Ranked: The 10 MCU Heroes With the Most Disappointing Debut Moments

Not all heroes wear capes.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Has managed to create a strong initial impact through their first outing. In the past 17 years, Marvel Studios has brought numerous intricate, captivating, and influential characters from Marvel Comics to life on screen. However, presenting such an extensive array of personalities within the MCU often leads to certain figures receiving inadequate focus. Consequently, several characters were poorly portrayed right from their inaugural appearances in the MCU, resulting in some of this franchise’s signature heroes making lackluster debuts.

A significant number of the franchise’s top heroes have also possessed some of the most
notable and impactful first appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
including characters such as Tony Stark’s Iron Man, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Wanda Maximoff’s Scarlet Witch, and Peter Parker’s Spider-Man.

However, others have not been as fortunate, which encompasses some of the franchise\’s key protagonists.

, like Hawkeye and Black Widow. Numerous lesser-known heroes have also faced similar issues, including strong recent entries such as G\’iah and Starfox. However, Marvel Studios has the potential to elevate these characters beyond what their underwhelming initial appearances might indicate.

G\’iah

Emilia Clarke Made Her Debut as G\’iah in Secret Invasion (2023)

Even though it marks Samuel L. Jackson\’s debut as the standalone director of SHIELD for Nick Fury,

2023\’s
Secret Invasion
became one of the MCU\’s lowest-rated projects due to its slow pace, too-grounded narrative and lack of faithfulness

to Marvel Comics\’ iconic
Secret Invasion
One of the most thrilling parts of
Secret Invasion
was the debut of Emilia Clarke as
Talos\’ Skrull daughter, G\’iah
, however, her first attempt did not achieve the level of success many had anticipated. This was further complicated when G\’iah acquired her own superpowers later on.
Secret Invasion\’s
concluding as Marvel\’s Super Skrull within the MCU.

G\’iah received the abilities of several of the most powerful characters from the MCU, including those who have shed blood.
Avengers: Endgame\’s
Battle of Earth, as she was exposed to the
DNA in the Harvest
This renders G\’iah as one of the most absurdly overpowered entities within the MCU, yet she suffers from subpar visual effects and an underwhelming CGI fight scene against Gravik.
Secret Invasion\’s
The finale indicated that she acquiring these abilities was cliché and easily forgotten.

It would be wonderful to witness G\’iah coming back and adding more significance to her underwhelming introduction; however, Emilia Clarke’s involvement in the MCU has not yet been officially confirmed.

.

Reed Richards\’ Mister Fantastic

John Krasinski made his debut as Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic in \”Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness\” (2022).

Pedro Pascal is scheduled to make his entrance into the MCU as the recognized version of the character within the franchise.
Reed Richards in 2025\’s
The Fantastic Four: Initial Moves
, but he won\’t be the first incarnation of Mr.Fantastic we\’ve seen in the MCU.
The Office
and
A Quiet Place
star

John Krasinski portrayed Reed Richards from Earth-838.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

, where he was introduced as the leader of the Fantastic Four and a member of the Illuminati. Krasinski had been a popular fan-cast for the iconic role, but
Multiverse of Madness
demonstrated that this casting might not actually be suitable for the MCU.

John Krasinksi\’s version of Mister Fantastic was a bit dull, even though he delivered some of the most intriguing and informative lines in the entire Multiverse Saga

Shortly after making his appearance, he met an abrupt end due to being killed by Wanda Maximoff’s character, the Scarlet Witch. His underestimation of the Scarlet Witch led to Black Bolt\’s demise and ultimately resulted in him being disintegrated by the magic-wielding antagonist.
Krasinski\’s Mister Fantastic
suffered from a rather poor start in the MCU. However, Pedro Pascal\’s portrayal of Reed Richards holds promise for a more positive trajectory within the franchise.

Skaar

Wil Deusner Made His Debut as Skaar in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)

It was fantastic to witness Mark Ruffalo\’s Bruce Banner come back on screen along with his cousin.
Tatiana Maslany\’s portrayal of Jennifer Walters in the 2022 version
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Even with his limited screen time in Phase 4, Banner’s Smart Hulk played an essential part in mentoring Walters’ She-Hulk during the first episode. Afterward, he embarked on a journey back to Sakaar from outer space.

He returned to Earth in
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law\’s
the conclusion, which allowed him to bring his enigmatic son, Skaar, into the MCU

, portrayed without any spoken dialogue by
Stargirl
actor Wil Deusner.

