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The Disney Company was built on selling art. Sure, their films (and music, and theme parks, and video games, and so on) are always designed and optimized for the purpose of entertainment. Sure, they always think about their bottom line and expect to turn a profit by appealing to the masses. And yet, their creations always strive for emotional resonance, or thematic power, or pushing the boundaries of the chosen medium — or some combination. This is a way of saying it is art.

Of course, another way to define “selling art” is to find or commission artwork from other people and sell them in a gallery. Here is some information about Disney’s own take on the concept: Wonderground Gallery.

Of all the people who make it a point to keep up with fashion trends, many make a distinction between chic styles and pop culture. Chic is what is in, and it can be bold, experimental, and above all us, good-looking. It does not often ally itself with pop culture, viewing it as a lower form of culture. Fashion based on that would be derivative at best and trashy at worst.

Many other fashion enthusiasts, as well as more casual shoppers who just want something that looks good, are not as troubled about the distinction. Some designers and entertainment companies have taken note, including, naturally, Disney. Here is some information about Loungefly’s Disney designer fashion accessories.

Everything about visiting a Disney theme park is special. With that said — and especially for kids (and kids at heart!) — among the most special parts is seeing beloved characters come alive. Better still is getting to meet them yourself. You can get pictures, of course, but you can say hi, give high-fives, and even hug them if you want. It is one of the truest examples of the parks’ magic.

To that end, people love having a way to preserve the magic of that moment. Disney autograph books are a great and unique way to do it. Here is some information on this wonderful Disney parks tradition.

Many people enjoy wearing Disney-themed clothing, whether they are packing for a theme park visit or just feeling in the right mood. Shirts, pants, sweaters, and various attire of the Mouse House’s beloved characters can be found in many department stores and mall outlets. The reasons are clear: great iconography, clever designs, a sense of nostalgia or whimsy, and even a geeky sort of fun.

Of all the great Disney-themed clothing out there, one type is more iconic than all the others. Every entertainment brand offers tees and hoodies, but only this one has the Disney ears. Here is some more information on these trademark hats, as well as other great headwear from Disney.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, villains typically perish by the end of the movie, one way or another. Only a few break from that mold. Adrian Toomes, “The Vulture,” and Helmut Zemo are captured and imprisoned. In Ant-Man and the Wasp, the heroes realize that their antagonist, “Ghost,” is simply misunderstood, and they befriend her. Talos and the Skrulls turn out to be victims of the Kree, and they persuade Captain Marvel to fight (but not kill) the Kree leadership.

Notably, some of the surviving antagonists join the protagonists. Loki is a prominent example, of course, but another is so significant that people hardly remember he was ever on the wrong side: Winter Soldier.

The formation of the Avengers forms the spine of Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As they charted this path, the brains at Marvel Studios knew that they needed a good excuse for that group to form. Each of their superheroes was capable of handling most situations on their own. Getting them together in The Avengers would require a major threat.

Due to various circumstances, including character deaths and actor departures, they had to get Loki in the role. This turned out for the better, as the character, played brilliantly by Tom Hiddleston, would become one of the MCU’s break-out stars.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has produced quite a few cultural sensations in the past eleven years. However, none seemed to catch the public imagination and dominate conversations quite like 2018’s Black Panther. It was more than a box office smash, which is par for the MCU. It was a sociopolitical moment that got everyone talking about the concept of pan-Africanism, the effects of the African diaspora, and the conflict between nationalism and responsibility.

This is due in large part to the movie’s villain, who symbolizes the film’s themes and continues to captivate audiences. It is not an overstatement to say that much of Black Panther’s success stems from Michael B. Jordan’s nigh-perfect performance as Erik Stevens, nicknamed “Killmonger.”

A popular saying goes that a story is only as good as its villain, and this is especially true in the superhero genre. These protagonists are more powerful than those of other genres, so they need conflicts capable of truly challenging them. The supervillain — often just as colorful in both garb and personality, often with superpowers, almost always with less-than-altruistic motivations — is an ideal match. The best of them can be just as iconic as, or arguably more iconic than, their heroic counterparts.

We wish to celebrate the best villains of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). There is no better candidate for the inaugural article of this mini-series than the final, strongest opponent of the Avengers: the Mad Titan himself, Thanos.

Avengers: Endgame is the definitive conclusion to the Infinity Saga. After 11 years and more than 20 films of build-up, the Infinity Stones are dealt with, and Thanos is permanently thwarted. Some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s greatest heroes perish or retire. Besides Spider-Man: Far From Home, which came out after Endgame and caps off Phase Three, the path forward for the MCU seemed unclear.

Then, Marvel Studios finally revealed some information on what will come, first at Comic-Con and then at D23. What we learned is nothing short of exciting.

When you think about the Avengers (or at least the versions of them in the Marvel Cinematic Universe), who comes to mind? Iron Man, almost certainly — his movie came first, and Robert Downey Jr. brought his captivating and entertaining character to 10 out of 23 MCU films. Captain America is another significant figure, thanks in no small part to Chris Evans’s masterful portrayal. Nick Fury introduced the team-up concept in the famed post-credits scene of the first Iron Man and he remains omnipresent.

And yet, one particular member stands out to those who know to watch for her — and not just because of her gender. Without a solo film to her name (so far), Black Widow holds her own in a crowded universe.

There may be hundreds of superheroes out there, but if you ask people to name their favorite, many would say Spider-Man. This is as true today as it has been ever since following his groundbreaking debut in 1962. In fact, he may be even more popular now, thanks in no small part to his continued presence on movie screens. Just look at the intense fan reaction to the recent disagreements between Sony Pictures and The Disney Company, which may shutter the character from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

One could argue that none of this would be possible without the first big-budget film adaptation of the wall-crawler’s amazing adventures. Though far from ultimate, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy remains spectacular — and arguably superior.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe was firmly science fiction from the beginning — its first film is literally about an inventor in a robot suit. Even the first Thor focused on telling audiences that the Norse gods are just powerful aliens. This focus only makes sense: most Marvel heroes are sci-fi in nature, especially the popular ones. The series also started in the wake of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, which cemented superhero cinema as more grounded than the comics.

However, there is more to Marvel than high-tech gadgetry and radioactive origin stories. This universe was capable of accommodating full-on magic, and all the possibilities branching from that. Thor: The Dark World waded into that pool, but it was Doctor Strange that cannonballed the MCU into the realm of fantasy.