Avoiding Drax’s Mistake: Marvel’s The Thing Needs Emotional Depth

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Summary

  • The Thing and Drax have many similarities in terms of backstory and powers.
  • Marvel Studios made a mistake by focusing on Drax’s comedic relief rather than his emotional depth.
  • Too much comedy could impact the emotional aspect of The Thing in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I’ve been eagerly anticipating “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”. The reason? It’s the long-awaited introduction of these iconic characters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. When the trailer for this film dropped, it gave us a sneak peek into their world and how they will appear on screen, only fueling the excitement building around this movie.

In the trailer, The Thing seemed to be the focus of conversation among many viewers, given he appeared most frequently. He’s a powerful force that could potentially have a significant impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, to make this happen, Marvel Studios needs to learn from their past mistakes with Drax the Destroyer in the Guardians of the Galaxy series, ensuring they don’t repeat them.

The Thing And Drax Have Many Similarities

Viewers quickly notice that The Thing and Drax share many common traits, stemming from their narratives and abilities. Drax served as the powerhouse for the Guardians of the Galaxy, offering raw strength and exceptional close-combat skills. This made him a formidable adversary in any action sequence, yet beneath his tough exterior lay a character burdened with deep emotional turmoil. The tragic loss of his family at the hands of Thanos left him mentally scarred, which is one of the key reasons for their resemblance to Ben Grimm’s character.

Among the Fantastic Four, it’s Grimm who grapples with the most emotional turmoil. Unlike the others, his struggles stem from the profound physical transformations he undergoes. For instance, his skin turning into rocks creates an ongoing internal struggle for him. However, despite these personal conflicts, he is still required to embody the strength of his team, which makes him remarkably like Drax in some ways.

What Mistake Did Marvel Studios Make With Drax In The Guardians Of The Galaxy Franchise?

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Drax’s character elicited various emotions during his appearances; however, Marvel Studios missed an opportunity to delve deeper into his personal story and emotional struggles, which would have added depth to his character. The original film hinted at these complexities, and they were revisited when he met Thanos, but they never became integral to the plotline, a decision that was regrettable. There was significant potential in Drax’s character that could have evoked diverse feelings from viewers, making him seem more pivotal within the Guardians team.

Although Marvel chose to make Drax a source of humor in their franchise, Dave Bautista’s performances were remarkable, with his witty humor making him genuinely amusing without overshadowing other characters. However, an excessive focus on comedy resulted in Drax appearing less menacing than intended, as viewers failed to perceive him as a formidable threat with repressed emotions – a misstep. In much the same way that Marvel Studios over-tweaked the Hulk, the humor detracted from Drax’s portrayal in fighting scenes and missed opportunities to delve deeper into his backstory.

Too Much Comedy Can Impact The Emotional Aspect Of The Thing In The Fantastic Four: First Steps

In the trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, it’s clear that Marvel Studios is aware of The Thing’s transformation having a profound effect on him, which seems to be a somber note. Interestingly, the cooking scene hints at Marvel potentially using humor with The Thing as well, but this has been a pattern for powerful characters like Drax, Thor, Hulk, and Korg, where Marvel tends to contrast their imposing appearances with lighter personalities.

Instead, The Thing doesn’t have to adhere to that particular trajectory since he has a wealth of potential to contribute to the Marvel Cinematic Universe by exploring the emotional depths of his circumstances. Many individuals in reality grapple with their appearance, allowing The Thing to resonate strongly with audiences, despite his rock-like form. Overcoming these challenges offers a compelling narrative, and it could even provide opportunities for humor among other characters in the movie. The Thing can still bring laughter to the table, as it’s essential that the Fantastic Four share a genuine bond. However, this shouldn’t come at the cost of The Thing’s overall character development. Making him solely comedic might set a permanent course for him, preventing him from becoming the powerful and physical presence that fans envision The Thing to be in future Marvel Universe adventures.

(In reference to: The Fantastic Four: First Steps)

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2025-02-12 18:55