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Geek Culture
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Has Long-Requested (Fantastic) Mid-Credits & One Post-Credits
The concept of post-credits scenes may predate the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but there's no denying Marvel Studios' influence on their rise to modern popularity. Now a highly anticipated element of films, especially for comic book adaptations, they have become the standard practice to tease future instalments, build anticipation, and bring new characters into a shared continuity. Not every post-credits scene will live up to expectations, however, owing to various reasons like an underwhelming or shoehorned execution, a lack of significance, and more. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is quite the opposite, with its mid-credits scene, and not the post-credits, turning a longtime request into reality. Taking place after a four-year timeskip, the movie's closing moments show Vanessa Kirby's Sue Storm / Invisible Woman reading to her and Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic's young son, Franklin, who appears disinterested in 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' – a cheeky nod to Galactus' hunger. The superheroine then sets off to find another book and makes her way back after grabbing it from the kitchen, only to sense a foreign presence in the vicinity. Wary, she activates a force field with her hands and steps into the living room, revealing a green hooded figure that Franklin is reaching out to. As the camera closes in on the hooded figure, whose voice we never hear speak and a face we never see, sharp-eyes audiences cap spot the stranger holding on to an unmistakable silver mask in one hand, which can only mean one thing – the highly anticipated arrival of Doctor Doom. Is his arrival expected? Well, audiences would notice at least two instances of the word Latveria in the film, used to label two empty tables. Victor Von Doom is the leader of that small country and the payoff of this comes at the end of the film. The end title card confirms this collision of worlds, with the phrase, 'The Fantastic Four will return in Avengers Doomsday' flashing on the screen. It also lends more context to a previous comment from director Matt Shakman ( WandaVision ), who revealed in his interview with ComicBook that Joe and Anthony Russo – the brothers behind four MCU films, including Avengers: Civil War and Endgame – were involved in the production of The Fantastic Four: First Steps . In contrast, the post-credits scene is nowhere near as exciting. An animated introduction to the in-world cartoon introduced in the film, it acts as a lighthearted gag centred on the animated versions of Marvel's first family, complete with Ben Grimm / The Thing's (Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear ) signature catchphrase: 'It's clobberin' time!'. It's fun but not the most useful in terms of narrative significance. The archenemy of the titular quartet, Victor von Doom / Doctor Doom will make his MCU debut in Avengers: Doomsday , with Iron Man alumnus Robert Downey Jr. stepping into the role. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, he was first introduced in 1962's The Fantastic Four #5 as the monarch of the fictional country of Latveria, who uses his mastery of both science and sorcery to achieve his goal of bringing order to humanity through world domination. The other half of his motivations involves old college rival Mister Fantastic, whom he blames for his disfigurement. In the comics, the supervillain is regarded as one of the smartest and most dangerous threats, having stolen the abilities of cosmic beings such as the Silver Surfer. Additionally, his genius-level intellect aids in the development of various high-tech weapons, gadgets, and equipment to be used in his schemes of conquest. At the very least, his high tech armour is as superior, if not more so, than that of Iron Man. Specific to Franklin, Doctor Doom has an interesting bit of history relating to the character. In the comics, the big bad is the godfather of Valeria Richards, Franklin's younger sister. Here though, it's likely that he's aware of Franklin's burgeoning powers and could potentially want it for himself, thereby setting of the events of the next Avengers movie. Now that The Fantastic Four are returning in Avengers: Doomsday , Franklin will likely play a bigger role in the overarching story. The source material classifies him as an omega-level mutant, the strongest of all categories, and at one point, even made Galactus his own Herald. There are countless ways in which their dealings can go down, and only time will tell how the Russo brothers intend to incorporate their own flavour into the mix. