Marvel’s Biggest Mistake in 2025 Is Darth Vader’s Fault

The analysis contends Marvel’s core misstep mirrors Darth Vader’s influence: turning marquee villains into sympathetic, redeemable figures, leaning on parental reveals and mask-as-mystique tropes that blunt fear and stakes. It tracks how the MCU adopted this template across phases, fueling formulaic twists and softer antagonists, and proposes refocusing on uncompromising villains, clearer moral stakes, and surprises beyond legacy archetypes altogether.