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Summary
TheMarvel Cinematic Universehas come to define mod comic Bible movies , but it still leans hard on a number of superhero clichés . Superhero stories have enjoyed many decades of pop civilisation succeeder , and a act of tropes have been build within the genre that live to this day . Themovies of the MCUadapt some of Marvel ’s most darling characters and their stories to the big screen , but in doing so , they often perpetuate a number of superhero stereotypes . As a franchise that cover to define the genre , the MCU relies heavily on its economic consumption of superhero clichés .
As the MCU has established itself a normal that has made it the most successful and profitable film dealership of all time , it ’s only lucid that it keep to tap into the same ideas . However , from the beginning of theMCU ’s flick timeline , the franchise has adapt the report of the comics which are responsible for the birth of many vernacular superhero tropes . These tale or ocular elements usually connect straight to the moral simplicity and duality of superhero history , but some have become more specifically part of the superhero movie writing style . With that in mind , here are 10 of the biggest superhero clichés the MCU still utilize .
10Cities Keep Getting Destroyed
The Avengers (2012), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), Etc.
One of the most common superhero picture clichés is thata metropolitan area becomes collateral harm in an heroic superpowered showdown , and it ’s an thought that the MCU has tap into many times . From Phase 1’sIron Man , The Incredible Hulk , andThe Avengers , to Phase 2 ’s destruction in Sokovia , all the fashion through toBlack Panther : Wakanda Forever , which visit Namor and his Talokan U. S. Army attempt and destroy much of Wakanda ’s Golden City . It ’s a cliché that runs through the affection of the movie andTV shows of the MCU , offering monolithic action spectacles with each new instance .
9The Inspirational Third-Act Moment
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Etc.
Though a big excited boost during the third act is n’t specific to superhero moving picture , it ’s a trope that ’s found all too usually in the genre . With such high - bet history , the MCU often involve to amp up its drama , which is regularly achieved through a late - stage moment of hopelessness and desperation for the heroes . This is almost always offset byan inspirational human action of gallantry or sacrifice , or occasionally a poignant language that uplifts the crestfallen characters . Perhaps the MCU ’s best examples of the cliché are in Quicksilver ’s ritual killing inAvengers : Age of Ultronor Yondu ’s inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol . 2 .
8A Massive Battle That The Hero Only Briefly Takes Part In
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
As superhero movies commonly depict potentially world - terminate conflicts , it ’s only consistent that some outcome in immense , turgid - weighing machine battles . However , some , such as that in the ending ofBlack Panther : Wakanda constantly , only in reality reap the hero ’s attention for a few abbreviated moments , withtheprotagonist alternatively ignore the plight of the unfortunate masses so as to face off with their nemesis(often in a separate location ) . It ’s a plebeian superhero movie cliché , and the MCU perpetuate it as much as any other franchise .
7Origin Stories About The Hero Overcoming Their Past
Ant-Man (2015), Captain Marvel (2019), Moon Knight (2022)
do a hero feel relatable to the audience in spite of their noteworthy ability is n’t always an light undertaking , but the MCU use one of the old superhero clichés there is . When introducing heroes , their stories almost always associate to past injury or misdeed , essay to master their yesteryear to become the strongest interlingual rendition of themselves . Almost every MCU hero can be square aside with this particular cliché , because it ’s such a well - establish way of helping the audience connect with protagonists wield Supreme Being - similar powers .
6The Reluctant Mentor Learns To Appreciate Their Sidekick
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Hawkeye (2021), Etc.
With the MCU beginning to move on from its original mold of Cuban sandwich , the enfranchisement has begin introducing new characters to interchange them . In many character , these characters act as sidekicks to the franchise ’s original heroes , being mentor by their predecessor before maltreat into their heroic shoe . A common figure regarding this relationship isthe reluctant old sub begrudgingly embracing the vernal hero sandwich , with the MCU doing so using the the likes of of Iron Man and Spider - Man , Hank Pym and Scott Lang , and Hawkeye and Kate Bishop . The grouchy wise man with the nitty-gritty of gold is a standard superhero cliché , and the MCU uses it absolutely .
5Death Is Rarely Permanent
Thor: The Dark World (2013), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Etc.
In the dangerous field of bomber work , expiry is an occupational hazard . However , much as in Marvel Comics , theMCU is take with decease fakeouts , where characters appear to be killed only to shockingly return curtly after . One of the most common perpetrator of this cliché is Loki , the Asgardian prankster god , but other part have also been used to the same end . Star - Lord , Vision , Bucky Barnes , and Nick Fury have all been " killed " only to yield to lifethrough various narration means . It ’s a superhero cliché for a reasonableness , and it ’s something that the MCU certainly does n’t shy aside from .
4The (Secondary) Villain Having A Change Of Heart
Thor: The Dark World (2013), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), Etc.
Though superhero story are commonly categorized as relatively simple iterations of goodness versus evil , there are always characters with more complex moral depth . In fact , throughout the account of the franchise , antagonists have been turning good after realise the error of their ways . It ’s rarely the major villain , but secondary antagonist who surveil this cliché - Loki , Nebula , Wanda Maximoff , MODOK , Adam Warlock , Ms Marvel ’s Kamran , and many more all fit the visibility . It ’s made readable thatnot all antagonists are incapable of redemption in the MCU , play like a shot into one of the most common tropes in the genre .
3The Villain Is Accidentally Created By The Hero
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), Etc.
Another common superhero cliché that the MCU often run into attend superheroes creating their own villains . This almost always occurs whenthe hero act with the good of intentions , only for it to go cockeyed and create or help a dangerous villain . Most of the proficient MCU exercise stem from Iron Man , such as Ultron or Whiplash , but Spider - Man is another culprit , gift Mysterio the EDITH glaze over and accidentally muster multiple villains from other world inSpider - Man : No Way domicile . It ’s perhaps not the most common trope in the MCU , but it ’s a cliché that the franchise often subtly employ .
2Post-Credits Scenes
Almost All MCU Movies
Though post - credits scene are not specifically a superhero cliché , the MCU popularise the idea to the point thatthe mid - credits cut is now synonymous with superhero cinema . Iron Manbegan the tendency , with Nick Fury appear to tease the cosmos of other heroes within the wide universe . In the years since , the MCU has made reprise function of the mind , often hinting at future projects or localize up sequel within the enfranchisement . As a effect , it has become something of a cliché , and it ’s one that the MCU continue to employ in almost all of its undertaking .
1Parallels Between The Hero & Villain
The Incredible Hulk (2008), Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Black Panther (2018), Etc.
One of the most vulgar clichés in the superhero genre is thatthe hero and baddie are drab reflections of one another . This is an idea that the MCU can not seem to leave behind behind , with countless examples of the cliché appearing throughout the enfranchisement . Captain America and the Red Skull , Hulk and Abomination , Black Panther and Killmonger , Iron Man and Iron Monger - all of these MCU pairings share a near - indistinguishable set of powers , with the only crucial difference being their personal qualities . It ’s a superhero cliché as former as time , and it ’s one that theMarvel Cinematic Universehas used to dandy effect .