The Marvel Reset Switch IRL

Comic books are fond of time travel the way I'm fond of rum; it happens every now and then, and usually it gets a bit of attention. Marvel Comics are especially prone to stories involving time travel of some distinction, whether it's someone coming from the future to prevent a doom the X-Men have yet to face, a hero coming to the present day to join a team of young heroes, or Wolverine going back in time to play the role of Marvel's Reset Switch. The seemingly immortal (ha!) hero is ideally suited to make all the bad things go away how and when it suits him.

And that's what we seem to consider New Year's Resolutions to be. A Reset Switch, in real life. Don't want to smoke? New Year's. Want to lose weight? New Year's. Want to travel more? New Year's. I could keep going, but I can be prone to repetition in the same way Marvel are prone to repeatedly sending Wolverine back in time.

The point is this: sometimes, the Reset Switch works out for the best, and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes, Wolverine pulls through and saves the day, and other times he only ends up causing a different kind of apocalyptic nightmare, because apparently that's the power of time travel. (Age of Ultron anybody?)

The real question is, how can we make sure we stick to our resolutions? How do make sure our personal Wolverine's actually succeed in the mission without needing to go back and do it all over again because he messed up the first time?

I had planned on recording a video for this, but I'm not sure I could sustain the Wolverine analogy long enough face-to-camera without looking like a mad man. Instead, I'll use bullet points. That's almost the same thing, right?

• If you choose the way of the Reset Switch IRL, choose to change something that's important to you. You're more likely to stick to it if it actually matters; "go to the gym more often" is not as important as "live a healthier, more active lifestyle", because it doesn't specify what's so God-damn Reset-Switch-important about the gym itself.
• Set positive goals, not negative ones, if it can be phrased in that way. Don't "give up junk food", when you can "eat healthier food". Don't say you'll "stop being so lazy" when you can say you'll "be more active".
• Be specific in your goals. It's easy to say you'll go for a run twice a week, but it's better to say you'll run a specific amount each time, and increase upon that amount over the course of the year.
• Declare your intentions in writing, in public or in private. Phrasing your New Year's Resolution the right way - a positive, specific goal - means you'll be more likely to stick to it. Saying it publicly is an even bigger motivation not to fail. (That's why you see so many people saying on Facebook that they're going to give up smoking. It's the mindset behind the Reset Switch.)

I happen to be a fan of the ol' annual Reset Switch, particularly because New Year's is about the time that I have a few days to myself, and I'll have just gotten over the rush of Christmas retail. The difference between this year and every other year is that I'm not going to aim to write every day, or publish something every day, because inevitably that falls on its face before the end of June or July. This year, I decided I would do something more for me, and less for my social media sites and various blogging sites. I decided I would attempt to do something significant every day, something I can talk about.

Already this year I've gotten to meet up with different groups of friends for dinner, and work on a screenplay that I've been wanting to write. They count towards my goal, and I write them down in a year planner as a record of what I've done, and to encourage myself to do something to include.

Added to this, I'm setting myself goals for each month. These include the number of videos, blog posts and short stories I want to write in a given calendar month, as well as a number of other goals. This month's list includes the writing of my screenplay, because I know that once college starts back, the time I'll have to do something like that will be more difficult to come across.

Here's the big question: what's your Reset Switch about this year?

Day 26: Baker, Poet, Cinema Goer

Could I tell you where the day went? I could not. Could I take a guess? Darn tootin'.

I know I spent a lot of time watching Buffy. Again. Season 3 has now been watched, complete with prom and school explosion. I will admit, I got a little bit emotional watching it. Aside from the flashbacks to childhood, it also reminded me of my final year ball. We had less demons.

In the midst of the final episodes of the season, I also put a cover on an old-but-unused-copybook, complete with card on the inside covers, and coloured paper on the outside. I'm using it to track the publication - if any - of my poems. Since May 30th, I've written 70 poems. I'm hoping to do a massive write-a-thon of poetry soon in an effort to increase my creative expression. I'm talking about more than a poem a day; I plan on writing about twenty to twenty four poems in a single day. In my head, it sounds like fun.

Part of me also wants to maintain a poetry blog. So, that might happen soon.

Aside from prom and poetry, I baked some brownies. I'll be brief: they're delicious, and everyone who's had one agrees. I brought some to the cinema. We went to see The Wolverine. How was it you ask?

Well, it was significantly better than Wolverine: Origins. It was better than X-Men: The Last Stand. It was violent, it had swearing, it was better than the trailer suggested it might be. There were a couple of things I didn't like - nit-picky comic book things - but overall it was fun, and the after-credit scene leads on nicely to Days of Future Past, which is going to be awesome.

