100 of the best Marvel characters in film and TV history

(Clockwise from lower left to right) Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler in X2: X-Men United (Image: 20th Century Fox), Jon Bernthal as Punisher in The Punisher (Image: Netflix), Jamie Foxx as Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Image: Sony Pictures), Tom Hardy’s Venom in Venom (Image: Sony Pictures), Pom Klementieff as Mantis in Guardian Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (Image: Marvel Studios), and James Spader’s Ultron in Avengers: Age Of Ultron (Image: Marvel Studios) — (Clockwise from lower left to right) Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler in *X2: X-Men United* (Image: 20th Century Fox), Jon Bernthal as Punisher in *The Punisher* (Image: Netflix), Jamie Foxx as Electro in *The Amazing Spider-Man 2* (Image: Sony Pictures), Tom Hardy’s Venom in *Venom* (Image: Sony Pictures), Pom Klementieff as Mantis in *Guardian Of The Galaxy Vol. 2* (Image: Marvel Studios), and James Spader’s Ultron in *Avengers: Age Of Ultron* (Image: Marvel Studios)

Since long before it was officially a cinematic universe, Marvel has been a pillar of pop culture, not simply telling stories (some well-established, others wholly original) that entertained audiences across the globe, but inspiring them through characters, ideas, and even values. Given Marvel’s expansive pantheon, picking out favorite characters—at least since the company’s canon started getting translated into films and TV shows—requires a careful triangulation of casting, filmmaking creativity, and in some cases, sheer longevity.

For example, everyone loves Spider-Man, but which Spider-Man? The same applies to Daredevil, Hulk, and a variety of X-Men characters, each of whom has offered different dimensions of iconic comics characters that many of us have worshipped since we were in short pants.

To that end, The A.V. Club has assembled our ranking of the top 100 Marvel characters on screens big and small. Some have served as de facto cornerstones for the evolution of the MCU, highly active across multiple storylines and platforms, while others simply made an immediate and unforgettable impression, exemplifying a heroism—or villainy—that’s complex, believable, even sympathetic. There are also those characters we just thrill at seeing on the screen, creating a fun, unforgettable moment, TV show, or movie that stands out in Marvel’s ever-increasing canon.

Our countdown kicks off with the characters who ranked from 100–81 (come back tomorrow to see who superhero-landed in our 80–61 section). You might not agree with our placement for some of these beloved heroes, sidekicks, and villains—and that’s OK. These fictional beings resonate with each of us in different ways. And while the placement subjective, based on our big nerdy hearts, it also figures to change as new Marvel projects arrive.

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2 / 22

100. The Collector (Benicio Del Toro)

Benicio Del Toro as The Collector in Guardians of the Galaxy — Benicio Del Toro as The Collector in *Guardians of the Galaxy*

Admittedly, there’s not much more to cosmic vault keeper The Collector—star of Marvel shorts, after-credits scenes, and, basically, one middle portion of one well-received MCU movie—than “Benicio Del Toro being a weirdo in a bright white wig.” But that’s also kind of enough, as Del Toro exudes the sort of energy from which great, small parts are made as a keeper of the galaxy’s weirdest treasures. Besides, nobody who pals around with Howard The Duck can be all bad, right? [William Hughes]

3 / 22

99. Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand)

Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead in Deadpool — Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead in *Deadpool*

Prior to her appearance in the Deadpool films, Negasonic Teenage Warhead was just one of hundreds of lower-tier mutants in the X-Men’s corner of Marvel’s comic book universe, albeit one with a deliriously punk rock name borrowed from Monster Magnet’s real-world song. Other than that, the film version played by Brianna Hildebrand bears little resemblance to the comics—and the character is all the better for it. Defiantly rebellious, determinedly sullen and snarkily dismissive, she’s instantly recognizable and an ideal sparring partner/teammate for the wakadoo Merc with a Mouth. Indeed, the film’s spin immediately overwrote the comics version and became the definitive take across all media: When you think of Negasonic Teenage Warhead, this is the version everyone knows (unless they really like Monster Magnet). [Scott Huver]

