Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Avengers #22
In the unfolding universe of Marvel, the excitement of unexpected plot twists often enhances narrative engagement. However, there is a troubling trend in the excessive reliance on a particular trope that is diminishing the freshness of its storytelling. When characters face overwhelming odds, a surprising twist can alter the outcome dramatically. Yet, reader anticipation diminishes when plot points become predictable.
The latest installment, Avengers #22, crafted by Jed MacKay and Farid Karami, opens with optimism as the Avengers seem to gain the upper hand against Kang and Myrddin, inching closer to uncovering the mystery of the Missing Moment. With back-to-back major arcs, including “Fall of the Impossible City”and “Unending Night,”the narrative landscape is dense, but the overarching story seems to be dulled by an uninspired plot that fails to captivate amidst these tumultuous events.
The Secret Mastermind Trope Is Overused
The inception of the Timeless anthology series aimed to build anticipation for future comic releases with teasers that offered glimpses of thrilling moments without spoiling the context. However, the 2022 edition introduced a dominant, repetitive narrative arc that seems to overshadow events. After Myrddin’s introduction, the storyline has been continuously framed as part of his strategic game of 4D chess.
Now, Avengers #22 reveals yet another element of Myrddin’s game— the Grandmaster. This development reiterates the concept that the fate of the Marvel Multiverse is reduced to a trivial conflict between two immense powers. While such a twist can be exciting, its frequent appearance as a primary plot device diminishes the significance of character choices. When every heroic struggle is merely a chess move in a grander scheme, the impact of their decisions is rendered moot.
The Trope Makes Character Development Pointless
It Threatens to Remove Character Choice Completely
This narrative device, while not new to storytelling, has been employed excessively by Marvel in recent story arcs. Beginning with the Blood Hunt event, the surprising transformation of a hero into a villain lost its weight when it was revealed that Varnae was manipulating events from behind the scenes. Blade’s descent into villainy could have produced impactful narratives, but ultimately the stakes felt undermined by outside forces.
This pattern repeated during the Venom War, where the climax of a long-standing feud between father and son fizzled out under the influence of Kang and Doom’s machinations. The emotional stakes of the battle were overshadowed by their manipulative games, rendering character development futile when their actions are prescripted by higher powers.
The Story Isn’t as Fun When Readers Already Know the Ending
Marvel’s Tease Revealed Its Hand Too Soon
In Avengers #2, Kang divulged five upcoming tribulation events:
- The Collapse of the Impossible City (Avengers #1-6 (2023))
- The Unending Night (Blood Hunt)
- The King of Magic (One World Under Doom)
- The Death Moon
- The Cannibal Culture
As the story transitions into the next major arc, One World Under Doom, reader engagement wanes. Doom’s tactical acquisition of the title of Sorcerer Supreme appears momentous; however, it becomes less meaningful when overshadowed by previous revelations. While comic book narratives often lean towards hero triumphs, the drama should stem from immediate stakes to create emotional impact.
Marvel Still Has Some Room to Incorporate Intrigue
Is Myrddin Supposed to be Marvel’s Modern Thanos?
The ongoing saga hints that every event from the past two years has served the larger narrative of Kang’s intricate designs. This could position Myrddin as a new formidable figure akin to Marvel’s former villain, Thanos. However, unlike Thanos’ enigmatic motivations, Myrddin’s intentions are revealed, making the narrative feel lacking in suspense. With each reliance on this well-worn trope, Marvel risks diminishing the real weight of its characters’ arcs as the stories unfold.
Avengers #22 is currently available from Marvel Comics.
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