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The ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Study Guide

Catch up on all the need-to-know info about the first 21 Marvel Cinematic Universe movies before the finale.
Endgame Poster Art
By  · Published on April 25th, 2019

Phase 3

Infinity War

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

After the events of Age of Ultron, Tony Stark feels remorse about the destruction the Avengers inflicted on the nation of Sokovia while saving the world. Countless civilians died, and now the US government wants more control over the Avengers Initiative and the actions of its heroes. A document called the Sokovia Accords is drafted in order to regulate the activities of enhanced individuals. Stark is for the Accords, while Captain America believes they will make it difficult for the Avengers to do their job.

Meanwhile, an assassin attacks the United Nations, and The Avengers think the perpetrator is the Winter Soldier. Stark and Rogers are at an impasse with how to handle him. Stark wants to bring him in and incarcerate him for his crimes, while Rogers believes someone can save him. The ultimate breaking point comes when Stark learns that the Winter Soldier was responsible for the death of his parents while under the control of HYDRA. The battle that follows shatters any friendship that existed between Captain America and Iron Man.

This film also introduces us to two more superheroes: the teenage whiz kid and web-shooting wallcrawler called Spider-Man (Tom Holland); and the African prince T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), who suits up in a Vibranium costume as a crusading warrior known as Black Panther. Ant-Man also introduces his ability to become giant-sized as he joins Cap’s team alongside the Winter Soldier, Falcon, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Peggy’s S.H.I.E.L.D. agent niece Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) as they fight against Iron Man, Black Widow, Black Panther, War Machine, and Vision.

Doctor Strange (2016)

After suffering a car accident that ruins his career as a neurosurgeon, Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) goes East on a journey to heal his hands. During his trip, he encounters the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), who teaches him about magic and alternate dimensions. Through his lessons, he learns about the Mystic Arts and becomes the holder of the Eye of Agamotto, also known as The Time Stone. This Infinity Stone allows Doctor Strange, now Sorcerer Supreme, to manipulate time as well as see how the future will unfold.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

More adventures with the Guardians of the Galaxy as Star-Lord discovers his birth father to be a Celestial being known as Ego (Kurt Russell), who is a living planet. This means Star-Lord is basically part-God and therefore more powerful than a mere human. The Guardians narrowly win a battle against Ego, destroying him in the process and escaping to fight another day.

The only important new character that sticks around is Mantis (Pom Klementieff), who has the ability to manipulate the mind of even the most powerful of foes. But the movie also hints at another during the end credits. There is a pod containing a being called Adam –rumored to be none other than the galactic superhero Adam Warlock — and we will probably see this character again in the next Marvel Cinematic Universe phase.

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

After his brief introduction in Civil War, young Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, gets his own movie. Despite having amazing abilities, which include climbing walls, shooting webbing, and sensing when danger is approaching, this superhero has a high school life to worry about. He also has the desire to gain the approval of Tony Stark, who not only provides the boy with great enhancements to his Spidey suit but is also a father figure to Parker.

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Thor loses his trusty hammer, Mjölnir, and must survive life on another planet. Returning characters making an appearance include the Hulk and Loki. The climax has Thor teaming up with them and newcomers Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi), and the larvae-like Miek to defeat Thor’s sister Hela (Cate Blanchett). During their battle, Asgard is destroyed, but Loki manages to swipe the Space Stone as everyone is fleeing the ruins.

Black Panther (2018)

Black Panther takes us to Wakanda, a hidden country with advanced technologies that far exceed those in other areas on Earth. We also learn more about T’Challa, who is the heir to the throne and acquires super strength by ingesting a plant known as the Heart-Shaped Herb, and Vibranium, which in addition to being the foundation for his Black Panther suit and Captain America’s shield, is a material of alien origin upon which the entire nation is built.

The movie also features other supporting characters important to the Endgame: Okoye (Danai Gurira), who leads Black Panther’s bodyguard forces and is one of the strongest warriors of Wakanda; Shuri (Letitia Wright), the sister of T’Challa and one of the smartest people in the world; and M’Baku (Winston Duke), a rival from another Wakandan tribe who becomes Black Panther’s ally.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Thanos (Josh Brolin) takes center stage as he collects all the Infinity Stones. He has what is known as the Infinity Gauntlet, a powerful weapon that gives its user the power to wield the six gems. He collects each during the course of the movie, killing Loki and Gamora in the process, the latter as a sacrifice to acquire the one Infinity Stone we haven’t yet encountered: the Soul Stone.

Once he has them all, he is able to wipe out half the population of the universe in an instant with a snap of his fingers. Many superheroes fall in the wake of “the snap,” including Spider-Man, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and most of the remaining Guardians of the Galaxy, leaving only a few Avengers left to mount a counterattack against Thanos in Endgame. During a post-credits scene, Nick Fury is seen using a pager to try to contact the hero known as Captain Marvel before he also succumbs to the snap.

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

This sequel introduces Hope van Dyne’s promotion to superhero status, as The Wasp, who like Ant-Man can miniaturize, but she also has wings to fly with. The movie also provides additional information about the Quantum Realm during a plot to rescue Hope’s long lost mother, Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer), but in the end, Ant-Man is trapped there as Hope, Hank, and Janet all succumb to the snap.

Captain Marvel (2019)

This 1990s-set prequel introduces us to Captain Marvel (Brie Larson). Caught in a war between two alien worlds, the enhanced human Carol Danvers is embedded with the powers of the Kree and the Space Stone. As Captain Marvel, she can fly and has amazing strength and could now be considered the most powerful hero in the MCU. A post-credits sequence shows her meeting the surviving Avengers on Earth and wondering where Nick Fury is.

Phase 3 Recap

Mcu Study Guide Phase Three

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