Man is on here. One is that flying around in an open environment would be extremely cool and his different suits would create for a lot of different and fun combat scenarios. More importantly, it’s fixing a wrong that was done to Iron Man’s video game career so many years ago. The licensed movie tie-in game that came out in 2008 is one of the worst superhero games ever made and Iron Man does not deserve that title under his name. Fix it and cleanse his video game carer with an original and fun game. Also flying is cool. Who doesn’t like flying?
Hawkeye
Here’s where we can start getting into some different genres away from the traditional open-world sandbox games that superhero games are known for. Hawkeye’s most well-known trait is his ability to fire arrows off with precision accuracy and incredible speed. So why not allow him to star in his own shooter? Want to add more characters? Throw in Kate Bishop too for some more arrows flying through the air. This would be a game similar to most other shooters where you’re taking Hawkeye from point A and getting him to point B with obstacles in the way. Obviously, we’d want an interesting story as well, but this would be a fun genre change from what is expected of most superhero games.
Black Widow
The Black Widow movie is coming out so why not give her a game on top of that? The best part? This would follow similar footsteps as the movie and be about her work as a KGB Agent. Think Metal Gear Solid stealth action, but as Black Widow instead. Stealth action would fit her perfectly, but maybe keep the story a little more grounded in comparison to Metal Gear. With stealth games in short supply these days, a AAA Metal Gear inspired game might hit the right mood for a lot of people.
Loki
Loki is mainstream popular these days thanks to the MCU, and he has a TV show currently going on Disney+, but there’s so much more room to explore the character. For starters, his personal choices have always had a major impact on the world around him. A third-person action RPG with branching paths where the player can decide to either be a villain or a hero would be excellent for Loki’s character. It could also make for some interesting combat scenarios since he’s had so many different powers across the MCU and comics throughout the decades.
Shang-Chi
For a long time, Shang-Chi was one of the more obscure Marvel superheroes. Clearly inspired by Bruce Lee, Shang-Chi was created in the ’70s but never reached quite the level of fame as his counterpart Iron Fist did. Then, Marvel Studios announced a movie for him and now he’s finally starting to get some recognition. Of course, video games can ride that wave and create a game for him too. As a kung-fu master, it’s pretty clear what kind of game they need to make for Shang-Chi here. An action-brawler style beat’em up. Have some sick combos, put him in a 3D environment, and let him wail on waves of bad guys foolish enough to get in his way. Think the Yakuza or Judgment series but with less crime.
Squirrel Girl
Now for anyone that thinks there’s no reason to put Squirrel Girl on this list, you need to ask yourself this. Has anyone ever managed to defeat Thanos by themself? Yes, and it was Squirrel Girl who canonically did it. The MCU meanwhile needed every single superhero ever to take down that purple monster. Squirrel Girl has the strength of a squirrel, making her extremely powerful, and is extremely agile. So she’s perfect for a side scrolling platformer game. Maybe a Metroidvania? She’s a goofy character and would be perfect for something more down to earth and less serious. She may be obscure, but she’s fun and video games are all about having fun.
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