The Student Newspaper of Oxford Academy

The Gamut

The Gamut

The Gamut

Marvel’s Crumbling Universe

As Marvel develops its Phase 4 of content releases, its productions have been steeply declining in quality, leaving the overall franchise sloppy and underwhelming.

Since the monumental release of “Iron Man” in 2008, Marvel has become synonymous with superhero movies. Often compared to its competitor franchise DC, Marvel succeeded where its rival failed, weaving a universe that seamlessly tied together beloved protagonists across different stories into an overarching plot. Unfortunately, the same qualities that brought people to theaters are lacking in the company’s development of recent movies, leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) a shell of its former self.

Oversaturation of TV shows within the MCU causes releases to feel aimless, as releases feel perfunctory rather than purposeful. Established during the pandemic, Disney’s streaming service, Disney+, has since allowed for a surge of new releases. While Phase One (each phase being a group of movies released over a period of years) spanned six films across four years, Phase Four (the current phase) has already introduced six films and six live-action TV shows in less than two years. Prioritizing quantity over quality has left numerous storylines without clear connections to other narratives in the universe.

Furthermore, individual films lack direction. The 2021 film “Eternals” introduces an ensemble of ten superheroes, many of whom were forgettable because of their lack of distinct personalities. “Eternals” attempts to shove as much exposition and lore into its runtime as possible, leading to a rushed plot with flat villains that fails to let its leads shine.

Similarly, Disney+ shows like “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and “Moon Knight” fail to fully flesh out their characters. Instead of thoroughly exploring themes like race, society, and trauma, character arcs are weighed down by underwhelming, forgettable villains. Through the exploration of stale storylines without any real risk or creativity, it’s difficult for fans to stay invested in the large influx of new characters. 

As Marvel continues to prioritize quantity, its content reflects its decline in quality. For instance, the recent Disney+ release “She-Hulk,” following the Hulk’s cousin as she navigates her newfound ability to transform into a hulk, was largely criticized for its poor CGI. With the influx of more Marvel content, VFX artists are hounded to produce high-quality work with unreasonable deadlines and intense pressure without fair compensation. Artists are consequently driven out of the industry, leading to a decline in Marvel’s CGI. Marvel’s poor VFX management shows that the entertainment company overall is focused on profit-seeking at the expense of quality visuals.

In the absence of care throughout its work, Marvel lives in the shadow of its former glory. To recover, it’s time for Marvel to slow down and put thought into the content it releases rather than pump out show after show. Bringing fleshed-out characters and cohesive storylines with a larger purpose would help retain loyal fans and welcome new ones into the fold.

About the Contributors
Trisha Phan, Editor in Chief
Trisha Phan, a senior at Oxford, is this year's Editor in Chief of The Gamut. A staff member since freshman year, she served as the Lifestyle Editor for the 22-23 school year (her personal favorite section, as a lover of fun diction and features). Trisha is also the Co-President of the new Law and Politics Club and the Co-President of Cartooning Club (and advises all who love drawing to join). During her free time, she enjoys crocheting stuffed animals and reading. A Lana Del Rey and Taylor Swift enthusiast, her favorite albums are NFR and Reputation. Since becoming part of the Gamut in her freshman year, Trisha has fallen in love with journalism, and is looking forward to trying new things this school year.
Anjali Suva, Senior Staff Writer
An empathetic, strong-willed, and charismatic senior, Anjali joined the Gamut to channel her talkative energy and express her opinions through writing. Writing makes her feel unstoppable, especially when she knows that every word she writes and everything she says becomes important on paper. Her favorite subjects being history and English, Anjali enjoys watching history documentaries and reading manga, as well as digital art during her free time. She loves diving into webtoons filled with drama, thriller, and action, making Pyramid Game and The Aftermath her favorites. She can often be seen ranting and fangirling about her favorite characters, Denji from Chainsaw Man, Reagan from Inside Job, and, of course, Suji from “Pyramid Game” Wanting to live this year without any regrets, Anjali hopes to have a memorable first year in Gamut!
Activate Search
The Student Newspaper of Oxford Academy
Marvel’s Crumbling Universe