The Best New MCU Characters Introduced In 2021

Marvel Studios added some excellent new characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021, and here are the best new heroes and villains audiences met. Due to massive delays caused by COVID-19, the start of Phase 4 was pushed from 2020. This resulted in nine MCU projects releasing throughout 2021, with the premiere of WandaVision and the finale of Hawkeye serving as the beginning and end of Marvel’s nearly endless content stream. All of these properties were used to flesh out existing characters and introduce new ones.

MCU viewers began 2021 by exploring Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. Scarlet Witch’s grief in WandaVision, and then witnessed Sam Wilson’s rise to become Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The release of Loki explored a new version of Tom Hiddleston’s trickster in the multiverse before Marvel brought the MCU back down to Earth for Natasha Romanoff’s solo adventure in Black Widow. Audiences then went back to the multiverse with Marvel’s What If…? prior to exploring the mysticism of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Marvel then took audiences further into the past with Eternals, began a Christmas-set adventure in Hawkeye, and wrapped up the year with a multiversal celebration of Spider-Man with Spider-Man: No Way Home.

In many cases, the MCU 2021 movies and shows elevated characters audiences were already familiar with. WandaVision turned adult Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) into a superhero, while The Falcon and The Winter Soldier made Baron Zemo (Daniel Brühl) a more compelling villain for the future. Meanwhile, Wilson Fisk a.k.a Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio) returned in Hawkeye, and Matt Murdock a.k.a. Daredevil (Charlie Cox) officially came back in Spider-Man: No Way Home. However, one of the highlights of any new MCU project are the new characters that are introduced. 2021 delivered some immediately memorable heroes and villains, many of whom can return in the future after their stellar debuts. Here are the best new MCU characters of 2021.

Honorable Mentions: Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), Druig (Barry Keoghan), Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Thena (Angelina Jolie), Wenwu (Tony Leung)

10. Isaiah Bradley

Isaiah Bradley only had a small role in the grand scheme of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but Carl Lumbly made the most of bringing the first Black Captain America to the MCU. His role included some exciting teases, such as him fighting the Winter Soldier previously, but there is much more to his story. Isaiah Bradley entered the storyline as Sam Wilson looked for more information on what happened with the super-soldier serum in the past. This is where Isaiah’s tragic backstory of government experiments and imprisonment were revealed, which mirrored the real experience of Black men with the Tuskegee syphilis study in 1932. Lumbly delivered a memorable performance during all of his appearances, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier solidified Isaiah Bradley as one of the best new MCU characters by having Sam make sure people remember his name moving forward.

9. Maya Lopez a.k.a. Echo

Alaqua Cox’s MCU debut as Maya Lopez also quickly saw her become a great new addition to the shared universe. Not only is Maya part of Marvel’s continued efforts to increase the diversity of its characters (since she is both deaf and an amputee), but Hawkeye made her instantly compelling as an anti-hero. Cox brought a powerful demeanor to Maya, and the character’s backstory even resulted in some understanding for her desire to kill Clint Barton. Viewers relating to her as she tried to kill an original Avenger and his new partner illustrates just how impactful Echo was in her debut. It is no wonder that Marvel Studios gave one of its best new MCU characters a spinoff show already.

8. Xialing

Xialing (Meng’er Zhang) left a lasting impression on viewers when she debuted in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. She starts out as the leader of an underground fighting tournament and finishes the film as a future MCU villain. Xialing’s journey to get to that point includes her reuniting with her brother, and while the two seem to reconcile their differences during the film, Shang-Chi‘s ending shows that she is on her own path. With her origin involving pushing herself to be better than any of her father’s male students, Xialing’s motivation, ambition, and skills make her a lethal force. Those qualities paired with Zhang’s fierce and funny performance show why she’s one of the MCU’s best new characters of 2021. The impact of Xialing’s debut can even be seen with the constant hopes that she’ll lead a Disney+ series focused on her revamped Ten Rings organization.

7. Kang the Conqueror

Jonathan Majors’ debut as Kang the Conqueror came as a surprise in Loki‘s season 1 finale. Known as He Who Remains for this appearance, Majors immediately made Kang a charismatic and terrifying foe for the MCU’s future. This version of Kang the Conqueror let Majors’ range as a performer shine, as he infused He Who Remains with some oddities and a unique energy. Loki might not have shown Kang in action, but him having control over the Sacred Timeline teased how powerful he really is. And with Majors set to return to play different versions of Kang in other MCU properties, the glimpse of his portrayal offered here is an exciting promise of what is still to come.

