Y’all know me. I’ve been a Marvel fan since the announcement of the Avengers film back in 2012. Back then, it was easy to stay in the loop and know what the supers were getting into next. A little over 10 years later, there are over 50 Marvel projects to keep track of. So, I’m here to give you MY breakdown on how to watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
So let’s start!
As you may (or may not) know, the MCU is broken up into phases, almost like chapters. The first three are a part of the Infinity Saga, leading up to its final act: Avengers Endgame. Phase four is the Multiverse Saga with Phase 5 starting very soon, the Quantum Saga.
Let’s start at the beginning, shall we?
Phase 1
- Iron Man (2008)
- Iron Man 2 (2010)
- Thor (2011)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)*
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- The Avengers (2012)
*You can watch this or Hulk (2003) if you want to but that would be worse than getting waterboarded.
Before the MCU became what it currently is under Disney’s wing, most of the Phase 1 movies were produced by Paramount Pictures. You know, the one with the mountain and clouds. When you watch what became the OG 6 origin stories, you can tell there’s something different compared to their Disney-made counterparts. It gives the same vibes early 2000s action/adventure movies like Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Underworld. That vibe changes once you get to Phase 2.
In Iron Man, we get introduced to Tony Stark who then becomes Iron Man, Happy Hogan (Tony’s head of security), Colonel James Rhodes (Rhodey, Tony’s buddy), and Pepper Potts. There are other characters, too, but they’re not relevant to the Phase itself. In Iron Man 2, Natasha Romanov, miss Black Widow herself, makes her debut under a different guise than the SHIELD agent we knew her to be. Rhodey gets a quick actor-swap as his character remains important through the MCU’s current standing.
Thor is pretty self explanatory. We meet Thor Odinson and his brother Loki Laufyson along with Heimdall, Jane Foster, Darcy Lewis, Erik Selvig, and another SHIELD agent, Clint Barton (aka Hawkeye).
And finally we get to my favorite super; Captain America.
Steve Rogers may look familiar as the actor (Chris Evans, my husband) was already a Marvel character not too long ago. Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch is one of the Fantastic Four whose movie came out in 2005. I remember watching it and its sequel and thinking how cool it was that a dude from Massachusetts got to be a superhero. And work with Jessica Alba. Little did I know this movie would fuel the fire that burns in my heart for Mr. Evans.
This movie is basically one big flashback of how Steve became the world’s first super soldier. Starts in World War 2 USA as James Buchanan Barnes (Bucky, Steve’s only friend) was drafted and headed overseas. Steve desperately wants to join his buddy and fight for his country but can’t due to his frail body and slew of medical issues. You’ll get the picture when you watch the movie. We officially get an introduction to SHIELD and how it started under the guise of a US-based government division.
The movie ends right where Avengers begins. And the real storytelling begins.
Tony Stark aka Iron Man
Natasha Romanov aka Black Widow
Thor Odinson
Clint Barton aka Hawkeye
Steve Rogers aka Captain America
Bruce Banner aka the Hulk
This super secret boy band of ragtag individuals known affectionately as the OG 6 fight off an intergalactic evil that starts with Thor’s brother, Loki, doing what he does best. Trying (and failing) to rule. Though Loki is the main antagonist of this Avengers film, the real villain lurks in the end credit scenes.
And so begins the Infinity Saga!
KrashingWaves 
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