COUNT DOWN #27: Iron Man’s PTSD

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• Iron Man’s PTSD •

MOMENT# 27

MOVIE: Iron Man 3

DIRECTORS: Shane Black

WRITERS: Drew Pearce & Shane Black

Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) in Iron Man 3.

Marvel is often considered a comic book company with more relatable superheroes. Readers point to Spider-Man’s struggles or Iron Man’s alcoholism as examples of this. The heroes of the Marvel universe would often go through similar personal struggles that the readers would. This allows readers to relate to the characters in a way that they felt they couldn’t with characters like Superman or Green Lantern. Translating this to the MCU was instrumental in the long-running success of the franchise. In the third Iron Man film, Tony Stark is reeling from the events of The Avengers and can’t find a way to move past his near-death experience. In short, he had PTSD.

Iron Man 3 is a curious anomaly in the MCU. While Marvel had already been sold to Disney by the time of The Avengers, Iron Man 3 was still produced by Paramount Pictures. Shane Black stepped in to direct this film when Jon Favreau declined to return. It was the first of the solo franchises to finish their trilogy, which left the future of Iron Man in question until Avengers: Age of Ultron. The hype coming off of The Avengers also propelled this film to $1 billion. Finally, while it’s seen somewhat of a reevaluation over the years, it’s still not remembered all that fondly by the larger fandom. All this is to say that the history surrounding Iron Man 3 is kind of weird. Seriously, it’s the only film in the Infinity Saga that had a separate cut screened for Chinese audiences (But that’s a whole other thing).

In Iron Man 3, Tony is having trouble moving on from the Battle of New York. During the battle, Tony took a nuclear bomb through the portal and nearly didn’t make it back. Now that things have gone back to normal, he’s having trouble going back to his life. “You experience things and then they’re over and you still can’t explain them,” he says to Pepper after she confronts him. While this is happening, a series of bombings are taking place around the United States that are being linked to a terrorist known as The Mandarin. Tony takes it upon himself to uncover The Mandarin’s true plans but he’s having a difficult time due to his undiagnosed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in Iron Man 3.

PTSD is largely considered to be a disorder that only develops in soldiers that have seen combat. But it’s far more common than that. PTSD can develop in any person who’s been exposed to a traumatic event. Sexual assault, car crashes, domestic violence, or emotional abuse can all result in PTSD or its symptoms. It stands to reason then that any man who suffers a near-death experience would develop this disorder. Tony experiences all the hallmark symptoms and doesn’t know how to handle them. During one severe anxiety attack, he denies it happened and runs away. He can’t sleep because his nightmares are plagued with the memories of the battle and the move that almost cost him his life. Of course, this is also a science fiction superhero movie, so the movie uses Tony’s suits as an allegory. He’s trying to make sure that he’s prepared for next time, rather than dealing with the issue he’s dealing with now.

These days, mental disorders like PTSD are taken more seriously than they used to be and this is actually where Iron Man 3 fails. Pepper and Rhodey don’t take Tony’s illness seriously. Pepper’s reactions are pretty common for partners of people who suffer from PTSD in fairness. She loves Tony but can’t understand why he’s changed. Rhodey’s reactions are a bit more questionable since he’ll sometimes make a joke at Starks expense. It’s only strange because Rhodey is a soldier, but this was indicative of the time. Things have gotten better over the years, but these misgivings don’t negate the importance of Iron Man 3 showing Tony with PTSD. Art has a profound effect on the world and can lead to a path of normalization for things that aren’t considered “normal” (for lack of a better word). Iron Man 3 proudly made it known that the battle didn’t end for Stark when the Avengers went for Shawarama, it continued into his everyday life.

Tony Start/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) in Iron Man 3.

Throughout the movie, Tony learns to open up about his problems which aren’t easy. Luckily the trials that Tony is put through in the movie, send him on a clear path of healing and he’s able to learn to cope and live with the disorder (although it does lead to him making Ultron…). By destroying all his new Iron Man suits, Tony symbolically learns that he doesn’t need them anymore and that there is a clearer and safer path to healing. Something that every person who suffers from PTSD would like to learn. Through this hero, PTSD victims see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Iron Man 3 is a far more important entry in the Infinity Saga than people are willing to give it credit for. Truthfully it’s time for the narrative around Iron Man 3 to change. It’s a well-shot, well-written film, with great action set pieces, and a story about a hero struggling with a disorder that millions struggle with. Marvel likes to say it’s home to the relatable hero, and Iron Man 3 delivered one of the most relatable stories that had ever been seen in a superhero film at that point. Because of this, Iron Man’s PTSD remains an important moment in the Infinity Saga.

COUNT DOWN #28: The Hellicarrier

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• The Hellicarrier •

MOMENT# 28

MOVIE: The Avengers

DIRECTORS: Joss Whedon

WRITERS: Joss Whedon & Zak Penn

Bruce Banner / Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Steve Rogers / Captain America (Chris Evans) in The Avengers.

Most fans would argue that the MCU’s early success came from them taking the source material seriously where other comic book films hadn’t. Something that’s overlooked in that argument is the way early MCU writers and directors were able to interpret and reinvent the source material and make them more digestible to the mainstream audience. Captain America didn’t wear red, white, and blue spandex, instead wore a red, white, and blue military uniform. Thor wasn’t a god, he was an alien. There are many examples of this that led comic book fans to believe that the more outlandish elements would never be adapted. But then a giant aircraft carrier lifted out of the ocean and into the sky.

The Avengers came out in 2012 and was the final film of what became known as “Phase One”. It saw the heroes of the previous movies unite to save the world from the evil Loki and his army of Chitauri warriors. The movie also shines more light on the mysterious organization that had been introduced in the background of the previous films called S.H.I.E.L.D. While Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury had appeared in every phase one movie with the exception of The Incredible Hulk, much about the organization he ran was still a mystery. Comic book fans were left wondering if the flying base that S.H.I.E.L.D. and Fury called home would ever make an appearance in the new franchise. Luckily they didn’t have to wait long.

The Helicarrier is a flying aircraft carrier originally created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in the pages of Strange Tales #135, all the way back in 1965. It’s often depicted as the signature ship for S.H.I.E.L.D. and is one of the most iconic vehicles in Marvel Comics. Because of its iconic status, fans had hoped that Marvel Studios would find a way to incorporate it down the line. While it certainly seemed a little unreasonable to expect it in the first Avengers movie, perhaps it was possible the flying ship could show up in the second or third. Luckily Kevin Feige and co. were just as eager to incorporate it as fans were.

In order to deal with the threat of Loki, Fury assembles the mightiest heroes of Earth on an aircraft career in the middle of the ocean. Just after Captain America and Bruce Banner meet on the carrier, Natasha tells them to head inside because it’ll get hard to breathe. Certainly, a weird thing to say about an aircraft carrier. Steve wonders if they’re in some fancy new submarine, but the truth was much cooler (or “worse” as Banner puts it). As the water around the ship begins to swirl, four large turbine engines rise out of the water. With these engines in place, the aircraft carrier rises out of the ocean and into the air, revealing the Helicariar to millions of people watching The Avengers.

The Hellicarrier in The Avengers.

It’s hard to understate how big of a deal this moment was in 2012. The Dark Knight trilogy and X-Men films were some of the biggest names in comics, but both seemed to be ashamed of their source material. Audiences were conditioned to believe that the source material was “silly” and that the medium of film could legitimize it by stripping away the more fantastical elements. Compared to the things that Marvel Studios is doing now, the Hellicarier is small potatoes, but in 2012 it rewrote the brain chemistry of every comic fan watching. These things weren’t “silly” anymore. A Hellicarier was featured in a movie that made over $1 billion.

The Hellicarier was the first in a long line of promises that Marvel Studios would make to their fans. By including the Hellicarier in The Avengers, the creatives behind Marvel were telling the audience that nothing was off limits anymore. Comic books weren’t something to be ashamed of when making the adaptations, they were something to be taken seriously. Sure, the Hellicarier isn’t the reason why The Avengers passed the billion-dollar mark, but fans could rest easy knowing that the comics they loved were respected.

COUNT DOWN #29: T’Challa Learns A Hard Truth

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• T’Challa Learns A Hard Truth •

MOMENT# 29

MOVIE: Black Panther

DIRECTORS: Ryan Coogler

WRITERS: Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole

Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) and T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) in Black Panther.

Kingsman: The Secret Service (bear with me) is about a secret organization trying to stop a man from fixing the problem of global warming. That’s a really reductive way of looking at it, especially when you consider that Valentine was going to kill most of the people of the world with the exception of the rich and famous. But Valentine was looking to stop global warming and when he was defeated, all the rich and famous people who sided with him were killed and the Kingsman went on to have another adventure. So what’s the point of this? Well, Kingsman: The Secret Service isn’t interested in fixing the problem of global warming, it just wanted to give the villain a relatable motivation.

There’s an adage in storytelling that says “villains are the heroes in their own stories.” Very often, villains will be given motivations that allow audiences to sympathize with them. However, sometimes storytellers could go too far and create a villain that is undeniably right. The only way to make a villain like that evil is to make them do something that pushes them over the line. Often time’s it’s murder. Valentine was right, but his way of fixing the problem would have killed billions of people. Ra’s Al Ghul in Batman Begins was right, but he was going to destroy Gotham. Flagsmasher from Falcon and the Winter Soldier was right, but she blew up a hospital. Over and over again, there are examples of this trend happening in films and television shows. This is where Erik Killmonger comes in.

