The Marvel Cinematic Universe is rapidly expanding with 14 upcoming films and three new Netflix series, plus the additional seasons of Daredevil, Agents of SHIELD, and Agent Carter. With all this uncharted territory being forged by Marvel Studios, Monkeys Fighting Robots compiled a list of the top five characters that need to enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe now.
These characters don’t need solo films, but what they would do is make a good movie, great.
Honorable mentions for Ka-Zar, Eddie Brock, Beta Ray Bill, She-Hulk, Darkhawk, and Quasar.
Richard Rider (Nova)
Even though Nova is a complete ripoff of the Green Lantern, who doesn’t want to see a Star-Lord and Nova team up for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3? The Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning run at Marvel Comics that reinvented the cosmic characters are a must-read, and director James Gunn used it as the source material for Guardians of the Galaxy. Richard Rider was the primary catalyst of that time and deserves his big-screen moment.
Richard Rider was born in Hempstead, New York. As a teenager, he was chosen at random by the alien Rhomann Dey, last surviving Centurion of the planet Xandar’s elite Nova Corps, to inherit his power and succeed him in the rank of Nova Prime following the destruction of his world by the intergalactic pirate Zorr. Having been mortally wounded in the battle that tore Xandar apart, Dey succeeded in tracking Zorr to Earth but was unable to exact vengeance due to the extent of his injuries. At death’s door, Dey had little choice but to transfer his power to an unsuspecting human on the planet below, praying whoever he found will take up his cause and prove worthy of the powers he had given.
Silver Sable
The biggest issue with Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD, the series is one-note, Hydra. The series introduces the Inhumans, but it still goes back to Hydra. Silver Sable is a great character that is not an Inhuman or part of Hydra. Silver Sable International would work well occasionally popping up in the series to work with or against SHIELD. Just imagine the rivalry with Agent May and the loss of words by Coulson.
Silver’s father was a Nazi hunter, considered to be the best in Europe, even working alongside James Howlett, known as the Canadian at the time. His wife was murdered when the home he shared with his wife and daughter was bombed. Silver begged her father to train her so that she could avenge her mother’s murder, and though he tried his best to discourage her, he soon realized her potential, and she soon began joining him on hunts. After his death, she assumed command of the Wild Pack and became founder and owner of Silver Sable International.
Taskmaster
Did you see his costume? The Avengers fighting Skeletor, OMG! Seriously, the Taskmaster’s origin would fit perfectly with Agents of SHIELD or if Marvel wanted to introduce the Thunderbolts on Netflix. Plus, his powers are brilliant; he can physically mimic anyone’s abilities. The Taskmaster can be Captain America, Daredevil, Hawkeye, and Black Widow all at the same time, and he has an over the top personality. The Taskmaster is the perfect heel.
Tony Masters gained an ability known as “photographic reflexes” during a mission as a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent. This ability enabled him to watch another person’s physical movements and duplicate them without any practice, no matter how complex. He was previously a naturally gifted athlete who trained himself to superb physical condition. His power was only limited because of the memories he gained by watching others overwrote his personal memories. As a result, Tony forgot his wife and field agent partner, Mercedes Masters, as well as his own history with S.H.I.E.L.D. Mercedes crafted an elaborate set-up to help control and guide Tony in his new guise as Taskmaster. Using a series of muscle memory and reflexive tasks, she linked Taskmaster to “the Org” his “handler” between jobs and a constant to keep him on task despite his frequently over-written memory. The Org was actually Mercedes herself, gathering intelligence and feeding it back to S.H.I.E.L.D. thanks to Taskmaster’s reports. Tony, therefore, became the ultimate double agent in the super-villain underground — one who didn’t even know what he was.
Hercules
There is no personality like Hercules in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and with the number of jokes the MCU puts in their films, this Greek God writes is own.
“I would like to order one drunk hero to save New York City,” enter Hercules to throw kegs of beer at the invading aliens.
To where the Taskmaster makes a great heel, Hercules is the Babe Ruth of the Olympian gods. Just like the Babe showing up drunk and hitting home runs, Herc would roll out of bed at the Avenger’s mansion to fight monsters. Thor couldn’t handle his wit, and the Hulk would have to put Herc in his place every five seconds. At the very least, Hercules would be a great guest star on Agents of SHIELD.
Hercules is the son of Zeus, king of the Olympian gods, and Alcmena. Zeus seduced Alcmena in the guise of her husband, King Amphitryon of Troezen. Thanks to Zeus’s enchantment, Hercules was born with the potential for extraordinary superhuman strength, which he first displayed before he was even one-year-old by strangling two serpents that attacked him (sent by Hera). Hercules had many notable adventures in ancient times. He sailed with the Argonauts (with them he may have battled the Akaana), faced the Hydra, saw the death of Medusa, and defeated Antaeus.
J. Jonah Jameson and The Daily Bugle
Now that Sony and Marvel have worked out a deal to bring the Spider-Man franchise back to the MCU, J. Jonah Jameson and The Daily Bugle need to make their presence known.
J.K. Simmons is the absolute no-brainer as Jameson, and imagine adding his commentary to every film and television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Jonah is the Editor in Chief and owner of The Daily Bugle. He even becomes the mayor of New York City in the comics. The Daily Bugle is a mainstay of the books, and the MCU feels weird without the iconic building as part of the landscape.
Jameson’s involvement in Civil War:
Jameson pressured his staff into supporting the government’s Superhuman Registration Act, still directing the general tone of the paper, despite losing his more hands-on position. When Spider-Man unmasked to reveal himself to be Peter Parker, Jameson fainted dead away at the realization that the man he’d been calling a menace had been on his payroll for years.
That is why without a doubt J. Jonah Jameson needs to enter the MCU now!
Marvel Studios Schedule
2016
May 6: Captain America: Civil War
November 4: Doctor Strange
2017
May 5: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
July 2: Marvel Studios co-produced Spider-Man film (Sony)
November 3: Thor: Ragnarok
2018
February 16: Black Panther (new date)
May 4: Avengers: Infinity War, Part 1
July 6: Ant-Man and the Wasp (new addition)
2019
March 8: Captain Marvel (new date)
May 3: Avengers: Infinity War, Part 2
July 12: Inhumans
2020
May 1: Untitled Marvel Studios film (new addition)
July 10: Untitled Marvel Studios film (new addition)
November 6: Untitled Marvel Studios film (new addition)
Character information: marvel.wikia.com
