TheMarvel Cinematic Universeand its related TV series are full of missed potential, particularly when it comes to fan-favorite characters that are given the short end of the stick narratively. It’s no secret that comic book properties live Marvel live and die off the strength of their characters, with all but the most obscure heroes and villains making up the franchise having dedicated fans of their own. This can make it all the more disheartening when one ofMarvel’s many Disney+ showsinclude them briefly, only to squander their chance to develop them further.
Many Marvel characters have fallen into the niche categorization of being too niche to be worth including in a big-budget film, but recognizable enough to be worth including in a TV show. Some of these characters are given only the briefest time to shine before being killed off, written out, or simply ignored in perpetuity, joining the long roster ofheroes and villains wasted by the MCU. It’s a shamenot everyone in Marvel’s expansive catalog of characters has been given a chance to properly shinein their TV appearances.
10Melvin Potter
Daredevil
The Q to Daredevil’s James Bond, Melvin Potter is an ex-criminal who went on to become a talented armorer for Daredevil, designing his original demonic suit and allowing him to finally ditch the black athletic wear and headband from his early career. Potter’s mental challenges and curious romantic relationship with his parole officer, Besty, made foran interesting, multifaceted player in Daredevil’s story. However, he was never able to join the ranks of the MCU’s costumed heroes as he should’ve been.
Cast
Daredevil is a Netflix original series starring Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock. The TV show ran for three seasons before being canceled by Netflix, despite being critically praised. Kingpin was the main antagonist in seasons 1 and 3 and also introduced Jon Benrthal’s Punisher in season 2. Daredevil was followed by Disney+’s Daredevil: Born Again.
In the comics, Melvin Potter isthe supervillain Gladiator, a fact the Netflix show alludes to with a poster of a sword-and-sandal movie in the background of his workshop and the fact that Melvin flings a buzzsaw at Daredevil during their brief scuffle. Allegedly, the writers planned to have Melvin fully embody this persona in the canceled fourth season. Sadly, as it stands,Melvin only appeared briefly in 7 episodes throughoutDaredevil’s run, woefully underutilized to the very end.
9Jake Lockley
Moon Knight
Moon Knight is one of the most unique superheroesthe Marvel Cinematic Universe has ever been tasked with adapting for live-action. Not only does the body of the hero contain the latent consciousness of the Egyptian god Khonshu, but he is also affected by dissociative identity disorder, acting as a system containing the alters Marc Spector, Steven Grant, and Jake Lockley.
While Marc and Steven both get plenty of time to shine in the show, Jake Lockley is barely included as a tease for future seasons. Jake is presented very differently inMoon Knightthan he is in the comics, being a sadistic Spanish-speaking Mr. Hyde to Steven and Marc’s Dr. Jekyll with some undescribed allegiance to Khonshu.
Moon Knight stars Oscar Isaac as Steven Grant, a gift-shop employee in London who discovers he has dissociative identity disorder. He shares a body with Marc Spector and together, they travel to Egypt to uncover a deadly mystery surrounding the gods.Moon Knightconsisted of six episodes and was the fifth live-action TV show in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4. Also starring in the series is Ethan Hawke as the villainous Arthur Harrow and May Calamawy as Layla El-Faouly.
Regardless of this deviation, the idea of a less-than-empathetic personality residing within Moon Knight yet is an exciting one. Sadly, withseason 2 ofMoon Knightnowhere on the horizon after three years, it seems like Jake’s brief appearances will never be elaborated on.
8Quicksilver
WandaVision
Quicksilver is unique in the fact that he is one of the few characters to have a separate portrayal in both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and theFoxX-Menmovie timeline. Though he dies unceremoniously in the former,the Evan Peters version of the speedster is brought back suddenly inWandaVisionas a result of Scarlet Witch’s subconscious reality-warping, seemingly “re-cast” and brought back from the dead.
WandaVision, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first TV show on Disney+, first aired in 2021. The series kicked off the MCU’s Phase 4 and brought back Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch, and Paul Bettany as Vision. WandaVision strayed away from Marvel’s typical formula, this time formatting itself more like a classic sitcom as Wanda struggles to cope with the death of Vision.
Peters' take on Quicksilver is decidedly more popular than Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s, and for good reason, getting some of the most enjoyable scenes inX-Men: Days of Future PastandX-Men: Apocalypse.While this inclusion may have been the perfect way to bridge the Fox X-Men into the MCU, it wasn’t to be so.
Teasing such a ripe possibility as the Fox X-Men’s debut into the universe only to throw it all away for a cheap phallic joke is one of the more egregious missteps ofWandaVision.
