Ever since the Marvel Cinematic Universe launched in 2008, it’s only natural that the series has undergone substantial changes over time. Starting with “Iron Man,” the MCU has expanded to encompass a multitude of new characters, both heroes and villains, along with numerous tales. This expansion has allowed the franchise to explore further realms and bring more elements from the comic book universe to life on screen. The MCU’s narrative is segmented into phases, with each release neatly fitting within a specific storyline. For instance, Phase 1 of the MCU focused on introducing the initial Avengers through individual films, culminating in their assembly in the 2012 movie “The Avengers.
Over the past decade and a half, I’ve witnessed an incredible evolution within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). By 2025, the movies have catapulted the franchise to new heights, pushing its storyline significantly closer to the grand finale of the Multiverse Saga. Yet, as I reflect on Phase 1 of this journey in 2025, I can’t help but notice some fascinating and paradoxical aspects.
With the hindsight granted by the 17-year journey, certain elements of the MCU’s early days shine brighter than ever before. They’ve taken on a whole new meaning, offering insights that were perhaps hidden to us then.
1) Hawkeye is Barely a Founding Avenger
Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, and Hawkeye. Upon reevaluation, particularly focusing on “The Avengers” movie, it’s evident that Hawkeye might not truly be considered a founding member of the legendary group in terms of significance to the team’s formation or impact on its storyline.
In later Marvel Cinematic Universe films, Hawkeye was portrayed as a crucial team member, with his history and heroic status given more depth. However, in The Avengers, he was initially under Loki’s control and often worked against the team. This meant that he wasn’t there when the original Avengers assembled for the first time, which cast some doubt on his status as a founding Avenger within the franchise.
2) The Lack of Captain Marvel is Weird
As a passionate moviegoer, I must admit that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is brimming with formidable heroes, many of whom didn’t make their grand entrance until after the initial phase of the franchise. One such hero is Captain Marvel, who stormed onto our screens in 2019’s “Captain Marvel.” Her solo outing served as a prologue to numerous MCU stories, being set in 1995, and featuring Carol Danvers battling Skrull threats on Earth while crossing paths with a young Nick Fury. Regrettably, the movie’s prequel setting has caused some complications when looking back at Phase 1 of the franchise.
Reflecting on Phase 1, it’s intriguing how Nick Fury’s interactions with Earth’s defense against alien threats in The Avengers appear unusual given his past with Captain Marvel. For instance, Fury frequently emphasized the importance of Earth’s self-defense against potential extraterrestrial dangers, unaware that he had been aware of powerful alien empires for nearly two decades. Furthermore, it seems strange that he didn’t consider involving Captain Marvel in the battle against Loki and the Chitauri, even if viewers at the time were not privy to this information.
3) The Inconsistent History of SHIELD is Too Obvious
2008’s “Iron Man” wasn’t just about bringing the title character to life on screen; it also set the stage for a whole interconnected universe of films and series. One method it used was by confirming that other Marvel characters and institutions are part of its storyline, often through the presence of SHIELD-related characters. A recurring gag in the movie involves Agent Phil Coulson trying to reach Tony Stark, explaining he’s from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division. The characters then make fun of the organization’s long and awkward name.
In the movie’s finale, Coulson mentions that they will now refer to their organization as SHIELD, hinting at their role in upcoming narratives. However, it was later revealed that SHIELD had been around for decades before this point, with the acronym being used by other characters even prior to Coulson’s debut in Iron Man. Initially seen as a clever nod to the Marvel Comics origin, this detail has since emerged as an inconsistency that some fans find confusing and annoying within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
4) Thanos’ Original Plan Doesn’t Make Sense
In the closing moments of the post-credits scene from The Avengers, it was finally disclosed that Thanos was the mastermind behind the movie’s events. This brief appearance by the Mad Titan set the stage for his significant role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, hinting at his looming threat to Earth and the Avengers. The fascination with Thanos in the MCU has persisted since his defeat in Avengers: Endgame, continuing even years later.
Reflecting on “The Avengers,” it’s evident that Thanos’ strategy in the film didn’t add up. In subsequent Marvel Cinematic Universe instalments, we learned that Thanos aimed to gather the Infinity Stones to reduce the population of the universe by half. Sending Loki to Earth with the only Stone he had was pointless since if Thanos wanted to conquer Earth, he could have done so himself or continued pursuing the Infinity Stones without interfering too much in Earth’s matters.
5) Phase 1 Brushes Over an Important Iron Man Story
In Phase 1 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), they faced a monumental challenge: introducing multiple solo heroes and their unique narratives, all while weaving these individual threads into a cohesive tapestry within the larger universe. Remarkably, most films from this era delivered exceptionally well on character development and advancing the MCU’s overarching narrative. However, some crucial stories were only touched upon or briefly addressed, which is more disappointing when revisiting these movies in 2025.
In the film Iron Man 2, they introduced the “Demon in a Bottle” tale from the comics, where Tony Stark grapples with alcoholism. However, the movie only starts this narrative and never fully resolves it, and subsequent Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films failed to revisit or address Stark’s drinking problem. Looking back at the early phases of the MCU, it’s clear that the “Demon in a Bottle” storyline had great potential that was unfortunately not fully realized.
