Superheroes and safe bets

Express Tribune

01-05-2025

With Thunderbolts* only a day away and expectations soaring, it is as good a time as any to press rewind and see how cult love is keeping the Marvel Cinematic Universe alive. Now, at first glance, you might think that I'm being pessimistic. But then, you'd only be partially correct.
Let's take a look at the rogues leading the MCU's new lineup film: Yelena Belova AKA the new Black Widow, former Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes, former Captain America candidate John Walker or the US Agent, ex-villain Ava Starr or Ghost, and many more. If some of these names sound familiar to you, it's because you have seen them before. And chances are, they've carved a hole in your heart that only they can fill.
Although some of these are much newer than the others, they all have one thing in common - their reputation precedes them, disgraces them even. And to the audience, it makes them individuals worth a thorough exploration and perhaps even redemption. It ultimately makes them memorable enough for the film to show promise. But is that all there is to it?
Hard to swallow
It is no secret that MCU fans tend to hold a grudge against the novel in a crowd of fan-favourites, sometimes even for a debatable reason. Take the late entry of Captain Marvel as an example. Despite the Infinity Saga being at its grand culmination, Carol Danvers proved to be a disturbance for some, an anomaly who couldn't keep up with the Saga's gut-punching speed despite her spaceship-wrecking abilities.
While many had a problem with Captain Marvel's pacing or the fact that Carol didn't smile as frequently as palatable superheroines are expected to do, this was soon remedied in Avengers: Endgame - the Infinity Saga's star-studded farewell. And that's because Carol was flanked by a legion of heroes that fans loved ardently, effectively granting her no more visibility than that of a single piece in a large puzzle.
If you were one of the lucky ones who scored tickets to one of the early screenings of Endgame, it's likely you remember it to be your most exhilarating cinematic experience. But don't let those old cheers deceive you, even if they were prompted by your own slackened jaws and balled fists.
That adrenaline rush of an experience doesn't oblige you to turn a blind eye towards the blatant fanservice that carried the film whose first hour you'd likely skip on a rewatch. Because let's be honest, we're in it for the spectacular "Avengers Assemble" moment that had been fermenting with teases and abrupt cuts in prior films.
So yes, we were seated for hours just to hear that war cry, just to watch the reversal of the Snap, just to scream our lungs out as our favourite heroes marched headfirst into Thanos' forces. It is hardly a sin to admit that, given how little luck new heroes have had in following MCU projects. Need I get into She-Hulk?
Playing it safe
I'm a woman of my word, so I come bearing some positives. Thunderbolts* is not a bad idea in of itself; it is, in fact, a long-awaited breath of relief. I hold by the belief that oftentimes, anything popular is popular for a reason, and the anticipation that this film has garnered after a dry season for the franchise isn't misplaced.
There is of course a narrative advantage to bringing back old characters, specifically ones that have served as side characters for a majority of their screen time. It gives their underdeveloped stories a chance to shine, to develop into something more personal, something that does justice to their strong character traits.
It is also less overwhelming for new fans, who are unfamiliar with the original comics and are navigating a multiverse of superheroes and supervillains. As for old fans, it is content that they've been deprived of for far too long. They need this as much as their beloved heroes do.
Except, Marvel relies heavily on this nostalgic factor to keep the lights on, seeing as MCU fans can largely only digest characters they are familiar with. Perhaps, even Marvel can't always be blamed for the reception, giving the deep-seated bias that propels fan sentiments.
It is still unfathomable to some that Sam Wilson is capable of succeeding as the new Captain America, despite not just proving himself time and again but also safely being an agreeable old character. But why must fans move on? It's not as if Steve Rogers explicitly retired and passed on the torch to Sam himself.
It is this reliance on fanservice and reluctance to change that prevents superhero films from being regarded as works of art, at least not in the grandiose, cinephile sense of the word. The MCU's insistent obedience to this formula forbids risk-taking because straying seldom leads to fruitful results, as the recent past proves.
Beyond fanservice
In the context of now, that couldn't be any more ironic. At this point in time, the MCU is awaiting the release of a film made specifically for strays and those who resonate with them. The very essence of a justice-bearing superhero.
Because despite everything, Thunderbolts* shows promise. Aside from diving into the mental health of survivors ridden with guilt, the film focuses on all that maketh a complex superhero: a tragic past, a rebellious cause, an unsung story, and a living martyrdom.
For many superhero fans, this is a tale as old as time and is consumed for all the right reasons. It doesn't fashion a one-dimensional sense of justice; it instead promotes inner turmoil, complexity, and most of all, empathy.
A superhero may not be anything more than a cape-wearer with supernatural abilities, but a people's superhero is one whose appeal survives the test of time because their values mirror the brighter side of human nature.
So when Bucky's metal arm reminds him of the harm he was brainwashed into causing or when Ava looks back on how her desperation was manufactured by pain, they transform into something more than superhuman. They become a reflection of imperfections, of forgiveness, of a chance at a better life. So even aside from the fanservice, their appeal lives on.
If the pre-release reviews are any indication, our anti-heroes have critics convinced. But only time and fan sentiments can tell if this wayward group sticks the poster landing or falls straight into a pit of fanservice.