For years, this will ALWAYS be a hot button topic of debate. I have often wrestled with this list for quite a while because a Top 10 list of anything is never easy, as I have experience in that area. Top 50 Lists are even tougher just because of how many more names you have to add. The reason why coming up with any list can be a challenge is simply two main factors:

• Criteria
• Biases

Even when coming up with a personal favorites list, it is still hard because you have to juggle different names together without slighting one for the other. When it comes to Superheroes, it definitely applies because of the two biggest dogs in the yard: Marvel and DC. As for me, I like to search for different lists for greatest heroes so that I can get a feel of where a certain character is ranked while I have already come up with my own conclusion for the most part. I like to see what kinds of criteria have been set up to see why a certain hero is placed where they are. This is what I had to do with my Top 10 Black Superheroes list.

My Criteria consists of the following:
Power
Popularity
Impact 

With the renaissance of the Superhero Movie Genre, it is only appropriate that this is the time and season for me to finally release my own Top 10 Superheroes list. 

10. Green Lantern 

Comic World: DC

Real Name: Hal Jordan

First Appearance: Showcase #22 (October 1959)

Powers/Abilities: 

Wields Green Lantern ring to become semi-invulnerable

Capable of building solid-light constructs with imagination

Creates projectile attacks

Flight

Communicates to ring wielders

Generates force fields

Skilled Boxer

Expert Pilot

"In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight
Let those who worship evil's might,
Beware my power...Green Lantern's light!"

The Oath that is synonymous with the Green Lantern Corps, the intergalactic police force for DC Comics. When you think of Green Lantern, generally the most synonymous wielder of this powerful ring is a former fighter pilot named Harold "Hal" Jordan. Hal is most the most recognizable face of the Green Lantern as he is occasionally the leader of the Lantern Corps. When the World of Comics reached the Silver Age during the mid to late '50s, two major characters would receive replacements: Flash and Green Lantern. After Barry Allen took over Jay Garrick's position as The Flash in 1956, DC decided to replace the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott three years later. Alan's replacement would come in the form of Hal Jordan himself. It is only fitting considering how Barry and Hal would become the closest of friends in the Justice League, similar to Batman and Superman. Hal was a second-generation pilot following his father's footsteps. Jordan was given the power ring and battery (lantern) by a dying alien named Abin Sur, whose spaceship crashed on Earth. Abin Sur used his ring to find an individual who was "utterly honest and born without fear" to take his place as a member of the Lantern Corps. Hal fit the criteria for what it took to become a Green Lantern because of his fearlessness. The Green Lantern ring is powered by the will of the person who wears it. The stronger the will, the more powerful the ring. Hal Jordan's will is the strongest of any wielder of the power ring and lantern, as it is evident in what he creates with them. Jordan also uses the ring to fly, even through the vacuum of space; to create different weapons such as shields, swords, lasers, or any other weapon his mind comes up with. Hal's will and imagination have helped him to create some of the most powerful projectiles and light constructs in the galaxy. Jordan is also instrumental as one of the founding members of the Justice League. Even though the on-screen portrayal by Ryan Reynolds has put a dent into his legacy, it is still not enough to completely overthrow the overall greatness and importance of Green Lantern to DC and comics in general. 

9. Incredible Hulk
Comic World: Marvel
Real Name: Bruce Banner
First Appearance: Incredible Hulk #1 (May 1962)

Powers/Abilities:
Superhuman Strength
Superhuman Durability
Regeneration
Speed
Impenetrable Skin

The Jekyll and Hyde of the nuclear era. Part of what makes the Hulk such a compelling figure is that we get to see Bruce Banner wrestle with his inner psychological baggage. Bruce already had a traumatizing childhood as he witnessed an abusive father which already triggers his anger "issues". Add that with a freak accident where he gets hit with a gamma ray turning him into a giant green nuclear monster fueled by rage. You definitely don't want to get on the wrong side of him. Hulk is one of the founding members of the Avengers as he is one of the Top 4 members of the group (Ironman, Captain America, Thor). Hulk and Thor certainly have a friendly rivalry of sorts to see who is the Strongest Avenger. Thor is definitely Hulk's greatest dance partner, along with Wolverine as those battles have brought the best out of the Jade Green Giant. Originally, the Hulk was gray. However, there was some kind of issue with the printing of the comics which made his skin green. From that point, the rest was history. The Hulk's feats of strength are the stuff of legends. From picking up Mjolnir to pulling a broken planet back together, to cracking the Earth's core with a punch to the ground. The Hulk is a special attraction simply because of his brute strength. I would consider the Hulk to be the Andre the Giant of Comics. Whether he is green, gray or red, a Las Vegas police officer, a scientist, rage-fueled monster or a gladiator on his own Planet full of other Hulks, all we want to see is Hulk does what he does best: SMASH!!! Hulk did not fully redeem himself for the long awaited rematch with Thanos, but he did perform the snap to bring everyone back in Endgame.