4 / 22

98. Cable (Josh Brolin)

Josh Brolin as Cable in Deadpool 2 — Josh Brolin as Cable in *Deadpool 2*

Even without literally equaling the comic book Cable’s massive proportions, Josh Brolin makes the time-traveling mutant commando every bit as physically intimidating—with his buff frame, craggy, seen-some-serious-shit face and weaponry larger than a small child—in Deadpool 2. And the movie mercifully unburdens him of his oft-convoluted, oft-polarizing comic book backstory in favor of stripping him to his coolest core. Brolin may have been even more effective as Thanos in the MCU proper—a CG/voice role so brilliantly executed that it only slightly undermines his physical participation here—but he nevertheless strikes all the right notes, balancing aloof authority and military precision with subtle winks at some of the character’s inherent absurdities. The Deadpool films show one can’t go wrong playing it stone-cold straight opposite Ryan Reynolds, and Brolin’s Cable is the all-time champion. [Scott Huver]

5 / 22

97. America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez)

Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness — Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez in *Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness*

Xochitl Gomez’s ebullient America Chavez is exactly one film old in the MCU but managed to leave quite the impression by going toe-to-toe with Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange in Multiverse Of Madness. It’s also not every day that you make an enemy out of the Scarlet Witch and live to tell the tale. Phase Four is clearly doubling as a Young Avengers countdown, and Utopian Parallel’s America Chavez has become a worthy entrant in the field. Not to mention, she’s being trained by Wong now, so things are only looking up. [Saloni Gajjar]

6 / 22

96. Colossus (Stefan Kapicic)

Stefan Kapicic as Colossus in Deadpool — Stefan Kapicic as Colossus in *Deadpool*

Okay, so the Deadpool films’ takes on the X-Men’s steel-skinned strongman may not endure as the definitive one, but it’s definitely a deliriously fun version that’s perfectly suited for the madcap world of the Merc With A Mouth. In the absence of a screen version that truly captures or builds upon what’s made Peter Rasuptin a Marvel stalwart for five decades, the CG-rendered, Kapicic-voiced Colossus is a delightfully cartoonish parody of his hallmarks: his Russian heritage gets tweaked through a thick accent, his wholesome, naïve persona is amplified by a Pollyanna-ish, play-by-the-rules attitude, and even his steadfast, hulking status as the team’s powerhouse is exaggerated for laughs. As such, he makes an ideal foil for Wade Wilson—and audiences who prefer screen takes that hew closer to canon can still enjoy this version while also excusing it as part of the daft way Deadpool sees the world. [Scott Huver]

7 / 22

95. Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris)

Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau in WandaVision — Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau in *WandaVision*

We first met Monica Rambeau as a youngster in Captain Marvel, full of enthusiasm for Carol’s heroics. Fast forward a decade or two to WandaVision and Monica (Teyonah Parris) is an adult woman who followed in her mother and pseudo-aunt’s footsteps to become an agent of S.W.O.R.D. Her bravery, intelligence, and determination are evident during the Westview crisis, but getting caught up with another Avenger leads to a powerful transformation. That—combined with the fact that in the intervening years, Carol went from a family member Monica adored and idolized to one she resented—set up some very exciting elements for her return in The Marvels. [Mary Kate Carr]

8 / 22

94. Electro (Jamie Foxx)

Jamie Foxx as Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 — Jamie Foxx as Electro in *The Amazing Spider-Man 2*

Despite his longevity, the comic book Electro isn’t exactly a Hall of Fame-caliber bad guy. He’s mostly known for his electrical powers, garish costume design, and little else. That changed with The Amazing Spider-Man 2’s spin on the high-voltage villain, fueled by a dynamic visual redesign and Jamie Foxx’s sympathetic portrayal of Max Dillon as a sweet-natured electrical engineer with a fanboy’s obsession for Spidey. Though his revamped origin story—zapped by electric eels—is rife with ridiculousness, there’s poignancy and pathos in Max’s corruption by his escalating power levels and increasing alienation. Returning for Spider-Man: No Way Home, this time in the MCU proper, Foxx further refined Max’s vulnerabilities AND he came closer to the classic Steve Ditko costume design—in energy form, at least. On screen and on the page, expect a more human, relatable Electro to become the standard. [Scott Huver]

