6 Classic Avengers Characters We’re Still Waiting To See In The MCU

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Several classic Avengers heroes from the comics haven’t yet appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the MCU has introduced many of the team’s most famous members – especially during the Infinity Saga – recent storylines in the Multiverse Saga have started to add some lesser-known, but still important, Avengers characters.

By 2026, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has a large number of potential Avengers. While not all of them will officially join the team or become the heroes we know from the comics, they’re all part of that world. Characters like Black Knight, Starfox, Swordsman, Wonder Man, Hercules, Gilgamesh, and Sersi have already appeared in various MCU films and shows, establishing their place in the universe.

While characters like Hellcat, Crystal, and Mockingbird have also been part of the Avengers at times, their inclusion is a bit uncertain. This is because the stories where they appear – like those in Inhumans and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – aren’t always considered official parts of the main Marvel universe.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe still has potential to introduce more of the original Avengers. While most have already been featured in some way, a few haven’t appeared at all and could show up in future projects. These heroes are mostly lesser-known, but at least two of them seem particularly deserving of a spot in the MCU.

Doctor Druid

Doctor Druid first appeared in 1961 as Dr. Anthony Droom in Amazing Adventures #1. He’s a skilled magic user who famously joined the Avengers in the 1980s, even leading the team for a while. However, he didn’t earn the leadership role through skill or accomplishment, which is why he’s often remembered negatively by longtime Avengers fans.

The villain Terminatrix controlled Doctor Druid and used him to manipulate the Avengers, eventually becoming their chairman. With Doctor Druid under her control, the Avengers suffered a major defeat, prompting Captain America to assemble a new team in 1989.

As a huge Marvel fan, I’ve been thinking about what they could do with certain characters, and the idea of a traitor amongst the Avengers is really compelling – I could totally see that storyline happening down the road. But honestly, I’m even more excited about Doctor Druid’s potential. With the MCU leaning into the mystical side of things – especially with projects like Blade and the possibility of a Midnight Sons adaptation – his occult background could make him a really key player in future shows and movies. It feels like a natural fit!

Rage

Elvin Halliday first appeared in The Avengers #326 in 1990 as a 13-year-old African American boy who was magically transformed into a powerful, adult-looking fighter. This new appearance allowed him to join the Avengers, where he fought alongside Earth’s mightiest heroes. His stories often focused on themes of social justice.

Rage was known for his angry personality and wrestling-inspired look, but he largely disappeared after the 1990s, only showing up occasionally since then. While he’s unlikely to join the Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he could work well in a series like Daredevil: Born Again – perhaps as a troubled vigilante operating on the streets who crosses paths with Matt Murdock.

Tigra

Greer Grant, the original Hellcat in Marvel Comics, gained cat-like abilities after an encounter with a mysterious group called the Cat People. Known as Tigra, she briefly joined the Avengers in the early 1990s and later became a key member of the West Coast Avengers team led by Hawkeye. Throughout her adventures, Tigra has been a recurring hero, and she also shared a complicated romantic history with Hank Pym.

It’s unclear how Tigra will fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Marvel’s proven ability to successfully adapt challenging characters – like Rocket Raccoon and Mole Man – suggests they’ll eventually find a way to bring Tigra to life in a movie or TV show. This could mean a dedicated series for her, or an appearance in a West Coast Avengers project.

Two-Gun Kid

It’s no surprise that Western films were popular in the 1940s and 50s, and that influence carried over into comic books. Marvel created several cowboy heroes, like the Rawhide Kid, Kid Colt, and Two-Gun Kid. While most of their stories stayed in the Old West, Two-Gun Kid, also known as Matt Hawk, began appearing in stories with Marvel’s superheroes. He even traveled through time and joined the Avengers, becoming good friends with Hawkeye.

Given the MCU’s likely continued use of time travel, especially with films like Avengers: Doomsday, it’s quite possible we’ll see the Two-Gun Kid. The concept of a cowboy being thrown into the future as a superhero offers a lot of exciting story possibilities.

Quasar (Wendell Vaughn)

Wendell Vaughn, known as Quasar, first appeared in Captain America #217 in 1978 as the second Marvel Boy. He gained incredible powers when he acquired the Quantum Bands, devices that gave him abilities similar to DC’s Green Lantern. Throughout the early 1990s, Quasar worked as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, fought crime as a solo hero, and even joined the Avengers. Later, he was selected by a powerful cosmic entity named Eon to become the Protector of the Universe.

This role in several large-scale cosmic events makes Quasar a strong candidate for inclusion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s cosmic side. The Quantum Bands, which are essential to Quasar’s powers, already exist within the MCU – they played a significant part in both The Marvels and Ms. Marvel. If that storyline continues, it would be a natural way to introduce Quasar.

Rick Jones

Rick Jones is famous for being the teenage companion of the Hulk. He first appeared in The Hulk #1, running into a dangerous nuclear test site, which ultimately led to Bruce Banner’s transformation and prompted him to stay with Rick out of a sense of responsibility. However, Rick’s impact on Marvel Comics goes beyond just the Hulk. He’s also known for bringing together the original Avengers team – Hulk, Iron Man, Wasp, Hank Pym, and Thor – to battle Loki, as shown in The Avengers #1. This makes him essentially the founder of the team, thanks to his connections and a group of teenage radio operator friends.

Though he didn’t have any superpowers in the original comics, Rick Jones was a key character in many early adventures and even learned to fight from Captain America. He became incredibly powerful in one famous storyline, Avengers: Forever, where he harnessed a powerful energy called the Destiny Force to assemble Avengers from different points in time.

Rick Jones was disappointed he never officially became an Avenger, but he was given honorary status and is remembered for being a key part of the team’s beginnings.

As a huge Marvel fan, it really bothers me that they haven’t given the original teen hero a proper spotlight. Of all the characters they’ve left on the sidelines, he feels like the most deserving of a real role in a movie or show. They could go with one of the identities he eventually took on in the comics, or just focus on what made him great from the start – a regular kid trying to be a hero alongside the Avengers. I truly believe Marvel could really do his character justice if they gave him the attention he deserves.

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2026-05-20 03:26