While every adaptation requires changes to fit the new medium, the comic book adapted MCU requires big changes to ensure the movies and TV shows translate, often introducing new characters. Comics deliver a unique method of storytelling that is both concise in terms of the actual language and wording, but also full of depth thanks to the artistry which can add layers of additional context and meaning. And while this may appear connected to TV and film more closely than a novel adaptation, it also creates unique challenges.
For Marvel Comics, the stories have a rich history that extends back decades and many of the characters who are now featured in the MCU have extensive stories that span hundreds of issues. In order to introduce these characters to the audience, and plots from the comics without the same back catalog of stories, the MCU has cleverly used new characters to condense and explore the original heroes in new and exciting ways. From side characters who drive the plot, to figures that stir up deep emotion, and the occasional figure who stands in for the audience, these characters from the MCU are actually completely original, despite appearing in comic-book adapted films.
10 Rio Vidal
Agatha All Along
The first on the list is one of the most recent additions to the MCU, in the form of Aubrey Plaza’s Rio Vidal. Vidal is a pivotal figure in Agatha All Along, who appears to have an extensive history with Agatha and gets the plot moving in the show. However, the character is also brand new to Marvel, despite Agatha having a lengthy list of allies and enemies in Marvel Comics.
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Vidal could be seen as an amalgamation of other characters from Agatha’s coven, who has been introduced to expand the character’s legacy and create tension. Due to Agatha and Vidal’s fallout, Vidal sends the Salem Seven, a group that actually does come from the comics, after Agatha and her new friends. Vidal is still quite mysterious as Agatha All Along develops, but as Rio Vidal at least, it’s a unique and original character not inspired by the comics.
9 Luis
Ant-Man
Edgar Wright’s script for Ant-Man appears to have been one of the more inventive and unique stories from the MCU back in 2015. At the time, The MCU was still establishing itself, and had proven the quality of the product with The Avengers, but stumbled when it came to Avengers: Age of Ultron. With an imperfect but impressive record, it was clear that the MCU had great potential to reinvent the comics and create its own set of stories based on iconic heroes from the comics.
With this philosophy, Ant-Man took the popular character commonly portrayed by Hank Pym, and opted to focus on his successor, Scott Lang. In addition, the movie had a heist style plot, which at the time was the first real venture outside the MCU’s comfort zone in terms of genre. And in addition to these changes, they brought in brand-new characters like Luis, played by Michael Peña. Luis was a fun addition, and one who had the fateful job of telling Scott and the others about a tip that pointed to a job. Peña did an outstanding job in this role, and his talents were brought back for the sequel, Ant-Man and the Wasp.
8 Hope Van Dyne
Ant-Man
Another change in the Ant-Man trilogy was the character of Hope Van Dyne. In the comics, Hank Pym does have a small handful of children, namely, Henry Pym Jr., a child he has with Janet van Dyne, Nadia Pym, a child he had from a previous relationship, and a character known as Beetle Boy. However, there is no Hope van Dyne in the comics. Hope is a new original character created for the MCU, and the love interest of Scott Lang.
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In the comics, there has been an obscure character in Marvel Comics called Hope Pym, who is the daughter of Hank and Janet, and the twin of Henry Pym Jr., but this character is clearly distinct from Hope van Dyne in several ways. For one, she is a villain, who resents the Avengers and figures like Cassandra Lang for tarnishing the memory of her father. She believes she is the true heir, and as such, she sets about using her money and intelligence to seek revenge against these characters. Hope Pym first appeared in 1999, and has had a handful of appearances since, but she is a minor figure in Marvel Comics.
7 Darcy Lewis
Thor
Thor is another character who had his origin story changed for the MCU, with the hero finding a group of allies on Earth shortly after arriving on the planet’s surface. While people like Jane Foster were a part of his story in the comics, the movie added new characters like Darcy Lewis to fill out the cast. As a young, inexperienced intern, Darcy was largely a comedic presence early on, but the MCU has expanded the character to reappear in several other stories since her debut.
Beyond the Thor franchise, Darcy has shown up in WandaVision, now a fully certified doctor with a flourishing career that took her to WestView. Considering the character was little more than an extra name and body in the original movie, it just goes to show how much the MCU can do with even the minor characters from its stories with payoffs that come years later. It’s unclear where Darcy will appear next, but its unlikely that the MCU is done with the character.
6 Sylvie
Loki
Continuing with the Thor adjacent characters, one of the most important figures to come out of those films was Loki. Loki had an incredible arc in the movies that saw him transform from a shifty malicious brother, to a full-fledged villain taking on the Avengers, and then to a redeemed hero who stood up for his brother and his people. However, in Avengers: Infinity War, Loki meets a sudden and brutal end when he tries to dupe Thanos in order to spare his brother. However, the character returned as a variant in 2021 for the hit series, Loki.
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Within that series, there were a number of other variants which were lifted straight out of the comics, including President Loki, Kid Loki, and more. And among these variants, there was one who was an original new character, Sylvie. While the comics do feature a female version of the character commonly referred to as Floki, Sylvie is unique. Her history within the show, and her new name make her a character that appears distinctly different from the other variants, but she has also become a fan favorite figure in the MCU.