Killmonger was introduced in 2018's Black Panther. Played by Michael B. Jordan, the character was a Wakandan whose father was killed by King T’Chaka. He spent his entire life outside the walls (or forcefield) of Wakanda and saw what kind of injustices were happening around the world. He knew that Wakanda had the means to stop all of it, but their isolationist policies forbid them from interfering. Killmonger sought to take control of Wakanda, in part to avenge his father's death, but also to supply the oppressed peoples of the world the means to rise up and dethrone their oppressors. But if all Killmonger wants to do is help oppressed people from around the world, then why is he the villain? The simple answer is that he’s also a cold-blooded killer.

T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) and Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) in Black Panther.

How are Killmonger's motivations any different than Poppy (Kingsman: The Golden Circle’s villain), who just wants marijuana to be legal, or Valentine who just wants to stop global warming? To bring it to the same franchise, how is Killmonger any different than Flagsmasher who wanted to protect the multination communities that were created during the Blip? In truth, he’s not, but he has a greater impact than all those examples and many other examples across countless franchises. He positively impacts T’Challa and changes T’Challa’s worldview.

When T’Challa was crowned king, he reserved himself to keeping Wakanda to their isolationist ways, but when confronted with the sacrifices Wakanda has had to make in order to remain isolated, he knew things had to change. Killmonger is the representation of those sacrifices. He is the embodiment of the sins of the father coming back to haunt the son. Wakanda has sacrificed too much to remain the same for all these years and it’s time for them to step out of the shadows and help the world. Not with violence like Killmonger wanted, but with support like outreach programs and sharing of technologies. 

If it wasn’t for Killmonger, T’Challa may have allowed Wakanda to remain an isolationist nation. Killmonger may have been a villain, but he was right and T’Challa knew that he had to do something. He couldn’t just defeat Killmonger and call it a day like so many heroes before him. He had to see the problem that created Killmonger and work to fix it. The handling of Killmonger is a seminal moment in the MCU and film history. The character should be looked at as a template for creating villains who want to positively change the world. The hero shouldn’t just ignore what the villain was trying to accomplish, he should work towards the same goal but the right way and with less bloodshed. It’s often said that a hero is only as good as its villain and Killmonger is one hell of a villain.

INTERLUDE #2: Sarah Halley Finn: The MCU’s Secret Sauce

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The Defenders Saga could generate a list of 50 defining moments all on its own, but this series isn’t about that. However, it felt like a disservice to not mention them at all since they’re so beloved. So while you wait for entry 39, here’s an interlude about one of the most exciting television endeavors in Marvel’s history. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE. 

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

Enjoy your holidays and look forward to continuing the countdown in 2023! 

• Sarah Halley Finn: The MCU’s Secret Sauce •

INTERLUDE # 2

CASTING DIRECTOR

SHOWS: Loki, Black Panther, Iron Man, Avengers, Captian America (pretty much ALL MCU - check out IMDB here.

MCU fans are intimately familiar with many names associated with the making of the franchise they love so much. Many directors and producers have become almost as popular as the characters and actors. Most notably, fans associate the franchise with Kevin Feige, the producer of almost every Marvel film since the year 2000, and the architect of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But one name might be unfamiliar to people and it’s a name that shouldn’t be. Behind the scenes, there has been one name casting every single iconic character in these films and her name is Sarah Halley Finn.

Sometimes credited as Sarah Finn, her name has been attached to all but one Marvel Studios-produced movie and show since Iron Man (The one exception being The Incredible Hulk). Finn studied theatre and history at Yale while she ran her college’s black box theater. When she graduated she worked at the Ensemble Studio Theatre with east-coast theater friend Risa Bramon Garcia. It was Garcia who encouraged Finn to go into casting and she was able to land a job at Paramount doing just that. She has mentioned that her time at the Ensemble Studio Theatre was a useful foundation since she had to serve in multiple roles. “Casting is all of those things,” she says. “It’s directing, it’s producing, it’s acting. And frankly, it’s being able…to constantly see the bigger picture and navigate it” she told Marie Claire writer Jessica M. Goldstein for a piece written in November of this year. 

Her first credited film on IMDb is a film called Paulie which is about a talking parrot who “recounts his travels looking for his original owner to a Russian janitor who helps him to the end of his journey.” Before jumping into the Marvel universe, she was casting many films like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, and Crash. The 2004 film Crash, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture ended up being a major milestone for her. She told Marie Claire “I think the success of that movie and seeing the audience reaction at the time was a turning point for me.” Crash has a bit of a bad reputation these days, but the film was a major cultural hit in 2004 and sports an all-star cast with the likes of Don Cheadle, Thandiwe Newton, and Brendan Fraser.

Even though her post-Crash success can’t be denied, it was the 2003 film S.W.A.T. that proved to be her pathway to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The 2003 cop drama was produced by Louis D'Esposito, who would help build the MCU with Kevin Feige and continues to serve as producer and co-president at Marvel. She obviously impressed him and he decided to bring her in to cast Iron Man, which eventually led to the casting of Robert Downey Jr. as the title role. Downey’s casting was a controversial move for many reasons at the time and would set the tone for, not just the franchise, but her style as a casting director. She believed in him and proved all the naysayers wrong. When she was originally brought on, she was apparently unaware of Feige’s ambitious plan to build an interconnected universe of multiple franchises and heroes. It wasn’t until she was casting Captain America: The First Avengers that she heard about The Avengers. Finn now muses that if she “had any idea where this was all going, I would’ve run out the door.”

The only MCU film that Sarah Finn did not cast was 2008s The Incredible Hulk. That film's casting was done by Robin D. Cook and Laray Mayfield, which sadly creates another reason for MCU fans to write off that film. While most of the cast from that film has and will return to the MCU, the lead star notably did not return for The Avengers. Finn got the last laugh (so to speak) when Edward Norton decided not to return for The Avengers and was replaced, by Finn, with Mark Ruffolo. There is a narrative floating around the internet that suggests Ruffolo was the first choice for the role of Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk but there’s no way to know for sure if that’s true. Either way, thanks to Norton’s decision, every one of the original Avengers was cast by Sarah Halley Finn.

While she seems to be the exclusive casting director for Marvel Studios, she’s not exclusively with Marvel. She is able to work on other films and often works with Jon Favreau on films and shows like Chef and The Book of Boba Fett. Notably, she was the casting director on Everything, Everywhere, All At Once which many people believe deserves to be in the 2023 Oscar race for many of its leads and the film itself. While casting directing doesn’t get a specific award (presumably due to its history), an actor winning is certainly an award on its own. While the major Oscar inclusion battle seems to be on stunt work, the next battlefield should be casting directing.

Finn leads a casting team of 13 women, which is not unheard of in this job. Historically casting departments have been dominated by women, most likely due to the job belonging to secretaries of major movie directors in the days of old Hollywoodland. Most of the stories we take for granted now were battles she was determined to win. She, herself, recounts a story in which Chris Evans wasn’t being considered for the role of Captain America. But she likes to find an actor's unspoken strength so she knew that Evans could pull off the World War II superhero, even if the higher-ups weren’t convinced. Evans had played the Fantastic Four character Johnny Storm twice before the MCU so it took some convincing. To this day Evans is the only MCU actor who has played a pre-MCU Marvel superhero.

Like many jobs in Hollywood, being a casting director is often a thankless job. Most of the time when you see online praise for an actor in a role, it’s lobbied by the directors or the producers. How often does James Gunn get the credit for casting the Guardians or does Ryan Coogler get the credit for casting Chadwick Boseman? That’s not to say that these directors don’t have input. Casting, like everything in film, is a collaborative effort. Casting directors often have to find the right actor to match the director's vision. But Sarah Finn is uniquely positioned to see actors for one franchise and keep them in mind for another. For example, when Chadwick Boseman went out for the role of Drax the Destroyer for James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy, she knew he wasn’t right for the role, but felt he’d be right for the lead in Black Panther. Casting a film is an art in its own right and should be recognized as such. 

“Sarah’s judge of character is why these castings are so spot-on, and why fans like me continue to praise the MCU for what it is” Iman Villani told Marie Claire. With a franchise as popular as the MCU, the reason why fans keep coming back is due to the characters. If the MCU wasn’t so well cast then the films wouldn’t have the staying power they have now. Especially with more and more legacy characters coming into the franchise, Finn’s job is more important now than it ever was. “She has such incredible instincts,” Jac Schaeffer (WandaVision showrunner) tells Marie Claire, and always pushes for “the freshest take on the character.” Schaeffer continues to say that “Sarah is really great at internalizing the writer’s intention and then finding a new flavor for that: something that’s unexpected for the audience and will feel special or unique.” Schaeffer’s words are a great example of why Finn is a key ingredient to making the franchise work. Even if a film doesn’t connect with audiences, they will still be eager to see the characters again.

Having been doing this job for over 14 years now, Finn notes that it’s gotten a bit easier than it was back then. In the beginning superhero films weren’t something actors were interested in doing, so Finn had to call all sorts of actors in the hope that they would even do a screen test. But nowadays, asking about doing an MCU film is a common question during press junkets. Every actor and director is asked about whether they would do a Marvel film, which helps Finn know who she can call. Social Media has also helped since actors will drop hints as to whether or not they’d be interested or fans will throw out fan castings in the hopes that someone like Finn will see them. It may or may not be comforting to know that Finn doesn’t take fan castings too seriously. She sees them and will sometimes go with them, such as in the most recent appearance of John Krasinski as Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness but mostly she followers her own instincts. More often than not, however, she wants an unknown quantity which has been an important part of the MCU’s casting process.

 When it comes to the MCU, it’s the characters that keep people coming back over and over again. People tune in to the Disney+ shows because they want to fall in love with a new character or revisit an old friend. At the end of the day, that’s what these characters have become to fans: old friends. When they die, we mourn, when they succeed, we cheer. While Kevin Feige may be the architect of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sarah Finn is the reason fans have fallen in love with these characters in such a profound and personal way. She is the secret sauce that makes the MCU work and an important part of the ever-growing franchise. With more spotlight being given to the many behind-the-scenes jobs, it’s vital that she gets the recognition she deserves.

