Marvel Cinematic Universe

Article Archive

Phase I

  • Iron Man (MCU 1)
    • We start with a look at the first film in what eventually grew to become the "Marvel Cinematic Universe", the fantastic Iron Man.
  • The Incredible Hulk (MCU 2)
    • We continue with a look at the least-loved film of the MCU and Marvel's second attempt at adapting the Hulk to the big screen.
  • Iron Man 2 (MCU 3)
    • Iron Man is back in a somewhat flawed second installment to his series, and we'll take a dive into this film to see why all the villains on display couldn't make this film work.
  • Thor (MCU 4)
    • We look at the next hero for the MCU, Marvel's Asgardian god-hero, Thor. Does his adventure stock up to Iron Man's first outing, or is he more of a Hulk?
  • Captain America: The First Avenger (MCU 5)
    • Marvel goes back to World War II and we take a look back at the first film in the Captain America series.
  • The Avengers (MCU 6)
    • Bringing it all together, Marvel unites their heroes in a single movie, a capstone to their individual films that became a crossover smash hit.

Phase II

  • Iron Man 3 (MCU 7)
    • Starting into the second "Phase" of the MCU, we take a look at the third (and final) film in the Iron Man series. The character lives on, but this film gives us a conclusion to his personal arc.
  • Thor: The Dark World (MCU 8)
    • We go back to Asgard for a look at the second Thor film, now with 100% less Kenneth Brannaugh and 100% more Dark Elves.
  • Captain America: The Winter Soldier (MCU 9)
    • Teaming up Cap and Black Window, Marvel created a tense spy thriller for this second installment in Cap's series. We take a look at the film to see just how deep the conspiracy goes.
  • Guardians of the Galaxy (MCU 10)
    • How do you film what should be an unfilmable team series? Marvel did it, through the power of James Gunn, and we take a look at the film many favorably compare to Star Wars.
  • Avengers: Age of Ultron (MCU 11)
    • After the huge success of the first Avengers film, Marvel had high expectations for the sequel. We take a look at the film and try to figure out if it's a hit or a miss.
  • Ant-Man (MCU 12)
    • After the big bombast of Age of Ultron, Marvel pulled back for a smaller, funnier story about a hero that's both small and funny.

Phase III

  • Captain America: Civil War (MCU 13)
    • It's Cap v Iron Man is the superhero battle of the century. We take a look at the film to see how it all shakes out when friend fights friend. Will the Avengers be able to stand against internal strife?
  • Doctor Strange (MCU 14)
    • Marvel takes a leap into the world of magic with the introduction of their "Sorcerer Supreme". We take a look to see if it's as... well, as magical as hoped.
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (MCU 15)
    • What more could you want for a second Guardians film? How about more of everything that made the first film great. We take a look to see how it all worked out.
  • Spider-Man: Homecoming (MCU 16)
    • With a new reboot of Spider-man out, we review the third iteration of the web-head in 16 years. Is he more hero than insect? Let's find out.
  • Thor: Ragnarok (MCU 17)
    • After two decent, but not great movies, Marvel took the third Thor in a different direction, to great effect. We take a look at how the film shakes out, if it's really the smashing success people say.
  • Black Panther (MCU 18)
    • Ever since Blade left the silver screen, there's been a notable lack of Black superheroes. With their 18th film in the MCU, Marvel took a stab at fixing that. We look at the film to see if it's as good as hoped.
  • Avengers: Infinity War (MCU 19)
    • Marvel's back at it again, smashing their superheroes up against a powerful villain looking to eradicate life across the universe. Can the Avengers stop this new threat, and will the film be any good? We review it and see.
  • Ant-Man and Wasp (MCU 20)
    • Once again, after the hero-smashing of the third Avengers, Marvel goes back to ol' Ant-Man for a small film to lighten the cinematic universe just a bit. We review it and see if his small size leads to huge success.
  • Captain Marvel (MCU 21)
    • A new hero joins the fray when Captain Marvel comes crashing to Earth in the 1990s. This powerful hero leads to a new phase for the Marvel universe, and promises to delivery even more in the final installment of the Avengers saga.
  • Avengers: Endgame (MCU 22)
    • And this is it, the end of an era as everything from the last eleven years comes together in a gigantic, series-crossing, three-hour epic. You've made it this far so we have no doubt you're in for this movie as well.
  • Spider-man: Far From Home (MCU 23)
    • Following the rousing success of the Spider-reboot, and two big Avengers movies, Sony and Marvel return to the web-head with a second, Tom Holland-starring solo adventure. Sadly, lightning just couldn't strike twice as this film is decent but not great.

