10 Most Realistic Heroes In The MCU

While the MCU is an expansive superhero franchise encompassing numerous species and beings of immense power, at its core, it excels in stressing that anyone can be a hero if they behave heroically, whether they have superpowers or not. Many beloved heroes in the MCU with powers acquired them unexpectedly, from Peter Parker’s radioactive spider bite to Steve Rogers being injected with Super Soldier serum. Importantly, these people took their newly acquired abilities and used them for good, making them heroes. These origins remind audiences that these are not mystical, otherworldly beings and allow them to place themselves in their favorite heroes’ shoes more easily.

There are even more superheroes in the MCU that do not have powers at all but have been integral to saving countless lives over the years. These heroes rely on extensive physical training, mental acuity, and outstanding levels of bravery to propel them into battling some of the most dangerous threats the universe has ever seen. These heroes feel the most realistic because they demonstrate to audiences that a person does not even need radioactive spiders or Super Soldier serum to be a hero; they can just become one through hard work and dedication, which is a powerful message.

10 Black Widow Is A Skilled Assassin

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, stands out as part of the original six Avengers, as her skill set and fighting style feel the most grounded in reality. While her partners rely on super strength and flight, she makes expert use of her guns and batons and is unmatched when it comes to hand-to-hand combat. Black Widow is quick and agile, a byproduct of her assassin training, and since she often takes on larger male opponents, she knows how to use their size and strength against them, slipping around them as they attack her, only for her to knock them off balance without notice.

9 Hawkeye Is An Underrated Marksman

The Avengers (2012)

Out of the original six Avengers, Clint Barton (Hawkeye) comparatively receives the least attention, which is unfortunate because he is an invaluable asset to the team. His skills with a bow and arrow may seem a bit archaic in the 21st century until one realizes that his skill is expert precision and aim, making him stealthy and deadly. If Natasha excels at close, hand-to-hand combat, then Hawkeye is the Avengers’ sniper, taking out entire fleets of Chitauri ships and criminals from a long distance. The fact that he can cause so much damage while stationed on the rooftop of a skyscraper proves how masterful he is.

8 Kate Bishop Is A Masterclass In Hardwork And Dedication

Hawkeye (2021)

While Clint usually receives less attention, one young girl watched him fight during the Battle of New York and became his biggest fan. That young girl grew up to become 22-year-old Kate Bishop, who idolized Clint so much that she became a skilled archer as well. She trained in secret to escape the watchful eye of her disapproving mother and often screwed up, but never gave up on her dream of being just like Hawkeye, which is her most relatable and admirable quality. When she finally gets the opportunity to meet her hero, she treats him with kindness and respect, quickly earning his in the process as he teaches her new tricks.

7 Nick Fury Is An Incomparable Mastermind

Iron Man 2 (2010)

While the main heroes are admirable for their hard work and bravery, it’s important to remember that there would be no Avengers without Nick Fury. Fury is the one adamant about forming a superhero team to protect the Earth from extraterrestrial threats after he experienced first-hand how dangerous they can be in Captain Marvel. Even after Tony Stark repeatedly turns him down, Fury is undeterred and ultimately succeeds in forming the most iconic superhero team in the MCU. Fury faking his own death after realizing that HYDRA had infiltrated SHIELD further demonstrates how clever and resourceful he is, even with no powers and just one eye.

6 Peggy Carter Is A Staple Secret Agent

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

From the moment Peggy Carter is first introduced in Captain America: The First Avenger, it’s clear why Steve Rogers falls in love with her. She is level-headed, confident, and intelligent, all qualities that allow her to thrive in a male-dominated army. She knows her way around a gun, doesn’t balk in the face of danger, and doesn’t rely on anyone else to come save her, even when her life is on the line. What is most admirable about Peggy is she dedicates her entire life to helping people. She and her friend Howard Stark form SHIELD together, and she spends decades working as a decorated agent, eventually becoming its director.

5 Phil Coulson Is An Agent Worth Avenging

Thor (2011)

While Fury and Peggy are two important SHIELD agents, it is Phil Coulson who prompts the Avengers to actually behave like Avengers. Coulson was Fury’s right-hand man for many years and was instrumental in executing the Avengers initiative, gaining intel on Stark Industries and leading an investigative surveillance unit when Thor’s hammer crash lands on Mjolnir. What is most compelling about Coulson as a character is his relaxed, unintimidating demeanor. He works for one of the most important agencies in the world and is constantly thrown into unimaginable situations, but he remains calm and polite, like it’s just another day at the office, making him feel very down to Earth.

4 The Punisher Is A Tough Vigilante

Daredevil (2015-18)

With his traumatic history and penchant for brutality, Frank Castle (The Punisher) is the quintessential anti-hero. He serves as an excellent foil to Matt Murdock in Daredevil season 2, and it is there that audiences are introduced to his very black-and-white perception of the world: the only way to truly stop criminals is to end their lives, often violently. While his methods may seem extreme, they are understandable when considering the horrific loss of his family that he suffered. Many civilians praise The Punisher for actually looking out for them in ways the corrupt justice system often fails to do.

3 Shang-Chi Is A Reformed Human Weapon

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Shang-Chi is proof that a person is not their family and they are ultimately in control of their own life, not the people around them. Similar to Black Widow, Shang-Chi spent his entire childhood brutally training to become the ultimate assassin by his father, the leader of the ancient criminal organization the Ten Rings. Despite being one of the most deadly martial artists in the world, Shang-Chi escapes from his father’s clutches and lives out a simple, peaceful life as a valet driver. Though he has not fought in years, when his past catches up to him and threatens his livelihood, he immediately jumps back into action, fighting with strength and dexterity and protecting his friend Katy.

2 Mobius Is A Hardworking Family Man

Loki (2021-present)

Mobius quickly became a fan-favorite character after he debuted in Loki, and it’s clear to see why. Mobius epitomizes the mundane nature of immense power. There are so many clues in Loki season 1 that the TVA has immense power, visually represented by the drawer full of useless Infinity Stones, and Mobius plays into this idea with an infectious, carefree attitude. To Loki, Mobius is capable of incredible things, but to himself, Mobius is just an analyst. Loki season 2 reveals that Mobius maintains his relaxed attitude as a single father and salesman, selling the idea that anyone could do his job if given the chance.

1 Ironheart Is An Engineering Prodigy

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

The MCU is full of super-geniuses, but Riri Williams (Ironheart) stands out with her friendly girl-next-door demeanor. She is confident but not cocky, diligent in her studies at MIT, and devotes her free time to developing passion projects on the side. Her building of an Iron Man-inspired suit as a college student solidifies her as a prodigy as Tony Stark did not come close to building a suit like that until he was in his forties. But even with its Iron Man parallels, Riri’s suit distinctly looks and behaves the way a suit made by a college student would, unlike the futuristic nanotechnology that Tony eventually designs.