Related
Summary
TheMCUis filled with characters who are now iconic house names , but some of the biggest breakout heroes and baddie became much more famous than most expected . Though it may be hard to imagine now , several now - popular part in the MCU were relatively apart ( at least comparatively to their status now ) gens before their MCU debuts . The moving picture of the MCU
10Iron Man
From Moderately Popular To International Icon
Cast
Tony Stark was far from an strange beforeIron Mankick - bug out the MCU in 2008 , but he was markedly more niche and nowhere near the A - listing hero with worldwide name recognition that he was today . Iron Man did headline his own animated series in the 1990s , but it was never as democratic as other shows likeX - Men : The Animated Seriesand has n’t had the same lasting ethnical impact . While hope were obviously high forIron Manto start a franchise , few expected him to rocket as a character like he did .
Iron Man In The MCU
First Appearance
Iron Man ( 2008 )
Most Recent Appearance
Avengers : Endgame ( 2019 )
Total Appearances
10
Of course , much of that achiever is entirely on the back of the decisionto rove the at - the - time risky Robert Downey Jr. as Tony . Stark was previously a more straightforward and stern man of affairs in Marvel Comics , but RDJ ’s signature tune humor and rescue dead transform the character across media . Iron Manlikely would have been a achiever with someone else in the role due to solid effects , an effective story , and an exciting spectacle , but it ’s unlikely Iron Man would become one of Marvel ’s most iconic heroes .
9Loki
From Standard Villain To Multiverse Hero
Loki has been a backbone in Thor comics for quite some time , but it ’s unlikely many anticipated his long - running role and marvelous character arc in the MCU . Loki ’s launching inThorand later antagonist role inThe Avengerswas likely plan from the offset , butLoki ’s MCU timelinefrom then on was almost sure in reply to an fantastically public reception . Loki could have easily been a evenhandedly two - dimensional baddie , but Hiddleston ’s nuanced manner of speaking convey depth to the riotous god of deviltry .
Loki In The MCU
Thor ( 2011 )
Custom Image by Quinn Levandoski
Loki Season 2 ( 2023 )
7
It ’s order something thatheadlining anAvengersmovie as the main scoundrel is n’t Loki ’s most iconic MCU appearance . crusade further into firm anti - hero territory inThor : Ragnarokand going out as a hoagie inAvengers : eternity Warsignaled ontogenesis , but the character ’s best substance come inLokiseasons 1 and 2 . Loki ’s meteoric ascent look obvious in hindsight , but there ’s another public in which he ’s taken to Asgard at the closing ofThe Avengersand never featured in more than a cameo after that without Hiddleston ’s brilliant performance .
8Star-Lord
An Effective Reinvention
The MCU seemed like an unstoppable box office behemoth back in 2014 , butGuardians of the Galaxywas still a huge gamble . The former MCU contain plenty of sci - fi and fancy elements , but they were presented in a more grounded package not unfamiliar to general fans of action and drollery movies . protector of the Galaxydove late into bizarre sci - fi featuring the MCU ’s strangest fibre to appointment . Moreover , convert Star - Lord from a gruff and grizzle character to the lovable goof who appeared on screen sure helped .
Star - Lord In The MCU
Guardians of the Galaxy ( 2014 )
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol . 3 ( 2023 )
Like many entries in this list , much of the character ’s success can be attribute to rattling playing . follow off his breakout role inParks and Recreation , Chris Pratt imbues Peter Quill with earnestness and charmthat may not have come in through from another actor . Of course , equal recognition goes to the writing and directing of James Gunn . The persona ’s MCU future is unidentified , but audiences have been promised that"the Legendary Star - Lord will yield . “10 age ago , an unnoticeable laughable character played by an unproved picture star did n’t seem likely to have such staying king .
7Shang-Chi
A Neglected High Point Of The MCU Phase 4
It ’s no secret that the post - EndgameMCU has shinny to develop Modern iconic heroes to fulfill in for those the franchise has lose , butSimu Liu ’s Shang - Chi was an exigent collision with audiences . His launching movie is both funny and effective , and Liu brings innate charisma and likability to the role . There are high hope that Shang - Chi will have a more important role in the MCU ’s future than he ’s been given in its present .
Shang - Chi In The MCU
Shang - Chi ( 2021 )
1
There was no reason to think that Shang - Chi would n’t be successful , but it ’s a surprise that he ’s become one of the most request characters to appear again in the dealership after failing to look in the years since his introduction motion picture . Marvel antecedently skin to deliver a compelling character in Iron Fist , who shares Shang - Chi ’s penchant for the soldierlike nontextual matter . However , Shang - Chiwas able-bodied to showcase far superscript fight stage dancing and wrap up the action mechanism in the wonderful story of family and religious mysticism .
6Doctor Strange
Far More Popular In The MCU
Doctor Stange was a comparatively previous improver to the MCU ’s Infinity Saga , and there was small doubt he ’d be a hit . With unique magical ability and play by the acclaimed Benedict Cumberbatch , the Master of the Mystic Arts had a lot go for him . However , few expected that he ’d go on to be one of the most important characters in the MCU- especially so speedily .
