As we reach the ‘home straight’ of Phase Two I feel the need to update my opening comments.
Firstly much of this work wasn't mine. In fact the predominant work was done by Rich Drees who is the Editor over at www.filmbuffonline.com where an early timeline can be seen. I have made my own significant contribution to this now. The sharp eyed will notice the more important changes.
Secondly, and rather more alarmingly for timeline enthusiasts, (I know you’re out there...in the shadows. Be proud...if silent!) the amount of contradictions are beginning to tell. With that in mind it should be noted that there is a tasty little website run by Croutons that can be found at http://eatingcroutons.tumblr.com/mcu-timeline which is an excellent source. It provides evidence and screenshots for the majority of onscreen dates. Not only does it nail down the time of events but also shows the many anachronisms and contradictions that litter the MCU. I now invite the reader to sift through the evidence and make their own decisions on when things take place.
Let the debate begin!
I'm very happy to answer any questions regarding the timeline. Simply send me an email headed MCU Timeline to andrewnorfolk@hotmail.com Cheers guys.
As the Convergence takes place the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim attempt to conquer the nine realms.
View on timelineTønsberg, Norway. The Frost Giants of Jotunheim attempt to conquer Midgard/Earth. The invasion point becomes the site of an epic battle as Asgard’s ruler, Odin, leads an army to repel the invasion and protect the planet (1). Odin and his force push the Frost Giants back to Jotunheim where the AllFather discovers an abandoned Frost Giant infant whom he adopts, names Loki and raises as his own alongside his son, Thor (2). A truce is negotiated between Odin and the Jotun king, Laufey. The source of the Jotuns power, the Casket of Ancient Winters, is taken back to Asgard.
View on timelineTønsberg Norway . Odin hides the Tesseract, a cube-like object of immense power.
View on timelineBrooklyn, NY. Steve Rogers is born to Joseph and Sarah Rogers.
View on timelineHell's Kitchen, Manhattan, NY. A young Steve Rogers talks to his mother about his deceased father and military man, Joe (1). His father died from a mustard gas attack (2) with the 107th during WWI. Soon after his mother, ill from T.B., is unable to care for him (3) and Rogers is sent to an orphanage (4).
View on timelineDr Abraham Erskine, working in a German University, begins his research into creating a Super Soldier Serum.
View on timelineHell's Kitchen, Manhattan. Steve meets James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes during a back ally scuffle with some bullies.
View on timelineDuetsches Operhaus, Berlin, Germany. Physicist, Johann Schmidt, meets Adolf Hitler, Himler and Erst Kaufmann (head of the Sturmabteilung (SA)'s Special Weapons Division) after a Wagner opera. Schmidt reveals his theory that Norse gods and their magic could be more than myth.
View on timelineGeneva, Switzerland. Dr. Erskine and young, budding industrialist, Howard Stark meet at an Engineering Conference.
View on timelineHanselbauer Hotel, Bad Wiessee, Bavaria. As part of the Schutzstaffel (SS)'s Night of the Long Knives, Johann Schmidt assassinates Erst Kaufmann and seizes control of his weapons program.
View on timelineKummersdorf , Germany. Schmidt and SS troops attack SA Weapons Testing Ground where he finds and recruits advanced exo-skeleton battle armour researcher Arnim Zola.
View on timelineGerman/Swiss border. Erskine leaves his work in an attempt to escape Nazi Germany. HYDRA (Nazi Special Weapons Division) leader, Schmidt, takes an interest in Erskine's work and intercepts the scientist.
View on timelineDachau, Germany. Erskine's kidnapped wife, son, and daughter die of typhus in concentration camp.
View on timelineGuernica, Spain. HYDRA destroys the city with advanced weaponry, at the time it was believed the Luftwaffe was to blame.
View on timelineHoward Stark launches Stark Industries. They begin producing planes for war effort following attack on Pearl Harbor. His innovations later earn him a spot working on the Manhattan Project.
View on timelineLos Angeles, California. Howard Stark begins a demonstration which would showcase Vibranium, a metal discovered by Stark Industries researchers in Africa. Stark is approached by Col. Chester Phillips of Army Intelligence who shows him film footage of Hydra’s weapons testing at the Bombing of Guernica (See April 26, 1937). After being attacked by HYDRA assassins Stark agrees to join Philip's newly created Strategic Science Reserve (SSR), a top secret government agency.
View on timelineCastle Kaufmann, Bavarian Alps, Germany. Schmidt takes part in a test involving Erskine and his Super Soldier Serum which turns Schmidt into what will become known as the Red Skull (1). Erskine is rescued by British Officer, Margaret "Peggy" Carter, and brought into the SSR as part of the Project Rebirth program along with Howard Stark to produce America's own Super Soldier (2).
View on timelineHell's Kitchen, Manhattan. During art class Rogers and Barnes find out that America has joined the Second World War (1). Over the next two weeks Barnes trains Rogers at Goldie’s Boxing Gym. (2)
View on timelineRogers and Bucky visit US Recruiting and Induction Center in New York where Steve is classified as 4F and rejected from service (1). Rogers goes on to be rejected a further four times in four different cities (2).
