Rumors have been swirling for awhile now that it’s going to be a hot minute before we get to the next Avengers movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At first, I brushed this off – pfffffttttt…..The Avengers are a cash cow…we’ll be there by 2022. But now, I’ve never been so certain that it really is going to be quite some time before we can get back, and honestly, I have no idea how we’re going to get there, or what that team-up is even going to look like. Our beloved characters are spread out all over the place right now, there’s some crazy multiverse stuff going on, and that Val is up to something here on Earth. Season 1 of both WandaVision and Loki might’ve cracked the next big story in the MCU wide open, and we could be headed towards another 10-year saga with Kang The Conqueror. Our next set of clues figures to be obtained through the Disney+ series What If…?, which is set to premiere on Wednesday, August 11th. From the look of the trailer, I figure it’s going to add more to the ‘wtf?’ frame of mind than really start sorting stuff out.
And, to be fair, maybe we’re not supposed to get a clear direction. Maybe that’s the whole point of the next phase of the MCU – to sort of reset with the characters we have and introduce some new ones. So, yeah – your guess is as good as mine. It feels like the MCU is heading down two different paths right now – the cosmic stuff with Kang, and the grounded stuff with Val and what I presume to be the Thunderbolts. But, we’re about to get an entire wave of new characters, and I’m eager to see how they’re all going to fit in. We’ll meet Shang-Chi on September 3rd, The Eternals in November, and Ms. Marvel at some point before the year’s up. Then, in 2022, we’ll meet Moon Knight, She-Hulk, with the Fantastic Four and Blade looming out there in ‘TBD’ wasteland. That’s a major influx of characters, and so far, Marvel has had the benefit of most, even casual, comic book fans being somewhat familiar with the characters they’ve introduced. Now, we’re getting into the deep cuts. Not to mention, it looks like Marvel is going to try and squeeze in the ‘Secret Invasion’ storyline before we get another Avengers team-up. That’s A LOT of ground to cover, so we’ll see just how strong the MCU brand really is moving forward.
I’d also point out that some of the time travel stuff in Loki was getting a little harder for some folks to understand…same with the multiverse stuff in WandaVision. I can’t help but wonder if there’s going to come a time when it’s just too much for casual audiences. You keep upping the game and upping the game to the point that the MCU is no longer grounded in anything. I wouldn’t bet on it, because as we’ve seen with some of the lesser known properties before, Marvel is good at drawing up compelling stories, getting notable actors that are draws at the box office to play characters, and keeping us invested. But, I did want to mention that as a potential first crack in the armor of the MCU.
There’s just so much going on in the MCU right now, and a lot of the characters feel lightyears apart (maybe literally). I have no idea where we’re going, but as a lifelong comic book nut, I’m buckled in and simply along for the ride. What’s your guess on where this train is rolling? Let me know in the comments.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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