The Best Character in Every Phase of the MCU

Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova looking intently at something off-screen in Thunderbolts.Image via Marvel Studios

By Eddie Possehl Published 26 minutes ago Eddie Possehl is a dynamic and driven writer/director with a passion for the written word and all things film, television, comics, and games. His passion for storytelling led him to establish his own production company in hopes of achieving his dreams. His dedication to his craft has attracted renowned talent like Yuri Lowenthal to collaborate with him on his projects. As he grows and improves, Eddie is a shining example of a self-starter. Sign in to your Collider account follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Ever since it began in 2008 with Jon Favreau's Iron Man, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become one of the most popular movie franchises of all time. While the stories told in its films are incredible (for the most part — every franchise has its down moments), the highlights for audiences are, without a doubt, the characters who inhabit these fascinating worlds. Even when a film isn't perfect, the heroes who take center stage are more than enough to keep people invested.

Ever since The Avengers ended the first one in 2012, the MCU has been separated into "Phases" that make up the long line of 37 movies that form this universe. Which characters are the best in each Phase, though? It's a very hard competition, and everyone is sure to have a favorite, but there are definitely some highlights, including some who might not be what many may expect. The MCU has had some iconic characters over the years, but a few are undeniable standouts that stole the audience's hearts and became pillars of this game-changing saga.

5 Phase 1: Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg)

Phil Coulson standing looking serious with sunglasses on in The AvengersImage via Marvel Studios

S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), among all the other Avengers, managed to stand out as what many could argue as the best character in Phase One. He was around from the very start, first appearing in the very first MCU film, Iron Man, and stuck around throughout the rest of the first saga. He was so lovable, with a lighthearted, almost gentle nature, that people truly fell for him almost immediately. He was even established as a total Captain America (Chris Evans) fanboy. Coulson wasn't just fun and comedic, though, as he was also an effective S.H.I.E.L.D. agent that everyone could count on when things got real.

Once, in a behind-the-scenes interview, Tom Hiddleston said that Phil Coulson was, "... the glue of the Marvel Universe," and it couldn't be more true. Coming into the universe from the beginning, Coulson was an integral part of bringing the Avengers together, right next to Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) himself, making him absolutely vital to the formation of the MCU and one of the most beloved characters of the first Phase. He was so popular, even, that he ended up getting a television series of his own, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., after he was revived from his heroic death in The Avengers.

4 Phase 2: Steve Rogers (Chris Evans)

Having one of the best superhero trilogies out there, it only makes sense that Steve Rogers, Captain America himself, is a favorite character of one of the many MCU Phases. He specifically stands out in Phase Two, given that his second film debuted in it, which ended up being one of the best superhero films ever made. Some would even argue that Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the best in the MCU. Understandably, this reputation led to Captain America becoming a huge highlight, especially when a lot of critics and audience members claimed the movie "made Captain America cool again."

While he'd always been a compelling character, Captain America: The Winter Soldier took everything great about Steve Rogers as a human being and amplified it. His nobility, honor, dedication, and love for others stood out and made him incredibly memorable, and set him up for a great future in the MCU. He has his entire world tested and challenged in Phase Two, and it crafts him into a new version of Steve Rogers that is iconic and one of the best superhero film characters out there. He's a true leader who serves as an inspiration to people, especially when he has to go against everything he thought he believed in during the plot of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, yet still holds true to his values and morals to get the job done. He didn't give up on Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) when he became The Winter Soldier, and was steadfast as a good friend to him, always trying to save him. Audience members can watch him and feel inspiration by how they should strive to be in their lives.

3 Phase 3: Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.)

Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man snapping to end the battle in Avengers:EndgameImage via Marvel Studios

There was never any question that Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Iron Man — the godfather of the MCU — is a fan favorite and considered the best character of Phase Three. Some would argue that he's the best character in the MCU, period, but if there's a Phase where he really shines, it's the third one. Despite his trilogy being over by this point (Iron Man 3 came out in Phase Two), Tony Stark is all over Phase Three, appearing in four of the 11 films in it. He enters Captain America: Civil War as one of the antagonists/protagonists, acts as a mentor to Peter Parker (Tom Holland) in Spider-Man: Homecoming, takes to Titan to fight Thanos (Josh Brolin) in Avengers: Infinity War, and completes his arc — saving the universe — by sacrificing himself in Avengers: Endgame.

