The expansive nature of the Marvel Cinematic Universe makes it impossible for every character to stand out. In team-up movies like Avengers: Infinity War, some heroes barely get any screentime despite their previous importance. Characters such as Hawkeye or Ant-Man are even missing.
But there are other characters who suffer the same fate. Each movie tends to have its own villain and they rarely have a long stay in the MCU, but they're not the only ones to be excluded from most of the adventures of the Avengers and their friends.
10 Elizabeth Ross's Relationship With Bruce Banner Isn't Hulk-Proof
Lord of the Rings fans may remember Liv Tyler as the beautiful Arwen, Aragorn's love interest and later his queen. In the MCU, she appears as Bruce Banner's girlfriend, Betty Ross. The daughter of General Thaddeus Ross, Betty meets Bruce during college, and they fall in love. They later work together at Culver University, but the fateful Gamma experiment that creates the Hulk tears their relationship apart. Betty is injured during the Hulk's first rampage. That doesn't keep her from wanting to be with Bruce, but her father is constantly in the way.
Even after being reunited in The Incredible Hulk, Betty never shows up in the MCU after the first movie. Bruce later starts a relationship with Black Widow, so fans can only assume he and Betty are no longer an item. It may be because the Hulk's standalone movie isn't considered a massive hit in the grander tapestry of MCU releases, but either way, their relationship isn't Hulk-proof. Her stint in Marvel's What If...? doesn't end well either, as she has to watch Bruce die at Yellowjacket's hands.
9 Howard And Maria Stark Are Rare Presences Even Though They Leave A Huge Mark On The World
For a character who is so important to the progress of the MCU, Howard Stark doesn't actually appear much in the movies. Every time he shows up, he's played by a different actor. Dominic Cooper, who first portrays him in Captain America: The First Avenger, also plays him in the series Agent Carter. But in the movies, he has only a handful of appearances, including the message he leaves to his son, Tony, in Iron Man 2 and their memorable meeting during the Time Heist.
His wife Maria only appears in Captain America: Civil War, first through Tony's BARF hologram and then through the flashback of her and Howard's murder at the hands of the Winter Soldier. It's almost strange for the two people who have such a huge effect on the world to be shown so little.
8 Peggy Carter Misses Her Dance With Steve As Well As Most Of The Spotlight
The clever and capable Agent Carter steals the show in Captain America: The First Avenger. Her no-nonsense attitude and courage make her a quick fan-favorite among the cast of female characters in the MCU. Unfortunately, after Steve goes down with the Valkyrie and is buried in the ice, he and Peggy never have their dance, and, for the most part, she misses her shot at the spotlight too.
She does get two more appearances in the MCU, as well as her own show, where Howard Stark and Edwin Jarvis also appear. But the show is canceled after only 2 seasons, leaving Peggy fans in the dust. At least she gets the chance to become Captain Carter in Marvel's What If...?.
7 Edwin Jarvis Isn't A Very Well Known Figure For A Movie-Only Fan
The Starks' butler Edwin Jarvis is a hugely important figure in the life of young Anthony Stark. The affection Tony has for Jarvis leads him to name his advanced AI after him. But movie fans are only introduced to the character in Avengers: Endgame, during Tony's meeting with Howard. It's a bit of a shame, as any fan of Agent Carter knows he truly is a very interesting character.
6 Laura Barton Spends Most Of Her Time Off-Screen Or Snapped By Thanos
The introduction of Hawkeye's family in Avengers: Age of Ultron came as a surprise to many. The marriage is somewhat limited, but the interaction between Clint, Laura, and their children adds depth to a character who had been neglected despite being remarkable in his own way.
Unfortunately, Hawkeye takes a huge step back in the following releases, and both he and his family more or less disappear from the MCU - in some cases, literally. Hawkeye retires after Captain America: Civil War, and Laura and the children disappear in the Snap. The family is reunited after the Avengers defeat Thanos and appear together at Tony Stark's funeral. However, all things considered, they're not around a lot. Maybe the future Disney+ series Hawkeye will change that.
5 Darcy Lewis's Intelligence And Personality Deserve More Acknowledgement
A character that isn't actually in the comics, Darcy Lewis appears in Thor as Jane Foster's quirky assistant. She shows up again in Thor 2: The Dark World, and her presence and refreshing personality are always an interesting addition. She's notable for taking even the strangest things in stride, and she and her own assistant, Ian Boothby, assist Thor during the Battle of Greenwich. However, she's not really given time to shine on her own in the movies. It's only during the series WandaVision that she shows that she can be more than just the quirky sidekick.
4 Christine Everhart's Reporter Days Aren't Over
Christine is memorable for being part of the reason Iron Man starts his campaign of destroying his illegally sold weapons. She and Tony Stark have a one-night stand. Even if she is bitter about it, she doesn't really show it. She remains a talented reporter, and it's in this capacity that she meets with Tony Stark in Iron Man 1 and 2. A web series dedicated to her interviews were made, revealing that she left Vanity Fair and works for WHiH World News. Despite that, she no longer appears anywhere else in the movies.
3 Harley Keener Still Has A Strong Connection With His Mechanic
Iron Man 3 has been criticized by many fans for its portrayal of the Mandarin, something the MCU has finally corrected with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. But the third installment of Iron Man has its own redeeming qualities and the relationship between Tony and his unexpected mentee Harley is one of them. The two meet when Tony breaks into Harley's garage, seeking refuge after Aldrich Killian's attack.
Throughout the movie, Harley offers Tony invaluable support, anchoring him when his anxiety and heavy PTSD threaten to cripple him. Unfortunately, Harley doesn't show up again in other MCU movies - not until Avengers: Endgame, where he is present at Tony's funeral.
2 Helen Cho's Genius Is Too Easily Forgotten
Dr. Helen Cho appears in Avengers: Age of Ultron as a scientist working with the Avengers in the war against Hydra. Using her Regeneration Cradle, she saves Clint Barton's life when he is injured in battle. But things don't go well for her after that. Her work with the Cradle draws Ultron's attention to her, and he brainwashes her to build him a new body. She is the creator of the physical form that would later become the Vision. She recovers from the injuries she receives throughout Age of Ultron, but she never appears in the MCU again.
1 Sif Has Almost Completely Vanished From The MCU
Originally a strong presence in the MCU, Sif loses all importance after Thor. In Thor: The Dark World, she's more or less there to threaten Loki, though she and Volstagg also deliver the Aether to the Collector. She doesn't even appear in Thor: Ragnarok, perhaps for the best since the Warriors Three die at Hela's hands. She makes a brief cameo during the Loki Disney+ series and has also appeared in earlier episodes of Agents of SHIELD. According to Marvel, she is one of the victims of the Snap, but that still doesn't explain her previous disappearing act. It's a shame because this is one character who could have made all the difference.