Guide On How to Catch Up on Marvel

The Marvel Universe is one of the largest and most popular franchises in our modern society. Bringing in billions of dollars every year, the Marvel Universe is here to stay for a very long time. With over 20 films and over 12 shows, it can be very overwhelming for someone to get caught up on Marvel this late in the game. With so many different characters and spin offs, how would one know where to even begin? Let’s go ahead and focus of The Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU for short.

Phase 1

The MCU started all the way back in 2008 with the release of Iron Man. Since then, it spawned into the franchise it is today. The MCU is split into four phases, with the fourth one still going on right now. Phase One of The MCU consists of Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America The First Avenger and The Avengers. These films make up the early days of The MCU and helps you understand the world that is being built. You get personal and get to know your main six Avengers before we branch off into new and larger stories. After Phase 1 is done, we are going to switch over to television. Marvel and Netflix formed an alliance to create a few shows that take place within The MCU. These shows consist of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders, and The Punisher. These shows have a much darker and more adult theme with them. The premise of these shows is to show the more street level of The MCU. While The Avengers are fighting aliens, there are still some very real people that are also very evil. Watching these shows are important as some of the characters will return later on in some Phase 4 films and shows.

Phase 2 & 3

Phase 2 of The MCU begins to explore some more characters and gives audiences some larger-than-life stories. This phase consists of Iron Man 3, Thor The Dark World, Captain America The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers Age of Ultron, and Ant Man. You now get introduced to a few new characters while continuing to follow the story arcs of the previous characters established in phase 1. From here we move onto phase 3 of The MCU. The first three phases are labeled as The Infinity Saga. There have been crumbs and hints towards a big threat all throughout the first two phases and it all leads here. Phase 3 of The MCU kicks off with Captain America Civil War. This is the film that introduces fan favorites such as Spider-Man and Black Panther into The MCU. It also leaves The Avengers divided by the end of the film, making the final battle with a larger threat seem a little scary. After this film, continue by watching Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2, Spider-Man Homecoming, Black Panther and then Thor Ragnorok. Thor Ragnorok was released before Black Panther, but the end credit scene leads directly into the next film which is why I would watch it after. We have now made it to one of the biggest cinematic events in history.

Avengers Infinity War shattered records when it released in 2018. This film was the combination of all previous films. All the characters from before are now all together in one film facing off against the biggest threat in The MCU at that point. Prepare yourself before watching this film because it ends on one of the biggest cliffhangers of all time. Luckily there is a part 2 to this film, but before we watch that, there are two films we need to see. Ant Man and The Wasp and Captain Marvel are the next two films to watch before moving on to the next Avengers film. The end credit scene of Infinity War subtlety introduces the character of Captain Marvel which is why her film comes after. Also, the end credit scene for Ant man and The Wasp happens at the same time as Infinity War so if you watch this film before Infinity War, you will be very confused as to what you just saw. So now you’re ready to continue from that huge cliffhanger. You made it to Avengers Endgame. The cinematic event of the decade that shattered box office records. This film is big in every way. You will laugh, cheer and cry, so prepare yourself for this experience. There is only one more film before you complete phase 3 and that is Spider-Man far From Home. This film also ends off on a ginormous cliffhanger which leads straight into the next Spider-Man film. Before we head there, we need to check out a few phase 4 properties first.

Phase 4

Phase 4 is the current phase going on in The MCU. You are so close to being caught up with everything now! Kick it off with an easy watch. Black Widow is the first female lead film for The MCU and explains the backstory of the beloved character. After this film, let’s explore some new characters by watching Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and The Eternals. Before we watch the next film, let’s move back to a few shows that Marvel made on Disney Plus. Start off with The Falcon and The Winter Soldier series. After that go ahead and check out Moon Knight.

With those out of the way, we get into the more confusing, multiverse stories. Start off with Wandavision and then go watch the Loki series after. After Loki you can watch the What If series at your own pace. Now we can return to the films. Spider-Man No Way Home is next, but this film brings in some old films that we had no idea were connected to The MCU. Get ahead on your Spider-Man knowledge and watch the original Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man 3. Then watch The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

After those films, check out Venom and Venom Let There be Carnage. Now watch all these films combine in Spider-Man No Way Home. After this film you can jump back for one last show and check out Hawkeye before watching the Morbius film and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Now you are all caught up with The MCU! It was a long journey, but you made it! Now you are ready to continue with the rest of The MCU for 2022. Rounding off this year we have Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, Thor Love and Thunder and Wakanda Forever. Welcome to The MCU!