What character is the face of MARVEL?

[punkmother]

its about to be carol danvers' captain marvel.

 

[Ichibanner]

Ironman sells weapons to terrorists and Government on the taxpayers dime, and yet he suckles authority when it suits him.
Sounds Republican to me.

Captain America went off the grid as a counterculture, progressive emo. Dem spotted

In the movies Iron Man gives live sound bites to CNN, that's Dem to me. Captain America enlisted in the Army, wears the US Flag, and had awkward race based conversation with Nick Fury. Yeah, Republican confirmed.

 

[Headkicktoleg]

MCU is definitely Iron Man

 

[cottagecheesefan]

Wolverine since like the 90's with the longer running X-men cartoon. Hugh Jackman's Wolverine is more popular than any of the other marvel movie leads, IMO.

 

[ChucksGlassJaw]

What's this craze with all the super hero movies these days?

A combination of Hollywood being completely out of ideas and it being socially acceptable for grown men to act like children.

 

[Madmick]

I think it was Spiderman before the MCU and now it's Ironman.

Why so? Did you just read my post in the other thread?

Stark hit Thanos with everything he had and managed to inflict a small cut on the Mad Titan's cheek,

"All that for a drop of blood".

He ended up impaled on his own Nano-Sword.

Thor damn near killed Thanos with a single hit from Stormbreaker. After wiping out a large part of the Mad Titan's army without breaking a sweat.

The Odinson is the good guy's MVP.

Insignificant.

You're focusing on the wrong things. Thor failed to stop Thanos as surely as Iron Man did, and besides, if Thanos really wanted Thor dead, he could have finished him off right there in his escape ship at the beginning of the movie with the power stone to the head. Thanos spared both of them-- left them for dead (probably assuming the ship's explosion would kill Thor, and the impalement would kill Tony). I'm not evaluating this through the lens of comic matchup histories, or logical speculation about how powers stack up. I'm evaluating this through the prism of critical reading. This is the most sensible approach because, as Stan Lee pointed out, the writer decides. Treat it like a poker table. Read the player, not the cards.

Let's break it down. There are only six heroes that Thanos himself addresses directly:

1. Thor
2. Gamora
3. Starlord
   
4. Dr. Strange
5. Tony Stark
6. Wanda

- Not counting Loki because he is an antihero
- Not counting Red Skull because he is a villain

Gamora is his "daughter", and therefore already conquered as are all "Children of Thanos". He shows sympathy for Wanda, but refers to her as his "child". He trades words with Dr. Strange, but only because he is a stone keeper, whom killed his right-hand henchman, and Strange goes out of his way to pronounce his title, but this-- the order of the Mystic Arts itself-- doesn't even seem to register on Thanos's concern thermometer. Starlord is one of Thanos's two greatest foils, due to their contrasting relationships to Gamora, but like Dr. Strange, he is dissolved at the end of the film.

That leaves us the two most prominent heroes: Thor and Stark.

Thanos acknowledges Thor in his opening speech, "I know what it's like to lose..." Thor can also be considered one of the greatest foils to Thanos, after Stark and Starlord, in that he is a creature of destiny. They are both fated, as they see it, to be guardians of the universe. Nevertheless, Thor fails for the same reason that Starlord fails. They both become too emotionally compromised in their quests for revenge. Starlord failed because he listened to the rage of Nebula instead of the reason of Stark, so they lost their only chance at wresting the Gauntlet, and killing Thanos. Thor failed because he was bloodlusting so viciously that he went for the heart, not the head.

Tony engineered that successful plan. Starlord wants to take credit, but he projects the same insecurity against Tony that he projected earlier against Thor when he says, "It was my plan". Sure, Starlord. Tony is happy to let you think that.

Tony is the only hero that Thanos himself acknowledges as an equal when he says, "You're not the only one cursed with knowledge." He's also the only hero Thanos addresses by name. They are yoked by their visions that date back to the second Avengers movie that results from what occurred in the first. Nobody else is granted this duality with Thanos. Nobody else registers as an equal. You can even sense a touch of hostility Thanos feels towards him that he doesn't feel towards anyone else, and we all know what the greatest engine of hostility is-- fear. He fears Tony. He fears what he has seen in his visions; that Tony alone could be the architect who unravels his grand campaign.

