Top 10 Marvel Characters with the Most Wasted Potential

While Marvel has introduced a lot of well-executed and developed characters, it also has its share of very undeveloped characters that had a lot of potential but were wasted.

So without further ado, let's get started.

The Top Ten

Captain Marvel

Carol Susan Jane Danvers, also known as Captain Marvel, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is portrayed by Brie Larson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gene Colan... read more

Definitely my #1 pick. I haven't watched Captain Marvel, but from what I've read, heard, and seen from Avengers: Endgame, she's definitely the character with the most wasted potential.
When I first heard she was getting a role in Avengers: Endgame, I wasn't very excited (since I'm not a fan of her), but I was kind of hoping she'd be a good character and a useful addition to the Avengers. The sad thing is, she was completely irrelevant throughout the entire movie except at the beginning and the end.
From what I've read about Captain Marvel (the movie) and what other people have been saying about her, she's a big disappointment. In fact, she had no relevance or weight in the franchise aside from just being an average Mary Sue. I would have been fine if she had died in Endgame instead of Tony since she has no reason for existing (or any reason for us to feel sad for her).
To sum it all up, Captain Marvel is a character that had potential to be good but sadly ended up as an average, boring, and bland Mary Sue. She doesn't even deserve to be in the picture for Endgame since she wasn't even that relevant of a character.
Quicksilver

Quicksilver is a fictional superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in X-Men #4 in 1964. Quicksilver was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby and is known for his superhuman speed.

"You didn't see that coming?" It was a shame. One of the few characters in the MCU who actually made sense cracking jokes all the time was killed off so quickly. The mutant siblings should've had time to develop their characters together. Instead, we now have an emo girl simping over a robot.
It was also such a waste of the actor. Luckily, he's been brought back as Kraven. I will say, Quicksilver shouldn't be higher than Hulk or Ultron on this list, as the character isn't really that interesting. He's a good side character but doesn't have the potential to be much more than that. Still, it would've been cool to see him helping Doctor Strange fight Wanda.
Vision

The Vision is a fictional superhero who appears in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is an android who first appeared in The Avengers #57 in 1968 and has been a longtime member of the Avengers team. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Vision is portrayed by Paul Bettany and appears in... read more

Vision was very promising and interesting at first. He started off strong, but he never got any meaningful development. He was very wasted in Infinity War, where he was nerfed and wasn't even that relevant, making his death feel hollow and not as sad compared to Spider-Man's and Dr. Strange's deaths.
Dark Phoenix

Jean Grey-Summers, also known as Dark Phoenix, is a fictional superhero in Marvel Comics. She is a longtime member of the X-Men and one of the original characters introduced in the 1960s. The Dark Phoenix saga is one of the most iconic storylines in comic book history, exploring Jean's transformation... read more

The Phoenix saga gets botched again, and this time they don't have a new director to blame for it, though they can definitely blame Disney.
Hela
Maria Rambeau
Maria Hill

I think Maria herself is quite well-characterized as a side character, but there's more to her that could've been explored.

I hope we still get to see her in future films.
Monica Rambeau
Yon-Rogg
Ronan

Ronan the Accuser is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby and made his first appearance in Fantastic Four #65 in August 1967. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is portrayed by Lee Pace, appearing... read more

The Newcomers

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Black Cat

The Black Cat is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Throughout her history, she has been an enemy, love interest, and ally of the superhero Spider-Man. Her real name is Felicia Hardy, and she is known for her acrobatic skills and burglary expertise.
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Hydro-Man

The Contenders

Heimdall

Heimdall is a fictional character from Marvel Comics who is based on the Norse god Heimdallr. He serves as the guardian of the Bifrost Bridge and is known for his extraordinary senses. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Heimdall is portrayed by Idris Elba and appears in several Thor and Avengers films... read more

Like Vision, Loki, and Gamora, Heimdall was horribly wasted. He never got a proper conclusion to his arc and was instead killed by Thanos without any significant development, leaving his death very underwhelming.
Supreme Intelligence
Talos
Ultron

Ultron is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is widely recognized as a major adversary of the Avengers and has a complex connection with several team members, particularly his creator Hank Pym.... read more

For the one film he was in, he was incredible. He was actually scary, and the voice acting could not have been better. His lines are so memorable: "I had strings but now I'm free, there are no strings on me." Absolutely terrifying thing to hear from a robot.
His hatred for Tony Stark was captured perfectly. He seemed calm when buying vibranium, but as soon as he's called one of "Stark's puppets," he goes ballistic, cuts a man's arm off, and blasts him down the stairs. He definitely deserved to reappear in later media, and I'm glad we saw his true power in What If Season 1.
Hulk

Robert Bruce Banner, also known as The Hulk or Bruce Banner, is a fictional superhero in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. In live-action films, he was portrayed by Eric Bana, and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he's... read more

