Entertainment

(G)I-DLE are ‘Tomboys’ in their first full album comeback

First full album release since debut in 2018

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The fast-filling music video views and online music streams (plus the strong album sales) are enough to say (G)I-DLE is ready to slay!

With almost 28 million NEVERLANDs following them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, millions of streams in Spotify and Apple Music, and amassing over a billion of views on YouTube, there’s no doubt that (G)I-DLE [여자(아이들)] is one of the hottest K-Pop acts not just in South Korea, but in the global Hallyu (한류 / Korean Wave) scene as well.

Who is (G)I-DLE?

For starters, the group is a multi-national K-Pop girl group act composed of two Koreans together with Chinese, Taiwanese, and Thai members. Overall, they’re five in the group with members Miyeon (미연/K), Minnie (민니/T), Soyeon (소연/K), Yuqi (유기/C), and Shuhua (슈화/T).

They’re from CUBE Entertainment which is also one of the biggest entertainment agencies in South Korea and home to other popular K-Pop acts such as CLC, BTOB, PENTAGON, LIGHTSUM, and formerly hit groups 4MINUTE (with HyunA) and BEAST.

They’re legendary enough as most of you might have already heard their hit songs including their debut song LATATA, as well as other releases like Oh My God, HANN, HWAA, LION, and even the hit collaboration song of K/DA’s POP/STARS featuring members Miyeon and Soyeon.

Room of firsts

Ever since the release of ‘HWAA‘ last January 2021, the girls are ready to take over the stage again after a year of hiatus. (G)I-DLE has put in a lot of effort in making their long-time break meaningful.

‘[I NEVER DIE]’ is the group’s first full album release since their debut in 2018 with previous releases just mostly singles and EPs. It’s also their first comeback this 2022.

With the uncanny album title, it still has a strong meaning to it. As there is no end to the genre of (G)I-DLE, their musical journey will also continue endlessly. This album comprises a total of nine (9) tracks with various genres ranging from alternative rock, pop, R&B, and hip-hop:

  1. TOMBOY (Title Track)
  2. Never Stop Me
  3. VILLAIN DIES
  4. ALREADY
  5. POLAROID
  6. ESCAPE
  7. LIAR
  8. MY BAG
  9. TOMBOY (CD only)

 

Here’s also a special video of their side track ‘MY BAG’

Unfortunately, this is also their first release as a 5-member group especially with the withdrawal of their former member Soojin from the group last August 2021.

Being a ‘TOMBOY’ isn’t a bad thing

While the term “tomboy” is coined more for its derogatory term against “boyish-acting” women, the title track ‘TOMBOY’ reveals more of (G)I-DLE’s bold and confident attitude. Those on-the-point lyrics “I’m not a doll” and “Just me I-DLE” further prove that the members have peculiar yet daring charms.

Together with each of the member’s unique voices accompanied with rough and magnificent instrumental, the song is both mood-heightening and addictive. And with the music video showing the rebellious heroic sides of the members rather than being the cliché heroine who sheds tears for love, it shows that the song is meant to stand up and don’t end up getting fooled and being hurt.

Early Stage Pass

During the online media showcase held before the official comeback release at 6PM KST (Korean Standard Time), (G)I-DLE performed their latest comeback song to us live.

They have also answered some of the sought-after questions.

Unlike past comebacks where Soyeon is the member who works behind their song and album production, Minnie and Yuqi have also helped her this time in making their first full-length album more meaningful. She was even touched that her members understood what she meant to say even if she didn’t say anything.

Minnie has participated in the production of ‘ALREADY’ and ‘ESCAPE’. Yuqi even encouraged her members to try different vocal styles than their usual ones.

When asked, the members said they love all songs in the album but other than ‘TOMBOY’, ‘LIAR’ and ‘ESCAPE’ are also in their A-list.

(L > R) Minnie, Miyeon, Soyeon, Yuqi, Shuhua

And if you notice the subtle graffiti-styled “G” in their group logo that’s a little bit hard to see, it symbolizes that the group wants to get rid of any prejudices — just like in the ‘TOMBOY’ comeback track itself. The best words to describe this new album, it says “Just Me”.

With their former member’s departure, they have honestly thought that they’ve debuted again. They completed this album with the thought of showing their growth as a group. All members of (G)I-DLE want this album to be memorable to the fandom.

Wrapping the showcase up, the members of (G)I-DLE has promised that if they’ll win during their comeback promotions, fans get to decide what concept they’ll do for their special video.

And just like how confident the (G)I-DLE is with their latest comeback release, I think NEVERLANDs (like me) are confident enough that they can fulfill that dream for the girls. We just have to wait for their first music show win with ‘TOMBOY’ once they perform it live on-stage.

And as GadgetMatch’s in-house K-Pop insider, I can simply say I’ve been a Neverland since debut. It’s more evident when I mentioned them before here twice, specifically in the Now Playing Volume 3 article 😉

Entertainment

Marvel Studios unveils new X-Men cast

Adam Driver, Inde Navarette, more join Sadie Sink for film set for May 2028

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Courtesy: Marvel

At the D23 Disney fan event, Marvel Studios has officially unveiled the cast of the new X-Men movie, which has been announced for a May 5, 2028 premiere.

Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige and director Jake Schreier were joined onstage by Sadie Sink, who made her debut as Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, for the showcase.

The trio then welcomed Sink’s new co-stars: Kit Connor as Scott Summers/Cyclops, Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, and Maya Boyd as Storm.