8. Thor

Comic World: Marvel
Real Name: Thor Odinson
First Appearance: Journey Into Mystery #83 (August 1962)

Powers/Abilities:
Superhuman Strength
Invulnerability
Superhuman Speed
Superhuman Stamina
Hand to Hand Combat
Durability
Supersonic Flight
Energy Manipulation (Electrokinesis/Weather Control)
Life-Force

Proud Son of Odin. From Prince to King of Asgard. Protector of the Nine Realms of the Galaxy. Thor was born into royalty. As the heir to Odin's throne, Thor was destined for greatness. Born to Odin, Father of Asgard and Gaea, goddess of the Elder gods, Thor was born to have his powers derived both from Asgard and Midgard (Earth). Even though he was born in a cave in Norway, Thor was brought by Odin and Gaea to Asgard to be raised. Thor was raised alongside his adopted brother Loki, who was taken in by Odin after his frost giant Father Laufey was killed in battle. Throughout childhood, Loki was jealous of Thor. Jealousy turned to hatred, which is what fueled Loki's desire to kill his brother, leading to their rivalry. When Thor was eight, Odin sent him to Nidavellir, the land of the Dwarves to ask the dwarf lords Brokk and Eitri to create a formidable weapon made out of the ancient Uru metal. That weapon was known as Mjolnir, as it would become his signature weapon. Odin placed an enchantment that whosoever holds the hammer if they are worthy they will possess the power of Thor. By the time Thor was 16, he became worthy to wield the Legendary Hammer. Thor would soon create his legacy as Asgard's greatest warrior. He would soon fall in love with Lady Sif, who became his synonymous love interest in Asgard. However, Thor's arrogance caused Odin to banish him to Earth so that he could learn humility. While on Earth, Thor took on the identity of Donald Blake, a disabled medical student. As Blake, Thor would develop a love interest with Jane Foster. After becoming a Doctor, Blake witnesses an alien scouting party while he is on vacation in Norway. Blake runs from the aliens into a cave/ Donald discovers a walking stick (Mjolnir in disguise) in the cave. He picks it up and strikes it against a rock turning him into Thor. After defeating the aliens, Thor shares a double life with his alter ego while developing a relationship with Foster which was against Odin's wishes. Thor is also synonymous with the Avengers, as he is one of their founding members and key heroes. Thor possesses Class 100 Superhuman Strength, which is in the same class as Superman, Hulk, Ironman, Thanos, Juggernaut, The Thing, and others. He is also highly durable and invulnerable. Thor has survived blasts from Celestials, Odin and others. One of Thor's greatest feats of strength includes holding the Midgard Serpent. This is special because the Serpent can literally wrap around the Earth. Thor has battled Olympians like Hercules as well as The Destroyer, which was made from Uru Metal. He has also gone toe to toe numerous times with Hulk to see who is truly the Strongest Avenger. If Hulk is Andre the Giant, Thor is his Hulk Hogan. The Gladiator fight in Thor Ragnarok was the perfect example of that. Thor has cemented his place in Comic Book history as a Worldbeating Hero that is respected by many. Now, Thor's latest renaissance has rejuvenated him and given him a stronger focus. This war with Thanos has brought out Thor's absolute best.

7. Captain America
Comic World: Marvel
Real Name: Steve Rogers
First Appearance: Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941)

Powers/Abilities:
Leader/Strategist
Hand-to-Hand Combat
Super-Soldier Serum
Vibranium Shield
Enhanced Strength (Olympian level)
Enhanced Speed (Olympian level)

America's Greatest Soldier. The ultimate symbol of honor, and humility. Steve Rogers is the Ultimate Patriot and the heartbeat of the Avengers. Born in Brooklyn, NY, Steve Rogers was drafted into World War II as a frail young man giving his life for war. While in the Military, Steve was injected with Super-Soldier Serum as an experiment. As a result, Rogers grew in size significantly to 6'2" 225+. The goal was to create the ultimate soldier against the Red Skull and the Nazi army. Thus, Captain America was born. With the help of the soldier serum, Cap's strength has increased to Olympian level strength. With Cap leading the way, America would be victorious over Germany. Cap's debut shows him punching Hitler in the face. However, Cap's popularity would soon wane as the Comic was discontinued by 1950. Cap would not reemerge until 1964 when he was discovered by the Avengers and joined the team. Since joining the Avengers, Cap has been a co-leader with Tony Stark (Ironman). Captain America is the heart of the team, while Ironman is the brain. Cap is also synonymous for his friendship with James "Bucky" Barnes, later known as the Winter Soldier. During their fight in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier", Cap was able to tap into Bucky's good side and see past the mind control from Hydra. This was pivotal because Cap was also able to expose Hydra's infiltration within Shield. After the Battle with Ultron in Sokovia, the Avengers were at a divide because of the Sokovia Accords. The Accords were created because of the damage that took place during the Ultron battle. This created a conflict among the Avengers leaders, Captain America and Ironman. Things really took a turn for the worse when it was revealed that Steve Rogers knew about Tony Stark's Parents being killed. What made things worse, Steve knew that Bucky did it, and he still took his side over Tony's. Stark took the Shield from Rogers because he knew that he was no longer worthy of carrying it. As a result, the Avengers broke up. Rogers reemerged during Avengers Infinity War after he got his comrades out of prison for the War that awaited them. Cap goes to Wakanda to get help from King T'Challa (Black Panther) as he receives vibranium shields for both of his arms. However, Thanos seized the opportunity to defeat the Avengers because they were divided. With the fate of the Universe on the line in Endgame, Cap rose to the occasion as he helped lead Earth's mightiest heroes to defeat Thanos in his Army while wielding Mjolnir. Cap has proven that he is indeed worthy.