Hulk was perfectly captured in the first Avengers movie. "In case you needed to kill me, but you can't. I know, I've tried." That showed how Bruce Banner neglected Hulk and how Hulk neglected Banner, but Hulk knew he needed Bruce. "I put a bullet in my mouth and the other guy spit it out." Over time, they begin realizing they need each other, the brains and the brawn.
But the MCU took that idea too literally and ruined the rage monster. Smart Hulk who doesn't want to smash was a horrible way to treat the gamma giant. Infinity War and Endgame ruined Hulk. Instead of an intense fight between the gamma titan and the mad titan, we saw an absolute beatdown. Hulk losing would've been fine, but we should've seen a full-on wrestle, two unstoppable forces colliding. Or even better, they could've captured Banner before he could turn and contained him, and only later on, maybe in Wakanda, we see Hulk and Thanos brawl.
Mystique

Mystique is a fictional character in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is most often associated with the X-Men series and is known for her shapeshifting abilities. Mystique first appeared in Ms. Marvel #16, published in 1978.

So much frustration with Dark Phoenix!
Loki

Loki Laufeyson, also known as Loki Odinson, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the adoptive brother and archenemy of Thor and is known as the "God of Mischief." In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the character is portrayed by Tom Hiddleston.

Like Romanoff, I like Loki, but even I admit he was wasted badly in Infinity War and Endgame. Instead of getting some really nice and touching scenes in the movies, he just got killed within the first 5 minutes of Infinity War without any emotional moments. It's even worse in Endgame since we never got any good dialogue or characterization.
Scarlet Witch

Wanda Maximoff, known as the Scarlet Witch, is a fictional superhero appearing in Marvel Comics. She is portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where she is considered one of its most powerful characters.... read more

Not as wasted as the others, but she didn't get enough development for her character.

She was done very well, especially considering the challenge of reintroducing her as a mutant since Fox owned the rights to the mutants.
Bucky Barnes

James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, he first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 in 1941. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Bucky is portrayed by Sebastian Stan and evolves from Captain... read more

He was amazing in CATWS and had good scenes in Civil War, but ever since then, he's been completely overshadowed. Every time he's on screen it's a memorable scene, like in Infinity War when he gets a new arm. "Where's the fight?" Amazing line.
And him teaming up with Rocket? "How much for the arm?" Such a good scene between the two. But in recent media, where it sounds like he'll be a major character, he's been pushed to the side. Thunderbolts had an amazing reintroduction to Bucky, showing he gave up on Congress and looked like he was ready to put his skills to use again.
Just for him to then be completely forgotten the rest of the film. And in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series, we only get ONE scene of the Winter Soldier in a flashback, and boy, it was amazing. He killed 12 dudes in 17 seconds.
The actor they have for Bucky is perfect. He does most of his combat stunts and even forced the MCU to use an actual prop arm instead of CGI.
Black Widow

Natalia Alianovna Romanova, more commonly known as Natasha Romanoff or the Black Widow, is a fictional superhero featured in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is recognized as one of the most skilled spies and assassins in the world and is also a founding member of the Avengers.... read more

While I admit Black Widow's death was very sad in Endgame, that doesn't excuse her from being on this list. I, myself, like Natasha Romanoff, but I will admit she was quite wasted badly in Endgame. She never got any character arc before she died in the movie, and that's quite sad since she deserves one for being such a great character in the other movies. A shame she didn't get a proper conclusion.

Honestly, I thought they did it well. She died a hero and redeemed herself from the bad things she had done in the past.
Odin

Odin Borson is a fictional character from Marvel Comics, where he is portrayed as the former King of Asgard and the father of Thor and Hela. He is also the adoptive father of Loki and the husband of Frigga. Odin is known as the God of War and Wisdom in the comics.... read more

Odin in the comics was very powerful and a complete boss. In the movies, he never got to do anything exciting other than giving speeches to everyone. His death may have had a decent impact on Thor, but it wasted his character since we never got to see him in action or at his prime.

Odin was pretty wasted. They should have spent more time in Asgard in the first movie instead of having Thor on Earth for so much of it.
Iron Fist

Iron Fist is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane, Iron Fist first appeared in Marvel Premiere #15 in 1974.
The character, whose real name is Daniel Rand, gains the mystical power of the Iron Fist by defeating the... read more
Carnage

Carnage (Cletus Kasady) is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually as an enemy of Spider-Man. He first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #361 in April 1992. Carnage is the offspring of the Venom symbiote and is infamous for his violent, homicidal... read more
Gamora

Gamora is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Jim Starlin, the character first appeared in Strange Tales #180. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, she is portrayed by Zoe Saldaña in multiple films, including Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians... read more

Seriously, she never got the development she deserves. After the 2014 Gamora "reunited" with Quill, there wasn't much interaction.
I understand they couldn't give her scenes during the battle against Thanos, but why not do it after Tony's funeral? Maybe they could have given a few minutes to the other characters like Dr. Strange, the Guardians, and the others that were snapped away by Thanos in Infinity War.
Invisible Woman

Invisible Woman is a female superhero and a member of Marvel's Fantastic Four. Her abilities include invisibility and the creation of invisible force fields. Additionally, she can manipulate cosmic energy to protect herself and others.