I often find myself drawn to classic villains like the Riddler and Reverse-Flash. However, some newer villains have caught my attention recently, even if they didn’t all become hugely popular. It’s a shame when a villain with a lot of promise gets overlooked. I think initiatives like Next Level are a perfect opportunity to revisit at least five of these underrated villains in 2026 and give them another chance.
In the primary Marvel Universe (Earth-616), Hank Pym uses his intelligence to invent Pym Particles, which allow him and his assistant Janet van Dyne to become the superheroes Ant-Man and Wasp, and eventually marry. But in an alternate universe (Earth-6160), a villain called the Maker causes an accident that severely injures Hank, preventing him from finishing his research. This forces Hank and Janet to work as pest control professionals. They only become superheroes when Iron Lad, a hero from the future, arrives and provides them with size-changing suits. However, Janet’s personality shifts in this reality, making her a much more complex and morally ambiguous hero than she’s ever been before.
Even when looking at Hogwarts through the lens of a magical world, many things about the school don’t quite add up. From unrealistic staffing to dangerous conditions and rules that don’t make sense, the series is full of inconsistencies. Here are five of the biggest Hogwarts problems that fans still debate about today.
Despite keeping the original title, Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass is launching on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on February 5th. While the price hasn’t been revealed, the PC version currently costs $14.99. The console release was initially planned for April 2025, but the exact date was kept secret until now. The game’s trophy list is now available, and it’s interesting because the PC version doesn’t have achievements, so this gives players on PlayStation, Xbox, and (likely) Switch a first look at the platform-specific rewards they can earn.
The game *Fallout: New Vegas* is especially connected to the events of Season 2. Like much of the season, it’s set in the ruined landscape of Las Vegas and the Mojave Desert. Although it takes place 15 years before the show’s timeline, many of its characters and groups play important roles in the TV series.
Marvel Studios is finishing up work on Avengers: Doomsday, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo. The film is expected to hit US theaters later this year, and a follow-up movie, Avengers: Secret Wars, is planned for release in 2027.
New X-ray techniques are providing an unprecedented glimpse into the fleeting world of atomic-scale changes in complex materials.
As a huge movie fan, I’m really excited about James Gunn’s next project, Man of Tomorrow – the sequel to the recent Superman film. It’s only the third movie planned for the new DC Universe so far, which is still pretty early days. I recently read an interview with Gunn in Variety where he talked about how juggling being a director and a studio head feels a bit like being both Superman and Lex Luthor – a lot of pressure! He called it an “experiment,” and honestly, that worried some folks over at Cosmic Book News. They seem to think it means the plans for the DCU aren’t totally finalized, which, yeah, makes sense – things can always change!
In the thirteenth episode of its thirty-seventh season, The Simpsons said goodbye to a familiar face. Barry Duffman, the actor who played the energetic spokesperson for Duff Beer, announced his retirement as the brand’s mascot.
With its 50th season on the horizon, the CBS show Survivor hinted at appearances by stars like Billie Eilish, Jimmy Fallon, and MrBeast. Jeff Probst, the show’s host for many years, recently explained how the idea of bringing Hollywood celebrities to Fiji originated.