COUNT DOWN #30: A Hint Of Legacy

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• A Hint of Legacy •

MOMENT# 30

MOVIE: Ant-Man

DIRECTORS: Peyton Reed

WRITERS: Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, Adam McKay,Paul Rudd

Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) in Ant-Man.

Legacy used to be incredibly important to comics. All through the 90s and early 00s, DC comics were replacing long standing characters with their sidekicks. One of the most unique versions of this was in the television series Batman Beyond; a story about Gotham in the future that once again was plagued by crime and in desperate need of a new Batman. That new Batman came in the form of Terry McGinnes who got some much-needed help from the OG Batman himself, Bruce Wayne. It was a winning formula that has been underutilized ever since. Until the MCU’s 12th film, Ant-Man.

Some people may not remember this, but Ant-Man was originally announced to be coming out in Phase 1. Before the Phase designation was in place, Edgar Wright was attached to develop a feature film based on the character. But due to many delays and “creative differences” with the, now defunk, MCU story group, Wright left the project and Peyton Reed was brought on to continue the work. Interestingly, these “creative differences” were enough for Kevin Feige to lobby Disney to restructure Marvel Studios so it no longer had to answer to the head of Marvel Entertainment, Ike Perlmutter, but that’s a story for another time.

Throughout the development of Ant-Man, most fans had assumed the story would center around the origin of the original character to have that mantle, Hank Pym. It came as a nice surprise when it was revealed that Paul Rudd had been cast in the lead role of the second Ant-Man, Scott Lang. At the time, Lang was a popular character who had taken on the mantle of Ant-Man in 1979 and had held it off and on ever since. The MCU had made a name for itself at this point by using original versions of the comic book characters and had not yet entertained the idea of a legacy for them. But the question was still asked, could there be a Scott Lang without Hank Pym?

Hope Pym (Evangeline Lilly), Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) in Ant-Man.

Most likely taking some inspiration from Batman Beyond, Hank Pym was introduced as an older man who had been the Ant-Man many years prior when he worked for S.H.I.E.L.D. Now a retired hero, he needs someone to become the Ant-Man and break into PymTech to make sure the Pym Particle doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Pym’s old protege, Darren Cross (played by Corey Stoll), has discovered a way to recreate Pym’s shrinking technology and wants to sell it to the highest bidder. It just so happens that Scott needs the money that Pym is offering him so that he can continue to see his daughter, Cassie. 

All of a sudden, Legacy became important to the MCU. Since the onset of the MCU, Marvel Comics has seen a significant increase in legacy characters. Sam Wilson became Captain America, Jane Foster became Thor, Kamala Khan became Ms. Marvel, and so on and so on. Even before the MCU, the Young Avengers were a beloved team filled with legacy characters, including Kate Bishop as Hawkeye and, of course, Cassie Lang as Stature. While these long-running comic book universes at DC and Marvel have a reputation of being static stories rarely willing to break from the status quo, they have many periods in their history where that is not the case. It was also a reputation that the MCU couldn’t afford to develop. Actors will age out of roles in a way that comic book characters will never do.

It’s worth noting that Ant-Man also helped fill in the gap between Captain America: The First Avenger and Iron Man. While it was generally assumed that there were no other heroes between the introduction of these two Avengers, that just immediately became untrue. If Ant-Man and the Wasp could be operating as unseen heroes, then that could mean that others had been as well. This certainly opened up the door to introduce characters like Captain Marvel in a unique way and hopefully some others down the road.

For the MCU to continue to succeed, it needs to continuously evolve and grow and one of the ways it can do that is through legacy. Actors age and eventually want to step away from action heavy roles, so passing along the legacy is an easy way to keep the stories going with fresh perspectives no less. Hank Pym and Scott Lang were instrumental in preparing audiences for legacy casting and proves that the Batman Beyond formula can continue to work.

COUNT DOWN #31: Snap to Dust

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• Snap to Dust •

MOMENT# 31

MOVIE: Avengers: Infinity War

DIRECTORS: Joe & Anthony Russo

WRITERS: Christopher Marus & Steven McFeely

Bucky (Sebastian Stan) after “The Snap” in Avengers: Infinity War.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been around for more than a decade now and in that time, audiences have seen heroes rise and defeat incredible villains. No matter how steep the odds, the heroes won. So going into the culmination of the Infinity Saga, audiences expected more of the same. Thanos was coming to Earth and the heroes would come together and defeat the big purple alien. They were in for a surprise.

When Thor plunged his axe into the chest of the Mad Titan, audiences breathed a sigh of relief, it was over. Until Thanos snapped his fingers and the screen went white. Think back to the theater experience at this point, murmuring through the screening began as people weren’t sure what just happened. Did the Avengers just lose? That’s impossible, they don’t lose. Something probably stopped the stones from working right? Even Thanos looks confused as he uses the Space Stone to make his exit. Thor and Steve look around, disaster averted right? Then Bucky turned to dust and audiences were left with the horrible image of watching many of their favorite heroes disappear from existence. Spider-Man, the Guardians, T’Challa, and on and on as the remaining heroes could do nothing but watch their friends disappear right before their eyes.

Spider-Man/Peter Parker (Tom Holland) after “The Snap” in Avengers: Infinity War.

To put it frankly, it’s a traumatizing scene.

In comic book movies, the heroes win and go home at the end of the day ready to fight the next battle. The creatives behind the scenes of Avengers: Infinity War knew that audiences would go in expecting this and deliberately played with those expectations. It was almost like Marvel had spent a decade lulling their audience into a false sense of security and then pulled the rug out from under them. It hadn’t been that long ago that some of these heroes were introduced, and all of a sudden fans had to say goodbye. Although it was clearly not meant to be a permanent goodbye. It’s not unfair to say that audiences felt safe with Marvel movies. Almost like a warm blanket that you could wrap around you. These were comforting characters for many and part of the reason was that fans knew that nothing disastrous could happen to them. Stakes were always high, but death and loss were rarely, if ever, on the table. 

As internet culture grew, many fans began to learn certain contractual details. For example, many early contracts that these actors had to sign consisted of three “solo” movies and three “Avengers” movies. While most of these details are harder to find now, it was unlikely that Marvel was going to wipe out half of its universe. Still, though, the very act of doing it at all was bold. Because Marvel was mostly aware of its own safe approach to its films, they were willing to take a larger swing. Obviously, the audience would return for Avengers: Endgame so why shouldn’t Marvel kill more than half of their heroes? Doing so created a special communal experience for anyone who came out of the theater. A special type of trauma that would fuel discourse and discussion for the next year while everyone waited for Avengers: Endgame.

Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maxmoff (Elizabeth Olsen) after “The Snap” in Avengers: Infinity War.

The event that fans would go on to call “The Snap” became one of the most impactful moments in the MCU. The time between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame was a major moment for the franchise that had fans bonding in their shared trauma. No one had a clue what Avengers: Endgame could have in store for them but seeing the Avengers fail in such a traumatic way created a special longing to see these heroes bounce back. To this day, “The Snap” is still discussed with conversations about who was blipped that weren’t shown and what could the economic fallout of it have been. “The Snap” is a unique moment in the MCU that didn’t just traumatize the heroes, but also their fans.

COUNT DOWN #32: Trevor "The Mandarin" Slattery

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• Trevor “The Mandarin” Slattery •

MOMENT# 32

MOVIE: Iron Man 3

DIRECTORS: Shane Black

WRITERS: Drew Pearce & Shane Black

Trevor “The Mandarin” Slattery (Ben Kingsley) in Iron Man 3.

Iron Man 3 is remembered, pretty unfairly, as one of the lower-tiered MCU films. When people recall Shane Black’s only entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, one thing constantly stands out as the reason why the movie doesn’t work: The Mandarin reveal. The Mandarin had been teased in the Iron Man films since Tony was captured by the Ten Rings terrorist group in the first film, so anticipation was high that he would finally go up against his comic book rival. While some felt disappointed, others enjoyed the twist on the villain, and, for better or worse, it has become a defining moment in the MCU.

The Mandarin was originally conceived as a villain for Iron Man but plans changed throughout the development of the film. Instead, the creatives behind the scenes felt that saving the villain and teasing him was a better option. So instead, Iron Man introduces the Ten Rings, a terrorist group that captures Stark and forces him to build a powerful missile. The rest of the movie plays out and Tony doesn’t find out who was behind the mysterious organization that captured him. A deleted scene in Iron Man 2 includes a member of their organization helping Ivan Vanko (Whiplash) come to America. Outside of that, they were absent from that film.

Iron Man 3 takes place after The Avengers and Stark is feeling some PTSD from his experiences in the major crossover event. Things get more complicated when the leader of the Ten Rings, The Mandarin, starts to take credit for various bombings in the United States. Stark takes it upon himself to look into them after Happy becomes one of the victims. His investigation not only points to The Mandarin but a brilliant scientist named Aldrich Killian. Killian runs AIM in the MCU and had a previous run-in with Tony that almost led Killian to kill himself. As far as Stark can see, Killian had teamed up with the Mandarin in order to get his work funded. But unfortunately, he’s only half right.

Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) in Iron Man 3.

