TheMCUhas been one of the most successful and influential franchises since its beginning. From the very start (withIron Man, directed by Jon Favreau and starring Robert Downey Jr.), Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios have had worldwide success in developing the beloved characters from the comic books to the big screen.
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Nowadays, characters are being developed for streaming services, likeMarc Spector’s Moon Knightand She-Hulk. The MCU now consists of over 30 movies and several television shows on Disney Plus. It all adds up to a vast roster of characters that have become beloved by millions of fans worldwide. Only a select few of these superheroes and characters, however, can be considered the very best.
10Kate Bishop
First introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Disney Plus showHawkeye, Hailee Steinfeld portrayed a teenage girl talented with a bow and arrow, whose idol and favorite Avenger is Hawkeye. After years of training, she gets entangled in a mystery surrounding Clint Barton. With their relationship blossoming, she becomes his able sidekick while they unravel the mystery.
Kate Bishop quickly became one of the fans' favorite new characters in the MCU. She is a gifted archer and very agile warrior, but her crime-fighting days and journey to becoming a superhero have just begun. She has a lot of potential going untapped (so far).
9Star-Lord
After years of a comedy career, Chris Pratt surprised the world with his transformation into the iconic Star-Lord in theGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise. Fans came to love his portrayal of the character.
Kidnapped as a child by a group of galactic Ravagers, he grew up to become one of the best thieves in the galaxy. In this lofty yet unscrupulous position, he meets the rest of the Guardians and begins his search for true purpose in his life. His wonderful comedic timing and enormous charisma are unmatched, as is his musical taste. No superhero has ever done more to awaken the younger generation to the virtues of classic rock. In terms of raw power, however, Star-Lord can’t compete with some of the other legends of the MCU.
8Dr. Bruce Banner/The Hulk
There’s no denying that the Hulk has raw power in spades. After being re-casted for the firstMarvel’s Avengersmovie, Bruce Banner and the green mean machine have been prolific on the big and small screens. They have appeared (at the time of writing) in seven movies in the MCU, as well as thegripping Disney Plus comic book adaptation She-Hulk.
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Banner is one of the most memorable characters, and fans have laughed and cried along with him throughout his journey. His storylines have been some of the most severe and emotional in the MCU. His bond with Natasha Romanoff, his search for identity, and his fight to manage and utilize the Hulk have all tugged on viewers' heartstrings. On the other hand, the Hulk is limited to spectacular appearances in battle scenes at times, and this can undermine that.
7Black Widow
First appearing inIron Man 2, Scarlett Johansson stole the show with her portrayal of Natasha Romanoff. She presented a complex character, mysterious, enigmatic, charismatic, and very much capable of defending herself.
As the movies progressed over the years, few details of her dark backstory were revealed. This mystery became part of her very character. Finally, though, her very own solo movie was released, and her story was told like never before. It introduced her family and an array of intriguing new characters, as well as explaining the vile experiments that were performed on her and her fellow Widows and how she came to be who she is. There’s a lot of depth to Black Widow, and lots of fighting prowess, but she would struggle against Marvel’s mightiest.
6Black Panther
Chadwick Boseman first portrayed the powerful and agile Black Panther inCaptain America: Civil War, a revenge-driven menace looking for the murderer of his father. Later, he played the character once more in one of the most acclaimed movies in MCU history:Black Panther.
Fans immediately fell In love with his portrayal of this noble warrior, a man whose kingdom had been taken away from him and who was forced on a path of self-discovery. Sadly, Boseman passed away in 2020, meaning that his personal journey in the MCU came to a tragic and untimely end. Nevertheless, his incredible performance in the first MCU movie ever nominated for an Oscar earned T’Challa a place in the hearts of fans.
5Doctor Strange
Doctor Strangestunned when it hit theaters in 2016. It boasted astonishing and never before seen visuals, a complex story that dealt with the power to control time itself, and, grounding the whole experience, a charming and engaging performance by Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role.
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Stephen Strange is one of the most capable and versatile characters currently in the MCU, having an arsenal of spells and magical tools up his sleeve asthe formidable Sorcerer Supreme. He will do everything to save the world, but there is one magical powerhouse who eclipses even him.
4Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch is a magic-wielder with capacities perhaps even greater than the Sorcerer Supreme’s. Arguably, she may even be the most powerful character in the entire MCU. After being presented in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Elizabeth Olsen has portrayed the damaged and grief-fueled character compellingly and beautifully.
WandaVision tackles the depths of the character’s loss, and fans fell in love with her humanity, vulnerability, and the way that everything she does is driven by love. She was later rather underutilized in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which disappointed some fans. As a result, it’s perhaps difficult to see where her character development will go next.
Chris Hemsworth gives his most iconic performance as the god of thunder, with that perfect mixture of heart and humor that has earned the love of fans worldwide.
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His character has undergone quite the journey, throughout the Galaxy and the Nine Realms. His odyssey has been filled with loss, challenges, and a long search for true purpose. Perhaps that quest has finally been concluded, as Thor has become a role model for a child in need of his guidance. On the other hand, Thor: Love and Thunder and Thor: The Dark World are some of the most inconsistent movies in the MCU. There was something perhaps forgettable about their plots, and the villains left fans hoping for more.
2Captain America
Captain America is a goodly representation of the belief that real strength comes from doing the right thing, however difficult it may be. Chris Evans portrayed the character with stoicism and grace, making viewers really feel for a man with huge strength and love for his friends and the world.
The Captain America saga is one of the most consistent in the whole MCU. Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War are considered by many to be some of the best movies yet. With incredible action sequences throughout, not to mention memorable plot twists that defined the fate of the MCU, the Captain America movies became beloved worldwide. The noble Steve Rogers is, perhaps, topped only by a wisecracking fellow Avenger.
Iron Man kicked off the MCU in 2008, and the movie can still stand proudly among the very best in the franchise. For most fans, no-one could have played the character like Robert Downey Jr. He brought life to the arrogant Avenger in a way that arguably no other actor in the MCU has quite rivaled. He added rock and roll to the MCU and excited fans during every second he spent on screen.
Tony Stark built the foundations of the MCU and delivered its most exciting phases. From weapons dealer to the hero of the universe, Iron Man’s journey came to a glorious and heart-wrenching end when he sacrificed himself for humanity. With such a rounded story, consistent movies, and a spectacular, iconic, and memorable portrayal, Iron Man is easily the best character in the MCU. He was no one-dimensional hero, and was far more interesting for it.
