Continuity is a tricky thing. Have too little and it’s pointless, have too much and it’s constricting. Ever sinceIron Man(2008) ended withNick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson)telling Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) he was “part of a bigger universe,” theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)has altered the cinematic landscape through successfully introducing an interconnected “shared universe” and mega-franchises to the big screen. The validation ofThe Avengers’(2012) success led to many imitators, including the upcoming“MonsterVerse” crossoverGodzilla vs. Kongand attempt of Marvel Comics’ constant counterpart, DC Comics, with theDC Extended Universe (DCEU).
Although undeniably appear in the MCU’s wake andfacing constant comparisons, the DCEU can boast certain advantages from Marvel Movies, like an overall darker tone and more individualistic films. Plus, the DCEU actually has tighter continuity than the MCU. This seems strange, since the DCEU has long been labeled a “mess” that will utilize a Flashpoint-style “reset” of its universe, but on a technical level, the MCU has made more continuity mistakes. Admittedly, this primarily a product of the MCU’s success. It has far more projects than the DCEU – 23 to its 9 – and started longer ago, and the result of having bigger territory is that it’s easier for continuity cracks to appear.
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The MCU’s Teething Problems
The MCU has done a fantastic job steadily expanding its universe, all collected inthe overarching “Infinity Saga.”But closer inspection reveals not every step was precisely engineered. For instance,Iron Manhas Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) discussing a new Governmental agency withPepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), admitting that they’re “working on” the name, before revealing that it’s S.H.I.E.L.D. However, films likeCaptain America: The Winter Soldier(2014),Ant-Man(2015) andCaptain Marvel(2019) all show that S.H.I.E.L.D. existed decades, at least, beforeIron Man.
This demonstrates how “Phase One” MCU wasn’t completely confident about how the movies would develop. S.H.I.E.L.D.’s mention teased the MCU’s future, but couldn’t predict how it would reverberate into its past. A similar thing happenedinThor(2011), which featured an Easter Egg of an Infinity Gauntlet in Odin’s Vault. This becomes contradicted when Thanos (Josh Brolin) has his own, custom-made, Infinity Gauntlet. Although,Thor: Ragnarök(2017)would retroactively “correct” this minor continuity error by Hela (Cate Blanchett) revealing Odin’s version was “a fake.”
MCU projects can’t always predict where the overall story will take them. Another, more subjective, continuity shift is how Iron Man says he and Pepper Potts are “taking a break” inCaptain America: Civil War.But when he next appears inSpider-Man Homecoming(2017), Tony and Pepper are back together, andHomecomingeven ends on them getting engaged. Again this is not exactly a “mistake” – it’s very possible for Tony and Pepper to work out their issues between movies – but simply demonstrates how the MCU can often change course.
The Spider-Man Timeline
However,Spider-Man: Homecomingdoes feature the MCU’s most concrete continuity errors. An opening scene shows the aftermath ofThe Avengers, before a title-card flashes forward “eight years later.” But if the assumption is that (modern-day) MCU films take place in the year they’re released, andThe Avengershappened in 2012, thenHomecomingoccurs in 2020. This timeline would be fine, if strange, so long as it’s kept consistent, but other MCU films contradict this.Avengers: Infinity War(2018) has Tony mention thatThe Avengershappened “six years ago,” reaffirming that it takes place in 2018, even if it’s set afterHomecoming.
The rest of the MCU has essentially ignoredHomecoming’s “eight years later” title-card. Even MCUdirector Joe Russo has commentedit was a “very incorrect eight years.” Although the MCU’s timeline becomes complicated again when youconsiderAvengers: Endgame(2019)takes place “five years” afterInfinity War, meaning it and the MCU going forward are set in 2023.
Thisinternal timeline is easy to ignore, butHomecomingfeatures more blatant continuity issues. It opens with an alternative viewpoint ofCivil Warfrom Spider-Man’s (Tom Holland) perspective, as he films a vlog. Therefore, we see him amidst the airport battle, including when Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) grows giant as a distraction behind him. Spider-Man mumbles to the camera how “he’s big now, I gotta go,” before taking off. However, this directly contradictsCivil War, which featured Spider-Man shouting “holy s***!” at him. It is possible that such “errors” arise fromHomecomingbeing a co-production between Disney and Sony, and therefore subject to different processes and rigor than other MCU films. Although the likely answer is simply that each filmmaker thought their own Spider-Man reaction was funny.