Stripped of his Iron Man armor, Tony remembers that he’s still a capable hero without the suit and storms the Mandarin’s hideout. He successfully infiltrates it, only to find a crazy British drunk who’s high out of his mind named Trevor Slattery. Stark demands answers, because how could this fool be the most dangerous terrorist in the world? Turns out Killian had co-opted the name of the Mandarin and used it to cover up failed experiments. The bombings, it turns out, were people overdosing on a new drug called Extremis. Like most of Shane Black’s films, the scene is ridiculous and Ben Kingsley’s instant turn from menacing to bumbling is a true masterclass performance. Guy Pearce’s Aldrich Killian ended up being the main villain of the movie, which was one of the biggest plot twists in the MCU.

Savin (James Badge Dale) on Extremis in Iron Man 3.

This reveal was somewhat controversial and continues to be to this day. Regardless, the MCU has had a number of plot twists like the Mandarin reveal over the years. In fact, the third act villain reveal has become a staple of their recent TV shows on Disney+. Iron Man 3 was also an early example of Marvel keeping what a movie was to be truly about under wraps. Arguably, Tony Starks third outing is a major factor in Marvel’s emphasis on secrecy. Iron Man 3 was only their second film to cross $1 billion so keeping the real plot of the film such a tight secret ended up paying off for them in a big way. This strategy would eventually evolve into misleading trailers and planted leaks to try and get scoopers off their scent.

It’s been made pretty clear that the film was never trying to say Aldrich or Trevor was the real Mandarin, but that has been the major misunderstanding of the film since its release. Thanks to the Marvel One-Shot short film All Hail The King, MCU fans were made aware that there was a real Mandarin out in the world and he was very upset with Trevor’s portrayal of him. Ever since that short film was released in 2014, Marvel fans had been asking when would the MCU finally introduce the real Mandarin. That prevailing question became Iron Man 3’s legacy, for better or worse, and would become a defining one for years to come. Thankfully, fans were finally rewarded in 2021 with the release of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. 

Whether you believe the Mandarin twist worked or not, the twist became a defining feature of the MCU. Marvel’s desire to keep the real details of their movies stems from this. No one going in had any idea that Ben Kingsley was playing anyone other than the terrifying leader of the Ten Rings. Iron Man 3 continues to be a sore topic with members of the MCU fandom but it worked and served as a satisfying conclusion to Tony’s first story arc. Whether its legacy is the question “where is the real Mandarin” or Marvel’s continued overwhelming desire for secrecy, The Mandarin twist is cemented as a defining moment in the MCU.

COUNT DOWN #33: The After Party

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• The After Party •

MOMENT# 33

MOVIE: Avengers: Age of Ultron

DIRECTORS: Joss Whedon

WRITERS: Joss Whedon

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Rhodey (Don Cheadle) in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

In Marvel’s first team-up film, The Avengers, the six heroes introduced in the previous five films united to stop a threat none of them could stop alone. In the final two team-up films, the heroes of the Earth were scattered and forced to face a villain they weren’t prepared for. Only one film prior to that showed the heroes as a team, and more than that, friends: Avengers: Age of Ultron. 

In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tony and Bruce are working with Loki’s scepter from the first film to find a way to harness the power so they can finally activate Ultron. Ultron was meant to be a protector program. “I see a suit of armor around the entire world”, Tony tells Bruce when he’s trying to convince Bruce to help him. After many trials, it doesn’t look like it’s going to work, so the two of them join the party happening in Avengers Tower. Many friends and heroes are at this party, but by the end of the night, it’s just a few close friends sharing a drink.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) share a drink in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Before Ultron crashes the party, the gang is trying to figure out the secret to Thor’s enchanted hammer and Thor invites them to try and lift it. One by one, the men of the group try to lift the hammer while Natasha and Maria Hill sit back and watch them, amused. Stark and Rhody use parts of their armor and Banner pretends to Hulk out but Thor can’t help but laugh at his friend's attempts. It’s all in good fun as they continue to laugh and drink and throw playful jabs at each other. They’ve been fighting Hydra together since the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and earned this fun. None of them were able to lift it…almost.

This moment also has the distinction of teasing the audience with the most excellent bit of fan service yet to come: Captain America wielding Thor’s hammer. When Steve gets up to try his hand at lifting the hammer, it moves ever so slightly. Its movement is signified by a squeak of the table and Thor’s changed expression from joyfulness to confusion. Could Captain America also be worthy of Mjölnir? That answer wouldn’t come for a number of years, but it was enough to make audiences very excited for what was to come.

Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans) attempting to lift Mjölnir in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Avengers: Age of Ultron has the only scene in the franchise where the Avengers have fun goofing off together. Every time they’re together from this point onward, it’s because something has forced them together. This after-party scene shows them as friends, not co-workers who get together every once in a while to save the world. They enjoy being around each other. It’s a simple scene but it sets the tone for the team. When you see them banter with each other on the battlefield, like Thor and Captain America do very often, you understand that it’s coming from a place of camaraderie. With all the world-ending stakes the Avengers have had to deal with, it’s a shame more scenes like this weren’t peppered into the rest of the Infinity Saga.

COUNT DOWN #34: If He Be Worthy

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• If He Be Worthy •

MOMENT# 34

MOVIE: Thor

DIRECTORS: Kenneth Branagh

WRITERS: Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz & Don Payne

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in Thor.

“Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.” These are the words inscribed on the side of the mighty hammer Mjolnir by the All-father Odin. While they do appear in Norse mythologies, they play a large role in the MCU’s 4th film, 2011’s Thor. This film would introduce the famous Norse god to mainstream audiences and pave the way for his future adventures with his fellow Avengers.

Thor is a relatively simple film when you strip it back to its bones. Thor has been raised to be the greatest warrior in all of Asgard and will soon take up his father's role as king. But a group of Frost Giants ruin Thor’s big day and he seeks revenge with his brother Loki, and his friends Sif, Vostag, Hogan, and Fandral. The six of them go to Joutenheim and accidentally spark the fires of war between Asgard and the Frost Giants, something which Odin wished to avoid. After a heated argument between the God of Thunder and the All-Father, Odin strips Thor of his power and banishes him to Earth, to seemingly live the rest of his life as a mortal. 

What does it really mean to be worthy of the hammer? When Odin strips Thor of his godliness, he calls him a vain, greedy, and cruel boy and laments that Thor's warrior heart has blinded him to what Odin had taught him. Thor needed to learn humility and to think with his head and not his heart. He wanted glory and to be feared and worshipped throughout the nine realms, but that is not how a king, or a god, should behave.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in Thor.

As a film, Thor is very lean, it has very little fat. Thor needed to learn a certain lesson and he does, very quickly after arriving on Earth. When he couldn’t pick up his hammer again, he realized he was no longer worthy and what that truly meant after he saw the words inscribed on the side of his former weapon. No more will he soar through the skies as the God of Thunder or dine in the banquet halls of Asgard. Now he will be forced to live out a mortal life on Earth. But it’s not all bad, he’s grown to love a woman named Jane Foster and has grown fond of the people he’s met.

Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in Thor.

Now it’s time for one more test, however, in the form of the Destroyer. Loki, afraid that Thor will return to Asgard, sends Asgard's greatest weapon, the Destroyer to Earth to kill his adoptive brother once and for all. As the Destroyer lays waste to the town, Sif, and the Warriors Three, Thor attempts to do the unexpected, and apologize. He approaches the Destroyer, apologizing to his brother for all the wrongs he had caused all his life, knowing that his life could very well end. Thor knew the battle could not be won with strength, but with words of compassion. Through his sacrifice, he finally became worthy. Mjolnir exploded out of the ground and charged toward its former and future wielder and in one of the greatest moments in the first Thor film and the MCU, he caught it and reclaimed his mantle as the God of Thunder.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in Thor.

Thor grabbing the hammer out of the air is a good old-fashioned fist-pumping moment. An early moment in the history of the MCU where the audience could cheer for the hero. The character of Thor has seen a lot of changes over the years, but the first film stands as a solid foundation to build up the God of Thunder. The one thing that needed to work in the film was Thor's redemption and, thankfully, by the time that hammer shoots up from the ground, audiences were reassured that it did.

COUNT DOWN #35: Stark Learns The Truth

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• Stark Learns The Truth•

MOMENT# 35

MOVIE: Captain America: Civil War

DIRECTORS: Joe and Anthony Russo

WRITERS: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely

Howard Stark (John Slattery) and The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) in Captain America: Civil War.

The relationship between Captain America and Iron Man is a rather complicated one. While the two of them grew a friendship, it was always on a rocky foundation. Steve trusted that Stark would take a bullet for him and vice versa but it would only take a push to break their partnership. This push came in the form of a coordinated attack by Helmut Zemo in Captain America: Civil War. This attack would send ripples through the MCU and pave the way for Thanos’ victory in Avengers: Infinity War.

Ever since Captain America: The Winter Soldier, audiences had been privy to the information that Bucky Barnes, as the Winter Soldier, was responsible for the death of Howard and Maria Stark. The third Captain America film takes this quick expository moment and makes it the crux of the plot. All throughout the movie, Zemo is trying to get his hands on information that happened on December 16, 1991. A reason that isn’t made clear until later. While this is happening, the government is trying to have the Avengers sign the Sokovia Accords, which would put the heroes under government control. This is the first time that Steve and Stark would come to blows.

Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr. ) in Captain America: Civil War.

The major fight scene of the movie happens towards the end of the second act as Bucky and Steve are trying to get to Siberia to stop Zemo from awakening sleeping super soldiers. All the while Iron Man is trying to stop them because Bucky was framed for the murder of King T’Chaka. There are a lot of moving parts in Captain America: Civil War, but they culminate with Iron Man, Captain America, and Bucky in an abandoned Hydra base in Siberia looking for Zemo. Only to find that the real plan was to reveal to Stark that Bucky was the one who murdered his parents, and worse, Steve knew. 