In Marvel Comics, Skaar is the offspring of the Hulk and Caiera. Following her demise, this event compels him to bring his father back to Earth, leading to their legendary journey.
World War Hulk
Skaar\’s introduction might have launched a potential storyline.
MCU adaptation of
World War Hulk
, yet Bruce Banner made an appearance in the series finale remaining cheerful and upbeat, and

No news has come from either Banner or Skaar over the past three years.

It’s disappointing that Skaar’s minor appearance in the MCU hasn’t led anywhere significant, and people are hoping this will change soon.
Avengers: Doomsday
or
Secret Wars
.

Adam Warlock

Will Poulter Made His Debut as Adam Warlock in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

It was a contentious choice for Marvel Studios and James Gunn to make regarding casting.
Will Poulter portraying Adam Warlock
prior to his release in 2023\’s
Guardians of the Galaxy Part 3
, and it remains unclear whether this unconventional casting decision ultimately proved successful.

Adam Warlock is considered one of Marvel Comics\’ strongest protagonists, playing a key role in the company’s cosmic narratives since his debut in 1967.

He possesses godlike qualities, immortality, and access to all cosmic forces. Although these abilities were hinted at during Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 5, they weren’t entirely showcased yet.

This could potentially not be a problem, as

James Gunn stated that Adam Warlock was intended to appear as a baby-like character in
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3

It would be great to witness his growth and development in the MCU’s upcoming phases, but Will Poulter has not yet been officially confirmed for reprising the role, and it remains uncertain precisely when he might appear.
Adam Warlock became part of the Guardians of the Galaxy group.
at the end of
Vol. 3
However, the future of this new lineup remains uncertain, suggesting that Adam Warlock could consistently be portrayed as a comically infantile antagonist turned hero, which is quite disappointing.

Clint Barton\’s Hawkeye

Jeremy Renner Made His First Appearance as Clint Barton\’s Hawkeye in Thor (2011)

Jeremy Renner’s portrayal of Clint Barton, known for his skills as an expert archer named Hawkeye, has turned him into one of the most vital characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

, even coaching the upcoming wave of superheroes in his initial standalone series during Phase 4. Nonetheless, his beginning in the franchise was underwhelming. Renner made his first appearance as
Hawkeye in 2011\’s
Thor
, where he first appeared as a SHIELD agent responsible for monitoring Thor, the God of Thunder, as Thor tried to retrieve Mjolnir from its impact site in New Mexico. Barton’s part in
Thor
set up his comeback, but even this failed to impress.

Following a period with minimal tasks to handle
Thor
In 2012, Jeremy Renner made his return.
The Avengers
, yet it went unused when he was quickly brought under Loki\’s dominion. The oversight was so evident that even
Jeremy Renner requested that Clint Barton be written out of the series.
during
The Avengers
, even though we are now thankful that this did not occur.

Hawkeye\’s MCU career after
Thor
and
The Avengers
has been amazing to witness

, and his upcoming role as Kate Bishop\’s mentor and possibly as a recurring member of the Avengers are highly anticipated, though not yet officially confirmed.

Ruth Bat-Seraph

Shira Haas made her debut as Ruth Bat-Seraph in \”Captain America: Brave New World\” (2025).

Shira Haas will make her MCU debut in 2025\’s
Captain America: Brave New World
as former Black Widow assassin and United States government Head of Security Ruth Bat-Seraph. Unfortunately, while her first appearance should have been full of power, action and intensity,

She became lifeless and dull due to the alterations Marvel Studios introduced to the comic character.

In Marvel Comics, Ruth Bat-Seraph is also recognized as the
mutant superhero Sabra
, however, the character\’s mutant status and resulting superpowers were entirely omitted in
Brave New World
.

Reshoots and alterations during production due to Anthony Mackie\’s inaugural appearance as Captain America were also restricted.
Shira Haas\’ role in
Brave New World
This implied that Ruth Bat-Seraph had minimal involvement in the film. Her character lost all the elements that made her intriguing and captivating.
Brave New World
Could have effortlessly narrated its tale without including her, which is always a bad omen.

It\’s unfortunate that Ruth Bat-Seraph wasn\’t treated with greater attention in the MCU, as she has potential to be an important figure in the franchise’s forthcoming mutant narratives.

, but this currently appears improbable.

Danny Rand\’s Iron Fist

Finn Jones Made His Debut as Danny Rand\’s Iron Fist in Iron Fist (2017)

Finn Jones\’ Danny Rand
has always been regarded as the weakest part of Marvel\’s DefendersSaga since his debut in 2017.
Iron Fist
Season 1. The tale of the Iron Fist played a vital role in the storyline involving the Hand and contributed significantly to the plot of the 2017 crossover event.
The Defenders
, so it was crucial that Danny Rand undergo some development prior to this. Unfortunately,

The underdeveloped fighting skills of Jones, the gradual pace of the storyline, and the limited presence of Iron Fist diminished the impact of Danny Rand’s introduction in the Defenders series.

