Two weeks away from the debut of the new leader for the Avengers and someone who will help lead the charge to defeat Thanos, Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel. To celebrate the entry of the MCU’s most powerful hero by looking through the best women in the universe, whether they are superpowered or not.
#9: Colleen Wing (Iron Fist, The Defenders)
Colleen (Jessica Henwick) might fit inside of some of the worst shows on the TV side of the MCU, but she manages to make the lowest points of both shows much better. A character arc that goes into some unexpected directions to build up someone who outshines and sometimes punches out the protagonist, Iron Fist (Finn Jones).
#8: Jessica Jones (Jessica Jones, The Defenders)
With an excellent first season, then the disappointing team up with her fellow heroes and a painfully atrocious second season, Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) manages to make the list due to some moving qualities that can pull your heartstrings as you watch her drink herself to sleep then witness put some thug into a coma.
Krysten’s portrayal of a character suffering from PTSD and alcoholism takes the MCU into a much more relatable and emotional state that works so well in the Netflix side of this world. Her line delivery stands as some of the best out of any actor or actress because while she does not say fuck due to Disney’s restriction on the word, she sure knows how to speak in an antagonizing tone to get that aggressive message that can only be done with the harshest of words.
#7: Misty Knight (Luke Cage, The Defenders)
A badass cop who will do her job right, but will never be afraid to get some blood on her clothes after a fight. Plenty of cops enter the MCU and tend to get in the way of the heroes. Misty (Simone Missick) strikes a perfect balance between what has been done before while taking her into directions that makes her stand out amongst the massive roster of characters.
#6: Shuri (Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War)
T’Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) might be the star of his solo flick, but his sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) stole the show. The genius princess with a great sense of humor can not only solve a major issue before Thanos’ (Josh Brolin) army swept in, but she can pack a punch with her various gadgets that will make any enemy tremble.
#5: Scarlet Witch (Age of Ultron, Civil War, Infinity War)
One of the universe’s most powerful heroes who can rip people apart if she wanted to with her mind or use psychological warfare by making people hallucinate. A widely underrated and underused hero who has plenty more potential. Depending on her future, I hope that Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) gets some better moments or a standalone film.
#4: Karen Page (Daredevil, The Punisher, The Defenders)
She only ever fights once or twice, has a lot of emotional moments, has plenty of flaws, yet I still adore Karen (Deborah Ann Woll). That loyal friend that her friends can always depend on, but she will stick to her gut when she has to do the tough thing when her peers feel the opposite.
She goes down a long path full of pain, perseverance, and being torn about supporting difficult people like her blind friend/boss Matt Murdock/Daredevil (Charlie Cox). One of my favorite arcs seen from the Marvel and Netflix collaboration.
#3: Gamora (Guardians of the Galaxy 1 and 2, Infinity War)
The voice of reason and intelligence of the Guardians. The group of misfits ties closer to anti-hero due to their criminal backgrounds, but Gamora (Zoe Saldana) holds them together with her logic while still packing a punch just as strong as the rest of them.
Her journey with Thanos makes her background story one of the most compelling, especially with the events of Infinity War and what could happen in the future when Endgame releases. She has the bronze and brains, while still having plenty of flaws due to this troubled past with her “father” that flesh her out as more than just a smart ass kicker.
#2: Black Widow (Iron Man 2, Avengers, Age of Ultron, Infinity War, Winter Soldier, Civil War)
Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) has always run up in front of the action as a major face in the MCU. While plenty of chemistry works well with each of the Avengers, her interactions both on and off the battlefield are some of the most enjoyable out of everyone that has been established so far. She has had her time as a potential lover of Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) to helping Captain America (Chris Evans) take down the Hydra infested S.H.I.E.L.D.
Somehow the agent has not gotten her standalone adventure yet, but it is finally coming one of these days. Since the early days, she has had a strong presence but felt restricted due to her male counterparts. With the shift happening, hopefully, male and female heroes become just heroes.
#1: Claire Temple (Daredevil, Luke Cage, The Defenders, Jessica Jones)
While Claire (Rosario Dawson) is the unsung hero of the MCU by keeping alive the entirety of the Defenders. A nurse who lands into this world without wanting to decides to do the right thing to help these superpowered vigilantes.
Maybe if any TV crossover does happen, think of Claire first because our main heroes may need some medical attention after defeating Thanos.
Who are some of your favorite ladies in the MCU?
Tristan Zelden 