Marvel has thousands of characters in its comics, but about twenty of them dominate the’universe cinematic.
More than 200 characters have already appeared in the cinema, divided among the Avengers, them X-Men, them Guardians of the Galaxy and the Fantastic Four. Here is the full list of the characters main ones, categorized by group and phase.
The Avengers Characters
The Avengers are the heart of the’universe Marvel to cinema. The team grew as the project progressed through the various phases of the MCU, of the six hero from the founders to the very last battalion of’Avengers: Endgame.
The six founding members
- Iron Man (Tony Stark) : the billionaire genius in armor metal, pillar of the MCU performed by Robert Downey Jr.
- Captain America (Steve Rogers) : the first super-soldier, a symbol of righteousness from Marvel
- Thor : THE god of thunder coming from’Asgard, King and warrior, played by Chris Hemsworth
- Hulk (Bruce Banner) : the uncontrollable green giant, a scientist transformed by gamma rays
- Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) : former officer spy, also known as the Black Widow, performed by Scarlett Johansson
- Hawkeye (Clint Barton) : the elite archer of the Avengers
Heroes joining the team in Phases II and III
- Spider-Man (Peter Parker) : the high school student became a hero, the most recognizable face of Marvel, performed by Tom Holland
- Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange) : the doctor in the mystical arts, master of time and space
- Ant-Man (Scott Lang) : the reformed thief, accompanied by Hank Pym, the first Ant-Man of the comics
- The Wasp (Hope Van Dyne) : daughter of Hank Pym and of Janet Van Dyne, a partner of’Ant-Man. Janet Van Dyne is here Wasp original version of the comics Marvel.
- Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) : one of the heroines the most powerful in the MCU
- Black Panther (T’Challa) : the King from Wakanda
- War Machine (James Rhodes) : a loyal ally of Tony Stark, performed by Don Cheadle
- Winter Soldier (James Barnesaka Bucky Barnes) : former agent rescheduled, comrade-in-arms of Steve Rogers
- Vision : the synthetic android with powers immense
- Wanda Maximoff the Red Witch, sister of Pietro Maximoff (Quicksilver)
- Moon Knight (Marc Spector) : The Knight of the Moon, hero darkness of the MCU
The Characters of Guardians of the Galaxy
The Guardians of the Galaxy form a team of outlaws across the planets of the’universe Marvel. Their history begins far from the Earth, but they join the Avengers to face Thanos.
- Star-Lord (Peter Quill) : the head of the Goalkeepers, performed by Chris Pratt
- Rocket : The Raccoon—A Mechanical Genius
- Groot : The Alien Tree with a Limited Vocabulary
- Drax : the warrior of brute strength, the sworn enemy of Thanos
- Gamora : adopted daughter of Thanos, which became heroin
- Nebula : sister of Gamora, a formidable cyborg
- Mantis : the empath with powers telepathic
The X-Men Characters
The X-Men are mutants to powers extraordinary, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby for the comics Marvel. Check out all their characters in our list of X-Men.
- Professor X (Charles Xavier) : the founder of the school of mutants, an unparalleled telepath
- Wolverine (Logan) : the hero with adamantium claws, played by Hugh Jackman
- Tornado (Ororo Munroe) : mistress of the elements
- Cyclops (Scott Summers) : the head of the X-Men in the field
- Jean Grey : telekinetic and telepath, associated with the Phénix
- Magneto (Erik Lehnsherr) : the main antagonist, master of magnetism
- Mystique : the shapeshifter, once an ally and later an enemy of the X-Men
The Characters of the Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four are the hero the oldest of the comics Marvel, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1961. They officially arrived in the MCU with a film scheduled for 2025.
- Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards) : Elasticity, a key scientific concept
- The The Invisible Woman (Susan Storm) : mistress of invisible force fields
- The Human Torch (Johnny Storm) : brother of Susan Storm, capable of catching fire
- The Thing (Benjamin Grimm) : the rock colossus with colossal strength
The MCU's Solo Superheroes
Marvel has launched numerous superheroes in films solos before incorporating them into the Avengers. Here are the characters the main ones in this category.
