There are no Avengers: Endgame or Phase 4 future without Jonathan Hickman

Avengers: End of the game closes the book on the first saga of the film universe Marvel. Although each film has its own inspirations and influences, personalities such as Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, Jim Starlin and probably Mark Millar (a lot of phase 1 Avengers the construction of the world is due to its ultimate run) hover over the Infinity Saga. But there is another name that should be in this mix that is too often overlooked: the writer Jonathan Hickman.

Hickman began his career with Marvel on books such as The four fantastics and the Ultimate Marvel solo books for Thor and Hawkeye. His notorious SHIELD Book finished on a cliffhanger for several years. Come 2012, soon after The Avengers movie, Hickman has delivered two essential books to the Marvel Universe: Avengers or New Avengers. Avengers had the same composition as the movie, similar costumes and was part of Marvel NOW! revival following their war with the X-Men. What was Hickman's big idea for Earth's Mightiest Heroes? Fans of War of Infinity and End of Game notice some similarities.

The Illuminati of the Marvel Universe

Rather than being a shadow cabal, Marvel's Illuminati were the most intelligent heroes in the world: Iron Man, The Black Panther, Dr. Strange, Mr. Fantastic, Inhuman King Black Bolt and Professor Charles Xavier . The company was partly responsible for the secret invasion and operated in the shadows until it was forced to dissolve shortly before the superhero war. They have regrouped a few times over the years, especially when Mr. Fantastic has bought the Infinity Stones to try them. (It did not work.)

The Illuminati were united in New Avengers – with new members Captain America and Beast, who replaced Xavier, now deceased. Ethical choices were at the heart of the book, the New Avengers were willing to do literally everything needed to save the multiverse, including sweeping the spirit of Captain America, fearing that the Illuminati would eventually build Extermination weapons in the world … who, of course, they did it. And that's where Avengers came into play.

Avengers discover strange and endless possibilities

While New Avengers focused on the disintegration of the multiverse, Avengers was filled with energetic teams in the vein of newer MCU films. Cape had perhaps wiped the spirit, but he knew that greater threats would arrive. Instead of waiting for the Avengers to meet in the middle of a disaster, he and Iron Man have recruited old friends and newcomers. Expected veterans such as Wolverine and Spider-Man joined the group for the simplest reasons (beer and silver, natch), Shang-Chi, Sunspot and Cannonball beginners joined them for new experiences … ask you to become an avenger.

Hickman's Avengers It was fun and weird. Depending on the members of the cast, the tone of the book has changed while maintaining consistency with the overall story. A young academic accidentally became a planetary defense system called Star Brand and threw Hulk into naked space; Captain America, Hulk and Falcon are aging for decades in more than a third of the day, in a bizarre twist like a bodily horror; Sunspot and Cannonball make friends to make friends with AIM stooges in a casino. Hickman did everything.

Thanks to his work on The four fantastics and The ultimate, the writer knew how to play long game, and it was clear that both books were building towards something. The plan did not really become clear until the Avengers went to war with a global race called the Builders in 2013. Infinite Event. All the worlds between the builders and the Earth have been attacked, forcing the Avengers to join various extraterrestrial empires to save the entire universe. Meanwhile, the New Avengers have been trying to prevent an incursion from occurring as Thanos shows up to seek to kill his son Inhuman, Thane.

After the release of War of Infinity and now End of Game, Hickman's Infinite carry extra weight to her. The similarities between the event and War of Infinity obvious, Thanos's children at the invasion of Wakanda, and the penultimate problem of the event takes a turn End of Game– as in its turn: the Avengers help to liberate the planets conquered by the builders, transforming them into "Avengers worlds". galaxy. Just as the heroes and allies of the movies that have been unleashed in the storm in combat are a highlight, so is the reading of a montage of space heroes that save planet after planet alongside its inhabitants. These are two moments that, in their respective mediums, confirm that the Avengers have become something more. Hickman built a legacy that would define them forever.

[[[[Ed. Note: this message contains spoilers for Avengers: End of the game]

What do Hickman's contributions to the MCU mean?

Now that the MCU has a fresh start with a new list of Avengers, it is more likely that Hickman's work will be reflected in movies and TV shows. The characters who were in his Avengers books already exist in some ability – Captain Marvel, Black Panther and Spider-Man, as well as some of his characters who showed up on SHIELD agents – or are about to receive a solo film, such as Shang-Chi. The inclusion of X-Men and Fantastic Four means that we can see the Council of Reeds on film, or that Sunspot and Cannonball become their heroes.

Various elements of Hickman's books have been incorporated into the MCU over the years. SHIELD agents has appropriately introduced characters and elements such as the secret warriors. Hickman helped propel Thanos into the spotlight before debuting on the big screen. It is thanks to him that Miles Morales shares the same world as Peter Parker in cinema. You can, at least in part, thank him for the existence of Stormbreaker, Thor's weapon, and Sam Wilson, become Captain America in End of Game. (You can also thank him for the Inhumans who are so important in SHIELD agents and that does not end well, but no one is perfect.) Soon he will write the X-Men and give them a much needed overhaul.

Hickman is responsible for many of the things that have come to the MCU in recent years. He will probably be responsible for more, like the Wakandans who go into space or the arrival of Star Brand. Go back and try to read some of his work now. This will save you time when the characters start gravely saying "everything dies" at the end of their future. Avengers trailer.