POLL: Pick Your Favorite Marvel Project of 2023!

We’re right in the middle of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 5. The Multiverse Saga has not only introduced new heroes, new villains, and new stories, but it has dramatically expanded the scope of Marvel storytelling.

As we look forward to the January premiere of Marvel’s Echo TV series and next summer’s big blockbuster Deadpool 3, it’s time to look back at 2023. What was your favorite entry this year in the Marvel catalogue?

Cast your vote and then keep reading for a review of each of the latest MCU entries!

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Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania

Phase 5 kicked off with Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. As the third Ant-Man film, it kept up the expected madness that always seems to surround Scott Lang. In addition to Hope Van Dyne, AKA The Wasp, Scott was also joined by his daughter Cassie Lang. Along with Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne, they must traverse through the mind-bending Quantum Realm.

Plus, Quantumania officially introduced us to Kang the Conqueror. While Scott and co. were semi-successful in stopping the multiversal madman, Kang’s influence is still rippling throughout the Multiverse.

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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

The next MCU film of 2023 was also the end of another popular trilogy. After the events of Avengers: Endgame, the Guardians of the Galaxy have been out of sorts (even more than usual). With a new time-displaced Gamora running around the galaxy, the team struggles to pull itself back together.

An attack from Adam Warlock leaves Rocket Raccoon in critical condition. The team bands together to track down the High Evolutionary, a despotic geneticist who created Rocket. What follows is a classic Guardians adventure full of heart, humor, and plenty of gorgeous space visuals. By the film’s bittersweet end, Star-Lord and his misfit desperados are all headed in different directions. “The Dog Days Are Over” by Florence & The Machine just hits different now.

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Secret Invasion

Much like Werewolf By Night took the MCU in an unexpected horror direction, Secret Invasion is a markedly different approach to Marvel storytelling. This Nick Fury-led series certainly has all the familiar action and adventure of any Marvel project but it also leaned into the subtle atmosphere of political thrillers.

Secret Invasion contends with the Skrulls, a shapeshifting alien race whose place in the universe is anything but certain. They’ve been forced to hide in corners of the galaxy and now a rebellious faction is on the rise, with the unpredictable Talos at the forefront. Buckle up for a complex chapter in MCU history that will surprise you with multiple twists and turns.

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Loki

When season 1 of Marvel’s Loki appeared, fans had no idea what to expect. How could the Trickster God lead a series when he had met his tragic demise at the hands of Thanos? Well, Infinity Stone time travel, of course. Suddenly, Loki found himself in the Time Variance Authority and viewers came to understand even more about the complexities surrounding multiversal variants.

Season 2 of Loki delved further into the repercussions of one such variant’s actions. When Sylvie killed He Who Remains, a Kang variant himself, every branch in the Multiverse was thrown into chaos. Loki is an exploration of purpose, made all the more poignant by a cast of characters who are themselves not exactly originals. For fans of logic-warping science and old timey mischief, Loki season 2 is just the ticket.

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The Marvels

The Marvels is an absolutely good time all around. It gives everything a Marvel super hero movie should give at all the right moments. There’s a balance of laughter and love with Kamala Khan and her family. Carol Danvers and Monica Rambeau bring an emotional weight to the film because of their shared history. And together, these three women exemplify what it means to work as a team.

Each fight sequence is a wonder to behold. One of the heroes’ main issues is that their powers become interlinked — every time one uses her power, she switches locations with another. But this inconvenient problem makes for extremely entertaining fight choreography. Plus, Captain Marvel finally reckons with her place in the galaxy as one of its most powerful figures, while also lifting up Ms. Marvel and Monica to become their own astounding heroes. Also, those post-credits scenes? Consider our jaws dropped.

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What If…? Season 2

As the final MCU project of the year, season 2 of What If…? is ending 2023 with a big smash hit. Literally — the explosive powers of Hulk, Star-Lord, Scarlet Witch, and new hero Kahhori are lighting up our screens. Every episode functions as a self-contained story but there are also What If…? elements being woven together in intriguing ways.

Captain Carter, Black Widow, and Doctor Strange all stand out as characters whose What If…? variants are popping up in multiple episodes. Uatu the Watcher is of course ever-present and omniscient. This series continues its moving explorations of what makes a fan-favorite character really tick. And only time will tell if universes will continue to collide under Uatu’s watchful eye.

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The Multiverse is an exciting place — the possibilities are infinite and it’s only a matter of time before even more stories make their way to our screens!

Defend your favorites with other Marvel fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!