5 Under the Radar Marvel Films You Should Know About

Bet you didn’t know that Marvel was spewing out new films that are just as good as Avengers or Iron Man. Here’s our growing list

Words Andrea Brigino
Photos courtesy of Marvel (Marvel.com) and Disney+
June 13, 2024

Marvel Studios, under Disney, has admittedly been in a burnout-like state ever since the end of their Avengers Infinity Saga. From their seemingly never-ending catalog of Disney+ original shows to the underwhelming quality of post-Avengers Endgame movies like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Thor: Love and Thunder, it’s easy to see Marvel as a has-been hitmaker past its prime.

However, there seems to be a generalization that Marvel should have ended with Endgame because all of its work has been bad since then. Here are some Marvel media that prove superhero fatigue doesn’t apply to good work, which still very much exists after the original Avengers run.

Loki (2022-2024)

Marvel has put out a lot of shows since Avengers Endgame, starting with WandaVision. There only seemed to be more shows piling up, either to connect directly to future movies or to introduce new characters for the new phases of the MCU. The number of shows to follow and the need to watch them in order has become increasingly overwhelming for many casual Marvel watchers. However, Loki provides a more isolated take on the well-beloved antagonist from the very first Avengers film.

The series follows an alternate universe Loki that escapes in Avengers: Endgame, being caught by the Time Variant Association (TVA) for causing a strain in time. The rest of the series is distant from the current Marvel timeline as the character resides outside of time, having to navigate not only what his life had become in the “original” timeline but also several other Loki variants along the way. It is a tumultuous, self-reflective, and very fulfilling story arc about the well-beloved God of Mischief, which just ended its second season earlier this year.

X-Men ‘97 (2024)

After years of mischaracterized, horrible storylines from its previous run on Fox, the X-Men finally get the redemption they deserve (without relying solely on Wolverine) in its latest 10-episode run on Disney+. This critically acclaimed series follows directly from the events of X-Men: The Animated Series (1992) but does not need to be watched in order to enjoy the latest reprise. It is a welcoming and fresh take on the mutants for old and new fans of X-Men alike.

If you want a show separate from the Avengers storyline, this is the perfect introduction to get into the X-Men franchise. From properly representing Cyclops and Storm’s characters in a way the movies always failed to, to bringing back the classic soap opera love triangles of the comics and original 90’s show, to the visual prowess on display with each character’s powers through stellar animation and a captivating score from the Newton Brothers. This show brings a life to Marvel’s animation run that hasn’t been prominent in a long time and gives proper respect to one of its originating successful IPs.

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 (2023)

It has been a universal opinion that while there are movies within trilogies in the MCU that are better than others, James Gunn’s take on Guardians of the Galaxy has always been consistently fun, action-packed, and heartwarming to watch. The final installment of this saga after nearly 10 years follows the events of Avengers: Endgame but brings the narrative back down to Earth (or space, I should say) with its themes of self-navigation, acceptance of grief, and the concept of family.

This third movie brings back the comedy from its recurring cast with Peter Quill, Mantis, and Drax, and features a lot of creative fight scenes (one particular to look out for is the one-take spaceship fight). However, the movie shines a light on Rocket Raccoon as its protagonist, with a glimpse into his past as an experiment while he’s unconscious and at risk of dying. This also tackles Gamora navigating her life in a world where her identity in this universe died. This final ride brings closure to many characters' storylines, even if it doesn’t end in the most ideal scenarios, leaving the ending bittersweet. This final run gave respect to the initial introductions of these characters, allowing them to grow organically by the end of the franchise, with some leading a new generation of heroes to protect the galaxy. It introduces some characters most prominent in Marvel comic book history, but overall, it is a story that focuses and gives a proper sendoff to its beloved central cast.

Ms. Marvel (2022)

Marvel has introduced a slew of comic book characters and famous comic book adaptations, some of which caused mixed reviews in the depiction of beloved comic book characters within an MCU-like tone. Ms. Marvel is definitely an exception to this, fitting right in with the action-packed, comedic run of the MCU following comic fan favorite Kamala Khan in Ms. Marvel. And while the character reappears in 2023’s The Marvels, the lighthearted superhero-teen slice-of-life hybrid stands well on its own without a dependence on leading up to future projects or an over-reliance on previously more established work.

The 6-episode series follows Kamala Khan, a teenager who’s a big fan of superheroes like Captain Marvel. Her nerdy hobbies of hanging up superhero posters and going to fan conventions leave her feeling out of place in both her school and her family life. This navigation of self-confidence and identity crashes along with her suddenly gaining supernatural powers, much like her longtime idol. Along with its fun action sequences, Ms. Marvel brings both heartfelt Muslim representation, which was mostly foreign to the superhero movie genre beforehand, and a down-to-earth depiction of teen angst and humor with the perfectly cast Iman Vellani.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Ever since the tragic passing of beloved lead star Chadwick Boseman, there was a wave of uncertainty about the state of the Black Panther franchise, as they wanted to properly respect and commemorate the legacy of the actor and the character he played so well. Eventually, Marvel released the sequel to Black Panther, following T’Challa’s younger sister Shuri navigating the sudden death of T’Challa. This movie takes a shift from the MCU’s recent comedic streak to depict a gut-wrenching story following grief, heavy-handed politics, and the concept of revenge.

Still filled with intense and creative fight scenes, Wakanda Forever tells a grittier story with the nation of Wakanda grappling with the loss of their king and tension surrounding its global politics. The debut of Namor into the MCU is on the surface slated as an antagonist, but this movie portrays a sense of moral dilemma within both Wakanda and Talokan. The progression of the beloved characters from the franchise brings in stellar dramatic performances from Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, and Angela Bassett, who even got an Oscar nomination for her excellent performance as Queen Ramonda.