It looks like the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is starting with WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Phase Four of the MCU is here, but let’s not wildly speculate, Mephisto. It is possible to glean hints of the MCU from the comics. We had the introduction of Billy and Tommy who were “born”(?) in the third episode, “Now in Color”, of WandaVision. In the comics, Wanda gave birth to the twins in The Vision and Scarlet Witch #12 (1986). We find that the twins rapidly grow up, which is a funny nod to the sitcoms, but also that they are independent of the control by their mother. There are hints of their powers, especially in the last episode, but also that the twins are a part of the reality of the Hex or whatever it is called. Wanda understands that she can’t keep up the Hex for its cost to innocent Westview citizens. She shuts it down, but this also eliminates the children. Or does it? Back to the comics, Wanda found out the “truth” of her children in West Coast Avengers #52 (1989). Master Pandemonium was using pieces of Mephisto that Wanda had used with her powers to create the twins and they are eliminated, kinda.
You actually can’t trust a guy named Mephisto to tell the truth, in Scarlet Witch #8 (2016), it is revealed that the twins were “lost souls” and we later find out the twins are reborn to different families. Billy is William Kaplan and Tommy is Thomas Shepherd. This is still getting tricky, in Young Avengers #1 (2005) we find out that William Kaplan is the superhero Wiccan. The superhero, later naming himself Speed, is really Thomas Shepherd who appears in Young Avengers #10 (2006). The Vision tells the twins what happened in Young Avengers #11 (2006). Now, we have Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, set for release on March 2022. We know Wanda is in it, it could be she needs Strange’s help to save the twins, captured by Mephisto? I’m not certain how this will be set up because it may need pre-knowledge of the WandaVision show. It also ties into the Loki series set to debut on Disney+ on June 11th. It deals with the Time Variance Authority and probably has problems with the Time Stone and eventually who I think will be the Big Bad of Phase 4!
Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness also brings in America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez). All of these time problems, I think will tie in to Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania which will be released sometime in 2022. The villain in that movie was revealed to be Kang the Conqueror, who first appeared as Kang in The Avengers #8 (1964). He is an enemy who can manipulate time with 40th century tech and he has a super suit. I thought that Kang would be the next Avengers’ villain because the only way to top Thanos is to have a foe who can change time. He could bring characters from the past like Tony Stark(?) or Killmonger. Also, Kang could transport Avengers into the past. “Wibbly-Wobbly, Timey-Wimey stuff.” Could Kang have taken the Time Stone? Ant Man 3 also has Kathryn Newton as an older Cassie Lang, she was eight years old in the first Ant Man. After the Blip, Cassie has grown up. She first appeared with her father in Marvel Premiere #47 (1979). In Young Avengers #6 (2006), Cassie becomes the superhero Stature.
Avengers #16 also had the Masters of Evil, a team of villains, formed by Baron Zemo. Their team was made up of Black Knight (Nathan Garrett), Melter (Bruno Horgan), Executioner, and Enchantress. The point of the supervillain team was to have opponents who were matches for the Avengers. Executioner was played by Karl Urban in Thor: Ragnarok (2017). Also, word is that Tim Roth is returning as the Abomination in the She-Hulk series. She-Hulk joined the team in Avengers #221 (1982). We also have Jacques Duquesne (Tony Dalton) introduced in the Hawkeye show. He was the supervillain known as The Swordsman first appearing in Avengers #19 (1965). It is very possible that Black Knight is part of the Masters of Evil, he was corrupted by his Ebony Sword, he may be made an ally by Sersei in the Avengers 3 movie. I’m also suspecting that the threat to Ironheart, Riri Williams (Dominque Thorne) in her series, could lead to Armor Wars. The later was a storyline that ran in Iron Man #225-232 (1987-1988).
In the comic, Tony Stark finds out that Force, Carl Walker, has armor based on his design. This was a character who first appeared in Prince Namor, the Savage Sub-Mariner #67 (1972). So I imagine he will be the villain. He has his armor modified by Justin Hammer, who was played by Sam Rockwell, he was arrested at the end of Iron Man 2 (2010). The technology leads to the creation of Mandroids. Iron Man, probably War Machine now, has to defeat all of the armored villains including Crimson Dynamo from Iron Man #109 (1978) and Titanium Man introduced in Tales of Suspense #69 (1965). I see the stand out to be Force. I imagine that the characters might show up in Black Widow. We know that Zemo (Daniel Brühl) returns in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He may form the Masters of Evil or whatever name given for the MCU version. I suspect that Zemo and his team will be the Big Bad for Phase 4!
So let’s look at the Avengers team. The initial team was Iron Man, Thor, Hulk (he left in issue #2!), Ant-Man (Hank Pym), and Wasp (Janet Van Dyne). In Avengers #16 (1965), some of the members left the team; Iron Man (Tony Stark), Thor, Giant Man, and Wasp. Captain America stayed on with the addition of Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver. We already had the introduction of Monica Rambeau in WandaVision. She had the code-name Captain Marvel, but most likely it will be Spectrum. Monica joined in Avengers #227 (1983). We also have the upcoming Eternals movie directed by Academy Award winner (?) Chloé Zhao. One of the important Eternals is Sersei played by Gemma Chan. In Avengers #314 (1990), she joined the team. Another is Gilgamesh, the super strong Eternal, played by Ma Dong-Seok. He joined the Avengers in Avengers #300 (1989). The new Avengers team may be Ironheart to take the place of Iron Man(?), Falcon may take Captain America’s shield, She-Hulk for Hulk, Thor’s place could be taken by Gilgamesh, Spectrum, and Sersei could become the sorceress in Scarlet Witch’s position. Plus, I think the leader will be Wasp (Hope Van Dyne) like in the comics.
What about the Young Avengers? I think we were only given hints of the Young Avengers in Phase 4. The team, I think, will be in Phase 5! Wiccan and Speed from WandaVision will appear as young adult superheroes. Then, we have Kate Bishop, played by Hailee Steinfeld. She will debut in the Hawkeye show towards the end of the year. There is also Theodore “Teddy” Altman known as Hulkling. This hero might be tied into the Secret Invasion series with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Ben Mendesohn as Talos. His true identity was revealed in the comic series of the same name. Hulkling later has a relationship with Wiccan. Miss America (America Chavez) is on the team. We also have Stature (Cassie Lang) adding to the team roster. The Vision, White Vision?, was an important part of forming the new Avengers. So all of the MCU shows and movies are building towards Young Avengers. I think Phase 4 will be too early to have them as a team. I think Kang is the Big Bad in the shadows like Thanos. Kang was the villain in Young Avengers #1! How the MCU will work out is all conjecture for now. Phase 4 and 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will take some time to unfold, but there are promises with them!
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