Avengers: Doomsday and the MCU’s Power Level Issue
While Avengers: Doomsday introduces a new major villain, the increasing power levels within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) have led to significant challenges. The film aims to demonstrate that Doctor Doom is the most formidable character in the MCU, but the escalation in power among heroes and villains has made it difficult for him to stand out.
Power Creep in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Since Avengers: Endgame, the MCU has seen characters and threats grow exponentially stronger, with Marvel continually upping the stakes in each installment. This evolving power scale complicates the introduction of new characters, as they struggle to appear threatening against already overpowered figures. The MCU has introduced entities like the Council of Kangs, Celestials, Mephisto, and Galactus, alongside powerful heroes such as Carol Danvers and Hulk.
Carol Danvers was kept off-planet during Infinity War because she was too powerful. Hulk's strength was limited by making him smarter, reducing his unlimited power.
Challenges for Future Villains
Doctor Doom is expected to appear as an unstoppable force, but the MCU’s recent trends make it difficult to portray a man in armor as a credible threat after a decade of escalating powers. The ongoing power creep risks diminishing the impact of new villains and complicates narrative stakes.
Potential Solutions and Concerns
There are ways for Marvel to address this problem, but with Avengers: Doomsday approaching, it may be too late. The franchise must find a way to balance power levels to preserve the threat and significance of new characters.
Author's Summary: The MCU’s escalating power levels challenge storytelling and threat credibility, making future villains like Doctor Doom harder to portray as truly formidable.