Best MCU Characters

Summary

• Deadpool joined the MCU thanks to his popularity, and was seamlessly integrated into the official timeline.
• Daredevil’s complex character brought a fresh perspective to the MCU with gritty, character-driven storylines.
• Thanos stands out as a well-executed villain with depth, showcasing a mix of complexity and evil that resonates with audiences.

For nearly twenty years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a box-office and streaming juggernaut, drawing millions to witness the next superhero adventure. While the fantastical action sequences and interconnected stories play a significant role in the MCU, the characters are pivotal in why people are so invested.

From the start of the Infinity Saga to the current Multiverse Saga, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has showcased a plethora of iconic characters that audiences adore. Even those who are villains in some movies and shows bring elements that make viewers eager to watch both new and old MCU entries again.

10

Wade Wilson

Deadpool Broke The Fourth Wall To Join The MCU

• Played By: Ryan Reynolds
• Also Known As: Deadpool

Though he did not begin in the MCU, Wade Wilson became such a sensation as Deadpool for the Fox X-Men universe that when Marvel got the rights to the Deadpool movies, he became part of the official Sacred Timeline thanks to the events of his third movie. As a result, the hilarious yet heart-filled anti-hero became one of the MCU’s greatest additions.

Ryan Reynolds embodies Wade Wilson just as Robert Downey Jr. embodies Iron Man, perfectly capturing his comedic essence. Beyond the fourth wall breaks and crude humor, Reynolds showcases the character’s depth, revealing Wade’s complex layers as a hero willing to save the Multiverse. As Deadpool evolves through his trilogy, fans are excited to see how he will fit into an Avengers movie.

9

Matt Murdock

Daredevil Helped Define MCU Television Shows

• Played By: Charlie Cox
• Also Known As: Daredevil

Charlie Cox brought the character of Matt Murdock to life with the original Daredevil series in 2015. Since then, he has been one of the few characters who has crossed over into other MCU shows and movies, which is a testament to how much fans have grown to love the character of Daredevil and his collection of villains and allies.

Matt Murdock has allowed Marvel to explore different sides of the superhero life in the MCU. He has no powers; he’s just a man willing to stand up to crime and corruption in New York City, resulting in brutal storylines distinct from the standard Marvel affair. He’s also a complex character who realistically struggles between heroism and giving into his darker nature, but he can be jovial and lighthearted, showing how multifaceted he is.

8

Thanos

Everything In The Infinity Saga Led To The Mad Titan

• Played By: Josh Brolin
• Also Known As: The Mad Titan

It may be strange to consider a genocidal maniac like Thanos a great character, but that’s the sign of a well-executed villain. Thanos could have been portrayed as a generic villain who is evil for the sake of evil, but instead, the character is shown to be more complex. He thinks he’s doing the right thing by wiping out half of existence, but his madness keeps him from seeing his evil.

What also helps Thanos stand out is that he’s evil, but he has more to him. He has things that he cares about, such as his adopted daughter, Gamora. He shows respect to heroes like Iron Man and Star-Lord. Most importantly, he is a villain who succeeds in what he does, which, combined with a terrifying performance by Josh Brolin, has turned Thanos into the definitive villain of the MCU.

7

T’Challa, Son Of T’Chaka

Fans Still Miss The Black Panther

• Played By: Chadwick Boseman
• Also Known As: Black Panther

After making the strongest debut as a show-stealing supporting character in Captain America: Civil War, T’Challa was due for his own movie as the Black Panther. Through his eyes, audiences were able to be fully immersed in the kingdom of Wakanda and its beautiful culture, while also showing the struggles of a good-hearted man trying to be a king and protector.

Chadwick Boseman seemed destined for the role, and audiences loved him as T’Challa in his film as well as in the subsequent Avengers films that featured him. The character was poised to become the next big star for the future of the MCU. Unfortunately, Boseman passed away in 2020, leading to the character’s send-off in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which broke the hearts of fans around the world.

