The MCU is home to a host of interesting superheroes and villains. Some have a habit of appearing where fans least expect them. The franchise's Phase 4 is filled with cameos, as characters come together in unlikely series and movies. Some heroes and villains arrive at the cusp of a disaster to save the day, which makes their appearances even more thrilling for fans.
These Marvel cameos range from sorcerers in the courtroom to scientists in the zone of a magical spell going awry. The best Phase 4 cameos further develop an already beloved character, place them in different situations, or feature a fun team up.
Update March 13th, by Louis Kemner: With Phase 5 beginning, MCU fans are being treated to more Marvel Comics characters than ever as stars, supporting characters, or even as cameos. No MCU movie or phase has enough room to make every single comic character a major player, so to appease longtime comic fans, the MCU smartly sprinkles in some cool cameos. The cameo characters may or may not get promoted to fully fledged cast members in the future, but for now, it's thrilling to spot familiar characters and see what they can add to the MCU with just a brief appearance and a few lines of dialogue in Phase 4 and elsewhere.
13 Wilson Fisk (Hawkeye)
Phase 4 focuses on making the MCU bigger than ever before. Part of this shift includes bringing characters from previously separate series into the overarching story that the MCU has to tell. This can be seen in the final episodes of Hawkeye when Kingpin is brought to the forefront of the fighting as the Tracksuit Mafia's leader.
This cameo comes after Kingpin was seen in Daredevil. He was introduced as a corrupt businessman in New York's Hell's Kitchen, and he became a prominent source of crimes in the city. Kingpin's cameo in Hawkeye further proves how formidable and resilient he is.
12 The Illuminati (Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness)
Although they have a prominent role in Marvel Comics, the members of the Illuminati don't join the MCU until Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The film takes Doctor Strange through various universes and develops Wanda Maximoff as a villain.
Fans were thrilled when they saw Maria Rameau as Captain Marvel and Peggy Carter as Captain Carter. The Illuminati also featured Marvel characters from other franchises, such as Xavier from X-Men, Black Bolt from Inhumans, and The Fantastic Four's Reed Richards. This astounding combination excited fans, quickly became one of Multiverse of Madness' biggest highlights.
11 Other Peter Parkers (Spider-Man: No Way Home)
MCU film Spider-Man: No Way Home openly explores the multiverse. After casting a spell with Doctor Strange goes wrong and the multiverse opens, Tom Holland's Spider-Man meets Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker. This revelation sent MCU fans reeling, especially when the three Spider-Men banded together to defeat a combination of their villains.
Each version of Peter Parker is unique. While the circumstances around them becoming a hero were different, they each share similar experiences. Peter-Two and Peter-Three gave the MCU's Peter some guidance, which helped him deal with Aunt May's death and prepared him for making a tough decision at the end of No Way Home.
10 Bruce Banner (She-Hulk: Attorney At Law)
Although She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is about another Hulk joining the MCU, Bruce Banner spends very little time in the series. That being said, his cameos in the first and last episodes are equally impactful and act as a fun look into his everyday life. After Bruce's cousin Jennifer inherits the ability to turn into a Hulk, he does everything he can to help her.
This includes therapy, meditation, training on a remote beach, and relaxing at the bar. As an original Avenger, Bruce Banner deserves some time away from the rest of the world. While he misses his friends, he's keen to take his post-blip life one day at a time to see where it takes him.
9 Jimmy Woo (WandaVision)
After becoming a fan-favorite in Ant-Man and The Wasp, Jimmy Woo returned to the MCU in WandaVision. When he shows up doing card tricks he learned from Scott Lang, fans can tell that he's about to bring some real magic to the series. Woo's optimism and experience as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent make him a resourceful asset when investigating the Hex.
While Jimmy Woo's sleight-of-hand may not stand up against the Scarlet Witch's magical abilities, he is still instrumental in stopping S.W.O.R.D. and helping Wanda to leave the Hex alive. Fans can't help wondering where Jimmy will end up next in future MCU projects.
8 Darcy Lewis (WandaVision & Thor: Love And Thunder)
Darcy Lewis became a quick fan-favorite after appearing in the first two Thor films. Her wit and dedication make her a steadfast friend to anyone who meets her. After being recruited by S.W.O.R.D. to help decipher the Hex in WandaVision, she quickly becomes enamored by the lives of the main couple.
