November was a month to remember in the eyes of comic book fans all around the world. From the cinema, to home view- ing platforms, both the Marvel and DC Entertainment franchises had a lot to offer during the two-week span between Nov. 3 and 17.

Thor: Ragnarok

The latest film in an ever-growing number within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU, Thor: Ragnarok has been one of the greatest films to emerge over the last decade, since the MCU’s start in 2008 with Iron Man. The past two Thor-related films have not been regarded as highly as other Marvel films like Captain America: Civil War, which received a Rotten Tomatoes score of a 91%, as Thor (the first movie) received a score of a 76%, and Thor: The Dark World (the sequel) a 66% rating. However, Ragnarok provides amazing sights, great action sequences, and even well-placed laughs for all viewers to enjoy, earning it a high 92%.

The audience can see a more lighthearted Thor (Chris Hemsworth) as he taunts villains with witty one-liners right before he strikes them down with his mighty hammer. However, when the threat of the villainous Hela (Cate Blanchett) emerges, Thor will lose his hammer and all that he knows, taking him on a quest like none before in order to save his be- loved home world of Asgard.

This story pleasantly turns into a buddy-movie between the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Thor, as the two bond in ways never experienced in any other Marvel film. However, other characters also make the movie even more enjoyable with the return of the charming Loki (Tom Hiddleston), new team member Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), and so many more. The movie has a lot to keep an eye out for as it is chock-full of incredible scenes, bright colors and displays, and is a story that fans will never forget.

Justice League

From DC Films in November, came Justice League. To start, Justice League cannot be com- pared to Marvel’s The Avengers (2012). This is because it deserves to be seen as something new and, to be honest, a pleas- ant surprise.

To get the faults out of the way, there seemed to be moments where the plot felt forced, and certain actions were taken too far so that fans could see all of their heroes together on the big screen. The villain, Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), was a bit of a disappointment and served no other purpose but to give the heroes reason to unite. Also notable, there were various CGI disasters within the movie, with regards to Henry Cavill’s mustache fiasco and the overall appearance of Cyborg (Ray Fisher). Basically, Henry Cavill was contract-locked into Mission Impossible 6 to have a mustache. When Warner Bros brought Joss Whedon in to do reshoots on Justice League, he could not shave it off because that would be breaking that contract. Therefore, it cost $2.5 million to CGI it off, which is why his face looked wonky in the movie.

Putting these aside, the movie was a lot of fun and was a lot more enjoyable than its predecessor, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Ditching the serious tone of DC’s past, this film has heroes that can adored by all. Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) return to recruit new faces, from the hard-headed Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and the reclusive Cyborg, to the amazing comic-relief provided by the Flash (Ezra Miller). The five heroes come together to form a team that provides hope of a brighter future for the DC universe, one that fans should want to unite with as well.

Marvel’s The Punisher

While films like Thor: Ragnarok dominate the MCU’s big screen, Marvel’s The Punisher is the TV series MCU fans have been waiting for, especially due to all of the hidden release dates and unfortunate circumstances that led to its November release. Originally, the series was rumored to come out in mid-October, right after its panel on October 7 at New York Comic Con. However, due to the tragic events that took place in Vegas earlier that week, both Marvel and Netflix decided that it would be best to cancel the panel and their October release, as it would be in poor timing due to the extreme content of the series. The show, however, when finally released, did not disappoint.

Set after the events of Marvel’s The Defenders, we see Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) picking up where he left off in the second season of Marvel’s Daredevil. The first few minutes show Castle hunting down the last remaining members of three gangs he fought with, alongside Daredevil, (Charlie Cox) in the previous series. After he finished, he tries to leave the vigilante life behind and move on from the tragic event of his family’s murders. However, this does not last long, as circumstances of unanswered questions and old ghosts will force Castle out of hiding and back to war.

The series is full of brutal action and incredible dialogue, as Castle is seen gunning down covert operatives and hired mercenaries sent to kill him.

The show is not just an ongoing killing spree, however, as it explores all kinds of unexpected issues to viewers. Concepts of PTSD, government conspiracy, and even family hardships are experienced throughout each episode, providing real substance to the plot.

In addition to that, we see a complex and brotherly partnership born between Castle and the NSA hacker Micro (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). The series is not just dictated by incredibly choreographed fights and big explosions but also by the subtle heart and soul of the comics that made such a story possible. Castle, the Punisher, is a man who has lost everything he cares about, and, haunted by his past, he decides to punish every criminal involved, getting not only justice but brutal vengeance.

The show is a masterpiece, and one that every person should consider watching. It is recommended that viewers watch Marvel’s Daredevil first, so that they can get an under- standing and a familiarity with the character first, before Bernthal’s performance blows them away all over again in a series that is an easy 10/10.