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now screening in theatres, while Avengers: Doomsday opens on 28 May 2026. Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth's theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia's greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really. Disney Marvel Studios MCU post-credits The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Pink Villa
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Will The Fantastic Four: First Steps Have Post-Credit Scenes? Know How Many to Expect from Pedro Pascal Starrer
Spoiler Alert The Fantastic Four: First Steps is one of the highly anticipated films, which is just a couple of days away from release. Ahead of the big premiere, the details about the post-credit scenes of the movie are out. Marvel fans are aware of the drill, where the makers drop either one or post clips in between the credits, keeping the audience hooked to their seats till the end. The pattern will be continued for the Pedro Pascal starrer too. According to the media reports, the upcoming movie will have two mid-credit scenes and one post-credit stinger. As the rumors have it, one of the three clips could drop hints about the future of Marvel, with Avengers: Doomsday. What to expect from The Fantastic Four: First Steps post-credit scenes? The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to welcome Marvel's first family into the franchise. The film, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, will set the stage for the upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: Doomsday. In the first mid-credits scene, the storyline sees a major jump, as Kirby's Sue Storm is seen reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar to her four-year-old son, Franklin. As she tries to search for another book, A Fly Went By, she hears a noise from behind. As Sue turns, she finds a cloaked figure standing, with a family silver mask on. While Storm and Franklin have their backs to the camera, the audience knows that the one standing on the opposite end is none other than Dr. Doom. A text then appears on-screen, which reads, "The Fantastic Four will return in Avengers: Doomsday." Robert Downey Jr. returns As confirmed earlier, Robert Downey Jr. is set to return to the Marvel franchise. This time not as a hero, but as a supervillain, Dr. Doom. As per the previous reports, the cast of Thunderbolts* and Fantastic Four: First Steps will join the remaining Avengers to fight the evil of Victor von Doom. The star-studded line-up starring in Avengers: Doomsday includes Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Pascal, Kirby, Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, and many others. The new Marvel movie will hit theaters in December 2026.
Spectator
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
Spectator Competition: Family matters
For Competition 3409 you were invited to submit parental advice courtesy of famous writers. Kurt Vonnegut's father's advice to his son gave me the idea for this challenge: 'Never take liquor into the bedroom. Don't stick anything in your ears. Be anything but an architect.' Your entries were witty and imaginative and there were many more potential winners than we have space for. Congratulations all round, and a special mention to George Simmers's Georges Perec, Joe Houlihan's Truman Capote, David Silverman's Shakespeare and Max Ross's Wordsworth. The following take the £25 John Lewis vouchers. We assume today that an adult's duty is to keep children entertained. This assumption can only lead to disappointment in adulthood and a disinclination to grow up at all. Children need to experience the banality of real life; the way potatoes, if allowed to boil dry, blacken and become bitter; the not-quite-matching of amateur wallpapering; the taste of a penny, licked on a long, boring Sunday afternoon. Bracing northern weather. Streets of houses whose only individuality is in their front doors. As for books, the terse precision of The Very Hungry Caterpillar shames me. Deprecate the florid whimsy of The Wind in the Willows, but cherish its hay-scented nostalgia. Do not expose your children