We’re getting more Marvel Studios than ever before.
But is Hollywood’s most successful franchise haunted by its own legacy?
The pandemic delayedBlack Widow’s arrival until July 9, two summers pastSpider-Man: Far From Home.
Credit: Illustration by Kyle Hilton for EW
But some of the worst years in living memory were already the best years for Marvel Studios.
Reopened theaters will welcome near-bimonthly Marvel films until next July’sBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever.
There aren’t many skeptics.
Paul Bettany as Vision in ‘WandaVision.'.Marvel Studios
Billions have been grossed, and every studio wants its own linked megaseries (see: theYellowstoneuniverse).
The movie ripples Tony’s galaxy-saving martyrdom everywhere: building-size murals, quickie prestige docs.
“What is it like to take over from Tony Stark?”
a reporter asks Spider-Man, who is tormented by visions of an Iron Zombie rising from the grave.
FalconandFar From Homeboth overextendEndgameepilogues into awkward changing-of-the-guard reboots.
to be a political question, but its promotion of Steve Rogers into national sainthood halts any deconstruction.
Tony Stark actually was a cad 2021 would cancel his 2008 self andFar From Homesanitizes his memory.
A few characters bring up his faults; they are villains.
When I reviewed the film in 2019, I compared Tony’s spectral presence to Jesus.
It’s a flawed comparison, because religion is too modest.
Who would worshipthat, whenthiscool guy went out resurrecting half the cosmos?
Surely the future of Marvel is more than “Previously On.”
I know, I know: InFar From Home, the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
are actually shapeshifting aliens!
And afterWandaVision, we’re just one Surprise Skrull post-credits scene away from a trend.
But it’s possible for you to’t make a vaguely defined organization interesting just by turning their commanders green.
for space, S.H.I.E.L.D.
for time, S.H.I.E.L.D.
but Skrulls, and don’t forget about whatever counter-S.H.I.E.L.D.
Much of this comes from the source material; hell, She-Hulk has been around longer than I have.
But fidelity is no excuse.
Marvel Comics’ actual bankruptcy in the ’90s reflected an artistic bankruptcy hailing from the ’80s.
There’s been good stuff since then, but are the movies just running low on quality adaptation fuel?
Agent was terrible last century, and he’s no better now.
These problems are only obvious because the last Phase solved them.Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.
2,Thor: Ragnarok, andBlack Panthershare a common theme: Daddy lied, tear his legacy down.
Black Panther takes his country in a new direction; Thor burns his world to the ground.
All this happened while S.H.I.E.L.D.
got back-benched into its own plucky little TV show, while its Nova Corp ilk just disappeared.
The rule-proving exception came inBlack Panther.
agent “colonizer.”
Phase 3 overturned monuments before that was a mainstream mood.
Maybe it was just a blip.