It’s soon revealed thatQuicksilver is actually the actor Ralph Bohner pretending to be Wanda’s brother for Agatha Harkness. Teasing such a ripe possibility as the Fox X-Men’s debut into the universe only to throw it all away for a cheap phallic joke is one of the more egregious missteps ofWandaVision.
7President Loki
Loki
Compared to most other Marvel Cinematic Universe Disney+ streaming series,Lokidoes a pretty good job mining its fascinating cast for all they’re worth, including the likes of Classic Loki, O.B., and Mobius. But interestingly enough,one character that was featured quite heavily in promotional materialsfor the show ended up mattering very little, despite the potential he could’ve had.
Loki is a series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe following the alternate version of the titular character, Loki, after the events of Avengers: Endgame. Taken by the Time Variance Authority, he must confront his identity and choices while aiding in fixing the disrupted timeline to avert a greater threat.
This was none other than President Loki, whose brief time in the series alluded to much more potential than he was given. While in The Void, Loki meets many variations of himself that have all somehow ended up there. One of the few others to be played byTom Hiddlestonis the so-called President Loki, who forms a roving gang of Loki variants that raid The Void for whatever scraps of power they can manage.
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This Loki’s more villainous personality, dapper presidential wardrobe and charming snake-oil-salesman demeanor made for an intriguing presence, explaining his ubiquity in the series' marketing.It’s too bad President Loki is easily defeated in season 1, never to return in season 2.
6Skaar
She-Hulk: Attorney At Law
The Hulk himself is easily one of the most sidelined major characters in the entirety of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, not being given a solo project of his own ever since hisre-cast in 2012’sThe Avengers.The closest thing has beenShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, which starred Bruce Banner as more of a mentor figure and supporting character to his cousin, Jen Walters. Hulk’s time in Sakaar is explored a little further in this series, which ends byintroducing Hulk’s son, Skaar.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Tatiana Maslany stars as Jennifer Walters, AKA She-Hulk in Marvel’s Disney+ TV seriesShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law.She-Hulkis a half-hour comedy series that follows the story of Jennifer Walters, Bruce Banner/Hulk’s cousin. Jennifer is an attorney who must juggle her life alongside being a 6-foot-7-inch hulk. Unlike her cousin, Jennifer is capable of managing her transformation at will. With these newfound powers, Jennifer will head-up a new superhero division at an opposing law firm while trying to learn what it means to be a hero. Additional casting includes Mark Ruffalo, reprising his role as Bruce Banner/ The Hulk, with Tim Roth joining the cast as Emil Blonsky/Abomination, the villain who originally appeared inThe Incredible Hulkfilm.She-Hulk: Attorney at Lawis a part of the MCU’s Phase 4 and originally aired in August 2022.
It figures that Skaar must have been conceived on Sakaar when Bruce Banner was trapped deep within the recesses of The Hulk, having an alien mother just like in the comics.Skaar barely appears inShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law,but his mere presence is by far one of the most interesting things about the series. It’s a shame that the MCU would tease such a vital character on TV only to leave him unaddressed for years.
5Talos
Secret Invasion
By far the most infamous of Marvel’s Disney+ shows,Secret Invasionearned little love from Marvel fans. From its A.I.-generated credits sequence to its baffling retcons and shockingly unfair character deaths, the series was a let-down as both an adaptation of the famous comic arc and a solo project for Nick Fury.
Yetanother of the series' failings was its treatment of the former Skrull general Talos. Ben Mendelsohn does an excellent job as the weary alien leader, as previously demonstrated in his movie appearances in bothCaptain MarvelandSpider-Man: Far From Home.
Based on the Marvel Comics event, Secret Invasion is a chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that sees Nick Fury attempting to reckon with an alien invasion that has been occurring for years - without humanity even knowing. Fury discovers that the Skrulls have been infiltrating society for far longer than he realized, and danger arises as plans start into motion.
The closer exploration of Talos' goals and personality as one of Fury’s closest companions working against the Skrull Resistance could’ve made for an enduring partnership that deserved to outlast the series itself. Unfortunately,the MCU chose to abruptly kill off Talosat the hands of Gravik, more or less removing the key figurehead for the Skrulls' struggle in the franchise.
4Jack Duquesne
Hawkeye
Similarly to Melvin Potter, Jack Duquesne is a Marvel comics character whose true costumed persona is only lightly hinted at in his debut series. Jack appears inHawkeyeas the recent lover of Kate Bishop’s mother Eleanor, much to Kate’s own disapproval. Duquesne starts out as a sort of red herring villain implied to have murdered his own uncle at first, only to turn out to be a genuinely good guy who was used by Eleanor.
