Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and Thor were household names in the MCU for over a decade before ‘Avengers: Endgame’ wrapped up their golden age in a heartfelt fashion. Of course, Marvel needed a new generation of heroes to carry that legacy. But the shift didn’t work.
The New Characters Never Got Enough Buildup
Characters like Sam Wilson’s Captain America, She-Hulk, and Ironheart could have been a major part of the franchise. But they have not yet had the same cultural influence as the original Big Three. The issue might not be the characters. Marvel just hasn’t provided them with the same base.
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Tony, Steve, and Thor were not overnight icons. They have watched them evolve through several films, make mistakes, lose loved ones, and slowly become the leaders of the Avengers. Sam Wilson, on the other hand, inherited the Captain America mantle after years as a supporting character, but his journey has been spread across movies and television.
She-Hulk and Ironheart were barely given enough time to become a vital part of the future of the MCU. That difference matters. Fans have to emotionally invest in the character before they can become the face of a whole franchise.
They Were Often Defined by Legacy Instead Of Identity
This is arguably the biggest version that Sam Wilson has encountered. His Captain America is a definite departure from Steve Rogers, but a lot of the discussion about him has been about whether he can live up to Steve.
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Likewise, She-Hulk and Ironheart are clear-cut references to existing Marvel characters, and can sometimes seem like the start of something more than a new character. Perhaps the most serious issue is the lack of a clear unifying Avengers story.
Thanos provided the first generation with a goal. All the big events were eventually linked to the Infinity Saga. The newer heroes, however, have instead been split up into multiverse adventures, Disney+ series, and unrelated storylines.
And let’s face it, it makes it more difficult for audiences to see them as a team waiting to be formed. It was not necessarily a failure of the successors due to bad characters. They haven’t been made icons because Marvel has not consistently created a saga around them. Give these heroes stronger identities, meaningful development, and a common mission, and their fortunes could still change.
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