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by Shawn Goretsky (7th)

Introduction:
Marvel, now owned by Disney, has produced a mix of good and bad movies. Their peak was with *Avengers: Infinity War* and *Endgame*, both of which were outstanding films. However, after those blockbusters, Marvel started releasing more movies and TV shows per year than ever before. But is that a good thing? That's what I'm here to explore.

Pre-Endgame Marvel:  
Before we discuss Marvel’s current state and future, we need to look back at what Marvel accomplished before. The MCU kicked off with *Iron Man* in 2008, which led to a series of successful films, such as *The Avengers* and the *Iron Man* sequels. Disney introduced more characters into the MCU, including Captain America, Thor, Black Panther, and Doctor Strange, spending millions of dollars on these films. Marvel typically released one, maybe two, movies a year, and most of them were really good, with only a few exceptions. All of these movies culminated in the franchise's biggest hits, *Avengers: Infinity War* and *Avengers: Endgame*, which left a lasting impact on the MCU.

Endgame’s Effect and Post-Endgame Content:  
The impact of *Endgame* on the MCU was massive. It wrapped up the character arcs of Iron Man, Captain America, and Vision, while opening doors for other characters. For example, Thor joined the *Guardians of the Galaxy*, and the Avengers needed a new roster, giving Marvel the opportunity to explore lesser-known characters like Black Widow, which they did. However, after *Endgame*, Marvel shifted its focus to releasing three to four movies or TV shows a year, emphasizing quantity over quality. This disappointed many fans, including myself. Shows like *WandaVision* and *Falcon and the Winter Soldier* were criticized for being slow until their final episodes. Movies like *Thor: Love and Thunder* were seen as failing to advance Thor’s character arc, with other characters feeling underutilized. For *The Marvels*, critics said the story was hard to follow, the villains weren’t compelling, and some scenes were simply silly. I ask you, the readers, is this the kind of Marvel content you want?

Deadpool and Wolverine’s Impact:
If you keep up with current Marvel content, you’re likely familiar with Deadpool and Wolverine. It made history, grossing $1.086 billion in just 23 days, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever. The film had a massive impact on the MCU, as fans loved the humor, character chemistry, and the plot. Not only did it bring back fans who had lost interest after Endgame, but it also attracted new viewers who hadn’t been into Marvel before.

Future Marvel Projects:
We’ve discussed what Marvel has already done, but what about its upcoming projects? One highly anticipated movie is *Captain America: Brave New World*, set to be released in February 2025, with Anthony Mackie as the new Captain America. The cast also includes Harrison Ford as General Ross and Liv Tyler as Betty Ross. Another exciting project is *Fantastic Four*, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn. Perhaps the most buzzworthy upcoming movies are *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Avengers: Secret Wars*, featuring Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. Many fans are eager to see him return to the MCU, while others question whether it’s a good idea.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, Marvel seemed to be struggling post-*Endgame*, focusing more on quantity than quality. However, *Deadpool and Wolverine* helped the studio bounce back, making a significant amount of money and regaining some of its lost fanbase. Hopefully, Marvel will continue making higher-quality movies in the future instead of prioritizing the number of releases.