In the comics, Jack Duquesne is actually Swordsman, a swashbuckling, rapier-wielding hero with panache and personality. This heroism is alluded to when Jack helps Kate and her allies fight off the tracksuit mafia, using his fencing sword to great effect.
Still reeling from the fallout of Avengers: Endgame, Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) is drawn back into an urgent mission as the ghosts of his past threaten to destabilize his peaceful family life. Thrust into a new dynamic with young upstart Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), the original Avenger must escape a hit, uncover the secret of Kingpin’s return, and get home in time for Christmas.
Tony Dalton ofBetter Call Saulcastfame plays Duquesne as a charming rogue, making it all the morepainful that he never gets the chance to step into his musketeer boots as Swordsman. It’s safe to sayHawkeyeegregiously fumbled Dalton’s brilliant performance with such little screentime.
3Aisha
Ms. Marvel
Ms. Marvelwas able to introduce not only an exciting new character, but a whole world of supernatural possibilities for the MCU, only for both to go woefully underutilized.Aisha comes into the picture as Kamala Kahn’s great-grandmother, revealed to secretly be a being from the Noor Dimension, a sort of Southeast Asian equivalent to Scandinavia’s Asgard or China’s Ta Lo.
This dimension is said to be the home of powerful entities such as the Djinn. Aisha meets Kamala after accidentally summoning her to help keep their family safe.Ms. Marvelsets up an incredibly poignant story with Aisha’s two episodes, showing a woman who first hates her surroundings eventually learning to appreciate human culture and the Earthly realm.
Ms. Marvel is an action-superhero TV series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The show follows Iman Vellani, a 16-year-old high school student in New Jersey who is a huge fan of superheroes and has difficulty fitting in at school. When Iman is gifted a mysterious bangle from her grandfather, she discovers it allows her to utilize cosmic energy and construct what she can imagine. Now an accidental superhero, Iman will try to rise to the challenge and make a name for herself as Ms. Marvel.
Eventually, Aisha ends up starting a family and doing everything she can to protect the dimension she once loathed.It’s hard not to feel like more could’ve been done with Aishaand the Noor Dimension inMs. Marvel, but her tragic death at the hands of Najma curtailed such potential.
2Smiling Tiger
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier
The Falcon and The Winter Soldierpresents an interesting case foran under-utilized character who never actually technically appears in the show’s single season. Smiling Tiger is the nickname of a notorious international criminal from Africa, Conrad Mack, who Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson disguises himself as during an infiltration mission to Madripoor.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, this series follows Sam Wilson (Falcon) and Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier) as they embark on a global adventure. The duo faces new and old threats, testing their abilities and patience while navigating their roles in a post-blip world.
Smiling Tiger’s flamboyant clothes and the reputation that precedes him gives the character enough personality to be felt without actually even showing up. Not only that, but Smiling Tiger is apparently infamous enough in the Brass Monkey Saloon to have a signature cocktail named after him, consisting of gin, triple sec, a finger of lime, and the heart of an equatorial spitting cobra.
This is all the more disappointing considering the fact that Smiling Tiger is a supervillain in the comics.
Sam’s impersonation of such a gregarious character seemed to be setting up a prime bit in which the real Smiling Tiger would appear and ruin the disguise, butThe Falcon and The Winter Soldierisn’t clever enough to try this.This is all the more disappointingconsidering the fact thatSmiling Tiger is a supervillain in the comics.
1Jack Russell
Werewolf By Night
Few Marvel Cinematic Universe projects feel as disconnected from the overall franchise as the made-for-TV special presentationWerewolf By Night.With only theGuardians of the Galaxy Holiday Specialas a peer,this feature, ironically, hardly includes its namesake character at all, with Jack Russell getting largely eclipsed by Else Bloodstone in his own movie.
Jack Russell is a classic lycanthrope, a werewolf who transforms in the light of the full moon who uses his powers to help other unfairly hunted “monsters” in need. In the brief scenes he’s given, Jack Russell has a lot of personality, warning Else of his true nature and reconnecting happily with Man-Thing, who he insists be called by his real name, “Ted”.
Marvel’s Werewolf By Night
Werewolf By Night is a Marvel film centered around a group of monstrous characters within the Marvel Universe. The story follows Jack Russell, a man cursed with the ability to transform into a werewolf. As he navigates his dual identity, he becomes entangled in a dark world filled with other supernatural beings.
He also uses his powers to great effect, tearing through hordes of Verussa’s men with ferocious speed. YetRussell doesn’t get much focus beyond this small action setpiece, leaving him as one of the most woefully underutilizedMCUTV characters.
