"Supermen": what is unusual about the series and what you need to know before watching

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

On August 31, the first season of the "Overmen" series starts at the IMAX cinema network. Lifehacker tells everything there is to know about the new Marvel project.

So how is it right after all: "Superhumans" or "Inhumans"?

The series in the Russian official translation is called "Supermen". However, in the original, like the comics on which it is based, it bears the name Inhumans, which has long been translated as "Inhumans". Whether the race with the same name will be completely renamed in the series is still unknown.

Who are the Inhumans?

In the mythology of Marvel comics, Inhumans are a race evolving in parallel with humanity. They have various superpowers, but most of them are activated with the help of a substance called Terrigen Mist. Fog is quite dangerous and can lead to genetic deformation, but it can also give such opportunities as telekinesis, pyrokinesis, telepathy.

Most nonhumans live apart from humanity in the city-state of Attilan, which periodically moves. They keep their existence in secret, because people are often disposed with apprehension or even aggressiveness towards everything unknown.

It turns out that the non-humans are an analogue of the X-Men?

Partly yes. The essence of the characters is quite similar - a separate race with superpowers and developing in parallel with humanity. Many comic book plots are built on the clash of mutants or non-humans with ordinary people. In addition, mutant versus nonhuman battles regularly take place on the pages of Marvel issues.

It is likely that Marvel would not have filmed anything about non-humans, since these characters are not as popular as the legendary X-Men. But the film rights of the latter belong to 20th Century Fox, so Marvel cannot introduce them into the plot, except for rare agreements, for example, the appearance of Mercury in the films X-Men: Days of Future Past and Avengers: Age of Ultron. While Fox continues to release X-Men films, Marvel is promoting Inhumans.

Who became the main characters of the series?

In the center of the plot - the royal family of non-humans, ruling the city-state of Atillan, where only representatives of their race live.

Black Thunder (Anson Mount) - King of Inhumans who rules Attillan. He has a destructive voice, so he learned to completely control it even in his sleep. You can see that in the trailers he does not speak.

Jellyfish (Serinda Swan) is his wife and queen. This character's stunning red hair is partly drawn on the computer, as it is in managing it that her main strength lies. At first glance, this is funny, but she can grab objects with them or even fight.

Maximus Boltagon (Iwan Rheon) - the brother of the king, seeking to seize power and confront the people. Most likely, in the series he will not have superpowers, although in the comics he could control the minds of other people. Considering that many viewers know Iwan Rheon for the role of the cruel and crazy Ramsay Bolton in Game of Thrones, and the nickname of Maximus the Crazy, the actor is the best choice.

Crystal (Isabelle Cornish) - Medusa's sister, princess. Able to control four elements: fire, water, air and earth.

Gorgon (Eme Iquacor) - Black Bolt's cousin. He can be called the bodyguard of the family. Able to cause an earthquake with one kick on the ground.

Karnak (Ken Leung) - Another cousin of Black Bolt. He has the ability to clairvoyantly. Most likely, he owns martial arts.

Triton (Mike Moe) is Karnak's brother. In comics on physiology, he is close to fish. In the series, he acts as a special agent. Apparently, he will be entrusted with missions to communicate with non-humans on Earth.

Oran (Sonya Balmores) - the head of the royal guard, a professional assassin.

Lockjaw - a huge dog with the ability to teleport. The family uses it as a vehicle.

What is the essence of the series?

The royal family rules the Inhuman city of Attilan, located on the moon. They are carefully hiding from humanity, but the probability of detection is growing every year. The king's brother Maximus is organizing an uprising, wanting to seize power, so that later on to attack the Earth. Escaping, Black Bolt and his family go to Earth and end up in Hawaii. There they first encounter humans and, having recognized them, decide to protect the planet from the invasion of Maximus.

Is Supermen related to the MCU?

Everything that Marvel Studios puts out in film or television is related. Sometimes the connection is obvious, like the second season of Agents of SHIELD, which complements Captain America: The Other War. And it can be quite blurry, like the Netflix series about Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. All events take place in one MCU, but they do not directly intersect with the films. This is the case with the "Supermen".

The very idea of a people who were carefully hidden from everyone allows them to enter the world of Marvel without any controversy. Probably, at the end of the season they will find out about them, then the further connection with the MCU will become more solid.

Have Inhumans appeared on the screen before?

The royal family itself, on which the plot will be focused, has not appeared or mentioned in other films and TV series. But the nonhuman race was already featured in the series Agents of SHIELD. Starting from the second season, they become one of the central themes of the plot.

Inhumans include several central characters of the series: Daisy Johnson (Shiver), capable of creating strong vibrations up to earthquakes, and Elena Rodriguez (Yo-Yo). She can move with great speed, but she must definitely return to the place from which she started.

What should you watch before getting acquainted with the series?

Without fail - practically nothing, this is a completely independent story. To better understand the abilities of non-humans, you can watch the series "Agents of SHIELD". But ideally, it's best to know the entire cinematic universe. You never know what references can slip through the plot, Marvel is famous for this.

What makes the series so unusual?

The first thing that attracts attention is that the first two episodes are not released on television or on the Web, but in IMAX cinemas. This is not the first time that a certain episode of a series first appears in films. In November 2013, a special edition of Doctor Who, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the series, was shown in theaters. In 2016, Martin Scorsese's Vinyl was launched on the big screens.

But for the first time, the series is being released in IMAX format. Considering the very reverent attitude of IMAX Corporation to the quality of products, this is an indicator of the quality and scale of the project.