Let’s face it—while the Marvel Cinematic Universe has brought dozens of fan-favorite characters to life over the years, not all heroes and villains have resonated with the audience. Some have angered viewers because of poor writing, comic book alterations, or simply awkward implementation. Whether you’re a hardcore comic book reader or a casual viewer, odds are there’s been at least one or two MCU characters that left you shaking your head. Here’s a glance at 10 Marvel characters who didn’t quite capture hearts, from frustrating to full-fledged flops.
10. Star-Lord
Peter Quill began on the right foot with charm, mixtapes, and intergalactic swagger. But post-Avengers: Infinity War, fans flipped on him—hard. His tantrum at the critical moment essentially handed Thanos the victory, and the error continues to haunt the character’s legacy. To boot, film Star-Lord is a lot funnier and more reckless than the grimmer, more duty-bound version that fans are familiar with in the comics. It’s an instance of good intentions, poor timing… and poorer choices.
9. Wong
A former tough-as-nails martial arts master, Wong has since become an MCU mascot of sorts, cracking jokes and alluding to pop culture with every opportunity. Others adore his enhanced role and sense of humor, while others think the character lost the stoic presence that previously set him apart. While the aim might have been to update and sidestep tropes gone stale, not everyone agreed with the new tone.
8. The Mandarin
The Mandarin’s cinematic development has been everywhere and nowhere. Originally introduced as a distraction in Iron Man 3, audiences were left with disappointment at the bait-and-switch reveal. Then Shang-Chi presented us with a far more down-to-earth and emotionally rich iteration—but this iteration hardly resembled the comic book Mandarin in any way. From name shifts to full-on reimagined lore, this character’s back-and-forth remodels left more folks muddled than amazed.
7. Drax
Drax transitioned from angry avenger to comedic relief in a matter of snaps. As funny as he is, the emotional complexity and tragic history that make up his comic incarnation have been sacrificed for one-liners. Fans who wanted to see Drax portrayed as a deeper, more intimidating character were left questioning what might have been if the MCU allowed him a richer path.
6. Taskmaster
When Taskmaster at last appeared on the big screen in Black Widow, the fans were excited—only to be greeted with silence. Actual silence. The wisecracking, proficient mercenary of the comics was reduced to a silent, mind-controlled killer with no personality whatsoever. The plot twist behind the mask did not help much either, and many felt that the MCU robbed the character of all that made them iconic to begin with.
5. Sersi
As a lead in Eternals, Sersi got to shine—but didn’t. Her performance came across as too mellow and emotionally remote, particularly when compared to her vibrant, gregarious comic book alter ego. She had the ability of transmutation at her disposal, but unfortunately, her performance never changed into something that fans could relate to.
4. Pepper Potts
Pepper Potts has been in the MCU from the very beginning, yet even years later, her character has had a hard time getting actual fan backing. Her short-lived hero status in Endgame felt added on, and her will-they-won’t-they relationship with Tony Stark never quite lived up to the emotional possibilities fans were expecting. Ultimately, she just came off as more of a background character than a developed one.
3. General Dreykov
Dreykov, the Black Widow villain, is no subtlety—the bad guy is as bad as they get. He’s kidnapping and brainwashing girls, performing unscrupulous experiments, and using his daughter as a pawn. Sure, there’s no denying that he’s bad, but viewers weren’t as much impressed as they were by his one-dimensionality, so he’ll be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
2. Red Skull
Red Skull could have been Marvel’s scariest and most legendary villain. What they got instead was a fleeting on-screen presence, half-baked motivations, and an overall effect that dwindled too soon. For a villain with so much comic book history, his short arc and on-stage presentation felt like a huge blow to what could have been.
1. Malekith
At the top of that list is Malekith, the Dark Elf who somehow made Thor: The Dark World even more difficult to adore. In the comics, he’s a formidable and resourceful villain, but on the big screen, he was watered down into a generic bad guy with murky motivations and hardly any screen presence. With no depth, charisma, and coherent motivation, Malekith is generally regarded as one of the MCU’s weakest links—and the absolute worst example of how not to adapt a villain.
Not all characters can be fan favorites—and that’s alright. But in a universe filled with memorable heroes and legendary villains, these characters show us that even Marvel occasionally misses the mark.