Phase IV

  • WandaVision (MCU 24)
    • Wanda and Vision are trapped in a series of sitcoms from decades past, and they don't seem to think there's anything wrong with it. Also, shouldn't Vision be dead? Just what is going on here?
  • The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (MCU 25)
    • Steve chose Sam to be the new Captain America, but when Sam sets the shield, and the identity, aside because he doesn't feel like him taking over the role honors it, the American government chooses a new Captain America. Now Sam and Bucky have to deal with the consequences.
  • Loki (MCU 26)
    • Although Loki died at the beginning of Infinity War, another version of him broke free of the timeline mid-way into Endgame. Now that Loki is back and he's gained the ire of the Time Variance Authority. He's fighting against the constraints of the timeline for the fate of free will.
  • Black Widow (MCU 27)
    • Everyone's favorite super-spy comes back for one last adventure as this prequel explores her time on the run, dealing with family, and investigating her own past at the Red Room.
  • What If...? (MCU 28)
    • We explore the multiverse from the perspective of various alternate character as we ponder the question... "What If...?"
  • Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (MCU 29)
    • We're introduced to Shang-Chi, son of the legendary leader of the Ten Rings, who wants nothing more than the forget his father's legacy and live his own life. Forces beyond his control, though, have other plans.
  • Eternals (MCU 30)
    • They aren't gods, but they're about as close as you can get, and they're here to save the world in Marvel's first flop since The Incredible Hulk.
  • Hawkeye (MCU 31)
    • It's Hawkeye and Hawkeye in a series all about Hawkeye in this excellent first season.
  • Spider-man: No Way Home (MCU 32)
    • Peter's identity is revealed so, with the help of Doctor Strange, he tries to use magic to fix it, which only causes a multiverse of problems instead.
  • Moon Knight (MCU 33)
    • Steven finds himself waking up in weird places, losing days at a time, and he slowly discovers it's not just sleepwalking and narcolepsy but also superheroism... somehow.
  • Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (MCU 34)
    • Doctor Strange is back, struggling to hold the multiverse together, in this cross-world, cross-story, mega-tale.
  • Ms. Marvel (MCU 35)
    • Captain Marvel gets her own "sidekick" as Kamala Kahn picks up a magical gauntlet and becomes part of the next generation of Marvel.
  • Thor: Love and Thunder (MCU 36)
    • Thor returns, and is greeted by the Mighty Thor, in this Thor-ful adventure with lots of action and romance.
  • She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (MCU 37)
    • Jennifer Walters accidentally inherits the Hulk abilities from her cousin, Bruce, and had to learn to balance, life, love, and lawyering with her newfound abilities.
  • Werewolf By Night (MCU 38)
    • A group of monster hunters comes to a spooky mansion for a night of monsterous delights in this horror-classic throwback.
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (MCU 39)
    • T'Challa is dead but Wakanda lives on. Now the kingdom has to find a way to move on without their protector, and a new threat on the horizon.
  • The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (MCU 40)
    • Drax and Mantis head off to save Christmas by kidnapping Kevin Bacon in this delightful little special.

Phase V

  • Ant-Man and Wasp: Quantumania (MCU 41)
    • The whole Ant-Family are sucked into the Quantum Realm and have to deal with a growing threat down there that Janet thought she'd left behind.
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (MCU 42)
    • Rocket is in trouble and the rest of the Guardians have to band together to save him in this trilogy capping final entry.
  • Secret Invasion (MCU 43)
    • The Skrulls are trying to take over the world and only Nick Fury can stop them... although it's not really clear why from the way this series plays out.
  • Loki (MCU 44)
    • Loki returns, and now he's slipping through time and it'll take the help of Mobius M. Mobius, and the whole of the TVA, to help him and save the universe in the process.
  • The Marvels (MCU 45)
    • Captain Marvel is forced to team up with Ms. Marvel and Captain Rambeau for a high-flying adventure against a cosmic terrorist in this enjoyable romp.
  • What If...? (MCU 46)
    • We take another journey into the Multiverse with Marvel's alternate dimension hopping adventures.
  • Echo (MCU 47)
    • A former Kingpin enforcer has to reckon with her past, and find a new way forward, back in her home town.