Finally, Adam Driver crashed the panel with one final video surprise, where he revealed that he will be playing a very sinister figure named Nathaniel Milbury, a.k.a. Mister Sinister.

Mister Sinister has been a recurring antagonist throughout various X-Men media, including in Season 2 of the 1992 animated series and in the first season of X-Men ’97.

Now, he will serve as the main villain in the new X-Men film that jumpstarts the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Mutant Saga.

Given the initial cast, this X-Men reboot will be set in the earlier stages of the team’s lifecycle, taking audiences back to how the school built its foundation for a faithful setup based in the comics. Although within the MCU chronology, it will be set in the present day.

The rebooted X-Men film is now the third confirmed feature film in the post-Multiverse Saga MCU, after Black Panther 3 and Ghost Rider.

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Avengers: Doomsday special look teases villain’s origin, crusade vs. ‘stolen lives’

Clip previews Doom’s dynamic with the Fantastic Four, motives

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Courtesy: Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Studios debuted an Avengers: Doomsday special look at the D23 Disney fan event, showcasing a clip focused heavily on the Dynamic between Doctor Doom and the Fantastic Four.

No less than lead antagonist actor Robert Downey Jr. graced the stage to reveal the special look. He was joined by MCU veterans Chris Evans (Steve Rogers) and Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter).

Their joint was fitting as it: their characters in Avengers: Endgame were last seen living out an alternate timeline together after Steve returned the Infinity Stones to their original places following the time heist.

The special look opens with Sue Storm explaining Doctor Doom’s origins before his turn to villainy. Among those listening were Shang-Chi, the Wakandans, the X-Men, Thor, and Steve Rogers.

“Victor was always the smartest guy in every room. He used to be different. He used to be caring. And then, everything he loved was taken from him. I knew he was lost, but I did not realize that he was broken,” Sue says.

This establishes the deep-seated relationship between herself, Reed Richards, and Doom. Long before the antagonist took the couple’s child, Franklin Richards, in the post-credits scene of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the trio shared a long and complicated history.

The clip then cuts to Reed himself confronting his adversary among the rubble, asking him: “Did you do this?”

While Doom has historically held a grudge against Mister Fantastic stemming from their academic falling out, the footage hints at a motivation far broader than a personal vendetta.

‘Stolen lives’

Delivering what may be the clip’s defining line, Doom issues a stark warning: “All of you have lived stolen lives. But now you must give them back.”

There’s no question that since the MCU introduced the multiverse, timeline instability and incursions have grown increasingly dire.

But of course, the most pertinent one for the Doomsday narrative is Steve living a borrowed life by choosing to remain in the past with Peggy, not knowing the repercussions of this decision.

Because Doomsday serves as a direct Endgame sequel anyway in the grand scheme of things, this provides a clear context for Doom’s vengeful crusade.

The special look transitions with the familiar but brief battle scene between Thor and Doom — this time with a bit of dialogue. The Stormbreaker just gets flicked away effortlessly, and the God of Thunder is blasted backward before Doom summons an army of Sentinels.

“Hell answers to me,” Doom declares, “for I am Doom”.

Wolverine, Deadpool, Spider-Man appearing?

Building on Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool antics during the recent San Diego Comic-Con where he asked Downey Jr. about the film’s production schedule, long-time Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman made a surprise video appearance in D23.

Prompted by an off-screen Reynolds, Jackman asked if there still was room in the already star-studded Doomsday ensemble.

Marvel Studios continues to lean into these officially sanctioned bits, using playful cast teasers rather than risking leaks or confirming appearances blatantly.

While logical storytelling suggests saving characters like Deadpool and Wolverine for Avengers: Secret Wars, the impending multi-versal collapse makes virtually any crossover possible.

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Marvel’s VisionQuest to premiere this October

Series to offer deeper dive into both Vision, Ultron

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Marvel Television’s VisionQuest is coming to Disney+ on October 14, as announced at the D23 fan event.

The series conclude the epic trilogy that began with 2021’s groundbreaking, award-winning WandaVision and 2024’s acclaimed Agatha All Along.

The Vision himself, Paul Bettany, and Ultron, James Spader, joined Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige at the event to tease fans with a first look trailer and poster for the upcoming series.

In VisionQuest, a rebooted Vision has been in hiding, having escaped from those who sought to weaponize him.

Searching for new meaning, he consults the AI personas embedded in his programming, including F.R.I.D.A.Y., E.D.I.T.H., J.A.R.V.I.S., and the infamous Ultron.

His discreet existence ends when a bounty placed on his head thrusts him on the run with Thomas Shepard, a mysterious boy who may be Vision’s son, reincarnate.

As Vision evades capture, he must confront his nature, resist Ultron’s influence, and unravel the enigma that is his young companion if he’s to survive.

Deeper dive into Ultron

Having VisionQuest allows for a deeper dive into Spader’s Ultron after becoming the main protagonist in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron.

While the AI entity has appeared in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness — offering a glimpse of what could have been if Tony Stark’s ‘suit of armor around the world’ plan had succeeded — as well as in What If…?, the upcoming series promises a far more in-depth exploration of his character within the core MCU timeline.

Discussions have also pointed out that the WandaVision trilogy is an essential and required viewing to understand Avengers: Secret Wars, which of course will be set up by Avengers: Doomsday later this year.

Aside from Bettany and Spader, VisionQuest stars Ruaridh Mollica, Todd Stashwick, T’Nia Miller, Lauren Morais, Orla Brady, Diane Morgan, Polly Frame, Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, with Emily Hampshire and James D’Arcy.

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