Marvel TV’s (lack of) Overlap
Another studio divisionwas between Marvel Studios and Marvel TV,with Kevin Feige reportedly having “frustrated” relationships with Marvel Entertainment CEO Ike Perlmutter and Marvel TV head Jeph Loeb. So although properties likeMarvel’s Netflix shows(Daredevil, Jessica Jonesetc.) and ABC’sAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.nominally existed in the MCU, their overlap was minimized. Netflix’sDefendersshows make fleeting references to New York’s destruction fromThe Avengersand “the big blonde dude with the hammer,” but not much else, while later MCU events were ignored by the Netflix shows (and vice-versa). The factLuke Cageand the MCU have double-booked actors, Alfre Woodard andMahershala Ali, further shows they should be considered separately.
Things were slightly different withAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D., given howPhil Coulson originated inIron Manand the first few seasons made copious references to the Avengers and the wider MCU.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.even featured MCU supporting characters like Nick Fury, Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), and Lady Sif (Jaime Alexander). Indeed, the show’s entire status quo was radically altered – and drastically improved – byCaptain America: The Winter Soldierrevealing that HYDRA had been secretly infiltrating S.H.I.E.L.D.
However, it became clear such continuity was a one-way street.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.could only play second-fiddle to the mainstream MCU, and would not impact the films. Gradually, the series became disconnected from MCU continuity, so that even thoughthey namecheck Thanosin the Season 5 finale, the show makes no mention ofInfinity War’s events.
Marvel’s new Disney+ shows are far more connected to the MCU, dealing withmajor characters reacting to the aftermath ofEndgame. Such shows are considered “more” canon, and therefore further erase Marvel TV. This becomes clear when, inWandaVision, Agatha Harkness (Kathyrn Hahn) showcases“the Darkhold” and its magical properties. However,Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.also featured the Darkhold in its fourth season, with Ghost Rider (Gabriel Luna) eventually taking it to Hell to “keep it safe.” It is possible there are multiple Darkholds, or that Agatha somehow recovered it from Ghost Rider. But since the design and functionality are completely different it’s safe to assumeWandaVisionsimply didn’t considerAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s continuity and that Marvel TV is not considered canon.
The DCEU’s Different Approach to Continuity
The DCEU has been accused of being “rushed,” FollowingMan of Steel(2013), which introduced Superman (Henry Cavil) as the “first” superhero in a relatively “realistic” world,Batman v Superman(2016) radically expanded the DCEU by showing that Batman (Ben Affleck) has operated for years, and that Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) has existed since WW1. Diana’s reclusive characterization inBatman v SupermanandJustice League(2017) clashes against her open intervention in her solo films. AlthoughWonder Woman 1984(2020)makes a point of Diana hiding her public existence, this is only half-heartedly done to fit withBatman v Superman’s explanation.
But although the DCEU was somewhat compressed, it does not have the same continuity errors as the MCU. Ironically, since the DCEU is more fast-and-loose with details than the MCU, it can “get away” with much more. CrammingJustice League(both versions)with multiple first appearances might make it overstuffed, but also leaves less room for contradiction. Similarly,Birds of Prey(2020)makes minimal references toSuicide Squad(2016), butHarley Quinn (Margot Robbie)also doesn’t contradict her previous DCEU appearance. The MCU invests more in continuity, and therefore faces more downsides, while the DCEU is more relaxed with telling stand-alone stories, and therefore faces fewer issues.
This extends to DC featuring “non-canon” films. Marvel has teased at the multiverse but not yet committed, butDC has wholeheartedly embraced it.BothJoker(2019) andMatt Reeve’s upcomingThe Batmantake place outside DCEU continuity, therebyallowing creative freedomwithout immediate concerns of consistency or “world-building.” And unlike Marvel TV’s half-hearted attempt to connect to the MCU, DC’s TV shows can operate in their own separate timeline.
So, theCW’s bustling Arrowversecan feature their own interpretation of mainstream characters, whilst also having its Flash (Grant Gustin) briefly meet the DCEU’s Flash (Ezra Miller) during “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” By having DCEU properties explicitly exist in separate universes, they possess a clean break from dogged continuity, and do not have to maintain the same detailed consistency – and face the same associated issues – as the MCU.
