Leading up to the release of Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War, we’re taking a look back at every element of the MCU thus far. This film is the culmination of everything that began with the first Iron Man film in 2008, and so we want to prepare you for what may be the biggest film of all time. We’re looking at all 18 films released thus far, and tons of other elements of the MCU as a whole. Today we continue our Countdown with a look at the entirety of the Phase 3 films, from Captain America: Civil War to Black Panther!
We’re gonna make this short and sweet, looking at the elements of each film that should directly tie into Infinity War, or have the potential to play into the film. We start with Captain America: Civil War!
Captain America: Civil War
- Sokovia Accords are introduced to help oversee the Avengers.
- The Avengers are torn apart by the Sokovia Accords.
- Spider-Man begins working as a “junior Avenger” under the leadership of Tony Stark.
- Bucky Barnes is taken to Wakanda for safe keeping and to potentially have his mind repaired.
- Hawkeye, Falcon, Ant-Man and Scarlet Witch are arrested and sent to the Raft, a maximum security prison in the ocean. Cap breaks them out.
Doctor Strange
- Doctor Stephen Strange is injured during a car accident and ends up joining the Masters of the Mystic Arts, becoming the Sorcerer Supreme.
- The Time Infinity Stone is used by Doctor Strange, and kept safe in his headquarters, the Sanctum Sanctorum.
- Baron Mordo abandons the Masters of the Mystic arts and sets out to take away powers from other Sorcerers.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- Peter Quill discovers that his father is Ego, the Living Planet.
- Peter and the Guardians of the Galaxy kill Ego.
- Yondu Udonta dies after helping destroy Ego.
- Mantis, an alien with empath abilities, joins the Guardians.
- Stakar, and his original team of Ravagers (Charlie-27, Aleta Ogord, Mainframe and Krugarr) unite after the death of Yondu. (In the comics they were essentially the original Guardians team.)
- Stan Lee is seen with the Watchers, it is implied that he’s their spy on Earth.
- After fighting with the Guardians Ayesha, the high priestess of the Soverign, decides to create the ultimate man to defeat the Guardians. She names him Adam.
- Peter Quill’s walkman is destroyed but he is given a Zune by Yondu (posthumously, via Kraglin).
- Baby Groot grows to adolescence, with the Guardians seeming to understand his speech.
- It is revealed that Howard the Duck has escaped fro the Collector’s Museum after it blew up in the first film.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
- Peter Parker as Spider-Man, fights and defeats Adrian Toomes aka the Vulture.
- Toomes discovers that Peter is Spider-Man, but keeps his secret, even when asked about it by Mac Gargan (Scorpion) in prison.
- Peter is offered to join the Avengers by Tony Stark, he rejects the offer, deciding to grow as his own hero.
- Ned Leeds, Peter’s best friend discovers he’s Spider-Man.
- Aunt May discovers that Peter is Spider-Man.
Thor Ragnarok
- Asgard has been destroyed in Ragnarok.
- Thor loses Mjolnir, after his older sister, Hela, destroys it upon her escape from Hel.
- Odin passes away.
- Hulk has been hiding out on the Planet of Sakaar, battling in the Grandmaster’s contest of Champions.
- The Grandmaster is defeated after a revolution on Sakaar.
- Loki takes the Tesseract, the Space Infinity Stone, from Odin’s Vault as they leave Asgard before it’s destruction.
- Thanos’ ship meets the ship that Thor, Hulk, Loki and the Asgardians have escaped on.
Black Panther
- T’Challa has become king of Wakanda.
- T’Challa decides to open the borders of Wakanda to the rest of the world for the first time.
- Ulysses Klaue is killed.
- Erik Killmonger is killed in battle.
- Bucky Barnes has his mind repaired by Shuri, the younger sister of T’Challa.
- The “heart-shaped herbs” that help provide the power of the Black Panther are destroyed by Killmonger.
As of now, those are the biggest lingering elements of Phase 3 of the MCU that could come into play when Avengers: Infinity War hits theaters TONIGHT!
Be sure to keep an eye out for even more Infinity War coverage throughout today and the rest of this weekend! And you can check out all of our Countdown to Infinity Series here:
Iron Man
The Incredible Hulk
Iron Man 2
Thor
Captain America: The First Avenger
MCU Timeline Part 1 The Birth of the MCU
MCU Timeline Pt. 2 1900-WW2
Avengers
MCU Timeline Pt. 3 1946-1979
MCU Timeline Pt. 4 1980-1999
MCU Timeline Pt. 5 2000-2008
MCU Timeline Pt. 6 2009
MCU Timeline Pt. 7 2010-2011
MCU Timeline Pt. 8 2012
Iron Man 3
MCU Phase 2 Films
Poor Man's Spoiler 