10 Awesome Marvel Characters the MCU Made You Forget About

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been captivating viewers for over 15 years, starting with 2008’s Iron Man and continuing with new projects like Daredevil: Born Again and Fantastic Four: The First Steps. One of the MCU’s greatest strengths is its near-perfect casting of iconic characters like Tony Stark and Captain America.

Actors truly shine when they bring three-dimensional life to figures who have existed only on the page for decades. But for every fan-favorite comic book character who was brought to life in the MCU, there are plenty more who were completely overlooked. The longer certain characters remain out of the spotlight, the greater the risk of them being forgotten by longtime readers.

10

Simon Williams, the Wonder Man, Is One of Marvel’s Strongest Heroes

First appearance: The Avengers #9 (October 1964)

Simon Williams, the ion-powered hero known as Wonder Man, may not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking of iconic Marvel heroes, but that doesn’t diminish his complex history in the Marvel Universe. First introduced in Avengers #9, Simon Williams was a greedy business executive caught embezzling funds and forced to work for the first Baron Zemo. Transformed into Wonder Man, he joined the Masters of Evil and attacked the Avengers, as the process that gave him powers was also killing him, with Zemo holding the only cure. Wonder Man ultimately turned against the villains, allowing the Avengers to escape while he was caught in the blast of exploding machinery.

Despite his starring role in West Coast Avengers, a series that ran for over 100 issues, Simon Williams is perhaps better known for his connection to another Marvel hero. Years after his debut, writer Roy Thomas revealed that Simon’s brain patterns had been recorded and later used by Ultron to give life to Vision, one of the most popular Avengers of all time. While Vision has gone on to become a household name in the MCU, Wonder Man has not been as fortunate. However, that is set to change with the upcoming Wonder Man streaming series, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, set for release in December 2025.

9

Swordsman, Hawkeye’s Former Mentor, Was Reinvented In the MCU

First appearance: The Avengers#19 (August 1965)

Hawkeye, real name Clint Barton, has steadily climbed the ranks of popularity and is now one of the more recognizable characters in the Marvel Universe, thanks in large part to his prominence in the MCU. Unfortunately, that popularity came at the cost of many of the character’s most interesting traits. Gone is Hawkeye’s origin as an unwitting villain and pawn of Black Widow. Gone is his impassioned plea to become an Avenger as a form of redemption. But most notably, gone is his life in the circus and his relationship with Jacques Duquesne, the Swordsman.

As a child, Hawkeye lost both of his parents in a car crash, leading him and his brother to run away and join the circus. There, he was trained in archery and swordplay by the Swordsman and an archer named Trick Shot. When the Swordsman was caught stealing from the circus, he fled, only to resurface years later as an enemy of the Avengers, despite Hawkeye’s own efforts to join the team. The Swordsman’s complicated life eventually ended when he sacrificed himself to save the Avengers from Kang the Conqueror. Interestingly, while the Swordsman has appeared in the MCU, his connection to Clint was erased, with the character instead serving as Kate Bishop’s suspicious but ultimately underwhelming stepfather.

8

Bethany Cabe, Tony Stark’s Chief of Security

First appearance: Iron Man #117 (December 1978)

The MCU is a towering achievement in its ability to bring countless superheroes into focus. From icons like Spider-Man and Captain America to relative unknowns like Scarlet Witch and Vision, there have never been so many heroes on screen at once. But Marvel Studios’ biggest misstep is one of omission since so much gets left on the cutting room floor. Whether it’s dialogue, action, character moments, or entire plot points, Marvel films have become somewhat infamous for their missing pieces.

Focusing strictly on Iron Man, the biggest loss was Tony Stark’s rich personal life and the tragedy of being his friend in the long run. The Iron Man films barely allowed time to explore Tony beyond the armor. The only recurring characters in his world are Pepper, Happy, and Rhodey, but their relationships with him remain largely static. The most glaring omission is Bethany Cabe, a character so integral to Tony’s life that his development is incomplete without her. First introduced as a security consultant, Cabe became Tony’s girlfriend and confidant, playing a crucial role in helping him through his alcoholism. Without Bethany, Tony’s recovery never truly happens in the comics, which is reflected in the MCU’s lack of any real attempt to address his struggles with addiction.

