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Welcome to the main discussion thread for the Marvel Cinematic Universe! This pinned post is here to establish some basic guidelines. All of the Media Forum rules still apply.

  • This thread is for talking about the live-action films, TV shows, animated works, and related content that use the Marvel brand, currently owned by Disney.
  • While mild digressions are okay, discussion of the comic books should go in this thread. Extended digressions may be thumped as off-topic.
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If you're posting tagged spoilers, make sure that the film or series is clearly identified outside the spoiler tagging. People need to know what will be spoiled before they choose to read the post.

    Original post 
Since Thor and now Captain America came out this year, I wanted to get what Tropers thought of the concept and execution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general. Personally I love the idea and wonder why this idea hasn't been seriously tried before. It sorta seems to me like the DCAU in movie form (And well, ummm, with Marvel), and really 'gets' the comic book feel of a shared universe while not being completely alienating.

Edited by Mrph1 on Jul 29th 2024 at 3:09:00 PM

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#157826: Jul 7th 2023 at 6:09:48 PM

Its very much the worst way of handling it

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
alekos23 Since: Mar, 2013
#157827: Jul 7th 2023 at 6:10:42 PM

Might be giving that film too much credit there. [lol]

RedHunter543 Crimson Paladin Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Crimson Paladin
#157828: Jul 7th 2023 at 6:21:21 PM

No way home managed to at least weave Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire into the plot organically and had their journeys connect with Tomm Holland Spider-Man. Like it managed to capture the charm of why multiverses are popular.

The Flash just soullessly reuses Michael Keaton Batman to get some nostalgia.

And wastes Supergirl.

"The Black Rage makes us strong, because we must resist its temptations every day of our lives or be forever damned!"
Mizerous Pet Owner from Hell Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: Brewing the love potion
Pet Owner
#157829: Jul 7th 2023 at 6:21:29 PM

[up]x4 Flash's Multiverse metaphor was literally spagatti.

Edited by Mizerous on Jul 7th 2023 at 9:21:40 AM

Just Makima.
RedHunter543 Crimson Paladin Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Crimson Paladin
#157830: Jul 7th 2023 at 6:25:36 PM

I've heard this theory that the Multiverse Saga is just a way to build up a semi-reboot by introducing younger recasted versions of Stark and Steve.

Edited by RedHunter543 on Jul 7th 2023 at 9:28:54 PM

"The Black Rage makes us strong, because we must resist its temptations every day of our lives or be forever damned!"
MatthewWayne The Tapestry Weaver from Camp Echo One Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
The Tapestry Weaver
#157831: Jul 7th 2023 at 6:28:36 PM

Looks like there's rumors that Uatu the Watcher is set to return in an upcoming project that isn't What If sometime this year, with Jeffrey Wright reprising the role.

Best guess is that he shows up in Loki, given how much that show involves the Multiverse.

"I'm Mr. Blue, woah-woah-ooh..."
Synchronicity (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#157832: Jul 7th 2023 at 6:36:15 PM

Re: multiversity - agree with IP catalog flaunting + memberberries driving this "every IP everywhere all at once" superhero trend. I wish we'd go back to like. normal scopes for CB Ms but I don't it'll die as a trope; alternate timelines/worlds/universes (functionally not that different) have always been a scifi mainstay even if they don't use the term "multiverse".

Edited by Synchronicity on Jul 7th 2023 at 8:37:39 AM

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#157833: Jul 7th 2023 at 6:37:31 PM

I've heard this theory that the Multiverse Saga is just a way to build up a semi-reboot by introducing younger recasted versions of Stark and Steve.

I mean it's probably a good idea but I doubt it'd be in Deadpool and they went to elaborate lengths to make Mackie the one true Captain.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
RedHunter543 Crimson Paladin Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Crimson Paladin
#157834: Jul 7th 2023 at 6:38:30 PM

[up][up] I truly dread the day when in a few decades, we're all old enough to consider Endgame as a member berry in a future movie. [lol]

"The Black Rage makes us strong, because we must resist its temptations every day of our lives or be forever damned!"
chasemaddigan I'm Sad Frogerson. Since: Oct, 2011
I'm Sad Frogerson.
#157835: Jul 7th 2023 at 7:06:03 PM

I find it hard to consider the multiverse a Discredited Trope when Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has pretty much been taking every other film's lunch money this summer.

MatthewWayne The Tapestry Weaver from Camp Echo One Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
The Tapestry Weaver
#157836: Jul 7th 2023 at 7:11:07 PM

[up] Sometimes an oversaturated pile of gravel has a gem hiding in it.

Edited by MatthewWayne on Jul 7th 2023 at 7:11:18 AM

"I'm Mr. Blue, woah-woah-ooh..."
HamburgerTime Since: Apr, 2010
#157837: Jul 7th 2023 at 7:17:35 PM

I can't put my finger on why, but some multiverse cameo-fests are clearly done out of love (LEGO Movie, Spider-Verse), some are done just for cash (Space Jam 2, apparently The Flash from what I've heard about it) and some are right in the middle (Ready Player One).

