Hello again, friends, and welcome to 2026!

Season 7 of the Friends From Work podcast is officially upon us, and Kyle and Robby are gearing up for another huge year. In case you missed it late last week, the guys recorded a new Marvelette with their reactions to the second (of four) teaser trailers for Avengers: Doomsday.

They’ve also pre-recorded a Marvelette discussing the third teaser. Look for that in your podcast feed as soon as Marvel officially releases it online, which is expected to be on Tuesday. In case that isn’t enough content for you, they are also close to tracking the nomination episode for the FIFTH annual Friendlees, honoring the best in the MCU from 2025. As always, members of FFW+ will have the opportunity to vote on the winners. If you aren’t a member of FFW+, what are you waiting for?? Sign up now to cast your vote, along with numerous other subscriber benefits!

Before heading over to The Watercooler, I wanted to plug the official Friends From Work Rewatch Order again because this is the perfect time to start a rewatch if you haven’t already. Our watch order includes 50 total projects (beginning with Captain America: The First Avenger and ending with The Fantastic Four: First Steps), and there just so happens to be 50 weeks left before Avengers: Doomsday. So, if you start now and watch one project a week, you’ll finish right before heading to theaters to see Doomsday. You can find the complete order here, and an inside look at our thinking here. Robby, Kyle, and I are very proud of this order and think it is a fun and unique way to experience the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Now…

THE WATERCOOLER

THIS WEEK IN THE MCU

• Marvel Television celebrated the new year by providing the best look yet at Wonder Man, coming to Disney+ at 9:00 pm ET on January 27th. All eight episodes will be available immediately. Avengers: Doomsday marketing casts a pretty big shadow, but do not sleep on this show! The trailer features a glimpse of Simon Williams’ (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) powers and the return of the Department of Damage Control agent P. Cleary (Arian Moayed), last seen in 2022’s Ms. Marvel.

• It has been known for many months now that Thor would be returning in Avengers: Doomsday, but the second teaser trailer provided fans with their first glimpse of the Asgardian God (and his adopted daughter Love, played by Chris Hemsworth’s daughter India Rose) since 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder.

BEYOND THE MULTIVERSE

• Disney continues to reign supreme at the box office. Avatar: Fire & Ash crossed one billion dollars at the worldwide box office (making Avatar the highest-grossing trilogy of all time in the process), and Zootopia 2 is on the cusp of becoming the highest-grossing animated feature of all time, usurping a crown held by another Disney-owned sequel, Inside Out 2. Add it all up, and Disney had the highest-grossing year of any movie studio since 2019, with over $6.5 billion in total movie grosses. It is the fifth time Disney has crossed $6 billion in a calendar year (also 2016-19). No other movie studio has ever eclipsed that threshold. The king stays the king.

TRUE BELIEVERS RUMOR OF THE WEEK

• Well over a year ago, Deadline and other outlets reported that Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell would be reprising their roles as Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter in Avengers: Doomsday. Then, neither actor was revealed initially when Marvel announced the main cast for the movie (remember the chairs?!), and it wasn’t until the first Doomsday teaser trailer that Chris Evans was officially confirmed to return. Officially, there is still no confirmation about Atwell, but according to a new report from insider Daniel Richtman, Atwell will not only return but have a significant role to play in the movie.

PANEL BOUND COMICS PICK OF THE WEEK

_{DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH THE COMPLETE CONSPIRACY VOLUME TWO}

This week, I want to step outside Marvel and highlight two of my favorite original books from 2025, which both happen to have beautiful hardcover compilations coming out in 2026.

First, Department of Truth, from James Tynion IV with art by Martin Simmonds. This second volume continues the eerily relevant conspiracy thriller comic that weaves real-life conspiracy theories into the fictional Department of Truth. JFK’s assassination, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley are all covered in this volume. Through our partners at Panel Bound Comics, this deluxe hardcover can be pre-ordered for less than $40.

_{Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring}

The second book is a follow-up to the smash hit Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees by author Patrick Horvath. It may look like a fairy tale children’s book from the outside, but don’t judge this book by its cover. Inside, you will find the tale of a serial killing bear that will shock, surprise, and ultimately delight you. This sequel is set nearly a decade after the first story (read that first if you haven’t), and Samantha Strong’s secret is no longer safe.

Remember, use code “FRIENDSFROMWORK” for an additional discount off these already discounted pre-order prices through our partners at Panel Bound Comics. Happy reading!

That wraps up the first Sunday Post of 2026. It is going to be a big year here at Friends From Work. We hope everyone is excited to come along for the ride.

Have a great week!

-Greg