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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

Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#45626: Oct 28th 2015 at 10:54:54 PM

As I said, realistically that would happen. I'm just curious about the extremely unrealistic scenario.

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!
alliterator Since: Jan, 2001
#45627: Oct 28th 2015 at 10:56:32 PM

It would be unrealistic to the point of impossibility. So it's a moot point.

comicwriter Since: Sep, 2011
#45628: Oct 28th 2015 at 11:07:51 PM

Adam Warlock as the villain?

Yup. Particularly his Magus persona.

RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#45629: Oct 28th 2015 at 11:40:58 PM

[up][up] That depends on what the criteria for being an Avenger is. Do you have to be appointed by the President and approved by Congress? Be recommended by one or more current Avengers? Beat another Avenger in one-on-one combat?

Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#45630: Oct 28th 2015 at 11:48:45 PM

I like the idea of that last one.

"To complete your interview you will be required to face..."

"Please just be Hawkeye please just be Hawkeye please just be Hawkeye..."

"...The Hulk, in single combat."

"Shit."

"HULK SMASH PUNY APPLICANT."

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#45631: Oct 29th 2015 at 12:26:29 AM

May I mention how much sense it makes that the Avengers get a salary? Though I do wonder how they deal with the taxes if they have a secret identity...

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#45632: Oct 29th 2015 at 2:25:00 AM

Tony probably funnels them the money though enough off shore bank accounts and tax havens that they don't need to. Or they are able to simply put it down as "other income", pay taxes on it and that's that.

As for the crazy scenario where the Avengers have no racial minority applicants, clearly what happens there is the Avengers have to go up against a mythical personification of racism that is suppressing the superpowers of minorities.

It's that or they ask the well know racial minority superheroes why none of them want to join, if all the racial minority superheroes are going "yeah fuck joining them" then there's probably an issue somewhere.

edited 29th Oct '15 2:28:14 AM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Heatth (X-Troper) Relationship Status: In Spades with myself
#45633: Oct 29th 2015 at 6:58:34 AM

Bobbi DaCosta is a good boss, apparently.

Bobbi da Costa, please. Little 'd' and a space. Sorry, pet peeve. True Marvel is a inconsistent to how spell his name, which means they probably don't have an actual rule and are just variably ignorant about how to spell Portuguese names, so it is best to use the proper form when possible.

As for the crazy scenario where the Avengers have no racial minority applicants, clearly what happens there is the Avengers have to go up against a mythical personification of racism that is suppressing the superpowers of minorities.

Seems like a plot of a comic, to me.tongue Next they should go kick sexism in the face and punch homophobia in the nuts.

Anyway, yeah, the idea of not having enough minorities applying is silly, specially nowadays the Avengers are huge, with multiple teams and reserve members. Hell, not that long ago there was this big line of super heroes applying to the job of beings Luke Cage's daughter's nanny.

edited 29th Oct '15 6:58:50 AM by Heatth

Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#45634: Oct 29th 2015 at 7:19:18 AM

[up]Didn't you see? Tony recently fired all the Avengers, because he wanted an all different team.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh3LVh-emjA

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#45635: Oct 29th 2015 at 7:28:45 AM

Seems like a plot of a comic, to me. tongue Next they should go kick sexism in the face and punch homophobia in the nuts.

I've got just the villain for your sarcastic movie. Meet the Hate-Monger! SPOILER ALERT: His secret identity may not surprise you.

Bonus points if he teams up with Flag-Smasher.

edited 29th Oct '15 7:31:01 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Heatth (X-Troper) Relationship Status: In Spades with myself
#45636: Oct 29th 2015 at 7:35:04 AM

[up]I wasn't being sarcastic. I know full well how silly comics can be. Going after the mytical embodiment of racism do sound like a comic plot. I would be surprised if it wasn't done at last once.

Btw, I did know about Hate-Monger, but I don't think I knew it he was Hitler. That is kinda amusing.

[up][up]That is hilarious. And the animation is way better than I would have expected.

comicwriter Since: Sep, 2011
#45637: Oct 29th 2015 at 8:09:29 AM

How the Avengers compensate members varies Depending on the Writer. At the very least living at Avengers HQ gives you free food, room and board, but there was a point in New Avengers where Spider-Man got really upset because he realized he couldn't legally receive a salary from Stark Industries unless he revealed his identity.

You can't put "Spider-Man" on a tax form apparently.

MousaThe14 Writer, Artist, Ignored from Northern Virginia Since: Jan, 2011 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
Writer, Artist, Ignored
#45638: Oct 29th 2015 at 8:54:36 AM

Basically Stark couldn't or wouldn't pay in straight up cash and you can't exactly put "Spider-man" on a check and expect him to deposit it.