6. Wonder Woman 

Comic World: DC

Real Name: Diana Prince

First Appearance: All-Star Comics #8 (October 1941)

Powers/Abilities:

Superhuman Strength

Speed

Flight

Nigh-invulnerability

Healing factor 

Semi-immortality

Amazonian martial artist

Weapons specialist (Sword & Shield)

Lasso of Truth

The First Lady of Comics. Symbol of Women's Empowerment. Trailblazer. All of these descriptions perfectly describe the Amazonian Princess herself, Wonder Woman. Diana is a trendsetter as the first Female Superhero. As the daughter of Zeus and Queen Hippolyta, Diana grew up in Themyscira (an isolated Amazon island) where she honed her skills as an Amazonian Warrior. She also has superhuman powers and gifts from Greek gods. Wonder Woman came at a pivotal time, as she was created during World War II when she was initially depicted fighting Axis military forces alongside Steve Trevor (a United States intelligence officer whose plane crashed on Themyscira where they first met). Diana and Steve would travel together to America where they fought crime and battled Nazis. Over time, Wonder Woman has broken the stereotypical "damsels in distress" stigma by even saving herself along with other gender barriers. Her stories have placed greater emphasis on monsters from Greek mythology, and deities while balancing other colorful characters and villains. Her main rivals consist of villains from Ares to Cheetah. Wonder Woman is also part of the Justice League Trinity as one of the founding members. The imprint that Wonder Woman has put on the world of Comics is immeasurable because of the ground that she has broken for Women. 

5. Wolverine

Comic World: Marvel

Real Name: James Howlett

First Appearance: Incredible Hulk #181 (November 1974)

Powers/Abilities: 

Accelerated healing factor

Superhuman Senses

Hand to hand combat

Adamantium Claws

The Ultimate Weapon X experiment. A Canadian buzzsaw. The Franchise of the X-Men. What else needs to be said about Wolverine that hasn't already been said? As the pride of Canada, James Howlett has spent his life fighting for survival. Logan started as an Agent within the CIA along with future rival Victor Creed (Sabretooth). However, they both had a falling out and went their separate ways. Wolverine was already born with an accelerated healing factor that slows down his aging process. Logan's superhuman senses are at another level altogether. He is most known for his claws that are laced with Adamantium thanks to the Weapon X program. Before joining the X-Men, Wolverine made his debut in a fight with the Incredible Hulk in Canada. The issue was so popular that Wolverine was in high demand. This caught Marvel's attention as he was added to the new X-Men lineup in 1975. This was the much-needed change that saved the X-Men. This also introduced new X-Men legends like Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Banshee. With Wolverine as Co-Captain to Cyclops, the X-Men reached greater heights of popularity. Wolverine also received his own series of Comics, starting in 1982. The Wolverine origin story is the stuff of legend because of how he was injected with Adamantium while being stuck inside of a giant tube. It was also recreated on the popular X-Men Animated Series. The series introduced a whole new generation of fans (including myself) to the X-Men with Wolverine as the driving force. His battles with Sabretooth and Omega Red were the things of legend. Wolverine's exposure was amplified even more with the X-Men movies with Hugh Jackman playing the title character. Not only is Wolverine the X-Men's greatest character, but he is also one of Marvel's greatest and most compelling characters along with one of their biggest money makers. 4. Ironman 

Comic World: Marvel

Real Name: Anthony Edward Stark "Tony"

First Appearance: Tales of Suspense #39 (March 1963)

Powers/Abilities: 

Superhuman Strength

Superhuman Speed

Flight

Durability

Genius-Level Intellect 

Artificial Intelligence

Repulsor Blasts

Energy Blasts

Lasers

Genius, Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist. Most fearless Avenger. Nothing else can best describe the very brains and centerpiece of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Anthony Edward "Tony" Stark started out as an egotistical and arrogant billionaire son of Howard Stark, founder of Stark Industries. Tony was an Arms dealer for the Military who only cared about himself. However, Tony's life would change when a piece of shrapnel from a missile got stuck in his heart. In order to save his life, Tony built the Ironman suit with an Arc Reactor to save his heart. From that point, Ironman was born. Since becoming Ironman, Tony has become a founding member of the Avengers. During their first mission, the Avengers were able to defeat Loki and the Chitauri Army because Ironman risked his life by taking a missile into space to blow up Thanos' ship. From that point, Stark and the Avengers have been marked as enemies for an even bigger threat down the line. Tony has gone from having a notorious drinking problem to kicking his habit for the greater good of others. Ironman's suit gives him Superhuman Strength (up to 100 tons), Speed, Flight, Durability along with Repulsor Blasts. Ironman's Armor also has a special Unibeam along with lasers. Tony is also a strategist who looks for ways to prepare for his next opponent or challenge as he builds a suit or technology geared for his specific opponent. The most famous example of that is his classic Hulkbuster Armor, geared for the Incredible Hulk. Stark holds a victory over Hulk with this Armor. After defeating Ultron, the Avengers were at a crossroads because of the destruction in Sokovia. Ironman was in favor of the Sokovia Accords because he took responsibility for what happened. Meanwhile, Captain America was against it because of how it restricted what the Avengers could do. This is what led to a Civil War between a divided team. However, things took a turn for the worst when it was revealed that Steve Rogers' longtime friend Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier), was responsible for killing Tony's Parents. What made matters worse were the fact that Steve knew, but he kept it as a secret from Tony. Bucky aided Cap in defeating Tony as the Avengers broke up. This left the window open for Thanos to attack and defeat the Avengers while collecting the Infinity Stones to destroy half of the Universe. Fortunately, the Avengers were able to reconcile after Stark came back from Space. Ironman was critical in helping the Avengers retrieve the Infinity Stones from the different timelines because of his knowledge of Quantum Physics and Time Travel. Tony even built his own Infinity Gauntlet so that Bruce Banner (Hulk) could undo the damage of the Snap from Infinity War. However, Ironman stepped in to make the BIGGEST sacrifice of them all by snatching the Infinity Stones from Thanos to make his own snap. Tony erased Thanos and his army, but it cost him his life. Ironman's legacy has reached new heights because of his impact within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). He has gone from a "B+/-A" Character to a certified A+ Household Name thanks to his portrayal by Robert Downey, Jr. My first exposure to Ironman came from the Marvel Super Heroes and Marvel vs Capcom 2 Games as well as the Animated Series. He was my favorite character to use in MvC2. To see him reach these heights is remarkable. 

