Especially after watching Spider-Noir, because it was so fun to watch this new universe build itself. A new character introduces themselves as “Cat Hardy”, so I’m supposed to think Felicia Hardy/Black Cat, but I don’t know exactly how they will react in this world. The story can play with this idea of distrust. She might have this other motivation.
Or even the first Spider-Verse film. We have this “Doctor” character that we trust. She’s a teacher. Olivia. But… Octavia. Doc. Ock. Oh shit.
There is a level of freedom that is fun from characters within a given story just exploring the universe and is as audience explorating it with them.
But! The MCU has also built itself and promoted itself as this giant interconnected universe. The DCEU had done the same and the new DCU is doing the same. Specific shows like What if…? or Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (which are both animated, which probably has a whole different discussion) but they have made it clear how different they are from the mainline MCU, they can get away with it. But the MCU proper. It has leaned into the interconnected universe.
The interconnected universe is a relatively new concept. It’s sequels cranked up to 11. I’m ok if we want to take a more loose look at the canon of these universes, but we’re not doing that yet.
We are dipping our toes. James Gunn’s Suicide Squad. DCEU or DCU? The Justice League shows up at the end of Peacemaker season one. The Justice Gang shows up at the begining of Peacemaker season two.
I’m not coming from a comic book background, but I think the best answer is defining an era. If Marvel wants to declare “The Infinity Saga”, do it and lean in hard. They don’t have to change anything. But when you declare “The Multiverse Saga”, don’t lean on the Infinity Saga. If you want to make references, fine, but tell a new story.
We’re entering “The Mutant Saga” (probably). Don’t lean on the Infinity Saga. Don’t lean on the Multiverse Saga. Make the Mutant Saga shine. We don’t actually need Doomsday or Secret Wars. We don’t need a bridge. Give us the hard cut. No one is confused that Michael Keaton isn’t fighting Heath Ledger’s Joker.
You want to make a film where they all come together? Go for it. Spider-Man No Way Home did that perfectly. It happens to be within the MCU, it happens to be within “The Multiverse Saga”, but does anyone actually care? It could have come out five years ago (which, give when I’m commenting, it did) or five years from now.
It made nearly 2 billion dollars and no one cares which “saga” it was in.
Twenty-four years ago MacDuffie wrote what was a big article on the still smallish internet about why we should just let go of continuity and enjoy stories. It ages well.
I was just thinking about how lucky it is we’ve gotten the MCU as long as we have, but also it being a curse. DC got to reboot themselves. Star Trek got to reboot themselves. Maybe interconnected universes weren’t meant to last this long.
Look at Star Wars. They’ve done a pretty good job overall, but someone should be able to take another look at the post-RotJ era.
Plus on the Marvel side look at Secret Invasion. Are we just doomed with the miniseries we got? Imagine a world where Spider-Man No Way Home kicked off a 5-film Secret Invasion saga. But you have different films telling a Multiverse saga. Maybe Eternals kicks off a space saga.
Also you get logical reset points. You can bring in a new audience every few years. It’s easier to go back and rewatch a smaller saga.
So ultimately I’m going to agree with you here.
Especially after watching Spider-Noir, because it was so fun to watch this new universe build itself. A new character introduces themselves as “Cat Hardy”, so I’m supposed to think Felicia Hardy/Black Cat, but I don’t know exactly how they will react in this world. The story can play with this idea of distrust. She might have this other motivation.
Or even the first Spider-Verse film. We have this “Doctor” character that we trust. She’s a teacher. Olivia. But… Octavia. Doc. Ock. Oh shit.
There is a level of freedom that is fun from characters within a given story just exploring the universe and is as audience explorating it with them.
But! The MCU has also built itself and promoted itself as this giant interconnected universe. The DCEU had done the same and the new DCU is doing the same. Specific shows like What if…? or Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (which are both animated, which probably has a whole different discussion) but they have made it clear how different they are from the mainline MCU, they can get away with it. But the MCU proper. It has leaned into the interconnected universe.
The interconnected universe is a relatively new concept. It’s sequels cranked up to 11. I’m ok if we want to take a more loose look at the canon of these universes, but we’re not doing that yet.
We are dipping our toes. James Gunn’s Suicide Squad. DCEU or DCU? The Justice League shows up at the end of Peacemaker season one. The Justice Gang shows up at the begining of Peacemaker season two.
I’m not coming from a comic book background, but I think the best answer is defining an era. If Marvel wants to declare “The Infinity Saga”, do it and lean in hard. They don’t have to change anything. But when you declare “The Multiverse Saga”, don’t lean on the Infinity Saga. If you want to make references, fine, but tell a new story.
We’re entering “The Mutant Saga” (probably). Don’t lean on the Infinity Saga. Don’t lean on the Multiverse Saga. Make the Mutant Saga shine. We don’t actually need Doomsday or Secret Wars. We don’t need a bridge. Give us the hard cut. No one is confused that Michael Keaton isn’t fighting Heath Ledger’s Joker.
You want to make a film where they all come together? Go for it. Spider-Man No Way Home did that perfectly. It happens to be within the MCU, it happens to be within “The Multiverse Saga”, but does anyone actually care? It could have come out five years ago (which, give when I’m commenting, it did) or five years from now.
It made nearly 2 billion dollars and no one cares which “saga” it was in.
All good points.
This also reminds me of a low-key famous blog post by a legend, Dwayne MacDuffie: “Six degrees of St.Elsewhere”.
https://www.cbr.com/revisiting-mcduffies-six-degrees-of-st-elsewhere/
Twenty-four years ago MacDuffie wrote what was a big article on the still smallish internet about why we should just let go of continuity and enjoy stories. It ages well.
That’s a good read.
I was just thinking about how lucky it is we’ve gotten the MCU as long as we have, but also it being a curse. DC got to reboot themselves. Star Trek got to reboot themselves. Maybe interconnected universes weren’t meant to last this long.
Look at Star Wars. They’ve done a pretty good job overall, but someone should be able to take another look at the post-RotJ era.
Plus on the Marvel side look at Secret Invasion. Are we just doomed with the miniseries we got? Imagine a world where Spider-Man No Way Home kicked off a 5-film Secret Invasion saga. But you have different films telling a Multiverse saga. Maybe Eternals kicks off a space saga.
Also you get logical reset points. You can bring in a new audience every few years. It’s easier to go back and rewatch a smaller saga.
Absolutely.