Let It Go, Marvel
In the MCU, some characters shine early and fade hard. Still, they get dragged into plotlines like nothing’s changed. Viewers deserve better. And so do the characters being crowded out. These overexposed heroes and villains have overstayed their welcome, taking up valuable screen time. Let’s look at the Marvel icons who seriously need a break.
Marvel Studios' The Marvels | Official Trailer by Marvel Entertainment
1. Captain Marvel
Carol Danvers (known as Captain Marvel) was introduced with massive hype and cosmic-level powers, which made her central to Avengers: Endgame without the audience having time to form a meaningful connection. Her stoic demeanor and limited Endgame screen time hindered relatability for some.
Marvel Studios' The Marvels | Official Trailer by Marvel Entertainment
2. Hawkeye
Clint Barton has been part of the MCU since Thor (2011), but he’s often sidelined even when on screen. Despite his comic legacy, the film version struggles to stay relevant among literal gods and super-soldiers. His backstory in Avengers: Age of Ultron added some humanity, yet it came too late to anchor his value.
Hawkeye: The Unmatched Sharpshooter | Character Reveal | Marvel Rivals by Marvel Rivals
3. Star-Lord
Peter Quill debuted with charm and reckless energy in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). However, his growth in Vol. 3 came too late to offset Infinity War backlash. In Infinity War, his impulsiveness directly contributed to Thanos’s victory. Additionally, his comedy-driven persona overshadows any deeper exploration of grief or leadership.
Star-Lord Gets His Walkman Back - Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014) Movie Clip HD by ShortClips
4. Ant-Man
The former convict turned reluctant hero, and this guy was grounded in family values. Yet, his presence has increasingly felt ornamental. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania attempted to promote him into multiverse territory, but the mismatch between his small-scale appeal and universe-altering stakes created tonal confusion.
Marvel's Ant-Man - Trailer 1 by Marvel Entertainment
5. Gamora
Gamora began as Thanos’s most feared assassin and evolved into a core member of the Guardians. Her death in Infinity War carried emotional weight to symbolize Thanos’s twisted love. However, her return via time travel in Endgame introduced a version devoid of previous growth. Thus, emotional investment was reset.
Guardians of the Galaxy - Gamora Featurette by IGN
6. Iron Fist
Danny Rand’s live-action debut in Netflix’s Iron Fist remains one of the lowest-rated Marvel productions. Despite a rich comic history involving mystic martial arts and the city of K’un-Lun, the series failed to convey his depth or discipline. Viewers criticized Finn Jones’s stiff performance and the show’s weak fight choreography.
Marvel Rivals - Official Iron Fist Character Reveal Trailer by IGN
7. Mantis
Represented in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Mantis has the power to manipulate emotions through touch, an extraordinary ability largely used for comedic beats. Though charming, her naivete and awkwardness became her entire identity. Even in major moments like Infinity War or Endgame, she remains peripheral.
Mantis - All Scenes Powers | Guardians of The Galaxy by Explore Wh!te
8. Drax
Drax the Destroyer was introduced as a vengeful warrior with a tragic past, having lost his family to Ronan and Thanos. Over time, that emotional core was replaced with repetitive jokes about his literal-mindedness. Dave Bautista’s sharp comedic timing kept Drax funny, but much of the character’s original weight was lost.
Drax | Marvel Studios' Legends by Marvel Entertainment
9. Valkyrie
Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie brought fresh energy to Thor: Ragnarok as a battle-hardened warrior with emotional scars. In Love and Thunder, however, her role as King of New Asgard felt more ceremonial, with little room for meaningful development. The focus shifted to bureaucracy, diminishing her narrative impact.
VALKYRIE Teaser (2023) With Tessa Thompson & Janelle Monáe by Film Royalty
10. Shuri
This character began as Wakanda’s tech prodigy, blending wit and brilliance in Black Panther. Taking on the Black Panther mantle after Chadwick Boseman’s death introduced tension. Her emotional arc in Wakanda Forever felt rushed, and her grief didn’t always land with the gravity it deserved.
Shuri | Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Now on Digital by Disney
11. Wasp
Remember wen Hope van Dyne became the Wasp, and we thought, finally, a female lead with brains and brawn? That fizzled fast. Though she’s technically a co-lead in Ant-Man and the Wasp, she often plays second fiddle to Scott Lang. The scripts rarely let her shine.
Wasp - Scenes #1 | The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes by Lady TV Scenes
12. Nick Fury
Nick Fury was once the glue holding Phase One together: strategic, mysterious, and deeply calculated. Over time, he’s become a cameo machine. Despite leading Secret Invasion, his core role has blurred into bureaucratic filler and one-liners. He used to control the board. Now, he feels like a spectator.
Nick Fury Appearances Compilation (2008-2019) by Awesome Random Vidz (TORCHD)
13. Vision
He was born from a Mind Stone and phases through walls, so why does Vision feel like a ghost? He died in Infinity War, returned to WandaVision, and now exists as White Vision with amnesia. It's as if Marvel can’t decide whether he’s a robot or a future project teaser.
Vision Lifts Hammer Clip - Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron by Marvel Entertainment
14. Spider-Man
Spider-Man has become the face of modern Marvel, but at a cost. The multiverse saga has folded entire storylines around his character, from No Way Home to Across the Spider-Verse. This constant focus, although thrilling at first, risks oversaturation for longtime fans.
Cristian Bortes / bortescristian on Wikimedia
15. Loki
He’s died more times than soap opera villains and still walks into every room like he owns the script. Loki used to be Marvel’s most layered villain: witty, bitter, and tragic. That was in Thor and The Avengers. Now? He’s everywhere. Repetitive arcs in Loki dilute his early complexity.
LOKI Official Trailer (2021) Marvel Superhero TV Series HD by ONE Media
16. Moon Knight
Marvel pitched Moon Knight as a psychological thriller rooted in Egyptian mythology. It ended up somewhere between fragmented and forgettable. Marc Spector’s dissociative identity disorder should’ve offered complexity and grit. Instead, the show leaned on disjointed timelines and inconsistent tone. It just got lost in its shadows.
Marvel Rivals - Official Moon Knight Character Reveal Trailer by IGN
17. America Chavez
She punches holes through the multiverse but can’t punch through lukewarm writing. America Chavez debuted in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness with significant fanfare. Yet, her backstory was barely unpacked, and her personality was reduced to reactive quips and exposition bait.
America Chavez - All Scenes Powers | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness by Explore Wh!te
18. Quicksilver
He ran fast and vanished faster. Quicksilver’s MCU debut in Avengers: Age of Ultron was short-lived, and for good reason. Despite his super speed and mutant lineage, his portrayal was surprisingly dry. His death was meant to be impactful, but fans barely had time to invest.
19. Scarlet Witch
Wanda Maximoff was once a side character with mysterious powers. Over time, she evolved into a central figure and then unraveled. WandaVision explored grief with rare nuance, but Multiverse of Madness reversed that growth. She went from mother-in-mourning to genocidal witch with little transition. Fans were left whiplashed by the shift.
Marvel Agatha Trailer: Scarlet Witch Scene, Doctor Strange & Things You Missed by Emergency Awesome
20. The Eternals
The Eternals introduced ten characters at once and left audiences overwhelmed. While the ensemble was diverse and ambitious, none received enough depth to stand out. Despite their cosmic roles and ties to Earth’s past, the stakes often felt distant. Emotional moments lacked depth, and character motivations were unclear, making it hard for audiences to connect.
Marvel Studios’ Eternals | Official Teaser by Marvel Entertainment