3. Batman

Comic World: DC
Real Name: Bruce Wayne
First Appearance: Batman #1 (April 1939)

Powers/Abilities:
Skilled Hand to Hand Combat
Martial Arts Expert
Bat Utility Belt
Prep Time
Genius Intellect
Master Strategist

The Dark Knight. He is Vengeance. He is Night. He is Batman!! One of the building blocks and most recognizable Icons in Comic Book History. A year after the Man of Steel opened the door to open not only the World of Comics but the Universe, DC Comics had to build on that by creating a character that would forever be connected to him. Superman was about light, while Batman was about the mystery. After witnessing his Parent's murder, Bruce was raised by his butler Alfred Pennyworth. When Bruce was a teenager, he trained in Martial Arts with Ra'as Ahl Guhl. When Bruce returned, he became an expert along with excellent Detective skills. Since becoming the Dark Knight, Bruce has become a force to be reckoned with because of his mastery of preparation time and incredible preparation time. Considered to be the top Martial Artist in the DC Universe, Batman has always been formidable with the ability to adapt to any opponent of any fighting style. Another testament of the Caped Crusader's greatness is the fact that he has a contingency plan for any of his fellow Justice League teammates in the event that one of them goes insane. A perfect example of that would be his Kryptonite Sword and his gun with Kryptonite bullets in the event that Superman wants to go on a rampage. The Dark Knight is the anchor and most consistent figure of the Justice League.
2. Superman
Comic World: DC
Real Name: Clark Kent
First Appearance: Action Comics #1 (April 1938)

Powers/Abilities:
Superhuman Strength
Superhuman Speed
Superhuman Stamina
Invulnerability
Flight
Heat Vision
Ice Breath

The Man of Steel. Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings with a single bound. Superman is the Originator and Innovator when it comes to Heroes. If there was any character that would be the Babe Ruth of Comics, Superman perfectly meets that criteria. Born on Krypton, Kal-El was sent to Earth in order to save his life. Upon his arrival, Kal is adopted and raised on a farm called Smallville by Jonathan and Martha Kent. As Clark grew, he developed incredible abilities such as superhuman strength and indestructible skin, due to his Kryptonian genetics. Clark's foster parents advised him to use his powers for the good of humanity. As a result, Kent would use his powers to fight crime as a vigilante. To protect his identity, Kent would work as a journalist for the Daily Planet in Metropolis. When it is time to fight crime, Clark would change into his classic costume and call himself "Superman". While working in Metropolis, Clark would also develop a famous love interest in fellow journalist Lois Lane. He would go on to have legendary battles with legendary rivals from Lex Luthor, Darkseid, Brainiac, Doomsday, Lobo, Bizarro and others. He is also one of the co-founders of the Justice League with Batman and Wonder Woman. Superman has popularized the superhero archetype and defined its standards to where he has become the measurement that all other heroes are measured by. Characters such as Thor, Shazam, Gladiator, Sentry and Hyperion are clearly cut from that cloth. He has also been the best-selling superhero character in American comics up until the 80's.

1. Spider-Man
Comic World: Marvel
Real Name: Peter Parker
First Appearance: Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962)

Powers/Abilities:
Superhuman Strength
Superhuman Speed
Superhuman Agility
Superhuman Stamina
Superhuman Durability
Superhuman Reflexes
Spider-Senses
Genius-Level Intellect
Regenerative Healing Factor

With great power comes great responsibility. No one knows this principle more than the Kid from Queen, NY named Peter Parker, also known as your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in 1962, Spider-Man was created as the alternative to the traditional Superhero ideals and images of characters like Superman and Batman. Spidey was created to be seen as more relatable to the everyday person because of his flaws. Peter Benjamin Parker was born to Richard and Mary Parker. His parents were part of the CIA, but they were killed on a private mission leaving Peter orphaned. However, Peter would be adopted by his Aunt May and Uncle Ben who took him in as if he were their own. While in High School, Peter was bitten by a radioactive spider giving him the senses and strength of a spider. Parker was already unlike any other teenager before he got his powers, but this put him on a whole new level. Peter was often bullied in High School, especially by Eugene "Flash" Thompson. With his newly acquired Spider powers, Parker was able to get the best of Thompson. When he is not dealing with HS problems such as peer pressure and juggling homework and home responsibilities, Peter is busy fighting crime against the biggest villains in New York City. Later, Peter becomes a Photographer for the Daily Bugle where his Boss is none other than Spider-Man's biggest critic, J. Jonah Jameson. Spidey's most notable rival is Norman Osborn, better known as The Green Goblin. This rival is critical because of his history with Peter as he is the Father of his longtime friend Harry. The Goblin also killed Spidey's girlfriend Gwen Stacy. Later, Spider-Man's most famous love interest would become Mary Jane Watson. Spidey also has had to face the likes of Venom, who is an evil mirror image of him, but stronger. Other rivals include Dr. Otto Octavius (Doc Ock), Hobgoblin, Vulture, and others just to name a few. Venom is synonymous with Spider-Man because he is the Wall Crawler's ultimate doppelganger. No matter the opponent, Spider-Man has always found a way to win. His spidey senses, agility, speed, and intellect are valuable assets for any battle that he goes into. Spider-Man is highly respected among the Superteams of Marvel (Avengers, X-Men). He has become an honorary Avenger but usually prefers to be solo. Spidey has played a critical role in the War with Thanos during the Infinity War storyline. This wasn't Spider-Man's first go around when it comes to Major Events as he has also battled in the Secret Wars, one of Marvel's other Main Event Wars. After the events of Endgame, now Spider-Man is facing a post-Thanos Multiverse that has opened up after the snap.

