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Given his decades of service to the greater good, Steve Rogers' Captain America made several decisions that redefined the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The First Avenger has been fighting in the name of what's right since the events of World War II. Starting as a scrawny kid from Brooklyn, Rogers was given the chance to serve his country despite his health issues in Captain America: The First Avenger after he was chosen for the Super Soldier program, which made him an enhanced human being.

As a central character, Rogers had several meaningful relationships in the MCU. Captain America co-led the Avengers with Tony Stark/Iron Man. They didn't always see eye-to-eye, as proven by their opposite stance on the Sokovia Accords, but both were devoted to protecting Earth. Despite some trysts, Rogers' enduring romance with Peggy Carter is one of the best love stories in the MCU, while his friendship with...

As the second movie in the trilogy, Iron Man 2 had the near-impossible task of building upon Jon Favreau’s classic superhero story and added new cast and characters to the already extensive roster. Despite claims that it’s one of the MCU’s weakest projects, Iron Man 2 actually does a good job of developing the storylines that were laid out in the first installment, establishing new subplots from the characters and continuing Tony Stark’s journey in a powerful and meaningful way.

Although Iron Man 2 has a fairly messy screenplay that never lives up to the greatness of the original, it’s still an incredibly fun adventure that’s elevated by the talented cast of actors and actresses in front of the camera. This MCU Phase 1 adventure features several twists and turns along the way, creating a thrilling and entertaining narrative while also developing the central figures...

The original Avengers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe just received some bad news, through a recently released update by Disney CEO Bob Iger. The very first movie in the MCU, 2008's Iron Man, ended with a post-credits scene that saw Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury recruit Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark for the Avenger Initiative. Since then, there have been four Avengers movies released in theaters — with two more on the way — and the franchise has amassed well over $7 billion at the global box office.

2019's Avengers: Endgame is the most recent release in the franchise, with the movie serving as a swan song for part of the original MCU Avengers team. While Avengers: Endgame featured pretty much every character in the MCU, Marvel was bound to part ways with some of its iconic heroes in the near future. Deadline shared an interesting update from Disney CEO Iger at the Morgan Stanley Technology,...

He may have been a compelling villain, but Thanos broke the McU's power levels - and Marvel will struggle to fix the problem. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is undoubtedly one of the greatest success stories in the history of Hollywood. It's easy to forget, though, that it was originally seen as something of a gamble. Marvel had long since sold the film rights to their A-level heroes, Spider-Man and the X-Men, meaning they were stuck with the second-tier heroes who were left. According to film historian Ben Fritz, Marvel convened focus groups of children to find out which superhero's toys would interest them. The children overwhelmingly chose Iron Man as the most interesting hero - and so Iron Man became the foundation of the MCU.

Marvel's shared universe model was a risky one, especially as the flourishing franchise built up to the release of The Avengers in 2012. If The Avengers had failed,...

Captain America: New World Order has a new character whose identity is a mystery, and here are the Marvel heroes and villains Xosha Roquemore could play. The actress from Atlanta and Space Jam: A New Legacy has reportedly joined the cast of the upcoming Phase 5 Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. At the time of the casting announcement, it was not revealed who Xosha Roquemore is playing in Captain America 4. The casting report did tease that she is playing a new character whose identity is being kept under wraps by Marvel for the time being.

Roquemore is the latest addition to the Captain America: New World Order cast. Anthony Mackie returns to headline the movie after Sam Wilson officially took over the mantle in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) and Joaquín Torres (Danny Ramirez) are confirmed to return after the show alongside Sam. It is...

Everyone has heard the name, Iron Man, but not all have heard the name of Cobalt Man, Tony Stark’s dastardly second identity. Now, Ironheart has stolen the name from him and is using it to follow in some of Tony’s most dangerous footsteps.

The original Cobalt Man was Ralph Roberts and former and disgruntled employee of Stark Industries. He left the company after Tony refused to divulge the secrets of the Iron Man armor and went to work with cobalt. He eventually created a suit out of the substance despite its radioactive properties which were unstable, it granted Roberts superhuman strength, stamina, and an array of abilities similar to that of Iron Man. However, the original Cobalt Man was killed in the Stamford Connecticut blast that sparked Marvel’s first Civil War event. After the death of Ralph Roberts, Tony would sometimes assume the identity of Cobalt Man...

The Marvel Cinematic Universe's one-shots are a beloved but often forgotten piece of the long-running franchise but are just as important to Marvel's continuity as ever. While the MCU has generally moved away from the one-off shorts that would often accompany the release of films, the recent surge of Disney+ content has led the franchise to take a similar approach when creating Special Presentations like Werewolf by Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. While it is unclear whether or not Marvel Studios will ever release additional one-shots to accompany projects in the Multiverse Saga, the original five short films are actually quite important to MCU canon.

