One thing that has been a constant in my life for quite some time now is Marvel. I got into the superhero comics world in my early teens; just a kid looking for something to immerse myself in that didn’t suck as much as the reality of being in junior high. My appreciation for these fictional stories has only increased, and I’ve especially grown to love the Marvel movies that come out every year.
If you ask me what my favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film is, I swear I will answer Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) in a heartbeat. I don’t have enough time to list all the reasons why it is the best MCU film, but it was largely because my favorite character, Sam Wilson a.k.a Falcon, was introduced into the MCU. Representation in film is super important, so seeing a black superhero on screen was pretty groundbreaking for me as a fourteen-year-old.
Not only am I a huge fan of Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, but also Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes (The Winter Soldier). These two characters are Captain America’s closest friends, even though they have been known to not be fans of one another. However, Disney+ has announced that the Falcon and the Winter Soldier will be teaming up for a six-episode miniseries expected to drop later this year.
Why put two characters together who don’t like each other for a show? Well, the MCU fandom was captivated by Mackie and Stan’s chemistry both on screen as their characters and off screen as themselves. Interesting how the demand from fans for a more fleshed out pair of characters was loud enough for Disney to listen.
One-Sided Connections and Parasocial Relationships
A fandom is essentially a group of people with a shared interest in popular culture. Something that really fuels a fandom is this concept of a parasocial relationship. It is a term created in the 1950s that outlines the connection between consumers and those in the entertainment business. It is a one-sided relationship as the consumer will learn much about the entertainment personality over time, however the consumer remains a complete stranger.
In a New York Times article about Podcast Fandoms, parasocial relationships are one of many factors that have contributed to the growing success of podcasts today. Podcast hosts, especially those who weren’t considered celebrities before creating their podcast, heavily rely on that relationship for their show to succeed and for their following to grow. Building those bonds with listeners creates a sense of intimacy and really solidifies that connection.
I’m not too familiar with podcasts, so I figured I’d find one that talked about Marvel-related content. I did a quick google search and came across this podcast simply called the Marvel Cinematic Universe Podcast, run by two friends named Matthew Carrol and Jeff Randall. The pair discusses a variety of topics under the MCU umbrella, ranging from news, to fan theories, to even how COVID-19 is affecting the production of upcoming projects. I chose a recent episode that talked about the budget for Disney+’s upcoming miniseries, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Not only did I love the commentary between the hosts about the content, but the concept of parasocial relationships came out at its finest in the specific episode I chose. One of the hosts’ sister had passed away recently, and so he stopped to take a moment to thank all of the listeners who sent their condolences. He had built this bond with his followers that allowed him to share intimate details about his personal life, and his followers responded as if they were close friends. He knows nothing about the person on the other side of the screen, but still appreciated their kind words.
my (parasocial) relationship with marvel heroes
I wanted to loop this idea back to my two favorite characters. My love for Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes has spilled into supporting the actors themselves. In the past (and currently, as I’m waiting for this show to air) I have found myself building a personal connection with the actors in between Marvel films. I do this by keeping up with them on their social media, watching their interviews on YouTube, and watching their other notable films.
These behaviors tie into the fact that parasocial relationships are less exhaustive than a mutual friendship. I don’t have to worry about sharing details about myself or keeping the connection in check. Even though it’s a one-sided affair, it’s still a connection that can deepen over time. I have definitely experienced this with Mackie and Stan as I’ve been keeping up with them since early high school. It feels like a constant friendship, and I can always check in on them and see what project they are up to, or when they will be nearby for a convention. Me, on the other hand— I’ll remain a stranger to them forever. I mean, I’m not banking on the idea of ever meeting them. The chances are slim (but never zero)!
One benefit of being a part of the Marvel fandom that I love is meeting other fans online and at the movies. I got more into the online fandom after Avengers: Endgame (2019) came out, because I needed to find a group of people to yell with me about Sam Wilson becoming (spoiler alert?) the new Captain America. I went to the right place, and now I have a group of friends from all over with which I can discuss all things Marvel. It just feels good to actually get a mutual friendship out of this passion of mine. I can’t wait for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier to come out, because we will surely be yelling about every little detail with one another.
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