All of that aside... no writing. I don't know if I'm just lacking enthusiasm to sit down at my laptop, or if I'm just being lazy. It's probably laziness. However, I'm not giving up on the book. I just need to get my head back in the game.

To be honest, I want Camp NaNoWriMo to be over. It's not making me more productive. If anything, it's making me wary of doing anything else. Which is exactly what the exams did to me in May. That's less than convenient. Hopefully I can get The Blood of Leap completed soon, and then I can get on to doing what I want with writing, when I want, without a month-long challenge hanging over my head.

A Marvel-ous Line-Up

It's no secret I'm a massive fan of Marvel Comics. Thankfully, the comic books are supplying a lot of entertainment off the page - and on the big screen - over the next few years. There's a lot to keep up with, and a lot changing, but I thought it would be worth sharing the future developments of Marvel-related films, more than half of which are part of the grander scheme of Marvel films. Release dates below are taken from IMDB, listing the UK release unless there was only a USA release date. Keep in mind: I will be referencing previous films in the Marvel universe, and there will be spoilers in that regard.

Iron Man 3 - 26 April 2013

The third in the Iron Man franchise, there's a lot to expect. I don't think they'll be setting up the armoured billionaire for another film after this one, using the trilogy to present one half of the dynamic duo that lead the Avengers in every struggle they face. Iron Man 3 is the first film to hit the cinemas as part of Marvel's 'Phase Two'. Phase One ended with The Avengers, and the gathering of the heroes.

Why the division, now? Because each hero has his or her own story, and they only come together to face to the world's greatest threats. In this instance, Iron Man is to go up against The Mandarin. In the comic books, he wears ten magical rings that grant him magical powers. So far, the Marvel universe has held back on the magic, unless it came from Asgard. This does raise the question: will this be the introduction to earth-based magic in Marvel films?

The Wolverine - 26 July 2013

Following up from X-Men: The Last Stand, we're back with Wolverine. Xavier is dead, Jean is dead, and I'm sure he's pretty beat up about Scott, too. Inside. Deep inside. With Wolverine: Origins having already hit the screens a few years back, there were certainly some troubles with continuity as the X-Men films continued. While the relatively recent trilogy wasn't entirely true to the comic books, it still maintained some of the standards set by the comic books.

The Wolverine will see the titular hero in Japan, a journey he took much earlier in the comic books. It is likely that, in facing psychological and emotional troubles following the events of the previous film, Logan needs some space to breathe, to discover himself, and maybe move on from Jean Grey.

The trouble is, mutants aren't an American problem. The Silver Samurai, if they use the original, can cut through anything - except Adamantium - by channelling energy into his sword. He's also supposed to be able to teleport, but the films haven't always stuck to canon on powers. If they use the second Silver Samurai, he'll just be a human with a technological suit of armour, and swords. It'll be interesting to see what they do with the film, and there isn't that long to wait.

Thor: The Dark World - 30 October 2013

The Asgardian is due to face two sets of 'aliens' in this sequel to Thor and The Avengers: dark elves and marauders. I won't lie: I don't know much about them. However, there are much more interesting developments to keep in mind. For a start, Loki will be present again, and he's never been up to much good in the films.

To add to that, however, are the rumours of the first appearance of Doctor Stephen Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme of Marvel Comics. Early suggestions have said that he will be working alongside Jane Foster. However, no information about Dr Strange has been released officially. If the hearsay proves true, it may be a cameo role, but one that will see his introduction to Asgardian technology. As Thor remarks, science for him is magic for earthlings, and it may result in a fascination that cannot be overcome for the good doctor.

If those rumours prove true, the chances of a Doctor Strange film appearing in 2016/2017 are increasingly likely, but I don't imagine we will see one before Avengers 2.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier - 4 April 2014

Remember Bucky Barnes and how he plummeted to his death in Captain America? Well, the trick to Marvel Comics is that nobody really dies permanently. (Just ask Jean Grey...) Bucky is, in fact, the brainwashed Russian warrior, known as The Winter Soldier.

Cue dramatic music and a shocked close up of the dear Captain. Right before Bucky tries to kill him.

But then, Bucky isn't the only one to return to the big screen. Natasha Romanov, AKA Black Widow, will return as Captain America attempts to fit in to his new life in the twenty-first century in SHIELD. Along with her are introductions to Crossbones and Sharon Carter, one of whom is responsible for the death of Captain America. We've also got the listed seventh hero of the Avengers: The Falcon. While he won't be getting his own film, it seems, the hero is credited, so far, in both The Winter Soldier and Avengers 2. If you haven't guessed yet, he flies.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 - 18 April 2014

April's a busy month for superhero films, with the web-slinging wall-crawler making a return to the big screen. He's joined by the lovely Gwen Stacy again, and Mary Jane Watson. Yep, MJ's back. I'm not sure I'm happy with that. Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy have a much bigger story than has been shown already, including her untimely death. But then, we won't have a Green Goblin to get that ball rolling. Yet.

