MCU: Phase 4 So Far…
A look at the MCU since the dawn of Disney+!
What’s up, everyone? I know it’s surprising I haven’t talked about this yet, but along with working on my screenplay, recording new videos, and working at my new job, I just haven’t had the time. Fortunately, I got a minute to speak albeit briefly about my thoughts on the newly announced Multiverse Saga in the MCU — Phases 4, 5, and 6 — which started with Marvel’s first foray into streaming with Disney+’s Wandavision.
In case you missed things, here’s what’s happened since the start of Phase 4 so far:
Wandavision (January ’21 — March ‘21)
Wandavision saw the powerful Wanda Maximoff create her own reality post-Endgame in a small town in New Jersey. She manipulated the minds of the townsfolk, fought off the military, and conjured her deceased love, Vision, along with two sons who never existed.
Eventually transforming into the fabled Scarlet Witch, Wanda trapped her tormentor, Agatha Harkness, in a false persona, then fled the authorities to study an ancient book of dark magic called the Darkhold.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (March ’21 — April ‘21)
After an elderly Steve Rogers gave his trusted companion, Sam Wilson, his iconic shield, Sam struggled to accept becoming the new Captain America, allowing the unhinged John Walker to take his place. Fighting a terrorist group called the Flag Smashers alongside his reluctant partner, Bucky Barnes, Sam tried to sway their leader, Carly, to the light, but his efforts were in vein.
Finally embracing the Captain America mantle, Sam saves the day and preaches politics to the big wigs of America, all the while leaving Sharon Carter, the Powerbroker, in the wind for an inevitable return in 2024’s Captain America: New World Order.
Loki (June ’21 — July ‘21)
Having been dealt with multiple demises, Loki finally saw himself in a setting where trickery would be no such ally to his shenanigans. Befriending an agent of the Time Variance Authority, Mobius, Loki traverses a world of variants, eventually falling in love with one of his own named Sylvie. Together, they meet He Who Remains, a variant of Kang the Conquerer, and unwittingly let him loose upon the multiverse, causing an infinite number of branches to spawn from the main timeline.
Loki then returns back to the TVA with Mobius having zero recollection of who he is, revealing that Kang has indeed become the ruler of this new world, which Season 2 seeks to delve into in 2023.
Black Widow (July 9, 2021)
Black Widow, set in between Civil War and Infinity War, provided a glimpse into the famous super spy’s devastating origin. Reuniting with her long-lost sister, Yelena, and her foster parents, Red Guardian and Melina, Natasha takes down the dreaded Red Room and its dictating commander, Dreykov.
Battling the likes of Taskmaster, she frees her fellow brainwashed Black Widow sisters, leading her to continue being on the run from the government with Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (September 3, 2021)
A newcomer to the MCU, Simu Liu plays Shang-Chi, a former assassin raised by his father, Wenwu, the real Mandarin and leader of the infamous Ten Rings organization. Running from his past, Shang-Chi and his best friend, Katy, team-up with his sister, Xu Xialing, and the guardians of the mystical Ta Lo to prevent Wenwu from freeing an ancient dragon-like creature that could destroy the world.
After his father sacrifices himself, Shang-Chi gains the power of the Ten Rings artifact and defeats the dragon, leaving Xu Xialing to reform the terrorist organization. Shang-Chi and Katy are eventually recruited by the new Sorcerer Supreme, Wong, for reasons yet unknown.
What If…? (August ’21 — October ‘21)
What If…? follow’s Loki’s first season by showing the multitude of realities that have occurred since unleashing Kang’s variants upon the timeline. As Uatu, the Watcher, observes these various worlds, one such being dubbed Infinity Ultron breaks through reality and battles him in an epic fight across the multiverse.
After defeating Infinity Ultron with the help of other warriors from each of the nine episodes, it is unclear the consequences Uatu will face for interfering when he shouldn’t. Whether his novel stance on the matter will ultimately become his downfall or not remains to be seen once Season 2 arrives in 2023.
Eternals (November 5, 2021)
Eternals’ story intertwines with Earth’s origin as these god-like beings have helped advance humanity’s progress for many millenia. After discovering their true purpose as sentient androids created to assist the birth of Celestials, the team’s newfound leader, Cersi, becomes conflicted with the idea of destroying the planet to help do so.
Ultimately prolonging the Emergence, Cersi and a couple others are summoned by Arishem, their creator, to determine whether Earth should be allowed to survive. Two post-credits scenes set up the arrival of Starfox, Thanos’s brother, and Blade, Dane Whitman aka the Black Knight’s presumed mentor.
