Popverse's top stories of the day

• Winona Ryder was reduced to tears on the set of Stranger Things when the young cast couldn't identify a vinyl record
• Watch: The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power cast explains what's coming in season 2
• Bleach's character designer says pop culture's greatest villain isn't from anime, but Disney

Welp, we didn't see this coming.

At the Marvel Comics: Next Big Thing panel at San Diego Comic Con 2024, we got an announcement that sounded like a new version of Marvel Mad Libs... if Mad Libs were specifically designed to break your brain. It began as a plug for an all-new upcoming West Coast Avengers series (awesome!), then turned out to be a Gerry Duggan book (MORE awesome!), then was revealed to feature Iron Man and War Machine teaming up with longtime Avengers villain Ultron (AWE... what?).

Yes, the newly revived West Coast Avengers will be a mix of heroes and villains, with one of Marvel's ultimates in villainy among its ranks. Even the most casual of Marvel fans knows Ultron's status as an Avengers-level threat, so to see him join Team Good Guy is a shock, to say the least. But perhaps all is not what it seems? Here's what Marvel had to say about the series:

"Iron Man and War Machine have put together a new team of Avengers – one that includes villains seeking a path to redemption. Their case study? Ultron – who, against all odds, seems to be walking the straight and narrow…for now. But does the success of one guarantee the success of all? Spider-Woman and Firestar have their doubts. And can any amount of heroics really absolve Ultron of his past?"

Not included in the press announcement is me, in the background, answering "No" to the final question it poses. But hey, maybe I'm judging the tin tyrant too harshly. If characters like Galactus can turn over a new leaf in comics, surely Ultron can too, right? 

Yeah, I didn't think so either.

West Coast Avengers begins its run this November, written by Gerry Duggan and art by Danny Kim. 

Get into the vibrant world of comics with our guide to buying digital comics, how to make the most out of comic shops, our comprehensive guide to the upcoming comics, manga, and graphic novels you should be looking for, and everything you need to know about Free Comic Book Day and Local Comic Shop Day.