Marvel Television’s Canceled Animated Universe Could’ve Beaten the MCU

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has remained one of the best examples of a shared universe in media and has even managed to cross into television and animation. However, while the idea of a shared universe is one that few properties have succeeded in, it can’t be understated that Marvel has done this more than once, with one of the most promising coming in animated form. While X-Men ’97 revived the idea of a shared world among beloved cartoons, it was Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes that teased its potential in ways no other animated series had at the time.

Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes existed in style reminiscent of the Stan Lee and Jack Kirby era of the book and offered a modern retelling of classic stories from the birth of Ultron to the coming of Kang. But what it did better than any other animated series at that time was showcase how large the universe actually was. Sure, the masses were aware of the connections the likes of Black Panther and Captain America had, but to see it in action was a completely different story that served as a starting pistol to a massive animated universe. But instead of living in a world where a fan-favorite show started, Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes was tragically cut down before its true vision could be realized.

X-Men: The Animated Series only crossed over with Spider-Man: The Animated Series. Shows like Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk crossed over more frequently. Spider-Man: The Animated Series was one of the more isolated projects save for the occasional team-up.

X-Men ’97 served as a major reminder of what Marvel Animation was like in the ’90s. Though they were brief, appearances of characters like Spider-Man and Iron Man were reminders of a world that was more connected than the MCU in certain regards. X-Men: The Animated Series was one of the earliest outings for the brand, and while it was short on team-ups, save for Captain America in a later season, the beloved show managed to present mature and powerful stories with its characters that are still remembered by fans today. Furthermore, this mindset helped establish a strong foundation for other shows to springboard off of, as it meant that the story truly did surpass substance, and without it, a series would never last, let alone in the children’s television market.

What came of this were shows like Iron Man, Fantastic Four, and The Incredibles Hulk, all of which featured cameos from characters like Hulk, Ghost Rider, Daredevil, and the Silver Surfer, who had interacted with each other for whole episodes and made the universe feel even more lived in. While the X-Men still remained in their own world in terms of story, they were still there in the background as well. It wasn’t until Spider-Man: The Animated Series that the X-Men finally reappeared for a multi-part team-up and later for the epic and expansive Secret Wars three-parter that had all the characters from past shows (save for the Hulk) appear. Though this era only lasted through the decade, its impression on the medium was everlasting and helped prove why shows like Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes deserved a chance to spread their wings and bring a new universe to TV for a whole new generation.

Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Could’ve Gone Big

Some Avengers episodes featured certain heroes teaming up with non-members, like Iron Fist and Luke Cage. The Avengers roster always changed to reflect the growing world. Every arena of the Marvel Universe was represented in the animated series.

Like Iron Man when it hit theaters in 2008, the goal of Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes wasn’t to set up a massive universe filled with cameos right off the bat. Instead, the goal was to establish its core team individually through creative shorts and then start the series off with their first team-up. By doing this, audiences were able to attach themselves to the heroes and their personalities and see the Avengers as a single entity made up of various ideas. As a result, the first few episodes were perfect to further explore its core cast and throw in the occasional cameo when it felt right. From there, the rest of the first season continued to build on what was established, with iconic villains such as Kang and Ultron taking center stage as the team wrestled with various foes and themselves.

Season 2 of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes left it all on the table, with each episode taking on a new arc that introduced even more new characters. From the Heroes to Hire to the Guardians of the Galaxy, no stone was left unturned in regards to covering every facet of the Marvel Universe. Even Spider-Man and Wolverine appeared, further solidifying how far the show could’ve expanded. But the real kicker was the likes of the Fantastic Four and even Doctor Doom being established while also being the least explored heroes on the show in terms of guest appearances. In the end, the series was canceled in favor of a reboot titled Avengers Assemble, which borrowed a lot of the same ideas but felt far less fleshed out than its predecessor.

Had Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes been allowed to breathe and take its ideas to new heights, the show could’ve provided no shortage of spinoffs. For example, with the Fantastic Four, it could’ve been a chance to finally have the team return and offer a fun and educational adventure series for slightly younger audiences. In the case of Spider-Man, though, it would’ve given fans a chance to see Peter interact in a world filled with heroes just like in the ’90s, while Wolverine’s appearance would promise more X-Men adventures that could expand on what the original show introduced, and tell even more stories based on modern comics. Though some of these ideas were also explored in Ultimate Spider-Man and Wolverine and the X-Men, the design aesthetics of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes would’ve likely been embraced even more quickly. Plus, the longevity of running parallel with the MCU would’ve led to one of TV’s longest-running cartoons.

Marvel Animation Could Still Return But the Wounds Will Never Heal

X-Men ’97 has the most franchise potential of any other animated Marvel project. Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes isn’t the only Marvel show canceled in its prime. The MCU owes a lot to what Earth’s Mightiest Heroes helped establish.

The loss of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is still felt by the majority of die-hard Marvel fans. Like Wolverine and the X-Men, it’s not the fact that the series was axed that hurts more so that it was ended with so much still left in the tank. It wasn’t a series that lowered in quality or lost viewers but rather was ended in favor of something new that, while entertaining, can’t be mentioned without also being reminded of what it replaced. In turn, it made Avengers Assemble feel lesser by comparison when even that series was something fun and special in what it attempted. But even though the series ended earlier than it deserved, it still got to go out on its own terms and gave fans an epic series that proved these characters had superhuman levels of staying power.

Now, the main idea on fans’ minds is how X-Men ’97’s success could reinvigorate the ’90s era of cartoons and blossom more revivals like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the like. It’s a noble idea that could even spawn more shows like Daredevil and Captain America, but ultimately, it remains a pipe dream until proven otherwise. It goes without saying that creating a successful Avengers show in any medium is hard, and Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, off the backs of other shows like Avengers: United They Stand, proved that a team series could work and expand in a way that reels in any type of Marvel fan. Plus, thanks to the series, characters like the Guardians of the Galaxy still got a chance in animation even if it wasn’t tied to the beloved series. The wounds of what was left behind will never truly heal for those who adored the series, but what was is still remembered fondly, and it can not be understated that everything that has come since is, in no small part to the Avengers assembling time and again for new adventures in the Marvel Universe.