In Marvel, there are many factions that participate in significant events in history. In the film universe, not all are represented yet. An important family has even had their own series, but it was so poorly received that they have never been used in the films..
Which family is it about? In 2017, Marvel was doing quite well. They released 3 films (Thor: Ragnarok, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2) and had impressive box office results. A year before Infinity War, Marvel was in a good place.
Before Disney+, Marvel produced various TV series. In 2013, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. started, followed by Agent Carter. Both were spin-offs of established characters and institutions. In 2017, they wanted to introduce a new faction into the MCU. In September of that year, Marvel’s Inhumans premiered.
They belong to an important faction in the Marvel universe, but apart from a brief appearance, they have not been seen in the films. This may be because the series was not a great success.
A Major Flop at the Peak of Marvel
What is Marvel’s Inhumans about? The Inhumans are genetically altered humans living in the kingdom of Attilan. They try to stay away from humanity. The focus of the Inhumans is the royal family, led by Black Bolt.
In the series, Black Bolt must deal with external problems, but the biggest threat is likely his brother Maximus, who wants to break the known order. Intrigues and betrayals are therefore the order of the day.
How did the series perform? Looking at the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, there is a disastrous score of 11% from 47 reviews. The over 1,000 viewer reviews are a bit more lenient at 42%, but that is still not good. From the few reviews, it is evident that there was not much interest in the series.
In 2017, Moviepilot reported that the first 2 episodes, which aired in theaters, could only earn $2.8 million worldwide. The ratings were also weak. Only 3.75 million Americans watched the first two episodes at release. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter were able to attract significantly more viewers with their premieres.
Since then, there has only been one Inhuman appearance in the MCU films, even though the group plays an important role in the comics.
Important, but (not yet) in the MCU
Why are the Inhumans so important? The Inhumans were created by the Kree as a possible weapon against the Skrulls. Through Terrigenesis, the abilities of the Inhumans are activated, which vary from person to person.
They are generally stronger than humans, but more susceptible to diseases. The center of the Inhumans is the royal family (House of Agon), which consists of the following characters:
- Black Bolt as king, who can destroy an entire city with his voice.
- Medusa, Black Bolt’s wife, can control her hair and use it as a weapon.
- Crystal can control the four elements (Earth, Water, Air, and Fire).
- Gorgon is physically extremely strong.
- The dog Lockjaw can teleport himself and others.
- Triton is basically a fish-man with abilities similar to Aquaman.
- Maximus is Black Bolt’s crazy brother who can manipulate and read the thoughts of others.
In the MCU, only Black Bolt made an appearance outside of his series in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, he did not come from the normal 616 universe and was quickly dealt with by Wanda.
Through their connection with the Kree, they play a role in the war between the Skrulls and the Kree, which is a significant event in the comics. Additionally, Black Bolt was a member of the Illuminati, a secret organization that also includes Iron Man and Mister Fantastic. In the Marvel universe, there are many Inhumans, one of whom is even extremely intelligent: The smartest person in Marvel is neither Tony Stark nor Bruce Banner
