10 recent Marvel comics most likely to inspire the future of the MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe just concluded Phase 4 on the big screen with the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Disney+ with Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Phase 5 is already shaping up nicely, but the recent Marvel Comics series is sure to have some influence on how the story arcs play out next.
Marvel Studios is constantly looking to source material for story and character inspiration, and 2020, 2021, and 2022 saw some brilliant runs that helped reshape the universe. These narrative beats are worth revisiting and could easily be implemented into the future of the MCU.
King In Black (2020-2021)
King Of Black was a major crossover event that was taken over by Marvel Entertainment. The premise saw Knull, the symbiote god, descend into the known universe. With Earth-616 in his sights, he took over the planet in a way no other villain had managed before.
The MCU has slowly started toying with the idea of the impending Symbiotes, especially with the Venom crossover. Considering that Phase 5 will surely feature more deities, it’s plausible that Knull will be introduced soon; his weapon has already been seen in the hands of Gorr the Butcher of God.
Hellfire Gala (2021 and 2022)
The Hellfire Gala The narrative has taken place over the course of two years, and the event will continue to happen for the foreseeable future. It’s a time when the X-Men of Krakoa welcome their Arakko brothers and notable heroes and villains from across the galaxy. The costumes have become favorite aspects of the fans of the comic.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe will have to do something different with the Mutants to establish them separately from the FOX franchise. So maybe they’ll launch with a Hellfire Gala introducing the world to the X-Men that have been hidden all this time.
Strange Academy (2021-2022)
Strange Academy is such a new concept, but it follows in the footsteps of other educational programs of The Initiative a Avengers Academy. It’s a great idea to bring together the magical side of the Marvel Universe, with new students learning the ways of the magical world from some seasoned experts.
There are many candidates who could join the Academy in the MCU, and Doctor Strange has already begun to play a mentoring role with young heroes like Ned Leeds and America Chavez. Strange Academy as a Disney+ show feels like a natural next step for the Wizard series.
Stranger (2022)
As for Doctor Strange, there has been a shift in the comics that has seen a new figure take on the role of Sorcerer Supreme. Stephen Strange’s wife Clea now protects Earth-616 after her late husband’s death.
You are already an experienced Sorcerer Supreme for the Dark Dimension, strange it’s been an intriguing narrative to watch Clea develop in the role. The MCU just introduced the character, so it could be a brilliant change of pace for her to replace the Doctor in the coming years.
Heroes Reborn (2021)
While there was an original iteration of Heroes Reborn, the most recent variation is the one that could have the most impact on the MCU. Phil Coulson made a deal with the devil, with Mephisto changing reality itself to reflect the fake heroes of the Squadron Supreme.
The squadron has been heavily rumored to appear in the Multiverse for the MCU, so it might not be too far-fetched to see a narrative portraying them as the new heroes of Earth-616. The roster of characters and their theatrical interpretation of the Justice League make this a remarkable story for comic book fans.
Avengers Vs X-Men Vs Eternals (2022)
The Avengers and Eternals are already firmly established in the MCU and the X-Men are entering. In the comics, these three factions have been at war recently, with each side representing their own interests and protecting the innocent from the other’s desires.
Whether it’s eradicating deviance, protecting immortality, or securing the future of reality, these forces have engaged in the kind of complex conflict that could surely inspire a spinoff movie. Fighting these two former allies could be one of the worst things to happen to the Avengers on screen if it were to happen.
Champions: Outlawed (2020)
The Young Avengers have slowly morphed into the Champions, and while both units remain, it’s the latter that has seen the most recent focus. The outlawed The narrative forced the Champions to abandon their vigilante gigs due to a new law banning underage heroism.
Of course, they weren’t out of the fray for long, and the arc somewhat mirrors the Superhero Registration Act, which took the form of the Sokovia Accords in the MCU. The rise of young heroes on screen, from Spider-Man to Ms. Marvel and Hawkeye, could make this new initiative play out in an exciting story.
Death Of Doctor Strange (2021-2022)
Clea only had to take on the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme because of the Death of Doctor Strange comic strip It was an emotional arc that started with Strange being killed and a variant timeline trying to solve his own death.
It also showed how much Strange really did to keep the forces of darkness at bay, with paranormal chaos following his death. The MCU will have to move on from this iteration of Strange eventually, and this arc would be a natural to draw inspiration from.
Devil’s Reign (2021-2022)
The reign of the devil concluded the fantastic reckless run that featured Wilson Fisk as mayor, Matt Murdock in prison, and Elektra as the new Devil from Hell’s Kitchen. It was a fantastic read, culminating in the Kingpin’s obsession with finding out the truth about Murdock’s alter ego.
It brought together the vigilante and streetwise side of the Marvel Universe and could very well influence the direction of Disney+ shows in the future, stemming from the adventures of Echo, Daredevil, Kingpin, and hopefully returning heroes like Jessica Jones. Shadowland aside, it’s the natural way to go.
Empire (2020)
The status of the intergalactic politics of the Marvel Universe changed with empire, a crossover event involving the Kree and Skrulls as a new emperor took over. With Hulking now in the position of power, a new era of peace has been restored to the entire universe.
It’s a story that focuses on galactic reform and with the cosmic side of the MCU ever expanding and Hulking surely on the way alongside the rest of the Young Avengers, there’s a lot that could be achieved by adapting this popular comic book series.