The cinematic universe Marvel isn’t exactly known for being innovative, but the franchise would literally collapse under the restrictions of Marvel Comics’ oldest censorship rules, those dictated by the famous Comics Code Authority. The code of conduct placed severe restrictions on the types of storytelling that major comics companies could carry out in the 1950s.
Watching the films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe through the lens of the original rules of the Comics Code Authority paints an interesting picture. The MCU has a reputation for being a mass-marketable, family-friendly franchise, but by the ancient standards of the original CCA released in 1954, the films are actually more than a little scandalous! Here are the MCU moments that would never have made it past 1950s comic book censorship rules.
10The Time Heist – As fun as it is, “time heist” is still technically a crime
An unexpected moment of lightness after the dark introduction to Avengers: Endgame, the “time heist” is a fun time through the MCU’s greatest hits as the Avengers fight to reclaim the Infinity Stones at different points in time. Designed by none other than the team’s present thief, Ant-Man, the Time Heist caused the Avengers, who normally stand out, to adopt stealth and cunning to steal the various stones. Surprisingly, according to Comics Code Authority rules the entire subplot should have been eliminated from the Endgame script.
As fun as it is to watch the Time Heist, it’s easy to forget that this is technically criminal behavior. Even though it’s in the past, the Avengers rob government authorities like S.H.I.E.L.D. and even the royal family of Asgard. According to a line of the Code, “Crimes should never be presented in such a way as to create sympathy for the criminal”meaning the Avengers would be unlucky to break the law, even to save half the universe.
