Revisiting the MCU

Avengers: Infinity War, is out. Before I take the kids out to see it, we’ve spent the last several weeks on a Marvel movie binge. Until now, my oldest has only seen three of the eighteen movies. Zu and JJ haven't seen any of them. My obsessive tendencies wouldn't be comfortable allowing my kids to see the culmination of ten years’ worth of stories without seeing those preceding tales. They need to know what happened so I don't have to explain it in the middle of the newest movie.

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Along the way, I noticed some recurring themes and connecting threads between the various films I had not noticed the first time (or second or third times) I watched them. Seeing them all back to back in succession provided a new and refreshing perspective and I am more excited to see Infinity War now than I ever was before. I've also concluded there is a topical filter for each of the three phases; despite different characters, directors, plots, and style, it seems all the movies are about the same thing.

Before we all head out to the theaters en masse to see (what might possibly be) the biggest blockbuster ever, I'd like to review the road so far and explore the thematic joints and tendons (intended or otherwise) linking the films into one functioning body. Warning, there will be spoilers.

The theme I found in Phase One is Responsibility and Control.

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In Iron Man, a wealthy, playboy, genius, CEO of an arms manufacturer learns to take responsibility for his actions after being kidnapped by a terrorist organization who used his weapons to further their agenda. The ordeal changes his perspective and he begins to take ownership for his previous actions and his impact on the world, telling a news conference "I had become a part of a system that is comfortable with zero accountability."

In The Incredible Hulk, Bruce Banner attempts to suppress his powers because he feels responsible for the damages he causes when he transforms into the Hulk. The military wants to recreate the experiment that created the Hulk and it is Banner’s responsibility to stop them. He learns that he cannot get rid of the Hulk inside him, so he uses it to stop a madman then retreats to the Canadian wilderness to practice controlling it.

In Iron Man 2, Tony’s life is out of control and multiple parties fight for ownership of the Iron Man suits. The government believes the Iron Man suit should be publicly regulated, Ivan Vanko wants control of it because his father helped Howard Stark (Tony’s dad) develop the arc reactor, Justin Hammer wants control so his company can reproduce and sell it, and Tony believes he should have sole control of the technology because he invented it and it is his responsibility.

In Thor, brothers Thor and Loki compete to replace their father Odin and control Asgard. However, Thor is reckless and irresponsible, so Odin punishes Thor by stripping him of his powers and banishing him to Earth. Loki deceptively takes control of Asgard and Thor's friends travel to Earth to bring Thor home. Ultimately, Thor assumes responsibility, offers himself as a sacrifice, proves himself worthy, and admits he is not ready for the responsibility of being king.

In Captain America: The First Avenger, Steve Rogers believes it is his responsibility to fight in World War II. Unfortunately, he's too scrawny and is rejected from enlisting. He's recruited to participate in a super soldier experiment which makes him bigger, stronger, and faster. When he hears his childhood friend's squadron was captured and held as POWs, Steve takes on the responsibility of rescuing them. After locating and destroying several Hydra bases, Steve sacrifices himself to prevent a plane full of weapons from being detonated over an American city.

In The Avengers, Loki appears on earth and takes control of a powerful artifact. Nick Fury brings together Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Hawkeye, and Black Widow as the only people on Earth capable of stopping Loki. They are joined by Thor who feels it is his responsibility to stop his brother.

The theme I found in Phase Two is Identity.

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Iron Man 3 follows The Battle of Manhattan (the climatic scenes from The Avengers). Tony suffers from insomnia and panic attacks from his involvement. He spends all his time building dozens of Iron Man suits where he finds his identity. He doesn’t know who he would be if he didn't have his armored suits. Meanwhile, a brilliant scientist named Aldrich Killian attempts to establish his identity after being rejected by Tony Stark a dozen years earlier at a New Year's Eve party. And a struggling actor finds his identity portraying a terrorist to cover up the negative side effects of the Extremis virus developed by Killian.

In Thor: Dark World, Thor is trying to figure out where he belongs. Is he a Hero of Earth or a hero of Asgard? He cannot be in both places. After saving both realms from the fulfilment of a cataclysmic prophecy, he declines an offer to take the throne of Asgard and returns to Earth.

In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Steve tries to find his place in modern society. He also learns his old friend Bucky wasn’t killed during World War II; Bucky was experimented on and brainwashed by Hydra to be a biologically and mechanically enhanced assassin. Unfortunately, he doesn't remember who he is or anything from his past, including his friendship with Steve.

In Guardians of the Galaxy, a group of strangers discover their identity and purpose together. Peter Quill is an orphan kidnaped from Earth at a young age and raised by bandits. He wants to make a name for himself separate from the Ravagers. Gamora and Nebula were adopted by a tyrant and trained to be his personal assassins. Both want to be free from their life, Nebula wants to kill her adoptive father but Gamora wants to make enough money to run away. Rocket is a genetically engineered raccoon whose best friend is a sentient tree named Groot. The pair are looking to make a fortune as quickly as they can. Drax is a soldier seeking revenge against Ronan, a powerful alien who murdered Drax's wife and kids. Each of the guardians have their own motives, yet they are all lost and broken individuals with no family. After saving the universe, they stick together because it is the closest thing to a family they'll ever find.

