10 Coolest Marvel Hero Debuts You’ve Totally Missed If You’ve Only Been Watching The MCU

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been responsible for some of the most popular live-action superheroes in the world, many exciting versions of Marvel characters debuted outside the MCU, and they did not need the franchise to make a splash. Kevin Feige continues to get exciting new players for the MCU’s upcoming projects, with no end in sight for the MCU. After all, with characters like the Fantastic Four, Doctor Doom, and the X-Men on the way, the MCU can go on for more than another decade.

Since 2008’s Iron Man, many characters from the comics have come to the MCU. Be it major players like Spider-Man or smaller names like Yelena Belova, the MCU’s popular movies and TV shows have done a great job of establishing many characters for movie audiences. However, both before and during the MCU’s tenure, exciting heroes and villains came to live-action outside the franchise, and here are the best debuts outside the franchise — in no particular order.

10

Blade

Played By Wesley Snipes – Blade (1998)

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First up is the hero who is one of the most important for live-action superhero movies. Wesley Snipes’ Blade helped usher in the modern era of superhero films, being released before Fox’s X-Men franchise and director Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man movie. Snipes excelled as Blade.

The actor’s first scene as Eric Brooks is a classic. Being the epic vampire hunter that he is, Blade finds himself in an underground nightclub and saves a man from being killed by vampires. After that, a bloodbath ensues as the Marvel hero starts to violently kill vampires all around him.

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Blade

R

Action

Horror

Sci-Fi

ScreenRant logo

8/10

7.5/10

Release Date

August 21, 1998

Runtime

120 Minutes

Cast

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    Wesley Snipes

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The rest of the 1998 movie follows suit. Blade is a character who has no problem getting his hands dirty and even revels in it. Snipes makes the character one of Marvel’s coolest live-action heroes. He is sublime in his hunt.

9

Deadpool

Played By Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool (2016)

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Deadpool is a special case, of which there are a few on the list. While Ryan Reynolds’ Marvel character is likely set to be one of the faces of the MCU after joining the franchise in Deadpool & Wolverine, he started elsewhere. Fox did great with Deadpool.

Deadpool, Captain Marvel, and Loki in the MCU

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Well, at least when the studio really tried. 2016’s Deadpool brought a comic book-accurate version of Wade Wilson to life. The tragic backstory, sleek red and black costume, violent action, and raunchy humor were all there. With Reynolds in the role, Deadpool jumped right out of the comics to live-action.

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Deadpool

R

Superhero

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Fantasy

Sci-Fi

ScreenRant logo

8/10

55

9.2/10

Release Date

February 9, 2016

Runtime

108 Minutes

Cast

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    Ryan Reynolds

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Marvel fans who only watched MCU films missed out on one of the most hilarious and action-packed superhero films of all time. Deadpool showed that the genre should look more at R-rated projects. Now, the MCU is reaping the success of the foundation the movie established.

8

The Punisher

Played By Jon Bernthal – Daredevil Season 2 (2016)

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The Punisher comes from the first TV show on the list. While there were other versions of the character in live-action before him, Jon Bernthal made Frank Castle his own. From his very first scene in Daredevil season 2, it was clear that this Punisher was special.

Jon Bernthal will finally return as the Punisher in Marvel Studios’ Daredevil: Born Again, which premieres March 4 on Disney+.

Netflix’s The Defenders Saga did a great job of grounding its heroes and adding hard-hitting emotion. Bernthal’s Punisher fought his demons in Daredevil season 2 and his subsequent The Punisher series. Daredevil and the Punisher’s rooftop and cemetery conversations are some of the best among Marvel heroes in live-action.

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Daredevil

Action

Superhero

ScreenRant logo

8/10

37

9.1/10

Release Date

2015 – 2017

Showrunner

Steven S. DeKnight

Cast

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There were two sides to Bernthal’s performance as the Punisher in Daredevil season 2. Sure, there were action sequences that showed he nailed Frank Castle’s physicality. However, he truly sang in the quieter moments, with Castle’s tragic backstory and dark outlook on life making him complex and relatable.

