Part 10/12:
The core problem, as repeated by critics, is that Marvel’s once-revolutionary formula has grown stale. Audiences have already “burned through” the best years of the MCU’s slate, and current efforts to launch new characters seem more like desperate attempts to maintain relevance than organic storytelling.
The lack of buzz, poor merchandise sales (as seen through clearance sales on toys and LEGO sets), and sluggish box office numbers confirm that Marvel's golden era might be over. The audience's interest has shifted, and Marvel may struggle to recover the massive cultural footprint it once held.