6) Coulson’s Agents of SHIELD Return Hurts The Avengers’ Story
Since Phase 1, numerous Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) TV series have been produced, adding depth and diversity to the franchise by introducing a plethora of new characters and alternate realities. Despite Agents of SHIELD being frequently underestimated as an MCU production, it significantly fleshed out the titular agency. However, revisiting The Avengers in 2025 with knowledge of Agents of SHIELD can alter the film’s events for the worse.
The death of Agent Phil Coulson at the hands of Loki was the crucial moment that prompted Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) heroes to unite and form the Avengers. However, to keep him in the TV show “Agents of SHIELD,” it was written that he was brought back to life using a new method with Kree blood. This narrative device in the show contradicts the emotional impact of Coulson’s death and the significance of his sacrifice in forming the Avengers.
7) Black Widow Deserved a Much Better Introduction
In the initial phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, only four out of the six original Avengers were given standalone films. Hawkeye and Black Widow started off as secondary characters in other movies; Hawkeye even had a minor appearance. However, by the end of Phase 1, they became official team members. Black Widow first appeared in Iron Man 2, masquerading as Tony Stark’s assistant to keep tabs on him for SHIELD.
Re-watching “Iron Man 2” in 2025 underscores how inadequate an introduction it was for the character Black Widow. Scarlett Johansson’s portrayal of this role throughout the years has been nothing short of exceptional, and her ability to headline a solo movie, as demonstrated in 2021’s “Black Widow”, is proof positive. In retrospect, Black Widow was one of the standout characters in “Iron Man 2”, a fact that underscores how deserving she was of a more significant introduction into the franchise.
8) Captain America Foreshadowed Iron Man’s Ending
Ever since he first appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in “Captain America: The First Avenger” back in 2011, Steve Rogers has been a key figure within the franchise. Throughout his time with the MCU, there have been numerous memorable Captain America instances that showcased Rogers’ heroic prowess, positioning him as one of the universe’s top heroes. In “The Avengers,” Rogers’ unwavering moral principles collided with Tony Stark’s more casual approach to heroism, leading to a famous exchange of witty remarks between the two characters that has since become an iconic scene.
Revisiting the first phase movie after the end of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Infinity Saga makes Steve Rogers’ criticism of Tony Stark seem even more prophetic. His harsh assessment of Stark as being too self-centered to ever die for others appears to be a subtle prediction of Stark’s demise in Avengers: Endgame. This scene highlights the impressive character growth of Tony Stark throughout the MCU, but its impact is significantly greater in 2025 than it was upon its initial release in 2012.
9) Thor Is Basically a Different Character
Over time, Thor has transformed into one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most endearing and humorous characters. From his debut in 2011’s Thor during Phase 1, the Thunder God has graced us with his presence in several of the MCU’s laugh-out-loud films. As he has journeyed through the franchise, Thor’s character has undergone significant changes. This transformation makes revisiting Phase 1 particularly intriguing because Thor’s role in the early Marvel movies is quite distinct from his more recent portrayals.
Reflecting on Thor and The Avengers, it appears that the version of Thor we initially saw has transformed into a completely new character. The addition of more humor and making him more relatable sparked a popular fan theory suggesting that Thor might have been swapped out for a Skrull, given how dramatically his personality changed. In comparison to the stiff and arrogant Thor from Phase 1, the character we saw in later films was far more entertaining, which made his earlier appearances seem rather stark by contrast.
10) Bruce Banner & Betty Ross’ Story is Pointless
2025 marked the premiere of Captain America: A Fresh Start, a movie that introduced Sam Wilson as the MCU’s new Captain America in his first solo adventure, and brought back characters last seen during Phase 1. This film also fulfilled The Incredible Hulk’s prequel setup of Samuel Sterns becoming the antagonist, The Leader. Additionally, it brought Liv Tyler back to her role as Betty Ross after a 17-year hiatus. Interestingly, the way Betty returned supported a longstanding theory about her character.
The main theme of “The Incredible Hulk” revolves around the relationship between Bruce Banner and Betty Ross. Regrettably, as Betty was not present in the series after that time, this romantic angle was never pursued in subsequent Hulk appearances. In contrast, “Brave New World” introduced Ross without Banner, intensifying their separation. Looking back on Hulk’s debut in Phase 1, their entire love story seems pointless now.
Read More
- Wrestler Marcus “Buff” Bagwell Undergoes Leg Amputation
- Gold Rate Forecast
- ENA PREDICTION. ENA cryptocurrency
- PS5’s ChinaJoy Booth Needs to Be Seen to Be Believed
- AI-powered malware eludes Microsoft Defender’s security checks 8% of the time — with just 3 months of training and “reinforcement learning” for around $1,600
- Minecraft lets you get the Lava Chicken song in-game — but it’s absurdly rare
- Lewis Capaldi Details “Mental Episode” That Led to Him “Convulsing”
- Microsoft is on track to become the second $4 trillion company by market cap, following NVIDIA — and mass layoffs
- xAI’s $300/month Grok 4, billed as a “maximally truth-seeking AI” — seemingly solicits Elon Musk’s opinion on controversial topics
- Powell’s Exit? A Financial Drama! 🎭
2025-08-02 16:15