6 Years On, The MCU Still Can’t Escape Its Thanos Obsession

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For six years now, “Avengers: Endgame” has wrapped up the story of Thanos, and during this time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has explored multiverses, Celestials, Kang the Conqueror (only to quickly abandon him), and the fleeting absurdity of “Secret Invasion”. Despite a busy schedule filled with new and potentially universe-ending perils, the franchise seems unwilling to let go of its most significant villain yet. Though Thanos may be deceased multiple times over and reduced to dust, he continues to serve as a benchmark against which every MCU event is evaluated.

Instead of focusing solely on legacy or emotional residue, Phase 4 seemed to grapple extensively with these themes. This was understandable, considering the profound effects of The Blip and its worldwide repercussions. However, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s persistent obsession with Thanos appears to be a sign of a deeper issue: an inability to progress beyond certain narrative arcs. In subtle ways, the franchise continues to reference the gauntlet-wielding Mad Titan, as there hasn’t been another event or character as monumental or impressive to take his place. Unfortunately, this predicament extends even to upcoming series like Ironheart, which seems trapped by Thanos’ shadow. With the multiverse hurtling towards its grand finale with Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, it seems that nothing can truly escape this curse.

Ironheart’s Thanos Reference Explained

In the debut episode of Ironheart, a street preacher exclaims, “Thanos was merely the beginning… and this time, Tony Stark won’t be our savior!” Although it seems that this ominous figure doesn’t have any significant impact beyond his initial warning, his words carry weight. This is another instance of the Marvel Cinematic Universe drawing from the same pool of themes they’ve been exploring since Infinity War. This isn’t simply a wink to the past; it’s a signal that the franchise continues to view Thanos as the epitome of existential peril. However, over-emphasizing this threat could make subsequent events feel like extensions of his storyline. It’s time for new narratives.

More significantly, it’s unnecessary to involve Ironheart in a situation that doesn’t serve her character development, merely for a casual nod. Riri Williams deserves to create her own challenges, adversaries, and identity, rather than being overshadowed by the specter of Thanos – or a villain similar to Thanos who isn’t relevant to this narrative. Instead, her series initiates by summoning the spirits of Endgame and Stark.

It’s possible these events aren’t mere coincidences. With two upcoming Avengers movies, Marvel Studios might be subtly hinting at a larger conflict to come, as they make amends for the somewhat inconsistent development of the multiverse narrative so far. If the MCU is indeed setting up a villain who outshines Thanos in terms of menace, then “Thanos was just the beginning” could be seen as a prophetic statement. This could also serve as a commitment to fans not to lose hope in the storyline.

Why Does The MCU Still Care So Much About Thanos?

It’s not surprising that Marvel continues its focus on Thanos, given there seems to be no worthy successor to the throne. The prophecy surrounding Ironheart, in a way, acknowledges this predicament while hinting at potential changes. Originally, Kang was supposed to be the next major villain, a time-manipulating, multiverse adversary capable of challenging Thanos with intellectual finesse. However, due to legal issues surrounding Jonathan Majors and Marvel’s own hesitance, it appears that Kang has been left in a state of uncertainty.

The tendency to compare new threats to Thanos seems somewhat desperate and potentially disadvantageous, as it may define these new threats more by their connection to Thanos than by their inherent danger. Even when the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduces potentially formidable villains like the Celestials or Doctor Doom (eventually), there’s a risk they will be portrayed as “worse than Thanos” instead of being truly fearsome in their own right. However, there might be a silver lining: perhaps they are setting up “Thanos was just the beginning” as a premise to introduce even more formidable threats? Here’s hoping that’s the case, because the nostalgia for Thanos has run its course.

Right now, you can watch “Ironheart” on Disney+! For in-depth discussions and spoiler analysis about “Ironheart”, feel free to click the link provided.

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2025-06-26 15:42