It's not about muscle. It's about what Tony represents. It's why Tony was unofficially anointed our champion and leader-- of the human race-- in this movie. As incomparably benevolent as Captain America is he functions as more of a spiritual & political leader. He represents freedom and morality. Tony is more than that. Tony is the smartest man alive. Tony represents intellect and technology. He represents our capacity to evolve outside nature. He represents Reason.

If you think about it, he's the very thing that Thanos is trying to kill: intelligent life that doesn't obey the balance of nature.

After all, Thanos himself isn't a slave to emotion. That's what enables him to kill Gamora. He knows his mission, and he understands what he must do to achieve it. Tony isn't so in control that he will contain his rage to prevent a war, as in Civil War, but this is about the survival of the human race. The single greatest difference between Stark and Thanos is that Thanos is obsessed with destroying life (in order to "save" it) while Stark is obsessed with creating life. This is why he's driving Pepper nuts neurotically swarming her over his dream of her being pregnant.

I fear I know what this "dream" means. It's tied to his visions. It's real. This means Pepper is pregnant. She will be endangered in the sequel, after the audience is made to know this, in order to create massive suspense. But she won't die. She can't. The baby is the metaphor separating Iron Man from Thanos. This means Iron Man is going to have to sacrifice himself in order to take Thanos down, and restore the universe. I think Thor will be his tool to kill Thanos. I think he will be forced to sacrifice himself in order to preserve the life of half the universe, and he will, for the reason that he is Thanos's greatest foil, and so it is only him who can execute the opposite of what Thanos alone could achieve, and that is to truly "save" the lives of half the universe's sentients.

Spoiler: On Thanos and Foils

It fits together with a more general insight I had into the movie. Thanos has two foils: Iron Man and Starlord.

That wasn't clear until this movie. It occurred to me that Gamora loves Starlord for the same reason she weeps over Thanos, and that they are mirror images. Thanos is willing to kill what he loves most to kill half the universe (even if he ultimately wants to preserve life). Starlord is willing to kill what he loves most to save half the universe. This is why Thanos said, "I like him". Starlord may only be doing it because she demands it, but he and Gamora share the same vision for what is right. Thanos has no patience for idealists who are so pure they lack the will to effect their goals. He despises everyone like this...except for Gamora.

Distance is created between all three in this one capacity. Gamora, unlike Starlord, is unwilling to do this. She'll kill Thanos, but she will not let her sister die to deprive him of the Soul Stone. She knows Starlord and the rest of the Guardians would be next, but still...if she was willing to practice what she preaches, she would let them die to save half the universe.

In my personal opinion, this more of less perfectly distills the difference between masculinity and femininity, and more importantly, how they complement and balance one another. Without Gamora, Starlord would just be Thanos. Without Starlord, Gamora would just be Thanos's daughter. You cannot be whole alone. You can only be half an equation.

That is what Thanos himself is. His campaign is to spare half the universe, but his solution is to cull it. We accept that for fauna, but this isn't about fauna. Planets and nature aren't threatened by what are merely alternative versions of themselves. This is "basic calculus"; this is about those who exist outside of nature, and bend it to their will: intelligent beings. He justifies his culling of Gamora's world with "full bellies" and creature comfort. He values the quality of life, or at least the preservation of it, over the sanctity of life itself. Still, there are echoes of Peter when he says, "You can't be the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man if there's no neighborhood." But that isn't guaranteed, and that's where Thanos goes wrong.

Merely because his home planet Titan fell to ruin, and failed to self-correct, doesn't mean that other planets will also fail. He has deprived them of that chance. Furthermore, while I noticed the press drew a lot of analogies between Thanos and Trump, it's impossible not to notice his blind toll collects from rich and poor, young and old, powerful and weak, good and evil...it's quite socialist. Nothing you do distinguishes or spares you. Thanos has adopted the role of God, which I think Loki intended to warn him he would never be, but this is inherently contradictory. After all, if you thought the natural model of intelligent life was flawed, then why would you "reset" it rather than work to correct the imbalance? Perfect systems don't require correction-- only participation. All you have done is moved more murder down the road.