.

Although Finn Jones could be considered an excellent pick for portraying Danny Rand in live-action productions,

It was due to the production, storytelling problems, tempo, and screenplay.
Iron Fist
The series indicated that his first appearance wasn\’t up to par with what it had the potential to be.

Jones has recently expressed interest in reprising his role within the MCU’s upcoming projects, offering a chance to correct the errors from the Defenders Saga. Despite his first appearance being underwhelming, people are hopeful that his return may finally provide the desired improvement.
Iron Fist delivers justice in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
.

Pietro Maximoff\’s Quicksilver

Aaron Taylor-Johnson Made His Acting Debut as Pietro Maximoff’s Quicksilver in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

One of the most recognizable and significant characters ever brought into Marvel Comics is Quicksilver.

, thus marking Aaron Taylor-Johnson\’s first appearance as the speedy protagonist in
Avengers: Age of Ultron
It was extremely thrilling. Taylor-Johnson made his initial cameo appearance alongside Elizabeth Olsen, who portrayed
Quicksilver’s sibling, Wanda Maximoff known as the Scarlett Witch
during the mid-credits sequence of
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
, which hinted at a significant future for them both as the MCU’s inaugural “Miracles.” However, the future held different plans for Pietro Maximoff, as he was dramatically killed off in
Age of Ultron
.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson first appeared as Quicksilver soon after Evan Peters took on the role of a mutant variation of the same character in 20th Century Fox\’s production.
X-Men
The franchise, which invited unfavorable comparisons between the two.

Peters has been hailed as the most successful Quicksilver actor, possibly because of his long tenure, whereas many fans would like to see Taylor-Johnson’s portrayal come back.

His unexpected and mysterious demise at Ultron’s hand a decade ago robbed us of one of the MCU\’s most thrilling characters just as they were beginning to make an impact, which is truly unfortunate.

Natasha Romanoff\’s Black Widow

Scarlett Johansson Made Her Debut as Natasha Romanoff\’s Character, Black Widow, in Iron Man 2 (2010)

Natasha Romanoff\’s Black Widow
was highlighted as one of the crucial MCU heroes throughout all her appearances starting from her introduction in 2010\’s
Iron Man 2
and her posthumous first solo release in 2021\’s
Black Widow
. Despite her prominence,

Romanoff was frequently overlooked, disregarded, marginalized, and underutilized by Marvel Studios, which became particularly apparent during her debut in Phase 1.

.
Iron Man 2
presented Romanoff as a SHIELD operative embedded within Stark Industries to monitor Tony Stark, yet the
Iron Man
The follow-up failed to show Black Widow the respect she warranted.

Iron Man 2
sexualized Natasha Romanoff and had her be the target of characters\’ sexist attitudes

Whether it’s through Happy Hogan mocking her during the boxing match, Tony Stark scouring for inappropriate pictures of her online, or Happy grappling with keeping his gaze on the road as she altered her attire in the vehicle—this was humiliating. It would’ve been preferable for Black Widow to make her debut sans these distractions. Although Natasha Romanoff managed to break away from this swiftly, it remains far from an ideal start for her MCU journey.

Eros\’ Starfox

Harry Styles Made His Debut as Eros Starfox in Eternals (2021)

2021\’s
Eternals
emerged as one of the MCU\’s most controversial entries following its debut in Phase 4, generating

Many have criticized the film for trying to incorporate too many new heroes, which resulted in none of the ten primary characters receiving adequate development.

This was further exacerbated in
Eternals\’
mid-credits scene, which brought forth an additional Eternal through the appearance of
Harry Styles\’ Eros, also known as Starfox, doesn\’t require rephrasing as \”Eros\” and \”Starfox\” are names that should remain unchanged.
The ex-One Direction member made his first appearance in the MCU vowing to assist Thena, Makkari, and Druig in finding their missing companions, yet this hint hasn’t resulted in anything so far.

Eternals\’
Poor performance in Phase 4 has led Marvel Studios to apparently put aside or scrap any ideas about bringing back the main group of characters.

This is even though
Eternals
has lately been garnering increased appreciation retrospectively. The film\’s midpoint and post-credit sequences introduce compelling narratives for potential future installments.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

, yet these issues remain unresolved, making Harry Styles\’ introduction as Eros appear pointless and inconsequential. This role had the potential to be revolutionary for both the franchise and the genre.
mythology surrounding the Eternals and Thanos
, too.

Upcoming MCU Movies