Marvel Cinematic Universe Timelinefrom 2987BC to March 2014
July 9, 2014 8:26 AM Subscribe
The Interactive Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline. Are you a fan of the Marvel Cinematic universe? Ever scratch your head over what happened when and how events in the past link to consequences in the current times? Well wonder no more! A huge fan of the Universe, Anthony Norfolk created a nice picture filled timeline to pinpoint all the important elements of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
"We've seen the films, we know they share the same universe but how does the Marvel Cinematic Universe all fit? Well, wonder no longer!!
Originally much of this work wasn't mine. In fact the predominant work was done by Rich Drees who is the Editor over at www.filmbuffonline.com where an early timeline can be seen. I have now made my own significant contribution to this. The sharpe eyed will notice the more important changes. I'm very happy to answer any questions regarding the timeline. Simply send me an email headed MCU Timeline to andrewnorfolk@hotmail.com Cheers guys."
If you fancy a less animated timeline this one at the Marvel.com news site should suffice. This static timeline starts at 1000 years BIM (Before Iron Man) and ends just before the Avengers Assembled.
The Marvel Wiki timeline over at Wikia has details which go from the time of the Dark Elves, and goes right up to the Guardians of the Galaxy.
The ever reliable Wikipedia has a timeline page on the current films including short films which are often only available as DVD extras, as well as some details of future projects such as the Agent Carter tv series, and the Daredevil Netflix series
If you want to create your own timeline then the software that Anthony used can also be used by you for free. Anyone brave soul care to attempt a timeline of the Avengers characters in the published comic universe?
Previously on Mefi, jdroth created a post that outlines which order to read the Marvel Masterworks series (trade reprints of older Marvel comics) in - all 2,996 of em.
If you want to know what those titles are in a big list, then tradereadingorder has a specific Marvel list for you
"We've seen the films, we know they share the same universe but how does the Marvel Cinematic Universe all fit? Well, wonder no longer!!
Originally much of this work wasn't mine. In fact the predominant work was done by Rich Drees who is the Editor over at www.filmbuffonline.com where an early timeline can be seen. I have now made my own significant contribution to this. The sharpe eyed will notice the more important changes. I'm very happy to answer any questions regarding the timeline. Simply send me an email headed MCU Timeline to andrewnorfolk@hotmail.com Cheers guys."
If you fancy a less animated timeline this one at the Marvel.com news site should suffice. This static timeline starts at 1000 years BIM (Before Iron Man) and ends just before the Avengers Assembled.
The Marvel Wiki timeline over at Wikia has details which go from the time of the Dark Elves, and goes right up to the Guardians of the Galaxy.
The ever reliable Wikipedia has a timeline page on the current films including short films which are often only available as DVD extras, as well as some details of future projects such as the Agent Carter tv series, and the Daredevil Netflix series
If you want to create your own timeline then the software that Anthony used can also be used by you for free. Anyone brave soul care to attempt a timeline of the Avengers characters in the published comic universe?
Previously on Mefi, jdroth created a post that outlines which order to read the Marvel Masterworks series (trade reprints of older Marvel comics) in - all 2,996 of em.
If you want to know what those titles are in a big list, then tradereadingorder has a specific Marvel list for you
The X-Men and Spider-Man aren't part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe; Apocalypse's pyramid would belong on a timeline of the Fox Studios X-Men movieverse.
posted by kewb at 8:34 AM on July 9, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by kewb at 8:34 AM on July 9, 2014 [4 favorites]
Presumably because that happens in the X-Men movies which are (for legal reasons) distinct from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 8:34 AM on July 9, 2014
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 8:34 AM on July 9, 2014
One thing that's always bugged me about the MCU is the way it tries to use Captain America as the same kind of "Living Legend" as the comics, but per the first film, he's a USO laughingstock for half of the American war and spends the other half fighting HYDRA rather than the German or Japanese armies.
I get that they didn't want actual Nazis in the film for all sorts of reasons, international release issues being the biggest of them, but it does make the MCU's WWII a weirdly antiseptic affair that's mostly about super-serums and space lasers. Both the war and Cap's contribution to it therefore feel somewhat less significant than they do in the marginally more historically accurate iterations of the character from the comics.
posted by kewb at 8:44 AM on July 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
I get that they didn't want actual Nazis in the film for all sorts of reasons, international release issues being the biggest of them, but it does make the MCU's WWII a weirdly antiseptic affair that's mostly about super-serums and space lasers. Both the war and Cap's contribution to it therefore feel somewhat less significant than they do in the marginally more historically accurate iterations of the character from the comics.
posted by kewb at 8:44 AM on July 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
Agents of SHIELD and Cap 2 make the Howling Commandos out to be a Big Freaking Deal in WWII history. Presumably their battles with HYDRA (who were, after all, super-Nazis) were very well publicized. It doesn't make them any more relevant to our own history, but it works as an in-universe reason.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:49 AM on July 9, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:49 AM on July 9, 2014 [3 favorites]
One thing that's always bugged me about the MCU is the way it tries to use Captain America as the same kind of "Living Legend" as the comics, but per the first film, he's a USO laughingstock for half of the American war and spends the other half fighting HYDRA rather than the German or Japanese armies.
