Over the past eleven years, a remarkable series of movies have been produced based on comic book characters from Marvel Comics. Marvel had attempted to produce movies prior to their release of Iron Man in 2008, but had failed to find much commercial success in their endeavors (in fact, they sometimes failed rather spectacularly). In casting the actor Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, the man who develops the armor and becomes the superhero Iron Man, Marvel Studios hit a proverbial goldmine. Over the course of these past eleven years, they have produced twenty-two movies that have brought in over $20 billion. Yes, that’s “billions” with a “b.” I admit that I have contributed to that amount.
If you think that these movies are the exclusive domain of people who eat, sleep, and breathe comic books, you would be sorely mistaken (although such individuals certainly make up a loyal core of followers). No, Marvel Studios has been wildly successful in producing a series of movies that has a broad appeal to our culture primarily because they have told a remarkably consistent, tight, and compelling story over the past decade. Such a project has been unprecedented on many levels, not the least of which is bringing numerous A-list actors and actresses together in single films without the typical egotistical fights and departures. While such star power and acting ability have not hurt the franchise, the single most important factor that has driven the success of this series of movies has been the power of story. They have produced a continuing storyline that has not often deviated from the overarching vision of the saga, and they have engaged audiences in such a way as to keep them coming back, movie after movie, year after year. Again, I am one of those individuals. I suppose it’s time for a confession: I was never a comic book geek. I didn’t really read them as a kid, I didn’t collect them, and, frankly, I hadn’t even heard of several of the Marvel characters who have been marquee names in their own movies (such as Black Widow, Nick Fury, Dr. Strange, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Ant Man).
The only reason someone like me would be a loyal consumer of this cinematic output is that the producers of it are telling a really good story. Yes, on one level that setting is unrealistic (it is fiction, after all) – alien races, superhuman abilities, and incredible technologies such as are found in what is known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe do not exist. But the storylines (often good vs. evil) and the characters (often flawed and conflicted by choices that are not exactly black and white) are realistic. They struggle with questions and decisions like us. They face challenges that are seemingly impossible yet overcome them, sometimes through resolve and other times through help from friends. They wrestle with the lingering effects of their choices and actions. The denouements, while often happy, sometimes aren’t.
If any of this sounds familiar, it’s because these movies are a mirror of life. Their success actually reveals something to us, as believers, that we ought to take great notice of: people are struggling and are looking for help. They also respond strongly to stories that tell their struggles and offer hope for a good resolution. Brothers and sisters, we possess the greatest story of all – the story of Jesus Christ (when I use “story,” I’m not referring to fiction, of course). Think about the components of the Good News – a once perfect creation; a hateful enemy; a fall that results in broken and flawed individuals; the most serious consequences imaginable; the seeming loss of all hope; the promise of a coming Savior in Jesus; His life, death, and resurrection; our restored hope and power through Him; and the coming restoration of all things in and through Him. What a story! Are you not excited about that story? Marvel has offered the world a compelling story, to be sure, but we have a better story – one that has eternal consequences for those who hear it. So, how do you tell it? Are you excited or do you talk about Jesus as though He were “white bread” – boring, common, and flavorless? We have the Good News – let’s tell it with even more conviction than that of the Marvel movies! Just something to think about…
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