With all of this in mind, Phase Three really is Tony Stark's hours. It really feels like this third chapter is the perfect full circle for his character arc, layering his character incredibly well as he tries to change after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron. It's super interesting that even though Tony doesn't have a movie of his own in Phase Three, he really leads the charge and becomes the heart of it, as well. He has a metaphorical appearance in Spider-Man: Far From Home, too, with his legacy being vital to driving Peter Parker's character arc forward. Tony Stark and his legacy drove Phase Three and launched it into Phase Four. He's one of the most important characters in the MCU — arguably the most important, given the impact he's had — which has to make him one of the best there is.

2 Loki Laufeyson (Tom Hiddleston)

Tom Hiddleston and Sophie Di Martino in Loki

Image via Marvel Studios

If there was a standout project post-Avengers: Endgame, it was the Disney+ series, Loki. Naturally, the main character, Loki Laufeyson (Tom Hiddleston), became the highlight of Phase Four, as well. After the variant audiences know and love escaped his timeline in Avengers: Endgame, he goes through his solo series, experiencing a character arc that would craft him into an absolute fan favorite. He became someone audiences could totally get behind as a hero by helping people in the past, like when he teamed up with Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and the others at the end of Thor: Ragnarok. However, he always had something else up his sleeve.

In his series, Loki truly has a sincere and genuine character transformation that would end up changing everything come Phase Five. Even people who didn't like Loki much before (because he definitely had his die-hard fans prior) found themselves at least liking the guy or being simply compelled by him, because of how excellently Loki was written. The God of Mischief became such a great, well-written character that people are beyond excited that he gets to make a comeback in Avengers: Doomsday. Indeed, audiences are especially excited to see him hopefully reunite with Thor, as they've become so attached to this version of the character, and truly want to see him succeed.

1 Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh)

Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova smiling in Thunderbolts.

Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova in Thunderbolts.Image via Marvel Studios

Honestly, people loved Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) when she debuted in Black Widow and returned in Hawkeye, but nobody could have expected that she would become the best character of the MCU's Phase Five. She — the whole movie, really — took everyone by surprise when she took the lead role in 2025's Thunderbolts*, which ended up becoming one of the most emotionally compelling and moving superhero movies of all time. Touching on the topics of mental health, self-love, and redemption made it relatable for audiences, and Yelena, too, as a consequence. After all, the message is conveyed through her, for the most part. Yelena isn't just a funny and relatively interesting character anymore; Thunderbolts* turned her into a leading figure whom people can truly connect to on a deep, profound level.

If someone were told a few years back that Yelena was going to be leading The New Avengers, they would never believe it. It's proof, though, that with good writing, any character can become what one would consider "the best" of the MCU Phase they're taking part in. Yelena is proof that the things people have complained about with half of the movies released post-Avengers: Endgame could simply be fixed with writers who truly care and want to make their characters complex, layered, and compelling. She's the future of the MCU, not just because she's the leader of The New Avengers, but because she's the prime example of what the MCU needs post-Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. She's just like Spider-Man in the fact that the people love her for a plethora of different reasons — proof of the excellence in the writing that brought these characters to life.

Thunderbolts* PG-13 Action Science Fiction Adventure 8 10 Release Date May 2, 2025

Cast Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lewis Pullman, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, Olga Kurylenko, Geraldine Viswanathan, Wendell Pierce, Chris Bauer, Violet McGraw, Alexa Swinton, Eric Lange, Chiara Stella, Stefano Carannante, Gianfranco Terrin, Charlotte Ann Tucker, Gabrielle Byndloss, Regina Ting Chen, Mallory Hoff, Julia Aku, Clayton Cooper Runtime 127 minutes Director Jake Schreier Writers Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo Genres Action, Science Fiction, Adventure Powered by

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