7

Clea Strange, Niece of the Dread Dormammu

First appearance: Strange Tales #126 (November 1964)

For decades, Doctor Stephen Strange and the world he inhabits have existed on the fringes of the Marvel Universe. In a fictional world more focused on science fiction, aliens, and superheroes, it’s no surprise that the mystical side remains on the edge. For the first few years of his exploits, Doctor Strange was published in the anthology book Strange Tales, where, amidst a climactic battle against Dormammu, master of the Dark Dimension, he is saved by a mysterious white-haired woman. Compelled to seek her out, Strange eventually finds her and learns she is Clea, the daughter of Dormammu’s sister, Umar the Unrelenting.

Clea and Strange would later marry, with Clea even taking up the title of Sorcerer Supreme after Stephen’s death. With only two films to his name and five years separating the first from its sequel, it’s no surprise that it took Clea so long to reach the big screen. What’s most baffling, however, is how well she could have functioned as the co-lead in Multiverse of Madness. She is one of the few characters who can match Strange in raw power, and the defeat of Dormammu could have weakened the barriers between dimensions, setting up the film’s multiversal chaos. But instead, Clea was relegated to a mid-credits scene and thus, obscurity.

6

Ben Parker, Uncle of Peter, Was Abandoned In the MCU

First appearance: Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962)

Uncle Ben could never be forgotten. After Peter Parker’s parents died in a plane crash, Uncle Ben and Aunt May took him in and raised him. Ben’s life and his death at the hands of a random mugger are central to Spider-Man’s origin, as it is Peter’s apathy and inaction that lead to the tragedy. Put simply, Peter could have stopped the mugger but chose not to, believing it wasn’t his problem, unknowingly allowing the man to escape and kill his uncle. Ben’s death wasn’t Peter’s fault, but it was his responsibility because he had the power to safely stop the mugger before he got away. This dynamic of power and responsibility became Spider-Man’s guiding philosophy.

Every adaptation of Spider-Man handles Uncle Ben’s death differently, which has allowed for new interpretations to emerge. In Sam Raimi’s films, Ben is a ghost who constantly haunts Peter. In the Amazing Spider-Man duology, he is one of many tragedies Peter must overcome. But the MCU’s interpretation, largely directed by Jon Watts, and its increasing lack of focus on Peter’s personal life have led some fans to believe Ben isn’t critical to his origin. Not only is “Ben Parker” never spoken aloud, but he is effectively replaced by Iron Man, Nick Fury, Doctor Strange, and even Aunt May as surrogate figures. The only acknowledgment of Ben is a suitcase that bears his initials in Spider-Man: Far From Home.

5

Edwin Jarvis, Butler to The Avengers

First appearance: Tales of Suspense #59 (November 1964)

Edwin Jarvis, butler to both Tony Stark and the Avengers, is more a victim of misremembering than of being forgotten. He is best known for being assigned to Avengers Mansion when the team was first founded, on loan from Tony Stark himself, back when Iron Man still had a secret identity, and Stark was simply the team’s financial backer. Having been with the Avengers since the beginning, Jarvis has seen it all. He was there when they found Captain America frozen in ice, he served when every founding member resigned and left Cap with three unproven former criminals, he was brainwashed by Ultron, and he was even kidnapped when Baron Zemo attacked the Mansion.

Jarvis is one of the longest-serving Avengers, an honor not even Captain America can claim, yet the MCU nearly omitted him entirely. Maybe it was to avoid comparisons to Batman, or maybe it was the irresistible appeal of a built-in narrator, but for 2008’s Iron Man, Edwin Jarvis was reinterpreted as a digital assistant, J.A.R.V.I.S, something that has since been adapted in the comics. As a disembodied voice in the Iron Man suit, he became instantly popular with fans, even making a brief appearance in the comics. Edwin Jarvis still exists in Marvel comics and was eventually adapted properly in Agent Carter, though there he served as Howard Stark’s butler rather than Tony’s.

4

Jim Hammond, the Android Human Torch

First appearance: Marvel Comics #1 (October 1939)

Jim Hammond is possibly the oldest character in Marvel Comics, debuting in the very comic that would eventually give the company its name. Built in the 1930s, he was the world’s first synthezoid, an android with human-like internal organs made of synthetic materials, predating both Ultron and Vision, who would later be built in a similar fashion. When the Human Torch first opened his eyes, it was with curiosity and an inquisitive heart. Despite sharing the spotlight with icons like Captain America and Namor the Sub-Mariner, Jim Hammond has struggled to break into the modern era, a challenge made even greater by his absence from the MCU proper.