As the MCU gambled on creating a franchise based around the Avengers throughout Phase 1, the studio released a series of four one-shots, which accompanied several films leading up to 2012's The Avengers. These films were used for a variety of purposes,...

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever introduced Riri Williams to the MCU ahead of her appearance in Ironheart, perfectly setting up yet another MCU project. Dominique Thorne debuted as the genius MIT student, Riri Williams, in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, brought to Wakanda by Shuri and Okoye after her vibranium detector was used by the CIA to trace vibranium in the ocean, alerting the nations of the world to the existence of Talokan beneath the waves. Williams was at the core of the battle between the Wakandans and Namor's army but wasn't simply relegated to a plot McGuffin since Williams herself suited up and fought alongside the new Black Panther.

Riri Williams' introduction in Wakanda Forever marks the debut of Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man's, a legacy hero in the MCU, especially since Williams herself used Stark tech to build her armor. Williams' next appearance in Ironheart will surely...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Invincible Iron Man #2As one of Marvel Comics' most prominent Armored Avengers, the one and only War Machine is no stranger to firepower. Even outside of some of the high-tech repulsor technology shared by his friend Iron Man, Rhodey as more than a few tricks up his sleeve from more traditional armaments to some heavy-duty artillery. With so much weaponry to choose from, War Machine really lives up to his name. Unfortunately for Tony, recent developments have left his Iron Man armor in a far less optimal state. With his back against the wall and no limitless fortune to ease the tension, Tony may be in over his head. And while Invincible Iron Man #2 only makes things tougher for the fan-favorite Avenger, Tony’s new status quo teases big things for one James Rhodes are on the horizon.

Invincible Iron Man #2 by Gerry Duggan and Juan...

Marvel Studios is in pre-production on the live-action superhero drama series "Wonder Man", co-starring Courteney Cox, following 'Simon Williams' (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), initially introduced as a super-villain imbued with 'ionic' energy, streaming in 2023 on Disney+

"...'Simon Williams' is the son of rich industrialist 'Sanford Williams', owner of 'Williams Innovations'. Simon inherits the munitions factory after his father's death, but the company's profits fall due to its biggest competitor 'Tony Stark' and his company 'Stark Industries'.

"On the advice of his brother 'Eric', Simon tries to embezzle funds from his company but is caught and incarcerated. Simon blames Stark for this and accepts the proposition of master villain 'Baron Heinrich Zemo' after the 'Enchantress' pays his bail, as a pawn is required to infiltrate the 'Avengers'. 

"The desperate Simon Williams agrees and is transformed into an ion-powered being with superhuman powers including strength, speed, agility, stamina, enhanced vision and hearing,...

The Marvel Cinematic Universe's first true superhero Tony Stark aka Iron Man may not have the most memorable group of villains in comics, but a new piece of fanart serves as a reminder that many of his rogues are still worthy of the MCU. After helping to lead the charge as a founding Avenger for more than a decade, 2019's Avengers Endgame saw the tragic demise of Iron Man. While Iron Man's death helped bring a satisfying end to the McU's "Infinity Saga," there is a chance that Tony Stark and his remaining comic villains will be all but excluded from major upcoming MCU projects.

In an excellent work of art that shines a spotlight on Iron Man's roster of villainous characters, illustrator and animator Dave Bardin has brought the foes to life in his own distinctive art style. Bardin's designs, based on the artwork of legendary Marvel artists Jack Kirby,...

Dominique Thorne shares more detail about her conversation with Robert Downey Jr. before she officially leads her own MCU show in Ironheart. After her first appearance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Studios is officially introducing a proper replacement for Iron Man in Riri Williams via her own TV show on Disney+. While the pair weren't able to meet on screen in the MCU, Downey made sure to connect with his on-screen heir to offer her words of encouragement.

Speaking with The Direct, Thorne revealed more details about her conversation with Rdj, saying the actor initially said he didn't have any advice for her. He eventually relented and shared some tips, including a reminder to ensure that "Riri is her own person." Read her full story below:

So, he and I didn’t really have much chance to connect prior to, but maybe that worked out pretty well, because, actually,...

One of the bigger missed opportunities within Marvel's Cinematic Universe might lie in its introduction of Riri Williams, aka Ironheart. Riri was folded into the Marvel Comics canon in 2016 as Iron Man's legacy counterpart. As Riri grew on the pages of the comics, she amassed quite the following, validating Black female comic lovers -- and aspiring Black women in Stem -- with each new adventure. She was a fascinating foil to Tony Stark's privilege and snark, and a lot of fans hoped to see their dynamic eventually play out on the big screen. But the MCU went a different way, with Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man mentoring an all-new Spider-Man (played by Tom Holland) before ultimately meeting his demise in "Avengers: Endgame."

