He’s No Longer The Most Popular Avenger
In the past 12 months, two important things have happened in the MCU. The first was the unexpected success of Thor: Ragnarok. It rejuvenated the characters of Thor and the Hulk, who’d become slightly forgotten after Avengers: Age of Ultron.
The second major happening was Black Panther. The film’s runaway success with critics and fans and the insane box office numbers were beyond Marvel’s wildest dreams. Not only did it turn T’Challa into a bona-fide superstar, but it’s also ensured that the characters from Wakanda will feature predominantly in the next phase of MCU films. Oh, you better believe that Marvel will capitalize on the Wakanda Forever goodwill.
What both these films have in common, though, is that they didn’t need Stark to be hits. Of course there were mentions of him scattered throughout, but they succeeded with their own characters and not the Iron Man effect. This alone proves that the future of the MCU is in good hands, and there are more than enough superheroes to keep the group afloat.