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What do the Eternals, the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a champagne room have in common?
The brand new Marvel comic, Eternals: Thanos Rises, recounts the origin and parentage of the Mad Titan. The story also explains why Eternals do not reproduce with one another. But the idea of species-wide abstinence also brings up a more significant idea that may also sum up why the Marvel Cinematic Universe avoids intimacy.
In the comic, a character named Mentor leads one side in a war to decide if Eternals should be manufactured or reproduce naturally. Mentor believes that Eternals should reproduce and is willing to risk everything to do so. In the end, he is granted this wish, gets married and has a child. However, that child becomes Thanos. This not only drives Mentor’s wife insane but leads to the decimation of the cosmos and erasure of half of its population with a snap. Ultimately, Mentor learns his lesson and is forced into exile. As a result of his punishment, Mentor’s eyes are seared by the number of lives Thanos has taken.
While it’s unlikely the MCU will ever go that dark, the Eternals’ attitude towards sexual reproduction and the film series’ distinct lack of physical intimacy does raise some questions. Franchises that aren’t attached to the MCU properly haven’t been afraid to show that their heroes have a more sexual side. For example, an earlier nod to this was the iconic rain kiss from Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man film. However, as the comic book genre’s audience and filmmakers matured with the properties, these projects continued to push boundaries. One example of this is the Marvel Netflix shows that used to be a part of the MCU. Series like Daredevil and Jessica Jones weren’t afraid to get a bit steamier than their film counterparts and firmly drew the line between what is for all ages and what isn’t. Unfortunately, the Marvel Netflix shows are no longer considered part of the MCU canon. Another series that hasn’t shied away from this subject is the Deadpool films, which are filled with raunchy jokes and explicit sexual scenes.
Since so many other superhero projects have depicted this, why is Disney so against taking the leap? The answer likely lies in the company’s viewer base. The MCU is one of the most beloved and valuable franchises in cinema and has something for any type of fan. While they don’t always show intimate scenes between characters, the properties still allude to them with jokes and sly comments. A great example of this is Tony Stark and Peter Quill’s constant escapades with women before they became heroes. However, by crossing the invisible line that previous films have, Disney could risk losing a large percentage of their viewers.
These characters are part of a vast marketing umbrella that makes them sought after by both new and veteran fans. As a result, showing a more mature side may push away parents who let their children watch this content. But by keeping these more adult themes as side comments or minor acknowledgments of what is happening, the company can play things much safer. As a result, audiences can enjoy their favorite characters without any surprises, and the company can maintain its viewership.
Eternals: Thanos Rises shines a light on an aspect of the MCU that is never explored. However, it’s clear that by not showing these mature themes, the company doesn’t have to risk losing viewers or revenue. That being said, it’ll be curious to see if the upcoming Eternals movie will tackle these larger ideas since the film reportedly places such a significant focus on romantic love.
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