The Power Of Loss: How Tragedy Has Shaped Marvel’s Phase Four

It’s an incredible time to be a comic book fan. We’ve been spoiled with an abundance of films, shows, and other media starring our favorite costumed heroes. These last couple of years, in particular, have been full of wonderfully diverse stories in the world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Kevin Feige and Co. have opened new doors, with everything ranging from the grounded and gritty to the wondrous and weird. Through it all, however, there’s a throughline of humanity woven into all of Phase Four’s stories — the significance and power of loss.

Marvel’s heroes rarely ever emerge from their battles unscathed, but their recent batch of films and Disney+ series have inflicted much deeper wounds. Our heroes have all had to wrestle with the impermanence of life. For myself, these trials have enhanced the overall quality of Marvel’s storytelling. The stories presented to us have forced these characters to confront new perspectives, tread lonely territory, and grapple with new lives without their loved ones. Grief is a powerful storytelling tool, and it’s one that Marvel Studios has seemed to embrace wholeheartedly with its Phase Four lineup.

A Shift In Perspective

Loss is not limited to just the act of parting from a loved one. Loss can occur through various means, and it can be just as painful no matter what form it takes. For Loki and the Eternals, their ultimate challenges came in the form of confronting themselves. Their sense of belonging was stripped away as they discovered that their destinies were not what they had always believed. Fate would have other plans for a select few MCU heroes, who became newly motivated by disturbing revelations and a loss of glorious purpose.

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Loki, the God of Mischief, came to realize how small he was in the grand scheme of the multiverse. The Eternals, mighty as they were, found that they’d been deceived into a sacrificial mission disguised in divinity. These god-like beings experienced the pain of having to reevaluate their very existence. As Loki and Eternals progressed, we came to empathize with these characters as they broke free from the chains of predetermination.

Heroes Born Anew

The bravest heroes usually wind up losing something dear to them whilst defending the innocent, but it’s another thing entirely to walk away from everything they love. WandaVision places grief squarely at its thematic center, following two lovers as their ideal lives become undone. Spider-Man: No Way Home finds Peter Parker losing everything he’s ever known. Black Widow shines a light on Natasha’s tragic past but forces the character to atone for her sins. Peter, Wanda and Natasha all make mistakes and face unimaginable heartbreak, and it makes these larger-than-life characters feel so human.

It’s imperative that these characters be infused with depth and heart to keep their stories fresh and exciting. Hawkeye takes the black sheep of the Avengers family and rebuilds him as a broken family man turned mentor, trying to right his wrongs. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ title character is a living embodiment of navigating powerful loss, and the film only expands upon the sorcerer’s desire to be free of pain. Speaking of Strange, the film catapults Wanda into a supervillain arc born out of grief, making her terrifying and equally as tragic.

Embracing Your True Self

Avengers: Endgame united a majority of the MCU, but it also brought a sense of closure. We said goodbye to Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. In the process, their absences have left room for new heroes to enter the spotlight. A select few MCU characters were forced to reckon with ideas of idolization and legacy. Confronted with feelings of self-doubt, these heroes overcame their inner conflicts, ultimately becoming who they were always meant to be.

Shang-Chi introduced us to a brand new Marvel hero; one raised under the shadow of the Ten Rings. Overcoming the guilt of his mother’s death and his father’s coldheartedness, Shang-Chi embraces the best parts of his parents. Sam Wilson’s hesitation to take up the mantle of Captain America is a story intertwined with the sins of his country’s past, but he ultimately stands proud as a beacon for a new legacy of MCU heroes. Most recently, Marc Spector and Steven Grant learned to become one in Moon Knight, as they guided one another through their trauma.

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Ms. Marvel, Thor: Love and Thunder, and the rest of Phase 4’s upcoming slate seem poised to explore this theme even further. Loss is unfortunately one of life’s most universally relatable lessons, but there’s a certain comfort in these fictional characters reminding us that there’s always a way back from tragedy.