8 Things No Marvel Fan Wants To Accept About The MCU

The Marvel Cinematic Universe's achievements are many, but there are some things about this multi-billion dollar franchise its fans simply don't want to admit or accept! Find out what those are here...

By JoshWilding - Apr 10, 2024 12:04 PM EST

Filed Under: Marvel Studios

What Marvel Studios has achieved since 2008 when Iron Man was released is nothing short of incredible. They've produced hit after hit and even delivered a few critical darlings, crafting a shared world that's unlike any other franchise out there.

Like many of you, we love the MCU (so, don't panic: there's no hate here). However, there are certain flaws and issues with this shared world that its most ardent fans do not want to accept!

In this feature, we take a deep dive into those, exploring where the MCU falls short, the decisions which make no sense, and why it's unlikely these movies and TV shows will ever create the same buzz among fans they once did.

Can the MCU be "saved"? Sure, but that's not what this is about; to find out more, click on the "Next"/"View List" buttons below to read this breakdown...

8. Earth-616 Is Kinda Dull

While the Marvel Universe has always reflected our word (which is why there are no Metropolis or Gotham City-like fictional locations), the MCU is perhaps a little too real.

Avengers Tower made the New York City skyline a little more exciting for a time, though that sure didn't last. However, with no Baxter Building, no Raft, and even Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum looking like just any other building, the MCU is positively dull.

It's just not heightened in any way, and that's a shame. Wakanda and those short-lived Helicarriers have made a small difference at various points, but c'mon, it's kinda dull, right?

7. They've Dropped The Ball On Spider-Man

Objectively speaking, Marvel Studios' Spider-Man trilogy is excellent. They're all really good movies and Spider-Man: No Way Home is arguably among the best MCU movies ever made.

However, it's hard to ignore the missteps made over the years. From Peter Parker's overreliance on technology to the absence of his classic villains (Norman Osborn doesn't exist on Earth-616? Seriously?!), the MCU has not delivered the perfect version of Spider-Man.

While he's in better hands with Marvel Studios than Sony Pictures, let's not pretend Marvel Studios' creative direction for the web-spinner has been without fault.

6. The Timeline Makes No Sense

Marvel Studios can release books and use Disney+ to try and explain the MCU's timeline all they like, but it still doesn't make a lick of sense.

The Blip has only served to complicate things and, with more projects now than ever before, it's only getting worse. There's a rough order to the movies (and TV shows) which is a useful guide...it would just be foolish to put too much stock in any of that.

We'll give 'em credit for trying - just look at Nick Fury's "Big Week" - and it can't have been easy for the studio over the years. To pretend Marvel Studios are master storytellers in this respect, though, would be a big leap.

5. Marvel Studios Peaked With The Avengers

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This may seem like a bold and unfair statement, but allow us to explain. There have been heaps of incredible movies released by Marvel Studios since 2012; Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther, and Avengers: Endgame all instantly come to mind.

However, outside of a few rare examples - the latter's Portal scene is one of them - has the MCU ever recaptured the same magic of seeing those different superheroes assemble on screen?

It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see Captain America share the screen with Iron Man, and Thor battling The Hulk...well, it was mind-blowing. A great many cool moments have followed, but this achievement - even if the movie itself wasn't the best one - remains unmatched.

4. The X-Men And Fantastic Four Are Coming Too Late

When the Disney/Fox merger went through, comic book fans couldn't help but be excited over the prospect of Marvel Studios regaining the rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises. That was in 2019.

Five years later, we're still a year away from The Fantastic Four and have only X-Men '97 and a few mutant references to show for those characters. We expect there to be plenty of great movies and TV shows in the years ahead; unfortunately, it feels like it's all happening too late.

Any sort of Avengers vs. X-Men project won't hit the same without the original six Avengers. Mister Fantastic will likely never share the screen with Tony Stark. The Thing and The Hulk? They're never gonna fight. Then again, all these issues could be solved with a reboot...

3. There Are Too Many Characters

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In recent years, it's been wonderful to see the likes of Shang-Chi, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, and the Eternals get their due on screen. Unfortunately, that's added to a pre-existing problem the MCU already had: too many characters.

There simply isn't room to do all these heroes justice and, with a finite number of movies and TV shows available each year (and even less with Bob Iger back in charge of Disney), an awful lot of them have fallen by the wayside.

Moon Knight, Namor, Werewolf by Night, and even the new Captain America have disappeared since their respective introductions. By the time Sam Wilson returns, it will have been four freakin' years since we last saw him!

2. DC Has Done Some Things Better

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Look, the DCEU was a mess and that's something quite a few MCU fans took great delight in. Even being completely non-biased, there's no getting around the fact that, for a time, the narrative was, "Everything DC can do, Marvel does better."

Despite that, you have to admit that DC has done at least some things better than Marvel Studios.

Many superhumans feel more...well, super...in the DCEU. The world itself is also more fantastical and comic book-like at times, and the adult vibe saw the franchise embrace R-Ratings long before Deadpool & Wolverine will later this year.

1. Its Best Days Are Behind It

Marvel Studios is looking to course correct, creatively overhauling Daredevil: Born Again, prioritising quality over quantity, and reshaping the Multiverse Saga after Kang failed to connect with audiences. For that, they deserve a great deal of credit.

Unfortunately, it still feels like the MCU's best days are behind it. These movies no longer feel like true events and while there's always room for that to change, the buzz just isn't there now. Perhaps it's too much of a good thing since 2008?

The next Avengers movies are likely to be epic, but will they hit in the same way Avengers: Endgame did? It seems doubtful. That was where fan excitement peaked; just look at how little fans care about the MCU TV shows now compared to when WandaVision launched.

THE IRON CLAW Star Zac Efron Rumored To Be In Talks With Marvel Studios For A Mystery Role

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8 Things No Marvel Fan Wants To Accept About The MCU

The Marvel Cinematic Universe's achievements are many, but there are some things about this multi-billion dollar franchise its fans simply don't want to admit or accept! Find out what those are here...

8. Earth-616 Is Kinda Dull

7. They've Dropped The Ball On Spider-Man

6. The Timeline Makes No Sense

5. Marvel Studios Peaked With The Avengers

4. The X-Men And Fantastic Four Are Coming Too Late

3. There Are Too Many Characters

2. DC Has Done Some Things Better

1. Its Best Days Are Behind It

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