Nearly two full years and dozens of hours into Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, audiences have been gifted with over forty new, colorful, and engaging characters to enjoy and root for. From Natasha's newfound family in Black Widow, all the way to the powerful variants in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, each new MCU entry in this phrase has brought with it strong characters, writing, and performances that should be celebrated.
While Thor: Love and Thunder and Disney+'s Ms. Marvel and She-Hulk will likely introduce new favorites, there are still an overwhelming amount of characters that deserve to be recognized for their impact on this universe beloved by fans.
10 The Entire Cast Of Characters Reimagined By What If...?
Boasting an ensemble of heroes portrayed in new and exciting ways, the variants seen in What If...? all deserve to be noted as some of the most vibrant characters to make their debuts in this phase. Stand-outs include Ross Marquand as Infinity Ultron, Chris Hemsworth as Party Thor, and Hayley Atwell as Captain Carter. Jeffrey Wright is equally affable and mysterious as Uatu the Watcher. Of course, the most impactful character is T’Challa / Star-Lord, the final performance of Chadwick Boseman within the MCU.
9 Xochitl Gomez Star-Punched Into The MCU As America Chavez
Xochitl Gomez had an unimaginably difficult task as an actor, turning America Chavez, a character few mainstream fans recognized, into a household name while sharing the screen with two of the universe's heaviest hitters. The fact that she manages to hold her own is impressive, but even more so is how she cemented Chavez as a bright, likable new character within the universe.
America Chavez was created by Joe Casey and Nick Dragotta. She made her MCU debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, written by Michael Waldron and directed by Sam Raimi.
8 Owen Wilson Wowed Fans As Mobius M. Mobius
Mobius M. Mobius is just one of those rare characters that instantly nestles into the hearts of the audience. This soft-spoken southern-coded TVA middle manager was a loyal friend to Loki, who took great risks to help reveal the oppressive nature of the organization he once trusted. Fans are thrilled that he'll return in Loki's second season.
Mobius M. Mobius was created by Walter Simonson. He first appeared in Loki, created for television by Michael Waldron (who also served as head writer for the series), with direction by Kate Herron.
7 Alaqua Cox Was A Serious Threat As Echo
In a compelling acting debut from Alaqua Cox, the ruthless assassin Echo has a massive journey throughout Hawkeye's six episodes, going from a hardened revenge-seeker to an empathic soul still lost in the same lust for violence that consumed Clint Barton. Echo was the perfect foil for Hawkeye's heroes and she is set to return with her own Disney+ series in 2023.
Echo was created by Dave Mack and Joe Quesada. Hawkeye was created for television by Jonathan Igla (who also served as head writer for the series), with lead direction by Rhys Thomas. The comic book series Hawkeye by Matt Fraction and David Aja was cited as a major inspiration for the show.
6 Jonathan Majors Made Things Weird As He Who Remains / Kang The Conquerer
Revealed as a secret antagonist in the final episode of the series Loki, He Who Remains is one of the best surprises in Phase Four so far. Jonathan Majors is able to deliver dense information in such an eerily energetic way that captivates audiences' attention and imagination, mostly because it's just so delightfully weird.
Kang the Conquerer was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Loki was created for television by Michael Waldron (who also served as head writer for the series), with direction by Kate Herron.
5 Hailee Steinfeld Hit The Bullseye As Kate Bishop
Hawkeye is often pretty low on fans' lists of favorite Avengers characters, but his series proved that he just needed the right partner. Not only does Kate Bishop greatly enhance the character of Clint Barton, but she's also an incredibly fun character on her own. Witty, well-acted, scrappy, and as dysfunctional as the comics counterparts of both Bishop and Barton, Kate could prove to be one of the universe's new core heroes.
Kate Bishop was created by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung. Hawkeye was created for television by Jonathan Igla (who also served as head writer for the series), with lead direction by Rhys Thomas. The comic book series Hawkeye by Matt Fraction and David Aja was cited as a major inspiration for the show.
4 Tony Leung Made A Problematic Villain Into Something More As Xu Wenwu
A brilliant update of a problematic character, Xu Wenwu was a surprisingly deep and sympathetic villain in the vein of Killmonger and Thanos. His relationship with Shang-Chi was one of the many beautiful aspects of the film that faced an uphill battle during 2021's volatile theatrical release schedule. Xu Wenwu was also a formidable threat and a thrill to watch in combat, serving as a great sign that the MCU is finding its footing when it comes to villains.
Xu Wenwu was created by writers Dave Callaham, Destin Daniel Cretton, and Andrew Lanham for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which was directed by Cretton.
3 Wyatt Russell Shows The Dark Side Of The Super Soldiers As John Walker
Arguably the most complex villain since Killmonger, John Walker took the MCU into some complicated and surprisingly vital territories. Initially presented as a shiny, perfect successor to Steve Rogers, it becomes clearer with every action that something isn't right with Walker. This downward arc allowed the show to comment on themes of imperialism, American exceptionalism, and vigilantism.
John Walker was created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary. He first appeared in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, created for television by Malcolm Spellman (who also served as head writer for the series), with lead direction by Kari Skogland.
2 Florence Pugh Shows How Assassins Can Have Fun As Yelena Belova
Relatable, genuinely funny, and suitably dangerous, Yelena Belova takes the mantle of Black Widow and runs miles away with it in a fresh and unexpected direction. While the assassins of the MCU's past were often underwritten, Belova is one of the most fully fleshed-out characters in the universe to date, and Florence Pugh brings a sense of dangerous fun to the character.
Yelena Belova was created by Devin Grayson and J.G. Jones. She first appeared in Black Widow, written by Eric Pearson (screenplay), Jac Schaeffer and Ned Benson (story), and directed by Cate Shortland.
1 Oscar Isaac Played Against Himself As Moon Knight
A tour de force in both character development and performance, Moon Knight's myriad protagonist is the MCU at its most creative. Oscar Isaac does an incredible job portraying each character with care and specificity, carving out a world that feels unique from anything else in the MCU. Of all the new additions to the universe, Moon Knight feels the most momentous by far.
Moon Knight was created by Doug Moench and Don Perlin. Mr. Knight was created by Warren Ellis and Declan Shalvey. He first appeared in Moon Knight, created for television by Jeremy Slater (who also served as head writer for the series), with lead direction by Mohamed Diab.