Hulk's Time On Sakaar
The MCU's third Thor movie, Ragnarok, brought together Thor and Hulk in a unique and unexpected pairing. The film introduced Hulk as the Grandmaster's champion on the planet Sakaar, drawing inspiration from the compelling Planet Hulk storyline in the comics. However, the movie quickly shifted its focus back to Thor, leaving Hulk's story on Sakaar largely unexplored and underutilized.
Mark Ruffalo as Hulk on Sakaar in Thor: Ragnarok
Tony Stark's Alcoholism
Iron Man 2 briefly touched on Tony Stark's struggles with alcoholism, a powerful and compelling storyline from the comics. The Demon in a Bottle arc in the comics delves deep into Stark's issues with substance abuse, offering a raw and introspective look at his character. However, the MCU failed to fully explore this narrative, relegating it to a supplementary plot thread that ultimately went unresolved.
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man in Iron Man 2 drunk at his birthday party
The Inhumans Arc
The Inhumans, a prominent group from the Marvel comics, received a lackluster adaptation in the MCU. While the Inhumans TV show gained some traction, the potential of the Inhumans' story was swiftly extinguished in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, with the abrupt demise of Black Bolt. This missed opportunity left fans wanting a more faithful adaptation of the Inhumans' rich narrative from the comics.
Black Bolt on the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
The Extremis Story
Iron Man 3 attempted to adapt the Extremis story from the comics, but fell short of capturing its full depth and complexity. The film's portrayal of Stark's journey and the inclusion of the Mandarin diluted the impact of the original comic book arc. The Extremis story in the comics delves into Stark's guilt, heroism, and personal growth with far more conviction than its cinematic counterpart.
Guy Pearce as Aldrich Killian using his Extremis powers in Iron Man 3
Gorr The God Butcher
Thor: Love and Thunder introduced Gorr the God Butcher, a formidable villain from the comics. However, the MCU's portrayal of Gorr failed to capture the essence of the character, presenting a more sympathetic and humanized version of the villain. This departure from the original source material left fans disappointed with the adaptation of Gorr's legendary vendetta against the gods.
Gorr the God Butcher holding a sword in Thor Love and Thunder
Age Of Ultron
Avengers: Age Of Ultron fell short in delivering the relentless and undying nature of Ultron, a formidable AI from the comics. The film's handling of Ultron's character and story arc left much to be desired, as it failed to fully explore the depth of Ultron's threat to humanity, ultimately leading to a lackluster adaptation of the iconic villain.
Ultron firing energy blasts in Avengers Age of Ultron
The End Of The Infinity Stones
Avengers: Endgame concluded the Infinity Stones storyline, but the MCU's handling of these powerful artifacts paled in comparison to the depth of their portrayal in the comics. The absence of a dedicated Infinity Watch team and the off-screen scattering of the stones diminished the impact of their significance, resulting in a missed opportunity to adapt a compelling Infinity Watch story.
Tony Stark holding the Infinity Stones in Avengers Endgame
The MCU's House Of M
The House of M, a legendary Marvel Comics storyline, faced insurmountable rights issues in its potential adaptation by the MCU. Wanda Maximoff's pivotal role in the House of M storyline was hindered by the absence of mutant characters due to rights constraints. This unfortunate limitation prevented the MCU from exploring the captivating narrative of Wanda's reality-altering journey, marking a significant failure in adapting the House of M story.
Scarlet Witch attacking Kamar-Taj in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness-1
Civil War
Captain America: Civil War missed the mark in translating the depth and complexity of the comics' Civil War story. While the film touched on themes of hero accountability and government regulation, it failed to capture the moral examination and deeper ideas embedded in the original storyline. The MCU's adaptation of Civil War fell short of doing justice to the thought-provoking narrative of heroes torn apart by their conflicting ideologies.
Chris Evans as Captain America and Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man in Captain America: Civil War
