Dear Marvel…

Dear Marvel,

I just got done watching the Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3. I must say, like all of the MCU movies, it was very well-made and I enjoyed it quite a bit. However, I must express my concern.

When Ironman came out, Marvel started weaving the fabric of the MCU. Every movie that came out was linked and those small connections are part of what made people like myself love the franchise. Another piece of the puzzle was knowing that each one of these interlinked movies were building to something. It was a nearly perfect combination of good story telling, connection, execution, and building to the eventual climax that was Endgame. It was beautiful. I count myself lucky that I got to live through it. These last few movies though, I haven't been feeling that same thing. Sure, all the movies are still connected, but just being from the same universe isn't enough. Granted...I have still been paying to go see the movies...but I have to admit that I have been a bit disappointed.

I think the major factor that is missing now is that I can't see what these movies are building towards. Some of the first movies didn't have any obvious connection to the others, but the end credit scenes always made the connection if the movie didn't. The end credit scene for this new Guardians movie was Peter eating cereal. This movie felt like a sneaky way to stop making Guardians movies, just like No Way Home felt like a compressed and rushed way to stop making Spiderman movies. Complete side note...I feel like the whole world missed out on not having a Spiderman / Deadpool team up movie with Ryan Reynolds and Tom Holland. I grieve for all of humanity. Anyway, I understand things have to end, and I would rather it happen with a movie made for that purpose than just stop cold, I'm just not feeling the love that I did with the first three phases of the MCU.

I am hoping that I am wrong, and that I am worrying for nothing, but I needed to get this out. Perhaps this is just laying the ground work for the big buildup. I know there has been a lot of multiverse groundwork being laid, I just wish it all felt as connected as it used to. I hope you don't think this means I haven't enjoyed what has been being made, I have, it has been great. I just have been feeling weird about the last few movies like Thor Love and Thunder, Spiderman No Way Home, and this Guardians movie. For the love of God, no matter what happens, just don’t do what they did with the new Star Wars Trilogy. Actually…now that I thought of that I feel better about all of this. I look forward to seeing where this all leads, and in the meantime I will continue to trust that you all know what you are doing.

With love,

Norman Allen Mann

P.S. - Please tell Jon Favreau I love him.