Avengers: Doomsday’s Best First Death Ends Marvel’s Longest-Running Crime

Killing one character in Avengers: Doomsday effectively sets the tone of the film while also ending Marvel Studios' oldest crime. It's still around a year before Marvel Studios culminates the Multiverse Saga. Departing from previous approaches to these kinds of event movies, marketing for Avengers: Doomsday has started, meaning pertinent details about the film have been released.

So far, Marvel Studios has already released three Avengers: Doomsday trailers, featuring Steve Rogers, Thor, and the X-Men. More promos are expected to come out, but regardless of what's in it, directors Joe and Anthony Russo are clearly trying to build up hype for the film, especially since they weren't involved in any of the previous set-ups in the Multiverse Saga, unlike with the Infinity Saga.

Why Avengers: Doomsday Needs A Big Opener Like Avengers: Infinity War

One of the best efficiency tricks that the Russos did with Avengers: Infinity War was to open the film with a major sequence in Thanos' Q Ship. At that point in time, the Mad Titan's existence was already established in the universe, but aside from brief cameos, the film marked his origins story. Picking up after the events of Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War began with Thanos and the Black Order holding Thor, Hulk, and The Asgardians hostage.

The purple alien easily defeating Hulk in a pound for pound match would have done enough to establish how big of a threat he was. However, the Russos, and their writers, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, increased the ante by showing him brutally murdering Loki, in light of their history. The God of Mischief was one of the most beloved characters in the MCU, even surpassing the popularity of some original Avengers. Seeing him die at the hands of Thanos effectively sent a message that Earth's Mightiest Heroes were facing the battle of their lives.

Now, Dr. Doom's set-up is far less prominent, which means that the Russos can repeat their opening storytelling trick in Avengers: Infinity War to efficiently establish him in Avengers: Doomsday. The question, however, revolves around who will be the perfect opening death to pull off the same ploy.

Bucky Being The First Avengers: Doomsday Death Effectively Establishes RDJ's Villain

To be able to effectively repeat Avengers: Infinity War's first death trick, the Russos need someone who is as beloved as Loki. As previously mentioned, there are very few characters in the MCU who have that kind of devotion, and the majority of them cannot be killed off — at least not permanently. That said, there's a perfect choice for this matter: Bucky Barnes. He has been in the MCU for almost as long as Loki, and more importantly, fans have an affinity for him.

As a clarification, this proposition is purely motivated by the MCU's storytelling needs. In an ideal world, Bucky's story would continue beyond the events of the Multiverse Saga. Now that he's a member of the New Avengers, Marvel Studios can do more with regard to his personal story — granted that the characters from Jake Schreir's move will be able to retain that title moving forward.

The return of Chris Evans as Steve in Avengers: Doomsday could be the narrative opening for Bucky's death. As hinted by the first trailer for the culminating film, Dr. Doom is going after children of heroes in the MCU, which will include Peggy's baby. There's something poetic about Bucky dying to help preserve the life that his friend has built since his last mission at the end of Avengers: Endgame.

How Bucky Dying Ends Marvel's Longest-Running Crime In The MCU

As previously mentioned, in an ideal world, Bucky will be one of the new generation of hero leaders in the MCU. He has been in the franchise for so long and has strong ties to the Captain America legacy. On top of that, his personal story is unique in the sense that there are so many compelling stories that can be centered around him. Sebastian Stan being a phenomenal actor is another motivating factor.

Unfortunately, Marvel Studios has yet to make the most out of these opportunities. Stan and Bucky have been criminally underused and underserved for the most part of his time in the MCU. Even after co-headlining The Falcon and the Winter Soldier with Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson, the franchise has barely focused on Bucky in an effort to elevate his character to a more prominent status. Giving him a meaningful and poignant death in Avengers: Doomsday is better than continuously stringing the character to the next era of the MCU.

The timing can also work perfectly, as Stan is joining Robert Pattinson and ex-MCU star Scarlett Johansson in Matt Reeves' The Batman: Part II. While actors can star in both DC and Marvel properties, assuming that their contracts are clear, this might be an indication that Stan is now ready to move on from playing Bucky, and understandably so, considering how long he has played the character.

All things considering, Bucky being the opening death in Avengers: Doomsday will be an effective way of setting the tone of the film and establishing what's at stake. These are very important for a movie that doesn't have a solid set-up. It would also be a fitting end to the character, especially if his demise has something to do with protecting Steve and his new life.