The MCU has been at the forefront of the movie business since the release of Iron Man in 2008, and it has been on an unprecedented tear through cinemas worldwide. What began as a single release turned into more than 20 movies all tying into one overarching storyline, the likes of which had only been seen in comic books. Once the Infinity Saga wrapped up, Marvel quickly began working on its next phase, bringing some of its best heroes along for the ride.
Many people that got into the MCU never read the comics beforehand, meaning that their only context for these characters was what they saw all the big screen. As such, these people have no idea just how powerful some of these characters actually are. The MCU weakened some notable characters, and it is time the people know the truth.
Today, we are looking at 20 characters that were weakened in the MCU.
20 Spider-Man Moves Faster Than The Eye Can Follow In The Comics
So far in the MCU, we have gotten to see Spider-Man appear in several films and anchor two of his very own, and while we are getting a younger Peter Parker, we are also getting a weaker Peter Parker. He is capable of so much more in the comics, and we recommend people give some a read.
19 Black Panther Cannot Smell Fear In The MCU
This particular entry focuses on none other than Black Panther, the ruler and protector of Wakanda. Black Panther made his debut in Captain America: Civil War, and since then, he has become one of the most popular heroes in the MCU. He has also lost a considerable amount of power while in the MCU, notably his ability to smell fear.
18 Scarlet Witch Can Transform People In The Comics
When it comes to depowered characters in the MCU, there is perhaps no greater example than Scarlet Witch. In the comics, we have gotten to see her do things that would shatter reality, but in the MCU, she mainly does a twirly thing with her fingers while figuring her powers out.
17 Lady Sif Can Teleport In The Comics
Lady Sif is an exceptional warrior that has fought alongside Thor for years, but for some reason, the MCU decided that she was not important enough to get her full set of powers. She is much more powerful in the comics, complete with teleportation, so people that want more of her should do some reading.
16 Groot Can Communicate Through Trees In The Comics
So far in the MCU, we have seen several different versions of this character, and while Groot is as popular as any other character from the Guardians of the Galaxy films, he is also considerably weaker. Groot is capable of so much more in the comics than he is in the movies.
15 Vision Can Absorb Energy In The Comics
After being created with Vibranium, an Infinity Stone, and some power from Thor, many people assumed that we would get to see Vision unleash his full potential in the MCU. Instead, we got a character that could never put the pieces together and who wound up falling at the hands of Thanos before he could do much.
14 Nebula Has High Intelligence In The Comics
Though she would go on to play an important role in stopping Thanos, people never really got to see what Nebula was really capable of. We got a taste at times, but Nebula isn't known for her brains in the films. To say nothing of how the MCU made her play runner-up to Gamora during her time on the big screen, which is an absolute shame.
13 Winter Soldier Can Generate EMPs In The Comics
The Winter Soldier was introduced early on in the MCU before he made his transition, and while we did see him throw hands and keep up with some of the best heroes around, he would eventually be depowered and have to rely on weapons. He is much more powerful in the comics.
12 Wasp Has Bioelectric Energy Bursts In The Comics
Given that the two movies are focused on Ant-Man, it does make sense in a way that we have not gotten to see what Wasp is fully capable of. Though she has done some exceptional things in the MCU, there is still a lot to unpack, and we hope that we get to see her fight a bit more seriously in the future.
11 Thor Has Superhuman Senses In The Comics
It took so long for the MCU to actually give Thor a decent amount of power, and this was something that irked fans for years. He finally got a boost in the film Thor: Ragnarok, but this did not last long as he would let himself go and become weaker again in Avengers: Endgame.
10 Thanos Cannot Destroy A Planet With Raw Strength In The MCU
Yes, we know. Thanos is the big baddie that was able to vanquish half the life in the universe. However, this was due to him possessing the Infinity Gauntlet. In the comics, people get to see far more of this character, and they know the true extent of his natural power.
9 Doctor Strange Can Communicate With The Dead In The Comics
It appears as though the MCU wants to tiptoe to the finish line with Doctor Strange. We have seen him unleash some amazing abilities so far, but this pales in comparison to what he has done in the comics. There is hope that his next movie sees him make a leap in power, especially after his display of strength in Infinity War.
8 Captain America Can Dodge Bullets In The Comics
After taking some Super Soldier Serum, little Steve Rogers quickly becomes Captain America, and he inspires people to do good and find the hero within themselves. This is cool and all, but Cap is capable of so much more. Well, he’s gone now, so there’s that. It’s too bad we didn’t get to see him dodging some bullets.
7 Hawkeye's Nearly Inhuman Speed Is Not In The MCU
Hawkeye is not exactly the most popular character in the MCU, but there are people that appreciate what he brings to the table. We haven’t seen much from him as a whole, but fans that have read his comics know that he is capable of doing more than just shooting arrows.
6 Hulk's Limitless Strength Doesn't Exist In The MCU
One huge complaint about the MCU is the way that they have treated the Hulk. Instead of being an unstoppable force of nature, the Hulk has been depowered to an extent that some people can’t stand. In the comics, he is ferociously powerful, and we may never get to see this side of his character adapted properly.
5 Gamora Can't Survive The Vacuum Of Space In The MCU
Gamora is a fierce warrior that has shown herself to be capable on the battlefield and significantly better than her sister. While it has fit with what the MCU is doing, this is a disservice to her character from the comics. Gamora from the comics wouldn't have suffered all too much in the confines of outer space.
4 Ultron Does Not Use Energy Absorption In The MCU
Ultron was only around for one movie, but during that time, he was dropping cities from the sky and wreaking havoc on the world. While this is impressive, he has done much more in the comics, and he always finds a way to return. Turns out, the team only needed to beat him once in the MCU.
3 Star-Lord Does Not Have Superhuman Strength In The MCU
Star-Lord has become one of the most popular characters in the MCU, and this is because he has plenty of cunning and is quick-witted. He does, however, have moments that see him not realize his full potential, and fans are hopeful that the next movie he is in allows him to grow as a character.
2 Ronan The Accuser's Healing Factor Isn't In The MCU
Ronan got a decent amount of shine in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, but he was taken out by a dance-off with Star-Lord. In the comics, Ronan has unleashed fury upon plenty of people, but we never really saw that in the movies. His brief cameo in Captain Marvel didn’t show off his healing factor, either.
1 Drax Cannot Fly In The MCU
Making his debut in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, Drax was a brute that was a bit misguided at times. Sure, he has shown himself to be an exceptional warrior while taking on foes of all sizes, but in the comics, he is much more powerful than he is in the MCU. He can also fly in the comics.