When the first Avengers movie came around, Nick Fury was very precise about the details of this superhero team—the original Avengers were selected because they had something very specific to offer during the mission.
But as the MCU expanded and introduced new characters, with SHIELD’s stronghold simultaneously weakening, the definition of what makes an Avenger has become vague and subject to change.
In that context, it’s normal for one to wonder if a character like Wong can classified as an Avenger or not.
Wong doesn’t fit the conventional “definition” of an Avenger, because he was not officially recruited for it. On the other hand, as Sorcerer Supreme, he was seen to be liaising with other Avengers like the Hulk and Captain Marvel.
It’s time to get into both sides of the debate:
Wong Was Not “Recruited” for The Avengers
As per certain consensus, the official Avengers in the MCU are: Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff, Bruce Banner, Thor, Clint Barton, Pietro Maximoff, Wanda Maximoff, Vision, James Rhodes, Sam Wilson, Peter Parker, Rocket Raccoon, Carol Danvers, Nebula, Okoye, and Scott Lang.
On these lines, MCU traditionalists will argue that Wong was not explicitly recruited to part of any Avengers initiatives. He also does not have a major arc in any of the MCU joint projects and even within the Doctor Strange franchise, his depiction has been quite surface-level.
We have to remember that Wong was someone who was simply introduced as a fellow Master of the Mystic Arts. It’s only after Strange gets Blipped that Wong ascends to the position of Sorcerer Supreme.
What’s fascinating is the way director Scott Derrickson revamped the character: Wong’s comic book counterpart was only a valet, loaded with Asian stereotypes. Derrickson also said that Wong’s character will have more importance down the line.
Why Wong Ultimately Is an Avenger
There are quite a few points to be made in favor of Wong being an Avenger, starting with Clint Barton’s iconic dialogue, “You walk out that door, you’re an Avenger.”
While the Avengers may have started as a program of “carefully curated” individuals with impressive skillsets and powers, the term has obviously broadened over the years/movies to include those who believe in the same values as the Avengers and can put up a good fight.
Next, as the current Sorcerer Supreme, Wong is of a higher stature which comes with an equal amount of responsibilities. Not only does he have to oversee all the Masters of the Mystic Arts but he is also actively working with other Avengers to alleviate oncoming risks.
Shang-Chi’s post-credit is one such case in point.
While Wong’s presence on-screen still doesn’t live up to what a Sorcerer Supreme should be, it’s clear that any superhero who battled Thanos deserves to be called an Avenger.
About Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the sequel to the 2016 movie Doctor Strange. The film is directed by Sam Raimi with a screenplay by Jade Bartlett and Michael Waldron.
It stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange, alongside Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Xochitl Gomez.
The sequel revolves around the dangerous consequences of Doctor Strange opening the multiverse.
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