5 Best MCU Characters Introduced in Avengers Movies

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As a movie critic, I’ve always been impressed by how the Avengers films manage to balance established heroes with exciting new faces. While these movies are really about bringing the core team together, they’ve also been fantastic launching pads for characters like Wanda and Pietro Maximoff – Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, as played by Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. We got a little tease of them in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but Age of Ultron is where they truly arrived. And, of course, the Avengers films cemented the legacies of already popular characters like Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, Chris Evans’ Captain America, and Josh Brolin’s Thanos, turning them into absolute icons of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

With exciting new Avengers movies like Doomsday and Secret Wars on the horizon, it’s a great time to celebrate the best characters who first appeared in an Avengers film.

5) Ebony Maw

With so many familiar faces in Avengers: Infinity War, it’s easy to miss the impact of villains like Ebony Maw (played by Tom Vaughan-Lawlor). As Thanos’ adopted son, Maw is a cruel and intimidating character who assists in the quest for the Infinity Stones. A memorable scene shows him brutally torturing Doctor Strange with countless needles, highlighting just how dangerous he is. Though ultimately defeated by Iron Man and sent hurtling into space, Maw proves to be a powerful enemy for the Avengers. Despite not having a huge amount of screen time, his sadistic and manipulative personality makes him a standout character in Infinity War.

4) Ultron

I think Ultron from Avengers: Age of Ultron is a seriously underrated villain. While everyone talks about Thanos, Ultron really stuck with me. He’s this incredibly compelling bad guy – an artificial intelligence created by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner, and voiced brilliantly by James Spader. The idea behind him is just fascinating! He believes the only way to save the planet is to wipe out humanity, which puts the Avengers in a really tough spot, especially since they feel responsible for his creation and the chaos he causes.

Ultron is a captivating villain despite not being deeply developed as a character. His incredible strength, high-tech armor, and flight capabilities make him a formidable opponent for the Avengers in Age of Ultron. The film also features a large-scale threat in the form of Ultron’s army during the Battle of Sokovia. While Age of Ultron isn’t the most outstanding Avengers movie, it introduces a compelling villain and delivers exciting action, along with a thought-provoking look at artificial intelligence.

3) Ulysses Klaue

Ulysses Klaue, played by Andy Serkis, first appears in Age of Ultron as a vibranium supplier and arms dealer. He loses an arm to Ultron but remains a delightfully mischievous villain. Known for his quirky personality and sly humor, Klaue quickly became a fan favorite despite his limited screen time in both Age of Ultron and Black Panther. He manages to be both evil and hilarious, making his eventual defeat by Erik Killmonger somewhat bittersweet. Few expected such a memorable character to emerge from his brief introduction in Age of Ultron, and many fans wish the MCU had kept him around longer, especially after his scene-stealing performance in Black Panther.

2) Maria Hill

The first Avengers movie is a landmark film for Marvel fans, and it also marked the introduction of Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), a character who often gets overlooked. Throughout her time with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers, working alongside Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Hill consistently demonstrated professionalism and competence. The film quickly establishes her as a capable fighter, strategic thinker, and effective problem-solver. From the Battle of New York to the Battle of Sokovia, she repeatedly proved her worth as an Avenger. Many fans believe Hill deserved a more significant role in the MCU before her unexpected death in Secret Invasion, and it was a shame to lose such a strong character so soon.

1) Vision

Vision, played by Paul Bettany, quickly became a fan favorite in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He first appears in Avengers: Age of Ultron, created when the AI program J.A.R.V.I.S. is combined with the Mind Stone and given a body made of vibranium. Vision becomes a dedicated friend to the Avengers and develops a romantic relationship with Wanda Maximoff. Though he isn’t human, Vision is a surprisingly complex character – he’s both caring and sensitive towards loved ones, but can become a powerful fighter when necessary.

It was exciting to see Vision join the Avengers in Age of Ultron, and his story only gets more captivating from there. From his tragic death in Infinity War to his surprising return and life with Wanda in WandaVision, Vision has become the most memorable character to be introduced in an Avengers film. We can look forward to another intriguing part of his journey in the upcoming Disney+ series, VisionQuest.

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2025-11-19 18:13