Opinion: Why Phase 4 Is The Refresh The MCU Needed
The MCU is a huge universe and is still growing. To understand Avengers: Endgame, there were 21 movies leading up to it that were recommended to watch. Avengers: Endgame was the end of Phase 3, and the end of an era as well. It concluded the stories of some favorites like Captain America and Iron Man. Fans knew what was coming in Phase 4, but unsure how the MCU would continue without these favorites. As much as I love the original six Avengers, Phase 4 was exactly the refresh the MCU needed.
Phase 4 has continued the stories of Tom Holland's Spider-Man with Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye on Disney+. It also continued the stories of Sam Wilson, and Bucky Barnes in Falcon and Winter Soldier, with Sam becoming Captain America at the end, and also the story of Wanda Maximoff in WandaVision. Lastly, it also showed the story of everyone's favorite Trickster God, Loki, in his show, Loki. This was a great start to Phase 4 of the MCU, as it started with characters we knew, and continued their stories. It also has these characters exploring and dealing with their trauma.
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Phase 4 has introduced a bunch of new characters as well. Kate Bishop, Shang-Chi, and Marc Spector/Steven Grant from Moon Knight. It will also introduce Kamala Khan from Ms. Marvel, and Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk from She-Hulk, both which will be airing on Disney+ this summer. Phase 4 has also reintroduced Daredevil, and its characters into MCU canon. Matt Murdock appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Kingpin in Hawkeye. Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness also continued Doctor Strange's and Wanda/Scarlet Witch's story. Thor Love and Thunder, which comes out in July, will continue the story of Thor, and will feature the Guardians of the Galaxy, and introduce the Mighty Thor aka Jane Foster. The upcoming projects for phase 4 are personally some of the most exciting to me.
Phase 4 has brought us new characters, which I am grateful for. Don't get me wrong, I loved the original six Avengers, and they made the MCU what it is, but I love that we are getting more diversity, and new stories in this phase. My new favorite MCU movie is Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. I loved the characters, and the Chinese background in this movie. Wenwu was also a great villain because you could relate to him. It's a movie I have seen many times, and I hope we see Shang-Chi again soon.
Moon Knight is my favorite Marvel show. I love the character of Steven Grant, and eventually Marc Spector as well. I love the Egyptian mythology present throughout the show too. I really hope we get a second season, as there is still a lot to explore. The classic superheroes we had in the early MCU phases honestly were the same, and almost predictable after a while. I love Marvel, but I am so glad we are getting new stories in phase 4. I enjoy that we’re getting different, not widely explored stories too. Not many people heard of Moon Knight, or Ms. Marvel before their shows were announced, and now they’re getting their own shows, and hopefully the recognition they deserve. I am also a fan of the representation we are getting in this new phase. Ms. Marvel will feature the first Muslim superhero, Shang-Chi featured the first Asian superhero, and Moon Knight showed a superhero with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Many people are now able to see themselves in these stories, and I think that is really special. Marvel is for everyone, and I think everyone should continue to be represented, and different stories continue to be highlighted.
The current shows and movies in Phase 4 us the refresh the MCU needed. It introduces new characters, which is refreshing, but also has characters we've known in the past deal with their trauma. I am very excited for the next few months of phase 4, with Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk and Thor Love and Thunder all coming out. I can't wait to see where else the MCU goes from here.
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