Some of these MCU‘s most prominent characters are actually god-level thanks to one specific superpower. The MCU has adapted some of Marvel Comics’ most terrifying characters, with the likes of Thanos and Hela among them. While godlike power levels are typically reserved for MCU villains to maximize the stakes, the heroes most likely to put them through their paces aren’t always the most obvious. Although the more understated heroes of the MCU may have their victories strengthened as a result, some harbored powers that were always practically incomparable.
Some of the most powerful displays of power in the MCU include the three uses of a complete infinity gauntlet, Eternity’s ability to grant any wish, and Loki’s revival of countless timelines with his (literally) god-level magic. The individual powers of the MCU’s main protagonists, meanwhile, pale in comparison on the face of it. That’s part of what makes them so compelling, as they struggle to overcome what may at first seem like insurmountable odds without some creative thought — but that thought disregards proven demonstrations of some of the MCU’s most powerful feats.
MCU heroes are usually defined by their weaknesses
Their weaknesses help shape a compelling narrative
Despite being (mostly) superhuman and far beyond any regular Joe in terms of the feats they can perform, The main characters of the MCU are still defined by their biggest weaknesses. Iron Man’s MCU career, for example, is filled with his feelings of inadequacy and their effect on his ability to perform as a superhero. Thor’s MCU arc has him struggle to disable his power of Mjölnir and his royal responsibilities. Bruce Banner is defined by his fraught relationship with his incredibly dangerous alter ego. Captain America, meanwhile, never quits regardless of the odds and maintains an exploitable blind spot for Bucky Barnes.
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These weaknesses are often what put the Avengers and other MCU heroes in the most danger. In some cases, the weakness is more on-the-nose, such as Ant-Man going up against the first arch villain of the multiverse saga, Kong the Conqueror. For some, however, the stronger the enemy they face, the better they will perform overall – which is a power that is difficult to overstate.
4 MCU characters actually get more powerful when facing major enemies
These characters have demonstrated an ability to absorb energy
When it comes to facing overtly powerful MCU characters like Abomination or Scarlet Witch, four characters actually benefit from their enemy’s power levels. These include Hulk, Iron Man, Black Panther and Agatha, Which have each demonstrated the ability to absorb the power of an attack, only to disappoint it tenfold. Although the handful of MCU characters differ significantly in their baseline power levels, this shared ability makes them among the most formidable in the entire franchise.
|
MCU character |
Example of absorbing and unleashing energy |
|---|---|
|
Iron Man |
Absorbs Thor’s lightning during their first encounter to unleash a huge energy blast. |
|
Hulk |
Grows more evil in his fight with Abomination, increasing his power levels to the point of victory. |
|
Black Panthers |
Their vibranium suits absorb energy that can be unleashed at will. |
|
Agatha Harkness |
Absorbs magic blasted at her, including Wanda’s in WandaVision episode 9. |
Admittedly, although the power of this ability is already evident in the examples of their use, it also works on the assumption that there is no ceiling to which they can absorb. After all, if Iron Man and Black Panther could have simply absorbed a blast from Thanos’ power stone and eviscerated him with a counter-blast, they would surely have wielded that ability in their encounters with the Mad Titan. Nevertheless, the power—no matter how limited—is a poetic example of one of the MCU’s most compelling underlying motifs.
The MCU’s power trick fits a major underlying idea
Facing insurmountable odds is now a common trope
Pitting the MCU’s protagonists against exceptionally high-stakes challenges is par for the course at this point. Defining his characters by their weaknesses helps compound this, as the characters face adversity on a physical and more cerebral level, which lends itself to a compelling narrative trope in almost every MCU movie. The specific ability to absorb and redirect a life-threatening thing, however, is a symbolic manifestation of one of the most paradigmatic themes of the MCU: that There is strength to be found in adversity.
With the team comprising some of the MCU’s most tormented characters, with a combined power set that pales in comparison to their more outspoken Avengers counterparts, Thunderbolts* will have characters facing the most adversity.
That seems to be exactly what it is thunderbolts* is about to exemplify. With the team comprising some of the MCU’s most tortured characters, with a combined power set that pales in comparison to their more outspoken Avengers counterparts, thunderbolts* Will have characters that have to get the most misfortune. Red Guardian actor David Harbor even confirmed that it will center around mental health. Louis Pullman’s Sentry, meanwhile, comprises one side of the biggest gulf in power MCU has seen so far, promising one of the most compelling examples of strength in the face of adversity yet.