The first phase of Marvel Cinematic Universe was tasked with introducing many characters for the first time, and many of them received lackluster endings or treatment in the series' later films. Compared to the other phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Phase One had a lot of heavy lifting to do, with almost every MCU Phase One film introducing new heroes, villains, and even entire worlds. This meant that many characters were introduced for the first time here, and many of them have already been soiled by the franchise.
Some of the more obscure characters from the first phase only appeared briefly on screen, never to be seen again, despite being full of potential for future stories. Others persisted through the films of Phase Four and beyond, only to find unsatisfactory fates that betrayed their former importance. Whatever the case, the results weren't surprising for all of the characters the franchise first introduced in Phase One.
10
Maria Colina
Dies unceremoniously in a series that few people watched
Practically the unofficial seventh member of the original Avengers starting lineup, Cobie Smulders' Maria Hill was a dedicated S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who was instrumental in helping the team fend off its first enemies. Joining the fight against Loki and Ultron, Hill was an invaluable second-in-command to Nick Fury, serving as a fearless field leader while still fitting in with the eccentric group of superheroes in their calmer moments. Suffice it to say, she deserved a better fate than the one she got. Secret invasion.
By far one of the least regarded Disney+ MCU series, Secret Invasion sees Maria Hill die unexpectedly at the hands of the shapeshifting Skrull Gravik, taking the form of Nick Fury himself. Not only does this reduce the death of such an important character to cheap shock value, but due to how few fans actually got it Secret Invasion, many may still not realize that Hill is dead. The fact that she was shot believing that her old friend and mentor was the one who pulled the trigger only adds insult to injury.
9
The Original Human Torch
Forever trapped in a glass tube
Not to be confused with the Fantastic Four member of the same name, the original Human Torch was one of the first heroes ever published in Marvel comics. Originally fighting with Captain America and Namor in the midst of World War II, Jim Hammond is an android creation built with pyrokinetic powers, making him a particularly valuable superhero. Still in Captain America: Brave New World, a synthetic man clearly paying homage to the character remains little more than a background Easter egg for eagle-eyed fans, appearing in a glass tube at the 1943 Stark Expo.
It would have been phenomenal to see the original Human Torch in action during Captain America's adventures against HYDRA in his first MCU film, torching Nazis left and right. His robotic nature could also have allowed him to survive to the present, giving Captain America a rare familiar face as he emerges from the ice. Unfortunately, all this potential was left aside so that the Human Torch remained a simple piece of decoration.
8
The Leader
Was created as a major villain only to never return
Thanks to the complicated and ambiguous legal situation regarding the Hulk's solo films, the green goliath hasn't had the chance to see many of his comic book villains realized in the MCU. It didn't stop The Incredible Hulk of trying to plant the seeds for future appearances by Hulk characters, including notable villains from the comics. The most glaring example is Samuel Sterns, who might once have been known as The Leader.
At the end of The Incredible Hulk, talented cellular biologist Doctor Samuel Sterns is heavily implied to become classic Hulk villain The Leader, whose gamma-irradiated mutation expanded his mind rather than his muscles. The last Dr. Sterns was seen in was in an obscure comic book that shows Black Widow easily taking him into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody. Supposedly, The Leader will finally reappear in the cast of Captain America: Brave New Worldbut it's safe to say the MCU took a long time to make up for the Phase One teaser.
7
Doctor Samson
Could have been a great foil for the Hulk
Another Hulk villain who never got the chance to live up to his potential in the comics, Doctor Leonard Samson is one of the most important Hulk characters to remain imprisoned. The Incredible Hulk. Psychiatrist madly in love with Betty Ross, Doctor Leonard Samson is a jealous man and envious of Bruce Banner's history with his beloved Betty. Played excellently by Ty Burrell of Modern Family fame, Samson is responsible for betraying Bruce's whereabouts to General Ross, instigating the film's climax.
In the comics, however, Doc Samson gains gamma-infused super-strength at nearly the same level as the Hulk himself, gaining long green hair instead of a monstrous, furious personality. Samson could have served as an interesting foil for Bruce Banner throughout the series, but unfortunately, The Incredible Hulk it would be his first and last appearance. Samson wasn't even teased about becoming a future villain like the Leader.
6
Betty Ross
The MCU's Most Forgotten Love Interest
As much as Doc Samson has been swept under the rug, the reason for his inclusion in the story of The Incredible Hulk it became equally irrelevant at the same time. Liv Tyler's Betty Ross is easily the most overlooked and forgotten of the MCU's romantic stories, despite her character's early importance to Bruce Banner. Despite being the only one to ignore the Hulk and look for Bruce Banner to try to help him, Betty Ross is soon abandoned by the MCU without even thinking twice.