In Avengers: Age of Ultron, everyone is struggling with their identity. Tony doesn’t want to be a hero anymore. War Machine and Hawkeye are trying to establish their place as a part of the team. Natasha and Bruce see themselves as monsters yet find solace in each other. Tony and Bruce program Ultron, an AI software intended to be a peacekeeper, but Ultron decides the best way to create peace on earth is to kill all life on earth. Th Vision (a living android created by Ultron) isn’t sure of who or what he is. Wanda and her twin brother Pietro must decide if they are going to be antagonists bent on revenge or heroes helping save lives.

In Ant-Man, Scott Lang, a petty thief and ex-con: to "earn that look in your daughter's eyes, to become the hero that she already thinks you are." He’s given that opportunity by Hank Pym, who gave up his identity as Ant-Man several years ago after losing his wife on a mission for S.H.I.E.L.D. Hope believes she should wear the An-Man suit, yet Hank refuses to let her because he fears losing Hope the same way he lost her mom.

The theme I found in Phase Three: Consequences. Either facing the consequences of our own actions or suffering the consequences from the actions of others.

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In Captain America: Civil War, The Avengers fight over the consequences of all their previous missions. The UN drafts the Sokovia Accords to hold powered individuals accountable for their actions. This is the result of damages done in Manhattan (The Avengers), Washington DC (Winter Soldier), Sokovia (Age of Ultron), and Lagos (beginning of Civil War) where several Wakandan humanitarian workers were killed. Some heroes submit to UN sanctions while others rebell against it. Their choices are amplified when Steve Rogers sets out to save his friend Bucky who is framed for detonating a bomb at the UN, killing the King of Wakanda. Everyone picks a side and suffer the consequences.

In Doctor Strange, Dr Steven Strange attempts to avoid consequences. He’s a brilliant surgeon but a careless driver and irreparably injures his hands in a car crash. Unable to work, he spends his fortune looking for someone who can heal him. He eventually travels to Kamar-Taj and meets the Ancient One who promises he can heal himself through learning mystic arts. The Ancient One faces the consequences of breaking the laws of nature to prolong her life. A former student of hers, Kaecilius, faces consequences for seeking eternal life and bringing Dormammu to earth. And Mordo grows disillusioned with the way magic is used to bend the rules and seeks to enforce consequences on all who practice magic.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 has everyone involved facing consequences. Yondu and his crew is exiled from the Ravager community for child trafficking. Yondu also faces a mutiny for going easy on Peter Quill. Peter ignores the warnings of his friends after meeting his biological father. Rocket wrestles with the consequences of being an experiment and feeling alone in the universe. Groot is now a baby because of his self-sacrificial act at the end of the first Guardians movie. Gamora and Nebula fight through the consequences of their sibling rivalry. Mantis realizes her error working as Ego's servant. And all the Guardians face the consequences of stealing valuable and powerful batteries from the Sovereign.

In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter Parker faces several consequences. For ignoring his school work, skipping classes, and quitting his extra-curricular clubs. For being over-zealous as a superhero. For being careless in stopping a bank robbery, interrupting a black-market weapons sale, and trying to apprehend an arms dealer alone. For ignoring Tony Stark’s advice. For the villain’s daughter to the homecoming dance. For keeping secrets from his aunt.

In Thor: Ragnorok, Thor, Loki, and all inhabitants of Asgard face the consequences of Odin’s death. Loki is also held accountable for his deceptions. Bruce Banner wrestles with the consequences of being the Hulk. Valkyrie wrestles with the lose of all her friends and fellow warriors. And the Grandmaster is confronted by his former subjects and the consequence of running the gladiatorial games on Sakaar.

T’Challa also deals with the consequences of losing his father, T’Chaka in Black Panther. More than learning to be king of Wakanda, he also faces the consequences of his father’s choices, which include the return of an exiled warrior whose father was killed by T’Chaka. Wakanda is thrown into conflict when Warmonger returns, and he accepts his consequence for his chaotic and short rule over Wakanda.

Of course, I could be reading more into these movies than I should. Perhaps my interpretations here are figments of my imagination. And there are more to these films than my simple explanations. For example, Iron Man and Doctor Strange both tell redemption stories. Age of Ultron and Winter Soldier both explore the topic of trust. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 is filled with resolving daddy issues. And Black Panther is about cultural identity and social justice.

Maybe Infinity War will align with the thematic element I found common in the rest of Phase Three. Or not. I’ll find out soon. Until then, please don’t spoil it for me.