TOP 5 CHARACTER MOMENTS OF THE MCU

By John Campbell | 

Much has been said about the massive success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, without question the biggest franchise in pop culture. There are many theories as to what has led to this success, in my opinion it’s the characters. Fans all over the world have fallen in love with the amazing collection of characters that populate the MCU and they keep coming back for more. Here now is the list of the five greatest individual character moments of the MCU (SPOILERS ABOUND): 

5. Captain Marvel Realizes Her Powers 

Throughout the runtime of Captain Marvel Carol Danvers is told she must learn to control her powers or she’ll have them taken away. Eventually she comes to learn that her powers are not a gift from the duplicitous Kree empire but instead she has had immense power within her the whole time. This triggers a montage of all the times Carol has fallen down and more importantly shows that she always gets back up. Recovering from failure to stand taller and stronger than ever before is a powerful and important message we all need to learn and it endeared the audience to Carol. 

4. Spider-Man Chooses Responsibility

“With great power comes great responsibility” is the oft mentioned motto of Spider-Man. It’s one thing to say it, it’s another to actually live it. Spider-Man: Homecoming gives Peter a chance to prove that he is the hero he’s been trying to be. Near the end of the film having learned his girlfriend’s father is actually the super villain Vulture, Peter is presented with a choice to let him go and enjoy the school dance or chase after him and risk both his life and his relationship. Peter makes the heroic choice and rushes out of the dance to don his costume and stop Vulture. He sacrifices his own happiness to save the day, something Spider-Man has been forced to do for decades in comics and proves why he’s a hero worth looking up to. 

3. Hawkeye Recruits Scarlet Witch

In the climax of Avengers: Age Of Ultron Wanda a.k.a. Scarlet Witch has taken refuge in a building amidst the superhero on robot battle that swirls around her. Hawkeye enters and spends a scene explaining to her the absurdity and necessity of the Avengers. “The city is flying and I have a bow and arrow, none of this makes sense. But I’m going out there because it’s my job.” Clint is amazing at framing the weight of wearing the “A” on your costume. Wanda can choose not to use her powers and hide in the shadows or she can join the fight. “If you walk out those doors, you are an Avenger.” This pep talk sets up the awesome reveal of Wanda fully embracing her ability and kicking some serious robot ass. Sometimes it takes the most human and down to earth guy to inspire the most powerful member of the team. 

2. Black Panther Confronts Zemo

Captain America: Civil War is one of the darkest chapters of the MCU. It features the complete fracturing of the Avengers as Baron Zemo sets them up to destroy each other. Black Panther starts out on a mission of vengeance after his father’s murder. However, when finally confronting the killer he realizes the hollowness of what he is trying to do. Having seen the way that violence and rage has torn apart Steve and Tony, he retracts his claws and chooses to arrest Zemo instead of killing him. “Vengeance has consumed them, I’m done letting it consume me.” He takes this one step farther by stopping Zemo from committing suicide, he will not allow this man to escape justice. This arc not only defines the character so well but plays a big role in the demeanor he possesses at the center of his own solo film. 

1.Cap Is Worthy

Captain America is the heart of the Avengers, ever the square jawed hero who is driven by a call to righteousness. Over the course of the MCU movies we constantly saw Steve Rogers sacrifice himself time and time again for the good of the many. It’s why audiences all over the world screamed with joy when that belief in good is finally rewarded in Avengers: Endgame. During the final battle with Thanos when all seems lost we see Thor’s hammer lift up, hit Thanos and then return to the hand of Captain America. If anyone in the universe is worthy of lifting that hammer (other than Thor) it had to be Steve. It also paid off another great character moment in Age Of Ultron where Steve was able to move the hammer just a small amount. This scene confirmed everything fans had felt about Steve’s character throughout the films. 

This is but a taste of the moments big and small that has endeared millions of moviegoers to this wonderful universe of characters. With Marvel starting things up again and expanding their universe some more there will be many moments to look forward to in the future.