Do You Agree These Are the 10 Most Underrated MCU Characters?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe spans movies and series that connect stories across Earth, the cosmos, and many timelines. Across this web of projects, a wide group of characters move plots forward, unlock key information, and carry major responsibilities that are easy to miss if you only follow the big team ups.

This list gathers ten figures who consistently shape events across multiple entries. You will find details on first appearances, abilities, affiliations, and where to watch their most important moments, so you can trace how each character fits into the larger MCU puzzle.

Wong

Benedict Wong first appears in ‘Doctor Strange’ as the Kamar Taj librarian and later becomes Sorcerer Supreme during the period when Stephen Strange is unavailable. He plays a central coordination role in ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ by evaluating ring energy readings and in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ by managing magical fallout in New York. His presence continues in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’ as he organizes sorcerers for large scale battles.

Wong trains practitioners in the mystic arts, maintains protections at Kamar Taj, and performs portal based logistics during crises. He shows up in ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ to address a parole issue related to Emil Blonsky and demonstrates interdimensional knowledge that links separate story threads across films and series.

Mantis

Pom Klementieff debuts in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ with empath abilities that read emotions and induce sleep. She supports the Guardians in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’ with crowd control that affects high level threats. Her backstory connects to Ego, which adds context to Peter Quill and the Guardians timeline.

Mantis expands her story in ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ where her powers and family ties receive more screen time. She regularly travels with the team and contributes reconnaissance and non lethal control during missions that require calm resolution.

Heimdall

Idris Elba portrays the Asgardian sentry who controls the Bifrost and monitors activity across realms starting with ‘Thor’. Heimdall uses enhanced senses to track events at interstellar distances and acts on threats that target Asgard in ‘Thor: The Dark World’ and ‘Thor: Ragnarok’. He coordinates evacuations and protects civilians during major attacks.

Heimdall appears in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ during a vision that foreshadows future conflicts and in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ where he sends an ally to Earth with the Bifrost. A mid credits scene in ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ places him in Valhalla, which situates his legacy within Asgardian culture and confirms continued relevance in afterlife lore.

Nakia

Lupita Nyong’o plays Nakia, a War Dog operative introduced in ‘Black Panther’. She conducts intelligence work beyond Wakanda’s borders, supports the mission to Busan, and participates in the final battle by coordinating with Dora Milaje leadership. Her experience outside the Golden City provides the film with a view of Wakandan outreach and humanitarian action.

In ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Nakia operates from Haiti and undertakes a rescue that changes the course of the conflict with Talokan. The film also reveals her family connection to T’Challa which establishes a new line within the royal narrative and anchors future stories to an international setting.

Kraglin Obfonteri

Sean Gunn appears as Kraglin with the Ravagers in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’. He serves on Yondu’s crew, later inherits the Yaka arrow fin, and begins training with the whistling control technique. He provides piloting and communications during operations that involve Knowhere and deep space travel.

Kraglin returns in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ during the final rally and continues with the team in ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’. His arc documents the transition from crew member to responsible defender of Knowhere as he learns to coordinate evacuation and defense against large threats.

Jimmy Woo

Randall Park’s Jimmy Woo enters the MCU through federal oversight work and appears prominently in ‘WandaVision’. He partners with Darcy Lewis and Monica Rambeau to analyze the Westview anomaly, uses close up magic he practiced earlier, and helps expose the broadcast signal that identifies Wanda’s creation. His procedural approach links various agencies during the incident.

Jimmy returns for a brief appearance in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’, which maintains his connection to Scott Lang after earlier supervision. Across projects he represents the federal side of superhero oversight, showing chain of command, interagency cooperation, and practical field methods during unusual events.

Luis

Michael Peña plays Luis, who enters with ‘Ant-Man’ as Scott Lang’s close friend and partner. He helps form X-Con Security Consultants and provides transportation, equipment, and client outreach during jobs that require specialized access. His rapid fire storytelling delivers accurate summaries that convey who knows what and when.

Luis assists the team during ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ with diversions, sales pitches, and a truth serum scene that exposes key information. He does not appear in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’, which makes his earlier support roles the main reference for his contributions to Scott’s operations and small business storyline.

M’Baku

Winston Duke portrays M’Baku, leader of the Jabari Tribe, who first challenges T’Challa in ‘Black Panther’. He later aids Wakanda against the Border Tribe insurrection and lends forces to the defense of the capital. His decisions shape intertribal politics and show how the mountain tribe balances tradition and national security.

M’Baku fights in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’ as part of the Wakandan front and returns in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’. By the end of that film he stands in the arena during a leadership challenge, which positions him within the future governance of Wakanda and signals a formal role in policy and defense.

Monica Rambeau

Teyonah Parris steps in as Monica Rambeau in ‘WandaVision’ where crossing the Westview boundary alters her cells and grants energy based abilities. She works with SWORD on the ground, enters the Hex to reach Wanda, and participates in the final confrontation while demonstrating new powers. Her background connects directly to Maria Rambeau and the Pegasus Program.

Monica advances to feature status in ‘The Marvels’ alongside Carol Danvers and Kamala Khan. She demonstrates energy absorption, phased movement, and flight while coordinating with allies across multiple locations. Her arc sets up scientific exploration of rifts and alternate realities that link to other branches of the Marvel story map.

Phil Coulson

Clark Gregg’s Phil Coulson appears in ‘Iron Man’, ‘Iron Man 2’, and ‘Thor’ to manage early phase contacts and cover stories for SHIELD. In ‘The Avengers’ his confrontation with Loki becomes a pivotal moment that galvanizes the team. He serves as the connective tissue that explains how disparate heroes end up on the same mission set.

Coulson leads ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ on television, where Project TAHITI and later seasons detail his recovery, command structure, and missions against HYDRA and other threats. The series explores SHIELD field operations, alien artifacts, and time travel, which broadens the institutional view of the MCU beyond the primary film roster.

Share your picks for overlooked MCU standouts in the comments and let everyone know who you would add to the list.