MCU: 5 Ways The Multiverse Saga Is Better Than The Infinity Saga

Many fans might be surprised to learn that Marvel Studios’ recent Multiverse Saga has actually outdone the original Infinity Saga in some ways. While the first three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe gave us unforgettable team-ups and the iconic villain Thanos, the Multiverse Saga has been more daring and innovative. By introducing new characters, timelines, and alternate realities, Marvel has brought completely fresh ideas from the comics to life.

As a longtime Marvel fan, I’ve definitely noticed a shift since Avengers: Endgame. It feels like their movies haven’t been hitting the same way lately – in fact, a lot of the newer ones haven’t done well at the box office. It’s been a bit disheartening to see, and I’ve started hearing people talk about ‘superhero fatigue,’ like we’re all just getting a little tired of the same old formula. It makes me wonder where things are headed, honestly.

Even though the Multiverse Saga hasn’t been perfect and has received a mixed response, it actually built upon and improved many things from the earlier Infinity Saga (2008-2019). Often, its most daring creative decisions haven’t gotten the attention they deserve, and are unfairly dismissed with labels like “woke.” James Gunn’s Superman movie is currently facing this same issue as it’s released.

As a huge MCU fan, it’s wild to think we’re only halfway through what Marvel’s been building with Phases 4 and 5! Things are about to shift gears with Phase 6 starting very soon with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. What’s really interesting is that this movie seems to be doing something different – it’s breaking away from a pattern we’ve seen throughout the MCU so far.

5 Ways the Multiverse Saga Beats the Infinity Saga

A More Diverse & Inclusive Marvel Universe

The recent Multiverse Saga has been a step forward for diversity, showcasing heroes and stories from many different cultures. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was especially notable as the first Marvel movie to star an Asian superhero, with a fully Asian cast and authentic Mandarin language. The film has been widely praised for its casting choices, direction, and for avoiding common stereotypes.

Chloe Zhao, the Academy Award-winning director, brought a diverse cast to the film Eternals, featuring the MCU’s first openly LGBTQIA+ character and a deaf superhero. However, the introduction of these characters led to negative reactions from some online.

Ms. Marvel was a groundbreaking series for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featuring its first Muslim lead character, Kamala Khan (played by Iman Vellani). The show uniquely explored South Asian history and identity by weaving her family’s story with elements of magic.

In addition to showcasing a wider range of cultures, Marvel’s Multiverse Saga highlighted stories centered around female characters in projects like Black Widow, Thunderbolts , WandaVision, and Agatha: All Along. Notably, Agatha: All Along featured the first same-sex kiss between leading characters in a Marvel series.

Pushing the Boundaries With Mature Storytelling

A key change in Marvel Studios’ Multiverse Saga is their increasing comfort with tackling more adult material. Unlike the Infinity Saga, which consistently aimed for a PG-13 rating and avoided strong violence, explicit language, or mature themes, the newer stories are exploring more complex and potentially darker territory.

Marvel upped the stakes with Deadpool & Wolverine, their first movie released in theaters with an R-rating (you can find out why it earned that rating here!). Before that, Echo, a series connected to Hawkeye, was the first mature-themed project from the MCU to debut, appearing in early 2024.

Following the pattern set by the original Daredevil series on Netflix, Season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again was also rated for mature audiences. This trend continues with Marvel Zombies, a very violent animated show, and will continue in the upcoming Punisher special, which features Jon Bernthal reprising his role as the dark and intense Frank Castle in a standalone story.

This innovative move lets the Marvel Cinematic Universe delve into more complicated and funny characters, and explore morally ambiguous ideas that weren’t touched upon in the Infinity Saga.

Embracing Bold Genres & Formats

I’ve been really impressed with where the Multiverse Saga has taken Marvel. Unlike the Infinity Saga, it feels like they’re actually taking big swings and trying new things with their stories. Take WandaVision from 2021, for example – it was the perfect way to bring the MCU back and launch this new saga. It completely flipped the sitcom format on its head, with each episode feeling like a love letter to different eras of TV. And somehow, all that fun stuff blended into a really moving story about mystery and loss.

Marvel experimented with classic horror in their special presentation, Werewolf by Night. This black-and-white mini-movie was well-received for its use of practical effects and its throwback style.

Marvel movies and shows recently tried new things. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness used scary imagery and was directed by Sam Raimi, known for horror films. Meanwhile, What If… ? and I Am Groot were animated in styles geared towards younger audiences. This experimentation with different genres and visuals gave fans a wider variety of content to enjoy.

Celebrating Marvel’s Legacy Beyond the MCU

A really great thing about the Multiverse Saga is that it honors and builds upon Marvel’s storytelling, even the parts that happened before the official Marvel Cinematic Universe started.

Recent Marvel movies have delighted fans by bringing back beloved actors from previous installments. Spider-Man: No Way Home surprised viewers with the return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man, achieving huge box office success even when many people weren’t going to theaters. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness continued this trend by featuring Patrick Stewart as Professor X, and The Marvels brought back Kelsey Grammer as Beast.

The upcoming movie, Avengers: Doomsday, will continue this tradition by featuring Channing Tatum as Gambit, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, and other popular characters.

While the earlier phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe couldn’t draw from alternate realities or its own history outside the main timeline, the current era is now able to bring back beloved characters and actors as a way of honoring what came before. This isn’t simply about appealing to fans’ memories; it’s a genuine appreciation for everything that built the MCU into what it is today.

This includes X-Men ’97, a revival of the beloved 1990s cartoon that had a huge impact on how many people saw Marvel. The new series successfully captured the spirit of the original, proving that these classic stories still connect with audiences today.

Deeper Character Arcs Through Television

Although the Multiverse Saga has had mixed success in terms of audience numbers, it’s been able to tell more complex stories and develop characters more fully than the Infinity Saga, thanks to the addition of Marvel’s TV shows.

Starting with WandaVision in 2021 and continuing with shows like Ironheart planned for 2025, Marvel has created 14 TV series. These series give fans a much longer experience with characters – between six and eight hours or more – compared to the usual 90 to 150 minutes of a movie.

Not all of Marvel’s series have been successful – Secret Invasion, for example, received a lot of criticism. However, shows like Loki, Hawkeye, and Ms. Marvel were well-received because they deepened the characters and broadened the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

This format also allowed for the creation of Thunderbolts, introducing and developing many characters on Disney+ before they appeared in the popular film. This approach created a richer, more detailed experience than the previous Infinity Saga, which primarily focused on the films themselves.

2025-11-17 03:06