By the time Riri was finally introduced in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," Iron Man was long gone. His legacy still lives on in Riri — after all,...

While Iron Man has a plethora of hilarious nicknames for his fellow Avengers in the MCU, Hawkeye had one for Captain America in the comics that would absolutely make Tony Stark proud. Said during the first days of the second-ever Avengers roster in Marvel Comics, Steve Rogers was tasked with leading a team of former criminals seeking redemption: Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and Hawkeye. However, Marvel's most famous archer started out having some serious issues with Cap.

While Pietro and Wanda Maximoff had just left Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants to make up for their dark past, Clint Barton's Hawkeye similarly chose to be a "straight-shooter" after a brief criminal stint, having been recommended for the team by Iron Man himself. However, the team affectionately called "Cap's Kooky Quartet" had some major growing pains, and many of them stemmed from Hawkeye's blatant disrespect for Steve Rogers. In his mind, he...

Riri Williams has already made her way to the MCU, but her solo adventure in Ironheart has an important Iron Man question to answer. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever marked the first appearance of Dominique Thorne in the MCU as Riri Williams, a young MIT student and genius inventor who has developed her own suit of armor, akin to those worn by Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, and James "Rhodey" Rhodes, a.k.a. War Machine. Thorne will make her next MCU appearance in her own Disney+ series, Ironheart, which will pit the armored hero against the Hood (Anthony Ramos), and potentially the much-anticipated Mephisto, rumored to be played by Sacha Baron Cohen.

Shuri (Letitia Wright) and Okoye (Danai Gurira) tracked Williams down in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever after vibranium-tracking technology she developed alerted the US government to Namor's underwater city of Talokan. Seeking refuge in Wakanda, Williams aided...

The introduction of Tom Holland's Spider-Man to the Marvel Cinematic Universe ruined Iron Man 3's Harley Keener's future. The MCU got an unexpected surprise in 2015 when Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures agreed to a deal to share Spider-Man. Tom Holland was cast and thrust into the MCU for Captain America: Civil War. It marked the first of six appearances that Holland would make in as many years, which helped establish Spider-Man as one of the McU's biggest and most important characters. One of the keys to his development and place in the larger Infinity Saga narrative was his relationship with Tony Stark.

The MCU infused Spider-Man and Iron Man's stories together throughout Phase 3, establishing a mentee/mentor and even a son/father relationship between Peter Parker and Tony Stark. This narrative decision is why Spider-Man and Iron Man were featured together in four consecutive appearances and the key emotional moments of each.

Of all the professional wrestlers that pivoted to a career acting in Hollywood, none have a filmography as varied, celebrated, and high-profile as Dave Bautista. Whereas many of Bautista's former pro wrestler contemporaries have since leaned into conventional action and comedy roles, Bautista has broadened his range considerably. While Bautista has certainly played characters that reflect his physical stature, he has also taken on roles that play against type in a growing number of genres, from thrillers to hard science fiction. 

More than just a breadth of genres, Bautista is working with some of the most acclaimed filmmakers in the industry today, including M. Night Shyamalan, Denis Villeneuve, and Sam Mendes, each taking full advantage of Bautista's talents. A fearless actor in his own right, Bautista's performances can go from vulnerable to intimidating in an instant, as he shows increasing amounts of depth with each subsequent project. That's part...

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever introduced new characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, most notably Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), best known as Ironheart. Riri is the official replacement of Iron Man in the MCU, and her age is giving her a major advantage over the hero that inspired her to become one. Although it took the MCU some time to recover from Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr) death in Avengers: Endgame, it’s finally moving on and focusing on other, younger characters that will surely take this connected universe’s lead in the near universe, and among them is Riri Williams.

The MCU’s version of Riri Williams is an MIT student and genius inventor who developed a vibranium-detecting machine that, unbeknownst to her, was putting Namor’s (Tenoch Huerta) underwater kingdom, Talokan, in danger. However, Riri’s biggest achievement was a suit of armor inspired by those of Iron Man...

It might seem like only yesterday we were listening to Tems’ rendition of “No Woman, No Cry,” but just two months after Black Panther: Wakanda Forever roared its way to the top of the box office, Ryan Coogler’s superhero showstopper has landed on Disney+. As well as securing Letitia Wright’s Shuri as the new Black Panther, we had an Oscar-worthy turn from Angela Bassett and the introduction of Tenoch Huerta as Namor (dropping the Sub-Mariner suffix).