6. Mobius M. Mobius

The addition of Owen Wilson’s Mobius M. Mobius in Loki was an absolute treat. The TVA agent had his loyalty and morality tested throughout the series, and it was through Loki‘s story that he became a close friend of Tom Hiddleston’s God of Mischief. Their chemistry was sublime and made it all the more heartbreaking when it appeared Mobius died. The charm of Owen Wilson’s MCU character comes from the actor’s natural quirks and humor, but Mobius’ loyalty, ability to see the best in people, and love of jetskis also made him such a standout. While Mobius’ future might see Wilson play a new version of the TVA agent, viewers and Loki will never forget the original version.

5. Sylvie

Loki used the ideas of variants to also bring a female version of the trickster to life with Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino). An agent of chaos just like the MCU’s main Loki, Sylvie entered the Disney+ show as a huge threat to the TVA and the multiverse. Her tragic backstory of being plucked from her timeline and spending the next several years of her life living alone across the multiverse fueled Sylvie’s desire to take down the TVA. Di Martino did an excellent job bringing this story to life, and her chemistry with Hiddleston even brought many viewers to root for the two Loki variants to fall in love. Her hatred for the person responsible for ruining her life even led to the Sacred Timeline unraveling and betraying Loki. 2021 was only the beginning of Sylvie’s MCU story, and her appearance left many wanting to see much more.

4. Shang-Chi

Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi connected with audiences around the world when he debuted in 2021. A reluctant hero at heart who spent the better part of adulthood hiding from who he really is, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings proved just how great of a hero he is and will continue to be. The mix of Shang-Chi’s dark past as an assassin and the fun-loving side of his personality that took shape during his time in America gave Liu a complex character to explore. The importance of leading the first Asian-led Marvel superhero movie wasn’t lost on him either, and it is safe to say audiences responded quite positively to Shang-Chi. It certainly helped that Liu also brought his martial arts experience to the role to give Marvel’s Master of Kung Fu some truly memorable fight sequences. Hopefully, Shang-Chi 2 doesn’t take too long to develop before he returns.

3. Kate Bishop

One of the final new MCU characters introduced in 2021, Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop is one of the best. Hawkeye put her squarely in the middle of its story and showed her origin as a potential future Avenger. Steinfeld helped make Kate instantly likable and funny, while the archer is inherently confident in her abilities, even if she gets in over her head at times. Her enthusiasm for partaking in superhero activities was palpable as she got involved in big fights, car chases, and experienced the possibilities of trick arrows. Kate Bishop went from being a Hawkeye fan to someone that Clint Barton trusted with his life and viewed as a partner and the next Hawkeye. If Marvel Studios wasn’t already working on Young Avengers, they likely are now.

2. Agatha Harkness

Marvel gave audiences a great gift to kick off 2021 with WandaVision, and this is where Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness swiftly left her mark. Originally known as Wanda and Vision’s nosy neighbor Agnes due to the reality warped nature of Westview, the show eventually confirmed the popular theory Hahn was playing the evil witch. No matter what part of Agatha’s story WandaVision focused on, Hahn delivered exactly what was needed to make her role stand out. Agatha was perfect in the sitcom settings of WandaVision early on and then transformed into a cackling and scheming villain by the end. Her introduction also meant the debut of the Emmy-nominated song “Agatha All Along,” which was a treat in and of itself.

1. Yelena Belova

When looking at the best new MCU characters introduced in 2021, though, it is quite clear that Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) deserves to be at the top. Her debut in Black Widow gave audiences a chance to meet the young assassin and show her bond with Natasha Romanoff. Yelena proved to be less performative and more aggressive as a fighter than her sister, while Pugh also brought an emotional depth and charm to her MCU character. Hawkeye‘s use of Yelena then allowed her to be an intimidating threat filled with vengeance and a potential best friend for Kate Bishop. But, the show also gave her closure for Natasha’s death. The combination of Pugh’s dynamic performances, Yelena’s versatility as a friend or foe, and her great ability in combat make her the best new Marvel Cinematic Universe character of 2021.

About The Author

Cooper Hood
(5625 Articles Published)

Cooper Hood is a news and feature writer for Screen Rant. He joined Screen Rant in late 2016 following a year-long stint with MCU Exchange, which came after first developing an MCU blog of his own. He graduated college in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Media & Public Communication, with a minor in Media Production. Cooper’s love for movies began by watching Toy Story and Lion King on repeat as a child, but it wasn’t until The Avengers that he took an invested interest in movies and the filmmaking process, leading him to discover the world of film journalism. Every year Cooper looks forward to seeing the latest blockbusters from the likes of Marvel, DC, and Star Wars, but also loves the rush to catch up on Oscar films near the end of the year. When he isn’t writing about or watching new releases, Cooper is a fantasy football obsessive and looking to expand his Blu-Ray collection – because physical media is still king! Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper.

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