John Oliver rants about superhero movies, offers a self-mocking solution

John Oliver rants about superhero movies
(Image credit: Last Week Tonight)

Last Week Tonight is on hiatus, but on Sunday, John Oliver showed up on the internet anyway to, he said, "do the most internet thing imaginable, and that is complain about superhero movies." Like every summer, this one had a glut of movies from the same old production companies, often starring the same old superheroes. "Now, each of these movies have their strengths and weaknesses — which we'll not go into because I would like to feel the touch of another human at least once more before I die — but I do think some audience members are feeling a little fatigued at seeing the same characters over and over again," Oliver said.

But "fear not," he added, "because I have a solution for fans who are looking for something beyond the Marvel and DC universes." Judging by box office receipts, that's not a huge number of fans, but Oliver offered up a new character anyway, and it's one he says he created in fifth grade. "By day, he is mild-mannered fifth grader John Olivier — no relation," Oliver explained, "but from the time school lets out until dinner, he becomes the, let's say, unconventionally handsome hero Johnny Strong." Since you are dying to know all about your new summer blockbuster swoon, Oliver walked us all through the first issue of Johnny Strong and teased the second, and you can watch below. Peter Weber

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.