Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort just admitted something fans have suspected for years: Marvel would rather make you angry than make you happy. According to Brevoort, outrage from readers proves they're "invested" in the story—even when those stories fundamentally break iconic characters like Captain America.
Wes and Aaron break down Brevoort's comments from the Word Balloon podcast, why Marvel leadership believes anger keeps fans engaged, and how that mindset led to some of the most controversial stories in comic book history — from Hydra Captain America in Secret Empire to One More Day and beyond.
We also look at the collapse of reader trust, the long-term sales damage (Captain America dropped from 45,000 to 20,000 copies), and why so many longtime Marvel fans have walked away after years of constant reboots, shock twists, and editorial manipulation of beloved characters like Spider-Man and the X-Men.
Is Marvel's outrage strategy killing comics for good?
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🎥 Ta-Nehisi Coates CAPTAIN AMERICA Is Over…Was It Successful?
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Covered in this Video
* Tom Brevoort's Word Balloon podcast comments on Marvel fan outrage
* Hydra Captain America and Steve Rogers — how Secret Empire broke the character
* Marvel Comics' strategy of shock twists and reader provocation
* Why Captain America comic book sales collapsed from 45,000 to 20,000 copies
* One More Day and the pattern of Marvel editorial destroying iconic characters
* Jack Kirby's Captain America legacy vs. modern Marvel Comics
* Why longtime comic book fans are abandoning Marvel
* The difference between investment and alienation in Marvel storytelling
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🔊 Automatic Dubbing Disclaimer
This video includes YouTube’s automatic dubbing feature for non-English speakers. Translations may contain minor errors and do not always reflect tone or expression. You can switch back to the original English track in the settings if needed.
Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort just admitted something fans have suspected for years: Marvel would rather make you angry than make you happy. According to Brevoort, outrage from readers proves they're "invested" in the story—even when those stories fundamentally break iconic characters like Captain America.
Wes and Aaron break down Brevoort's comments from the Word Balloon podcast, why Marvel leadership believes anger keeps fans engaged, and how that mindset led to some of the most controversial stories in comic book history — from Hydra Captain America in Secret Empire to One More Day and beyond.
We also look at the collapse of reader trust, the long-term sales damage (Captain America dropped from 45,000 to 20,000 copies), and why so many longtime Marvel fans have walked away after years of constant reboots, shock twists, and editorial manipulation of beloved characters like Spider-Man and the X-Men.
Is Marvel's outrage strategy killing comics for good?
NEXT VIDEO:
🎥 Ta-Nehisi Coates CAPTAIN AMERICA Is Over…Was It Successful?
Watch here → youtu.be/-w0pB_TB8Ds
Support the Channel / Join the Community
Support Thinking Critical on Patreon for Exclusive Content
🔗 patreon.com/thinkingcritical
Back Channel Memberships
🔗 youtube.com/@Wes_From_TC/join
🛒 Official Thinking Critical Merch
🔗 redbubble.com/people/T-Critical/shop?asc=u
Covered in this Video
* Tom Brevoort's Word Balloon podcast comments on Marvel fan outrage
* Hydra Captain America and Steve Rogers — how Secret Empire broke the character
* Marvel Comics' strategy of shock twists and reader provocation
* Why Captain America comic book sales collapsed from 45,000 to 20,000 copies
* One More Day and the pattern of Marvel editorial destroying iconic characters
* Jack Kirby's Captain America legacy vs. modern Marvel Comics
* Why longtime comic book fans are abandoning Marvel
* The difference between investment and alienation in Marvel storytelling
Follow the Channel
📱 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thinking_critical
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thinkingcrit
📘 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/1368359010382132
💬 Discord: discord.gg/uHM3Z68
🎮 Twitch: twitch.tv/thinking_critical_yt
Contact Wes
🐦 Twitter: twitter.com/Wes_from_TC
✉️ Email: wesdigscomic@gmail.com
🔊 Automatic Dubbing Disclaimer
This video includes YouTube’s automatic dubbing feature for non-English speakers. Translations may contain minor errors and do not always reflect tone or expression. You can switch back to the original English track in the settings if needed.
![Marvel Introduces New Danger Room [X-Men #27 Review]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ifFtTp067m0/mqdefault.jpg "Marvel Introduces New Danger Room [X-Men #27 Review]
The Danger Room isn’t training the X-Men anymore… it’s hunting them. Marvel just turned one of the most iconic concepts in comics into something completely different in X-Men #27—and not everyone is going to like it.
In this review, Wes breaks down X-Men #27 from Jed MacKay and Netho Diaz, including the debut of the new “Danger Room” — now a full team of manipulative villains led by Maxine Danger. Instead of building tension over time, Marvel dumps multiple new characters at once, all with overlapping abilities and questionable motivations, raising serious concerns about execution, pacing, and long-term payoff.
There are ideas here that could work. The problem is how they’re being delivered. This feels less like a natural evolution and more like a retroactive explanation for earlier plot decisions that didn’t land. At the same time, Netho Diaz continues to elevate the material with dynamic, high-energy visuals that make even the slowest scenes look engaging.
Big thanks to The 616 Comics — the #1 producer-retailer in the comic book industry. Use code THINKINGCRITICAL at checkout for 10% OFF their exclusive variant covers on their site or app: 🔗 https://the616comics.com
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Listen to the entire Dok Unfiltered Podcast right now on Thinking Critical Patreon and Channel Memberships, where Wes and Dok go deeper on Iron Man #1 and Marvel’s future.
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Covered in this Video:
* X-Men #27 full review and analysis
* Marvel’s new Danger Room villain team explained
* Maxine Danger and her role in the story
* Why the villain introductions feel rushed
* Repetitive “manipulator” character problem
* Plot holes and questionable story logic
* Techno-organic virus twist breakdown
* Comparison to classic Danger Room concept
* Netho Diaz artwork review and strengths
* Final score and recommendation
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Contact Wes
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📧 Email: wesdigscomic@gmail.com
🔊 Automatic Dubbing Disclaimer
This video includes YouTube’s automatic dubbing feature for non-English speakers. Translations may contain minor errors and do not always reflect tone or expression. You can switch back to the original English track in the settings if needed.")