View on timelineTønsberg, Norway. Schmidt discovers and takes the Tesseract, a source of unspeakable power , hidden within the monastery. Schmidt refers to it as "the jewel of Odin's Treasure Room".
View on timelineSSR opens file on Project Rebirth.
View on timelineRed Hook, Brooklyn NY. The SSR team finish the Project Rebirth Chamber. Howard Stark comments that it should have been called the Brooklyn Project in response to Oppenheimer's work at Los Alamos. At Camp Lehigh, New York Erskine rejects all the candidates selected by Col. Philips for Project Rebirth.
View on timelineQueens, New York. At the World Exposition of Tomorrow, Erskine spots Steve Rogers at a recruitment office. Erskine offers him a chance to join the US Army through Project Rebirth.
View on timelineBarnes ships out to England the day after the World Exposition of Tomorrow.
View on timelineCamp Lehigh, New York. Rogers, along with several other volunteers, begins his training under the supervision of Peggy Carter, Dr Erskine and Col. Phillips.
View on timelineWith Erskine's serum and Howard Starks Vita-Rays technology Rogers is transformed from a sickly weakling into the worlds first, and only, super soldier (1). Upon his transformation the secret location is destroyed and Erskine is assassinated by Heinz Kruger, an operative of HYDRA (2). The only evidence left that Project Rebirth ever took place is locked in Rogers' genetic code (3).
View on timelineUnwilling to be kept purely for research, Rogers joins the USO and goes on a five month, morale-boosting tour of the US, the UK, and finally troops stationed in Italy. Given the persona 'Captain America' he becomes a national celebrity appearing in both films and comicbooks, establishing himself as a symbol of America's participation in the war.
View on timelineHYDRA Weapons Facility, Austrian Alps. The members of the future Howling Commandos meet for the first time (1). As prisoners they are used to make weapons for HYDRA. They team up, at first, to get revenge on one of their captors after he viciously beats Barnes (2).
View on timelineAzzano, Italy. Frustrated by his lack of real action, and upon hearing of Barnes trapped behind enemy lines, Rogers attacks HYDRA facility in the Austrian Alps and releases the imprisoned Howling Commandos and Barnes (1). Schmidt, who has been using the Tesseract on site as a power source sets the facility to self destruct. Rogers slows the relic from exploding to allow time for the Commandos to escape. During his escape Rogers memorises a map showing the locations of all HYDRA's hidden facilities (2) as well as obtaining a small sample of the power source HYDRA have been using (3).
View on timelineHoward Stark begins to examine the sample Rogers picked up from the HYDRA facility. This sample will lead him to discover the theory of a new element.
View on timelineCaptain America, with the aid of the Howling Commandos, attack and destroy a number of HYDRA facilities across war torn Europe.
View on timelineDanish Straits. Rogers invades a HYDRA occupied castle. Whilst there Rogers and the Howling Commandos manage to locate and capture an ancient viking rune stone.
View on timelineOn a mission to apprehend Zola, Barnes falls into a ravine and is missing presumed dead.(1) Zola is captured and then interrogated by Philips.(2)
View on timelineBarnes found by Soviet troops. HYDRA (having possibly infiltrated the KGB) begin the process of turning him into an highly effective assassin.
View on timelineBavarian Alps, Germany. Rogers, with the help of the US Military, attacks and destroys HYDRA's last fortification. As Schmidt makes his escape aboard the Valkyrie Rogers gains access and a fight ensues. Schmidt, after handling the Tesseract, is transported into the cosmos(1). Rogers pilots the Valkyrie into a glacier off the coast of Greenland ensuring that the aircraft and its payload never reach the USA(2).
View on timelineNorth Atlantic. Howard Stark discovers the Tesseract in his search for Rogers but fails to locate the crashed Valkyrie. Rogers will remain missing for almost seventy years.
View on timelineZola in August 1945, with over a hundred other German scientists, is offered a contract under Operation Paperclip.
View on timelineBrooklyn, NYC. Agent Carter, working in data analysis and code breaking for the SSR under Agent Flynn, intercepts message ordering a number of agents to go to a mission location. Going it alone, Carter successfully retrieves the 'Zodiac' vial from the well guarded secret location. The next day, following on from her success, Howard Stark asks Carter to run the newly formed organisation S.H.I.E.L.D. with him.
View on timelineFor a documentary now currently being shown at the Captain America display at the Smithsonian museum, Carter gives an interview detailing her time with Rogers.
View on timelineFlushing Meadows, Queens, New York. Stark World Exposition
View on timelineAnton Vanko defects to the US and begins work with Howard Stark in developing Arc Reactor technology under the title of 'The Unity Project'.
View on timelineFlushing Meadows, Queens, New York. Stark Expo held in conjunction with the World’s Fair.
View on timelineRoyal Court Theatre, Liverpool, UK. Trevor Slattery takes to the boards for his first official acting role as Boatswain One in The Tempest.
View on timeline