to Milne or Barrie. Forbid Dahl, so that they can read him illicitly. Ensure that their clothing is a little dowdy and they will learn to secure approval through merit. Above all, be comically glum. Frank Upton/Alan Bennett I was never a child, chum. (Pause) But I can handle them. It's largely a matter of the equitable distribution of mint humbugs. (Pause) The sparing. Equitable. Distribution. They'll require repeated instruction. The youth of today possess little knowledge about the correct operation of a dumb waiter, the location of Sidcup or how to fashion an anecdote that goes very precisely nowhere. They'll take none of it in, hence the necessity and futility of repetition. Culture is wasted on them. They prefer pantomime to the tragedies of John Webster. (Pause) Oh yes they do. Sport is the thing to break them in. If they can play impassively a properly umpired game of cricket your work is done. Start on the small and work up, that's my motto. Should you fail, they'll become merely childish. Succeed and, in due time, you'll be eye to eye with something truly catastrophic: yourself. Adrian Fry/Harold Pinter Too much guff gets talked about fatherhood, most of it by childless sociologists. All a chap needs to make a decent fist of fathering is a wife who wants kids about three times as much as he does, a booklined study off-limits to the rest of the brood (decent single malt in top right-hand bureau drawer) and a repertoire of amusing faces – Monocled Headmaster Suffering Aneurism, Savonarola in Soho– to buck things up during meals you can't spend out at the Garrick. Children are drawn to the parent they see least, a win-win. You can go drinking with pals most days and still expect to pop up in as many memoirs or romans à clef as you have offspring. Your brood want bedtime stories? Dick Francis is bloody good and will simultaneously grip you and set them snoring like piglets before the end of the first furlong. Russell Clifton/Kingsley Amis A word of good advice while I still can – If you have based your life on solid virtue And been the best of Ideal English Man; If sticks and stones and words have never hurt you You may by now be just one half a man. Though 'If' has long inspired your moral core And helped defeat the blandishments of sin I'll say now, as I meant to warn before, You might have had some problems fitting in With friends who think you're now a priggish bore. So try to loosen up a bit, my son. Of all the Deadly Sins there must be one Which, tried discreetly just for one-off fun, Might win you street-cred as a proper man – And, what is more, an English man, my son. Martin Parker/Rudyard Kipling Along the muddy lanes of Hampstead Heath, Safe in a world of trams and buttered toast, The children, dry in hoods and sturdy boots, Return for tea – and tales of playground spats. Then give them Scott's Emulsion, rusks and malt, And fortify with scones and Ovaltine. Preparing them for School ma'am's iron rule, Ask, 'Now, how many pennies in a pound?' Then bath-time with the goddess Soap in hand, And off to Dreamland, tucked in eiderdown. But if young John should dare to disobey Be hard of heart – it's character they need. 'All right, bend over.' Three resounding thwacks From Father's gym-shoe bring a gulp. Then pause – A pat upon the head, a thoughtful smile: 'I liked the way you took that beating, John.' Ralph Goldswain/John Betjeman I have assembled you here, in this venerable library on this stormy night, to offer counsel. Your lives have run hitherto on well-worn rails – the cashiered major, the faded adventuress, the Bohemian aspiring artist, still aspiring, the bankrupt man of business – and your assorted branch lines now run through the wilderness. You have ignored my advice and let the priceless alignment of motive, method and opportunity evade you. Or so I thought – for I now recognise the early symptoms of arsenic poisoning. Was it the Turkish Delight? The brace of woodcock? The Circassian liqueur or the amusingly edible Romany cigarette holder? I have ignored my second rule and my scornful Hubris is now followed by Nemesis. I offer two bequests: My large fortune to my murderer, whichever one of you that might be. And secondly, the recommendation that you think very hard indeed before applying for probate. Nick Syrett/Agatha Christie No. 3412: Hard lines You are invited to submit a poem about the struggle of writing a poem (16 lines maximum).Please email entries to competition@ by midday on 6 August.