Doing what the MCU does best, it also queued a ton of potential projects. Alongside another war with the Talokan people in the mythical Black Panther 3, there was the tease of Phase 5’s Thunderbolts and a possible Midnight Angels spin-off. One arc (reactor) we know is directly tied to Wakanda Forever is Chinaka Hodge’s Ironheart. However, is the technological whizz-kid also setting up the return of the original MCU foe?

Alongside Namor,...

This article contains Black Panther: Wakanda Forever spoilers.

Marvel’s last Phase 4 movie is finally on Disney+, and if you missed Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther sequel Wakanda Forever in theaters, we’re here to help you get to know all the fresh faces that have now joined the MCU. In this installment of the franchise, Wakanda and its royal family are grieving after the loss of King T’Challa and, sensing a destabilization in the region, world powers (seen and unseen) start to make their moves against the sovereign nation.

From the villainous Namor to a mysterious new US Secretary of State, here are the characters and actors to keep your eye on as Marvel moves into Phase 5 with a new threat bubbling up from underwater, and a brand-new Black Panther after the tragic passing of actor Chadwick Boseman.

Tenoch Huerta is Namor

Namor is the king of Talokan,...

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty will see Earth's Mightiest Heroes finally face off against the villainous Kang the Conqueror, but many of their ranks may fall before they finally manage to defeat the Multiverse Saga's main antagonist. Just as the Mad Titan Thanos wasn't defeated in the Infinity Saga without taking several Avengers with him, Kang and his malevolent variants aren't likely to spare the lives of any heroes that get in their way of conquering the Multiverse. While truly any of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most beloved characters could fall at Kang's hand, there are several who appear to be specially marked for death.

Kang the Conqueror is the McU's Big Bad for the Multiverse Saga, appearing in various forms and faces all across the many realities of the Multiverse. Jonathan Majors first portrayed the variant He Who Remains in the season finale of Loki, but now is about to...

Thanks to his variant creating a new branch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s main timeline, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) has become one of the most important characters in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, so much so that he could end up being Iron Man’s replacement, though in a tragic way. As the character who kicked off the MCU as it’s now known, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) led the Infinity Saga and the original Avengers team (with the help of Captain America), and it was only fitting that he would be the one who saved the universe by sacrificing himself in Avengers: Endgame.

Although the MCU struggled to recover after the events of Avengers: Endgame and the death of Iron Man, it's now back on track and busy with another, bigger issue: the multiverse and its many dangers and mysteries. The Multiverse Saga has already introduced its official...

Marvel will struggle to top the suit-up scene from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is attending the wedding of Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams), New York City is attacked. Strange leaps into action and, in one fluid movement, removes the Cloak of Levitation from his breast pocket and glides away to help.

Suit-up scenes used to be prevalent in the superhero genre. These moments can provide meaningful, subtle characterization as the protagonist transitions from civilian to hero. Many of these scenes also directly precede the more cinematic reveal of the hero's costume and can be an essential connective tissue between a character's two identities. Whether they are a public figure like Doctor Strange or, like Peter Parker (Tom Holland), they have a secret identity.

Related: New Doctor Strange Power Could Be Key To Understanding The McU's Multiverse

Doctor Strange 2 Broke An MCU Cliché

Doctor...

The time has finally come for DC Studios Co-Chairmen and CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran to reveal their plans for DC going forward. /Film writer Jenna Busch attended a press event where the pair unveiled a whole new slate of DC movies and TV shows for the coming years, including new Superman and Supergirl movies and a True Detective-style Green Lantern show. And while it's far from the hard reboot many long-suffering DC fans were hoping for, Gunn and Safran's plan for a "long-term interconnected story" will mark a major shift for DC Studios.

"Chapter 1" of the new DC will be known as "Gods and Monsters," and will kick off with the Gunn-penned "Superman: Legacy," currently set for a July 11th, 2025 release. In the meantime, Gunn and Safran will have to navigate their way through vestiges of the Snyderverse and former DC Films President Walter Hamada's lingering influence.

In terms of psychic powerhouses, Marvel Comics’ X-Men may have more telepaths than any other superhero team. With heavy hitters like Emma Frost, Jean Grey, or Captain Britain, few foes can stand up to the mental might of the House of Ideas’ Merry Mutants. But some telepaths are more powerful than others, and the fan-favorite X-Man Wolverine knows exactly who’s the most dangerous.

Wolverine has had more than a few chances to study his teammates’ strengths and weaknesses. And while Logan treats the X-Men as his family, that doesn’t mean he leaves himself blind to potential threats. Luckily, that paranoia came in handy for him during the events of Avengers vs X-Men when he and his fellow heroes had to decide which telepaths to take out first – unwittingly establishing the X-Men’s top four psychic powerhouses in the process.

Related: X-Men's Best New Friendship Takes Mutants...

