The Hulk, Vision, The Scarlett Witch, Hawkeye, Starlord, Captain America, The Winter Soldier, and Doctor Strange are all great characters who contribute amazing plots and storylines to the Marvel Universe.
Though, none of these superheroes quite compare to the original and plot-filled top five Marvel characters on the list below.
#5 Black Widow
Black Widow, or Natasha Romanoff, the most admirable character to ever exist, had one of the most, if not the most complex backstories in all of the Marvel universe by far. Her entire storyline revolves around the patriarchal system that society normally consists of, but more importantly, the patriarchal system that her life consisted of. She is by all means, not perfect, which is what so paradoxically makes her perfect. She is so unbelievably flawed.
In “Black Widow,” Cate Shortland captures the abuse and manipulation that Natasha endures from childhood to adulthood. She has no real family, is sent to the “red room” not once, but twice where she is mind-controlled and sterilized against her own will, and is forced to kill people – children even.
Her life changes after she is recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D and The Avengers, where she carries her past and secrets, barely letting anyone break down the emotional barriers around her. She keeps the Avengers together when no one steps up to do so, and she avenges herself from her past by sacrificing her life for the greater good of the universe. She is the perfect anti-hero.
#4 Wolverine
Hugh Jackman, the actor who portrayed Wolverine in the X-Men movies, captured the character’s rage and mental instability exceptionally well, especially in the movie “Logan.” After a seven-year absence from playing Wolverine, Jackman reprised the role in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which was released on July 26, and earned $1.3 billion at the box office with a $200 million budget. Fans were delighted to see their two favorite superheroes in action.
Wolverine has one of the saddest backstories. Born with a different name, he was raised by people who were not his parents. His father, Thomas Logan, murdered his brother, John Howlett. After witnessing his brother die in front of him in a fit of rage, Wolverine’s bone claws emerged from his knuckles, and he brutally killed his father in return. After this, he fled his old life, never looking back at what he had done. He was destined to wander in search of a new home, a new name, and a new life.
Since his first appearance in November 1974, Wolverine has been the consistent face of the X-Men and has his standalone movies containing brutal battles with his iconic claws good leadership, and his call on whether they have to kill. Without a doubt, he is well deserved in the number 4 spot.
#3 Deadpool
The favorite chimichanga-eating, a fourth-wall-breaking comedian who does not care what others think: Deadpool secures the third spot. Despite not appearing in as many Marvel movies as frequently as other characters on this list, he undoubtedly makes the crowd laugh with his “appropriate” jokes whenever he does.
He is a cancer patient who served in a war for several years before being dismissed and later becoming a mercenary. He fell in love with a girl named Vanessa, and they eventually made their relationship official. Due to his cancer, the only way he could continue living was by volunteering for the Weapon X program, which offered superpowers to its participants. This not only cured his cancer, but also granted him extraordinary abilities.
While Deadpool is mostly known as a funny anti-hero, he also exhibits a more serious side when the situation calls for it. It is surprising to think that a man with serious regenerative powers and two katanas would be able to take on all superheroes in the Marvel universe. The side story, called “Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe Book” by Cullen Bunn, delves into how capable of murdering strong Marvel heroes if he ever felt like doing so.
#2 Spider-Man
Everyone’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is a fun teenage superhero who never fails to bring life and action into all of his movies. With movies like “Spider-Man 2,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” and more, he has been a favorite since his debut in the 2002 release of “Spider-Man.”
A popular debate within the Spider-Man community is which Spider-Man actor performed the role best. Tobey Maguire was Spider-Man for the first three movies, followed by Andrew Garfield, and then Tom Holland. However one feels, everyone can agree that these three iconic actors all did a great job bringing life into the movie and justice to the comic books.
His backstory is as iconic as the song “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”: he was biten by a radioactive spider which ended up giving his powers of a spider. He can climb on walls, swing, shoot webs and has his powerful spider-sense to detect any trouble around him. Spider-Man also battles very iconic villains, such as Venom, a counterpart with alien-like abilities, Doctor Octopus, whose technical gadgets give Spider-Man a run for his money, and last but not least, the bomb-loving maniac, Green Goblin. These villians have great battles with Spider-Man, and those tensions help Spidey grow as a character even more.
With his iconic blue and red suit and his memorable battles throughout the years, Spider-Man deserves the number two spot.
#1 Iron Man
Last, but certainly not least, is everyone’s favorite genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist: Tony Stark/Iron Man. The snarky billionaire with a no-miss comeback to anything that comes his way deserves to be at the top of the list for multiple reasons – from saving the damn universe to his simple music taste.
Tony Stark is one of the few male representations seen severely dealing with a mental health crisis: PTSD, anxiety attacks, insomnia, and depression, which are rarely talked about in media especially with a male character, and even more specifically in the early 2010s when mental health was not talked about, let alone normalized.
His suit is not the only part of him that develops throughout his role in the movies: Stark, as a person, develops throughout the course of the films. In the debut movie of the MCU, “Iron Man,” the audience is presented with a irritable, arrogant, and fairly sexist womanizer who has all the money in the world, so nothing affects him. Anthony and Joseph Russo slowly develop his character arc over time, exposing Stark to traumatic and life-changing events, from near-death experiences to existential crises that evolve his character into a friend, a dad, a hero, and a husband who would do anything for the people he loves, including sacrificing himself for good of the world and saving the literal universe.
Iron Man is also the only mortal being in the MCU that can make Thanos, a titan and the most powerful being in the universe (at a given time), bleed.
And this is not to mention some of the classic rock songs played in the “Iron Man” movies, including Black Sabbath and AC/DC tunes, add to the films’ – and the character’s – appeal.
Plus, Robert Downey, Jr. was the perfect actor for this role.
