3 MCU Heroes Marvel Didn’t Understand

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe began with a surprising bet: turning a lesser-known character, Iron Man, into a global superstar. Marvel Studios quickly discovered that a hero’s existing popularity in comics or general culture wasn’t essential for a successful movie franchise. Instead, they found that a talented actor like Robert Downey Jr., strong directing, and impressive special effects could transform any Marvel hero into a box office draw.

Well… most heroes, anyway.

Let’s face it: the MCU hasn’t quite gotten some characters right. Despite rich histories in the comics and strong fan favorites, Marvel Studios struggled to bring these characters to life on screen effectively. Here are three of the most noticeable examples of MCU heroes that didn’t live up to their comic book origins, and the reasons why.

3) Namor

Marvel fans were excited to finally see Namor join the MCU, but Tenoch Huerta’s portrayal of the character surprised many – and wasn’t quite what they anticipated. In the comics, Namor is known for being a bold and charismatic leader, always adding energy to any scene. He’s a powerful figure with a rich backstory, tied to both the human world and Atlantis, and is even considered Marvel’s original mutant. His connections to iconic teams like the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and wartime heroes like Captain America make him a central figure in the Marvel Universe.

Unlike previous Marvel films, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever largely ignored established connections to the broader Marvel universe. Director Ryan Coogler’s take on Namor focused on a recent conflict between Wakanda and Atlantis, but it left out crucial elements of Namor’s backstory and relationships from the comics. While deviating from the source material isn’t always a problem, this new version of Namor wasn’t a compelling substitute. He came across as unlikeable, acting mostly as a villain, and despite killing a fan-favorite character (Queen Ramonda, played by Angela Bassett), he failed to earn the audience’s sympathy or understanding.

As a huge Marvel fan, I’ve been keeping a close watch on everything happening with the MCU, and something’s definitely off with Namor. It’s been a while since Wakanda Forever came out in 2022, and we’ve barely heard a whisper about his next appearance in Avengers: Doomsday. It’s really surprising, considering he’s one of Marvel’s oldest and most important characters – going all the way back with the original trio of Sub-Mariner, the Human Torch, and Captain America!

2) Captain Marvel

Many Marvel fans might consider Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel to be the biggest misstep in the MCU, but another character actually fares worse. Marvel Studios really missed the mark with how they handled Carol Danvers.

The problems began with the 2019 film Captain Marvel. Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck made a critical creative mistake by portraying Carol Danvers as a brainwashed soldier struggling to remember who she really was. It was difficult for audiences to connect with a character meant to be a powerful and energetic hero when she was initially presented as emotionally distant and controlled. Brie Larson, the actress playing Carol, unfairly received much of the criticism. By the end of Captain Marvel, viewers hadn’t spent enough time with the true Carol Danvers to form a connection – roughly only 10 minutes of the film showcased her full personality. Even brief appearances in Avengers: Endgame and the subsequent film The Marvels, which only dedicated around 30

Captain Marvel hasn’t quite lived up to expectations in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since her first appearance, and her own movie series seems to have lost momentum. It’s surprising, considering how important Carol Danvers has become in the Marvel comics, while the movie version is still trying to find its footing.

1) The Hulk

I have to say it – I think Marvel Studios has really struggled with the Hulk, more than any other character. It’s a problem that goes way back, actually. Remember Ang Lee’s Hulk movie from 2003? That didn’t quite hit the mark. And even after that, when Marvel teamed up with Universal for The Incredible Hulk in 2008, they still couldn’t seem to make the character truly shine on screen. It’s frustrating, because the Hulk deserves better!

The 2008 film The Incredible Hulk struggled to find the right balance for the character. Production was famously chaotic, largely due to star Edward Norton’s unique vision for Bruce Banner – he envisioned a character focused on yoga, meditation, and intense physical monitoring. While fans generally liked the look of the Hulk himself, there wasn’t much disappointment when Norton left the franchise. The film’s somewhat uncertain place within the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe further diminished the character’s importance as the MCU became more established.

Mark Ruffalo’s casting as Bruce Banner felt like a fresh start after previous attempts to bring the character to life. In The Avengers, it seemed Marvel had finally found the right actor – one who captured the spirit of the classic TV version played by Bill Bixby – and created a more believable and heroic Hulk. However, after that successful debut, Marvel surprisingly stumbled and made a series of missteps.

Avengers: Age of Ultron awkwardly forced a romance between Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff, and the attempt to help Hulk control his anger with Natasha’s repetitive calming phrases felt silly. The storyline where Hulk flew a ship into space seemed like a way to avoid dealing with the character’s issues, which made the introduction of ‘Gladiator Hulk’ in Thor: Ragnarok a huge win for fans. However, just as Hulk was becoming popular again, Avengers: Infinity War gave Banner issues that kept Hulk sidelined during the fight with Thanos. The solution, Smart Hulk in Avengers: Endgame, frustrated many fans because it removed the classic, unpredictable duality of the Hulk’s personality.

The battle in Endgame left Smart Hulk severely injured, losing an arm – arguably the most significant consequence after Iron Man’s death. While She-Hulk showed his arm being repaired, Smart Hulk hasn’t really gained popularity, and his appearance didn’t help establish a clear direction for the Hulk character within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Complicated rights issues have always been a problem, making it unclear if MCU Hulk will ever reach the same level of success as other Avengers. Currently, the next Spider-Man movie, Brand New Day, is being relied upon to potentially revitalize the character, though its success isn’t guaranteed.

Marvel Cinematic Universe content can be streamed on Disney+.

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2025-12-25 23:11