9 / 22

93. Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung)

Tony Leung as Xu Wenwu in Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings — Tony Leung as Xu Wenwu in *Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings*

Out of the gate, the MCU take solved more than one problem: the foremost being that Shang-Chi’s original comic book sire was the classic pulp villain Fu Manchu, back when Marvel briefly licensed the character; it also made sense to incorporate the long-lingering mystery of the Mandarin, the villain hinted at after a bait-and-switch in Iron Man 3 with the verbose actor Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley). Since both Fu Manchu and the Mandarin originally drew upon and perpetuated offensive, outdated cultural stereotypes, it was shrewd to reconceive the character as 21st Century crime kingpin Xu Wenwu, with a backstory equally in line with Chinese legends and Hong Kong cinema. Leung’s magnetic performance infused the character with equal parts menace, gravitas and a simmering streak of nobility. The MCU approach will no doubt endure as a definitive take on Shang-Chi’s father, as both a formidable adversary and an empathetic figure. [Scott Huver]

10 / 22

92. Old Loki (Richard E. Grant)

Richard E. Grant as Old Loki in Loki — Richard E. Grant as Old Loki in *Loki*

There’s always been a sadness to Tom Hiddleston’s Loki—something that came into sharp relief when Richard E. Grant took on the role of his older, possibly wiser self in Disney+’s Loki. Grant brings the ham, of course, literally conjuring scenery for a monster to chew on with his “Glorious purpose!” farewell. But it’s his frank, broken dismissal of his own place in the universe that lingers even more, a solemn jester who’s realized his own life has been the ultimate joke. [William Hughes]

11 / 22

91. Ultron (James Spader)

James Spader as Ultron in Avengers: Age Of Ultron — James Spader as Ultron in *Avengers: Age Of Ultron*

Though not as iconically charming or surprisingly compelling as some other Marvel villains, Ultron deserves a shoutout for his weird villain arc: He starts as a shambling mess of garbage who is actually very scary, and he later becomes a nigh-invulnerable super robot with an army of machines who has the chatty, disaffected personality of a mechanical James Spader. He’s not particularly scary, but it is a fun choice, and he actually managed to kill an Avenger (or at least an honorary Avenger)—which is more than can be said about Loki. An alternate version of Ultron even got the Infinity Stones and nearly destroyed the multiverse on Disney+’s What If…?, but that doesn’t make him any more compelling. [Sam Barsanti]

12 / 22

90. Yondu (Michael Rooker)

Michael Rooker as Yondu in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 — Michael Rooker as Yondu in *Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2*

Fans astonished by Marvel’s decision to even make a Guardians Of The Galaxy movie were probably bowled over to discover that Yondu (Michael Rooker), the blue-skinned, mohawk-sporting, blowdart-shooting, whistling surrogate father to Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) would be the emotional spine for the series. All credit goes to Michael Rooker, who somehow mines the character for a rich vein of pathos that flows over the film in an unexpectedly beautiful and touching way. Rooker’s long been cracking dingers in genre movies and on The Walking Dead, and watching him reveal his unique and uproarious version of the scumbag with a heart of gold is one the MCU will strive hard to recreate. The character’s final moments rank among the best of any superhero movie, but it’s no surprise that Yondu has a certain magic. After all, he’s Marry Poppins, y’all. [Matt Schimkowitz]

13 / 22

89. Aunt May (Marisa Tomei)

Marisa Tomei as Aunt May in Spider-Man: Far From Home — Marisa Tomei as Aunt May in *Spider-Man: Far From Home*

“What if Aunt May was young and hot?” was the premise for the MCU’s take on this classic character. This isn’t a commentary on the physical beauty of Rosemary Harris or Sally Field; other characters in the films were constantly pointing out how hip and attractive Tomei’s Aunt May was. She was more than just a pretty face, though. As the first Uncle Ben-less May, Tomei played the role of single parent with aplomb—her familial chemistry with Tom Holland always felt warm and real. Working in community building herself, she recognized the value of a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man and encouraged her nephew towards the greater good. Not to mention, she had her own moments of badassery to appreciate as well. [Mary Kate Carr]