7

Jessica Jones

Played By Krysten Ritter – Jessica Jones Season 1 (2015)

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The Netflix Marvel shows allowed fans to be introduced to many street-level heroes. Besides Daredevil and the Punisher, the one that stood out the most was Jessica Jones. Krysten Ritter made the character’s no-nonsense attitude pop on the small screen, with Jessica being fierce and direct.

Jessica’s story was tied to one of the best live-action Marvel villains.

The P.I. angle for the character was true to the comics and added a new element to live-action superhero stories. Jessica Jones was presented as a great investigator who had an alcohol problem to deal with. This kept her unpredictable and always near danger.

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Marvel’s Jessica Jones

Superhero

Crime

ScreenRant logo

7/10

9.2/10

Release Date

2015 – 2018

Network

Netflix

Cast

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  • Krysten Ritter

    Krysten Ritter

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    David Tennant

Showrunner

Melissa Rosenberg

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Jessica’s story was tied to one of the best live-action Marvel villains. David Tennant’s Kilgrave and his mind control powers made Jessica Jones season 1 one of Marvel’s darkest offerings. Jessica overcoming her trauma, killing the man who controlled her, and rising to become a hero was epic.

6

Quicksilver

Played By Evan Peters – X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

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Fox’s X-Men movies faced some issues as the years went by. However, there were still some outstanding films and characters in the younger franchise. Evan Peters’ take on Quicksilver was so good that Marvel Studios even brought him to the MCU to pretend he was Quicksilver.

Before he joined WandaVision, Peters appeared in multiple X-Men movies. However, his first entry in the franchise is the most remembered, as it led to one of the most iconic scenes in superhero movie history. When Charles Xavier, Magneto, Wolverine, and Quicksilver are surrounded by guards, the fun starts.

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X-Men: Days of Future Past

pg-13

Action

Sci-Fi

ScreenRant logo

8/10

7/10

Release Date

May 22, 2014

Runtime

132minutes

Cast

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    Hugh Jackman

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Evan Peters’ Quicksilver ran so fast that everything around him slowed down. He was able to take out guards and save his friends from bullets with ease in one of the best X-Men movie sequences. Quicksilver’s potential was showcased nicely, and the franchise would repeat that scene later on.

5

The Fantastic Four

Played By Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans, Jessica Alba, And Michael Chiklis – Fantastic Four (2005)

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Marvel Studios has just released the first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The movie marks the first time that the team comes together to the MCU, making it a major event. However, there have been previous live-action adaptations of the Fantastic Four.

While it might not be as epic as some MCU entries, 2005’s Fantastic Four is a solid, fun film that tells the team’s origin story. The casting was great for all four heroes, and they had plenty of chemistry. That made the Fantastic Four feel like a real family, just like they should be.

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Fantastic Four

PG-13

Action

Fantasy

Science Fiction

ScreenRant logo

4/10

15

7.8/10

Release Date

June 29, 2005

Runtime

106 minutes

Cast

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    Ioan Gruffudd

    Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic

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The movie also had great CGI for its time. All of the Fantastic Four’s powers worked onscreen and led to exciting fights. While it was surely cheesy, like other 2000s superhero films, Fantastic Four offers a great introduction to the Marvel team.

4

Wolverine

Played By Hugh Jackman – X-Men (2000)

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Like Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine joined the MCU last year. While the actor’s future in the franchise is unknown, Deadpool & Wolverine grossing $1.3 billion worldwide points to Marvel Studios wanting him to stay. The character’s popularity is a testament to Jackman’s career.

The actor started his time as Wolverine 25 years ago. The first X-Men movie is a classic. It did a phenomenal job of introducing many of the team’s members. However, Jackman’s Wolverine stood out. Both in fight scenes and slower moments, he managed to shine.

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X-Men

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Superhero

11

9/10

Release Date

July 14, 2000

Runtime

104 Minutes

Cast

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    Hugh Jackman

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Wolverine’s gruff attitude but kind heart made him a complex character. His cool style and violent fights helped draw the audience to him. After stealing the show in 2000’s X-Men, Wolverine would become the main character of the film franchise, which decreased Cyclops’ role.