The Blog The Art
alliterator Since: Jan, 2001
#45639: Oct 29th 2015 at 8:57:43 AM

I think Stark got over it, though, because by the time of Hickman's Avengers, he was getting paid.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#45640: Oct 29th 2015 at 8:59:27 AM

I remember that too. It makes sense. To receive a paycheck, Spidey would need to file a W-4 with Human Resources including his legal name, place of address, and SSN. Some people have suggested the company could pay him in cash, but that would make Spider-Man an undocumented worker (in the literal sense, not the way it's commonly used) and would make Stark Industries guilty of tax evasion - you can't pay taxes on wages you aren't on-record as paying.

This is one of the many complications that comes from attempting to maintain an anonymous identity.

edited 29th Oct '15 9:02:12 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
comicwriter Since: Sep, 2011
#45641: Oct 29th 2015 at 9:07:08 AM

Unreported and untaxed income is also a pretty serious crime. If someone notices Peter Parker, the brokest mothafucka in the history of comics, is suddenly living in a Park Ave penthouse and driving a Benz, the government is gonna come asking questions.

xbimpy Since: Jul, 2015
#45642: Oct 29th 2015 at 9:08:31 AM

And he's not allowed to indefinitely release it either because of the drama... status quo locked. but Peter Parker isn't brook either. His yearly salary is around $41,000. It increased because of Horizon and well his own company. But status quo says its got to go eventually. It's a plot gimmick to bring his luck down and in contrast to Jessica Jones he doesn't worry so much about finances nor does he reflect what real middle income people go through. plus this conversation isn't an important selling point in superhero comics. i guess Toabis should make one where it is.

You got yourself a new idea

edited 29th Oct '15 9:28:19 AM by xbimpy

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#45643: Oct 29th 2015 at 9:13:40 AM

Short version is: if you want to reap the benefits of being considered a fully functioning and legal member of society, you gotta take the mask off. You can't sign up for a credit card as Spider-Man or file for a homeowner's loan as Spider-Man or fill out a police report as Spider-Man or testify in court as Spider-Man either. There are strict limitations on how a masked vigilante can function in society and that's something you accept when you decide to go that route.

Federal and corporate functions in the United States do not appreciate anonymity one bit.

edited 29th Oct '15 9:14:42 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#45644: Oct 29th 2015 at 9:17:55 AM

I remember Spidey having the same exact problem early in his career so you'd think he'd learn

Maybe he should get a Patreon

edited 29th Oct '15 9:18:47 AM by Bocaj

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Nightwire Since: Feb, 2010
alliterator Since: Jan, 2001
#45646: Oct 29th 2015 at 9:19:18 AM

How are undercover cops paid, then? Or are they just paid after they are no longer undercover?

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#45647: Oct 29th 2015 at 9:33:52 AM

They aren't undercover from their own agency. They're registered in government databases not unlike the Superhero Identity Database that the pro-Regs in Civil War were trying to set up. This is actually one of the reasons why things like WikiLeaks are super-dangerous to law enforcement.

Spider-Man wouldn't have to unmask to the general public to receive a paycheck but he would have to unmask to Stark Industries and to the U.S. government.

edited 29th Oct '15 9:35:27 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
xbimpy Since: Jul, 2015
#45648: Oct 29th 2015 at 9:35:14 AM

One time Hercules was sued by the Constrictor for the use of "excessive force" in his capture. $168 million in punitive damages. He had nothing left when he paid and still needed employment with Damage Control to finish the rest.

People in the Savage Land live without any sort of technology (except when guests bring it in) and there's no trade system. Wolverine has lived for extended periods on nothing but what he could hunt/forage in the woods. Gateway lives by himself in the Australian outback wearing nothing but a loincloth. Cloak and Dagger never saw employment. Money doesn't apply to these characters

edited 29th Oct '15 9:42:03 AM by xbimpy

Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#45649: Oct 29th 2015 at 9:35:49 AM

Hercules had money?

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
alliterator Since: Jan, 2001
#45650: Oct 29th 2015 at 9:40:17 AM

Hercules had money?
He is a Greek demigod - he had a ton of gold. Which the Constrictor then got and sort of went straight because he no longer needed to steal stuff. (Of course, the Constrictor then lost a bunch of money back to Hercules in a poker game.)

Of course, Hercules could get sued because he doesn't have a secret identity. But there was a case of Spider-Man suing the Daily Bugle for libel and it even went to trial - the kicker came, however, when it was revealed that Peter Parker was going to be part of the suit, since he took pictures for the Bugle that were used as part of the libel, so Spider-Man would technically be suing Peter Parker as well as J Jonah Jameson.

Spider-Man decided to settle the lawsuit, saying he didn't want any money, only for JJJ and Peter Parker to hand out apologies...in chicken suits!

(I'm not sure how realistic that whole storyline was.)

edited 29th Oct '15 9:43:37 AM by alliterator


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