This throws Stark into a blind rage as he tries to avenge the death of his parents. In his mind, Bucky robbed him of ever reconciling with his parents. From the beginning of the movie, it’s made clear that Stark regrets how his last interaction went with them and now he has someone to blame. What’s almost worse is that Steve and Howard were friends, so how could Howard's idol betray him like that? Steve, of course, tries to reason with his friend by explaining that Bucky was brainwashed but all Stark can see is the murderer, exclaiming “he killed my mom”.

Captain America (Chris Evans) and Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) in Captain America: Civil War.

It’s likely that Stark and Steve would have come to blows over something sooner or later, but this was irreparable damage in Stark’s mind. Not only did Steve betray him but Howard as well. Zemo’s actions successfully tore the very fabric of the Avengers apart. United they could stop any foe, but divided was another story. If Thanos had come to Earth to face a united Avengers, they may have very well been able to fend off the Mad Titan, but thanks to Zemo, Thanos met very little resistance.

COUNT DOWN #36: The Cameo

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• The Cameo•

MOMENT# 36

MOVIE: Iron Man thru Avengers: Endgame

DIRECTORS: various

WRITERS: various

Captain Marvel’s opening title card in tribute to Stan Lee

Probably one of the most enjoyable parts of seeing a Marvel Cinematic Universe film was seeing what kind of Stan Lee cameo would show up. From Iron Man to Avengers: Endgame, Lee was a consistent figure in the lives of MCU fans. However, in November of 2018, Stan Lee passed away at the age of 95. With his legacy cemented in the halls of history, there was nothing more the great man could bestow on the world, and in March of 2019, Captain Marvel surprised audiences with a touching tribute.

The Marvel Studios logo has changed a lot over the years. Different composers from Brian Tyler to Michael Giacchino would even compose new fanfare whenever it changed. Captain Marvel opens with the same title card, but this time it packed a bigger emotional punch. Normally clips of previous MCU films would play as the words revealed the Marvel Studios logo, but this time it was every single Stan Lee cameo

Stan Lee in Captain America: Civl War

Since Marvel Studios knew how important the cameos had become, they were almost a signature moment in each film. They would often bend over backward to make sure he didn’t miss one. One time, around the filming of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, director James Gun was hired to film multiple cameos to be inserted into upcoming films. The reason was simply that the rapid filming of the Marvel movies would surely become too difficult to keep up with for the aging celebrity. The cameos were too important to miss.

Marvel fans love to make a mountain out of a molehill (which isn’t a bad thing) and because of that, a popular fan theory began spreading like wildfire. As the MCU expanded into the cosmic realm, fans began to wonder if Stan Lee was meant to be Uatu, the Watcher. Since the Watcher only observed important moments, it seemed to make a certain amount of sense for long-time fans. The theory became so popular that Marvel Studios decided to make a version of it canon. For Lee’s cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, he’s seen talking to various Watchers in a space suit and is credited as “Watcher informant”. That was one of the many times Marvel would go out of their way to make a fan theory canon. Uatu would be introduced in Phase 4 played by Jeffrey Wright.

Stan Lee as the “Watcher Informant” in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2

With such a long legacy and a beloved figure, Marvel’s tribute to him in Captain Marvel hit all the right marks. It was exactly the kind of thing audiences needed to see after his passing. Now anyone who goes to watch Captain Marvel on physical media or Disney+ will always be reminded of the most famous cameo in cinema history. Lee’s cameos exist in the bubble of The Infinity Saga and are some of the most charming and humorous moments of each film. From Iron Man to Avengers: Endgame, there’s just no denying how crucial his face was in defining the Infinity Saga.

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COUNT DOWN # 37: Ant-Thony: A Loyal Steed

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• Ant-thony: A Loyal Steed•

MOMENT# 37

MOVIE: Ant-Man

DIRECTORS: Peyton Reed

WRITERS: Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, Adam McKay, & Paul Rudd

For most films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s pretty smooth sailing. A film is announced, it’s filmed, and then released. Before Marvel Studios was the juggernaut it is now, Kevin Feige appeared with Jon Favreau and Edgar Wright in a small room at San Diego Comic-Con to talk about the future of Marvel on film. That future consisted of Iron Man, directed by Jon Favreau, and Ant-Man, directed by Edgar Wright. After many false starts, Edgar Wright's departure and many added movies, Ant-Man was finally ready, now with Peyton Reed at the helm. Phase two of the MCU ended with 2015’s Ant-Man, and with it, a surprising star was born.

The Peyton Reed-directed film took a Batman Beyond style approach to the character of Ant-Man. Instead of starting with the original Ant-Man, Hank Pym (played by Michael Douglas), the movie introduced the second version, Scott Lang (played by Paul Rudd). Hank Pym was a successful scientist, who was secretly a superhero in the 70s, but now he needs Scott's help to prevent Darren Cross (played by Corey Stoll) from developing the Yellowjacket suit. Cross had discovered the secret to Pyms shrinking abilities and now looked to sell it as a weapon. As Scott learns of the abilities of the Ant-Man, he makes a friend in the form of a carpenter ant named Ant-thony.

Scott Lang grows very close to Ant-thony and so does the audience. As most people probably know, when you assign a name to something, you instinctively grow an attachment to it. Unfortunately, Scotts new friends was not long for the world. Ant-thony is shot out of the sky by Cross just before the climactic battle and she’s killed. It’s a sad scene as Scott yells for his fallen comrade and a single wing falls to the ground. The loss of Ant-thony made for a surprisingly emotional moment for the film. Audiences would often talk about how surprised they were that they felt such emotion from an ant’s death. It may have been a cheap move, but it worked.

The creatives behind the MCU often like to “get in on the jokes” and much of that began with Ant-thony. Scott's loyal steed was a huge hit with people, so much so that the MCU wiki makes her out to be a far more crucial part of the movie than she was. The creatives behind the MCU like to give off the feeling that they’re the audience's friend which likely contributed to such a loyal fanbase. They aren’t a studio out to make money, they’re a friend that you go to visit a few times a year. When something like Ant-thony begins to create a social media presence, they’ll lean into it in a way that feels like you’re talking to your friends. A recent example is when they released an hour-long video of Baron Zemo’s dance from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. 

Social media engagement is a big deal in today's world, and often companies will try to give off the impression that they’re “just one of the guys”. If Ant-Man had been released during phase 4, Ant-thony would likely have gotten a character poster in the vein of Alligator Loki or Pizza Dog. A lot of this kind of buddy behavior from the MCU started with Ant-thony. The female carpenter ant with a male name proved to be an influential internet sensation that not only allowed the MCU to feel like a friend, but also served as a precursor for many of the anthropomorphized MCU animal sidekicks we see today.

COUNT DOWN #38: A BATTLE IN REVERSE

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• A BATTLE IN REVERSE•

MOMENT# 38

MOVIE: Doctor Strange

DIRECTORS: Scott Derrickson

WRITERS: Jon Spaihts, Scott Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill

Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) & Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) in Doctor Strange

With a franchise as vast as the Marvel Cinematic Universe there will always be critics. “The Marvel Formula” is something that gets thrown around a lot when people critique the franchise, but it tends to mean different things to different people. It could mean that they don’t like “MCU humor” or that they don’t like how the films are structured. In this case, the third act of a Marvel film is criticized for sharing the same beats as any other film. Perhaps you’ve heard this one before: A hero with a certain ability squares off with the villain of the same specific ability in a dreary location with a lot of CG to bring the overly choreographed fight to life. That might be true for a number of their origin films, but not all of them. A few have strayed from this “formula” throughout the years, in this case, Doctor Strange.

Doctor Strange was the second film in Phase Three. The origin story for the future Sorcerer Supreme saw the brilliant, but arrogant surgeon, Dr. Stephen Strange get into a horrific car crash (which honestly should deserve a moment on its own) that cost him the use of his hands. He goes on to spend his entire fortune trying to find a way to heal his hands again, but nothing worked. Finally, he found his way to Kamar-Taj, where he was taken in to learn the mystic arts. There he meets Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Wong (Benedict Wong), and the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton). Turns out, he had a natural gift for it, even learning to wield the legendary Eye of Agamotto. When a former Master of the Mystic Arts, Kaecellius (Mads Mikkelsen), becomes a zealot of Dormomu of the Dark Dimension, he begins a plan to bring the Dark Dimension to Earth. When Strange and Mordo catch up with him, it’s already too late.

Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) and Doctor Strange in Doctor Strange

In an almost complete disregard for the “formula”, the final act of Doctor Strange begins after Kaecellius has already won the day. Earth is lost. The only way to fix it is to reverse it, so Strange activates the Eye of Agamotto (which is actually the Time Stone) and leads into one of the most unique third acts in Marvel’s history. While Strange, Mordo, and a resurrected Wong are fighting, the city is repairing itself while cars and people fly past them in reverse. The fight between the sorcerers is moving forward in time and they’re able to use the “anti-destruction” to their advantage, sometimes trapping someone in a new fixed wall or climbing up a scaffold that’s reassembling. It would have been easy for something like this to devolve into unintelligible noise, but every step of the fight was so expertly choreographed that the audience never gets lost. Instead, they’re allowed to marvel at the expert visuals on display. Doctor Strange doesn’t even end with a fight scene, it ends with the main character dying hundreds of times. While in the Dark Dimension, Strange traps him and Dormammu in a time loop that can’t be broken. This wears Dormammu out and the lord of the Dark Dimension just gives up his conquest of Earth. 

Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) with the Eye of Agamotto in Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange is a movie filled with an inventive visual flair that helps it stand out from the rest of the films in the franchise. The filmmakers seemed to want to make a deliberate effort in making the film feel as unique as possible. It felt like Marvel Studios had begun to take some of the discourse around the franchise to heart and wanted to be better. Marvel cultivated a loyal audience and in order to keep them interested, they had to stray from the “formula” and Doctor Strange was an important first step.