6

Rocket Raccoon

The Heart And Soul Of The Guardians

• Played By: Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn
• Also Known As: Subject 89P13

The Guardians Of The Galaxy are essentially a big-found family of friends that all complement each other. However, with their official ending in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3, it becomes clear that the true star of their side of the MCU is Rocket Raccoon, played by Bradley Cooper and Sean Gunn. From the start, even when he is mean to others, Rocket is a bounty hunter who makes it impossible to hate him.

With each subsequent film, Rocket was given more development that showed that behind that angry and furry visage was a scared soul who just needed friends. This is especially shown in the third film, which delved into his tragic backstory, followed by how Rocket becomes the new and fitting leader of the Guardians.

5

Loki

The God Of Mischief With Glorious Purpose

• Played By: Tom Hiddleston
• Also Known As: The God Of Mischief

Loki is one of those characters fans have seen land on every shade of the morality spectrum. He began as a despicable yet charming villain who evolved into an unlikely anti-hero before finally becoming as much of a hero as some of the Avengers. Even when he was evil, fans relished the charisma Tom Hiddleston brought to the role.

While fans enjoyed how devilish Loki could get, there has always been tragedy, even in the first Thor movie. Loki is an adopted child who was treated as less by Odin, which made him resent both him and Thor, which is a story that makes him more relatable. People rooted for Loki to see the errors of his ways, which is heavily explored in the solo Disney+ series.

4

Stephen Strange

The Avengers Would Have Lost Without Doctor Strange

• Played By: Benedict Cumberbatch
• Also Known As: Doctor Strange

Benedict Cumberbatch, as Stephen Strange, introduced audiences to a magical side of the MCU, presenting a flawed superhero in his origin film. He starts as a self-centered man who learns magic for selfish reasons but ultimately evolves into someone willing to endure endless suffering to save the universe.

Fans fell in love with the performance by Benedict Cumberbatch, leading to Doctor Strange joining the Avengers. He showcased that he can be funny or serious, which feels straight out of the comics and helps when interacting with characters like Iron Man. Doctor Strange has also become an important figure, as he saved the universe by guiding events that would lead to the Avengers reversing cosmic genocide and destroying Thanos.

3

Tony Stark

Iron Man Is The Hero That Started The MCU

• Played By: Robert Downey Jr.
• Also Known As: Iron Man

The Marvel Cinematic Universe would not exist without Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man. His movie marked the beginning of it all and paved the way for the formation of the Avengers, transforming the MCU into one of the largest film franchises in history. Even now, after the character’s demise, fans continue to feel the impact that Tony Stark had on the universe and the franchise as a whole.

Tony Stark is another character who went through a lot of changes, even in just his origin. He began as a narcissistic billionaire and became one of the most important heroes. He also showed that he was not a perfect hero, as he not only made mistakes but even became an antagonist at one point, but it all culminated in an arc that turned him and Robert Downey Jr. into household icons.

2

Steve Rogers

Captain America Can Do It All Day

• Played By: Chris Evans
• Also Known As: Captain America

Being Captain America takes more than wearing a suit or being a super soldier: being a good person is what matters and that’s who Steve Rogers is. Even before getting injected with super-soldier serum, he displayed that he was a selfless and courageous hero not willing to back down from bullies.

Steve Rogers’ good qualities carried over when he became a superhero during World War 2 and when he became an Avenger in the 21st century. Even when he made mistakes, he always bounced back and was willing to fight to his last breath against foes like Loki, Ultron, and Thanos. He was a good leader, friend, and person from beginning to end.

1

Logan Howlett

Wolverine Continues To Evolve After Two Decades

• Played By: Hugh Jackman
• Also Known As: Wolverine

For twenty-four years, Hugh Jackman has been the face of Logan Howlett since the first X-Men movie and, much like Deadpool, he has joined the MCU thanks to Deadpool & Wolverine as a new variant. For the last two decades, audiences have seen Wolverine in multiple styles and tones, from more character-driven stories like Logan to extravagant events like X-Men: Days Of Future Past.

Where so many other X-Men characters have been recast or rebooted, there has still yet to be another portrayal of Logan Howlett. Hugh continues to evolve with the character to show pathos, the indestructible superhero side and even got a comic-accurate suit after years of fans asking for it.