Avengers Infinity War: The Epic Showdown

10 Years in the Making! From the beginning with Ironman, we have been on a roller coaster adventure that has all lead to this point. This movie was a Hall of Fame Roster of Marvel Superheroes teamed up together for the Ultimate Worldbeating Villain himself, Thanos. Through the Good, Bad, Ugly and in between, this journey has to lead to this very point. This was the MCU Dream Team of All-Time Greats teaming up for an Epic War of Massive Proportions. For years, Marvel's biggest flaw was in their Villain Department. The Heroes were well written, but their Achilles Heel was always the rival. Fans complained for years about how the Villains are not very well developed and how they are easily beatable. With the exception of Loki, the average MCU Villain was one and done. However, Marvel has slowly but surely turned things around as of late. From Vulture (Spider-Man Homecoming) to Hela (Thor: Ragnarok) to Killmonger (Black Panther), the MCU has slowly been turning the tide to make improvements to balance things out between the Heroes and Villains.

In order to be a truly great Hero, you need a great Dance Partner to bounce off of. This time, Marvel made the biggest improvement because Thanos is the culmination of everything they have been building up to. Even when everyone was talking about the greatness of Erik Killmonger, I kept saying "You haven't seen anything yet" because I was referring to Thanos. As good as Killmonger was, Thanos makes him look like a Boyscout. With the hype building further for this movie, I knew that it would go beyond expectations and I was not disappointed. With the previews, I already knew this would be a wild ride, and it truly was. Marvel kept a slow build up in the beginning as Black Panther was gaining momentum. Once Black Panther became a surprise smash hit at the Box Office, Marvel revved up the engine for the Infinity War marketing machine. From that point, it was off to the races. With all of the speculation and predictions about the movie, I knew my prediction about the beginning would become a reality. It is time to get into that and more.

This movie did not waste time establishing how much of a Monster Villain Thanos is because things got savage very quickly. Infinity War starts off where Thor Ragnarok ended where we saw Thor and Loki staring at a Giant Spaceship which turned out to be Thanos' ship. From that point, the movie starts off with the Asgardian Refugee ship destroyed with the bodies of dead Asgardians laying on the floor. Thanos watches over the dead bodies with his minions the Black Order. Meanwhile, they surround Loki as he watches Thanos grab Thor by the head to torture him. As Thanos burns Thor's head with the Power Stone, Loki tells him to stop as he reveals the Tesseract (Space Stone). Loki gives Thanos the Space Stone to spare Thor's life. Before that happens, Loki tells Thanos that there is a Hulk on the ship. He used the same line that Tony Stark used on him to send Hulk to attack him in the first Avengers Movie "We have a Hulk". The Incredible Hulk rushes in to attack Thanos and gives him a sick combo. However, Thanos counters Hulk to get out of the corner. From that point, Thanos proceeded to annihilate The Hulk from a series of combos to a Gorilla Press Slam. Heimdall sends Hulk to Earth, only for Thanos to stab him with the Sword. as Loki gives Thanos the Tesseract he also tries to betray him by pulling out a dagger. Thanos would not be fooled by Loki's shenanigans, as he also reminds Loki of his failure from the battle of New York. Loki's arm freezes as he attempts to stab Thanos. The Mad Titan grabs Loki by the throat to kill him by breaking his neck. Thanos would say "There will be no Resurrection" meaning Loki is gone for good. Thor watches helplessly while his brother is killed mercilessly. After Thanos kills Loki, he leaves with the Black Order while destroying the Asgardian Ship. Meanwhile, Thor floats into Space after the chaos.

From that point, we also see the Team-Up of Ironman, Dr. Strange and Bruce Banner in New York outside of the Sanctum Santorum with the invasion Ebony and Obsidian. Banner tells Stark and Strange about Thanos and his mission to gather all of the Infinity Stones. Bruce still cannot transform because the Hulk lost his confidence. Meanwhile, Ironman and Dr. Strange battle Thanos' henchmen until Thanos' ship arrives on Earth. The battle continues there. Meanwhile, Peter Parker sees the ship from his Bus as he escapes to become Spider-Man. Parker gets on the ship, but Ironman finds him as he deploys the Iron-Spider suit for Peter to wear. Tony and Dr. Strange get into an argument about how they got in this position. Meanwhile, Tony is also trying to figure out how Peter got into this situation. Dr. Strange is tortured by one of the Black Order members as they try to take the Time Stone from him before Ironman makes short work of him. From that point, they arrive on Thanos' Home Planet of Titan.