COUNT DOWN #39: HE WENT FOR THE HEAD

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• HE WENT FOR THE HEAD•

MOMENT# 39

MOVIE: Avengers: End Game

DIRECTORS: Joe and Anthony Russo

WRITERS: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Thanos (Josh Brolin) in Avengers: Infinity War

Throughout the events of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor has suffered a great deal of loss. Thor lost his parents, his brother, his hammer, and his planet before Avengers: Infinity War. When Thanos arrived, he lost half his people, his brother (again), and half of all life in the universe. In Thor’s quest for revenge on the Mad Titan, he got close to ending Thanos before he could use the stones, but crucially, he did not go for the head. Thor wanted Thanos to suffer and it cost the lives of trillions of species. 

The events of Avengers: Infinity War was difficult for many heroes. There was so much lost to them by the end of the film. When Avengers: Endgame begins, Thor and the remaining heroes travel to New Titan with the plan to get the Infinity Stones from Thanos and return the population that was lost. Thanos, now living peacefully on a farm, has been weakened from using the stones, so it was unlikely he would be able to put up much of a fight. When they arrive, the heroes successfully subdue the villain, only to find the stone are no longer in the gauntlet. In his moment of triumph, Thanos used the power of the Infinity Stones to destroy the stones themselves, making it impossible for anyone to undo what had been done. In his rage, Thor swung Stormbreaker and removed Thanos’ head from his body. He went for the head.

Thanos (Josh Brolin) in Avengers: Endgame

Even before they left the Earth, it was clear that Thor had blamed himself for the loss of life that Thanos had caused. The line “you should have gone for the head” has surely rung in his ears ever since that fateful day on the Wakandan battlefield. This was a mistake he made sure he would never repeat, but the damage had already been done. Without the Infinity Stones, it would be impossible to bring back the friends and loved ones that were lost. Everything was hopeless. As Thor left Thanos’ little farm, Thor could only blame himself. In Thor's mind, trillions of lives were on his hands.

Up until Avengers: Endgame, Thor had been bouncing back from his losses. There was always another battle and there was always a path to victory. But now that path was closed to him. Taking that path away from the character, allowed the character to go in an unpredictable direction. Audiences expected to see Thor as he had always been but were shocked to see the shell that had taken its place. In his loss, Thor fell into a deep depression and for five years, indulged in temporary serotonin hits that excess food and drink provided. But nothing could ever fill the hole of loss that he felt.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in Avengers: Endgame

Dubbed “Bro Thor” by many, he’s actually a deep, introspective look at how depression can consume a person. Thor was vulnerable, unable to rule his people, unable to leave his home, and prone to fits of tears. It was a major departure for the character, but something that helped to normalize the type of extreme depression that many watching surely face. Allowing such a boastful character as Thor to show this type of vulnerability created an opportunity to represent mental health in a way that hadn’t been done in blockbuster filmmaking. All because he didn’t go for the head.

INTERLUDE #1: The Defenders Saga: A Loving Tribute

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The Defenders Saga could generate a list of 50 defining moments all on its own, but this series isn’t about that. However, it felt like a disservice to not mention them at all since they’re so beloved. So while you wait for entry 39, here’s an interlude about one of the most exciting television endeavors in Marvel’s history. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE. 

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• The Defenders Saga: A Loving Tribute •

INTERLUDE # 1

SHOWS: Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, The Defenders, The Punisher

Show Runners: Steven S. DeKnight, Doug Petrie, Marco Ramirez, Erik Oleson, Melissa Rosenberg, Scott Reynolds, Cheo Hodari Coker, Scott Buck, M. Raven Metzner & Steve Lightfoot

Luke Cage (Mike Colter), Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) and Iron Fist (Finn Jones) in The Defenders.

Disney+ wasn’t Marvel’s first attempt to bring their sprawling cinematic universe to the small screen. In 2013, Marvel Television announced that they had made a deal with Netflix to produce new shows set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The plan was simple; mirror what Marvel Studios had done to build up to The Avengers, only this time with four, thirteen-episode seasons that would attempt to build the same momentum as the films but for a new team of heroes known as the Defenders. For the most part, it worked.

Fans of the franchise had been hoping that Marvel would tackle more mature subject matter for a while. So when it was announced that four shows would premier on Netflix and build up to a mini-series called The Defenders, the fans couldn’t wait. These shows were Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage. These characters were strategically picked to be ones that Feige and company over at Marvel Studios didn’t have current plans to use and wouldn’t necessarily affect the larger story. Not only that, but they were street-level heroes looking to tell the same types of stories that the old Marvel Knights comic imprint did in its height. These shows were planned to be darker and would attempt to tackle deeper subject matter, which would offer audiences a new side of the MCU.

In 2015, Netflix and Marvel Television kicked it off by introducing the world to their new Matt Murdock/Daredevil with the release of Daredevil Season One. After the rights to the character had reverted to Marvel Entertainment, executives were eager to get a new adaptation of the character off the ground. Something that would ideally be far removed from the 2003 film starring Ben Affleck. It was an instant hit, with Charlie Cox being immediately accepted as the perfect Matt Murdock. Many would argue that Charlie Cox embodied the role of Matt Murdock in the same way that Robert Downey Jr. or Christopher Reeve embodied Iron Man or Superman respectively. To this day, Daredevil continues to be the most fondly remembered of the Defenders shows due to its strong writing, stylish directing, and engaging characters. The success of Daredevil led to a slight change in the plan, and a second season was fast-tracked to air after the first season of Jessica Jones. Unfortunately, due in part to Steven S. DeKnight being replaced as showrunner, the reception to the second season was more lukewarm than the first. Luckily the third season fared much better.

Matt Murdock aka Daredevil played by Charlie Cox in Daredevil

Unlike the other shows that would air on Netflix, Jessica Jones was originally developed for ABC. The series started its long road to air in 2010 as AKA Jessica Jones. Melissa Rosenberg had developed the show for ABC and continued with it on Netflix from 2015 to its cancellation in 2019. Back then, she had seemingly developed a more faithful adaptation of the comic series Alias than the one that made it to Netflix. Much like the Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos comic, the ABC version of the show would have Luke Cage play a large role as well as Carol Danvers’ Ms. Marvel (her promotion to Captain Marvel wouldn’t happen for two years), who would be Jessica’s best friend. Rosenberg also had long plans for the show and mentioned that Luke and Jessica’s daughter, Danielle, would show up down the line. When ABC passed on the show, Marvel Television decided to include the long-gestating series in a pitch that included Iron Fist, Luke Cage, and Daredevil to streaming services. When Netflix picked it up, the show went through heavy rewrites, most notably to remove Carol Danvers and replace her with Patsy Walker, who is known as Hellcat in the comics. This change was most likely due in part because Marvel Studios had become interested in a movie centered around Carol Danvers after she became Captain Marvel in the comics.

Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones

One of Old Spice’s most popular spokesmen, Isaiah Mustafa, began campaigning for Luke Cage due to his love of the character (there’s a proof of concept trailer online). Sadly, that campaign didn’t come to fruition and Mike Colter was cast as the title character. Colter would make his debut in Jessica Jones before headlining his own series. With three of the title characters cast, it just left Danny Rand, the Iron Fist. Eventually, the role went to Game of Thrones alum Finn Jones, but unfortunately for him, this is where the cracks began to form. Saddled with a poor showrunner and his disinterest in learning any martial arts, Iron Fist debuted with less than stellar reviews and it is currently the only Defenders series to be rated “Rotten” on Rotten Tomatoes. By the time Iron Fist rolled around, the momentum was beginning to falter. While outside of Iron Fist, the shows received generally favorable reviews, a common complaint about the pacing and length of the shows began to form. Many felt the plots of the shows could be stronger with shorter seasons and lamented how they were stretching the shows to fill thirteen episodes. Iron Fist would be the last show to air before The Defenders, with the season plot line directly leading into the upcoming mini-series.

Danny Rand/Iron Fist (Finn Rand) and Luke Cage (Mike Colter) in The Defenders.

Much like Sarah Finn, the Casting Director for Marvel Studios since Iron Man, The Defenders Casting Director, Julie Schubert was able to find the perfect actor for each of these new heroes. A major reason why the MCU was so successful is due to its casting and the Defenders Saga had to live up to that. Thankfully, Schubert was more than up for the task and successfully helped bring some fantastic new heroes, and a few of the best villains, the MCU has ever seen. Actors like Kristen Ritter as the hard-as-nails superhero/private eye Jessica Jones, Mike Coulter as the powerful Luke Cage, Jessica Henwick as Colleen Wing in Iron Fist and John Bernthal as The Punisher (Sorry Finn Jones…). A lot of the time, these shows were only as strong as their villains and Schubert was also able to cast some true powerhouse talent such as Mahershala Ali (who will soon be seen as Blade) as Cottonmouth, Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, and David Tennant as Killgrave (known as The Purple Man in the comics). To this day, Kingpin and Killgrave are considered to be some of the best villains in the MCU, able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Loki and Thanos.

Wilson Fisk/Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio) in Daredevil

The stage was set and much like The Avengers before it, The Defenders united these new fan-favorite heroes. Even though Iron Fist was not the ideal launching point for this crossover event, The Defenders was still a success. Fans had enjoyed seeing this side of the MCU and were eager to see where the journey took them… that is until they weren’t. The second “phase” of the Defenders Saga didn’t fare too well, with many having jumped off by the time The Punisher spin-off series launched in 2017 and began to steadily decline from there. While The Punisher’s viewing numbers were still good, since Frank Castle was a well-liked character, the writing was on the wall by that point. At the time, it seemed unlikely that Netflix would cancel the shows since they hadn’t yet gained the reputation they currently have. By February 2019, seemingly without any warning to the writer's teams, Netflix pull the plug. Most of the teams had prepared pitches for upcoming seasons and enough of them had earned back some goodwill with the likes of Daredevil season three and, surprisingly, Iron Fist season two, that it seemed like a sure thing they would receive a renewal order.

