10 Times The MCU Subverted Major Superhero Movie Cliches

While the MCU has its fair share of tropes, various Marvel movies have subverted traditional superhero clichés in subtle and clever ways. Many important events have taken place throughout the MCU’s chronological timeline, almost always raising the stakes for the whole universe. Yet, the way those events are depicted on screen may sometimes feel familiar despite their differences in cast and context. From films released long before the MCU began to Multiverse Saga installments and upcoming Marvel movies released in the near and far future, it will always be natural for superhero movies to have their own tropes and clichés.

With a rapidly expanding catalog of more than 30 MCU movies, certain plot points and sequences of events are bound to resemble each other. A franchise as big as the MCU requires a formula that every installment can use as a narrative foundation, and the superhero genre as a whole provides many reliable conventions that continue to show up not only in movies and TV shows, but also across all media, including comic books themselves. That said, the MCU never ceases to innovate, which means that not every superhero convention, trope, and cliché is carried out as initially expected.

10 Hawkeye Has An Unproblematic Relationship With His Children

Clint Barton’s Family Is A Priority For The Avenger

Father-son relationships in superhero movies tend to be difficult. Villains like Thanos and Ego manipulate their children while executing their murderous plans. Fathers like Howard Stark, T’Chaka, and Odin wait until their last chance to fix their parental mistakes. Not to mention, famous superheroes like Spider-Man, Superman, and Batman aren’t able to meet their respective fathers due to a childhood tragedy. Even Ant-Man, whose main purpose is to protect Cassie Lang, has to miss five years of her life. Whether due to their flaws or by chance, comic book fathers usually have strained or nonexistent relationships with their children.

Hawkeye, on the other hand, has neither failed his sons and daughter nor has he missed any part of their childhood. Clint Barton kept his triple life as a SHIELD agent, an Avenger, and a father in order since the beginning, and he devotes a significant part of his time to his family while he saves the world, as evidenced by Avengers: Age of Ultron and Hawkeye. When his whole family falls victim to Thanos’ Snap, Clint Barton quickly takes up the Ronin mantle and fights crime in their name for five consecutive years.

9 The Avengers vs Ultron Battle Has Serious Long-Term Consequences

The Aftermath Of Sokovia’s Destruction Developed Across Multiple MCU Titles

The aftermath of superheroes’ victories is usually kept off-screen, and the protagonists tend to return for their next challenge without any major repercussions. But post-Avengers: Age of Ultron, Sokovia’s destruction unleashes a chain reaction that affects the entire MCU. It leads to the creation of the Sokovia Accords and inspires Baron Zemo’s revenge against the Avengers, which in turn breaks them apart and leaves them open to Thanos’ attack. Avengers: Age of Ultron also sends Thor and Hulk off-world and introduces Vision and Wanda Maximoff to the Avengers, setting up the Scarlet Witch’s path towards villainy, starting from Quicksilver’s death.

8 The MCU’s Civil War Ends With A One-On-One Fight

Captain America vs Iron Man’s Final Battle Is A Small-Scale Brawl

Bombastic, CGI-filled climactic battles are a staple of the MCU and the superhero genre as a whole. But despite being the cinematic adaptation of one of Marvel’s biggest comic book crossovers, Captain America: Civil War concludes with a small-scale fight between Iron Man and Captain America. Their brawl may be less spectacular than the usual Avengers battle, but it puts their ideals and friendship on the line. The moment Captain America spares Iron Man’s life and leaves the room doesn’t need to involve hundreds of casualties or massive destruction to surpass the emotional impact of most world-ending threats.

7 Doctor Strange Defeats Kaecilius And Dormammu Solely With His Wits

Doctor Strange Doesn’t Throw A Single Punch In His First Final Battle

Like Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange finds a creative way around the typical superhero movie’s final battle. Instead of using his magic to fight Kaecilius, Doctor Strange reaches out to Dormammu, sticking the dark entity inside a time loop and forcing him to relive the same moment over and over until he agrees to stay in his home dimension. Doctor Strange dies countless times, and he never once attacks Dormammu. It’s his patience and determination that ends up casting out the villains and saving the universe.

