The continuing expansion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe means that more and more characters have been brought into the multiverse, but there are still plenty of wonderful heroes left to be explored, whether their stories focus on commanding organizations or just trying to make it through school.
They might be best suited to debut in one of the MCU's shows or movies, in live-action or animation, but it's clear that more female heroes could bring new perspectives and new narratives to the franchise as it closes out Phase Four.
Updated on January 10, 2023 by Stacie Rook: Female heroes like Ms. Marvel and She-Hulk have headlined self-titled series in Phase Four of the MCU, and Phase Five looks to continue the trend, with Disney+ shows Ironheart, Echo, and Agatha: Coven of Chaos, as well as the theatrical film The Marvels set for release in the next year. Still, there are even more great women from Marvel Comics who've not been brought to the franchise yet, and they could make a real impact on the MCU if given adaptations.
Abigail Brand
Abigail Brand is a mutant-alien hybrid most associated with the intergalactic Marvel organization of S.W.O.R.D., which works to protect Earth from otherworldly threats in a parallel position to the more localized S.H.I.E.L.D.
As Commander of S.W.O.R.D., Abigail often interacts with her S.H.I.E.L.D. counterpart Nick Fury, a connection that's led some to believe she could appear in Disney+'s Secret Invasion. Abigail's presence there would be a chance for the MCU to explore extraterrestrial politics, showcasing her diplomatic skills and perhaps exploring her pyrokinesis, an ability to create very hot flames that can cover her hands.
Gwen Stacy / Spider-Gwen
Spider-Gwen is a relatively new Marvel hero who first debuted in the Spider-Verse comic book storyline in 2014. A version of Gwen Stacy from Earth-65, she is Spider-Woman in her home reality.
Given the importance of the multiverse during Spider-Man: No Way Home, it seems likely that future MCU Spidey movies will explore other worlds, and fans have many suggestions for actresses who could play Spider-Gwen in the MCU. Gwen's wit and determination make her a fantastic hero to follow, while her origin story connects her to Peter Parker in surprising ways that would translate well to the screen.
Doreen Green / Squirrel Girl
Doreen Green has been the hero Squirrel Girl since she first appeared in Marvel Comics during the early '90s, but she gained popularity during her 2015 solo series The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl.
Her title "Unbeatable" is more than just for show, as she's saved the world from some of the most powerful Marvel villains like Doctor Doom, Galactus, and Thanos. A few years ago, the never-aired pilot of Marvel's New Warriors was set to feature Doreen as one of its protagonists but never made it off the ground (as per GWW). Now though, the MCU's expanding scope leaves plenty of room for Doreen and her squirrel sidekick Tippy Toe to save the day, perhaps alongside her comic book friend Ant-Man.
Heather Douglas / Moondragon
Moondragon has a history on the pages of Marvel Comics that stretches back to the 1970s. With her genius-level intellect, she gained her incredible telepathic powers not from any magic source, but from her own study and discipline.
She's been a team member of both the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy, providing possible entry points for an arrival in the MCU, and is skilled not only telepathically but in martial arts as well. Additionally, Heather is an LGBTQ+ hero, and has had a long relationship with her Guardians' teammate Phyla-Vell, so her presence would do a lot for representation in the MCU.
Sue Storm / Invisible Woman
The only female member of the core Fantastic Four team, Susan Storm not only has powers of invisibility, but she can also project all manner of force fields, which she uses for both offensive and defensive maneuvers.
While she's been brought to life on-screen several times, some parts of Sue's character — like her stint as The Fantastic Four's leader — have been ignored time and again. With a Fantastic Four MCU movie now scheduled for a 2025 release (via Marvel) Sue will hopefully have the chance to shine as a hero not only in her team, but on her own merits.
Lunella Lafayette / Moon Girl
One of the smartest characters in Marvel Comics, Lunella Lafayette is a young girl who uses the alias Moon Girl and fights alongside her partner Devil Dinosaur, with whom she has a telepathic link.
Lunella uses her intelligence to build all kinds of inventions for use in battle, while her telepathic link to Devil Dinosaur stems from her Inhuman heritage. Proving that the concept of hero has no age restrictions, Lunella would make a great addition to the MCU not only for younger audiences but also as a way to explore more fantastical narratives... with dinosaurs!
Jessica Drew / Spider-Woman
Spider-Woman Jessica Drew was brainwashed by Hydra as a young woman, but since breaking free has been an Avenger, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., and ally of the X-Men.
In the comics, she has a strong friendship with Carol Danvers, and bringing her to the screen would give the MCU's version of Captain Marvel another female hero to be close with. In recent years Jessica also had a storyline that followed her becoming a mother, a narrative that would bring a new viewpoint to the MCU, allowing the franchise to explore heroism in a different context.
Jean Grey / Phoenix
Jean Grey is a well-known member of the X-Men who has appeared in many of 20th Century Fox's X-Men movies, and is a likely candidate for an MCU debut now that Mutants are starting to crop up in the franchise.
As a character, Jean Grey has vast powers of telepathy and telekinesis, often amplified by the Phoenix Force, which could act as a great narrative hook in the MCU's future, with the potential to draw in and involve many other Marvel heroes.
Red Sonja
Though now published in stories by Dynamite Entertainment, Red Sonja is a superhero who was created for Marvel Comics in the 1970s, where she had several team-ups with Spider-Man.
Despite issues of licensing, and the fact that her trademark chain mail bikini would not translate well into a modern-day MCU movie, the character has had a fascinating history as a tremendously skilled swordswoman with experience fighting against the supernatural, which could prove useful in upcoming MCU projects like Blade. However, a non-MCU Red Sonja movie from Millennium Films is currently in the works.
Bonita Juarez / Firebird
Bonita Juarez is a Mexican American superhero who gained her powers after coming across a meteorite fragment that altered her DNA, giving her skills in conjuring and shaping fire as well as flight.
Under the heroic moniker of Firebird, she's been a member of the Avengers as well as the lesser-known team, the Rangers. Having teamed up with hero Marc Spector, who recently made his MCU debut as the titular character in Moon Knight, Bonita's presence in the MCU would make sense, while her status as an apparent immortal could give her some commonality with the newly-debuted Eternals.