Top 10 Characters You Didn't Realize Are in the MCU

The MCU has a universe of cameos. Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 characters you didn’t realize are in the MCU.


For this list, we’ll be going over the characters from Marvel Comics whose presence may have gone overlooked in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There may be spoilers for several MCU properties and Marvel comics, so tread lightly worthy viewers.

“Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017)

In the comics, Peter Parker is far from the only Marvel character to receive a bite from a radioactive spider. Cindy Moon is also bitten by a superpower-giving arachnid, After being briefly imprisoned, she is freed by Peter, and goes on to become the vigilante known as Silk. Although she doesn’t have superpowers (yet), Cindy appears in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” as Peter’s classmate and fellow member of the academic decathlon. Moon, along with her teammates, is saved by Spider-Man from a damaged elevator. We can only hope that if/when she gets her powers, she will follow his example and become a superhero too.

“Doctor Strange” (2016)


The Marvel Comics universe has plenty of cosmically powerful beings. One of these is the Living Tribunal, an entity as old as existence itself who has always tried to bring balance to the mystical elements within every reality. The Tribunal has yet to be seen explicitly in the MCU, and its appearance, with its multiple faces and golden, metallic skin, might be hard to create onscreen. However, it is confirmed to exist in the MCU, as Mordo tells Dr. Strange that part of its essence resides in a staff he uses during their training and in battle.

“The Defenders” (2017)


A former surgeon in the comics, Elias Wirtham is a vigilante who gains superpowers after replacing his own heart with a particle accelerator. Rather than fight violent crimes, like most superpowered vigilantes, Cardiac instead targets corrupt and greedy medical corporations in revenge for the death of his brother, whom he feels they failed to save. His targeting law abiding, if immoral, citizens even brings him into conflict with other superheroes. Cardiac may not appear in the flesh, but his name can be spotted on Misty Knight’s chart in “The Defenders.” This implies that that Wirtham is still practicing medicine, rather than taking down those who withhold it.

“Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015)


Ultron may be a murderous A.I., but he does get lonely, no matter the medium. In the comics, Ultron creates Jocasta to be his companion. However, much like Vision in the film, Jocasta eventually turns against her creator to join the Avengers. Jocasta is also an artificial construct in the MCU, except, like Ultron, she’s the creation of Tony Stark. You can her name printed on one of the alternative user interfaces Tony considers after losing J.A.R.V.I.S. If Ultron does somehow return, perhaps Jocasta could appear as well.

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” (2017)


While the current roster of the roguish, extraterrestrial super team has become incredibly popular, they weren’t the first Guardians of the Galaxy in the comics. The original team members also appear in the second film in cameo roles, as members of the Ravagers. Stakar Ogord, a.k.a. Starhawk is a little hard to miss, given that he’s played by Sylvester Stallone. But the other members, including the other Starhawk, Aleta; the crystalline Martinex; massive Charlie-27; and the rest, all appear in the film. They are there paying their respects to Yondu and talking about reforming their old team.

“Jessica Jones” (2015-)


The comics have featured not only heroes who have shared the same name but also a number of villains who have done likewise. One of the versions of Carnage is Dr. Karl Malus, a scientist fixated on superhumans, who merges with the murderous symbiote. Malus’ MCU counterpart shares his comics version’s interest in people with superpowers, as his attempts to save the lives of the title character and her mother grants them both incredible abilities. However, the fact that Malus is mostly an enemy of Spider-Woman likely prevented him from becoming Carnage, as she has not appeared in the MCU yet. Also, his apparent death was another big obstacle.

“The Incredible Hulk” (2008)


The Hulk’s supporting characters have kind of gotten the short end of the stick in the MCU, but his only solo film in the franchise does feature some of them, including ones you may not have noticed. Doc Samson in the comics is also a gamma radiation powered psychiatrist turned superhero, though not quite in the same vein as the Hulk. In the MCU though, Doctor Leonard Samson is merely a psychiatrist who dates Bruce Banner’s ex, Betty Ross. He was meant to have a larger role, but many of his scenes were cut.

“Thor: Ragnarok” (2017)


This extremely colorful film also featured one of the MCU’s most colorful Easter Eggs. On Sakar, the planet where Hulk and Thor are stranded and do battle, the stadium boasts a display featuring the heads of past champions. Among these are Man-Thing, whom we also considered for this list, as well as Beta Ray Bill, a horse-like alien superhero who also wields Thor’s hammer and powers. Bill was originally intended to appear physically in a cameo, though he was ultimately cut from the film. But fear not, true believers, as he is reportedly scheduled to appear in a greater capacity in the future.

“Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011)


No, we don’t mean Johnny Storm, although Chris Evans did play that character too. Rather, we’re talking about the original Marvel Human Torch. This one is an android who could self-ignite and project fire from his hands. Beginning as a sort of misunderstood Frankenstein’s monster, the Human Torch eventually became a superhero. The fiery artificial hero appears in “The First Avenger” as an exhibit at the Stark Expo that Steve Rogers visits, where he is kept inside a glass case. Here’s hoping the MCU decides to return to the Torch and other early 20th century heroes.

“Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017)


We began our list with an alternate Spider-person and we’re ending with one too. A teenager bit by another of those pesky spiders, Miles Morales has taken up the mantle of Spider-Man in several different media. Although Miles himself does not appear in “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” his uncle Aaron Davis, is the criminal who aids Peter in getting alien guns off the street. Although Davis refers to having a nephew in the film, a deleted scene even had Davis call Miles on the phone, telling him he’s going to be late after being tied up. Given Miles’ prominence in the new cinematic Spider-Verse, here’s hoping we get to see him in the official MCU.