With so many characters to juggle in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s natural that some might not be shown to the best of their potential. That’s not to say that these characters are underdeveloped or weak but that the series and fans haven’t given them as much importance as they deserve.
There are underrated superheroes from everywhere in the MCU, ranging from the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Masters of the Mystic Arts, and more. While there’s always a chance that they will be appreciated more in later years, it’s worth looking into the heroes who don’t get the consideration they deserve along with the likes of Iron Man, Captain America, and other A-list characters.
Hawkeye
There have been many memes poking fun at Hawkeye for his role as an archer in a team comprising superpowered beings. However, the fact remains that the Avengers were defeated the one time he wasn’t there, and they were victiorious each time he was with the team. Hawkeye has been underrepresented in the MCU despite being an original Avenger.
He was left out of Avengers: Infinity War, had minimal involvement in the Battle of Earth, and came in late in the Civil War arc. It's too bad this sometimes overshadows his valuable contributions with his bow that has defeated the likes of Loki, but also that Hawkeye acts as the audience surrogate, being a normal man brave enough to fight powerful enemies.
Drax
His comedic prowess has ultimately overtaken the threat Drax can pose toward villains and the emotional range he has. Drax is technically the most capable member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, having better combat skills than the rest along with possessing superb durability.
The most underrated aspect about him is Drax as a person, as he’s had moments where united the team. It was Drax who rallied everyone together to save Quill from Ego by calling the group a family, while Drax’s consoling of Rocket during his mourning of Groot gave the latter the first experience of feeling included. There’s definitely more to Drax than a pile of jokes, and the MCU needs to focus on this more in the future.
Wong
Wong has been treated as a supporting character rather than a hero in his own right. This undermines the fact that he was more powerful than Doctor Strange starting out and is one of Sorceror Supreme's mentors. He has also been never truly defeated in combat, which makes Wong a force to be reckoned with.
Wong’s contribution in the Battle of Earth is unfortunately misunderstood, as he’s the one who made it possible by bringing all the armies from across the universe to fight Thanos. He may be seen as a sidekick, but Wong has the capacity to be a true hero in every sense of the word.
Wasp
Hope hasn’t had much to do in the MCU outside of the Ant-Man movies, and she’s been treated secondary to Scott Lang even there. All things considered, she’s more capable than Scott, seeing as she has combat skills, greater knowledge of the Quantum Realm, and is aware of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s activities.
Her possession of the Wasp suit allows her to fly where Scott’s doesn’t, which should logically make her the superior of the two. It comes down to the MCU not giving Wasp as much to do as of yet and a bigger starring role can rectify this while giving Wasp greater exposure.
Quicksilver
His early demise and Scarlet Witch’s expanding role have made Quicksilver out to be an afterthought. It’s a shame he isn’t considered more, as Quicksilver’s speed was such that he would’ve been able to steamroll through Thanos’ forces in Avengers: Infinity War.
Moreover, his potential as a character remains interesting, as Quicksilver was part of Scarlet Witch’s story in WandaVision, and their bond drove the plot forward. There’s also the fact that his sacrifice allowed Hawkeye to live, meaning whatever the latter does in the MCU is thanks to Quicksilver’s heroics.
Heimdall
Heimdall was a long-running character in the MCU and went out like a true hero by sending Hulk to Earth to warn them of Thanos’ arrival. Unfortunately for him, he was overshadowed by the roles of Thor and Loki who were the Asgardians given the main focus.
His skills as a warrior are also underrated considering he was strong enough to fight off Hela’s forces and survive the Casket of Ancient Winters. Heimdall doesn’t get mentioned much for his role in the war against Thanos even though he’s responsible for ensuring the heroes had a chance.
Lady Sif
Her appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder can be a setup to do Lady Sif’s character justice, as her role has been all over the place. Despite being tagged as the warrior who changed Asgard’s perception of female fighters, Sif’s role was downplayed in the second Thor movie and she was absent from the third.
On paper, she’s just as powerful as the likes of Loki, Valkyrie, and other warriors, and Sif was also a dear friend to Thor who never left his side when he needed her. This kind of loyalty and dedication deserves greater respect, so it’s up to the next Thor entry to do right by the character and make her a standout hero.
Mantis
Much like most of the Guardians, Mantis is perceived through her comedic value. Her powers haven’t been given great importance either which has led to Mantis being considered as a side character. Still, it doesn’t change that Mantis has taken down extremely powerful beings by herself.
As it is, Mantis defeated both Thanos and Ego, who are among the greatest threats the series has ever shown. Her abilities as an empath have seen her manipulate the villains and incapacitate them. She’s also the heart of the Guardians, and her innocence has made the characters retain theirs as well.
John Walker
Being introduced as the new Captain America didn’t do him any favors, as John Walker became the target of memes that claimed he didn’t deserve the title. In-universe, Walker was treated with contempt by Sam and Bucky despite the fact that he was always looking to do the right thing.
Walker genuinely wanted to help people and accepted being Captain America in the hopes that he could live up to its legacy. He was instrumental in fighting off the Flag Smashers in the climactic confrontation, yet his role in the overall story and his mourning of his best friend has been undermined.
War Machine
Despite being in the MCU right from the get-go, most of the major details about James Rhodes are known only to comic book fans of War Machine. Rhodey has largely been among the heroes but hasn’t been placed as the leader or the core member.
It’s a shame his characteristics of being loyal to Tony until the end, being a brave man who’s never backed down, and a man who accepted death when he thought he was about to perish, have all been treated as secondary traits. War Machine also has around the same abilities as Iron Man, so there’s a chance this will all be shown in greater detail during Armor Wars.