While in the movie the following line is interpreted as a matter of logistics, I think it is intended to have a dual, metaphorical meaning when Thanos tells Thor, who just drove an axe into his chest, "You should have gone for the head." The reason is that his heart is gone, figuratively. Gamora is dead. If you are willing to kill what you love most, then you are willing to kill anything. For what? Quality of life? Herd insurance against the unknown?

You are not God, sir. You don't determine what quality of life an individual is willing to endure, what value that has, nor do you don't know what the future holds. When "God works in mysterious ways" we must accept it because we cannot change it. God is God. Call it nature. Call it physical law. Call it good, or evil. Doesn't matter what you believe. You aren't at those controls, and you don't understand how they work. Thanos, on the other hand, is known/knowable to us, and so are his motives, so he must justify them.

The solution to Death cannot be Death. You need Life to have Death. Thanos is so obsessed and alone that he does not think to create. He forgets what he serves in believing he could be the Master of Death. The end becomes the means. All head, no heart. Half an equation: like a husband without a wife, or a wife without a husband. Perhaps that is why he calls his minions "children". It's no mistake that Ebony Maw delivers the opening lines, "Rejoice! For even in death you have become Children of Thanos."

This is where Tony comes in. Tony is the smartest man alive. Tony is Thanos's foil because he, too, is "cursed with knowledge", and this isn't just a reference to their mind-bond, but to the fact that Tony has tried to warn his own planet to not be so self-involved, and to prepare for threats of the unknown. Yet he has mostly gone unheeded. His own efforts to prepare have been received with hostility, or proven Faustian in their own right. Remember Ultron? He shared Thanos's same solution to the virus-like spread of intelligent organic life, but his was no half-measure. Tony's own security measures proved too authoritarian for some, and drove The Avengers to civil war. It's this very end that Thanos sought to avoid. Some say the world will end in fire.

Tony also doesn't have children. He frets deeply about this to Pepper at the beginning of the movie, and that sets the tone. He is obsessed with creating life, not "saving" it. He does have something of a surrogate son, though, doesn't he?

Part of me wonders if this is where Thanos cheated, and wasn't random with his glove. Starlord is immortal. Death could be construed as "mercy". He also killed all of her crewmates, except Rocket, who abandoned them, and obviously needs the group the most despite that he pretends he needs it the least. Meanwhile, he dislikes Tony, but I don't think that's for a lack of will. I noticed he killed Spider-Man, and he took his sweet time doing it. Didn't feel so random that time.

Tony = Reason
Thor = Faith

That's why Thor and his powers are the most steeped in "magic".

 

[90 50]

DC Superman and Marvel Iron Man he gets the most money

In the movies? How can you say Superman our moneys Batman?

Or are you counting only Batfleck for Batman movies. And he never had a stand alone as Batman right just in Batman vs Superman?

 

[90 50]

comics wise forever itll be spiderman

movie universe wise which have been mainly avengers-centric should be captain America like in the comics but tony stark is being constantly shoved in our face, no surprise as RDJ has killed it in the role even though IM2 sucked and IM3 was awful (how do you butcher the mandarin like that I don't know)

caps first movie was ok I still liked it, and TWS and CW were amazing, the only iron movie that's comparable is the first,

I really wonder what they are going to do with cap and iron man after the current contracts expire ... recast? id hate to see falcon as cap, although winter soldier could pull it off

I’m still super confused why all the Spider-Man movies have some young small highschool ish spider man.

In the comics and even in the toys they produce he is big and ripped.

I’ve often wondered if they had a darker not so kid friendly larger older spider man movie more like the comics if it would not have done better.

I am fucking pumped for Hardy as Venom though.

And I haven’t seen a recent comic movie since ragnorock and missed infinity war. I’m not exactly running out to see them.

