Marvel Needs to Capitalize on Its Phase Four Arcs Before Its Too Late as MCU Strays Further Away from Its Grounded Heroes for the Sake of Multiversal Spectacle (Theory)
- Marvel’s focus on multiverse risks sidelining the Phase Four heroes.
- Shang-Chi, Ms. Marvel, and others are waiting for their next big moment.
- Marvel must revive its Phase Four heroes to keep fans engaged with its multiverse idea.
Marvel Studios is speeding full throttle into multiverse mayhem, but are they leaving their down-to-earth heroes in the dust? After the grand curtain call of Avengers: Endgame, the MCU has been juggling a lively bunch of new faces.
From street-smart crusaders like Ms. Marvel, Echo, She-Hulk, and Hawkeye to mystical marvels like Moon Knight and WandaVision, Phase Four rolled out a cast that started with everyday heroics.
But as Marvel dives headfirst into multiversal shenanigans, it’s starting to look like these fresh heroes might end up as yesterday’s forgotten comic book pages. Imagine being a street-level hero, toiling away to save your neighborhood from petty crime, only to see the universe explode into cosmic chaos and alternate dimensions.
It’s like spending years rescuing local friends, only to suddenly find yourself battling giant robots in space with no training whatsoever. As the MCU arranges its cosmic chessboard, the pressing question is: Are they giving enough attention to their beloved street-level characters before it’s too late?
Marvel’s Post-Endgame Wobble—New Faces, But Where’s the Follow-Up?
Marvel’s Phase Four promised a parade of new heroes, but many seem to have vanished faster than Loki’s fake death. Take Shang-Chi, for instance. The master of martial arts appeared in a smash hit movie, but now his sequel is as elusive.
Fans were too excited when Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi hit the screen, but since then, it feels like his story has been left in a high-kick limbo. Marvel’s plans seem to be all over the place, leaving Shang-Chi’s return uncertain. And what about other promising characters?
Iman Vellani‘s Ms. Marvel wowed audiences with her superhero debut, but where’s the follow-up? Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova had fans ready for more, but her story is yet to progress further. Even the Eternals, who were meant to be the new cosmic heavyweights, seem to be taking an eternal nap. It seems like Marvel’s put the new heroes on hold to get ready for the big multiverse showdown.
You might be aware that most of these Phase Four characters started as street-level heroes—they had grounded, contained stories. Loki nailed the whole multiverse thing because he had ten years of backstory and fans already cared about him. The MCU can’t just jump into a multiverse mess without giving its characters some solid build-up first. Otherwise, they might end up like yesterday’s leftovers—forgotten and tossed aside!
Is Marvel Too Late to Revive Its Phase Four Heroes?
With Secret Wars on the horizon, Marvel’s schedule is packed with new plans, but it might be time to revisit the heroes they introduced earlier. Fans are eagerly waiting for a Shang-Chi sequel or a reunion of their favorite new characters.
If Marvel doesn’t make the most of its Phase Four lineup, they could be missing a big opportunity. Adding characters like Shang-Chi into the upcoming Avengers films could rekindle fans’ interest, but a sequel beforehand would remind them why they loved these heroes in the first place.
The big question is whether Marvel can shift gears and refocus on these characters before they miss their chance. Time’s ticking, and Marvel’s opportunity to bring back its Phase Four heroes might be slipping away faster than Loki’s tricks!
Avengers: Secret Wars is currently scheduled for release on May 7, 2027.