There are several reasons why these cancellations could have happened and it’s unlikely any true version of the story will be told anytime soon. Viewing numbers is a big deal for Netflix and they never release accurate numbers to the public, so perhaps Netflix felt it wasn’t worth the money due to the declining audience. Another potential reason is that the decision could have been a retaliation to Disney’s planned streaming service Disney+, which they were planning on producing MCU shows for. More likely, however, is that it came down to a deal. Disney was probably not interested in producing shows for an independent platform anymore and chose not to renew the contract they had already signed with Netflix. This deal could also be the reason why Netflix no longer has the shows on its platform. Why would Disney want to direct traffic away from Disney+ after all? Following the cancelation, Disney would dissolve Marvel Television and move its responsibilities to Marvel Studios, which now produces every Marvel-related TV series, including multiple high-budget MCU shows a year.

There’s been a lot of talk over the years, even while the shows were on, if these would be considered canon to the films. Outside of a few passing references to “The Incident” (The Battle of New York) and The Raft, there wasn’t much reference made to the larger MCU. Many were beginning to wonder if these characters would ever get to interact with the likes of Captain America or Iron Man. Jeph Loeb, the producer in charge of Marvel Television, certainly felt it was an inevitability that the two worlds would eventually interact but Kevin Feige was always a little deflective about the canonicity of the shows. Early interviews had Feige talking about how the characters in the show were part of the MCU “toolbox” and there were apparently discussions of including the Defenders in Avengers: Endgame, but there was never any hard stance on it. Feige probably had enough on his plate rather than to worry about what was happening with projects he wasn’t producing. Trying to weave together the evolving plot lines of these shows with the films was most likely more trouble than it was worth. But he knew that these shows and especially these characters (maybe not Danny Rand) had a great number of fans, and Kevin Feige always respects the fans. So, when the opportunity presented itself, he got to make good on his promise and included Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Hawkeye respectively. Finally putting an end to the debate once and for all by making it clear that if these characters show up, and they will, it’ll be these actors.

For the first time in Netflix’s long history, shows they produced are no longer available on their service. Luckily they were immediately moved to Disney+ so new fans can follow Kingpin from Hawkeye back to Daredevil without moving to another streaming service (something that was certainly strategic). Disney+ has a curated Marvel section that has many subheadings. Each phase has its section, for example, as well as a Marvel Legacy category for things like the Fox-produced Marvel films, and a Timeline order for anyone interested in going from Captain America: The First Avenger to Captain Marvel by way of the Agent Carter short film. Many couldn’t wait to see how the Defenders shows would fit into the timeline, only to find out that they wouldn’t be included. Instead, they have their own sub-category called The Defenders Saga. Because of the ambiguous nature of the show's place in MCU canon and the amount of time they cover, placing them anywhere in the timeline would be a difficult task to undertake. But giving them their saga, something like The Infinity Saga, makes it clear that they’re just as important, and validates their status in the canon. They weren’t produced by Marvel Studios, and it would be difficult for them to be easily incorporated into past MCU canon, but their saga definition allows audiences to put the canon debate to rest and acknowledge them as something unique and important all on their own. After all, it’s 2025 in the MCU, so it’s not like it matters anymore.

Phase Four is an exciting time for Marvel fans, including fans of the Defenders Saga. Rumors of Jessica Jones being in She-Hulk and Daredevil in Echo are all over the internet. Thanks to this, a whole new audience can find these shows and these beloved characters, because make no mistake, these characters are just as beloved as Iron Man or Captain America (well…again, maybe not Danny Rand) and fans have always wanted them to interact with the larger MCU. When Kevin Feige said, during the press tour for Spider-Man: No Way Home, that should Daredevil show up again, it would be Charlie Cox. That gave fans hope again. From Daredevil season one to Jessica Jones season three, and everything in between, the moment in time when Netflix had multiple MCU TV shows that introduced beloved heroes and villains was truly special. It’s exciting that this moment and these characters will no doubt continue to be validated as we continue this journey through Phase Four.

COUNT DOWN #40: “AVENGERS…” NOT YET

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• “AVENGERS…” NOT YET•

MOMENT# 40

MOVIE: Avengers: Age of Ultron

DIRECTORS: Joss Whedon

WRITERS: Joss Whedon

The Avengers used to change up their roster pretty frequently in the comics, so in the second Avengers movie, Avengers: Age of Ultron, the creatives behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe decided to shake-up the team from the one originally introduced in 2012's The Avengers. As Captain America looked out onto his new team of heroes, which now consisted of Black Widow, The Vision, Wanda Maximoff, The Falcon and War Machine, he proudly called for them with the iconic line “Avengers…” and the film cut to credits.

The end of Avengers: Age of Ultron was buzzing with hints to the new status quo of the MCU’s premier team. Thor and Iron Man have seemingly left the group, Hawkeye apparently retired to be with his family, and Captain America with Black Widow were left with a brand new team. The Avengers had moved out of the tower in the heart of New York and relocated into the Avengers Compound. The compound was buzzing with characters like Maria Hill and Eric Selvig, implying a vast organization to replace S.H.I.E.L.D. As always, fans couldn’t help but speculate and dream for what the next Avengers story would be. Then the MCU revealed them.

The new Avengers were an exciting group of characters to lead into the next story. Sam Wilson/The Falcon was a fan favorite coming out of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Rhodey/War Machine deserved a seat at that table since Iron Man 2. Wanda and Vision were newly introduced to the franchise with Avengers: Age of Ultron, but the promise of furthering their development was enough at the time. As the film was coming to end, there was only one way to call upon this new team, or so audiences thought.

But then the credits rolled.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron - Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olson), Quicksilver(Aaron Taylor-Johnson), Thor (Chis Hemsworth), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner)

Marvel certainly enjoyed playing with the audience expectations for the iconic line. It truly felt like Captain America was finally going to say it. There were surely many rolled eyes and disappointed groans from the audience. After all, it had been two movies and the line had never been said. The closest audiences had was Iron Man saying “Avengers, time to work for a living”, which isn’t as catchy.

This playful tease wasn’t just a moment, it was a promise. They had to hold the line from audiences so that when it was said, it would matter. The next phase of the MCU (Phase 3) wouldn’t be announced for another couple of months, so the journey that these new Avengers could go on was nothing but speculation and expectations. Only the creatives behind the scenes knew when the next Avengers movie would be released. So the questio was how long would audiences need to wait before they heard Captain America exclaim his famous line? Expectations have always been the thing that kept the MCU train moving from one movie to the next, but eventually the expectation had to pay off. Eventually Captain America would have to say “Avengers…

COUNT DOWN #41: OBADIAH STANE’S TURN

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• OBADIAH STANE’S TURN•

MOMENT# 41

MOVIE: Iron Man

DIRECTORS: Jon Favreau

WRITERS: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum, John August & Matt Holloway

Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) in Iron Man.

There’s a trope in storytelling called “The Rival” and it’s one that the MCU has been utilizing pretty much since the beginning. There are many different ways the trope can be used but it’s primarily the reason why so many MCU villains share similar powers with the heroes. Oftentimes the rival will start the story as a friend or mentor of the protagonist and will have a heel-face turn in the middle of the movie to present himself as the antagonist of the story. This is the role that Obadiah Stane takes in 2008’s Iron Man. 

In Iron Man, Jeff Bridges plays Obadiah Stane. He is Tony Stark's mentor and surrogate father figure after Tony’s parents had died. When Howard Stark (Tony’s father) was killed, Stane took over Stark Industries until Tony was of age to take control of the business himself. When Tony Stark returns after being captured at the beginning of the film, Stane is blindsided by Tony's decision to move Stark Industries away from weapons development. Stane appears pretty interested in the miniature arc reactor that Tony built while in the cave of his captives, but deceptively plays the role of the loyal friend up until Pepper discovers the truth.

Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) in Iron Man.

Stane assumes his role as the villain of the story by stealing the arc reactor from Tony’s chest and placing it in a new suit of armor Stane built from the MKI suit recovered in the desert. His ultimate goal is to reverse engineer the technology but Tony ultimately is able to don his Iron Man suit and confront his rival. Eventually, Tony and Pepper are able to defeat Obadiah Stane and then S.H.I.E.L.D. takes him, never to be seen again.

“We’re ironmongers Tony '' Obadiah proudly proclaims. In the comics, IronMonger is Obadiah Stane’s supervillain's name. He can’t comprehend why Tony would want to be a hero and save lives. In his mind, he and Tony were the same. The two make and sell weapons. Obadiah Stane represents what Tony Stark could have become if he was never captured by the Ten Rings. Tony fears that if he never saw what was happening with his weapons, he would have turn out just like Obadiah Stane. By being the dark mirror of Tony Stark, Stane helps Tony complete his journey to becoming Iron Man.

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) in Iron Man.

Stane was the beginning of a long line of villains that would be mirrors for the heroes in the MCU. Everyone from Whiplash to Kaecilius and even Loki would fill the role of “The Rival” as the MCU began to expand. The writers of the franchise would begin to lean on it a bit too much as the franchise grew and after a few movies, a common criticism was that the MCU relied too heavily on villains who had the same powers as the heroes. IronMonger continues to be a high point for these villains.

