Who has suffered the greatest character assassinations in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? –

There is a lot that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has done right. I would even go so far as to claim that the MCU has “saved” a handful of characters, giving them a chance to shine in a spotlight that was otherwise focused elsewhere. Before 2008, how many people would have named Iron Man as their favorite superhero? How many would be familiar with Guardians of the Galaxy ? Would Thanos be a household name? The list of these non-ironic ‘what if’ -questions goes on and on. Yet there are still characters who came to the MCU who just didn’t live up to their comic inspiration…. Here are our seven ranked characters who faced the biggest carnage during their transition to the MCU.

Oh and before anyone asks, I’m skipping the throwaway references after the credits that we may or may not ever see again, whether it’s Harry Styles as Eros, Charlize Theron as Clea, Brett Goldstein as Hercules…. The list goes on and on.

7. Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver

Looking back and thinking about Maximoff’s introduction into the MCU, it’s almost crazy to think that there was ever a real Quicksilver. No, we’re not talking about Evan Peters’ throwaway cameo in WandaVision, but rather Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s role as Pietro Maximoff in Avengers: Age of Ultron. He appeared, proved to be a thorn inAvengers’ side, then became a burden to Ultron and then died. And that was that. Now, a decade later, we still don’t have a natural speedster in the MCU, which is crazy to think that could remain the case until the X-Men finally arrive in the next few years….

6. Gorr the God Butcher

When it became clear that Marvel would adapt the story of Gorr the God Butcher, many hoped we would expect an adventure as dark, twisted and savage as the main source material. But we didn’t get that at all. Instead, we got a Taika Waititi special full of unfunny humor and jokes, coupled with a storyline that also sought to explore Jane Foster’s Mighty Thor, ultimately leading to a convoluted and overwhelming story that never captured the ruthless true nature of one of Thor’s greatest adversaries. Christian Bale was also wasted in this role, which is a crime in itself.

5. Adam Warlock

Granted, there is still plenty of time for this character to become what he should be, but Adam Warlock ‘s introduction to the MCU was far from what many expected after his first teaser in the second Guardians of the Galaxy film. Will Poulter seemed like a good choice for the role, but in the third ensemble film we were treated to a whiny and adolescent version of a character known for being impartially ruthless, strategically brilliant and a handful to fight against, so much so that few can fight him on a level playing field. Maybe one day we’ll get the Adam Warlock we deserve.

4. Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk

Looking back on the She-Hulk: Attorney at Law series, I can’t help but keep wondering what it was trying to be in the first place. This is a hero who in many cases has been an Avengers staple, a more cool and calculated Hulk who served as a big strong female character who could match even the greatest of her male counterparts. And yet, the Jen Walters and She-Hulk we met was more of a satirical look that felt like it belonged in an episode of Desperate Housewives. There is a lot of work to be done to salvage this character and the fact is that it doesn’t look like Marvel is too bothered to approach that yet, suggesting that the only Hulks we will see in the MCU for the foreseeable future will be Red Hulk and The Incredible Hulk, sadly…

3. Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel

After the film Captain Marvel and the end of Avengers: Infinity War, it really looked like Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel would take her place amid the core Avengers crew and as a leading figure for the future. But then she barely appeared in Avengers: Endgame, was succeeded in a poor The Marvels, and now the question is what the future holds for the character. Captain Marvel is one of the traditionally most famous female heroes in the world of Marvel, and yet we’ve never seen a truly great iteration of her in the MCU. It’s especially disappointing because the Avengers need a new set of leaders, and Danvers, appearing alongside Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange and a handful of others, seemed like a good bet. Or rather, it did…

2. Captain Carter

Let me explain myself here. I actually think Hayley Atwell has done a great job over the years as Peggy Carter, Steve Rogers’ lover. I have no qualms in this role, which is why I specifically referred to Captain Carter. No, Captain Carter has no major role in the MCU, minus appearances in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and What If…?, but here’s the thing; Why did Marvel try to cram this character down our throats? Steve Rogers has just retired and Sam Wilson is taking over the mantle, and yet now we have to have room for a character who has never really had a place in the Marvel world? Let’s leave Captain Carter in history and focus on other strong female protagonists, perhaps like Danvers and Walters?

1. The incredible Hulk

Again, like Captain Carter, I refer specifically to the vessel of rage here being The Incredible Hulk. Mark Ruffalo’s time as Bruce Banner was fine, but his work as ‘the other guy’ and Marvel ‘s overall treatment of him has been a complete and utter disaster. After the first Avengers movie they almost immediately launched plans to castrate the Hulk and this has sent us down a path to the clever Hulk we have today who is neither angry, dangerous, frightening or the true nuclear deterrent of Earth as he was in the comics. The Hulk deserved so much more than anything Marvel has ever given him, and frankly, it seems impossible to undo the damage from where we are today. Any hope of an authentic World War Hulk storyline or a real Planet Hulk (and not what Waititi tried to do with Thor: Ragnarok for God’s sake…) where we see this immense creature literally tear planets in half and counterbalance tectonic activity is out of the question. Instead, he hands out tacos and hands out autographs. It is heartbreaking to watch.

Did we miss any characters or are there any characters you think should make it? Let us know below.