There has not been much news since the end of June regarding the latest TV series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), “Inhumans.” That’s because there can be no better place to make their latest reveal about the new show on ABC (and IMAX theaters) than in the San Diego Comic Con (SDCC). This was highly necessary too as certain elements of past previews and trailers have not managed to go over well with audiences who are Marvel fans. Some newly publicized information during the new trailer and in Marvel’s SDCC panel will hopefully assuage doubts.

One tidbit is the role of actor Iwan Rheon (“Game of Thrones”) as the Inhuman Maximus, and whether or not he is real as insanely villainous as his comic counterpart.

Inhuman powers

Everyone with the slightest interest in Marvel’s “Inhumans” series made sure to pile into the show’s first panel at the SDCC Thursday, July 20. Here the producers showcased a new trailer depicting a selection of action sequences with the characters, members of the Royal Family of the hidden race of Inhumans. After one of their own, the brother of King Black Bolt (Anson Mount), mounts a coup to usurp the throne, the betrayed Royals flee to Earth. Here they must learn to forge peaceful interactions with the humans before Maximus (Iwan Rheon) leads the other Inhumans in conquering the world.

The trailer is indeed filled with action, going from the Inhuman capital of Attilan in the moon, to both the lush jungles and urban streets of Hawaii. Highlights include the giant teleporting bulldog Lockjaw (rendered in CGI), Inhuman general Gorgon (Eme Ikwuakor) creating a crater on the ground by stomping his foot (and destroying any lunar drones NASA sends to the moon), and Medusa (Serinda Swan) using her super-strong prehensile hair to fight.

‘No bad guy’

One other element of the new show that is making quite the buzz here is the nature and motivations of the apparent antagonist Maximus, who is revealed to not have any powers, unlike his fellow Inhumans who have been exposed to the Terrigen Mist. This makes him sympathetic to the slave class in Attilan enabling Maximus to gain their loyalty when he plots to overthrow his brother.

But according to Iwan Rheon, who says he is trying to avoid villainous typecasting (with his chilling role as Ramsay Bolton in “Game of Thrones”), the ambition of Maximus to rule is not evil in of itself, and that there may be no evil side in the plot but simply a super-powered family feud.

A collaborative effort between Marvel Studios, ABC, and IMAX, “Inhumans” will premiere on IMAX theaters on September 1, followed by a TV premiere on ABC on September 29 with eight episodes for the season.
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