5 Trevor Slattery
Iron Man 3
Often, the MCU will include Easter Eggs that hint at a storyline or figure being introduced down the road. This has been happening since the MCU’s earliest works, with Iron Man featuring the logo of The Ten Rings. At this point, the character of the Mandarin, leader of this mysterious organization, was alluded to, but there were no certain plans to feature the character in upcoming projects. Eventually, the Mandarin did appear in the MCU in 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, but Iron Man 3 did play with the idea of the character much earlier.
Iron Man 3 built a narrative around a mysterious villain known as the Mandarin, but, the creatives were also aware that the comic book character had been steeped in problematic stereotypes for years. In order to avoid these potential issues, and still play with that narrative, they cleverly invented a new character, Trevor Slattery, who is a washed up alcoholic actor hired to play the part of this villain and hide the real villain, Aldrich Killian. Slattery also returned in the 2021 movie, where the narrative with the impostor and the real Mandarin was then able to come full circle.
4 Phil Coulson
Iron Man
From the MCU’s earliest beginnings, the idea of a shared universe was already a pipedream that was hinted at in the first film. Nick Fury had a number of cameos in the first movies which helped to establish a connection between the heroes that would go on to become the Avengers. And, in order to make this initiative work, Fury needed the backing of a powerful, but covert, government agency. So it made sense for the MCU to include S.H.I.E.L.D., but they also needed an agent who could act on behalf of Fury.
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For this reason, Phil Coulson was introduced in Iron Man as an agent of the organization who was assigned to recruit the Avengers. Coulson also made a handful of other appearances in Phase 1 Marvel movies, before he was killed in The Avengers by Loki. This then became a catalyst for the heroes to work together, and put aside their differences, in order to avenge their fallen friend. Coulson then went on to have a lengthy career in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., where the agent rose through the ranks and became one of the most important non-powered heroes.
3 Morgan Stark
Avengers: Endgame
As Hank Pym was one of the founding Avengers in the comics, Tony Stark was one of the leaders of the team in the MCU. And again, like Pym, the character in the comics has a family that is not quite the same in the movies. For instance, Tony Stark and Pepper Potts’ child, Morgan Stark, is not a figure from the comic books. In fact, Tony and Pepper don’t actually have any biological children of their own.
There is a Morgan Stark in the comics, but the character is a male, and is the cousin, not the child, of Tony Stark. Morgan is a villainous character who resents Tony and his side of the family for stealing the company away from his father, and leaving them devoid of any say in Stark Industries. Within the MCU, Morgan is a sweet young girl who is presumably the sole heir to the Stark fortune, and Morgan Stark may even pick up her father’s mantle as Iron Man one day in the future.
2 Michelle Jones
Spider-Man: Homecoming
As one of the most popular Marvel characters of all time, it’s no surprise that his story has been adapted more than most. In 2002, the original Spider-Man trilogy introduced the already famous character in live-action on the big screen, alongside his long-term love interest Mary Jane Watson, commonly nicknamed MJ. Within the comics, Peter Parker has had a few romances with iconic characters, but the most notable has to be MJ and Gwen Stacey, who tragically passes away in the comics.
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While MJ appeared in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy, the rebooted Amazing Spider-Man movies introduced Gwen Stacey, who met her tragic fate at the end of the second film. So, when it came time for the MCU to introduce the famous web-slinger, it made sense to bring in a new love interest. For this reason, the original character of Michelle Jones, played by the talented Zendaya, was introduced. However, the reveal that Michelle is Michelle Jones, and thus, has the nickname “MJ” in common with the famous Mary Jane.
1 Ava Starr
Ant-Man And The Wasp
And finally, back to the Ant-Man franchise, the sequel movie Ant-Man and the Wasp also leaned loosely on the source material. Namely, when it came to choosing an antagonist for the story. The sequel introduces a trippy villain known as Ghost, who phases in and out of reality due to experiments that left her with powers of intangibility that allowed her to harness quantum energy to generate incredible powers. However, the comic book alter ego of this character is distinctly different to the Ava Starr that is set to appear in Thunderbolts*.
In the comics, Ghost is a darker villain who is also shrouded in significantly more mystery. Rather than a child who was caught up in an explosive incident that imbued them with powers, the comic book Ghost is a genius inventor and hacker in their own right. Their identity is still unknown, despite their eventual work with antihero teams like the Thunderbolts, and they indulge in corporate espionage as a way to utilize their powers. Like the rest of the characters listed here, the Ghost in the MCU is unique, and ultimately an original character without a clear comic book counterpart.
Upcoming MCU Movies
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Captain America: Brave New World
Release Date February 14, 2025
- Thunderbolts*
Release Date May 2, 2025
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
Release Date July 25, 2025
- Blade (2025)
Release Date November 7, 2025
- Avengers: Doomsday
Release Date May 1, 2026
- Avengers: Secret Wars
Release Date May 7, 2027
Captain America: Brave New World
Thunderbolts*
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
Blade (2025)
Avengers: Doomsday
Avengers: Secret Wars