If someone were to ask a Marvel Comics fan who they thought was stronger between Spider-Woman and Thor, that fan would assuredly say Thor as his status as a god and all his impossibly impressive feats throughout the comics would lead one to that conclusion–however, many fans may not know that Spider-Woman has a secret power that makes even Thor look pathetic.

Jessica Drew aka Spider-Woman got her powers after her father tried to cure her of an illness that he was responsible for. As a girl, Jessica lived with her father, Jonathan Drew, on a property in England that was rich with uranium. Jonathan was a geneticist who worked closely with the High Evolutionary, so having near-limitless access to uranium was an unparalleled blessing–though it soon became the most devastating curse. The exposure to uranium made Jessica terminally ill, so in an effort to save her, Jonathan...

The Multiverse Saga of the MCU has widened the possibilities of a return for many Infinity Saga legacy heroes, though Marvel Studios needs to follow one rule should Iron Man be brought back into the fold. The concept of variants and the multiverse has made many previous impossibilities a potential reality. Beginning with Loki, the idea that the same actor could play different variants of the same character has become a very real concept in the MCU.

This was only continued with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which saw the many variants played by the same actors as other movies. However, Spider-Man: No Way Home, as well as elements of Loki, also introduced the idea of variants played by different actors. With many longtime MCU fans clamoring for the return of the likes of Captain America or Iron Man in Avengers: Secret Wars, one condition must be met...

Robert Downey Jr has been confirmed as an unexpected fan of Olympus Has Fallen by Gerard Butler, and he should join the franchise as the next villain. The success of Die Hard led to many imitators looking to capitalize on its formula, including "Die Hard on a boat" (Aka Under Siege) or "Die Hard on a plane" (Air Force One). That genre dried up towards the end of the '90s, but the Has Fallen movie franchise gave the formula a shot in the arm. The success of Olympus Has Fallen in 2013 gave Butler an action franchise, where his Secret Service agent Banning often found himself in messy siege scenarios.

While promoting his action flick Plane, Butler revealed to Uproxx that Robert Downey Jr sent him "the nicest email after Olympus Has Fallen" and proclaimed "We need more of these movies.” There's something lovely to the idea Downey Jr could bask in the simple,...

Marvel Comics showed the best way to end Black Widow's story years ago - if only Marvel Studios had paid attention. The Marvel Cinematic Universe sadly failed Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow. Writers struggled to pin down her character and role, resulting in a strangely uneven portrayal. That's probably one reason viewers became so interested in Black Widow's past, simply because it seemed so much more intriguing than her present. It didn't help that Marvel waited until Phase 4 for a solo Black Widow movie that felt like it was five years too late.

Black Widow's death in Avengers: Endgame has proven particularly controversial, coming after a pretty standard fight between Hawkeye and Black Widow over who should be sacrificed to obtain the Soul Stone (this was literally the third time the MCU had shown a scrap between the two). The film didn't even end with a funeral scene, with...

Four years after his climactic defeat, Josh Brolin's Thanos remains one of the best villains in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sure, the bar is often disappointingly low, but even when it comes to the best of the best, The Mad Titan who orchestrated the Infinity Saga is high on the list. From his towering stature and army of followers to his complex moral philosophy, he spent nearly a decade as a growing threat to Earth's mightiest defenders. Despite how hard Tony Stark prepared for an alien invasion, when Thanos finally touched down on Earth, it took two movies (and the trauma of The Blip) for them to scrape by with a win. And don't even get me started on the collateral damage.

It's also Brolin's performance that makes Thanos a next-level antagonist: this isn't villainy just for the sake of evil. He wholeheartedly believes that he can...

The trailer for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse reveals a connection between the upcoming animated movie and The Fantastic Four. While details of the story are still largely a mystery, the second trailer for Across the Spider-Verse gives audiences a glimpse of the Spider-Man variants they can expect to see in the new movie. These variants include Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac) who is seen fighting Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in the closing shots of the Across the Spider-Verse trailer.

Other variants include the PS4 Spider-Man and Peter Parker's super-powered daughter and wife, Anna-May and Mj Parker. The trailer reveals a sprawling structure where all of these Spider-Man variants hang out and which Gwen and Miles will visit in Across the Spider-Verse. Within this extensive group of alternate Spider-Men and Spider-Women, there's also a variant who has some ties to Reed Richards and The Fantastic Four.

Related: SpiderVerse Theory Fixes No Way...

It's taken for granted that Iron Man is one of the greatest technological geniuses in the Marvel Universe, but believe it or not, there is one Avenger that beats Tony Stark in this regard. And it is definitely not the one anyone expects.

