The following article contains spoilers for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.Despite making Marvel Studios a lot of money, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has faced many criticisms since its release, with the movie’s CGI at the forefront. Nevertheless, the film’s writer, Jeff Loveness, likes the result, particularly for MODOK.
Before penning his first Marvel Studios blockbuster, Loveness spent years writing for Rick and Morty. He owes his start in show business to stints in comedy shows like the Onion News Network and Jimmy Kimmel Live, hence why he was probably seen as a good fit for one of the funniest Avengers. Ant-Man 3's script takes after Loveness' style, yet his decision to turn Marvel Comics' MODOK into comic relief has proven to be divisive. However, the writer has doubled down on that intent with a recent Twitter post.
In a carefully chosen picture shared via his account (@JeffLoveness), Ant-Man 3's screenwriter captioned the still of MODOK's buck naked behind with the phrase, “Cinema is a mosaic made of time.” The image was instantly memed for its perceived lack of quality, with others rejoicing at the sight of MODOK's butt. This scene is shown in the film when Darren Cross tells Scott Lang how he became Marvel's Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing.
Some people made good nature jokes comparing MODOK's design to that of Illuminations Minions. However, the screenshot was also used as an example of Quantumania's subpar VFX, which was reportedly affected by Marvel Studios' decision to divest CGI resources from Ant-Man 3 to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. What’s become more apparent is that Loveness wanted MODOK to act as one of the movie’s recurring gags, no matter the consequences.
It’s too early to settle whether Loveness' MODOK joke landed on Twitter and the grand scheme of things regarding the character’s use in Ant-Man 3. MODOK has always been an obscure Marvel villain, with his two most recent incarnations coming in Marvel's Avengers and Hulu's animated series, so there’s a chance more casual MCU audiences might not even know who he is.
MODOK also appeared in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, an EVO 2023 confirmed title, but his mid-tier status might prevent him from seeing much action. As Ant-Man 3 heads into its second weekend, expect a lot of extreme reactions to MODOK’s naked scenes, as Loveness wouldn’t have it any other way.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is now playing in theaters.
Source: Jeff Loveness | Twitter