As Phase 4 of the MCU continues along with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, more and more characters are beginning to be introduced into the cinematic universe. Between rumored cameos, full appearances, and a few scattered easter eggs, characters from across Marvel Comics are finally starting to step into center stage.
Many of those characters have already appeared recently in the movies and Disney+ shows, and fans on Ranker have taken to vote on which of those newer characters are the best ones yet.
Makkari
After the surprising death of Quicksilver in Age of Ultron, Marvel needed a new speedster to fill the role. Given that most of Marvel's fastest speedsters are X-Men, who have yet to join the MCU, it made perfect sense to introduce Makkari to take Quicksilver's place.
This inclusion of this fast-moving fun-loving speedster was also great representation for the deaf community, as Makkari was also Marvel's first Deaf superhero (via ScreenRant). Fans also quickly grew to love her relationship with Druig. Even if she didn't get much spotlight in the film, she left fans wanting more.
He Who Remains
There are few things more intimidating than a man who survived the end of everything. But, after witnessing a war on a multiversal scale, He Who Remains managed to do just that. By the time Loki and Sylvie discovered him, he was watching over all of time through the TVA, ensuring that no other figure would ever harm the Sacred Timeline.
Though his mission eventually failed due to Sylvie's desire for vengeance, He Who Remains was still an extremely memorable character. He managed to make himself one of the most sympathetic villains in the MCU just by explaining his history. In death, he will also likely have had the most impact on any MCU character since Thanos.
Mandarin (Xu Wenwu)
After the disappointment that was the first Mandarin in the MCU, fans were incredibly excited to see a genuine take on one of Marvel's best villains, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' Mandarin delivered.
With a captivating backstory and a heartbreaking motivation, the MCU managed to make Mandarin somewhat sympathetic. However, it also didn't shy away from his darker history. In exploring his relationship with his children, the film showed just how horrible the Mandarin could be. He also proved to be an incredible fighter, wielding the 10 rings to take on entire armies. It made him an excellent villain, while also showing just how he fell to the point he did.
Sylvie
A Loki variant with a tragic backstory and powers that put the standard Loki from the MCU to shame, Sylvie is a brilliant character that fans quickly came to adore. Her history and hatred of the TVA make her incredibly sympathetic, and her relationship with the other Loki variant make her unforgettable.
But it's her dedication to stopping He Who Remains that causes her to be such a heartwrenching figure. Having irreparably damaged the multiverse in her effort to stop the TVA, there is no going back for Sylvie. As the best Loki variant, it will be incredible to see where she goes from here.
Lucky the Pizza Dog
The beloved one-eyed dog rescued and taken to safety by Kate Bishop in Hawkeye, Lucky is a beloved character that fans immediately came to adore. This sweet golden retriever tends to eat pizza rather than dog food and does his best to help out the Hawkeyes whenever they need him.
As one of the best pets in Marvel, Lucky was an excellent addition to the show and genuinely did manage to help keep the Hawkeyes safe. Besides, even if he didn't, it's always fun to have an adorable dog-like Lucky around.
Agatha Harkness
The main antagonist of WandaVision with a catchy theme to boot, Agatha Harkness is more than just an effective villain. In fact, she was the driving force of the show and always managed to push Wanda wherever she needed her.
Her backstory makes her an intimidating threat, and her personal ties to Wanda make her terrifying. Worse, by posing as Wanda's friendly neighbor, she managed to completely trick everyone in Westview without even lifting a finger. If that isn't enough, "Agatha All Along" managed to captivate audiences everywhere. There's a reason she's expected to have of her own show soon.
Mobius M. Mobius
A no-nonsense TVA detective with a heart of gold, all Mobius ever wanted to do was to defend the Sacred Timeline, convince his pet Loki Variant to calm down, and find out the truth about the TVA. Of course, he only managed to do one of those things (but who's counting?).
As a man who navigated the Void, Mobius had one of the most interesting stories in Loki. His dedication made him admirable, and his willingness to help Loki figure out the secrets of the TVA made him a fascinating character, especially after he realized that he too was a variant.
Shang-Chi
The man who defeated the Dweller-in-Darkness and its Soul Eaters, Shang-Chi proved to be an amazing fighter and an even more powerful figure. While he seems to be unbeatable in a fight, there are a few more things about him that make him such an amazing character.
It's his desire to live a normal life and escape his father's criminal organization that fans loved about Shang-Chi, and his close relationship with his friend Katy Chen. Together, they made a great team and, with the 10 rings now under his command, the two are likely to prove a force to be reckoned with when they appear in further MCU projects.
Kate Bishop
A Hawkeye fan who lost her father in the Battle of New York, Kate Bishop is a fantastic archer and an even better costume designer. As an inexperienced hero, she managed to pull the original Hawkeye back into the fold of heroism, and managed to stop both the Tracksuit Mafia and her own mother in the process.
With fighting skills so advanced that she managed to take down Wilson Fisk, one of the most powerful Daredevil villains, she proved that she has what it takes to survive in the world of superheroes. And she can do it all with nothing more than a stick and a string.
Yelena Belova
An assassin with a genuinely excellent sense of humor, Yelena Belova was introduced in Black Widow as Natasha Romanoff's sister and childhood companion, tragically separated after being forced into the Black Widow program. Now, she is dedicated to helping to de-program other Widows and get vengeance against those who cause harm to other children.
While Yelena stole the show in Black Widow, it was her appearance in Hawkeye that really made the fans admire her. After all, her touching attempt to avenge her sister was heartbreaking, especially given that fans already knew that it wasn't Hawkeye's fault. It also made fans realize just what the average MCU citizen might think of events like the Blip and Romanoff's demise. It opened up a lot of eyes, and that alone made Yelena incredible.