Newsweek
28-05-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
These Hungry Animals Eat Their First Meal Before Birth
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Forget The Very Hungry Caterpillar—scientists have discovered that another notoriously ravenous insect can eat its very first meal before it is even born. Entomologist Koutaro Ould Maeno of the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences and colleagues report that, in dry conditions, undersized desert locusts can hatch from oversized eggs with a little bit of the egg's yolk already in their guts. This little snack, the team believes, gives the young locusts the extra time and energy to find food to eat after hatching—allowing them to survive longer than their regular counterparts. The extra yolk, the researchers wrote, "functions as a 'lunch box'"; as they explain, "producing large eggs is advantageous under harsh conditions." A swarm of locusts A swarm of locusts Michael Wallis/iStock / Getty Images Plus The desert locust—Schistocerca gregaria—is a species of short-horned grasshopper found in parts of Africa, Arabia and southwest Asia that lives in one of two phases based on environmental conditions. Ordinarily, the insects live solitary lifestyles, moving independently and typically sporting a coloration that allows them to blend in with the background vegetation. When droughts cause food supplies to dwindle and locust populations to become more dense, the insects undergo both bodily and behavioral changes into a gregarious form. This sees the locusts switch to a more yellow coloration and emit pheromones that attract each other—encouraging group movements and swarm formation. These swarms, which can contain a staggering 390 million locusts per square mile, may travel long distances to reach new areas and form plagues that consume vast swathes of vegetation, making them a major agricultural pest. In their study, Maeno (who also goes by the moniker "Dr. Locust") and his colleagues raised desert locus in both isolated and crowded conditions, as well as in dry and wet settings. When reared in crowds, female locusts were found to lay fewer but larger eggs than those raised in isolation. Larger offspring are expected to have an advantage in competing for food. Meanwhile, dry conditions caused both solitary and gregarious locusts to have smaller offspring than in dry conditions—and both these hatchlings from small and large eggs were found to have residual yolk within their guts after birth. Pictured: Sample Locusts from the experiments; those from dry conditions were found to have yolk in their guts (black arrows). Pictured: Sample Locusts from the experiments; those from dry conditions were found to have yolk in their guts (black arrows). PNAS Nexus 2025. DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf132 "We show that larger progeny survive longer than smaller ones, which is expected," the researchers explained. "However, hatchlings from desiccated large eggs are abnormally small but have more yolk as energy—and survive longer under starved conditions than hatchlings from normal eggs." In fact, among solitary locusts reared in dry conditions, small hatchlings lived 65 percent longer in the absence of food than their normal-sized counterparts. And small gregarious hatchlings birthed in dry conditions survived a whopping 230 percent longer than solitary eggs produced in wet conditions. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about locusts? Let us know via science@ Reference Maeno, K. O., Piou, C., Leménager, N., Ould Ely, S., Ould Babah Ebbe, M. A., Benahi, A. S., & Jaavar, M. E. H. (2025). Desiccated desert locust embryos reserve yolk as a "lunch box" for posthatching survival. PNAS Nexus, 4(5).
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Daily Record
Seven family days out in Scotland's Cairngorms National Park this summer
From zip lines to beekeeping, there is something for everyone. Summer is rapidly approaching, so time is running out to make plans. Every corner of Scotland has something to offer families looking for a fun staycation. When it comes to days out in nature, however, it is hard to beat the Cairngorms National Park. The national park, which was established in 2003, covers the Cairngorms range of mountains and the surrounding hills in the northeast of Scotland. The largest national park in the UK, there is a wealth of things to get up to. The Cairngorms offers opportunities for watersports, snowsports, wildlife watching, and much more. The Daily Record has rounded up seven of the most exciting family days out in the Cairngorms National Park over the coming months. From beekeeping sessions to a zip line park, there is bound to be something that appeals. Read on for seven of the best family days out in the Cairngorms National Park this summer. More information about family days out in the Cairngorms can be found on the Visit Cairngorms website. 