Phase 1 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe might have consisted of just six movies, but it actually wasted some of its most exciting characters in this time span. The very beginning of the MCU’s movie timeline came in 2008, when Iron Man established the foundations for the groundbreaking shared cinematic universe. In the years since, the MCU has grown in both scope and success, proving itself one of the most lucrative franchises ever created, and earning record-breaking sums at the box office multiple times over.

Phase 1 of the MCU laid the groundwork for that success, though it didn’t do so perfectly. In fact, there were many characters that the early movies of the MCU failed, either by killing them off too early or simply not fleshing them out in the way that they deserved. Others still had mᴀssive potential to return to the franchise, only to have that possibility squandered by subsequent movies. Even 13 years after it ended, I still can’t believe how badly Phase 1 failed the following eight MCU characters.

8

Agent Phil Coulson

Introduced in: Iron Man (2008)

When it comes to MCU deaths with the biggest impact, few characters stand out like Agent Phil Coulson. The SHIELD agent’s death in The Avengers was the catalyst for the original team of Avengers to finally begin working together, though it’s impossible to deny that the MCU movies wasted the character. Coulson’s death might have been important to the franchise itself, but it was still a waste of an interesting and popular character with heaps of potential.

Coulson’s return in Agents of SHIELD proved somewhat controversial, but it further highlighted just how much Phase 1 of the MCU wasted the character. There were so many stories left for Coulson to be involved in, and so many facets of the SHIELD agent still to explore. Considering that Marvel later acknowledged the waste by resurrecting him – but ultimately never bringing him back to the MCU movies themselves – Coulson’s death is, without a doubt, one of the biggest wasted opportunities in the early MCU.

7

Justin Hammer

Introduced in: Iron Man 2 (2010)

Though he may not have played the largest part in Iron Man’s MCU story, Justin Hammer is another character that was wasted by the early movies of the franchise. Making his first appearance in 2010’s Iron Man 2, Justin Hammer was established as Tony Stark’s main business rival who coveted the designs for his Iron Man armor. However, his MCU story seemed to end abruptly with his arrest at the end of the movie, and he has only made very limited appearances since.

Though Hammer is reportedly set to return in Armor Wars, his long absence from the MCU’s limelight is a waste. Sam Rockwell is one of the most talented actors to have appeared in the MCU, and he was one of the brightest aspects of Iron Man 2. Considering the movie ended with him alive, the way that Phase 1 and the MCU’s subsequent years wasted Hammer seems especially frustrating.

6

The Warriors Three

Introduced in: Thor (2011)

Over the course of Thor’s MCU story, the God of Thunder has worked alongside many supporting characters, though his first – and, presumably, oldest – friends in the franchise were not used effectively at all. First appearing in 2011’s Thor, the Warriors Three fought alongside Thor at multiple points during the movie. Sadly, this was fated to be their most important MCU appearance, as they were subsequently sidelined before being unceremoniously killed off in later movies.

The Warriors Three might not have died in Phase 1 of the MCU, but it did serve as their most substantial appearance in the franchise to date. Hogun, Fandral, and Volstagg were introduced as Thor’s best and most trusted allies, only for the MCU to swiftly forget about them. Despite setting decent groundwork for the characters to reappear, Phase 1 tied off the story of the Warriors Three with such finality that they never seemed to be needed in the MCU ever again.

5

Abomination

Introduced in: The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Though Hulk’s story in the MCU has seen him face many powerful foes, his first outing in the franchise saw him come up against one of his most iconic nemeses: Abomination. While tracking Bruce Banner, Emil Blonsky willingly undergoes the same Gamma process as the scientist, transforming him into the creature known as Abomination. Tim Roth’s performance in The Incredible Hulk might leave a little to be desired, but that didn’t stop Abomination from being incredibly interesting.

As Abomination shared many similarities with Hulk, his characterization was an interesting one for the MCU. It seemingly set up an examination of Banner and Blonsky’s respective natures to determine why they transformed into such different beings, but Abomination was simply captured and has only occasional appearances since. Considering the underwhelming CGI used in The Incredible Hulk and the movie’s nonsensical ending, it would appear that Phase 1 wasted Abomination in many ways.

4

Betty Ross

Introduced in: The Incredible Hulk (2008)

One of the most prominent love interests in Phase 1 of the MCU was Betty Ross, who made her debut in the franchise alongside Edward Norton’s Bruce Banner. Her appearance in The Incredible Hulk established her as one of the most important people in Banner’s life, though the character was far from one of the MCU’s most interesting. The unimaginative iteration of Betty Ross was somewhat underwhelming, and she did not feature in subsequent movies in the Infinity Saga.

Looking back on her appearance in The Incredible Hulk, it seems that Phase 1 of the MCU wasted the character of Betty Ross. She was written to be largely unimportant in the franchise’s wider narrative and, as such, was left out of future MCU movies. Considering her consistent role in Hulk’s comic book stories, her first appearance in the MCU significantly wasted her potential.

3

Doc Samson

Introduced in: The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Phase 1 of the MCU introduced a wealth of supporting characters from the comics, many of whom had significant potential to play a major role in the franchise. Of those introduced in The Incredible Hulk, one of the most notably frustrating was Doc Samson, played by Ty Burrell. In the movie, Leonard Samson is introduced as Bruce Banner’s romantic rival, though his idenтιтy alone teased his future as a gamma-infused hero.

Unlike other similar characters in the movie, such as Samuel Sterns, Doc Samson’s transformation was not set up. Instead, his appearance was an incredibly minor one, serving only as a tertiary supporting character for a couple of scenes. Weighing up his MCU portrayal against his comic book counterpart, it’s impossible to deny that the MCU’s Phase 1 wasted the character of Doc Samson considerably.

2

The Original Human Torch

Introduced in: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

One of the most subtle teases in Phase 1 of the MCU was the inclusion of the original Human Torch, glimpsed briefly during the Stark Expo in 1942. The reference to an older and lesser-known Marvel hero was an excellent piece of fan service to those fans well-versed in the comics, and seemed to hint that the android known as the Human Torch would make a full appearance in the MCU. However, the character, dubbed in his brief appearance as “the synthetic man”, has yet to return.

Considering the Human Torch’s connection to the creation of Vision, it would seem that the MCU’s chance to include the hero has pᴀssed. Despite the tease being an interesting deep cut into Marvel Comics history, and seemingly setting up the appearance of the android hero, it was destined never to be fully explored. As such, the original Human Torch is yet another character that was wasted by a brief appearance in the MCU’s Phase 1.

1

Red Skull

Introduced in: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Introduced in Captain America: The First Avenger alongside the movie’s eponymous hero, the Red Skull made his MCU debut early in the MCU’s timeline. However, the movie ended with Red Skull’s apparent death and Captain America being frozen and revived in the future. The Red Skull made only two further appearances in the Infinity Saga, both brief and in a supporting capacity as the guardian of the Soul Stone.

Considering the villain’s status as Captain America’s long-standing nemesis, and the many stories in which he was pitted against Steve Rogers, it has become clear that Red Skull was wasted by his ending in Phase 1. Though he may not have been permanently killed, he was removed from the MCU’s narrative until Steve Rogers’ ending, and has been seemingly placed to be unable to fully return as a major antagonist. As such, the Red Skull’s portrayal might be the biggest waste of any character in Phase 1 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Captain America: Brave New World

  Release Date

  
  February 14, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Thunderbolts*

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  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
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  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

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  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

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  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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