Like, I can't put into words what the differences are, but they're there. Any takers to explain it better than me? [lol]

M1gamiTensei The Scrappy of the Trope Pantheon, God of Thumps from Punished “Brainwashed” M1gami Since: Oct, 2017 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
The Scrappy of the Trope Pantheon, God of Thumps
#157838: Jul 7th 2023 at 7:19:21 PM

I think we're oversaturated with bad multiverse stories. Just like how we can be oversaturated with mid superhero movies.

Again, calling Disney to throw what they really want out of the multiverse already since I feel people are losing interest in this narrative with Kang and stuff.

Pantheon server for all who click here. Lost too much money and time, this coaster ain’t stopping.
HamburgerTime Since: Apr, 2010
#157839: Jul 7th 2023 at 7:23:54 PM

I've heard it remarked on more than once that superhero movies in general (not just Marvel) have been generally regarded as mediocre since Endgame, the big exceptions being Spider-Man stuff.

I wonder if it's one of those "They had a perfect ending and yet they didn't stop" things.

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#157840: Jul 7th 2023 at 7:26:54 PM

Multiverse stories have been a thing for a while now, they were just usually the purview of fanfiction due to the copyright involved, and the quality could vary just as much with some very good and other very bad ones.

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#157841: Jul 7th 2023 at 7:27:51 PM

Yeah the issue is being surronded with bad multiverse stories.

And confusing multiverse with "bring back old actor of a prior character".

Like if they do a Final Crisis adaptation of Superman's multiversal adventure I don't want to see former Superman actors reprising their characters, I want to see charactsrs like Ultraman and Captain Atom portrayed onscreen.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
LadyBlackwood The show must go on from Wouldn't you like to know? Since: Jun, 2023 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
The show must go on
#157842: Jul 7th 2023 at 7:49:05 PM

While I wouldn't necessary say they started the trend, the Arrowverse was already doing multiverse storylines before Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse hit the theaters. So were the DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Not to mention the 90s Spider-Man show and the DC Animated Universe. if we stretch the definition of multiverse to include alternate timelines, the X-Men Film Series also did it before ITSV. And of course, comics have been doing them for decades. Lots of people are convinced that Marvel and DC live action films are using the multiverse to chase Spider-Verse's success and there might be some truth to that but, in my opinion, it's a natural consecuence of making comic book movies. The source material has a multiverse so, sooner or later, the adaptation was going to have it as well. Especially an adaptation like the MCU that is trying to have another big Myth Arc after the defeat of Thanos.

Akirakan Since: Feb, 2015 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#157843: Jul 7th 2023 at 8:14:38 PM

I would day, studios are using the multiverse as a way to cash-in on nostalgia.

Nostalgia has always been a monetary motivator when greenlighting stuff in Hollywood. The concept of the multiverse lets studios make crossovers with properties that already have nostalgia attached to them, so in the eyes of studio heads that would bring more people to watch a movie while continue to introduce new characters.

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#157844: Jul 7th 2023 at 8:24:30 PM

Yeah that's a good way of putting. Its multiverse nostalgia.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#157845: Jul 7th 2023 at 8:26:21 PM

They're basically using Multiverse as an easy way to net hype, dropping it into stories for the sake of it rather than making the story work up to it.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#157846: Jul 7th 2023 at 9:44:39 PM

Again, calling Disney to throw what they really want out of the multiverse already since I feel people are losing interest in this narrative with Kang and stuff.

I think Disney needs someone to talk to K.E.V.I.N and mention that not every fan of the MCU watches Disney+ or has any idea of things like, "Why is Wanda crazy" and "Who is the guy in shrinkworld?"

My niece is a huge MCU fan and can barely remember the Blip.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Jul 7th 2023 at 9:44:53 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
RedHunter543 Crimson Paladin Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Crimson Paladin
#157847: Jul 7th 2023 at 9:46:34 PM

Yeah the MCU like the ultimate universe went from fresh new take on beloved characters so non comic fans can get into this, to up it's own ass in continuity.

"The Black Rage makes us strong, because we must resist its temptations every day of our lives or be forever damned!"
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#157848: Jul 7th 2023 at 9:51:17 PM

We need more standalone stuff like Moon Knight

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#157849: Jul 7th 2023 at 10:04:01 PM

Recap technology

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
dcutter2 Since: Sep, 2013
#157850: Jul 8th 2023 at 4:03:49 AM

I think Disney needs someone to talk to K.E.V.I.N and mention that not every fan of the MCU watches Disney or has any idea of things like, "Why is Wanda crazy" and "Who is the guy in shrinkworld?"
Eh. I watched WandaVision and I still don't know why Wanda was crazy. And no part of Quantumania depended on knowing who Kang was in Loki. Someone here's remarked that it's more that the movies are doing pale imitations of the D series for the people who aren't watching them that the films overly depend on you watching the series.

We need more standalone stuff like Moon Knight

I don't disagree but otoh a lot of the complaints about phase 4 are people not happy with the lack of interconnectivity and direction they say the earlier phases had, which I think is overstated but it's still what people expect.

Edited by dcutter2 on Jul 8th 2023 at 12:04:07 PM


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