After Norman Osborn's time in charge of the Avengers during Dark Reign, Captain America took over leading the group. Iron Man stepped aside and let Cap be the face the Avengers and bare all the responsibility. This meant constantly being on the lookout for threats and taking criticism from the public. As the Phoenix Force made its way to Earth, it put the Avengers on an eventual collision course with the X-Men that culminated in a brawl between the two teams.

Related: Iron Man Has Officially Stolen An Iconic Batman Quote

However, there were still other threats to take care of before then, as seen in Avengers...

Thor’s MCU ending could combine elements of what happened to Iron Man and Captain America in Avengers: Endgame. Thor was one of the few original Avengers - and last of the Big Three - left standing after Endgame. Iron Man and Black Widow both died, while Captain America went back into the past (and perhaps an alternate timeline) to be with Peggy Carter. Along with Hulk and Hawkeye, Thor’s story has continued through the Multiverse Saga.

After surviving Thanos, Gorr, and more, could Thor’s journey soon be at its end? After the divisive reception to Thor: Love and Thunder, Chris Hemsworth’s MCU future has been up for discussion, with the actor suggesting his exit could come in his next apearance. If that is the case, then there’s also the matter of when it might happen, and even bigger, how. Will he fall on his own...

Recently, Marvel has been shaking up the status quos of several iconic franchises, but each revamp seemingly follows the same weirdly specific formula - is this an odd coincidence, or is Marvel setting up Kang the Conqueror as the force behind it all? Rather than attempting to continue the narrative with a new creative team, Marvel has been taking its franchises in new directions following unexplained time skips: first with The Amazing Spider-Man, then Fantastic Four, and most recently with Guardians of the Galaxy.

As the first series to get this reboot treatment, Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #1 by Zeb Wells and John Romita Jr. opens with Spider-Man kneeling in a mysterious crater before immediately cutting to six months later, with his relationship with Mary Jane ruined and his reputation with the Avengers and Fantastic Four in shambles. Similarly, Ryan North and Iban Coello's Fantastic Four (2022) #1 begins with the reveal of a...

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is brimming with stories of redemption, but Robert Downey Jr.'s behind-the-scenes journey might just be the greatest one of them all. I still remember the moment I found out Downey had been cast in the role of Tony Stark. As a comic fan, it seemed to me like the most pitch-perfect casting imaginable. There was no better actor for the role, but when "Iron Man" was released in 2008, he was anything but a sure bet. Despite being undeniably talented, there was a point when Downey was more infamous than famous.

Having spent much of the '90s and a bit of the early aughts mired in controversy due to his ongoing struggles with drug addiction, Downey was a persona non grata in Hollywood, one whose habits had made him uninsurable. The actor cleaned up sometime in 2003, but anyone who's battled addiction will tell you that...

Warning: Contains spoilers for Free Comic Book Day 2023: Marvel's Voices #1Marvel Comics' 2023 Free Comic Book Day offerings will include Free Comic Book Day 2023: Marvel's Voices #1, a collection of past Marvel's Voices adventures plus a new story featuring the beloved hero Ironheart, and introducing a new villain for Riri Williams called Khem.

Marvel's Voices is a diverse range of comic books that features stories focusing on - and created by - folks who embody underrepresented identities in comics, such as Indigenous Americans, LGBTQ+ people, and Black heroes. Free Comic Book Day 2023: Marvel's Voices #1 is a curated collection of various stories published in the last year's Marvel's Voices comics featuring heroes like Luke Cage, Ms. Marvel, and Wave with brilliant and diverse creative teams. According to Marvel, this issue will also feature a brand new Ironheart story written by John Jennings with art by Paris Alleyne, which will introduce her new villain Khem.

This article contains some MCU spoilers

With the Marvel Comics we know today being founded in 1939 (originally known as Timely Comics), there are decades of stories and characters ready to be adapted for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Navigating a Galactus-sized franchise like the MCU means we expected some characters would be lost to the Multiverse.

Whether it’s old favourites stopping by for a cameo or a brand-new addition being saved for another day, it’s more than the odd scene being left on the cutting room floor. Sometimes, whole characters are given the boot and banished to Gorr the God Butcher’s Shadow Realm. Saddle up because here are 12 characters who were once cut from the MCU.

Balder the Brave – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

As soon as we heard Charles Xavier in the Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness trailer, us fans went into overdrive,...

The trailer for the new Ant-Man film, Quantumania, puts Paul Rudd at the heart of the new-look MCU. But does this vision have legs?

It was pretty obvious to every superhero fan that Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man, until his sad demise, sat at the centre of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Who brought Ultron into existence? Yes, the billionaire philanthropist with the zippy one-liners. Who invented time travel in order to defeat Thanos? That guy who loved shawarma, weapons of mass destruction and casual sexism (at least in his early outings).

