Summary
TheMarvel Cinematic Universehas changed the comic book industry foreverbecause it has finally made it possible for filmmakers to faithfully adapt some of the most iconic superheroes and supervillains onto the big screen, like Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and many more. On top of that, even other beloved characters that most mainstream audiences were not aware of got their chance to shine, like the Guardians of the Galaxy or Shang-Chi.
However, since the MCU is so massive nowadays, the debuts of some classic Marvel characters went unnoticed by most fans, whether it was because they looked nothing like their comic book counterparts, because their roles were very small, or because they appeared in movies or TV shows most audiences didn’t watch. The MCU featured a lot of comic book characters that most people have already forgotten about, and the following are the most noteworthy examples of this phenomenon.
1The Prowler (Aaron Davis)
Miles Morales’ Villainous Uncle
Most mainstream audiences nowadays are familiar with the character ofAaron Davis,Miles Morales’ uncle, who took on the mantle of a villain called theProwler. After all, he played a huge role in the plot of the animated filmSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verseand in the PlayStation game,Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, but most people completely forgot that he had appeared in the MCU as well.
In Peter Parker’s first solo film, he interrogates a man who tried to buy alien weapons from the Vulture, and that man is none other than Aaron Davis himself, played by Donald Glover (a nod to the fact that Miles Morales’ creation was inspired by his appearance in an episode ofCommunity). Aaron’s involvement inSpider-Man: Homecomingwas very brief, and he didn’t even get to wear his iconic suit, but he did mention that he has a nephew he wants to keep safe, meaning that both he and Miles may have a bigger role to play in the future of the MCU.
2The Chameleon (Dimitri Smerdyakov)
Spider-Man’s Iconic Shapeshifting Adversary
TheChameleonis one of the most important characters inSpider-Manhistory,seeing as he was the very first super villain Peter fought in the comic books, and he went on to make multiple appearances in subsequent storylines. He recently appeared in 2024’sKraven the Hunter, but that was a questionable adaptation that wasn’t well-received by most fans.
Most people are not aware that this was not his live-action debut, becauseDimitri Smerdyakovhad a very minor and inconsequential role in 2019’sSpider-Man: Far From Home. He’s one of the agents that Nick Fury assigned to monitor Peter during his trip through Europe, and since at the end of the movie it is revealed that Talos was actually impersonating Nick Fury, it’s commonly theorized that Dimitri was a Skrull as well. Needless to say, this is nothing like the Chameleon from the comics, but if he’s a Skrull, he would at least possess the ability to shapeshift into other people.
3The Black Knight (Dane Whitman)
The Legendary Wielder Of The Ebony Blade
While he may not be the most recognized comic book character in the world, theBlack Knightis still a classic and beloved character. Even though he’s a relative of the original Black Knight villain, he’s a heroic figure who has been part of the Avengers and wields the powerful and legendary Ebony Blade. He would be an interesting addition to the MCU’s Avengers line-up, which may happen someday, since he has already appeared in this universe.
Dane Whitmanis Sersi’s boyfriend inEternals, who gets sidelined for most of the film, until the very end, when he witnesses her being abducted by Arishem the Judge. This prompts him to finally accept the Ebony Blade in the film’s post-credits scene, but he hasn’t appeared ever since. Unfortunately, it’s currently unknown what will happen to the Black Knight in the future of the MCU, becauseBlade(whose voice can be heard in said scene) has been having development issues for many years, and it’s not very likely thatEternalswill get a sequel anytime soon.
4The Wrecking Crew
A Villain Group Of Goofballs
She-Hulk: Attorney at Lawis a parody of the superhero genre made with a sitcom-like format, which allowed its writers to include many obscure comic book characters in its story, like Mr. Immortal or Leap-Frog. However, most of them played a big role in their respective episodes and had their names said out loud, which made the brief appearance of theWrecking Crewway more forgettable in comparison.
This group of villains appears in Episode 3 ofShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, in which they attempt to attack Jennifer Walters with their Asgardian construction tools to steal her blood, only to be defeated by her in just a few minutes. While their appearance flew under the radar for most fans, they are not too different from the Wrecking Crew from the original Marvel comics, who have the same construction theme, wield the same weapons, and are also often beaten up very quickly by other heroes.
5Man-Thing
This Swamp Monster Has Already Made His Long-Awaited MCU Debut
Man-Thingis one of the weirdest and yet most beloved characters in the Marvel comic books, mainly because he’s a hulking and powerful swamp monster, similar to DC Comics’ Swamp Thing, with a striking design. Curiously enough, his existence in the MCU was hinted at on more than one occasion, like when he was mentioned by name inAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.or when his face appeared on Sakaar inThor: Ragnarok, so many fans were eagerly waiting for his formal introduction.
Man-Thing finally made his live-action debut inWerewolf by Night, a Disney+ exclusive Halloween special that not many people have watched. This is a real shame, because this is quite a faithful adaptation of the classic character, complete with his bizarre design, dangerous acid powers, and surprisingly endearing personality. He should definitely appear in a future MCU film or TV show that will give him the spotlight.
6Elsa Bloodstone
Marvel’s Very Own Van Helsing
Despite being relatively unknown by mainstream audiences, there’s no denying thatElsa Bloodstoneis one of the coolest characters in Marvel comic books. She’s a monster hunter, similar to Van Helsing, but with a few elements from Buffy the Vampire Slayer thrown in. She hasn’t had the chance to shine in many non-comic book projects, but some people may remember her from her appearance inMarvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order.
Similarly to Man-Thing, most people missed Elsa Bloodstone’s MCU debut because she was introduced in theWerewolf by Nightspecial.While she also lacked her iconic long orange hair and dual rifles, this was still a solid adaptation of the character that came off as tough, strong, and determined, not to mention that her dynamic with Jack Russell was quite fascinating. Like Man-Thing, she should appear in a future MCU project and fight even more monsters in it.
7Phyla-Vell
One Of The Strongest Guardians Of The Galaxy In Comic Book History
The history of the Guardians of the Galaxy is tumultuous, to say the least, to the point that even the most iconic iteration of the team (the one from the MCU) is not even its very first lineup in the comics. At one point in the story,Phyla-Vell, the daughter of Mar-Vell (the original Captain Marvel), joined the team and quickly became one of its most powerful members. Naturally, most fans were expecting her to join the MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy at some point.
They finally got their wish with the third entry in the trilogy,Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but it’s much different from what they could have imagined, which is why her introduction went unnoticed by most fans. In this film, Phyla has seemingly nothing to do with Mar-Vell or Captain Marvel, and she’s one of the Star Children instead, a bunch of humanoid kids who were modified by the High Evolutionary. Despite the obvious differences from her comic book counterpart,Phyla at least joined the Guardians of the Galaxy during the film’s post-credits scene.
8Cloak And Dagger (Tyrone Johnson And Tandy Bowen)
The Iconic Dark & Light Power Couple
CloakandDaggerare one of the most iconic couples in comic book history, mainly because of their complicated history, unique designs, and contrasting dark and light powers. Nevertheless, these two characters are still quite obscure in the eyes of most mainstream audiences,but many people became familiar with them because of their appearance as playable characters inMarvel Rivals.
Both Cloak and Dagger have technically already appeared in the MCU, via their titular TV show, and yet most people are completely unaware of it. This is because their show was made during the ABC, pre-streaming, era of Marvel, so its canonicity is still up for debate. But, with their new rise in popularity caused byMarvel Rivals,combined with the recent inclusion of Daredevil in the MCU, most fans are hoping that Cloak and Dagger will pop up once again in a future film or TV show.