The movie goes to the Guardians of the Galaxy storyline as they are flying the Milano Spaceship. As they are flying, they see a mysterious body floating from Space as it lands on their windshield. When the Guardians bring the body inside, they find out it is Thor. I actually enjoyed this interaction as well, because it seems like a great matchup. When Thor wakes up, Starlord stares him down as he mocks his accent. When you team up Thor with the Guardians, expect some jokes at some point. Thor tells his story as he tells them about Thanos and his quest to gather the Infinity Stones. As Thor talks about the Soul Stone, Gamora has a look on her face as if she already knows about it. Gamora tells Starlord that she knows where the Soul Stone is, but she got rid of the Map. She tells Quill to promise to kill her over the Soul Stone. From that point, you knew that her time was ticking. Fast forward to when they see Thanos as he collects the Reality Stone. The Guardians think that they have beaten Thanos, but he uses the Reality Stone to trick them as he takes Gamora to Soul World. In order to retrieve the Soul Stone, you have to sacrifice something or someone that you love and that someone who Thanos loved was Gamora. We are also met with an unexpected surprise with the appearance of the Red Skull on the Mountain where Thanos sacrifices Gamora. As Thanos looks over, Gamora tells him that he loves nothing. However, Thanos sheds a tear as the Red Skull tells Gamora that those tears are for her. Tragically, Thanos kills Gamora by throwing her off the cliff for the sake of the Soul Stone. This shows how ruthless Thanos can be to get what he wants the most. We also witness a flashback to when Thanos first took Gamora as his Daughter.

In between that time, we see Vision and Scarlet Witch together in Scotland where they have taken residence following Civil War. Vision has taken on a human form to disguise himself so that they can separate themselves from their lifestyles as Avengers. However, their time together is interrupted by an attack from the Black Order as they try to take the Mind Stone from Vision's head. However, Captain America comes in for the rescue. Proxima Midnight throws her Spear at Cap, only for him to catch it. Falcon and Black Widow join in for the save as well. From that point, they meet War Machine to discuss how to save Vision. They are also met by Bruce Banner. When they talk about a way to receive help from someone Technologically Advanced, Rogers says that he knows who can help. This is where the Black Panther music plays as we transition to Wakanda. Cap flies the jet to Wakanda to meet with King T'Challa and his Army of Dora Milaje led by General Okoye. Here, T'Challa gives everyone the marching orders as he tells his people to give Cap a new Shield. Meanwhile, Shuri scans Vision's database and his mind to heal him. Black Panther tells his team to give "White Wolf" aka Bucky Barnes a new Metal Arm. Steve reunites with Bucky to take on the aliens that Thanos sends to invade Wakanda.



When Thanos arrives at Titan, he is met by the Guardians, Ironman, Spider-Man, and Dr. Strange where they have another Great Battle with great attacks from Ironman, Spider-Man as well as Starlord and Strange. However, the course of their mission is drastically changed when Thanos is held down by Ironman and the others as he shares the tragic news of Gamora's death. Starlord finds this out as he goes into a rage over her death. Instead of helping his Team take the Gauntlet away from Thanos, Quill takes his frustrations out on him in a blind rage. It got so bad to the point where Ironman had to hold him back. Ironman goes toe to toe with Thanos in an Epic Showdown where it looked like Ironman would die. Thanos even said "I hope they remember you" after he stabs Stark. However, Dr. Strange came in for the save as he gives Thanos the Time Stone to save Tony's life. Strange also tells everyone that out of 14,000.000 outcomes, they only win one so this is their "Endgame" as he tells them. With the Time Stone, Thanos goes to the last place of Battle, Wakanda.

While all of these things are going on, Thor has been on his own side Mission with Rocket and Groot to go to the Planet where Mjolnir was built. There, he receives assistance from one of the Giant Dwarfs played by Peter Dinklage from Game of Thrones. It was amazing to see how they made him such a Giant. Thor has to go into a device where he forges his new Weapon, Stormbreaker out of the heart of a dying star. It was so intense that Thor almost died. However, Groot came through at the most crucial time as he saw the Axe had been formed. Groot chops off one of his arms to create the handle that this new weapon needs. From that point, it is on to the Final Showdown with Thanos. As Black Panther, the Dora Milaje, the Jobari Tribe (M'Baku's Team) and others fight alongside Cap and his team, lightning strikes as Thor, Groot, and Rocket make their Grand Entrance to Wakanda to clean house. While that is going on, Thanos finds Vision to take the Mind Stone. However, Scarlet Witch takes the Stone out of Vision's head to destroy it. Unfortunately, Thanos uses the Time Stone to reverse Time to the point where the Mind Stone was destroyed so that he could put it back together. When Thanos puts the Stone back together, he kills Vision. At this point, Thanos accomplished his mission of collecting all of the Infinity Stones. Thor gets the chance for revenge as he throws Stormbreaker at Thanos as it stabs him in the heart. We think that the Avengers have won, but Thanos is still alive. Thanos tells Thor that he should've aimed for the head, and for good reason. Suddenly, Thanos performs his most Iconic Move from the Comic Book as he snaps his fingers to wipe out half of the Universe. Gamora and Thanos have each mentioned this previously. From this point, we see the aftermath of Thanos' action. Out of nowhere, we see people dissolving into dust as they are wiped out. The most notable characters and biggest surprises were Black Panther and Spider-Man. Other characters that turned into dust included Scarlet Witch, Bucky, Falcon, Groot, Starlord, Drax, Dr. Strange, and Mantis. The Original Avengers Team survived, along with War Machine, Okoye, Rocket and Nebula. On Titan, Tony mourns the death of Peter Parker as he cries before he leaves. That was the most touching scene along with Gamora's Death and T'Challa's death.

