For many comic book fans, the MCU must seem like a bit of a miracle. It wasn't too long ago that the idea of seeing heroes like Black Panther, Ant-Man and Thor on the big screen seemed farfetched. Now those heroes appear in the same film together.
The MCU has done a great job of bringing so many comic book characters into the universe, from the most famous to the most obscure. However, there are some memorable MCU characters that are the franchise's own original creations. Despite not originating in the comics first, these characters have managed to make a solid impression.
Asgardian Actor
The MCU seems to like throwing the occasional fun cameo into their movies. However, few fans were expecting to see Matt Damon pop up momentarily in Thor: Ragnarok for a hilarious role.
When Thor returns to Asgard, he finds the Loki is posing as Odin and staging a play about his heroics. Damon plays an unnamed Asgardian actor who plays Loki in the play. Let's hope he was not among the many Asgardians who have since died in the MCU.
N'Jobu
Erik Killmonger is a departure from his comic book counterpart but remains one of the best MCU villains to date. Part of what makes him so effective is his tragic backstory involving his father N'Jobu.
N'Jobu was the brother of King T'Chaka who sought to help his fellow persecuted people around the world by using the resources of Wakanda. After a dispute with T'Chaka, N'Jobu is killed. Though his screen time is brief, it is so powerful, especially when N'Jobu talks to his son in the spirit world and sees the dark path he is on.
Senator Stern
It's clear Tony Stark has a lot of problems with authority and that includes United States' senators. In Iron Man 2, Tony is brought before a government hearing led by Senator Stern to pressure him to hand over the Iron Man technology to the government.
Stern provides a great foil for Stark which is made all the more entertaining from late-comedian Gary Shandling's performance. The character makes a second MCU appearance in Captain America: The Winter Soldier where it is revealed he is a Hydra agent.
Laura Barton
Few fans would disagree that Hawkeye is one of the least interesting heroes in the MCU. Armed with a bow and arrow, he seems like a pretty ridiculous member of the super team and the butt of many jokes. However, the character is given a little more depth in Avengers: Age of Ultron with the introduction of his family, including his wife Laura.
Laura helps us to understand Hawkeye's motivations as an Avenger more clearly and makes his loss in Avengers: Endgame all the more powerful. She is a refreshingly grounded person behind the hero which audiences don't get to see often.
Harley Keener
Part of the fun of Iron Man 3 is seeing Tony Stark out of his element and against the ropes. With his suit damaged and separated from his friends, Tony is forced to make a new ally with a young boy named Harley.
While Harley could have been a cheesy kid sidekick for Tony, writer-director Shane Black treats their relationship with just the right amount of humor and heart. They bicker like a buddy-cop duo and Harley proves to be a skilled technician as well. Harley even appears to say goodbye to his friend during Tony's funeral in Endgame.
Kraglin
The cosmic side of the MCU was opened up with Guardians of the Galaxy which introduced all kinds of new colorful characters. While plenty of little-known characters were brought to the big screen, James Gunn also created a memorable addition to the Guardians squad with Kraglin.
Kraglin is a member of the Ravagers and a frequent ally of the Guardians. Though he is not a core member of the team , he makes for a fun supporting character in their adventures and a quirky sidekick to Yondu.
Trevor Slattery
The Mandarin is one of Tony Stark's most popular villains from the comics. Fans were eagerly anticipating the character's appearance in Iron Man 3 with Ben Kingsley cast in the role. However, the filmmakers ended up pulling a bit of a trick on fans.
It turns out, Ben Kingsley was in fact playing a washed-up and boozing actor named Trevor Slattery who was hired to pose as the Mandarin on television. Not all fans appreciated the twist, but Kingsley's hilarious performance makes Slattery an extremely memorable character.
Erik Selvig
While the MCU is filled with brilliant minds, like Bruce Banner and Shuri, one of the smartest characters in the universe is an original creation. The first Thor film introduces Erik Selvig, a talented astrophysicist who becomes involved in the world of superheroes.
He is a close ally of Thor in his first two films and is a key part of the first Avengers film as he was mind-controlled by Loki. He was last seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron helping Thor discover the truth of the Infinity Stones, but hopefully, he'll be seen again before too long.
Agent Coulson
Agent Phil Coulson is one of the most central members of S.H.I.E.LD, who was a significant part of the MCU in Phase 1. Coulson was very much the glue that connected a lot of these films and their characters.
His first appearance goes way back to the first MCU film, Iron Man before becoming a regular part of the heroes' adventures. Fans came to genuinely care for Coulson which made his death at the hands of Loki in The Avengers all the more impactful.
Luis
The MCU has always allowed their heroes to embrace their comedic side, but one of the franchise's funniest character doesn't come from the comics at all. Michael Pena plays Luis in the Ant-Man movies and he steals the show each time.
Luis is the overly friendly, very talkative, and surprisingly cultured best friend of Scott Lang. Though a criminal, Luis has a big heart and a winning personality. Nearly every line of dialogue he says gets a laugh and fans are ready for Luis to get his own spin-off movie any time now.