The Marvel Cinematic Universe is home to some of the greatest heroes in the film industry. Being adapted from comic books to the big screen, they face off against the impossible. They are intelligent, charismatic, and capable of incredible feats of strength. Captain America crashes a plane to save the world, and Wanda Maximoff faces off against Thanos, creating scenes in cinema that audiences will talk about for years to come. These characters are great, but they lack the same charm that the comedic relief brings to the narrative.
These funny characters alleviate the tension during the hard-hitting scenes. When things are getting serious for the heroes, these characters crack a one-liner that allows the audience to step back and breathe. Many characters fall into this role in the MCU, but a few can always be counted on to encourage a smile or cause an uproar of laughter.
10/10 Korg Is The Best Wing Man For Any Occasion
First appearance: Thor: Ragnarok
Initially introduced to the MCU in Thor: Ragnarok, Korg is a lovable side character that fans delight to see on the big screen. Although he initially began his role in the franchise as a prisoner on Sakaar, he continues to grow as a returning side character who keeps the audience laughing. He’s proven to be a great friend to Thor, from keeping him company in New Asgard to traveling with him throughout the galaxy.
Korg’s bubbly and optimistic personality balances perfectly with the dangerous situations Thor finds himself in. When the audience isn’t sure what to anticipate next, Korg is there to cue them in with a witty one-liner and fantastic joke delivery.
9/10 Jennifer Walters Is A Fourth-Wall Breaking Machine
First appearance: She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is a delightful addition to the MCU series. The main character is Jennifer Walters, a cousin to Bruce Banner who accidentally inherits his ability to become a Hulk. Her life takes a turn for the worst, and while she attempts to navigate so many changes, she keeps the audience updated through fourth-wall-breaking narration.
This style gives the series a mockumentary sensation, and Jennifer pulls it off flawlessly. Not only can she offer satire and sarcasm about her personal life, but she can also offer snappy commentary about the world around her. Between her social commentary and her chemistry with her fellow characters, Jen is a gem when breaking the fourth wall.
8/10 Peter Parker Is The Hero Anyone Can Relate To
First appearance: Captain America: Civil War
The most recent iteration of Spider-Man flung into fans’ hearts when he made his debut in Captain America: Civil War. He was one of the youngest heroes to fight alongside the Avengers, which makes him an incredibly eager character. He spends his time trying to help those in need while living up to the big shoes he has to fill.
Anyone who watches Peter Parker can feel an affinity for him. His tendency to ramble, overthink, and rejoice over the small things is endearing and relatable. A character like him can be the calming, comedic, and considerate hero that the MCU needs. As the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, he’ll always be there to make the audience smile.
7/10 Tony Stark Perfects The Combination Of Smart & Sarcastic
First appearance: Iron Man
One of the front-runners of the MCU, Tony Stark, manages to perfect the combination of smartness and sarcasm in his humor. A billionaire with a brilliant mind leaves the sky as the limit for a man like Tony. However, he isn’t always fun and games, as he knows he’s made mistakes. This self-awareness means he can view the world with a critical eye.
This results in snappy and direct comments that can leave the audience rolling, allowing his character to be known for his quick wit and sharp tongue. His dialogue and jokes are some of the most memorable in the MCU, making his character a walking reference for the entire franchise.
6/10 Drax Always Misses The Point
First appearance: Guardians of the Galaxy
In the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, Rocket mentions that Drax’s people take everything literally. This has proven true throughout multiple films, but Drax’s aloofness to metaphors only adds to his character. All the Guardians are funny, but Drax delivers the lines that no one expects.
Drax seems to have led an interesting life, and he often interrupts important scenes by giving an anecdote about his experiences. While he’s trying to be helpful, his teammates often struggle to relate to his experiences. This, in addition to his inability to understand figures of speech, often leads to equally awkward and humorous conversations.
5/10 Thor Is A Lovable & Inspiring Hero
First appearance: Thor
Once a God mystified by the ways of Midgard, Thor is now a lovable and inspiring hero to everyone who knows him. Thor is an outgoing and optimistic person who has gone through a lot. He’s lost his family, home, and the love of his life. All of these tragedies could only serve to drag someone down, but Thor always manages to get back up with a smile.
The God of Thunder is resilient, but he is also charismatic, delivering his one-liners with such a light-hearted genuineness that the audience can’t help chuckling. Many could argue that Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder function well as comedies, partly due to Thor’s role within them.
4/10 Ned Leeds Is The Man With The Plan
First appearance: Spider-Man: Homecoming
Peter Parker couldn’t be Spider-Man without the support of his best friend, and Ned Leeds takes on that role in the MCU. An old-time friend of the crime-fighting hero, Ned is always there to help Peter out of a bind. The two teens bounce off each other, feeding into the other’s excitement and creating a dynamic duo that fans love to watch.
Ned dubs himself “The Guy in the Chair” in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and he takes the role seriously. Not only does he help Peter stop criminals, but he also provides explained absences and last-minute distractions that often verge on the humorous side.
3/10 Darcy Lewis Is A Charming Counterpart To Her Films’ Darker Undertones
First appearance: Thor
Darcy Lewis made her MCU debut as the charismatic assistant to Jane Foster in the first two Thor films. Since these were at the franchise’s beginning, their undertones and stories were a lot heavier than the later films, making Darcy’s outgoing character a perfect counter to everything happening around her.
This trend continues in WandaVision when she is recruited to help decipher the Hex. She, alongside Jimmy Woo, allows for S.W.O.R.D’s operations to have a little more humor and wit. Not only that, but Darcy forms an unlikely duo with Vision, which kept fans laughing each time the pair was on-screen.
2/10 Kate Bishop Challenges Her Partner’s Cynicism
First appearance: Hawkeye
When it comes to the next generation of heroes, Kate Bishop is one of the best. She’s a skilled archer who, her idol, Hawkeye, has influenced, and she hopes to live up to his name. In the series, she manages to team up with Clint Barton, but her optimism is far from how he sees the world after the Blip.
Kate is constantly trying to get him to smile, crack a joke, or go along with one of her ideas. She’s constantly challenging his worldview, making allies in unlikely places, and engaging in humorous banter with her enemies.
1/10 Scott Lang Makes The Best Out Of Every Situation
First appearance: Ant-Man
Ever since his first appearance in Ant-Man, Scott Lang has been making the best out of every situation. He takes house arrest as an opportunity to learn new skills, and he embraces traveling through time as a way to bond with his fellow heroes. He’s always eager to help, and his sunny deposition adds a layer of hope when everything else gets bleak.
Scott is one of the few heroes who takes everything as it comes. He’s eager to meet heroes like Captain America, he’s undisturbed when time travel turns him into a baby, and he even finds the positive in being a disembodied head in Marvel’s What If…?
