Top 10 Marvel Characters with the Most Wasted Potential

While Marvel has introduced a lot of well-executed and developed characters, it also has a share of very undeveloped and mostly characters that have a lot of potential but were wasted. So without further ado, let's get started.
The Top Ten
Captain Marvel Carol Susan Jane Danvers, or Captain Marvel, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is portrayed by Brie Larson in the movies Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gene Colan, Danvers first appeared as an officer... 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 American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in the comic book X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Easily one of the most wasted characters. They could've given us more scenes and characterization for Quicksilver to make his death more meaningful and sad, but he never got the characterization he could've had before he died.

I mean, Tony, Cap, Thor, and the others got some characterization. Why couldn't Quicksilver? Why must he die off with so much potential that could've been developed for him in Age of Ultron?

He was supposed to come back in Endgame. Hawkeye was originally meant to go back to the events of Age of Ultron and bring him back (instead of retrieving his child's glove).

Vision The Vision is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is an android and a member of the Avengers who first appeared in The Avengers #57. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is portrayed by Paul Bettany.

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 is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

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. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is portrayed by Lee Pace.

The Newcomers

? Black Cat The Black Cat is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Throughout her history, Black Cat has been an enemy, love interest, and ally of the superhero Spider-Man.
? Hydro-Man
The Contenders
Heimdall Heimdall is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is based on the Norse deity Heimdallr. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is portrayed by Idris Elba.

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 most recognized as a foe of the Avengers, and has a quasi-familial relationship with several of their members, especially his creator Hank Pym. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is portrayed by... read more
Hulk Robert Bruce Banner, also known as The Hulk or Bruce Banner, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and was portrayed by Edward Norton and Mark Ruffalo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Mystique Mystique is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with the X-Men.

So much frustration with Dark Phoenix!

Loki Loki Laufeyson, or Loki Odinson, is a fictional character appearing in the 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 has been 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, also known as the Scarlet Witch, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She is thought to be one of the most powerful people in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and can... 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.

Black Widow Natalia Alianovna Romanova, most known as Natasha Romanoff or the Black Widow, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is one of the most talented spies and assassins in the entire world and is a founding member of the Avengers. The character was created... 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 appearing in the American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was the former King of Asgard, protector of the Nine Realms, father of Hela and Thor, the adoptive father of Loki, husband of Frigga, and was known as the "God of War and Wisdom". In... 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.

Bucky Barnes James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is portrayed by Sebastian Stan.
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.
Carnage Carnage (Cletus Kassidy) is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually as an enemy of Spider-Man. He appeared for the first time in The Amazing Spider-Man #361.
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 Saldana.

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 who is a part of Marvel's Fantastic Four. Her powers include invisibility, cosmic rays, invisible force field, and more.
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