With 14 years under its belt, the MCU now features hundreds of characters. Some of them have taken on titular roles in their solo adventures, while others had to join a team to get their moment in the spotlight. And then there are the more obscure heroes that, nevertheless, played a significant part in the MCU as well.
Considering how many heroes, villains, and other characters the MCU has, it's easy to lose focus and forget when each character first made their appearance. 2022 saw the introduction of multiple great MCU characters who have left a strong impression on audiences, and are likely to appear in future movies and series too.
5 America Chavez
Growing up is difficult — even more so when somebody has special powers that could change the world or destroy it if they fell into the wrong hands. Doctor Strange teams up with America Chavez, a young girl who can travel between dimensions. Together, they take on Scarlet Witch, who is hungry for the power that would bring back her children. America struggles to trust others, just like Doctor Strange did in the beginning, so the two create an unexpectedly good duo.
Thanks to her difficult life situation, America is a relatable character. Her loneliness, as well as her willingness to change and face her greatest fears, make her one of the most compelling teenage characters in the MCU. The MCU was planning to introduce America for a while before it finally did in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, so all fans of America can look forward to seeing her in future movies.
4 Gorr The God Butcher
The MCU has done many things well, but it still struggles with creating compelling antagonists from time to time. Gorr the God Butcher from Thor: Love and Thunder is one of the better MCU villains. Played by Christian Bale, who once again proves his talent, Gorr is a relatable antagonist, one who has a motivation for what he's doing. After suffering at the hands of gods and losing his beloved daughter, Gorr decides to get revenge by killing all the gods, as his moniker suggests.
During his mission for revenge, he encounters Thor and Mighty Thor, which results in one of the most impressive MCU fight scenes that's entirely black-and-white. But in addition to the energy Christian Bale brought to the role, Gorr stands out because unlike so many villains, he sees the error of his ways in the end. He dies in peace, making for a compelling character exit. Even though he's unlikely to return, he has left a strong impression on MCU fans.
3 Riri Williams
With Tony Stark dead and Reed Richards equally dead (at least for the time being), the MCU doesn't have that many genius characters, let alone young ones. Thanks to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the MCU bridges the gap a little. Riri Williams is an MIT student and a brilliant inventor who builds her own armor similar to Iron Man's.
Riri Williams is a popular comic book character, especially among young readers, since she takes her difficult situation and makes the best of it. Seeing her genius mind at work in the MCU can serve as inspiration for many young viewers, especially girls. What's more, Riri has an intriguing dynamic with another genius inventor, Shuri, which adds even more depth to the character and give audiences high hopes for her future in the MCU.
2 Namor
In 2022, Reed Richards made a brief appearance in the MCU, played by John Krasinski. However, he didn't stay long. Fans were even more excited to see Reed's long-time rival and occasional ally, Namor. Namor's presence in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever gave the fans the chance to explore yet another corner of the universe which remained mysterious until now.
Namor himself is a complex character that walks the line between being a hero and a villain, depending on the point of view. Tenoch Huerta helps make the character believable even at times when he isn't sympathetic, and it would be intriguing to see Namor interact with more MCU heroes in the future. There still aren't enough great anti-heroes in the MCU, and Namor fits the description to the letter.
1 Moon Knight
The MCU scored in 2022 not only in movies, but TV shows as well. By far one of the most complex characters is Marc Spector, Steven Grant, Jake Lockley... because they all happen to share the same body. And that's before Moon Knight enters the picture. Oscar Isaac manages to differentiate each character he plays, offering one of the most impressive acting performances of the MCU as far as 2022 is concerned.
Just like Namor, Moon Knight's presence allows the exploration of different themes and places, as the series deals with the question of Egyptian mythology and gods that are very different from the likes of Thor and Loki. What's more, with Isaac playing so many varied characters, it's difficult for the fans not to find at least one among them that they will like.