As Marvel is all too happy to explain, Avengers: Infinity Waris the culmination of 18 movies across 10 years.

What they don't discuss as much is what you're supposed to do if you haven't seen them all. Or if you have, but don't really remember where they left off. 18 movies is a lot! And not all of us had time to pore over each one scene by scene over the past decade!

SEE ALSO:Who's who in 'Avengers: Infinity War'

Well – not all of you, maybe. We have, in fact, spent the past 10 years paying way too much attention to these films, and we're more than happy to catch you up.

Here's where every major character left off, going into Avengers: Infinity War.

Last seen in Captain America: Civil War

Ah, yes, meetings – everyone's favorite part of being a superhero.Credit: Marvel Studios

Civil Warsaw the Avengers split down the middle over the question of whether or not to accept the Sokovia Accords, a series of regulations placed on the Avengers by the United Nations.

Iron Man led the "pro" side, which consisted of War Machine, Black Widow, Vision, and Spider-Man. Captain America the "anti" side, which included Falcon, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Ant-Man.

Eventually, the tension between the two factions came to a head at the Clash of the Avengers at an airport in Leipzig.

SEE ALSO:Which 'Avengers: Infinity War' hero would you want to rule the universe?

Falcon, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Ant-Manwere subsequently arrested and held at Raft Prison, until Cap came to break them out.

Black Widowis also on the run, having gotten into trouble with the authorities for letting Cap and Bucky go during the fight. (More about those two later.)

War Machinewas badly wounded in battle, thanks to an errant blast from Vision, but was last seen recovering at Avengers HQ with help (technological, emotional, and physical) from Iron Man.

Visionis also rattling around Avengers HQ. He's physically fine but emotionally devastated – he and Scarlet Witch looked to be on the verge of a romance before the Civil War tore them apart.

Last seen in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Wow, this looks like Guardians of the Galaxy: Civil War.Credit: Marvel Studios

The Guardians have remained largely separate from the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe up to this point. That'll change in Infinity War, when they start to cross paths with some of the Avengers.

In Vol. 2, the Guardians battled Ego, a godlike Celestial with designs of remaking the entire universe in his own image.

Star-Lorddiscovered Ego was his biological father, making him half-human and half-Celestial. (He also lost his surrogate father, Yondu. Sob.)

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Gamoracontinues to inch ever closer to a romance with Star-Lord, but seems more concerned right now with repairing her relationship with her adopted sister / fellow Thanos abductee Nebula.

Nebula, meanwhile, has put aside her grudge against Gamora in favor of a revenge quest against their captor / abuser / surrogate father, Thanos.

Groothas gone from a cute baby to a surly teen.

Rocketand Draxremain part of the Guardians.

And Mantis, an alien empath who was once kept as a pet by Ego, has become the newest member of the team.

Last seen in Spider-Man: Homecoming

He's not an Avenger... yet.Credit: SOny Pictures

Set shortly after Civil War, Homecominghad Peter Parker returning to reality as a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – all the while hoping to impress his new mentor, Iron Man, and get called up to the Avengers.

Spider-Mandoes, in fact, get an offer to join the Avengers in the end. But he turns it down, along with the sweet Iron Spider suit that Iron Man has built for him.

Iron Manis flabbergasted by the rejection, but it's not all sad: The ending of Homecominghints at an impending engagement to Pepper.

Captain Americadoesn't technically appear in Homecoming, but his image does (he's featured in a series of government-issued PSAs), and a character confirms Cap's still a fugitive in hiding.

Last seen in Thor: Ragnarok

While the other Avengers fought, Thor and Hulk bonded.Credit: Marvel STudios

After sitting out the events of Civil War, Thor and Hulk reunited in Ragnarok. Thor's mission there was to protect Asgard from his evil sister, Hela.

Ultimately, however, he was only able to save his people by abandoning his land. He and the remaining Asgardians boarded a ship headed off-planet, while Hela (with assistance from Surtur, a demon) blew Asgard itself to bits.

Thoris the new king of Asgard, following the death of Odin (for real this time). It is he who decides the Asgardian ship should chart a course toward Earth, in hopes of making a new home there.

Hulkand Lokiare also on the ship with Thor, having fought alongside him in the final fight against Hela.

Doctor Strangealso made a brief appearance in Ragnarok, showing up long enough to introduce himself to Thor as the Sorcerer Supreme.

Last seen in Black Panther

King T'Challa steps up.Credit: Marvel studios

Black Pantherpicked up T'Challa's story where Civil Warleft off, as he returned to Wakanda to assume power as its new king.

Although Wakanda had historically been an intensely secretive nation, a conflict with Killmonger – and some wise guidance from Nakia – convinced T'Challa it was time for the country to stop hiding in the shadows.

Black Pantherannounced as much in a meeting at the United Nation, promising his country would share its knowledge and resources with the rest of the world.

Shuri, Okoye, Ayo, and M'Bakuall remain faithfully by his side, after surviving the climactic battle against Killmonger.

And Buckyis still in Wakanda, right where Cap left him at the end of Civil War. But he's not on ice. To the contrary, he seems to be thriving and has even picked up a new nickname: White Wolf.

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