Spider-Man (Peter Parker)
Spider-Man (Peter Parker) is undoubtedly the character the most popular in all of’universe Marvel. After being bitten by a radioactive spider, this New York high school student develops extraordinary strength and agility. Tom Holland has embodied it ever since 2016, after Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. The character of Peter Parker remains the face of Marvel in the comics as in the cinema.
Iron Man (Tony Stark)
Iron Man (Tony Stark) is the hero founder of the MCU. A billionaire genius, he builds a armor high-tech to survive, and then to protect the world. Robert Downey Jr. gives the character a unique depth, all the way to its dead in Endgame. Tony Stark is the first hero Marvel to have launched the MCU in 2008.
Thor
Thor is the god of thunder, King ofAsgard and son of’Odin. His brother Loki is both his greatest rival and his greatest torment. Chris Hemsworth has been performing it since 2011 until Thor: Love and Thunder, where he crosses paths with Jane Foster. Thor is one of characters Marvel the most common in the films from MCU.
Captain America (Steve Rogers)
Captain America (Steve Rogers) is the first super-soldier of the’history Marvel. He faces the Red Skull (Red Skull) during World War II before waking up in the modern world. Chris Evans played the role of Steve Rogers in six films from MCU. The shield of Captain America is one of the most recognizable symbols of Marvel.
Hulk (Bruce Banner)
Hulk (Bruce Banner) is the scientist who was transformed into a green giant by a lethal dose of gamma rays. Bruce Banner is played by Mark Ruffalo since 2012. The’Abomination is its long-standing enemy in the comics Marvel.
Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff)
Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) is a former spy for the KGB, hired by the S.H.I.E.L.D. She first appears in Iron Man 2 in 2010. His film solo reveals Yelena Belova as the successor to the Black Widow. There Black Widow remains one of the most formidable agents in all of’universe Marvel.
Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange)
Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange) is a former surgeon became master of the mystical arts. Stephen Strange is the guardian of the eye of’Agamotto and master of time. The Dr. Strange is one of characters the most powerful in the MCU current. Benedict Cumberbatch has been playing the role since 2016. The doctor Strange plays a central role in the multiverse saga of Marvel.
Black Panther (T'Challa)
Black Panther (T’Challa) is the King warrior of the Wakanda. His main enemy, Killmonger (Erik Killmonger), is one of the most memorable antagonists in the films Marvel. T’Challa was played by Chadwick Boseman, who died in 2020.
Ant-Man (Scott Lang)
Ant-Man (Scott Lang) is a reformed burglar who inherits the shrinking suit from Hank Pym. Hank Pym is the first Ant-Man of the comics Marvel. There Wasp (Hope Van Dyne), daughter of Hank Pym and of Janet Van Dyne, is her main ally. Scott Lang is played by Paul Rudd.
Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers)
Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) is a former U.S. Army pilot with powers cosmic. Carol Danvers is one of the heroines the most powerful in all of’universe Marvel. Miss Marvel (Kamala Khan) is the young heroin who carries on his legacy in the series Disney+.
Moon Knight (Marc Spector)
Moon Knight (Marc Spector) is the Knight of the Moon from the MCU. This hero The gloomy man with multiple personalities is the avatar of the god Egyptian Khonshu. Sa series Disney+ revealed this character to a wide audience.
The Supporting and Less-Known Characters of the MCU
L'universe Marvel abounds with hero secondary elements that enrich each film or every series.
