Though it is the headlining heroes that get all the attention in the MCU, the sidekick characters are also very important. In some cases, these sidekicks have gone on to become main heroes themselves as with Sam Wilson or Hope Van Dyne. Other sidekicks like Wong feel like they should be main heroes themselves.
However, for some of these characters, a supporting role fits them perfectly well. These characters shine when they are backing up the heroes and as much as fans like them, they might not be as effective if they were given more central roles in the MCU.
Kraglin
The Ravagers have been a fun part of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies as a band of space thieves that helped bring Peter Quill into the cosmos. But while Yondu felt like a good fit when he joined the heroes' team in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Kraglin is better left in the background.
Kraglin is a good character to keep around as a link to the Ravagers in general, but he isn’t an interesting enough character to step up to a bigger role on the team. Even with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 being the final adventure for these characters, Kraglin doesn't need to be explored any deeper.
Everett Ross
Given the huge world of Wakanda introduced in Black Panther, Everett Ross was an important character to have around. He acted as something of an audience surrogate, helping to explain some aspects of this complex nation.
However, while the climax of the movie allowed Everett to take part in the action it was wise to not get him too involved with the battle for Wakanda. Black Panther is so much about the people of Wakanda rather than the larger Marvel universe that an outsider like Everett needn't be a main player in the story.
Happy Hogan
Happy Hogan is a sidekick who has been in the MCU since the very beginning with the first Iron Man. Yet despite his many appearances, he has not been elevated to a more important position which seems to suggest they understand his strengths as a character.
It has been interesting to see Happy grow as a sidekick as he began as the buddy and bodyguard to Tony Stark before becoming the older and reluctant sidekick to Spider-Man.
Karun
Though Eternals featured a whole new team of cosmic beings with incredible powers, it was one of the only human characters in the story that ended up stealing the show for many fans. Karun is the long-time assistant to Kingo who follows him with a video camera, documenting his superhero adventures.
With such a large ensemble, Karun doesn't get a whole lot to do. But he stands out as an endearing character simply because he is content to watch from the sidelines and is just happy to be a part of the fun.
Korg
From the moment he was introduced in Thor: Ragnarok, Korg became one of the funniest characters in the MCU. Despite his literally hard exterior, Korg is a friendly and positive rock monster who makes quick friends with everyone he meets.
While it is tempting to want a feature-length movie just following Korg around and listening to him talk, he is the perfect kind of comic relief character who is not overused to the point that he's annoying but still lights up a scene whenever he appears.
Katy
As another of the newest additions to the MCU, Katy is one of the most prominent sidekicks in one of these stories. The friendship between Katy and Shang-Chi is one of the best in these movies as they seem to genuinely have fun with each other.
When things get dangerous, Katy doesn't hesitate to stand by her friend's side and help him confront his past. And while she gets her own moments to shine, given his complicated family history, it's good for Shang-Chi to have a grounded friend like Katy.
Mobius M. Mobius
While it was nice to see the God of Mischief get his own solo story, Loki also introduced one of the best new MCU characters with Mobius. With a mixture of being a world-weary cop and an optimistic goofball, Mobius's pairing with Loki was a blast.
There is obviously a lot of potential in continuing to explore Mobius's life as a TVA agent and fans are dying to see him fulfill his dreams of riding a jet ski. However, those aspects of the character can be explored without forcing him into a more central role.
Darcy Lewis
Though she was initially seen as a bit of an annoying character in the Thor movies, Darcy became a fan-favorite when she reappeared in WandaVision. She is a sarcastic yet intelligent person for any hero to have on their team.
However, it feels like a little can go a long way with Darcy. With the initial negative reaction toward her, it is smart to keep her in a supporting role where she can do what she does best – help out the heroes and crack jokes.
Luis
Luis is the case of a sidekick who steals the entire show from the heroes. Though Paul Rudd is charming and fun as Scott Lang, the Ant-Man movies really come alive whenever Luis is on the screen.
Michael Pena's hilarious performance puts a smile on the audiences' faces, especially in his long-winded and rambling stories. However, while he steals the show, the movies have so far been smart not to overuse him. While he certainly should be involved in Ant-Man and the Wasp, it should be as the same comic relief character he's been doing so well as.
Ned Leeds
As the first person in Peter's ordinary life to learn that he is Spider-Man, Ned Leeds has been an important part of the young hero's journey. Without his companion along for the ride, Peter might never have gotten a handle on balancing being a teenager and a hero at the same time.
What makes Ned perfect for a supporting role is how thrilled he is to be in such a position. He has no dreams of being a hero himself, but wants to be the "guy in the chair" for his best friend.