Bear in mind that there's been more than 60 years of conscious myth-building around Captain America between WWII and the first overt reference to him in the MCU.
posted by Etrigan at 8:51 AM on July 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
Bear in mind that there's been more than 60 years of conscious myth-building around Captain America between WWII and the first overt reference to him in the MCU.
posted by Etrigan at 8:51 AM on July 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
The second CA film does a lot better job than the first of realizing that a character like Captain America pretty much has to be situated amid real-world political concepts, albeit concepts exaggerated to a cartoonish degree so they fit with the genre trappings.
But the Red Skull and HYDRA in the first film don't really come across as Nazis, exactly, just as a mad scientist and his very-well-equipped henchmen. I suppose my objection applies more to the sanitized vision of history than to the internal logics of the timeline.
posted by kewb at 8:53 AM on July 9, 2014
But the Red Skull and HYDRA in the first film don't really come across as Nazis, exactly, just as a mad scientist and his very-well-equipped henchmen. I suppose my objection applies more to the sanitized vision of history than to the internal logics of the timeline.
posted by kewb at 8:53 AM on July 9, 2014
Anyone else got their fingers crossed for an MCU remake of Blade?
posted by fight or flight at 8:54 AM on July 9, 2014
posted by fight or flight at 8:54 AM on July 9, 2014
Nah, Snipes nailed it.
posted by biffa at 9:00 AM on July 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by biffa at 9:00 AM on July 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
So Avengers came out in 2012, but it depicted events that occurred in 2011? Weird.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:04 AM on July 9, 2014
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:04 AM on July 9, 2014
~2600 BC: En Sabah Nur constructs a Pyramid in Egypt.
I got angry because that scene was SO FAKE. Domesticated horses weren't introduced to Egypt until c. 2000 BCE.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 9:06 AM on July 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
I got angry because that scene was SO FAKE. Domesticated horses weren't introduced to Egypt until c. 2000 BCE.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 9:06 AM on July 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
Where are the events of Agents of SHIELD?
posted by Jacqueline at 9:14 AM on July 9, 2014
posted by Jacqueline at 9:14 AM on July 9, 2014
Where are the events of Agents of SHIELD?
posted by Etrigan at 9:17 AM on July 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
Item 169: COULSON ASSEMBLES HIS TEAMLooks like he just kinda gave up on it. Or else couldn't firmly attach dates to the events.
Agent Grant Ward is upgraded up to security clearance level seven, SHIELD. This finalises Coulsons handpicked team.
posted by Etrigan at 9:17 AM on July 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
There's not much in the show to peg where particular events land in the timeline between the formation of the team and Winter Soldier.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:20 AM on July 9, 2014
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:20 AM on July 9, 2014
It doesn't detail Winter Soldier either, other than noting it exists. Clearly a work in progress, but then aren't we all?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:21 AM on July 9, 2014
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:21 AM on July 9, 2014
So, when was Star-Lord born ?
posted by Pendragon at 9:23 AM on July 9, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Pendragon at 9:23 AM on July 9, 2014 [3 favorites]
Who?
posted by heathkit at 9:27 AM on July 9, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by heathkit at 9:27 AM on July 9, 2014 [5 favorites]
Star-Lord! The legendary outlaw!
(I was at the IMAX preview on Monday and I cannot wait for August 1 now, Rocket and Groot were amazing)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:30 AM on July 9, 2014
(I was at the IMAX preview on Monday and I cannot wait for August 1 now, Rocket and Groot were amazing)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:30 AM on July 9, 2014
So, when was Star-Lord born ?
Late sixties/early seventies based on the comics origin and his mix tape.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 10:28 AM on July 9, 2014
Late sixties/early seventies based on the comics origin and his mix tape.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 10:28 AM on July 9, 2014
One thing that's always bugged me about the MCU is the way it tries to use Captain America as the same kind of "Living Legend" as the comics, but per the first film, he's a USO laughingstock for half of the American war and spends the other half fighting HYDRA rather than the German or Japanese armies.
