With Kamala Khan's introduction in Ms. Marvel and Jane Foster's new role as the Mighty Thor in Thor: Love and Thunder, there continues to be a growing number of powerful female characters in the MCU. Such female representation is a major improvement from Phase One, where the only female superhero was Black Widow.
With a catalog consisting of Okoye and the Scarlet Witch, several women in the universe have stolen the show, impressing fans with their powers, skill, and strength. Some like Jane upgraded to an extraordinarily powerful role previously reserved for male superheroes. Not only are these female superheroes great representations, but they are also an inspiration for the future of female roles in superhero flicks.
Pepper Potts
Though Pepper Potts isn't considered one of the smartest characters in the MCU, many fans believe she deserves more credit than she's given. Not only did she defeat Killian after he kidnapped her, but she was helpful in creating equipment and armor for S.H.I.E.L.D and Tony.
Reddit user Sere1 said, "Pepper deserves more love. She has put up with Tony's shenanigans for years, even before he became Iron Man." Though it was heartbreaking to see Pepper lose Tony, she also showed a lot of bravery and strength at that time, and fans are hoping she will make another appearance.
Hope van Dyne/The Wasp
Hope van Dyne was a relatively new addition to the Marvel cinematic world in Phase Three, but fans were overwhelmingly impressed with her right from the start. She was already a skilled fighter, used her experience to train Scott Lang, and eventually earned her moniker as the Wasp while searching for her mother in the quantum realm.
Reddit user RadioactiveGwenPool said, "I love that from the get-go [Hope] was portrayed as competent and dangerous. I'm very interested to see what's done with her character in the future, now that her core motivation (finding her mother) has been wrapped up." Fans are excited to see her back in action in the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Nebula
Nebula was first portrayed as a villain trying to get back at her sister Gamora for their difficult childhood at one point and working with their evil father Thanos at another. However, she grew as a character and eventually became one of the most dedicated heroes trying to take down Thanos in Endgame.
Reddit user Mandaring favors Nebula among the women in the MCU, saying, "I know that thematically within the MCU that Thor and Iron Man killing Thanos was the best choice, but both times he died in Endgame I was really hoping that she'd be the one to land the final blow[.] Thanos hurt nobody more than he hurt Nebula." Her determination to prove her strength is one of the most inspiring storylines, as well as her growing friendship with the guardians, which only demonstrates her complexity as a character.
Okoye
When it comes to badass characters, it doesn't get much more impressive than Okoye. She is a skilled, mighty warrior that takes great pride in protecting her people and her king. She is an impressive fighter, who heads the Wakandan armed forces.
Reddit user WhatTheFhtagn said, "Okoye is great. I like her no nonsense attitude." Though it is uncertain what the next Black Panther film will bring without Chadwick Boseman to play T'Challa, fans are hoping they'll get to see more of Okoye's personality and skills - perhaps even as a major leader in Wakanda.
Gamora
Though Gamora has made some of the dumbest decisions in the MCU, she has grown a lot since her first appearance. She continues to be a powerhouse, fighting with the vigor and skill that few characters have, including many of the characters with superpowers.
Reddit user crimsonlaw said, "[Gamora] had a brutalized childhood but still came out of it with a moral compass. I'm disappointed she was "reset" somewhat by the last two Avengers movies." Now that 2014 Gamora has been brought to the present from the past, fans are wondering what they'll do with her character in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Natasha Romanoff/The Black Widow
Throughout Natasha Romanoff's storyline, she has been a force to be reckoned with. Not only was she the first female Avenger on the team, but she proved repeatedly that she was skillful and strong without having to manifest any special powers to go with it.
Reddit user crimsonlaw said, "She seemed to get a little more tepid with each new movie, but she was a force in her early days. She did remarkable things without traditional superpowers and relied on more than just fighting skills to defeat enemies." Natasha's ultimate sacrifice to defeat Thanos was astonishingly brave, though many fans are disappointed she won't be in future films.
Peggy Carter
Peggy Carter is one of the most underrated characters in the MCU, who is not given enough credit for all of her achievements. She is more than just an agent and the love interest to Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger. Many fans overlook that among all her badass qualities, she is also one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Reddit user thenwardis said, "Peggy Carter [is] definitely my top favorite. It was foolish to kill her off. And they should have given the Agent Carter series the same chance to grow that Agents of Shield got." Though the TV series dedicated to her was short-lived, it didn't fail to impress Peggy's fans.
Valkyrie
Valkyrie was a prominent character in Thor: Ragnarok, helping Thor to defeat Hela and then traveling to earth with the remaining survivors of Asgard. She was one of the few survivors of Thanos' attack and kept the Asgardian civilization going when Thor was at his weakest.
Reddit user A_boat_lies_waiting declared "Valkyrie is my no.1" for the most powerful female in the MCU. When Avengers: Endgame concluded, Valkyrie is left off as the king of the Asgardian people, being entrusted by Thor to care for his remaining people.
Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel
Though there were a lot of fans disappointed with the Captain Marvel film, there are many fans that find Carol Danvers intriguing as a female superhero. She gained her powers doing something heroic, giving her an interesting backstory as to why her powers are so extraordinary.
Reddit user daysinnroom203 said, "Loved captain Marvel, loved the movie, loved the character." She has proven time and time again her determination and immense powers when facing villains like Thanos, and her impact is evidence of her becoming a future leader in Phase Four. Carol's story has a long way to go, and fans wonder how her storyline will continue to portray her unique abilities, which hopefully will be the focus of The Marvels. .
Wanda Maximoff/The Scarlet Witch
Wanda Maximoff was portrayed as an exceptionally powerful being right from the beginning when she appeared in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Despite the fact she was used as a criminal's weapon and was a villain in Doctor Strange 2, fans feel for her struggles and heartbreak.
Reddit user Mr_Shorider said, "[Wanda] is the baddest lady there is. She almost single-handedly tore Thanos apart with nothing but her powers." Though Wanda is one of the scariest people in the MCU, it's only because of her sheer strength and the extent of her powers. This is why many MCU fans admire the Scarlet Witch due to her complex and tragic character arc, with many hoping that she remains a major player in Phase Four.