We've got a new villain to join the ranks, though: Electro. He's going to cause a fair amount of trouble, it can be assumed, especially if the casting of a Rhino is to be taken seriously. We're talking full-on Super Villain Super Team here, with Doc Connors only locked away, and a mysterious figure in his cell. It's my guess that they'll be building things up for a big finish with the trilogy - and God I hope it's only a trilogy, and without the emo-Spidey that featured last time - with a collection of villains to really test Spider-Man in a way that hasn't been seen since the comic books. So far, adaptations have been lacking in the villainy Spider-Man has had to face during his life.

X-Men: Days of Future Past - 18 July 2014

The X-Men were the first superheroes I really loved. In this sequel to First Class, we're continuing with the newbies that were introduced, and still back in the Cold War era, but with a story that hasn't been tested on the superhero big screen before: a time-travel story arc.

With the casting of particular actors, there's the suggestion that this burst of X-Men films precedes the trilogy that first starred Patrick Stewart, Halle Berry and Hugh Jackman. Well, guess what? Thanks to the miracle of time travel, many of the trilogy's characters are coming to cinemas once again! While there are still only rumours about Cyclops and Storm, so far it has been revealed that we'll be seeing Shadowcat, Iceman, Rogue, Wolverine, Magneto and Xavier, and actor Peter Dinklage (from Game of Thrones) as the antagonist. So far, his character is unknown, as the original story arc isn't quite the same as what the film will produce.

What this revelation does, however, is completely remove Wolverine: Origins from the line of stories. Emma Frost is younger in Origins than she is in First Class; Professor X can walk and has hair when he first meets her in the later film, but in Origins he's bald. He's also walking, despite the bullet to the spine. While it is still suggested by the line-up of films together, Wolverine: Origins doesn't seem to fit in, in terms of continuity.

Guardians of the Galaxy - 1 August 2014

We've received very little information on Guardians of the Galaxy as of yet, though the Marvel Now! comics are due to begin fitting the shelves shortly. Historically, they've only had a couple of major stories that people still talk about, one of which involves a battle against Thanos.

This is Marvel's chance to play off the more science-fiction elements of their universe. The Guardians are space travellers with high-tech equipment. I don't know what to expect from the film, but if the rumours are right, they'll be in the way when Thanos starts making his journey to Earth. If the film proves to be part of Phase Two in Marvel's plan, the heroes may lose the battle, and Thanos will reach Earth.

Fantastic Four - 6 March 2015

We almost had a chance to rewrite Daredevil's cinematic history. That would have been wonderful. However, the man in charge decided that the Fantastic Four reboot would be favourable. I tend to agree, though I'm a little bit annoyed at the same time. Marvel would have recovered the rights to the universe of the Fantastic Four if a film hadn't been made.

At the same time, there are some interesting stories to tell with the Fantastic Four, who exist in a universe outside of Marvel's films, but in the same developments as the X-Men franchise, and the Spider-Man franchise. It will be interesting to see what they produce by the time 2015 comes around.

Avengers 2 - 1 May 2015

Bringing Phase Two of Marvel's films to a close is the second Avengers film. We can expect it to take place after the events of Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and likely after Guardians of the Galaxy, if it is indeed included in the same story arc.

With that in mind, we'll be receiving the Falcon into the team, and just in time to face an as-yet unspecified villain. Rumour has it Thanos will be taking the world by storm, having pledged his vengeance for his defeat in The Avengers. Still, rumours will remain rumours until something is said.

Ant-Man - 6 November 2015

Beginning to Marvel's Phase Three is the introduction of Hank Pym, AKA Ant-Man. There's much to reveal yet (except to tell those who don't know about him that he can become microscopic, or about 100 foot tall, depending on what he needs), though there are rumours that Ant-Man will confront one of his enemies, Chen Lu, known also as Radioactive Man (imaginative naming at its best.)

The film's position at the start of Phase Three does raise some questions, especially with recent rumours about a new Hulk film. This has led to speculation that somewhere along the line, the Hulk will rampage and be sent off to space, resulting in a Planet Hulk film, and eventually World War Hulk - a possible story for Avengers 3.

However, that's all a long way away. It can be expected that some rumours will be bashed and others confirmed, so that maybe we'll be seeing Thanos fighting the Avengers, Dr Strange weaving some spells, and the Hulk smashing a whole other planet. In the meantime, we've got ten films based on Marvel's comic books to keep us going for the next two and a half years or so, many new characters to be introduced, and a lot of interesting developments to be made. And of course, I'll be getting massively excited about each one.