When it was all said and done, Thanos sits down looking at the Sunset reflecting on what he accomplished. The only Post Credit Scene shows Nick Fury with agent Maria Hill as they are involved in a car accident. The people that were driving before had suddenly disappeared. The camera shows Agent Hill disappearing, followed by Agent Fury himself while he pages someone. The person that Fury pages turn out to be Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel.

Overall, I was very pleased with this Movie. It reminded me of Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back because of the cliffhanger ending. The Storylines were well established and developed as each character had plenty of screen time. Enough to go around for everyone to share. Thanos had great battles with everyone in their own special way. Even though there were characters everywhere, the Russo Brothers knew how to create a healthy balance between them. My Co-MVPs for this Movie would have to be Thanos and Thor with Ironman and Dr. Strange following right behind them. This was Thanos' Movie, Thor was the Most Improved since Ragnarok, Ironman was seen as the Building Block of the Avengers, and Dr. Strange came through in the clutch by saving Tony's life. I would give this Movie 10 out of 10 Infinity Gauntlets.

Ironman: Franchise Star of the MCU

With the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War on the Horizon, I would like to take this time and reflect on the Character that has essentially opened the door for the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his debut film in 2008. One of the Founding Fathers of the Avengers himself, Ironman.

Ironman has always been one of my favorite Marvel Superheroes, next to Spiderman and Wolverine. However, his stock skyrocketed when Marvel released his Movie as the very first film from their Independent Studios in May 2008. From that point, the floodgates have opened for Marvel Studios to release other movies such as Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Avengers, etc. It would change the course of Movies for Marvel Comics and the landscape of the Marvel Brand.

When it came to casting, there was nobody that was a better fit for the Tony Stark/Ironman Character than Robert Downey, Jr. I believe that he is the ultimate fit out of any other actor portraying a Superhero. From the haircut, the humor, you name it. Robert was tailor-made to play Ironman. There have been many actors who fit their roles like a glove (Chris Evans/Captain America, Hugh Jackman/Wolverine, Chadwick Boseman/Black Panther, etc), but none have fit the mold the way that RDJ has fit Ironman.

Speaking of the Original Movie, I would like to take a journey through Ironman's Movie Catalog and start off with where it all began:

Iron Man (2008):

This Movie is the Genesis of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It introduced the Origin of Tony Stark much like the Comics. The character and story were very well fleshed out without all of the extra glitz and glamor of the future MCU Films. It went straight to the point of who Ironman was. I saw this movie when it first came out and immediately became a fan. The Opening Scene where Tony builds the Ironman Armor in the Cave became an all-time favorite for me. The Different Modernized Models for Ironman's Armor are an Architect's Dream come true. The Movie was very well executed. We also see Captain America's Shield as an Easter Egg while Tony is putting his Armor on. Robert was at his best because it was something new and original. He was in his element. This movie exceeded Marvel's original expectations and built the foundation of what was to come. Marvel needed to give a strong introduction of the character, and that is exactly what they have with this movie. It was the Marvel Studios version of "Ready to Die"because of the impact that it made. Critically, it is considered by many to be the best Film of the Franchise. It propelled Ironman to another level and made him a household name among the casual mainstream fans. This movie also introduced Post-Credit Scenes, as we are first introduced to Nick Fury (Played by Samuel L. Jackson). Fury arrives at Stark's house to talk to him about the Initiative for The Avengers. The rest is History. Iron Man made $585 Million at the Box Office from a Budget of $140 Million. You could safely say that they exceeded expectations.

Iron Man 2 (2010):

I actually enjoyed this movie as well, because of how it introduced new characters. For me, the sequel was between just as good, and even better than the first movie because of the extra elements that were added. It introduced Tony/Stark's sidekick Col. James Rhodes/War Machine. Don Cheadle took over as Rhodey and was officially introduced as War Machine. I knew that it was bound to happen after I saw the first movie. Another reason why this movie holds a special place for me is that I bought my first Ironman Figure just so that I could take it with me in the Theater. I also had my Ironman shirt when I saw it. I was 21 but didn't care. We were also introduced to Natasha Romanov (Black Widow). There is more humor in this movie than before, and the chemistry flows fairly well. To some, it seems like filler, but it helps to put more of the pieces of the puzzle together. My favorite scene is where Ironman and War Machine fire off their lasers and missiles at those robots. Fury continues to approach Stark about assembling the Avengers. I also enjoyed the Post Credit Scene where Agent Coulson arrives in the middle of the Desert to find Thor's hammer. Box Office: $624 Millon Budget: $200 Million


Avengers (2012):

Here we are, where Marvel's All-Stars have finally been assembled. All of the pieces of the puzzle have been put together at this point to create a Masterpiece for Marvel. From the first two Ironman Movies to Captain America's first Movie to Thor's Movie, along with the Easter Egg clues in both Ironman films leading to this Chapter of the MCU. Nick Fury's Avengers Initiative becomes a reality, with Ironman as one of the Building Blocks to get the plan started. This Movie shows the difference in viewpoints between the Co-Leaders, Ironman and Captain America. Though they tend to clash from time to time, they still know how to come together for a greater purpose. This is where we see the debut of the Infinity Stones. My favorite scene in this Movie is when Hulk and Thor have their battle. It is only a sign of things to come in the upcoming Ragnarok Movie. You also had secondary players like War Machine, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Vision and Scarlet Witch. I also enjoyed the Final Battle against Loki. This movie was very significant because it succeeded where the X-Men Franchise fell short, and that was continuity. Box Office: $1.5 Billion Budget: $220 Million


