Top 10 Best MCU Characters
#10: Thanos
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The Mad Titan shocked audience members everywhere by being one of the only MCU villains to actually succeed in their plans. While wiping out half of existence everywhere for 5 years is impressively terrifying, it isn’t just this that makes Thanos interesting. The best villains have motives we can understand. Thanos’ desires came from wanting to help the universe in the long run as it has finite resources he thought were depleting too quickly. This is a much more intriguing motivation than simply wanting to impress Lady Death, as he does in the “Infinity Gauntlet” comic storyline. Thanos’ usually calm composure, his violent acts, and his firm belief that what he’s doing is right make him one of the best MCU villains.
#9: Wanda Maximoff
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There are several MCU characters defined by trauma, and Wanda Maximoff AKA the Scarlet Witch, has suffered more than most. Her parents, her brother, and Vision have all perished. However, seeing how Wanda has persisted and carried on has made her a character easy to root for. Even when she did go all murder-happy across two universes, we couldn’t help but cheer her on. Not only that, but her immense power levels that seemingly haven’t even begun to peak have led to some wonderfully thrilling sequences. Even that has tied in with her struggles; the mantle of Scarlet Witch is a heavy weight to bear, leading her to make some mistakes and others to view her as a monster.
#8: Doctor Strange
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Once a highly skilled surgeon, it took a horrific car accident to put Stephen Strange on the right path. Since then, we’ve marveled at every new bit of magic he’s wielded against world conquerors and inter-dimensional beings alike. Part of the fun of Doctor Strange is seeing what clever ruse or trick he’ll come up with next. But we also love that he’s not afraid to rub anyone the wrong way, even if he is working with them to save the world, or the multiverse. Although it took an accident for him to change some of his ways, he has never lost the extreme ambition that we find so admirable. Whether he’s the Sorcerer Supreme or not, we’ll always be a supreme fan of his.
#7: Natasha Romanoff
The first Marvel heroine audiences were introduced to, Natasha Romanoff quickly became one of the more mysterious characters in the MCU. Part of that was due to Marvel not giving her a movie until far too late. But even still, everything about the super spy immediately made us want to know more. Natasha began as a great buffer between the larger-than-life heroes before becoming a steadfast ally to Captain America. Throughout the franchise, we got pieces of her past, painting her as a deeply regretful character trying to make up for past wrongdoings. With an intriguing past and a ton of awesome spy skills, we loved seeing her hang with the guys and kick plenty of bad guy butt.
#6: Thor
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The God of Thunder has had one of the most chaotic arcs in the MCU. He began as a stubborn deity who preferred to let his hammer do the talking. And while he still loves a good smiting, he’s gone through some hard-learned lessons. He’s lost many loved ones, including most of his best friends and family members. However, he will never stop fighting for what is right. “Ragnarok” was a wonderful turning point, tapping into the gold mine that is Chris Hemsworth’s comedic timing. “Infinity War” and “Endgame” took him through depression and guilt, while we in the audience cheered him on through every low point. Thor is a powerhouse, but he’s also a great character.
#5: T’Challa
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Though Chadwick Boseman’s time in the MCU was tragically short, we’re grateful he was able to portray one of its best characters. The King of Wakanda is a symbol not just for his citizens, but for many African American viewers who wanted to see themselves represented on-screen. He never failed to captivate us, whether through his thirst for vengeance in “Civil War” or his journey in “Black Panther,” where he learned his kingdom was far from perfect. He’s been shown to be calm and respectful when it counts, but also powerful and unwavering in the face of injustice and villainy. Upholding everything that makes a great king, his grace will truly be missed.
#4: Loki
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Like many of you, we were obsessed with Tom Hiddleston’s Loki the moment he appeared on-screen. Beginning as a dastardly and treacherous brother to Thor, Loki’s path of redemption has been one of the most genuine pleasures in the long-running series. Though, let’s face it: most of the time he’s still a little troll not to be trusted. Even when he was outright murdering people, we couldn’t help but be charmed by him. Charismatic and mischievous, Loki heightens every scene he appears in. He could have easily just been maniacal and bloodthirsty, but underneath that was something more. It just took a lot of failed grasps at power for him to realize it. Whatever the future holds for Loki, we can’t wait to see it.
#3: Peter Parker
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Peter Parker may be the easiest MCU hero to like. Tom Holland has managed to capture both the dorky humor and social awkwardness that has made us love Peter for years. We knew that from only a handful of scenes in “Civil War,” and every other subsequent appearance has been an honest delight. Though he’s made several decisions without thinking, as any teenager with superpowers would, those decisions have all come from a mindset of wanting to do what is right. He’s had to learn harsh truths about sacrifice and loss more times than any teen should, so he’s also the hero we’d most like to give a hug. Despite it all, Peter’s resilience shows he’s braver and more capable than many others.
#2: Steve Rogers
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When it comes down to it, there’s nothing about Steve Rogers that we don’t respect. Despite his stature, he worked tirelessly to fight for his country in WWII because he knew it was right. Since then, his moral compass has never steered him wrong, a fact we’re all probably a little jealous of. Whether it be his own teammates, an army of robots, or just good ol’ fashioned aliens, Steve was always there to defend those who couldn’t defend themselves and stand up for justice, even when he was alone. It doesn’t hurt that he’s also an excellent strategist, combatant, and has an immovable sense of honor. No wonder he was able to wield Mjolnir. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Wong A Steadfast Ally and Wonderful Sorcerer Supreme Peggy Carter She’s Much More Than Captain America’s Main Squeeze Matt Murdock Charlie Cox & Netflix Excellently Showcased His Moral Struggles Rocket Violent, Hilarious, & the Best Member of the Guardians Scott Lang A Goofy Thief With a Heart of Gold Fakeout #1: Trevor Slattery One of the MCU’s best twists came at the courtesy of its biggest breakout character! …Only kidding. You already know who #1 is.
#1: Tony Stark
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There are many reasons “Iron Man” remains one of the MCU’s strongest solo outings, though chief among them is Tony Stark. Captured perfectly by Robert Downey, Jr., Tony began his superhero career as a selfish, rich jerk. But seeing the pain his work caused had an extremely positive reaction on him. We’re not saying he doesn’t have any flaws; he’s got more than he knows what to do with, and has created more than his fair share of villains. But his actions were always born out of a desire to protect Earth. His flaws only served to give him more depth and make him more fascinating. Tony’s journey from self-absorbed to self-sacrifice will always be one of the strongest arcs of the MCU.
