The MCU’s Avengers Replacement Is Already Avoiding A Big Issue With The Main Team

One of the biggest positives about the Avengers being replaced in the MCU is that the new team will avoid a big issue with the originals. Avengers: Endgame was the last time that any version of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes teamed up against a common threat, which was released more than five years ago. This may have had a negative impact on the wider MCU as its composite characters feel more disparate than ever in the lead-up to what will presumably be their first outing in the Multiverse Saga: Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.

As it stands, there are two incarnations of the Avengers being set up in the MCU. The first is the one that Sam Wilson’s Captain America looks set to form as per President Thunderbolt Ross’ orders. The second is the team that is already starting to form following the post-credits scene of The Marvels with Kamala Khan bringing them together – namely, the Young Avengers. This makes their arrival inevitable – and they already have one huge advantage over their older counterparts.

The Young Avengers’ MCU Releases Take Way Less Time To Catch Up With Than The Main Team

The current frontrunners for the MCU’s Young Avengers comprise members who have the fewest MCU appearances thus far. Prospective leader Ms. Marvel boasts the most substantial MCU appearances of the prospective lineup, with her self-titled solo show and ensemble movie already under her belt with The Marvels. Cassie Lang has appeared in three Ant-Man movies (and cameoed in Avengers: Endgame), but only made a significant contribution to the MCU in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

In any case, the entire Young Avengers lineup cumulatively boasts far fewer on-screen hours for viewers to tackle before they make their big-screen debut. This is compounded by the fact that many prospective members – including Skaar and Eli Bradley – have only appeared in cameo capacities. The hours required to catch up with the stories of Ms. Marvel, Cassie Lang, Kate Bishop, and America Chavez pale in comparison to those of the adult lineup of Avengers that Captain America will eventually form.

The Young Avengers’ MCU Watch-Time Should Still Be Way Below The Main Avengers Roster

The prospective candidates for the “main” Avengers team comprise heroes who have been in the MCU since its inception. Bruce Banner, for instance, has been central to all four Avengers movies thus far released, boosting the required watch time for new viewers up significantly for just one member alone. The MCU stories of characters like Doctor Strange, Captain America, Spider-Man, and Captain Marvel essentially necessitate watching the entire MCU back catalog. This daunting prospect could easily put off any first-time casual MCU viewer.

This exemplifies an issue with the MCU now that the Infinity Saga has ended. Catching up on all of its interconnected stories is more insurmountable than ever, and it is hard to invest in a character whose story may culminate in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and beyond without catching up on their entire character arc. The rumored MCU reboot is poised to rectify this as the shared cinematic universe starts from square one once more – but the ball may already be rolling with the Young Avengers.

The Young Avengers’ Current MCU Watch-Time Requirements Mirror The Avengers’ Appeal

Getting in on the first floor with the MCU narrative is imperative to recapturing the magic of MCU Phase 1. By the time The Avengers was released in 2012, solo movies for Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, and Captain America were the only ones that audiences were required to watch. This was accessible at the time, and any casual viewer could buy into the hype building around The Avengers in just a handful of hours. The new, young team is currently in a similar position, and it is something the MCU should capitalize on as much as possible.

Unfortunately, things aren’t looking particularly great on that front. Despite being one of its biggest highlights, Ms. Marvel’s cinematic debut was part of the MCU’s biggest flop in The Marvels. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, meanwhile, remains the lowest-rated MCU movie, which does not bode well for Cassie Lang’s legacy. All hope is still not lost, as The Incredible Hulk was the erstwhile lowest-grossing MCU movie, and Hulk went on to become one the MCU’s most beloved heroes. With that in mind, the sooner the MCU platforms the Young Avengers and generates enthusiasm around its members, the better.