The "Snap!" is such a HUGE part of the on-screen MCU story arc that is "The Infinity Saga". But did you know it actually takes up less than a single page within the context of the original comic book series?

Before I get into this, let me first state that I totally understand the reasons why Marvel and Disney are avoiding this.The comics code existed for decades because parents at the time feared that these comics were too dark for their young impressionable children and Disney has always tried to be family-friendly with their content.

But honestly, why does the MCU treat the snap like a joke? Why not play on the darker elements?

I have recently been rewatching one of my favourite television shows: HBO's The Leftovers. For those of you who haven’t seen it, The Leftovers is a show that takes place three years after the mass disappearance of approximately two percent of the world's population. (Just like the Snap!)

This show (without going into spoilers) explores the dark depths of the "Survivors" psyche and does not shy away from anything. I highly recommend you check it out.

So, What could Marvel have done with their story? And is there anything they can do moving forward to rectify and show this darker side?

Here are some of my ideas: Marvel if you are reading this, please get in touch!

  • Imagine if Ned and Betty (From the Spider-man movies) didn't just simply split up post-snap at the end of "Far from home" but instead Ned was snapped away, only to return to find her older and in a new more committed relationship. This could have been such a great storyline to develop and explore and could have jump-started the setup for Betty working at the Daily Bugle, what with her graduating a whole five years ahead of her classmates.
  • And what about Kamala Khan from the Ms. Marvel series?What if she was actually the oldest child within the household but due to the snap, her brother aged passed her.
    This could then explain why her parents were so overprotective of her, fearing they could lose her again.
  • We could see the loss of homes and belongings to multiple families, with shelters needing to be constructed quickly to rehouse the returned.
  • There would be a loss of jobs and even businesses, as companies were forced to shut down due to a lack of demand.
  • This would also mean less farming would be required over those five years, only to then be overwhelmed upon the snap's returned.
  • We could see the introduction of Vampires! - See Previous Article: "How the Snap! brought Vampires to the MCU"
  • And then there are the Skrulls...

What if (unlike with the comics) The Skrull's "Secret Invasion"  story arc is actually them being assimilated into the positions of those who were snapped away?I mean, think about it. Is that not the perfect scenario for a fleeing shape-shifting race? Suddenly, out of nowhere, millions of people disappear all over the world and your refugee race has a chance to sneak in with ease.

This would then lead to HUGE problems when those who had been Snapped return!

The humans the Skrulls had replaced suddenly return after the events of "End Game" and they want answers as to why, for the last five years, their families and friends didn't notice an imposter within their homes!Then, there is the integrated Skrull itself. For FIVE YEARS, this alien being has co-existed with a human family and has made a home to call its own. There is no doubt that over this time some form of feelings and ties would have developed within these households, with some relationships maybe even being better than they were pre-snap.

We could see some people being cheated and angry, attacking the Skrulls and wanting them gone, while others sympathize and choose to side with the Skrulls over their own.

Marvel has an opportunity here to step just a little outside of their "Family Friendly" comfort zone and give us something truly thought-provoking. But will they? I doubt it.

*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.