The MCU Diaries is Blake Larsen’s craft-first Marvel essay series for people who love the MCU but want more than recap, Easter eggs, or empty hype.
This is where I break down what Marvel stories are actually doing under the hood: character pressure, moral debt, value shifts, structure, theme, and the choices that make something hit — or miss. These essays are built around one idea at a time, with on-screen receipts to prove it.
That means you’ll find writing on Loki, WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and the bigger road to Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. Sometimes the question is about a single episode. Sometimes it’s about a saga-level move. Either way, the goal is the same: figure out why the story works, why it doesn’t, and what it teaches us to watch for next.
If you’re looking for smart Marvel essays with a character-first lens and no sacred cows, you’re in the right place.
Start Here
- RDJ As Doctor Doom: The Mirror Villain Move
- What Secret Wars Is (Defined In LOKI Season 1)
- Why Doctor Strange Matters to Marvel’s Multiverse Saga
- Secret Wars Explained Through Loki Season 1
Prefer audio?
If you'd rather listen than read, the companion podcast lives here: The MCU Diaries podcast.
Latest MCU Diaries Entries
Who Is the MCU’s Anchor Being? Why Marvel Can’t Just Pick the Most Important Hero
Marvel still hasn’t revealed Earth-616’s anchor being. Tony Stark may be the obvious answer, but the MCU’s own storytelling suggests being an anchor could be something a hero earns...
What to Watch Before Avengers: Doomsday — Why Marvel Chose These 15 Stories
Marvel has revealed its Avengers: Doomsday watchlist, but the real story is why these 15 projects were chosen. From Xavier and Magneto to Endgame, Loki and the Fantastic Four,...
Why Is Hulk In Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Bruce Banner’s Control Finally Breaks
Why is Hulk in Spider-Man: Brand New Day? We explain why Peter Parker seeks Bruce Banner’s help, how Jean Grey releases Savage Hulk, why the inhibitor fails, and what...
Who Is Scorpion In Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Michael Mando’s Villain Explained
Who is Scorpion in Spider-Man: Brand New Day? We explain Mac Gargan’s history with Peter Parker, his mechanical armor and tail, Jean Grey’s possession, and why their brutal fight...
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Ending Explained: Does Ned Remember Peter Parker?
Does Ned remember Peter Parker at the end of Spider-Man: Brand New Day? We explain the handshake, MJ’s memories, the Spidey Tracker, the mysterious signal in space, and what...
What Is V-Max In Spider-Man: Brand New Day? The Message Explained
V-Max appears to be the key to finding Sarah Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but the truth is far more tragic. Here is what the mysterious message means,...