3

Spider-Man

Played By Tobey Maguire – Spider-Man (2002)

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Spider-Man is Marvel’s most popular hero, be it the comics, movies, or anywhere else. The wall-crawler’s first journey to the big screen happened to be in one of the most influential films in the genre. Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man movie made Tobey Maguire many fans’ favorite Marvel stars to this day.

2002’s Spider-Man showed Peter Parker’s comic book-accurate origin story. The film had all the necessary beats to make it a resounding success. Characters like Harry Osborn and Mary Jane Watson, Uncle Ben’s sad death and iconic speech, a gripping villain with the Green Goblin, and dynamic CGI.

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Spider-Man

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Superhero

ScreenRant logo

9/10

14

9.2/10

Release Date

May 3, 2002

Runtime

121 Minutes

Cast

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    Tobey Maguire

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Spider-Man is a thrilling movie that made people care for Peter Parker and the struggles of living two separate lives. The hero was relatable and charismatic. Years later, the MCU brought back Maguire for a multiverse crossover, and the upcoming Avengers movies could reunite the three cinematic Spider-Men.

2

Magneto

Played By Michael Fassbender – X-Men: First Class (2011)

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There have been two versions of Magento in live-action. While Ian McKellen was great in the role, there is just something about Michael Fassbender’s performance as the villain that has made him even more popular than the original actor. Magneto is a very complex character.

Typically a villain, there are many sides to him. In Fox’s younger X-Men timeline, Fassbender was able to explore many of them, making his Magneto one of the most nuanced live-action Marvel characters. Erik Lehnsherr’s debut in the younger X-Men franchise saw him change as X-Men: First Class went on.

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Spider-Man

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Superhero

ScreenRant logo

9/10

14

9.2/10

Release Date

May 3, 2002

Runtime

121 Minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Tobey Maguire IN The Global Premiere Screening Of Paramount Pictures 'Babylon'

    Tobey Maguire

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Starting as a hero working alongside Charles Xavier, vengeance and hate towards mankind’s treatment of mutants changed the character. Magneto’s descent into villainy was tragic. His debut showed the character’s tragic backstory in World War II and how he stands up to anyone who tries to do to others what he suffered.

1

X-23

Played By Dafne Keen – Logan (2017)

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Finally, Dafne Keen’s X-23 makes it five Deadpool & Wolverine characters on the list. Before joining the MCU last year, the actress made her Marvel debut in the film that was thought to be Hugh Jackman’s final outing as Wolverine, Logan. The R-rated nature of the movie allowed X-23 to stand out.

X-Men Movies In Release Order

X-Men (2000)

X2: X-Men United (2003)

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

X-Men: First Class (2011)

The Wolverine (2013)

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Deadpool (2016)

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

Logan (2017)

Deadpool 2 (2018)

Dark Phoenix (2019)

The New Mutants (2020)

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Made from Wolverine’s DNA, X-23 had Adamantium claws just like him, and despite being a kid, she was very skilled with them. In the action department, the mutant’s bloody fights ensured that she would be one of the film’s standouts. However, X-23’s story and Keen’s acting made her someone audiences want to spend a lot of time with.

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Logan

R

Action

Sci-Fi

Superhero

ScreenRant logo

8/10

45

8.7/10

Release Date

March 3, 2017

Runtime

137 Minutes

Cast

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  • Hugh Jackman Profile Picture

    Hugh Jackman

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    Patrick Stewart

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Jackman’s Wolverine was old and cynical in the movie. Laura still had hopes and dreamed of a better life for her, and she brought that child’s innocence, even though she tried to hide it under a harder exterior, into Wolverine’s life. Their dynamic was heartwarming, making X-23 one of the best Marvel characters to debut in live-action outside the MCU.

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    Captain America: Brave New World

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    February 14, 2025

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    Thunderbolts*

    Release Date

    May 2, 2025

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    The Fantastic Four: First Steps

    Release Date

    July 25, 2025

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    Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

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    Spider-Man Homecoming 4

    Release Date

    July 24, 2026

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    Release Date

    May 7, 2027

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