DuracellEnergizer said:

The thing is is that if a superhero movie just doesn't click for me, I'm not going to give any of its sequels a chance. I need satisfactory characterization right off the bat, otherwise that's all she'll write.

There's your problem right there. The first set of films were to establish the characters. The post-Avengers aka Phase 2 films have all been about character growth and dealing with the aftermath of the Battle of New York. Iron Man 3 has Tony Stark dealing with PTSD, Thor 2 is about the relationship between he and his brother and Cap2 is about Steve Rogers trying to find his place in the world.