Iron Man 3 (2013):

This was the story revolving around the Extremis storyline from 2010. Tony receives the Extremis Serum which is an experimental regenerative treatment to allow recovery from crippling injuries. During the movie, Tony goes through panic attacks. Out of anxiety, he builds several dozen Iron Man suits, which causes friction between him and Pepper Potts. A disabled scientist named Aldrich Killian offers Tony Stark and Maya Hansen (Extremis Inventor) a place in his company Advanced Idea Mechanics, but Stark turns him down. Killian later becomes the Mandarin. After defeating the Mandarin, Tony destroys the other Iron Man suits. The shrapnel is later removed from his heart. With the help of Extremis, Tony is able to put his suit together through  The Movie did very well at the Box Office as usual and even received an Oscar Nomination. However, it was not the biggest critically received film in Ironman's Catalog. Still, it was a really nice movie. Box Office: $1.2 Billion Budget: $200 Million


Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015):

The much-awaited sequel to the Blockbuster that featured Marvel's All-Stars. Tony Stark and Bruce Banner take the Artificial Intelligence from the scepter's gem and use it to create the "Ultron" global defense program. Little did anyone know that they created a monster that would go on a mission to eradicate humanity. Ultron even uses a line from Pinocchio when he says "No Strings on me". Great Disney reference since they have the rights to Marvel. In his mission of destruction, Ultron recruits Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch since they hold Stark responsible for the murder of their parents. The scene where Scarlet Witch plays mind games to make the Avengers fight each other was unbelievable. However, the scene where Iron Man unleashes his Hulkbuster Armor was my favorite. I also like how Ultron was portrayed with his fatalistic ideas. Ultron goes to the base of arms dealer Ulysses Klaue to retrieve Wakandan Vibranium. The movie plays true to the Comics as Ultron creates Vision. Ultron even created his own army of robots to destroy humanity. He is definitely Marvel's brainiac. The Avengers would go on to defeat Ultron and his army. This becomes another layer in the upcoming Infinity War as Thanos is shown at the very end putting on the Infinity Gauntlet to retrieve the stones. Box Office: $1.4 Billion Budget: $316 Million


Captain America: Civil War (2016):

The Battle lines had been drawn. Marvel's Civil War. This movie blew up Social Media with the hashtags #TeamCap and #TeamIronman. Which side of the War were you on? I was #TeamIronman all the way, and this was the most loaded Captain America movie I have ever seen when it comes to characters. We saw the MCU debut of Black Panther as well as Spider-Man. Spidey never appeared in movies exclusively from Marvel Studios, so this was a big deal. The story starts off with a brainwashed James "Bucky" Barnes (Winter Soldier) killing Tony Stark's parents in December 1991 on their way to a Christmas Vacation. Barnes was dispatched at a Hydra base to intercept a car carrying the super-soldier serum. Fast forward to present day, Captain America, Black Widow, Falcon and Scarlet Witch stop Crossbones from stealing a biological weapon from a lab in Lagos, Nigeria. U.S. Secretary of State Agent Thaddeus Ross informs the Avengers that the United Nations will pass the Sovokia Accords (military/law enforcement deployment) which would oversee and restrict the team. The Avengers would become divided. Iron Man approves of the oversight because of his role in Ultron's creation that led to Sokovia's destruction. He also carried the guilt of when a woman told him about how her son was killed in Sokovia during their battle with Ultron. Stark is in a state of regret and wants to undo the damage that he did in the past. Meanwhile, Cap wants to uphold what the Avengers stand for. This movie was a clash of philosophies. On Iron Man's Team, we had War Machine, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Black Widow, and Vision. For Cap, we have Falcon, Winter Soldier, Scarlet Witch, Ant-Man, and Hawkeye. The Movie was very well executed with action scenes that stood out throughout the film. My favorites were the Airport Battle and the Final Battle with Iron Man vs Captain America and Winter Soldier. Iron Man was understandably angry, but Cap was trying to convince him that Bucky was brainwashed and framed for the bombing in Vienna. If Black Panther wasn't sidetracked, I believe it would've been different. Plus, this was Cap's movie. The movie brought in over $1.1 Billion in the Box Office on a $250 Million Budget, making it one of the highest grossing movies of all-time.

Conclusion: Iron Man is the Golden Boy of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). From a Box Office Standpoint, he is the Standard by which other Marvel Heroes are measured by. At a time where Marvel had their backs against the wall, they invested everything in Iron Man, and he delivered. The first movie was a Worldbeater in the world of Superhero Movies. Iron Man has been the Centerpiece of the MCU, much like Biggie Smalls was for Bad Boy, LL Cool J for Def Jam and Dr. Dre for Death Row. He has become in many ways to the MCU what Magic Johnson was to the NBA during the 80s. Not to hyperbolize things, but that is the way that I see it. His presence in the MCU elevates those around him. Marvel's highest grossing movies have had his involvement. The Impact of the Iron Man franchise has turned what many consider a B+ Level character into an A+ Icon. This role has saved Robert Downey Jr.'s career and in many ways, his life and turned him into a Megastar. That is why his departure from the MCU after Infinity War will leave a Giant void that would have to be filled in some way. Iron Man has carried the torch for the MCU very well. He may not be the direct face of the entire Marvel Universe (Spider-Man), but he has been the most crucial when it comes to their movies.