 

[IloveTHIS]

Warning: MINOR SPOILERS TO INFINITY WAR

look at this. mother fucking THOR. A FUCKING GOD. Now with 2 eyes again and absolute nothing to lose as he has suffered so much loss. Hes got an upgraded weapon, powers, and is fucking PISSED

THOR>All, PUSSIES!

coolest part of the whole movie. totally marked out

 

[KnightTemplar]

A combination of Hollywood being completely out of ideas and it being socially acceptable for grown men to act like children.

 

[ChucksGlassJaw]

View attachment 423699

A movie about a bridge that destroys all comic book movies.

 

[KnightTemplar]

A movie about a bridge that destroys all comic book movies.

Meh. Cap's WWII movie was more fun

 

[Madmick]

What's this craze with all the super hero movies these days?

What was the craze with Swashbucklers in the 20's? Westerns in the 40's, 50s,and 60's? Dance Romances and Musicals in the 50's & 60's? Antiheroes & Political Thrillers in the 70's? Martial Arts & Action hero revenge films in the 80's? Animations in the 90's?

That's just how popular culture trends.

 

[ZOD66]

In the movies? How can you say Superman our moneys Batman?

Or are you counting only Batfleck for Batman movies. And he never had a stand alone as Batman right just in Batman vs Superman?

I love Cristian Bale Batman but Superman is the boss there and Batman is just men in costume

 

[ChucksGlassJaw]

Meh. Cap's WWII movie was more fun

View attachment 423701

This is actually a good point. The difference between myself and a lot of comic book movie fans is the expectation that a movie should be fun. I don't think there's a single "fun" movie in my top 10. Actually, almost all of them end poorly for the protagonist.

 

[KnightTemplar]

Warning: MINOR SPOILERS TO INFINITY WA

look at this. mother fucking THOR. A FUCKING GOD. Now with 2 eyes again and absolute nothing to lose as he has suffered so much loss. Hes got an upgraded weapon, powers, and is fucking PISSED

THOR>All, PUSSIES!

coolest part of the whole movie. totally marked out

Don't make @Madmick angry. You won't like him when he's angry...

 

[KnightTemplar]

This is actually a good point. The difference between myself and a lot of comic book movie fans is the expectation that a movie should be fun. I don't think there's a single "fun" movie in my top 10. Actually, almost all of them end poorly for the protagonist.

Fair enough. Obviously, SPR is a classic. The writing, acting and directing are all superb. But I saw it once, and have no desire to watch it again. Movies like First Avenger, Winter Soldier or Civil War I can watch over and over and still enjoy.

Horses for courses.

 

[TidWell]

 

[TidWell]

I’m still super confused why all the Spider-Man movies have some young small highschool ish spider man.

In the comics and even in the toys they produce he is big and ripped.

I’ve often wondered if they had a darker not so kid friendly larger older spider man movie more like the comics if it would not have done better.

I am fucking pumped for Hardy as Venom though.

And I haven’t seen a recent comic movie since ragnorock and missed infinity war. I’m not exactly running out to see them.

yeah its weird why are all the Spidermans dweebs, tobey macguire, that skinny andrew garfiled, and this young short 5 foot 4 19 year old. Spiderman aka Peter Parker was 5 foot 11 and 175 pounds in the comics.

I never understood it, Spiderman was basically Marvels superman he was their most popular comic, yet they are making him some boyish guy, in the comics he was pretty athletic looking as peter parker he looked more like a Ryan Reynolds type physique and stature.

 

[ChucksGlassJaw]

Fair enough. Obviously, SPR is a classic. The writing, acting and directing are all superb. But I saw it once, and have no desire to watch it again. Movies like First Avenger, Winter Soldier or Civil War I can watch over and over and still enjoy.

Horses for courses.

Yeah, Winter Soldier is a really good movie. I think it's Marvel's best.

Just thinking about this more, some of my favorite movies that don't have a happy ending and aren't really fun. Not really my top 10. That changes frequently:
Chinatown
Godfather II
Bladerunner
Solaris
Pan's Labrynth
Goodfellas
Pi
Kids
The Empire Strikes Back
Leon
Children of Men
Old Boy
Hell or High Water