4 MCU Characters Who Deserve More Criticism From Fans

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While every hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has flaws, some receive more scrutiny than others. Over the past 17 years, audiences have loved cheering on genuinely good heroes like Captain America (Steve Rogers), Black Panther (T’Challa), and Spider-Man (Peter Parker) as they battle villains and protect people. The MCU has also featured compelling anti-heroes like Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) and Winter Soldier (Bucky Barnes). However, certain characters have done truly awful things, and fans often don’t call them out for it.

Four characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe haven’t faced enough accountability for their actions and the negative consequences they’ve created.

4) Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, has been a key player in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, notably assisting the Avengers in their battle against Thanos. While a powerful sorcerer and Master of the Mystic Arts, he’s also shown a tendency to be overconfident and act without thinking things through. We see this in Spider-Man: No Way Home where he performs a risky spell unnecessarily, and then argues with Peter Parker about sending villains back to their deaths. In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, his actions—specifically dreamwalking—cause a dangerous event, demonstrating a pattern of disregard for potential consequences. Though not the worst hero in the MCU, Doctor Strange isn’t always a shining example of morality.

3) Loki

Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston, started out as a villain audiences could almost feel sorry for. While it’s easy to understand why he resented being second to Thor, his actions – hurting innocent people – were never justified. He was responsible for major attacks, like the one by the Frost Giants in Thor and the invasion of Earth in The Avengers. Though he later became an ally to Thor in Thor: Ragnarok and ultimately sacrificed himself in Avengers: Infinity War, many fans seem to have forgotten just how villainous he was at the beginning. Despite his past, Loki remains one of the MCU’s most compelling anti-heroes – his intelligence and mischievousness are always fun to watch. However, it’s important to remember how truly awful his behavior was when he first appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

2) Iron Man

Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man (played by Robert Downey Jr.), doesn’t make a great first impression in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Before becoming a hero, he was a wealthy and self-centered CEO who made money by selling weapons. After escaping captivity, he stopped manufacturing arms, but later created Ultron, an android that went rogue and caused massive destruction, including leveling a whole city in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Tony Stark grows into what many consider the MCU’s best hero, learning from his past mistakes. However, he might be responsible for more damage than any other Avenger. His desire for redemption stems from his earlier actions, and it’s questionable whether he’d have become a better person without his experience in Afghanistan. While fans rightly praise Iron Man’s bravery, especially his ultimate sacrifice against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame, he deserves more scrutiny for the global harm he caused.

1) Red Guardian

Alexei Shostakov, also known as Red Guardian (played by David Harbour), is surprisingly well-liked despite a dark past: he knowingly sent his adopted daughters, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), to the Red Room program run by General Dreykov (Ray Winstone). While he helps them dismantle the Red Room in Black Widow, he avoids taking full accountability for the pain he caused them.

Unlike Melina Vostokoff, who was also a victim of Dreykov’s program, Red Guardian knowingly chose to work with him. While he sometimes tried to be there for his daughters, Alexei never truly made amends for hurting them. He doesn’t deserve to be considered a good father, which makes it surprising that so many MCU fans find him endearing.

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2025-11-10 20:17