Related

How Long Doctor Strange Spent In The Dark Dimension With Dormammu

Doctor Strange trapped himself and Dormammu in a loop in the Dark Dimension so they could make a deal, but how long was he there?

6 Captain America’s Homecoming Post-Credits Scene Mocks Stingers

Steve Rogers’ Educational Videos Poke Fun At The Audience

The MCU popularized post-credits scenes, but it has also poked fun at the tradition. In Spider-Man: Homecoming‘s post-credits scene, Captain America shows up in one of his educational videos teaching high school students the value of patience. This is a clear jab at all the Marvel aficionados who expect major hints at upcoming MCU storylines, especially at a time when anticipation for Avengers: Infinity War was at an all-time high. In this short gag, Captain America reminds audiences that post-credits scenes are only a fun addition to the movie instead of a required set-up for the next installment.

5 Ghost And Kang Have No Connection To Ant-Man Beyond The Quantum Realm

Scott Lang Has An Especially Diverse Set Of MCU Villains

Another trope that’s deeply embedded in the superhero genre is the conflict between the hero and their dark reflection. Black Panther vs Killmonger, Wolverine vs X-24, and Superman vs Zod are only some of the many battles between two characters with similar abilities and origins but opposite morals. While Yellowjacket is a textbook example of this trope, Ant-Man’s second and third antagonists are different in every way. Ghost is a spy who can turn intangible, and Kang is a time-traveler with ultra-futuristic technology. The only element linking Ghost and Kang to Ant-Man in the MCU is the Quantum Realm.

4 The Avengers Lose To Thanos Once He Does The Snap

Infinity War Has The Most Tragic Ending To An MCU Movie

Superhero movies generally end on a high note, with the heroes defeating the villains and stopping their plans despite a few casualties and the occasional self-sacrifice. Captain America: Civil War had already ended with Zemo successfully dividing the Avengers, but Avengers: Infinity War took the idea of defeat one step further and featured a full-fledged catastrophe. The Avengers fail to stop Thanos from gathering all six Infinity Stones and the Mad Titan performs the Snap moments before the credits roll. Naturally, Avengers: Endgame reversed the Snap, but Thanos’ victory in Avengers: Infinity War is undeniable.

3 Tony And Pepper’s Romance Endures Without Difficulty

Iron Man’s Romantic Life Is Less Troubled Than Most Superheroes’

Like father-son relationships, romantic relationships also tend to face many difficulties in superhero movies. Romantic partners such as MJ, Betty Ross, and Lois Lane are constantly in danger or at odds with the heroes’ double lives; other less fortunate ones like Gwen Stacy, Rachel Dawes, and Steve Trevor die as a direct result of the heroes’ world-saving duties. In the MCU, Pepper Potts not only sticks by Iron Man’s side long enough to have a daughter with him, but she also joins the fight with temporary superpowers and her own Iron Man suit.

2 The Book Of Vishanti Is Ultimately Useless

Doctor Strange’s Book Of Vishanti Challenges The Importance Of MCU MacGuffins

Like the source material, the MCU is filled with MacGuffins — powerful artifacts at the center of each story. Unlike each Infinity Stone that motivates the plot of several MCU movies, the Book of Vishanti proves to be a waste of time in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Doctor Strange believes he can use the Book of Vishanti to oppose the magic of Scarlet Witch’s powerful Darkhold, yet the magical book is turned into ash in mere seconds, and Strange has to resort to the same dark magic Scarlet Witch draws her powers from in order to stop her.

1 The High Evolutionary Has No Redeemable Qualities

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 Features The Most Evil Villain In The MCU

Villains like Thanos, Loki, and the Joker have reinforced the idea that deeply evil antagonists have at least one redeeming quality hidden in their backstory or their personality. For instance, Thanos’ sustainability goals make him seem like a wise villain, and Loki’s feelings of unworthiness help the audience empathize with him. The High Evolutionary, on the other hand, is depicted as an irrevocably evil being with no positive traits whatsoever. While not as destructive as other MCU villains, the High Evolutionary shows no mercy or empathy for any living being he experiments on, including animals and children.