The Golden Age Human Torch is one of those characters whose legacy runs deep, even if he isn’t always in the spotlight. He fought alongside Captain America and the Invaders, clashed with Namor in the first-ever superhero battle, inspired the more famous Human Torch of the Fantastic Four, and, most notably, was responsible for killing Adolf Hitler in the Marvel Universe. Writer Deniz Camp has been working to revitalize Jim Hammond in the currently ongoing Ultimates series, which will hopefully elevate him beyond being just an Easter egg in the MCU.

3

Rick Jones, the Hulk’s Best Friend

First appearance: The Incredible Hulk#1 (May 1962)

Rick Jones is a character Marvel has struggled to find a place for since his debut in 1962. Introduced in The Incredible Hulk, he was directly responsible for Bruce Banner becoming the Hulk. When Banner’s Gamma Bomb was set for testing in the open desert, Rick wandered into the blast zone, forcing Bruce to rush out and save him by taking the full force of the radiation himself. In the aftermath, Rick became Banner’s confidant, helping him keep his secret and aiding the Hulk in escaping from the army. It was through this that he first encountered the Avengers, as his distress call, which was originally meant for The Fantastic Four, was instead answered by Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Not long after, Captain America was revived in the present day and took Rick under his wing, noticing his resemblance to the believed-dead Bucky Barnes. But that partnership was short-lived, as Rick later bonded with the Kree hero Captain Marvel, swapping places with him in a manner reminiscent of DC’s Shazam until they were eventually separated. Over the years, Rick has taken on a variety of roles, refusing to fade into obscurity, but the Hulk’s legendary sidekick has remained absent from the MCU, his only nod being an Easter egg in the opening credits of The Incredible Hulk (2008). And with the Jade Giant’s solo film rights still tangled up with Universal Studios, Rick Jones may never make it to the big screen.

2

The Original Col. Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

First appearance: Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #1 (May 1963)

Colonel Nicholas J. Fury is one of the true “main characters” of the Marvel Universe. Growing up in Hell’s Kitchen, leading the legendary Howling Commandos in World War II, and later becoming Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., he has been a trusted ally and confidant of the superhero community for decades. Every great fictional universe has its signature super-spy, and for Marvel, that’s Nick Fury. He could never truly be forgotten, especially when played by an actor as high-profile as Samuel L. Jackson, but the MCU’s version of Fury is so different from any comic iteration that it’s his history that has been lost.

Part of what makes Fury such an engaging character is that he’s the opposite of what a spy should be, a loudmouthed, trash-talking, cigar-chewing gunslinger who would rather charge into a fight than sneak around. Even the Ultimate Universe’s Nick Fury, whom the MCU heavily draws from, presents himself more as a morally gray government boogeyman than the occasional adviser seen in the films. In some ways, Phil Coulson embodies more of the comic book Fury’s traits, acting as a suave, wisecracking super-spy who infiltrates dance parties and gets into shootouts in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., even losing an arm, much like Fury losing his eye.

1

Janet van Dyne, the Original Wasp

First appearance: Tales to Astonish #44 (June 1963)

Janet van Dyne, also known as the Wasp, may not be the most popular or well-known character in Marvel lore, but that only diminishes her true importance. As a founding member of the Avengers, Janet van Dyne is one of Marvel’s foundational superheroes, predating characters like Black Panther, Hawkeye, and Black Widow. Growing up, Janet dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, hence her stylish costumes, but was pushed into business school to assist with her father’s scientific endeavors. This ultimately led her to meet Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man. After her father’s death, Janet volunteered to undergo surgery to become Ant-Man’s partner, taking on the mantle of the Wasp, a name she still operates under today.

Janet is naturally brave, fun, and outgoing, making her a perfect fit among the larger-than-life personalities of the Avengers, most of whom lack her pure love for adventure. Yet, no woman in Marvel Comics has been as disrespected and overlooked in the MCU as the Wasp, particularly in how her character has been adapted. While heroines like Black Widow and Scarlet Witch were given dedicated projects to explore their stories, Janet has remained strictly a supporting character. Across all her MCU appearances, she has yet to interact with the Avengers, the very team she originally named.

“}]] Many classic Marvel characters, like the original Nick Fury, were completely forgotten by the MCU, while others were criminally underused.  Read More