Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Complete Timeline to Phase 2: ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ & More
November 6, 2026, 2:45 pm
Special Issue
The ultimate superhero team-up is almost here with Marvel’s latest flick, Avengers: Doomsday, and as we gear up for the theatrical event, we’re taking a look back at the phases that came before the current Multiverse Saga, which is in Phase Six.
Below, we’re taking a closer look at Phase Two of the Infinity Saga. Scroll down for a walk down memory lane with Earth’s mightiest heroes.
Iron Man 3(2013)
The conclusion of Iron Man‘s trilogy addresses Tony’s PTSD following his near-death experience in The Avengers, showing that he’s become even more dependent on his Iron Man armor. After he provokes his enemy, the Mandarin (Sir Ben Kingsley), Tony’s home is attacked, forcing him to flee to Tennessee without the aid of his suits. There, he enlists the help of teen Harley Keener (Ty Simpkins) to find the real antagonist: scientist Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), a former acquaintance of Tony’s who helped develop a supersoldier serum called Extremis. Killian kidnaps Pepper and injects her with the serum, but Tony returns in time to save her—and then she saves both of them! —Meredith Jacobs
Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Jay Maidment / ©Walt Disney Studios / courtesy Everett Collection
The follow-up to Thor’s debut film finds him stuck in the middle of an Asgardian conflict: Years ago, Odin’s father waged war against Dark Elf Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) to stop him from using the Aether, a powerful weapon. After Thor learns that the Aether has awoken and taken Jane as its host, he brings her to Asgard to protect her, breaking out an imprisoned Loki to help him fight the Dark Elves. Loki dies in what will become the first of many deaths for the character and reappears at the film’s end, where he’s shown to be impersonating Odin on the throne. —Avery Thompson
Captain America: The Winter Soldier(2014)
Take a superhero film, add a compelling government conspiracy, and you have this widely acclaimed second entry in the Captain America trilogy. Working for S.H.I.E.L.D. with Natasha and Fury, Steve learns the agency is hiding traitors in plain sight within the secret organization Hydra. Sam Wilson’s Falcon (Anthony Mackie) makes his first appearance, as does “The Winter Soldier,” Steve’s best friend Bucky Barnes, who was presumed dead after Captain America: The First Avenger but returns as a deadly assassin. —AT
Guardians of the Galaxy(2014)
MCU fans thought they knew chaos, but no one was ready for the bedlam brought about by the ragtag group of heroes in this team-up flick. When orphaned human Peter Quill/Star-Lord, played by Chris Pratt, steals the mysterious Orb, he garners the attention of Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace)—among other baddies. So Peter forms an alliance with Ronan’s alien assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), weapons specialist Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and a sentient tree named Groot (Vin Diesel). They wreak havoc across the galaxy to the awesome tunes on Peter’s Walkman. —Emily Aslanian
Ant-Man(2015)
Nothing about this comedic heist film feels small in scope—well, except for all the ants! Ex-con Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is recruited by former S.H.I.E.L.D. scientist Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to steal—and later wear—a shrink-suit to stop Pym’s nemesis Darren Cross/Yellowjacket (Corey Stoll) from using Pym’s shrinking tech for evil. As Scott trains, learning how to use the suits and even communicate with ants, he falls for Pym’s daughter Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), who later dons her own suit as the Wasp. Come for the heists, stay for Ant-Man‘s shrunken-down battle with Yellowjacket on the Thomas the Tank Engine train set. —EA
Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Complete Timeline to Phase 1
Avengers: Age of Ultron(2015)
The second Avengers film sees the heroes fight Ultron (James Spader), an artificial intelligence that goes rogue and sets out to eliminate humankind. The movie debuted the Maximoff twins: Wanda/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Pietro/Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), orphans who team up with Ultron before switching sides; as well as Vision, Tony’s former A.I. assistant J.A.R.V.I.S., now in robot-human form. While the Avengers save the day, they do so at the expense of Pietro, who dies while saving Hawkeye and a child. —Paige Strout
TV Guide Magazine’s Avengers: Doomsday Special Issue is available for order online now atAvengers.TVBooks.com, and for purchase on newsstands nationwide.
Ant-ManAvengers: Age of UltronCaptain America: The Winter SoldierGuardians of the Galaxy (2014)Iron Man 3Thor: The Dark World
