comic book films

‘Avengers: Endgame’ Satisfies on Every Level

‘Avengers: Endgame’ Satisfies on Every Level

Big budget action filmmaking doesn't get much better than the Russo Brothers' Avengers: Endgame.

Doctor Strange and the Racial History of a Marvel Icon

‘Thor: The Dark World’ Comes Close to Being a Viable Story

‘Thor: The Dark World’ Comes Close to Being a Viable Story

In Thor: The Dark World there's a dangerous villain, a universe-ending threat, and a star-crossed romance -- but none of it makes sense.

‘The Wolverine’ Is a Stranger in a Strange Land

‘The Wolverine’ Is a Stranger in a Strange Land

James Mangold's The Wolverine taps into Western tropes and Samurai aesthetics to deliver a more thoughtful, soulful comic book film… until the climax.

‘Iron Man 3’ Finds Its Hero in Crisis

‘Iron Man 3’ Finds Its Hero in Crisis

Marvel Studios launched its second phase of films with Iron Man 3, a film filled with bold storytelling choices and irreverent humour that would become hallmarks of the MCU.

Marc Webb’s ‘​The Amazing Spider-Man​’ Is a Reboot That Deserves a Rewatch

Joss Whedon’s ‘The Avengers’ Blasts Away All Other Comic Book Films

Joss Whedon’s ‘The Avengers’ Blasts Away All Other Comic Book Films

By perfecting the comic book superhero formula and creating the first big-budget shared universe with The Avengers in 2012, Joss Whedon and Marvel Studios came to define this decade of blockbuster filmmaking.

Kinetic Directing Failed to Improve ‘Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance’

Kinetic Directing Failed to Improve ‘Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance’

Flashy directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor attempted to make Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance more exciting than its predecessor, but their style sapped the energy that fueled the flame.

‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ Stands Out in a Glut of Comic Book Films

‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ Stands Out in a Glut of Comic Book Films

Marvel Studios recognized that by mining other genres through the superhero lens, it could continue to keep comic book films fresh and entertaining to audiences and sidestep the constant predictions of imminent superhero fatigue.

How Marvel’s ‘X-men: First Class’ Classed Up the X-men Films

‘Thor’ Blasted the Comic Book Superhero Genre Away from Earth

‘Thor’ Blasted the Comic Book Superhero Genre Away from Earth

Kenneth Branagh's Thor (2011) took the largely Earth-based, sci-fi genre into the realm of supernatural space fantasy, leading the way for a wider array of comic book superhero films.

How Jon Favreau’s ‘Iron Man 2’ Peaks — Then Crashes

How Jon Favreau’s ‘Iron Man 2’ Peaks — Then Crashes

Tony spends the first half of the film worrying about his legacy but also trying to have fun with the time he has left. It's rather like MCU's superhero film challenges of the time.