Since Tony Stark’s death in Avengers: Endgame, the MCU has been crying out for a focal point. Doctor Strange looked like he might step up, but soon lost his position as sorcerer supreme to Wong and almost destroyed the entire universe while trying to help out Peter Parker. Thor still isn’t quite his old self after...

The upcoming Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves movie actually takes inspiration from the Marvel Cinematic Universe style. Intending to be the equivalent of a D&d campaign brought to life, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves follows a party of ridiculous misfits as they attempt to solve a worldwide threat with only their own small band of heroes to help them. The movie borrows from D&d lore and relies on a star-studded cast, including Chris Pine (Edgin), Michelle Rodriguez (Holga), Regé-Jean Page (Xenk), Justice Smith (Simon), Sophia Lillis (Doric), and Hugh Grant (Forge).

While Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is following its own lore and narrative, it hasn't shied away from borrowing from other popular films. Like the character of Tony Stark was inspired by Elon Musk and Howard Hughes, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves has been borrowing the McU's style of comedy and its method of...

Robert Downey Jr. looks completely unrecognizable on the set of The Sympathizer. The two-time Oscar-nominated actor is best known for his portrayal of Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since leaving the franchise after Avengers: Endgame, Downey Jr. has not immediately found success that rivals his career-defining role. His first post-mcu role was the 2020 Dolittle reboot, which was a critical and commercial failure that lost Universal as much as 50–100 million. Downey Jr. had better luck since then with Sr., a heartfelt documentary about his late father that scored rave reviews. With a lot of exciting roles on the way, Downey Jr. is looking to keep that hot streak going.

One of Downey Jr.'s new roles is The Sympathizer, which is currently filming in Los Angeles. Now, New York Post and other outlets have the first look at Robert Downey Jr. on set of the upcoming HBO miniseries.

There are many reasons why Wakanda Forever has become a beloved MCU movie, but one of the most important is that it gives a fitting send-off to Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther. In this sense, the franchise has done the right thing when it comes to one of its most important and beloved characters.

Unfortunately, the flip side of this is that the MCU hasn’t always been so consistent with its characters. Indeed, there are several very ill-judged character changes, many of which have a significant impact on the way that their stories unfold as the franchise continues.

Tony Stops Growing As A Person

There’s no question that Tony Stark/Iron Man is, in some ways, the heart and soul of the first few phases of the MCU. However, it has to be admitted that, in terms of character growth, he leaves something to be desired.

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Don Cheadle confirms which upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe movie Secret Invasion sets up. The upcoming Disney+ miniseries will see Samuel L. Jackson reprise his role as Nick Fury as he returns to Earth amid a Skrull invasion. Cobie Smulders will also reprise her role as Maria Hill, with Ben Mendelsohn, Martin Freeman, and Don Cheadle returning as Talos, Everett K. Ross, and James Rhodes, respectively. Additionally, Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman, Christopher McDonald, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Carmen Ejogo have been cast in undisclosed roles.

Now, in a recent interview with Total Film (via Cbr), Cheadle has confirmed that Secret Invasion will be important for the MCU future, as it will be setting up events that Armor Wars will tackle. Initially slated to be released as a Disney+ television series, Armor Wars was retooled as a feature film in late September 2022 and will see Rhodey having to deal with the aftermath of Secret Invasion.

Mjolnir has always been one of the most powerful weapons in the entire Marvel Universe, but one surprise hero was able to use Thor's control of the hammer to control the God of Thunder himself. Sue Storm may not be worthy in the same way the Odinson is, but her ingenuity allowed her to dispatch Thor when it counted.

Mjolnir’s status as one of Marvel’s premier weapons is a combination of a few key things. Mjolnir is key to Thor’s power set. Its own flight is all that allows Thor to fly, and it provides a conduit for Thor’s own physical strength. The "worthiness" enchantment bestowed upon the hammer also increases its interest. As few can wield it, those who can become automatically more compelling. Sue Storm, by comparison and by design, has powers that are much subtler than Thor's. Given Sue’s moniker as the Invisible Woman,...

A new suggested change to Avengers: Infinity War by a Marvel Cinematic Universe fan reimagines Thanos' plan in a new light. In Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos shockingly defeated Earth's Mightiest Heroes and succeeded with his plan to bring balance to the universe by exterminating half of all living life. While Thanos' ideas for reducing overpopulation were radical, over the years, there have been some discussions about the character being misguided in his quest for balance, with this new fan suggestion rationalizing some parts of the Mad Titan's cause.

MCU fan and TikTok user manbeater0 shared a video on the social network suggesting a big change to Thanos' plan from Avengers: Infinity War.