WEIRDO Reviews: Marvel Studios’ Eternals *Spoiler-Free*
Hawkeye (November ’21 — December ‘21)
Hawkeye’s biggest fan, Kate Bishop, succors the now-deaf archer from being hunted by Maya Lopez aka Echo for his past actions under the moniker Ronin. With Clint’s main goal being to survive long enough to spend Christmas Day with his family, he and Kate are forced to contend with the likes of the ruthless Kingpin and Yelena Belova, whose mission it is to kill Barton.
Yelena and Clint eventually become friends, as Kingpin is apparently killed by Echo, his foster niece. It is also revealed that Clint’s wife, Laura, is a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, and that Clint has possibly decided to allow Kate to adopt the mantle of Hawkeye.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (December 17, 2021)
Immediately following the events of Far From Home, Doctor Strange offers to help Tom Holland’s Peter Parker by casting a spell to make the world forget he was ever Spider-Man. Due to unforeseen complications with said spell, Peter is forced to contend with the MCU’s version of the Sinister Six alongside Spidey veterans Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield.
Maturing from the loss of his Aunt May at the hands of the Green Goblin, Peter sacrifices his identity so the whole world forgets who he is period, leading him to become the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man fans know and love from the comics. A post-credits tease sees Tom Hardy’s Venom warp back to his own universe, but not without leaving behind a piece of his symbiote for possible future appearances.
WEIRDO Reviews: Spider-Man: No Way Home *Spoiler-Free*
Moon Knight (March ’22 — May ‘22)
In this Oscar Isaac-led vehicle, his character, Steven Grant, suffers from dissociative identity disorder, sharing minds with that of Marc Spector and Jake Lockley, among possible others.
Supposedly possessed by an ancient deity of the moon named Khonsu, Steven struggles to decipher reality from fiction while battling the wits of a crazed former conduit of the moon god, Arthur Harrow, in a bloody showdown. As he teams up with the Scarlet Scarab, Marc’s wife, Layla, it is unclear as to whether every event that occurred was real or simply a figment of his imagination — or Arthur’s imagination for that matter.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (May 6, 2022)
When America Chavez, a multiverse-traveling youth, stumbles upon the Doctor Strange of Earth-616, he discovers the source of the creatures hunting her down is none other than Scarlet Witch. Her desire to siphon America’s abilities knows no bounds, as she goes so far as to destroy Kamar-Taj to achieve her goal. With the help of Professor X from the Illuminati — Earth-838’s version of the Avengers — Doctor Strange eventually utilizes the Darkhold in an attempt to defeat Scarlet Witch.
Seeing the error of her ways, she destroys herself, leaving America to train as a sorceress with Wong. Strange then develops a third eye due to prolonged use of the Darkhold, which may prove useful in his future rematch with Dormammu alongside Charlize Theron’s Clea.
WEIRDO Reviews: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness *No Spoilers*
Ms. Marvel (June ’22 — July ‘22)
Symbolizing the franchise’s continued foray into representation, Ms. Marvel sees newcomer, Iman Vellani, having a lighthearted blast in the title role. As Kamala Khan struggles to balance teen life with being a superhero, an other-dimensional group called the Clandestines seek to harness the power of her cosmic bengal to return home.
After defeating them and assisting her crush, Kamran, to flee from Damage Control, her best friend, Bruno, informs her that she is a mutant, bursting the door wide open for the X-Men to finally make their MCU debut. The series ends with Kamala swapping places with Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, leading into their eventual team-up in 2023’s The Marvels.
Thor: Love and Thunder (July 8, 2022)
Set after the events of Endgame, the God of Thunder is on yet another journey of self-discovery as he and Korg decide to venture on their own sans Guardians of the Galaxy. Encountering the vicious Gorr, the God butcher, he is assisted by the newly appointed King of Asgard, Valkyrie, and the Mighty Thor, who just so happens to be his former flame, Jane Foster.
Simultaneously battling stage 4 cancer, Jane sacrifices herself to ensure Gorr’s wish to the higher power, Eternity, is one made from love. His deceased daughter, the fuel for his hatred against the gods, is then resurrected and entrusted to the care of “Uncle Thor.” The movie ends with the two jumping into battle together, accompanied by a tease of the future with Russel Crowe’s Zeus instructing Brett Goldstein’s Hercules to destroy Thor.
There you have it — everything that’s happened in the MCU’s Phase 4 so far. With She-Hulk currently airing weekly episodes for the next month or so and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever set to release this November, I’m curious to see how this first phase of the Multiverse Saga will end. Although there hasn’t been any real direction as to the future of this franchise, the movies and shows slated for release in the next few years have peaked my interest as to how exactly Kevin Feige and company plan to top 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
