A List Assembled: My Top 5 MCU Characters

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is an extremely ambitious network full of the most complex characters in cinematic history. With nearly two dozen films from the Avengers to the Guardians of the Galaxy, these heroes are expanded upon in a way that has never been seen outside of the comic books. The universe slowly unfolded, beginning with Iron Man in 2008, and throughout that time many fans have reserved a special place in their hearts for their favorite heroes. Below are my top five superheroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Gamora #5

Hear me out - Gamora is selfless beyond all reason. Despite her sister Nebula’s repeated attempts to kill her, Gamora repeatedly spares her life and even rescues her from a burning ship in Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2. During Infinity War, she attacks Thanos with only a knife and seemingly kills him, causing her to reveal that she still loves him even after all he has done. When it is revealed that Thanos is not dead, she attempts to sacrifice her own life so that the location of the soul stone can remain a secret. In End Game, the 2014 Gamora partners with 2023 Nebula and they fight in the Battle of Earth together, ultimately assisting the avengers in reversing the Snap. Despite her hard life and stoic exterior, Gamora’s capacity for self-sacrifice has earned her a well-deserved place on this list.

Spider-Man #4

Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is the adaptation we have all been waiting for. He perfectly catches the essence of youth, responsibility, and quirkiness that the comic books conveyed. His attachment to Mr. Stark as a father figure is relatable and his struggle to deal with that loss in Far From Home causes some pretty ‘sticky’ situations. Though naive at times Peter Parker does everything he can to right his wrongs and is always there when the avengers need him. His pop-culture references and one-liners are a bonus, too!

Iron Man #3

Tony Stark is arrogant, selfish, and extremely flawed. His self-centered personality is contrasted with his close relationships, such as with Pepper Potts and Peter Parker. Throughout his films, he struggles with balancing his own needs, the needs of the people he protects as Iron Man and the needs of the people he loves. He uses his superficiality to mask his true emotions and problems like substance abuse, his complicated relationship with his dad, and survivor’s guilt. During Infinity War Stark finally gets his long-awaited redemption. After the snap, he retires from hero work and settles down with Pepper and their child. He matures through his love for his family and his grief over losing Peter. This development in his character sets him up to make the ultimate sacrifice in the end. His emotional journey and development arc earns him a place among the best MCU characters.

Black Panther #2

T’Challa is strong-willed, noble, and quick to take responsibility after the death of his dad T’Chaka forced him to take on the role of Black Panther. He shows himself as a powerful warrior in Civil War when he fights alongside Iron Man. Even more impressively, he is a merciful leader. He spares Zemo’s life despite having promised to avenge - pun intended - his father. He also brought Kilmonger to the mountains to look out on Wakanda before he died. At the end of his self-titled movie, he opens Wakanda so that they can begin to share resources and help people who are outside of his kingdom. T’Challa’s ability to listen to Kilmonger’s criticism and to evolve his kingdom lands him a spot among the top heroes.

Captain America #1

Steve Rogers started from nothing; he was a scrawny kid who had a dream of fighting for his country during the war. Since then, he has played a key role in defending the universe in ten different MCU films. His moral compass is extremely strong, and he always tries to do the right thing. He is fiercely loyal to friend Bucky Barnes through Winter Soldier even when the odds seem stacked against them. That loyalty is again tested and confirmed in Civil War when T’Challa vows to kill Barnes. In End Game, his worthiness as a hero shines when he can carry Mjolnir. His kindness, morality, strength, and propensity for forgiveness make him worthy of handling Thor’s weapon. Though Captain America’s ending was sad in a way, I am glad that he was able to finally take Peggy up on that date.

Although these are only five of the many amazing characters in the MCU, they are the ones that stand out the most to me as heroes and as people. There are honorable mentions to hand out: Star-Lord, Loki, Wanda Maximoff, Black Widow, and Hawkeye were all considered for a spot on this list. At the end of the day, all the MCU characters have their own abilities that make them great.