Underrated Characters Who Should Be In Marvel Rivals

Summary

• Marvel Rivals features lesser-known but fan-favorite characters like Jeff the Land Shark and Lockjaw.
• Characters like Quasar and Razor-Fist would bring unique abilities and backstory to the game.
• The addition of characters like Slapstick and Blink would offer diverse and fun gameplay options.

Marvel Rivals has been a hit with fans since its official launch in December 2024 and is only gaining more traction. Many have flocked to the game not only for its gameplay but for the list of big-name Marvel characters that you can play, such as Spider-Man and Captain America.

Not only does it have widely recognized heroes, but it has assembled a roster worthy of praise from long-time fans and newcomers alike. The game has shown the spotlight on characters who might not be well known by many but have become instant fan favorites, like Jeff the Land Shark, Luna Snow, and Squirrel Girl. Spotlighting these characters opens a gateway for other lesser-known and underrated characters to join the game.

10

Quasar

• Possible Role: Duelist or Vanguard

If you are new to comics, or haven’t had the chance to look through Marvel’s broad history of comics, then Quasar might be a name you haven’t heard of yet. He made his debut in Captain America in 1978 and quickly established himself as a powerhouse hero.

He has hand-to-hand combat skills thanks to his time with S.H.I.E.L.D., but it’s the Quantum Bands that really give him his powers. Thanks to these bands, he can bend light and is given the power of energy manipulation. The bands also can tap into an energy source known as the Quantum Zone, which provides quantum energy in the form of force beams or heat.

9

Razor-Fist

We got our first look at a live action Razor-Fist in Shang Chi, but this character looks a little different in the comics because there are three different Razor-Fists in the comics. They all have one thing in common, which is the blade they wield instead of their hands.

The character is a beast and is an extremely well-versed fighter who can go toe-to-toe with Shang Chi. The fact that the character is a great fighter means they can be easily grouped in with the duelists, but the character is also very large and muscular, giving him the ability to also be a vanguard.

8

Lockjaw

The Inhumans have made a lasting mark on the comics dating all the way back to 1941, but the team that we think of made their first appearance in 1965’s Fantastic Four #45. While it would be great to see the likes of Medusa or Black Bolt in Marvel Rivals, it’s Lockjaw that would be a fantastic addition to the game.

There are many animal companions that have captured our hearts, much like Jeff the Land Shark and Lucky the Pizza Dog, but Lockjaw isn’t just another companion, but a vital member of the team. This massive dog is not only large but has super strength and can also teleport to different dimensions.

7

Darkhawk

Darkhawk was big in the ’90s, having his own solo series that lasted for 50 issues between 1991-1995. What made this hero stand out at the time was the fact he was a teenager who struggled with balancing his life as a teen and being a superhero (aside from Spider-Man, of course).

Chris Powell, the teen behind the mask, obtains his powers from a mysterious amulet he found and switches places with an android who controls his mind. He has teamed up with some of the biggest heroes, like Spider-Man, and against villains such as the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. His powers include superhuman strength, flight, regeneration, and the ability to use energy blasts, to name a few.

6

Quake

Daisy Johnson, aka Quake, was created in 2004 when she first appeared in Secret Wars #2. She has been in a variety of shows like Agents of Shield and Marvel Rising, but she instantly became a fan favorite from her time on screen.

She can create waves of vibration as her main ability, in which she can also control the radius of effect when using these waves. She is also a skilled fighter in hand-to-hand combat and knows how to handle a variety of weapons thanks to her time as an S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.

5

Slapstick

Marvel Rivals has some incredibly fun characters whose abilities make the gameplay exciting, enjoyable, and memorable. Slapstick would perfectly embody that type of gameplay if he were to be added to the game.

You most likely haven’t heard of this character, but all the more reason to shine a light on him. Introduced in the ’90s as a parody of a superhero, Slapstick has an arsenal of abilities that grants him cartoon-like physics, enhanced agility, and regeneration. His main weapons are all cartoonish, which would make for some gut-busting gameplay.

4

Blink

• Possible Role: Duelist or Strategist

Being able to teleport is a great advantage in any situation, but when it’s used as your main ability and can do it in the blink of an eye, it is extraordinary. She made her debut in Uncanny X-Men #317 and has been a member of both the X-Men and Exiles.

She made her live action debut in Days of Future Past and was also in the show The Gifted, which has given us a look at the character. Not only can she create portals that she uses to fight against enemies, but she also uses javelins that she can throw through them to attack enemies from any angle. She can also use her portals to make enemies’ attacks turn on themselves or each other.

3

Ka-Zar

• Possible Role: Vanguard or Duelist

There’s a couple of versions of Ka-Zar that lead all the way back to the Golden Age of comics, but it is the Ruler of the Savage Land, Ka-Zar that we are talking about, who first appears in Uncanny X-Men #10.

The Savage Land is a tropical preserve hidden in Antarctica in the comics. Ka-Zar is a survival expert and has skills in hunting, trapping, fishing, and foraging. He also has the ability to communicate with animals and has near superhuman strength. Not only would he be great for Marvel Rivals, but so would the Savage Land as a map.

2

Hellstrom

• Possible Role: Vanguard, Duelist, or Strategist

There are many darker characters within Marvel Comics that would be great for Marvel Rivals and one of those characters is Daimon Hellstrom. We had our first look at the Son of Satan in his very own live-action show, but he made his first cameo appearance all the way back in 1973’s Ghost Rider #1.

He possesses many abilities and magical powers, such as being able to fly, transport himself and other beings or objects, travel through space, time, and dimensions, and project true fire, also known as hellfire. He also can form and shatter mystical shields and heal both himself and others. He would make for a very versatile character in Marvel Rivals.

1

Guardian

• Possible Role: Vanguard or Duelist

There are many great runs from the Bronze Age of comics and that includes the team known as Alpha Flight. This Canadian-based team first made their debut in Uncanny X-Men #120 and had their own series from 1983 to 1994.

Guardian is a founding member and leader of Alpha Flight and while he may look like Canada’s version of Captain America, he was inspired by The Fantastic Four. Not only does he have genius level intellect, but he is also a skilled fighter, has superhuman strength, the ability to fly, a force field, and can fire energy blasts, giving him the ability to fill any role in Marvel Rivals.