Doctor Strange In The MCU
Doctor Strange ( 2016 )
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ( 2022 )
6
unknown was an instrumental part ofAvengers : Infinity War , and he seems positioned to be a of the essence graphic symbol inthe upcomingAvengers : The Kang Dynasty . With the deaths or pseudo - retirements of several early - establish Avengers , Strange is now a seasoned bomber in the MCU . His popularity is only typeset to increase if his knowledge of the multiverse proves as authoritative as it seems in the MCU phase angle 6 ( and perhaps beyond ) .
Doctor Strange is undoubtedly one of the most powerful Cuban sandwich on Earth , but some of his feats resist above the rest as peculiarly impressive .
5Captain America
A Difficult Adaptation
Captain America was an conventional and well - known hero before his introduction into the MCU , but adapt him to the big silver screen was an imposing proffer that came with no guarantees of success . Though Steve is often a nuanced character in the comics , pop - civilization portraiture of him were often as a one - dimensional hyper - patriot , and that just is n’t enough to lead a multi - billion dollar dealership . However , along with Iron Man and Thor , good playacting and writing transcended these worries .
Captain America ( Steve Rogers ) In The MCU
Captain America : The First Avenger ( 2011 )
8
Chris Evans was a bit of a gamble to play Steve Rogers , given his history was primarily composed of teen comedy and the divisiveFantastic Fourmovies of the early to mid-2000s . However , Evens immediately proved uncertainty incorrect , bringing palpable heart and heroism to Steve . Even years after his apparent franchise conclusion inAvengers : Endgame , Captain America remain one of the enceinte on - screen superheroes ever .
4Bucky Barnes
More Than A Side-Kick
Bucky Barnes and his transformation from sidekick to the Winter Soldier was well - have sex by comics readers ahead of his MCU debut , but the character has gone on to become much more of a leading human than most people await afterCaptain America : The First Avenger . The creatives at the MCU made the smart conclusion to take away the " side - kick " ingredient of pre - Winter Soldier Bucky and plainly make him Steve ’s friend and fellow soldier . This ground the whole story and made his apparent death and return all the more in effect .
Bucky Barnes In The MCU
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier ( 2021 )
Moreover , few have a bun in the oven Bucky ’s post - Winter Soldier story to go on quite as long ( and to full effect ) as it has . After becoming a valued Avenger in the competitiveness against Thanos , Bucky ’s journeying to repent for is past is his most compelling narrative yet . It’ll probably occur to a head inthe upcomingThunderbolts * , which seems to star Barnes as a squad leader .
3Wong
Side Character To MCU Connective Tissue
Wong is Doctor Strange ’s helper in Marvel Comics , so it was no surprisal that he had a part to play inDoctor Strange . However , few expected that he would go on to be a major piece of connective tissue paper in the Wiley Post - EndgameMCU . After the disappearing of Doctor Strange via Thanos ' snap , Wong even became ( and stay ) the MCU ’s Sorcerer Supreme of Earth .
Wong In The MCU
She - whale : Attorney at Law Season 1 ( 2022 )
This is potential thanks to Benedict Wong bringing an iconic premix of smartness , spell , and charisma to a part that could have been comprise to only Doctor Strange movies . Instead , Wong has popped up across several dealership , distinctly acting as a major player on the global degree . He ’s seen convening with punishing striker like Captain Marvel and Bruce Banner inShang - Chi , and he ’s keeping his capitulum to the ground with global affairs inShe - Hulkand beyond .
2Black Panther
From Well Known To Truly Iconic
T’Challa as been an important leader in Marvel Comics for decades , but that only partially translated to existent - world realization . While many could have identified the case by his iconic superhero suit , the name " T’Challa " was far from one with home popularity . It ’s no surprise that the character and his first appearance moving-picture show did well , but just how well was a bit of a surprise .
Black Panther ( T’Challa ) In The MCU
Captain America : Civil War ( 2016 )
4
Black Pantherearned a monolithic $ 1.35b at the global box office and remains the highest - rated MCU moving picture on Rotten Tomatoes with a critic musical score of 96 % . The late Chadwick Boseman rightfully personify the regal forgivingness of T’Challa but also infuse him with subtle flaws that made him feel more actual . Black Pantherwas an important milestone in representation , but it was also a wildly entertaining cinema , andT’Challa remain iconic even after his MCU divergence .
1Madisynn King
The “Y” Isn’t Where You Think
By all account , Madisynn King plausibly should n’t work as a character . InShe - Hulk : Attorney at Law , she ’s little more than a stereotype - a loud , always - a - little - intoxicated political party young lady who does n’t who ’s a mo too gimcrack and load down an posture . In another show , played by someone else , Madisynn might be quite cringy .
Madisynn King In The MCU
She - Hulk : Attorney At Law Season 1 ( 2022 )
However , Madisynn absolutely works . Patty Guggenheim interpenetrate the lineament with a difficult - to - pinpoint charm that make her a little wholesome , a lot odd , and a pure delight . Most memorable is her instant connection with Wong and her indifference towards the mystical and bizarre . Madisynn shew so by chance popular that she ’s just formally made the jump from theMCUto Marvel Comics , appearing inWhat If … ? Venom # 3 .