Marvel Television

  • Agent Carter
    • Going back to the original era of Captain America, this series follows Cap's "Best Gal", Peggy Carter, as she continues fighting the good fight as an agent in the Strategic Science Reserve.
  • Agents of SHIELD
  • Cloak and Dagger
    • Released on the Freeform network, the thought of a superhero show on that backwater cable channel did not inspire confidence. But then Cloak and Dagger showed itself to be a nuanced take on the teen heroes genre and became a show well-worth checking out.
  • Daredevil
    • He's a blind lawyer with superpowers (enhanced senses and an amazing skill at fighting) taking on the darkest parts of the city... and himself. Let's all wallow in the darkness with Daredevil
  • Hit-Monkey
    • The ghost of an assassin and an angry monkey team up for revenge in this crass and comedic adult cartoon series.
  • Iron Fist
    • Part of the Netflix corner of the MCU, Iron Fist debuted in 2017 and quickly became known as the worst series in the stable. What went wrong with the first season, and was that assessment really fair?
  • Jessica Jones
    • The second series from the MCU to come out on Netflix (after Daredevil, this show exchanged mystical powers and blindfighting for hard drinking detective noir. And, for the first season or so, it really worked.
  • Luke Cage
    • Part of the MCU, Luke Cage has been working to clean up Harlem and fight thee threats, both homegrown and supernatural, that just keep coming to his part of NYC.
  • M.O.D.O.K.
    • Big-headed supervillain M.O.D.O.K. deals with a company looking to steal his supervillain lab, his wife leaving him, and evil aliens in this lighthearted strop-motion romp.
  • The Punisher
    • Spun-off from the second season of Netflix's Daredevil, this series follows Frank Castle as he wages a one-man war against the criminal element in New York.
  • Runaways
    • Exclusive to Hulu, this series follows six teenagers on their adventures after they discover that their parents are supervillains. Can the kids take down their parents and save the world? Let's find out.

Further Discussion:

See Also:

  • Let's Do the Time Loop Again!: A look at the time loop sub-genre of sci-fi and fantasy, from Groundhog Day to the Cloak and Dagger and everything in between.

  • Okay, Wait... What?: At one point DC was looking at putting out Batman v Superman up against Captain America: Civil War. We discuss why this was a stupid idea.
  • Top 10 Movies (2014): A look at our favorite movies dating back to 2014. MCU films do make an appearance on the list.
  • Top 10 Movies (2018): An updated look at our favorite films, this time from 2018. The MCU once gets high marks on the list.
  • Red Sparrow: In 2018 Fox made a movie that seemed like a Black Widow film in all but name. We take a look at the movie to see how close the studio got to the mark.
  • Winter 2019 Movie Preview: We take a look at upcoming movies for the first quarter of 2019, including 100% more Captain Marvel.
  • Spring 2019 Movie Preview: A preview of upcoming movies for the second quarter of 2019, with more Avengers than you can shake a stick at.
  • Summer 2019 Movie Preview: The Summer kicks off right with a spate of new movies, including the first MCU Spider-man sequel.
  • Summer 2021 Movie Preview: A preview of upcoming movies for the third quarter of 2021, including Black Widow and Shang-Chi.
  • The Problem with Tag Endings: We take a look at post-credit scenes and why their overuse takes away from the actual endings of films.
  • How to Shepherd a Franchise: Discovery is taking over Time-Warner, and we discuss how they might just be able to salvage DC and the DCEU.
  • How Much Continuity is Too Much Continuity?: We take a look at complaints about the second Dooctor Strange film and discuss how a franchise needs to pay off its long continuity (with examples).
  • Top 10 Movies (2024): My list of favorite movies, once again updated after a six year break because, well, more cool stuff has come out.

Podcasts: