The primary section of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was tasked with introducing numerous characters for the primary time, and lots of of them obtained lackluster endings or remedy by the later movies of the sequence. In comparison with the opposite phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Part One had numerous heavy lifting to do, with practically each Part One MCU film introducing brand-new heroes, villains, and even whole worlds. This meant that many characters have been launched for the primary time right here, and a great deal of them have since been carried out soiled by the franchise.
A few of the extra obscure characters in section one have been solely ever briefly on display, by no means to be seen once more regardless of brimming with potential for future tales. Others endured nicely into the motion pictures of Part 4 and past, solely to satisfy unsatisfying fates that betrayed their earlier significance. Regardless of the case, the outcomes have not been superb for each character the franchise launched for the primary time in Part One.
10
Maria Hill
Dies unceremoniously in a sequence few individuals watched
Virtually the unofficial seventh member of the Avengers’ unique beginning lineup, Cobie Smulders’ Maria Hill was a devoted agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. who was instrumental in serving to the workforce fend off their earliest foes. Becoming a member of within the struggle towards Loki and Ultron, Hill was a useful second-in-command to Nick Fury, serving as a fearless area chief whereas nonetheless becoming in with the eccentric group of superheroes of their quieter moments. Suffice to say, she deserved a greater destiny than she bought in Secret Invasion.
Far and away one of many lowest-regarded Disney+ MCU sequence, Secret Invasion sees Maria Hill unexpectedly die by the hands of the Skrull shapeshifter Gravik, taking the type of Nick Fury himself. Not solely does this scale back the demise of such an vital character to low-cost shock worth, however resulting from how few followers really bought round to Secret Invasion, many nonetheless won’t notice that Hill is lifeless in any respect. The truth that she was gunned down believing her outdated good friend and mentor was the one to drag the set off solely provides additional insult to damage.
9
The Authentic Human Torch
Eternally caught in a glass tube
To not be confused with The Unbelievable 4 member of the identical title, the unique Human Torch was one of many first heroes ever revealed in a Marvel comedian. Initially combating with Captain America and Namor within the throes of World Battle II, Jim Hammond is an android creation constructed with pyrokinetic powers, making for a very worthwhile superhero. But in Captain America: Courageous New World, an artificial man clearly homaging the character stays little greater than a background Easter egg for eagle-eyed followers, showing in a glass tube on the 1943 Stark Expo.
It could’ve been phenomenal to see the unique Human Torch in motion throughout Captain America’s escapades towards HYDRA in his first MCU film, burning down Nazis left and proper. His robotic nature may’ve allowed him to outlive to the current as nicely, giving Captain America a uncommon acquainted face upon rising from the ice. Sadly, all this potential was as a substitute left on the desk for the Human Torch to stay a easy piece of set dressing.
8
The Chief
Was set-up as a significant villain solely to by no means return
Because of the tough and ambiguous authorized state of affairs concerning The Hulk’s solo movies, the inexperienced goliath hasn’t had the prospect to see a lot of his villains from the comics realized within the MCU. That did not cease The Unimaginable Hulk from making an attempt to sow the seeds for future appearances for Hulk characters, together with noteworthy villains from the comics. Essentially the most egregious instance is Samuel Sterns, who would possibly’ve someday been often called The Chief.
On the finish of The Unimaginable Hulk, gifted mobile biologist Physician Samuel Sterns is closely implied to grow to be the traditional Hulk villain The Chief, whose gamma-irradiated mutation expanded his thoughts quite than his muscle groups. The final Dr. Sterns was seen was in an obscure tie-in comedian, which sees Black Widow simply take him into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody. Allegedly, The Chief will lastly re-appear in the solid of Captain America: Courageous New World, however it’s protected to say the MCU took approach too lengthy to repay the Part One teaser.
7
Doc Samson
May’ve been an incredible foil to The Hulk
One other Hulk villain who by no means bought the prospect to dwell as much as his comics potential, Physician Leonard Samson is among the most vital Hulk characters to stay caught in The Unimaginable Hulk. A psychiatrist who’s head over heels in love with Betty Ross, Physician Leonard Samson is a jealous man, envious of Bruce Banner’s historical past together with his beloved Betty. Performed excellently by Ty Burrell of Fashionable Household fame, Samson is the one accountable for snitching on Bruce’s whereabouts to Normal Ross, instigating the movie’s climax.
Within the comics, nevertheless, Doc Samson positive factors gamma-infused tremendous energy practically on the identical degree as The Hulk himself, gaining lengthy inexperienced hair quite than a raging monstrous persona. Samson may’ve served as an fascinating foil to Bruce Banner over the course of the sequence, however alas, The Unimaginable Hulk can be his first and final look. Samson did not even get the tease of turning into a future villain that The Chief did.
6
Betty Ross
The MCU’s most forgotten love curiosity
As badly as Doc Samson was swept beneath the rug, the very motive for his inclusion within the story of The Unimaginable Hulk was made equally irrelevant on the identical time. Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross is definitely essentially the most ignored and forgotten of the MCU’s romantic storylines, regardless of how vital her character initially was to Bruce Banner. Regardless of being the one one to look previous The Hulk and hunt down Bruce Banner to attempt to assist him, Betty Ross is quickly after deserted by the MCU with out as a lot as a second thought.
Betty Ross’ lack of future appearances is made further irritating by the truth that her father, Normal Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, continues to be a big participant in lots of later entries of the MCU. Not solely that, however Bruce is fast to overlook about her, creating a relationship with Natasha Romanoff as a substitute. Like The Chief, Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross will lastly make a long-awaited return in Captain America: Courageous New World, however seeing her in a film sans Bruce Banner appears to make little sense.
5
The Pink Cranium
Captain America’s biggest foe decreased to a cameo
Few characters overcame their biggest villains within the MCU as rapidly as Captain America did. A HYDRA chief and vile Nazi sympathizer obsessive about acquiring energy from supernatural sources, The Pink Cranium is Captain America’s final contemporaneous enemy. Although the skeletal supervillain might have existed previously, Marvel Comics have discovered countless methods to carry him to the current alongside Captain America together with his youth by some means intact, and the MCU may’ve capitalized on him higher to make for a harmful recurring villain.
As an alternative, the subsequent time The Pink Cranium is seen after being teleported throughout the ether by the Cosmic Dice, he is decreased to little greater than a cameo for educated followers, taking up the function of a glorified tour information on the behest of a sentient Infinity Stone. If that weren’t unhealthy sufficient, he does not even get the prospect to work together together with his outdated enemy, mingling with Thanos, Gamora, Hawkeye, and Black Widow as a substitute. Stranding Pink Cranium on a random far-away planet for thus lengthy actually left numerous nice villainous potential on the desk.
4
The Warriors Three
Had been dispatched of all too simply
The transfer from conventional fantasy storytelling to cosmic spacefaring comedy excessive jinks all through Thor’s MCU journey ended up leaving fairly a couple of members of his bloated supporting solid from 2011’s Thor within the mud, specifically, the Warriors Three. Consisting of Hogun the Grim, Fandral the Dashing, and Volstagg the Svelte, this trio of elite Asgardian warriors every bore their very own signature weapon and distinctive character, making for excellent companions to the Mighty Thor. Although they get a good reprise in Thor: The Darkish World, all three are dispatched unceremoniously quickly after.
In Thor: Ragnarok, every of the Warriors Three are killed simply by the murderous Hela, with two of them barely inflicting her to interrupt a sweat. Contemplating that the three are alleged to be Asgard’s biggest warriors outdoors of Girl Sif and the gods themselves, this was a disservice to their established characters. Thor does not even have time to react to their deaths on-screen, although they have been supposedly his greatest pals.
3
Whiplash
Ended his personal life for no good motive
Regardless of the difficulties of Mickey Rourke’s efficiency in Iron Man 2, Whiplash actually had the potential to be a significant recurring Iron Man villain. A gifted scientist with the same knack to Tony for making highly effective weapons out of scrappy working situations, Ivan Vanko had it out for Iron Man resulting from what Howard Stark’s actions did to his personal father. Together with his harmful vitality whips and military of militarized drones, Vanko may’ve been a resourceful villain to see come again in a tertiary function sooner or later.
Sadly, Iron Man 2 roughly forces Whiplash to jot down himself out of the story by initiating a poorly-thought-out kamikaze assault, initiating a self-destruct sequence on his personal go well with making an attempt to take Tony out with him. Contemplating how a lot he was capable of enhance his expertise over such a short while span, it is a disgrace the MCU by no means gave Whiplash the prospect to additional revise his creations as a tenacious recurring risk. Sadly, like most MCU villains, Whiplash dies maybe a little bit bit too early and inconsequentially.
2
Justin Hammer
A charismatic unhealthy man and fan-favorite
Whiplash is not the one villain in Iron Man 2 with squandered potential, with Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer being one of many franchise’s greatest missed alternatives. In contrast to Whiplash, Justin Hammer is definitely one thing of a fan-favorite, from his Sam Rockwell-mandated dancing abilities to his slick used automotive lot character and colourful language. After his ill-conceived plan is thwarted by the actions of Ivan Vanko and Tony Stark, Justin Hammer isn’t seen once more within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In contrast to Whiplash, the MCU does not even have the excuse of demise to justify Justin Hammer’s absence in future movies, with the character canonically nonetheless rotting away in Seagate Penitentiary. There is no motive Hammer could not have returned in any respect within the following years since Iron Man 2, a minimum of as a Hannibal Lecter-style guide from jail, if not a significant antagonist. Hammer’s cocky smile would have actually been a sight for sore eyes throughout among the MCU’s newer low factors.
1
The Hulk
Was fully subsumed by Bruce Banner
Writing out the persona of The Hulk is by far one of the vital felony remedies of a Part One character the MCU has gotten away with. As a lot of an Avenger as Bruce Banner himself (If no more so), the latent character that’s The Hulk was all the time a fan-favorite, from his infantile tantrums to the darkish shadow he solid over Bruce Banner’s life. Hulk’s psyche is explored an incredible deal extra in Thor: Ragnarok, which featured extra Hulk talking traces than every other MCU film, just for his growth to be stalled and curtailed.
After being humiliated in fight by Thanos, The Hulk refuses to manifest, inflicting Bruce Banner to basically completely be rid of him within the 5 years following Thanos’ snap. Although he controls a Hulk-like physique, Bruce Banner has since eradicated the character of The Hulk fully from Avengers: Endgame onward, writing the character out fully off-screen. Few MCU characters from Part One have been wasted as badly as The Hulk has.
Upcoming MCU Films
-
- Launch Date
-
February 14, 2025
-
-
- Launch Date
-
July 25, 2025
-
-
- Launch Date
-
July 24, 2026
-
