But wouldn't that just be recently since the Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and Avengers movies came out (2008-current date).

If it was the mid 2000's and only the Spider-Man movies, X-Men movies, Hulk, and Fantastic Four movie has come out, but none of the Cap's Tony's or Thor's movies have come out, would it still be the same three above?

Also, how about from let say the 1960's to the 1990's when those Marvel movies didn't come out yet (I know there were cheesy ones that have come out for TV in the 70's and 80's).

Marvel doesn't need a Trinity.. they already have a Fantastic FOUR

if they would just frigging use them.

sigh, i MISS the days when it truly was "the worlds greatest comic magazine"

If you are only looking at 2008 or so to present,t hen it would be Tony, Cap and Thor, but if you look at the breadth of Marvel from '61 to present and figure in recognizable of the characters over the majority of that period, two of the three would have to be Spider-Man and the Hulk.

Part of what makes DC's Trinity, the Trinity for them is that they were the only 3 characters who remained in print in their own titles (not as strips in other titles) throughout the entire history of DC. That lead to their being considered part of the fabric of DC and what was most associated with DC when DC was mentioned. Other than Spider-Man. Marvel doesn't have that. Even Hulk had his first title cancelled, most of the other iconic heroes were strips in other titles first, and FF has fallen of the publishing radar. Also, Supes, Bats and Wondy were present in other forms of media throughout the course of DC's history, adding to their recognizability to the general public, from Fleisher cartoons for Supes to the cover of Ms. Magazine for Wondy and the myriad of appearances for the Bat, they achieve a certain iconic status in pop culture being recognizable to those not "into" comics. Of the Marvel heroes, only maybe Spidey and the Hulk had that prior to 2008 (the X-Men did to a lesser extent after the success of the '92 animated series and the Singer films. However, presence in mass media doesn't lead to automatic recognition factor, see the FF, who appeared on Saturday mornings in various formats through the years and even had films prior to '08 but never achieved the kind of recognition factor Spidey and Hulk had, let alone Supes, Bats and Wondy.

So I am not sure Marvel has a Trinity (or as Bert said, even needs one). And I think the idea of the Trinity has held back other DC characters who are just now starting to come into their own beyond hardcore comic fan culture.

-M

Up through the 70s and into the 80s, I might have added Ben Grimm as the third, but Benji has fallen off the radar since then.

-M

I don't think Stan ever thought of any of the Marvel heroes being so connected as the DC Trinity. But once Roy Thomas made Cap/Shell-head/Thor the core Avengers team then they became  the closest to a Trinity for Marvel in the comic stories. FF were a class of their own and really only Reed was the stand out due to his scientific skills always being called upon. If you were going to go by the general public's overall instantaneous recognition factor from being money generators in toys, clothing and everything else under the sun before the new MU movies brought instant fame... Then it would more likely be Spider-Man, Hulk and Wolverine. They have the most name brand recognition to the general public on items you can readily and easily purchase from comics to toys to clothes to cartoons to whatever Marvel can stamp their faces on.

In the comics if Cap was in a group almost everyone would step aside to his insights and leadership. When Stark was in a group his scientific skills or Reed Richards was the definitive go to guys. For strength and power it was Thor alongside Hulk they would hope for or recruit to the group. 

No, no.  It's pepperoni, black olives and mushrooms!