This month on the podcast (November '23) is concentrated on Marvel, namely the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU has been a centerpiece of superhero pop culture since Iron Man debuted in 2008. Recent reports have suggested the Marvel is in a slump, and there is something called superhero fatigue. Still, Marvel's history has had its share of ups and downs. To understand where Marvel is going, it's key to understand where it's been.

Tara Bennett is an author and reporter. In 2021, she and co-author Paul Terry released “The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.” For this book, she and Terry were embedded in the Marvel Studios' offices and had unmitigated access.

Bennett currently writes for Sci-Fi Wire, IGN, Paste, SFX Magazine, and others. At the time of this episode's release, she has written 32 books.

In this episode, Bennett discusses how Marvels growth prohibits the studio from doing a better job of connecting their storylines, and how the company is spread thin. Topics include the controversies surrounding The Incredible Hulk in 2009, the purchase of Marvel by Disney, and the death of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman.

This is part 1 of a 2-part discussion on the current state of the MCU.

Get “The Story of Marvel Studios” here: https://a.co/d/0xmDx4X.