Marvel Studios is well aware of a little phenomenon called superhero fatigue. The much-debated loss of interest in epic superhero sagas has plagued the genre for the better half of the decade, and Marvel’s own dogged need to keep itself at the center of the conversation is partially to blame. Its cinematic universe used to dominate pop culture, but ever since Avengers: Endgame, it’s struggled to justify its own existence. Not even self-aware jabs at the MCU’s expense — like in Deadpool & Wolverine or the shaky She-Hulk: Attorney at Law — are enough to put the franchise back on track. Those gestures are way too easy to see through, and they’re just one part of the lackluster, scattershot strategy Marvel’s been cycling through in its latest phases.
Fortunately, the franchise finally feels like it’s found its footing again. Marvel’s most recent projects have reclaimed the grasp on humor and heart that fans missed from early-phase MCU, with the fresh concepts of Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps doing their part to restore some of the old magic. And while Marvel reestablishes some goodwill on the big screen, its small-screen projects continue to push the envelope in terms of tone and scale. Next on the slate is Wonder Man, a project that feels unlike anything Marvel has attempted before, despite its wincingly familiar tone. With the new series, Marvel is diving back into meta comedy — but the franchise might have finally cracked the code.
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