Worse, he enlists after Pearl Harbour.
posted by MartinWisse at 10:41 AM on July 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
Worse, he enlists after Pearl Harbour.
posted by MartinWisse at 10:41 AM on July 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
My inner rpg nerd was very happy to see this link. It'll make MCU games much easier.
posted by immlass at 11:40 AM on July 9, 2014
posted by immlass at 11:40 AM on July 9, 2014
I get that they didn't want actual Nazis in the film for all sorts of reasons, international release issues being the biggest of them, but it does make the MCU's WWII a weirdly antiseptic affair that's mostly about super-serums and space lasers. Both the war and Cap's contribution to it therefore feel somewhat less significant than they do in the marginally more historically accurate iterations of the character from the comics.
As I said when I walked out of the first Captain America movie and have not stopped saying since, it would take almost nothing to change that film from a Captain America reboot to a GI Joe Origin story. Hydra is basically Cobra, right down to the damn laser guns, and the Red Skull as depicted may as well be Cobra Commander. And don't get me started on that incredibly goofy salute.
posted by Tomorrowful at 12:08 PM on July 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
As I said when I walked out of the first Captain America movie and have not stopped saying since, it would take almost nothing to change that film from a Captain America reboot to a GI Joe Origin story. Hydra is basically Cobra, right down to the damn laser guns, and the Red Skull as depicted may as well be Cobra Commander. And don't get me started on that incredibly goofy salute.
posted by Tomorrowful at 12:08 PM on July 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
Hydra is basically Cobra, right down to the damn laser guns, and the Red Skull as depicted may as well be Cobra Commander. And don't get me started on that incredibly goofy salute.
G.I. Joe, in its "real American Hero" incarnation, started as a rejected pitch for a Nick Fury vs. HYDRA series by Larry Hama. Hasbro began contacting comics publishers to do licensed property comics they could base toys on, since there was a loophole in children's programming regulations that allowed people to run a cartoon based on a preexisting "literary" property and still profit from selling toys based on it. So Hama retooled his pitch to create Cobra and a bunch of colorful Joes, Marvel started publishing its comic, and the cartoon and toyline rolled out soon after.
In other words, Cobra was originally based on HYDRA.
posted by kewb at 12:43 PM on July 9, 2014 [3 favorites]
G.I. Joe, in its "real American Hero" incarnation, started as a rejected pitch for a Nick Fury vs. HYDRA series by Larry Hama. Hasbro began contacting comics publishers to do licensed property comics they could base toys on, since there was a loophole in children's programming regulations that allowed people to run a cartoon based on a preexisting "literary" property and still profit from selling toys based on it. So Hama retooled his pitch to create Cobra and a bunch of colorful Joes, Marvel started publishing its comic, and the cartoon and toyline rolled out soon after.
In other words, Cobra was originally based on HYDRA.
posted by kewb at 12:43 PM on July 9, 2014 [3 favorites]
For more on how Marvel's Nick Fury spinoff became Hasbro's cash cow cartoon franchise, here's Jim Shooter's account of the whole thing and here's an entry in Comics Should Be Good's "Comics Urban Legends Revealed" column showing some of the designs that were retooled from Hama's Fury Force pitch to work for the G.I. Joe license. (The original link to the designs is defunct, sadly.)
posted by kewb at 12:49 PM on July 9, 2014
posted by kewb at 12:49 PM on July 9, 2014
It's just as well. Chris Latta would have made a very strange Red Skull.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:54 PM on July 9, 2014
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:54 PM on July 9, 2014
~2600 BC: En Sabah Nur constructs a Pyramid in Egypt.
I got angry because that scene was SO FAKE. Domesticated horses weren't introduced to Egypt until c. 2000 BCE.
They were probably robot horses. (I base this solely on having watched the cartoon as a kid.)
posted by eruonna at 2:25 PM on July 9, 2014
I got angry because that scene was SO FAKE. Domesticated horses weren't introduced to Egypt until c. 2000 BCE.
They were probably robot horses. (I base this solely on having watched the cartoon as a kid.)
posted by eruonna at 2:25 PM on July 9, 2014
In other words, Cobra was originally based on HYDRA.
posted by kewb
That's what yer mom said.
posted by COBRA! at 2:28 PM on July 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by kewb
That's what yer mom said.
posted by COBRA! at 2:28 PM on July 9, 2014 [2 favorites]
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posted by explosion at 8:31 AM on July 9, 2014 [1 favorite]