14 / 22

88. The Punisher (Jon Bernthal)

Jon Bernthal as The Punisher in Netflix’s The Punisher — Jon Bernthal as The Punisher in Netflix’s *The Punisher*

Frank Castle is a truly lenticular character, depending on the angle from which he’s viewed: from one perspective, he’s a tortured anti-hero, righteous in his rage and anguish as he balances the scales of justice; from another, he’s a murderous vigilante with no bottom to his quest for vengeance, little better than the criminals he kills. The MCU lucked out when they cast Bernthal in the role, an actor with an acute ability to portray both facets and turn them on their heads: he can make you empathize with Castle when you want to condemn him, and vice versa. As in the comics, those gray areas come into sharper relief the further the Punisher veers from colorfully clad superheroes, and Bernthal’s version, too, is even more compelling, a gritty step removed from the traditional MCU. The character—and his Netflix series—can be polarizing, but all can agree that it’d be a difficult task to find an actor that plays him better—and more sympathetically—than Bernthal (and Hollywood tried, three previous times!). [Scott Huver]

15 / 22

87. Bullseye (Colin Farell)

Colin Farrell as Bullseye in Daredevil — Colin Farrell as Bullseye in *Daredevil*

Is it enough to say that he “never misses”? Colin Farrell’s Bullseye is maybe the most memorable part of an unremarkable film, and 2003's Daredevil is maybe the most 2003 movie ever made, with its steely blue color palette (why isn’t it red?) and Evanescence-laden soundtrack. Farrell breaks through the nu-metal with a live-wire performance that borders on camp. His garish take, which pretty much boils down to “man who never misses,” isn’t particularly insightful to the human condition, but he does seem like the only one in this movie having fun with the implausibility of the character. Plus he kills a racist old lady and seems to gain sexual gratification from it? Yeah, you’re not getting a lot of that in the MCU. [Matt Schimkowitz]

16 / 22

86. Mantis (Pom Klementieff)

Pom Klementieff as Mantis in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 — Pom Klementieff as Mantis in *Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2*

It’s tough to inject heart into characters who so often seem to be the butt of jokes, but that just so happens to be James Gunn’s speciality, and he found the right actor to play along in Pom Klementieff. As Mantis, Klementieff is introduced as a meek servant, there to react to Drax’s increasingly brutal observations about her and to deliver plot-relevant information about her villainous master. But there’s something in Klementieff’s performance, in the way she navigates the subtle emotional resonances signified by Mantis’ antennae, that adds a layer of emotional gravity to everything she does. It’s no wonder that she’s stuck around since Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2, and that she increasingly feels like an indispensable part of the MCU’s resident band of space misfits. [Matthew Jackson]

17 / 22

85. Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow)

Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts in Avengers: Endgame — Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts in *Avengers: Endgame*

The best thing about Pepper Potts in the MCU is that she always seems like she has something better to do, which is actually a perfect reflection of how she tolerates Tony Stark’s bullshit. She got an Iron Man suit of her own in Avengers: Endgame, but she’s at her best when she seems like she’d rather be somewhere else (like, say, running Stark’s company or just being anywhere other than where the superhero stuff is happening). Again: We’re talking about Pepper Potts the character and not Gwyneth Paltrow the actor, though it’s worth reiterating that the time she forgot she was in a Spider-Man movie is very much a feature and not a bug. [Sam Barsanti]

18 / 22

84. Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale)

Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher in Thor: Love And Thunder — Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher in *Thor: Love And Thunder*