Betty Ross' lack of future appearances is made all the more frustrating by the fact that her father, General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, is still a significant player in many later MCU entries. Not only that, but Bruce quickly forgets about her, developing a relationship with Natasha Romanoff. Just like The Leader, Liv Tyler's Betty Ross will finally make her long-awaited return in Captain America: Brave New World, but seeing her in a movie without Bruce Banner seems to make little sense.
5
The red skull
Captain America's Greatest Enemy Reduced to a Cameo
Few characters have surpassed their biggest villains in the MCU as quickly as Captain America. Leader of HYDRA and vile Nazi sympathizer obsessed with obtaining power from supernatural sources, the Red Skull is Captain America's greatest contemporary enemy. While the skeletal supervillain may have existed in the past, Marvel Comics found countless ways to bring him into the present alongside Captain America with his youth somehow intact, and the MCU could have better capitalized on him to make him a dangerous recurring villain.
Instead, the next time Red Skull is seen after being teleported through the ether by the Cosmic Cube, he will be reduced to little more than a cameo for seasoned fans, taking on the role of a glorified tour guide at the request of a Sentient Infinity Stone. . If that wasn't enough, he doesn't even get the chance to interact with his former enemy, mixing it up with Thanos, Gamora, Hawkeye, and Black Widow. Stranding Red Skull on a distant, random planet for so long certainly left a lot of villain potential in play.
4
The Three Warriors
They were shipped very easily
The shift from traditional fantasy storytelling to cosmic space comedy throughout Thor's MCU journey ended up leaving some members of his 2011 supporting cast bloated. Thor in the dust, namely the Warriors Three. Comprised of Hogun the Grim, Fandral the Bold, and Volstagg the Slender, this trio of elite Asgardian warriors each carried their own weapon and unique personality, making them great companions for the Mighty Thor. Although they got a decent rerun in Thor: The Dark Worldall three are unceremoniously dispatched soon after.
In Thor: Ragnarokeach of the Warriors Three is easily killed by the assassin Hela, with two of them barely making her break a sweat. Considering the three were supposed to be Asgard's greatest warriors outside of Lady Sif and the gods themselves, this was a disservice to their established characters. Thor doesn't even have time to react to their on-screen deaths, despite them supposedly being his best friends.
3
Whip
Ended his own life for no good reason
Despite the difficulties of Mickey Rourke's performance in Iron Man 2Whiplash certainly had the potential to be a great recurring Iron Man villain. A gifted scientist with a Tony-like talent for making powerful weapons in poor working conditions, Ivan Vanko defended Iron Man due to what Howard Stark's actions did to his own father. With his dangerous energy whips and army of militarized drones, Vanko could have been an ingenious villain to return to in a tertiary role in the future.
Sadly, Iron Man 2 more or less forces Whiplash to write himself out of the story, launching a poorly planned kamikaze attack, initiating a self-destruct sequence in his own suit, trying to take Tony with him. Considering how much he was able to improve his technology in such a short time, it's a shame that the MCU never gave Whiplash the chance to further revise his creations as a tenacious, recurring threat. Unfortunately, like most MCU villains, Whiplash dies perhaps a little too soon and without consequence.
2
Justin Hammer
A charismatic, fan-favorite villain
Whiplash isn't the only villain in Iron Man 2 with wasted potential, with Sam Rockwell's Justin Hammer being one of the franchise's biggest missed opportunities. Unlike Whiplash, Justin Hammer is actually a fan favorite, from his Sam Rockwell-demanded dancing skills to his dapper persona on a used car lot and colorful language. After his ill-conceived plan is thwarted by the actions of Ivan Vanko and Tony Stark, Justin Hammer is never seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe again.
Unlike Whiplash, the MCU doesn't even have the excuse of death to justify Justin Hammer's absence from future films, with the character canonically still rotting in Seagate Penitentiary. There's no reason why Hammer couldn't have returned in the intervening years since Iron Man 2, at least as a Hannibal Lecter-style prison consultant, if not a major antagonist. Hammer's cocky grin would certainly have been a sight for sore eyes during some of the MCU's more recent low points.
1
The Hulk
It was completely included by Bruce Banner
Writing out the Hulk's personality is by far one of the most criminal treatments of a Phase One character the MCU has ever managed. As much of an avenger as Bruce Banner himself (if not more so), the smoldering personality that is the Hulk has always been a fan favorite, from his childish tantrums to the dark shadow he cast over Bruce Banner's life. Hulk's psyche is explored much more in Thor: Ragnarokwhich featured more lines from the Hulk than any other MCU film, only for its development to be stalled and restricted.
After being humiliated in combat by Thanos, the Hulk refuses to manifest, causing Bruce Banner to get rid of him permanently in the five years following Thanos' outburst. Although he controls a body similar to that of the Hulk, Bruce Banner has completely eliminated the Hulk's personality. Avengers: Endgame onwards, writing the character completely off-screen. Some UCM Phase One characters were just as wasted as the Hulk.
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February 14, 2025
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July 25, 2025
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July 24, 2026
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