The Marvel Cinematic Universe Tag

Time to blow the dust off Adventure Awaits again! I didn't mean to be absent for a whole month, but I'm happy to report I've emerged from college alive and well.

Well. That status might change once I see Avengers: Endgame this weekend.

In preparation for possibly the greatest superhero film of the decade, the brilliant Christine Smith has invented an MCU tag, which I am blatantly stealing. (Spoilers for MCU films up to and including Captain Marvel will abound! You've been warned.)

Credit goes to Christine Smith

Here we go . . .

Thor // Pinterest

1. How were you introduced into the MCU fandom?

I'm pretty sure I have my brother, Josiah @ The Steadfast Pen, to thank for watching Captain America: The First Avenger and then telling me I'd love it too.

You should've heard me when the plane went down at the end. "That's how it ends?" I shrieked. Josiah didn't say a word and let me sit in agony until Cap wakes up in the present. Needless to say, I became a Marvel fan.

2. What’s your favorite Marvel film?

THIS IS NOT A FAIR QUESTION, CHRISTINE.

All of the Captain America movies, obviously, with Winter Soldier barely edging out the other two. Spider-Man: Homecoming is another huge favorite, because finally--FINALLY--we got a Peter Parker that was young enough, dorky enough, and earnest enough without being overly melodramatic. (Sorry, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield.) I also love all the Avengers films. And Thor: Ragnarok. And Doctor Strange. And--okay, I'll stop.

3. Top favorite Marvel character?

Preeeetty sure you've figured it out by now.

Captain America // Pinterest

Steve Rogers epitomizes true heroism. But Peter Parker is now tied as my favorite character ever since Homecoming.

"The spider is dead." // Pinterest

Very, very close runners-up (because I can never pick one favorite) include Bucky Barnes, Loki, Tony Stark, Peggy Carter, Shuri . . . the list goes on.

4. If you were transported into the MCU and had to trade places with one of the superheroes, who would you choose?

Um . . . none of them?! I wouldn't last five minutes.

I think I'll borrow Christine's answer and say Ant-Man, because he seems to have the calmest life of the bunch.

Scott Lang // Pinterest

But I'd take Thor's place on Asgard prior to Ragnarok, because it's pretty cool. Oooh, or Hawkeye whenever he gets a chance to chill on his farm with his kids.

Hawkeye // Pinterest

5. What are some of your favorite quotes from the films?

How many am I allowed to pick?

"You get hurt, hurt 'em back. You get killed, walk it off." -Captain America (Age of Ultron)

"Oh, we're using our made up names." -Spider-Man (Infinity War)

"Get this man a shield." -Black Panther (Infinity War)

"He's a friend from work!" -Thor (Ragnarok)

Hulk & Thor // Pinterest

"Elevator's not worthy." -Captain America (Age of Ultron)

"Even if the whole world is telling you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye, and say, 'No, you move.'" -Sharon Carter (Civil War)

"I promise you brother, the sun will shine on us again." -Loki (Infinity War)

"Language!" -Captain America (Age of Ultron)

"Doth Mother know you weareth her drapes?" -Iron Man (The Avengers)

"I've mastered the ability of standing so incredibly still that I become invisible to the eye. Watch." -Drax (Infinity War)

"I recognize that the council has made a decision, but given that it's a stupid-a** decision, I've elected to ignore it." -Nick Fury (The Avengers)

"Don't do anything stupid until I get back."

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you."

-Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers (The First Avenger)

"Do you know how to fly this thing?"

"We'll see."

"That's a yes or no question."

"Yes."

-Nick Fury and Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel)

"Well done, you just decapitated your grandfather!" -Loki (The Dark World)

"I'm Mary Poppins, y'all!" -Yondu (Guardians of the Galaxy Volume II)

Okay, I'll stop here. There's way too many more!

6. Which crew would you want to be part of the most: Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, or Revengers?

The Avengers, hands down!

7. Favorite and least favorite ship?

Steve and Peggy are one of my favs. And . . . hmm. I feel like the MCU excels in bromances and friendship in general, but I can't think of very many romance pairings that I really, really love. Wait--if we're counting the Amazing Spider-Man films, then I adore Peter and Gwen together.

Least favorite ship? I'm not sure on that one either. I guess Bruce and Natasha.

8. Favorite and least favorite villain?

Favorite: LOKIIII. But I do get tired of the fangirls who excuse his crimes just because he's "misunderstood." He is that, but he also made some horrendous decisions. If he wasn't so charismatic, I doubt he'd be nearly as popular as he is. The reason I love Loki's character is because he's complicated--he has the potential for good and evil, and we see him waver between the two.

Loki // Pinterest

Least favorite: Abomination from The Incredible Hulk. First of all, that's probably my least favorite Marvel movie, and second, Abomination is just plain ugly to look at.

9. Unpopular MCU opinion?

Ultron is a fantastic villain. I'm not sure why people give him--and the whole movie--a hard time. He was perfectly chilling, the way he learned and planned and spoke as an AI.

"Everyone creates the thing they dread. Men of peace create engines of war. Invaders create Avengers. People create... smaller people? Er... children! I lost the word there. Children. Designed to supplant them. To help them... end."

Plus we have the bonus of Ultron being Tony Stark's fear-fuelled creation. Yay for internal conflict becoming external conflict!

10. What’s your favorite Stan Lee cameo scene?

CHRISTINE, STOP MAKING ME PICK. I laughed every time Stan Lee showed up on screen. It's going to be so different not to see him anymore.

But okay, if I have to choose, it's the "Tony Stank" comment in Civil War, but I also love the "Did it work?" line when he tries towing Mjolnir in the first Thor movie.

Thanks for letting me steal the tag, Christine! It's the perfect way to reminisce on all the Marvel adventures we've been given thus far . . . right before I go have my heart shredded for three hours in the theater.

Who's ready to see Avengers: Endgame? Have you seen it already? (Let's keep the comments spoiler-free for that movie if you have!) And tell me YOUR favorite Marvel character and Marvel quote!