1. Highland Wildlife Park, Kingussie Highland Wildlife Park is a 105-hectare safari park and zoo near Kingussie in the Cairngorms National Park, home to more than 200 amazing and endangered animals. It is a gateway to the natural world, where visitors can experience nature and learn about the challenges facing wildlife. The attraction's Wildlife Discovery Centre is now open to explore. It features an interactive exhibition, a hilltop den where visitors can learn about the charity's conservation work, and new classrooms providing space for local communities to engage with the natural world. Newly on public display this summer at Highland Wildlife Park are female snow leopard Pari and two native felines in their Wild Cat Wood. Also new for summer 2025 is The Very Hungry Caterpillar trail, with the beloved children's story brought to life across the grounds. 2. Landmark Forest Adventure Park, Carrbridge Visitors can experience this ancient forest eight metres high up in the tree canopy as part of the Red Squirrel Trail. It is ideal for everyone from little adventurers right through to grandparents. One of the highlights is Wild Water Coasters, which feature plenty of soaking twists and turns. Elsewhere, guests can take part in the RopeworX aerial adventure, skydive, and try their hand at the towering Pinnacle climbing wall. Meanwhile, the Dinosaur Kingdom features 22 life-sized roaring dinosaurs and is a must for dino fans of all ages. Visitors can also check out the Butterfly House, which is filled with butterflies, exotic flowers, tropical birds, tortoises, insects, and fish. More information about bookings and prices can be found on the Landmark Forest Adventure Park website. 3. The Loch Insh Outdoor Centre, Kingussie The Loch Insh Outdoor Centre is nestled in the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains, at the lower end of Glen Feshie. It offers a wide selection of multi-sport activities on the loch for the whole family, and even dogs can join in on the fun. Guests can take their pick from 1.5 hour canoeing, kayaking or sailing—priced as little as £20. There is also the opportunity to rent out family-friendly pedalos, which can be hired for £40 for up to six people. There is no extra charge for dogs joining their owners on a kayak and paddleboard or yachting session. However, owners are responsible for making sure their pet is safe on the water. More information about bookings and prices can be found on The Loch Insh Outdoor Centre website. 4. Strathspey Railway, Aviemore This unique experience allows families to immerse themselves in the sights, the sounds, and the smells of a bygone era on a nostalgic train journey. On Strathspey Railway, visitors can journey through the stunning scenery between Aviemore, Boat of Garten, and Broomhill. The return trip takes approximately one hour and 40 minutes, and is usually steam-hauled—though subject to change. The Aviemore to Broomhill is timetabled to run and offers family discount tickets. There is also the opportunity to upgrade for an extra charge, with first-class travel and an Observation carriage both available. Travellers can even enjoy a light lunch experience or indulge in an Afternoon 'Steam' Tea. More information about bookings and prices can be found on the Strathspey Railway website. 5. Beekeeping taster session, Loch Alvie For those who have ever wanted to try their hand at beekeeping, the Rowan Tree Country Hotel has its own apiary. The one-of-a-kind attraction is managed by a qualified beekeeper, offering tours to people interested in the secret life of bees. The beekeeper will provide an overview of how the bee colony functions, before the hive is carefully opened to show how busy it is. Beesuits and gloves are provided, though visitors will need to provide their own wellies or hiking boots. The beekeeping taster session can be booked by guests at the Rowan Tree Country Hotel or by non-residents. However, the latter will need to call or email to book. More information about bookings and prices can be found on the Rowan Tree Country Hotel website. 6. Clay shooting experience and farm tours, Alvie and Dalraddy Estates Alvie and Dalraddy Estates near Aviemore both offer a selection of fun activities for anybody looking for a unique way to spend their summer. Clay shooting experience and farm tours are both available. The clay pigeon shooting ground has targets to suit all levels of ability, and is open to anybody over the age of 12. Experienced instructors will be on-site to ensure visitors hit as many clays as they can. Also on offer is a guided farm tour that will provide an interesting glimpse into traditional Highland farming life. Headed by a member of the Balchurn Home Farm team, visitors will meet Shorthorn and Simmental cattle, Blackface Sheep, Scotch Mule, and Cheviot Sheep. More information about bookings and prices can be found on the Alvie and Dalraddy Estates website. 7. Killiecrankie Zip Park, Killiecrankie Killiecrankie Zip Park is a unique adventure zip park located in the Valley of Killiecrankie. It was created to offer an alternative adventure in the Perthshire area for thrill seeking families, couples, solo adventures, and groups. The park features a course linking a series of nine zip lines, with two crossing over the River Garry. Visitors can zip from tree to tree through the stunning valley of Killiecrankie at heights of up to 30 metres.