COUNT DOWN #42: WHERE IS NICK FURY?

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• WHERE IS NICK FURY?•

MOMENT# 42

MOVIE: Spider-Man: Far From Hom

DIRECTORS: Jon Watts

WRITERS: Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers

Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Special Agent Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) and Peter Parker (Tom Holland) in Spider-Man: Far From Home.

The final post-credits scene of The Infinity Saga was unlike any other. Spider-Man: Far From Home sees Peter Parker team up with Nick Fury, Maria Hill, and Mysterio, but it would turn out that all three of these characters were not what they seemed. Nick Fury has been a staple in the MCU since the beginning, he was the glue that held Phase One together. So after more than 10 films, audiences had become very aware of how Samuel L. Jackson played the character, and something seemed off about him this time.

In Spider-Man: Far From Home, Peter comes into possession of Tony’s glasses, which came equipped with E.D.I.T.H. since he was expected to be the next Iron Man. Nick Fury had recruited Peter so that he could help a new hero, Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal), defeat an extra-dimensional threat from his universe. Turns out, Mysterio was just a former Stark employee who was interested in stealing the glasses for himself so he could become the next “Iron Man” instead. Mysterio had everyone fooled, including Fury, which seemed rather unlikely. Fury was normally one step ahead of the game. It was clear that something was off about Fury. He was short-tempered, easily fooled, and surrounded himself with people that appeared sketchy at best.

Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) in Spider-Man: Far From Home.

Spider-Man: Far From Home had two post-credits scenes, one that changed the future of Spider-Man, and another that reframed the entire movie. After the events of this film, Fury and Hill are seen driving silently together. As the scene goes on, they begin to shape-shift into Talos and Soren (the Skrulls from Captain Marvel). Sharon Blynn and Ben Mendelsohn reprise their roles as the main Skrulls for a quick cameo that changed how audiences would look back at the movie they just watched. What’s more, at the very end of the scene, it’s revealed that Fury has been on some sort of spaceship, probably since the events of Avengers: Endgame.

Soren (Sharon Blynn) and Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) in Spider-Man: Far From Home.

This was a unique moment, even for the MCU. The movie was over, the story done. Then a major revelation made the audience have to rethink the entire movie and how they engaged with it. Upon a rewatch, audiences would be able to pick up on the things that Samuel L. Jackson does to make the performance of Fury feel different, such as his remark towards Captain Marvel. Not only did this decontextualize the entire movie up to this point, but it also left audiences with a huge question…What the hell is Fury doing? With plans for Phase 4 not quite known at the time, fans were left to wildly speculate on what big plan Fury could be setting up.

Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) on a virtual beach in the Spider-Man: Far From Home post-credits.

After being introduced to the Skrulls in Captain Marvel that same year, no one expected the characters to return so soon. Especially since within the MCU, it had been 29 years since the events of Captain Marvel. Setting up the future had become an old hat for the MCU at this point, but recontextualizing a film you just watched was a very surprising moment. Samuel L. Jackson and Colbie Smulders were able to play their characters differently enough for audiences to be suspicious. Even though Spider-Man: Far From Home was saying goodbye to The Infinity Saga, the storytellers at Marvel still found one final way to keep audiences on their toes.

COUNT DOWN #43: THE SECRET AVENGERS

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• THE SECRET AVENGERS •

MOMENT# 43

MOVIE: Avengers: Infinity War

DIRECTORS: Joe & Anthony Russo

WRITERS: Christopher Marcus & Stephen McFeely

Surprise entrance by Captain America (Chis Evans) in Avengers: Infinity War.

Some defining moments are insightful and speak to the metatextual way the Marvel Cinematic Universe has informed the audience's relationship with it. Others are just plain cool. At the end of Captain America: Civil War, a rift formed between the Avengers. The heroes who fought with Captain America were labeled fugitives from the law, and while some took a deal to be with their families, others did not. Going into Avengers: Infinity War, the MCU was in a very different place, one that made audiences eager to see how they’ll come together to face the greatest threat they’ve ever known. 

During one of Vision and Wanda’s secret rendezvous, they were attacked by Proxima Midnight and Corvus Glaive, with the goal of retrieving the Mind Stone in Vision’s head. Normally, Vision and Wanda are two of the most powerful Avengers, but this attack put them on the back foot and they found it difficult to recover. When it looked like all was lost, a figure emerged from the shadows to help turn the battle. A now bearded Steve Rogers, with the help of Sam Wilson and Natasha Romanoff, was able to fight the invaders back. The Secret Avengers had turned the tide. In fairness they’re not called that in the film, but it’s fairly clear they’re meant to be a loose adaptation of the group from the comics. 

Vision (played by Paul Bettany) and Wanda Maximoff (played by Elizabeth Olson) in Avengers: Infinity War.

One thing that became difficult to discern over the years was whether or not these characters had done anything between the events of the films. Very often it felt like the characters of the MCU were stuck in stasis until their next appearance and rarely did it feel like they had lives or adventures between them. Seeing Captain America, The Falcon and Black Widow work so well as a team of three, helped audiences feel like they had been going around the world, being the heroes we knew they had to be. After all, Steve Rogers isn’t the kind of man who would let the government stop him from doing the right thing. 

Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (played by Scarlett Johansson), The Falcon/Sam Wilson (played by Anthony Mackie) and Captain America/Steve Rogers (played by Chris Evans) in Avengers: Infinity War.

There’s another reason that makes this moment important: It’s really cool! Avengers: Infinity War had audiences cheering many times over the course of its runtime, but seeing Captain America come out of the shadows with that gorgeous beard and Alan Silvestri’s Avengers theme playing in the background was just one of those special moments people would be talking about for years to come. Even though audiences often gravitated towards the MCU because of their characters, oftentimes we get rewarded with some epic comic book action. Something that makes the MCU very special is how it doesn’t shy away from comic book elements. They always looked for ways to make what seemed impossible to translate from the page, possible. 

Sometimes moments are important, not because of what they imply for a character or a story, but because of how they make you feel. Watching Captain (bearded) America walk out of those shadows certainly was a feeling. More than that, by the time Avengers: Infinity War rolled into theaters, the Marvel Cinematic Universe had begun to feel like a living world. So surely, there had to be adventures in between the major events, right? Luckily everything about the Secret Avengers’ appearance in the film hints at further escapades, from how they fight together, to their clothes and that glorious beard. After this moment, we finally got a sense that they had lives outside the events of the films.

COUNT DOWN #44: A SUPRISE CAMEO

By Brandon T. McClure (@btmcclure @fakenerdpodcast)

The MCU, specifically the Infinity Saga (2008-2019) has meant a great deal to me, as I am sure it has for many people. What first started as a book pitch is now a series of essays of mine that will be (hopefully) published every week. The goal is to pick a specific moment within The Infinity Saga and share with you why I believe it’s a defining moment. To revisit previous posts, visit our site HERE.

Enjoy the ride as we count down from 50 of the most defining moments and share your thoughts in the comments. 

• A SUPRISE CAMEO •

MOMENT# 44

MOVIE: The Incredible Hulk

DIRECTORS: Louis Leterrier

WRITERS: Zak Penn

Often considered the MCU’s forgotten stepchild, The Incredible Hulk came out just a few weeks after Iron Man. Back then, The Incredible Hulk was considered the safe bet, so putting the two films so close together was to ensure that if Iron Man failed, the investors would still get some of their money back. After the post-credits tease at the end of the MCU’s first film, the second film released by Marvel Studios had some eyes on it. Was this film going to reference any events from Iron Man? No one was really sure what to make of this film, especially with the 2003 film still fresh in people's minds. That all changed with one cameo (not that one).

The Incredible Hulk acts as a loose reboot for the Hulk. Since The Hulk, directed by Ang Lee, was still relatively new, Marvel Studios decided not to retell the origin of the titular character. Instead, we meet Bruce Banner (this time played by Edward Norton) already having been exposed to the gamma radiation that caused him to hulk out. He’s trying to live a quiet life while learning to suppress his anger and hopefully find a cure. General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (William Hurt) manages to track him down and, with the help of Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), flushes him out of hiding. You know how the rest goes, Hulk and Abomination have a big brawl in Harlem and they set up Samuel Sterns to become the Leader (which still hasn’t paid off).

Since this was before the post-credit scene precedent was set, the end of The Incredible Hulk sees General Ross drinking his sorrows away at a bar when, unexpectedly, Robert Downey Jr. walks into the movie reprising his role as Tony Stark. Even with some of the references to Stark Industries and S.H.I.E.L.D., this cameo came as a surprise. For years, audiences would hope for crossovers but understood that it was unlikely to happen. Spider-Man would never meet the X-Men and Christian Bale’s Batman wouldn’t meet Brandon Routh’s Superman. That just wasn’t how the game was played back then. Sure, Marvel had promised that wouldn’t be the case anymore just six weeks early, but what form that would take, was another question altogether

General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (played by William Hurt) in The Incredible Hulk post-credit scene.

It was electrifying walking out of that theater. The possibilities really did feel endless. Even though it wasn’t expected, it was entirely possible that you could be watching Thor or Captain America: The First Avenger and any Marvel hero could walk into the movie. This cameo showed audiences that Marvel was confident that this could work, and it began to fill their growing audience with trust.

General Ross (William Hurt) and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in the post-credit scene of The Incredible Hulk.

Nowadays, seeing these kinds of characters interact is practically any-given Tuesday in the MCU, the discussion around Phase 4 has been dominated by what cameos are going to appear next. This cameo was unlike anything audiences had ever seen. This was a clear message to audiences, the Avengers were coming. Not only were you going to see your favorite heroes on the big screen, but Marvel was determined to fulfill your dreams of seeing them interact with each other.