Unraveling the Mysterious Avengers Death Statistic: A Logical Analysis After 11 Years

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for episodes 1 and 2 of Marvel's Secret Invasion. The revelation of the death toll in Secret Invasion raises questions about the Battle of New York in The Avengers. The Skrull-centered Disney+ series starts with a terrorist attack by rogue Skrulls, resulting in numerous casualties and the shocking death of Maria Hill. With Nick Fury caught off guard and no established Avengers team to assist him, Gravik and his fellow Skrulls demonstrate their ability to potentially take over the world.

Gravik's attack adds to the list of deadly events caused by supervillains in the MCU, ranging from the collateral damage by the Abomination in The Incredible Hulk to Thanos' annihilation of half of all life in Avengers: Infinity War. Surprisingly, Secret Invasion's initial attack proves to be an even greater catastrophe than the Battle of New York in 2012. While the magnitude of the bombing in Secret Invasion episode 1 showcases the formidable threat posed by Gravik and the evil Skrulls, it also emphasizes the questionable logic behind The Avengers' comparatively lower death toll.

Gravik's Russia Attack Caused 2000 Casualties Compared To The Battle Of New York's 74

In Secret Invasion episode 2, it is revealed that Gravik's bombing in Moscow resulted in the tragic death of 2000 individuals. Although the magnitude of the explosion shown in Secret Invasion episode 1 may not seem to match this number, it is plausible when considering the densely populated area that Gravik targeted. However, when comparing this figure to the Battle of New York, where only 74 casualties were confirmed by the statistics presented by General Ross to the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War, the claim of 2000 deaths appears excessive. The Battle of New York, which involved Loki, numerous Leviathans, and hundreds of Chitauri wreaking havoc throughout NYC, showcased multiple explosions, building collapses, laser beam exchanges, and widespread destruction. Despite their best efforts, the Avengers struggled to contain the chaos caused by Loki's invasion and were rarely shown saving civilians. With a population of approximately 1.6 million individuals going about their daily lives during a typical workday in NYC, even a death toll of 10,000 would be considered relatively low in such a catastrophic event.

Why Casualties In The Avengers Are So Low

The low number of casualties in the Avengers' battle with the Chitauri can be attributed to their efforts. However, it is evident that despite their best attempts, the Avengers failed to stop the invasion, leading to the World Security Council deciding to resort to extreme measures such as nuking Manhattan. The reason behind the relatively small death toll of 74 in the movie may be Marvel's decision to avoid highlighting the grim consequences of such a catastrophic event. In reality, a battle of that scale would have resulted in far more gruesome and long-lasting effects, which would be too distressing to depict in a superhero film.

Other disasters in the MCU, such as the Battle of Sokovia and the Snap, should have been even more devastating. Captain America: Civil War revealed that the final battle in Avengers: Age of Ultron resulted in only 177 deaths, and the profound impact of the Snap continues to be overlooked. However, since the focus of the MCU is primarily on the lighter and more thrilling aspects of superhero stories, the bleak implications are typically downplayed or disregarded. It is only when a darker show like Secret Invasion emerges and pushes the boundaries of its rating that Marvel Studios becomes more willing to reveal the true extent of the disasters within the MCU.