@manbeater0 like he was onto something #bernie #DoritosTriangleTryout #wealthinequality ♬ original sound - fwzinx

While there are some arguments that Thanos was right in Avengers: Infinity War, the consensus paints Thanos' actions as morally wrong. However, the new suggestion...

The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase 4 may not be the most celebrated installment of the hit superhero franchise, but its deeper meanings and character explorations are far beyond anything the series has done before. In the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, the MCU has hit a franchise reset, replacing the Infinity Saga with what has now been dubbed the Multiverse Saga, which will culminate in the two-part finale event, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. With the first phase of the Multiverse Saga now officially over, audiences can look back on the last two years to see the deeper themes that have run through the McU's Phase 4.

There have been many who claimed that there was something wrong with Phase 4 of the MCU, especially in comparison to the first three phrases of the franchise. Reaction to the onslaught of films and series that comprise Phase 4 has been decidedly mixed, with certain titles,...

Warning! This post contains Spoilers for Avengers #64In the latest issue of Marvel Comics' Avengers, it's revealed that there is one of Earth's Mightiest Heroes whom Mephisto allegedly fears the most. Having united a legion of variants of himself known as the Council of Red while also assembling the Multiversal Masters of Evil to take on Earth-616's Avengers of the present and 1,000,000 B.C, it's clear that the demon lord has big plans underway in the current Avengers Assemble event. However, it seems as though there's one Avenger who might give him pause: Iron Man.

In the new Avengers #64 from Jason Aaron and Javier Garrón, the fourth part of Avengers Assemble sees the Multiversal Masters engaging in battle with both sets of Avengers at Earth's genesis point of heroes. Meanwhile, Mephisto and his Council of Red have gone to war against Avenger Prime and his Avenger variants such as...

Warning! This post contains Spoilers for Secret Invasion #3In the latest issue of Marvel Comics' new Secret Invasion series, Iron Man steals a line typically used by DC's Batman. Confessing his own personal Skrull conspiracy to Maria Hill, Tony Stark spills the beans on a surprising scheme he's had in the works for quite some time. As such, it's also revealed that Iron Man has co-opted the same core belief the Dark Knight has when it comes to criminals.

In the new Secret Invasion #3 from Ryan North and Francesco Mobili, Tony Stark invites Maria Hill for a meeting following the recent exposure of a new Skrull cell working to infiltrate several major institutions. With the shape-shifting aliens having found a way to circumvent Mr. Fantastic's Skrull detectors, Hill has rallied multiple government organizations and the Avengers to respond to the new threat, fearing another wide-scale invasion like the original Secret Invasion back in 2009. However,...

An exciting new Avengers: The Kang Dynasty fan poster shows Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man return to face off against the Marvel Cinematic Universe's next big bad, Kang the Conqueror. While Kang is poised to make his first appearance as the ultimate villain in the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Iron Man made the ultimate sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame, using the Infinity Stones to defeat Thanos and his army. Iron Man has not made any further appearances since his death.

An artist by agtdesign shared on Instagram their poster design that imagines Iron Man standing up against Kang.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Agt Design (@agtdesign)

The artist also posted a comment, "So, you're the famous Stark?," conceptualizing Kang's first words to Tony Stark. Though Avengers: The Kang Dynasty has a long way to go until its current release date in May 2025, excitement for...

Marvel Studios hasn't announced The Incredible Hulk 2, but the MCU rumor mill has been swirling that an adaptation of the classic World War Hulk comics is on the way, potentially mirroring Captain America: Civil War. The as-yet-unannounced film would be the Hulk's first starring role in the MCU since 2008's The Incredible Hulk starring Edward Norton and, as a result, must be a watershed moment in the franchise. By adopting an essential Infinity Saga story, World War Hulk could define the Avengers' narrative heading into Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.

The pieces are falling into place for the McU's adaptation of World War Hulk, a story by Greg Pak which follows the Hulk as he wages war against Earth, particularly the Illuminati, for sending him away into space and allegedly murdering his wife and unborn child. Leading an army of Sakaarans to his home planet, the Hulk quickly dispatches each of...

Don Cheadle has been part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for 13 years now and finally, all of that time spent talking to floating tennis balls and acting in the presumably sweaty War Machine suit is about to pay off ... in about another year or so. Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes is on the verge of emerging from Tony Stark's shadow as the lead of his own movie. "Armor Wars" will finally give us the chance to dig into the life of the U.S. Air Force officer, as he navigates being a hero in the wake of his friend's heartbreaking sacrifice.

While the details of the story remain pretty vague, Cheadle did reveal what excites him about the project during an interview for the January 2023 issue of Total Film:

"I don't think we've ever really dug into him, and now it's an opportunity to really explore his emotional life, his interior life,...