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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

comicwriter Since: Sep, 2011
#55601: Apr 19th 2016 at 6:38:31 AM

[up][up]It probably wouldn't be an issue if the MCU had any Asian characters in the movies, but here we are I guess.

Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#55602: Apr 19th 2016 at 6:38:45 AM

To be honest, I would have a deeper understanding for it if not for the fact that it makes so much sense that Tilda Swinton plays a character called "The Ancient one". She is practically made for it, with her androgynous, ageless look. I mean, I get it, we really need more Asians in the MCU. But she makes so much sense in the role. The moment I heart about her casting I couldn't imagine anyone else in the role. It's like Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, it just fits too well to NOT do it.

Though I recently read a complain that BC looks to young. Which...yeah, Doctor strange has those white patches in his hair, but doesn't it make sense to pick an actor whose face won't change that much for the next ten years or so?

[up] Well, there was Helen Cho....which isn't enough by any stretch, but to claim that there isn't one isn't correct either. Though it is kind of strange, you would expect Marvel to put as many Asian characters as possible in those movies to appease the Chinese Market (instead of adding useless scenes).

edited 19th Apr '16 6:41:07 AM by Swanpride

DarthSion Statement: All meatbags must die from Slokovia Since: Mar, 2016 Relationship Status: All is for my lord
Statement: All meatbags must die
#55603: Apr 19th 2016 at 6:43:05 AM

[up][up]Melinda May

Cut off one head 2 more shall take it's place! Hail Hydra
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#55604: Apr 19th 2016 at 6:48:06 AM

[up] Not in the movies, or I would have mentioned her and Daisy and their respective parents, and current crazy Inhuman guy and torch.....Agent of Shield is ironically the most "Asian" property within the MCU so far.

comicwriter Since: Sep, 2011
#55605: Apr 19th 2016 at 6:51:22 AM

[up][up]Melinda May has appeared in the movies?

Well, there was Helen Cho....which isn't enough by any stretch, but to claim that there isn't one isn't correct either.

Okay, there's one. "It wouldn't be such a big deal if there were more than one Asian character in the movies."

edited 19th Apr '16 6:58:46 AM by comicwriter

TargetmasterJoe from Velocitron Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: I like big bots and I can not lie
#55606: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:08:52 AM

[up] Nope, she hasn't appeared. While we're on the subject of Asian characters in the MCU, there's also Agent May's mom, Madame Gao, The Hand, Nobu, and later we're gonna have Wong.

So yeah, the MCU does have Asian characters.

AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#55607: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:09:36 AM

Skye counts, she's half-Asian.

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
TargetmasterJoe from Velocitron Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: I like big bots and I can not lie
AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#55609: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:17:18 AM

Well Skye's mother is Chinese, remember?

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
comicwriter Since: Sep, 2011
#55610: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:37:49 AM

So yeah, the MCU does have Asian characters.

Good thing I never said it doesn't then, huh? I said the movies don't, and was corrected that there is a grand total of one.

AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#55611: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:38:33 AM

Would Wong count yet? That'd be two, at least.

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
TargetmasterJoe from Velocitron Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: I like big bots and I can not lie
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#55613: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:43:14 AM

Hogun from the Warrior's Three.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#55614: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:45:12 AM

Nope, she hasn't appeared. While we're on the subject of Asian characters in the MCU, there's also Agent May's mom, Madame Gao, The Hand, Nobu, and later we're gonna have Wong.

80% of the examples listed here are ambiguously Mysterious Mystical Asian characters. 60% of them are unapologetic Yellow Peril examples as well. Consequentially, I say those particular characters count as -1 example. The MCU loses a Diversity Point every time it plays the Evil Magic Asians card and, at this point, it's played it so much that any argument for the Mandarin's depiction being about avoiding the Yellow Peril implications is Hilarious in Hindsight.

It loses three points for The Hand on account of the fact that they actually had a chance to present a member of The Hand in a sympathetic light and they responded to that opportunity by making him the only white guy we see affiliated with the organization.

edited 19th Apr '16 7:46:34 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Khfan429 Since: Aug, 2009
#55615: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:46:15 AM

Jim Morita from the first Captain America movie.

PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#55616: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:47:05 AM

So, that's three, albeit three VERY small roles.

Khfan429 Since: Aug, 2009
#55617: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:48:50 AM

I'll also admit, I'm a little bit confused by the notion that stereotypical villains should count as anti-diversity points. It's not like they're meant to be positive role models or upstanding representations of anything. Maybe if they existed in a vacuum and were the only examples of Asian characters, that'd be one thing, but they're not.

edited 19th Apr '16 7:49:52 AM by Khfan429

comicwriter Since: Sep, 2011
#55618: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:50:56 AM

So two bit parts (both of which were Put on a Bus) and one supporting role. That's some great opportunities for Asians in the MCU.

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#55619: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:53:06 AM

[up][up] Problem is that the Asian villains are written in a stereotypical way.

Mystic Asian Ninja/Gangsters. Nice.

edited 19th Apr '16 7:53:20 AM by MadSkillz

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#55620: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:55:12 AM

And, with the exception of Madame Gao, that is the entire extent of their character. Even Nobu is just another faceless ninja who happens to take off his mask and say a couple lines of dialogue from time to time.

They are entirely defined by their cliché.

edited 19th Apr '16 7:55:32 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#55621: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:56:07 AM

Diversity in the MCU also amounts to having black characters.

What about Hispanic characters, I ask you? We're a bigger percentage of the population than African-Americans and Asian-Americans combined.

All we have is Luis, a thug, in Antman.

edited 19th Apr '16 7:56:45 AM by MadSkillz

AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#55622: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:57:18 AM

Hey, he's a thief who likes art and fine wine!

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
Khfan429 Since: Aug, 2009
#55623: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:57:40 AM

Ooookay, so why aren't we focusing on the fact that they're shallow and one-dimensional instead? It seems like "the bad guys are being presented in a negative cultural light" is being treated as a bigger issue than "the bad guys aren't written in a way that makes them more engaging than cutout stereotypes". And I'm sorry, but I still don't see where bad guys should be expected to be anything other than bad guys. If they're lame, they're lame, that's a bigger problem than the fact that a bunch of people who exist to do horrible things in the narrative aren't also culturally sensitive. Again, they're not the only Asian characters, so it's not like the MCU treats the entire continent like they're full of terrible people. It's just the bad guys.

PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#55624: Apr 19th 2016 at 7:59:27 AM

To be fair, Luis is great and multifaceted. His one character is worth all three Asian characters combined, development-wise. The MCU does need WAY more Hispanic and Asian characters, though.

edited 19th Apr '16 8:00:33 AM by PushoverMediaCritic

Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#55625: Apr 19th 2016 at 8:00:06 AM

Well Kingpin and Punisher both got to have fleshed out backstories and motivations.

The Hand are evil asian ninjas that have some weird maybe world ending goal because.

Madame Gao gets to be mysterious on top of evil and probably magic.

Kind of unbalanced in who the narrative thinks is worth explaining.

Forever liveblogging the Avengers

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