The Marvel Cinematic Universe has changed the shape of the superhero movie genre, normalizing fantastical comic tropes on the big screen — talking animals and multiversal travel have become acceptable to casual moviegoers, something that would have seemed unthinkable a decade ago. But while the MCU usually takes care in adapting the source material, there are a few characters who haven’t fared as well on the big screen as their co-stars.
More often than not, the films and TV series of the MCU do an excellent job capturing the appeal of their major characters — some characters, like M’Baku or Vulture, are even considered by many fans to be improvements over their comic incarnations. However, there are other characters who have failed to win over die-hard comic fans who expected more faithful adaptations. This list features just a handful of MCU characters who are arguably better in the comics.
Hulk
It may feel strange to see Bruce Banner and his emerald alter ego on this list, considering how Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk has previously been hailed as one of the strongest aspects of both the first two Avengers films and Thor: Ragnarok. But ever since Infinity War, some fans of the character have been unsatisfied with his role in the MCU. After all, after his defeat at the hands of Thanos in the film’s opening, Bruce spends the whole movie in human form, not even transforming into the Hulk in the Battle of Wakanda. And when we next see him in Endgame after the five-year timeskip, Bruce has gained full control of his Hulk form, essentially resolving his character arc offscreen.
Ever since Ragnarok, Bruce felt less and less like a prominent player in the MCU. It doesn’t help that Mark Ruffalo has never had a solo film as Banner to truly develop him as the hero of his own story, relegating him to a supporting role for the vast majority of his screen time. And now that he’s received a successor in the form of his cousin Jen Walters, aka She-Hulk, it’s starting to look unlikely that the Incredible Hulk will be returning to the spotlight any time soon.
Quicksilver
Speaking of Avengers who haven’t gotten enough time to shine, none of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes have been treated with quite as much disrespect as Pietro Maximoff, aka Quicksilver, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Introduced in Age of Ultron as the super-speedy brother of Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch, Pietro starts out as an enemy of the Avengers. After losing his parents to Tony Stark’s weapons, Quicksilver seeks revenge against Iron Man by allying with Ultron — but of course, allies with the Avengers in the final battle to save Sokovia. Unfortunately, Pietro’s time as an Avenger ends as soon as it begins, and he meets an unceremonious demise while saving Hawkeye’s life.
After his untimely death, Pietro is barely brought up again outside of WandaVision, in which he seemingly returns in the form of Evan Peters, the Quicksilver from X-Men: Days of Future Past. And though WandaVision does shed some more light on Wanda’s trauma over Pietro’s death, the false Quicksilver ends up having minimal impact on the plot before eventually being reduced to a cheap punchline over his real name, Ralph Bohner. Even in death, Pietro Maximoff can’t seem to catch a break.
Ultron
Speaking of Age of Ultron, many Marvel fans were disappointed by the MCU’s depiction of the titular robotic mastermind, infamous in the comics as the Avengers’ greatest nemesis. The Ultron of the comics is a cruel, intimidating figure with the power to stand up to all of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes at once. And while he sometimes possesses a human personality and a dark sense of humor, they only serve to highlight how twisted and terrifying he is. Yet despite being portrayed by a perfectly-cast James Spader, the live action Ultron largely lacks the menace of his comic counterpart.
Not only is the MCU’s Ultron never presented as a physical match for the Avengers, his humorous side makes him come off as comical rather than creepy. And while his motives of wiping out humanity are comic-accurate, Ultron’s personality isn’t nearly as fleshed out as that of his comic self, whose obsession with humanity leads him to despise and emulate them in equal measure. But thankfully, MCU Ultron received a second chance in the form of What If…?, in which he became a true force to be reckoned with as the big bad of Season 1.
Elsa Bloodstone
The most recent character on this list, Elsa Bloodstone made her debut in the Werewolf By Night Halloween special, played by Laura Donnelly. Like in the comics, the MCU’s Elsa is the latest in a long line of monster hunters, who inherits the mystical power of the Bloodstone crystal. However, that’s about where the similarities end, because despite sharing the backstory of her comic self, the live action Elsa lacks the personality and prowess of her source material. Comic Elsa is a tough-as-nails, larger-than-life figure, taking on hordes of monsters with twin shotguns and a sardonic wit. By contrast, MCU Elsa is much more tame — her characterization is much more subdued, and she often struggles to hold her own against a single opponent. Hopefully if Donnelly reprises her role, she’ll be playing a more comic-accurate Elsa.
Thor’s Entire Supporting Cast
The history of the Thor film series has been a bit rocky, going through three directors in as many movies before finally winning over moviegoers. But while the Thor movies are often quite disparate in terms of tone and plot, they all have one thing in common: they fail to give Thor’s supporting cast the screen time they deserve. Comic writers like Walt Simonson, Kieron Gillen, Jason Aaron, and Al Ewing have gone to great lengths to turn Lady Sif, the Warriors Three, and Skurge into compelling, multifaceted characters. But on the big screen, they’re little more than extras. Even Idris Elba is ultimately wasted as Heimdall despite the charisma and gravitas he brings to the role.
In the end, the Warriors Three failed to leave an impact on the MCU before being unceremoniously butchered by Hela in Ragnarok. And though Karl Urban’s Skurge gets to reenact his iconic sacrifice from Walt Simonson’s Thor #362, he wasn’t a developed enough character to give the moment the weight it needed. Heimdall is likewise killed off abruptly at the start of Infinity War, and while Sif returns in Loki and Love and Thunder, she only receives a minor cameo in each. Unfortunately, it seems like the MCU may never learn what to do with Asgard’s less famous champions.