Both a byproduct of the impulse to create villains with identifiable motivations, and a benefactor of heavy-hitter casting, Christian Bale’s Gorr the God Butcher is the best Marvel baddie in years. Driven by vengeance after his people’s deity laughs at the unimaginable loss of a child, Gorr carves a bloody path across the multiverse in Thor: Love And Thunder using a badass weapon (that admittedly is poisoning his soul) to exact his brand of justice upon the powerful who dismiss those who worship at their feet. Not since Killmonger has an MCU adversary felt so full of rage, pain, and righteousness, and Bale amplifies all of those emotional dimensions while also giving him a haunting, unforgettable look. [Todd Gilchrist]

19 / 22

83. Agent Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders)

Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill in The Avengers — Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill in *The Avengers*

Maria Hill is an underrated part of team S.H.I.E.L.D. The ever-loyal agent has always got Nick Fury and Phil Coulson’s back, but she’s also proven her worth by supporting the Avengers when needed. Honestly, she’s reliable, fun, and has managed to survive alien invasions and robot villains. What more do you need? Hill is an integral comic book character who hasn’t been well-developed in the MCU yet, but Cobie Smulders’ on-screen alter ego still has a long way to go. She’ll be appearing in Disney+’s Secret Invasion alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, and Don Cheadle. [Saloni Gajjar]

20 / 22

82. Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming)

Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler in X2: X-Men United — Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler in *X2: X-Men United*

The first scene of X2: X-Men United is a level-up moment for the whole comic book enterprise. The still-seamless special effects, kinetic camera and stunt work, and Alan Cumming’s makeup, physicality, and hissing announced a more creative, action-based, and, yes, political superhero movie than before. Pre-MCU, the White House break-in was the gold standard for these movies and one that not many have ever topped. The sequence is so fulfilling that it almost makes up for the fact that Nightcrawler gets a little lost in the film’s actual plot. [Matt Schimkowitz]

21 / 22

81. Venom (Tom Hardy)

Tom Hardy (underneath CGI) as Venom in Venom

While it remains to be seen if Hardy’s quirky, semi-comic take on the alien symbiote-turned-antihero that took the comics world by storm in the ’90s is going to leave the same kind of enduring mark that, say, Robert Downey, Jr., left on all depictions of Iron Man, Hardy’s performance makes the first Venom film considerably more watchable than it deserved to be, and clearly pointed to the more self-aware B-movie tone of the sequel. If Eddie Block and his symbiote sometimes seem ill-fitted to hang whole movie storylines on, Hardy’s version—relying, as the actor often seems inclined to do, on eccentric bits of business—uses both acting heft and star power to make the conjoined duo nominally more compelling. That said, even after two off-kilter attempts—Hardy’s Jekyll-and-Hyde movie monster version and Topher Grace’s straight supervillain—die-hard Venom fans likely haven’t seen the ultimate expression of the pitch-black extraterrestrial on screen just yet. [Scott Huver]

The 100 best Marvel characters ranked: 100-81

Counting down the top superheroes, sidekicks, and villains from every Marvel movie and TV series

100. The Collector (Benicio Del Toro)

100. The Collector (Benicio Del Toro)

99. Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand)

99. Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand)

98. Cable (Josh Brolin)

98. Cable (Josh Brolin)

97. America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez)

97. America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez)

96. Colossus (Stefan Kapicic)

96. Colossus (Stefan Kapicic)

95. Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris)

95. Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris)

94. Electro (Jamie Foxx)

94. Electro (Jamie Foxx)

93. Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung)

93. Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung)

92. Old Loki (Richard E. Grant)

92. Old Loki (Richard E. Grant)

91. Ultron (James Spader)

91. Ultron (James Spader)

90. Yondu (Michael Rooker)

90. Yondu (Michael Rooker)

89. Aunt May (Marisa Tomei)

89. Aunt May (Marisa Tomei)

88. The Punisher (Jon Bernthal)

88. The Punisher (Jon Bernthal)

87. Bullseye (Colin Farell)

87. Bullseye (Colin Farell)

86. Mantis (Pom Klementieff)

86. Mantis (Pom Klementieff)

85. Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow)

85. Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow)

84. Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale)

84. Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale)

83. Agent Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders)

83. Agent Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders)

82. Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming)

82. Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming)

81. Venom (Tom Hardy)

81. Venom (Tom Hardy)