- Nick Fury : the director of the S.H.I.E.L.D., recruiter for the Avengers
- Phil Coulson : agent Marvel present in several films
- Pepper Potts : ally and companion of Tony Stark
- Jane Foster : scientist and partner of Thor, which became Mighty Thor
- Valkyrie : former warrior from’Asgard, from now on queen from the News Asgard
- Shuri : sister of T’Challa, a genius in the field of Wakanda
- Okoye : head of the Dora Milaje, guardians of the Wakanda
- Sam Wilson (Falcon, then Captain America) : successor to Steve Rogers
- Daredevil (Matt Murdock) : the blind lawyer from Hell’s Kitchen, hero dark integrated into the MCU
- Luke Cage : THE hero of Harlem, with impenetrable skin
- Iron Fist (Danny Rand) : the martial arts master at the powers of chi
- the Silver Surfer (Norrin Radd) : the herald of Galactus, character worship of comics Marvel
- The Eternals : a race of immortal beings sent to Earth to protect humanity
- Jessica Jones : private investigator at powers superhumans, heroin dark side of Marvel
- Kate Bishop : the successor to Clint Barton in the role of Hawkeye
Marvel's Greatest Villains
The bad guys of Marvel are just as important as the hero. Here are the antagonists who have left the biggest mark on the films and series from MCU.
- Thanos : the mad titan who wants to wipe out half the universe to preserve the resources of the planet
- Loki : THE god of cunning, brother of Thor and recurring antagonist became antihero
- the Red Skull (Red Skull) : historic enemy of Captain America in the comics
- Killmonger (Erik Killmonger) : rival of Black Panther, cousin of T’Challa
- Ultron : artificial intelligence created by Tony Stark, which has become a global threat
- Mysterio : the illusionist who is the enemy of Spider-Man
- Abomination : the rival of Hulk, created from a variant of the super-soldier serum
- Kang le Conquérant : the main antagonist of Phase V of the MCU
Characters from the Marvel series on Disney+
L'universe Marvel has spread to the series Disney+, where many characters have their own story arcs.
- Wanda Maximoff (the Red Witch) in WandaVision
- Loki in its own series, exploring the multiverse
- Moon Knight (Marc Spector) in Moon Knight
- Miss Marvel (Kamala Khan) in Ms. Marvel
- Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
- Clint Barton and Kate Bishop in Hawkeye
- She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters), cousin of Bruce Banner
Marvel Characters by MCU Phase
Phase I (2008–2012)
The Phase I introduces the hero founders of the MCU. This is the’history Origins: Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and Hulk meet for the first time in The Avengers (2012). Black Widow and Hawkeye round out the founding team. Nick Fury orchestrates their recruitment from behind the scenes of the S.H.I.E.L.D.
Phase II (2013–2015)
The Phase II expands the’universe Marvel with Guardians of the Galaxy and introduces Ant-Man (Scott Lang). Vision and the Red Witch also make their first appearance. Ultron is the main antagonist of this phase. The MCU confirms its cosmic scope with the Goalkeepers and their fight against Thanos in the background.
Phase III (2016–2019)
The Phase III is the most ambitious of the MCU. It introduces Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange), Black Panther (T’Challa) And Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers). It culminates in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, where Thanos faces all the hero gathered for the infinity stones. Steve Rogers hands his shield to Sam Wilson at the end of this phase.
The actors who play the Marvel characters
To adapt its comics to cinema, Marvel featured a star-studded cast. Here are the actors who have left the biggest mark on the franchise.
- Robert Downey Jr. : Tony Stark / Iron Man
- Chris Evans : Steve Rogers / Captain America
- Chris Hemsworth : Thor
- Mark Ruffalo : Bruce Banner / Hulk
- Scarlett Johansson : Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, established since Iron Man 2 in 2010
- Jeremy Renner : Clint Barton / Hawkeye
- Tom Holland : Peter Parker / Spider-Man, since 2016
- Benedict Cumberbatch : Stephen Strange / Doctor Strange
- Chadwick Boseman : T’Challa / Black Panther
- Paul Rudd : Scott Lang / Ant-Man
- Brie Larson : Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel
- Don Cheadle : [
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