When Vision nearly died attempting to escape the Hex, Darcy reached out to him, which encouraged Darcy and Vision to team up later on. Their friendship is unexpected but fun to watch. Darcy also has a brief cameo in Thor: Love and Thunder, where she can be seen at Jane Foster's side one last time. Darcy's friendly presence makes each of her MCU appearances worthwhile.
7 Kevin Bacon (The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special)
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special isn't afraid to have fun, which is shown when Mantis and Drax take actor Kevin Bacon to an alien planet. While their actions came from good intentions, Bacon isn't thrilled to be kidnapped, and Peter Quill isn't happy that it happened.
From the dialogue that pokes fun at Bacon's profession to singing a song with Knowhere's local band, Kevin Bacon's appearance in the special is a fun and hilarious addition. He ends the experience on good terms with the Guardians, and it would be simply delightful if he showed up to support them in the future.
6 Baron Zemo (The Falcon And The Winter Soldier)
The main antagonist in Captain America: Civil War makes a triumphant return to the MCU in The Falcon and the Winter Solider. After Zemo is broken out of prison, he solidifies himself as a fan-favorite MCU character. The former criminal receives the chance to reform as he helps Bucky and Sam put a stop to the Flag-Smashers.
While Zemo may not seem that intimidating, he's not only able to hold his own in a fight, but he's also able to manipulate those around him. This makes him a crucial ally for the heroes, even if their mutual pasts haven't been forgotten.
5 Matt Murdock (She-Hulk: Attorney At Law)
Although She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is filled with cameos, there's none more perfect than Daredevil's Matt Murdock. As he and Jennifer meeting on opposing sides of a courtroom, the tension and mutual understanding between the pair immediately struck a chord with fans. The series takes this one step further when they band together to save a mutual friend.
Matt Murdock's charm and wit mix well with She-Hulk's ability to examine any situation critically. The two characters are alike, have great chemistry, and are fun to watch. While Murdock's future in the MCU continues in Daredevil: Born Again, fans hope that the pair continue to interact.
4 Wong (Shang-Chi & The Legend Of The Ten Rings, No Way Home, & Attorney At Law)
Although he began in a supporting role in Doctor Strange, Wong is now becoming very important in the MCU. His new role as the world's Sorcerer Supreme is putting a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders. Wong briefly appears in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and most recently in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
Wong's prominence in the MCU is credited to his popularity among fans, as they're learning that interesting things will happen when Wong is around. Not only does he break the Abomination out of prison, but he also highlights the existence of magic and otherworldly creatures, even in a legal comedy.
3 Ryan Bergara (Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania)
A few real-life celebrities and media figures have appeared by now in the MCU, from David Hasselhoff to Kevin Bacon to Ryan Bergara. Mr. Bergara had a cameo in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, appearing during a brief scene set in San Francisco.
Ryan Bergara can be seen toasting Ant-Man with Scott Lang early in the movie, while Scott is thinking to himself about how comfortable his life is right now. Mr. Bergara and his wife are both credited in the movie as Toasting Man and as Toasting Woman, a wonderful treat for their many fans.
2 The Watchers (Guadians Of The Galaxy Volume 2)
The Watchers are aloof, bald beings who impartially observe the entire universe and the affairs of all its citizens. The Watchers have a policy to not get involved in other parties' business, making them the most neutral group in the entire MCU, free of any biases or agendas.
The Watchers appeared in 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, while a small group of them listened to astronaut Stan Lee's stories. The wily Rocket Raccoon and Yondu briefly flew by the Watchers during their hasty journey to Ego to save Peter Quill from his father Ego.
1 Howard The Duck (Guardians Of The Galaxy)
The Guardians movies are filled with all kinds of cool cameos and humorous references. In the first film, Howard the Duck appears in the first movie in the Collector's collection on Knowhere. He even had a speaking line in a post-credit scene.
Howard the Duck dates back to 1973 in Marvel comics, usually in social satire storylines with some meta-awareness of various genres and fiction in general. Howard the Duck also starred in a 1986 standalone movie, which older MCU fans may have seen for themselves.