Oh Captain, My Captain: Thoughts on Marvel's Phase 3 Films and Captain Marvel
Happy Monday everyone!
About three weeks ago, Marvel sent a chill down the spine of every good Fanboy and Fangirl by announcing the films which will feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the near future. Dubbing the announcement "Phase 3", (In line with the tradition of naming each new raft of films as phases in the over arching, and now highly successful, plan to build comic book continuity into their films.) they unveiled not just one or two tentatively scheduled projects but a massive concrete timeline of Named and dated films, going as far forward into the future as 2020!
among the films announced were several introducing characters into the MCU for the first time, such as Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and Captain (AKA Ms) Marvel. like most fans, these announcements filled me to the brim with excitement. (particularly in regards to Captain Marvel but I'll say more about in a bit.)
However, the more I thought about the Herculean task of bringing Phase 3 into reality, the more I began to have doubts. When Marvel first put their plan into action back in 2008, I was as excited as any other lifelong Marvel fan. When Avengers was finally released in 2012, I was over the moon and during the next two years, with the release of solid, but not mind-blowing, films like Thor: The Dark World and The Winter Solider I was happy to carry on supporting Marvel's grand ambition. But Phase 3 has began to seem over ambitious.
It isn't just the number of films. Nor, for that matter, is it about the huge, self congratulating nature of the announcement itself. Rather, my doubts stem from fears that have began the perhaps inevitable process of over complicating their shared film universe.
Then there are the films themselves, several of which, as previously mentioned, will be introducing certain Marvel characters to general audiences for the first time. While, as a fan, I want to applaud Marvel for taking creative risks, as someone who also loves film I can't say for certain all of their ideas will work...
Doctor Strange? A literal wizard who, in the comics, hardly gets involved with the wider world. With or without Benedict Cumberbatch, that seems like a hard sell.
Black Panther? As important as he may be to the Marvel Universe, the are still some aspects of pairing one of the few minority characters in these films with the name "Black Panther" that are ripe for some kind of misunderstanding, and it would only take one.
Inhumans? Placeholders for the x men, no more, no less. There is one film in their timeline that has me really excited however...
Captain Marvel: OH Captain, My Captain
The character of Captain Marvel (AKA Ms Marvel, AKA Carol Danvers) first came to my attention as part of the backstory for one of my other favourite characters: Rogue, one of the most interesting members of the X-men. It was from Ms marvel that Rogue had acquired her secondary powers of flight, super-strength and invulnerability. She would often plague Rogue, who, in return, felt nothing but guilt for having taken Carol's life as a hero away from her.
Eventually however, Carol regained her powers and adopted the gender neutral title of Captain, in honour of her former mentor, the original Captain Marvel (not to be confused with the DC comics
character of the same name, now called Shazam!) and was finally given her own ongoing series of books in 2012. The changes made have breathed new life into character, making her one of the most exciting prospects for Phase 3. I eagerly await Summer 2018....if Marvel can get that far...
Until Next Time,
Panelhopper
About three weeks ago, Marvel sent a chill down the spine of every good Fanboy and Fangirl by announcing the films which will feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the near future. Dubbing the announcement "Phase 3", (In line with the tradition of naming each new raft of films as phases in the over arching, and now highly successful, plan to build comic book continuity into their films.) they unveiled not just one or two tentatively scheduled projects but a massive concrete timeline of Named and dated films, going as far forward into the future as 2020!
among the films announced were several introducing characters into the MCU for the first time, such as Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and Captain (AKA Ms) Marvel. like most fans, these announcements filled me to the brim with excitement. (particularly in regards to Captain Marvel but I'll say more about in a bit.)
However, the more I thought about the Herculean task of bringing Phase 3 into reality, the more I began to have doubts. When Marvel first put their plan into action back in 2008, I was as excited as any other lifelong Marvel fan. When Avengers was finally released in 2012, I was over the moon and during the next two years, with the release of solid, but not mind-blowing, films like Thor: The Dark World and The Winter Solider I was happy to carry on supporting Marvel's grand ambition. But Phase 3 has began to seem over ambitious.
It isn't just the number of films. Nor, for that matter, is it about the huge, self congratulating nature of the announcement itself. Rather, my doubts stem from fears that have began the perhaps inevitable process of over complicating their shared film universe.
Then there are the films themselves, several of which, as previously mentioned, will be introducing certain Marvel characters to general audiences for the first time. While, as a fan, I want to applaud Marvel for taking creative risks, as someone who also loves film I can't say for certain all of their ideas will work...
Doctor Strange? A literal wizard who, in the comics, hardly gets involved with the wider world. With or without Benedict Cumberbatch, that seems like a hard sell.
Black Panther? As important as he may be to the Marvel Universe, the are still some aspects of pairing one of the few minority characters in these films with the name "Black Panther" that are ripe for some kind of misunderstanding, and it would only take one.
Inhumans? Placeholders for the x men, no more, no less. There is one film in their timeline that has me really excited however...
Captain Marvel: OH Captain, My Captain
The character of Captain Marvel (AKA Ms Marvel, AKA Carol Danvers) first came to my attention as part of the backstory for one of my other favourite characters: Rogue, one of the most interesting members of the X-men. It was from Ms marvel that Rogue had acquired her secondary powers of flight, super-strength and invulnerability. She would often plague Rogue, who, in return, felt nothing but guilt for having taken Carol's life as a hero away from her.
Eventually however, Carol regained her powers and adopted the gender neutral title of Captain, in honour of her former mentor, the original Captain Marvel (not to be confused with the DC comics
character of the same name, now called Shazam!) and was finally given her own ongoing series of books in 2012. The changes made have breathed new life into character, making her one of the most exciting prospects for Phase 3. I eagerly await Summer 2018....if Marvel can get that far...
Until Next Time,
Panelhopper
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