The cavalcade of characters who appear in Marvel Comics span a wide array of personalities. There are suave playboys like Tony Stark, sarcastic killers like Natasha Romanoff, and confident heroes like Steve Rogers. Among all these diverse types of heroes, there's one archetype seen less often: the tomboy.
A "tomboy" refers to a girl who exhibits characteristics of a boy. While tomboys are mainly defined by gender norms, they also challenged said norms by being inclusive to LGBT characters. Various tomboy characters exist throughout fiction, but these ten are probably the most iconic ones to appear throughout the Marvel universe.
11 Gwen Stacy
Many iterations of Gwen Stacy depict her as simply a love interest for Peter Parker. This is especially the case with her live-action appearances portrayed by Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard. However, some comic interpretations of the character take more creative liberties with her personality compared to her superhero boyfriend.
An alternate universe Gwen Stacy takes on the role of Spider-Gwen after she's bitten by a genetically-engineered spider. This version of Gwen, raised by a single father, takes on attributes similar to Peter Parker in his time as Spider-Man. This variant of Gwen is way more aggressive and heroic than her damsel-in-distress counterpart.
10 Lady Sif
Sif is the brother of Heimdall, protector of the gateway between Asgard and Earth. She was also a childhood friend of Thor and Loki, occasionally serving as a romantic interest of Thor. However, she's more recognized by Marvel fans for being a warrior-goddess, known for her brute strength and honor on the battlefield.
Per her role as a warrior-goddess, Sif exhibits a lot of characteristics that make her stand out from other women in Marvel Comics. Though she sometimes still harbors feelings for Thor, she's often reminiscent of other great warriors throughout fiction and history, often male. In the MCU, she only continues to prove her pride in combat.
9 Echo
Maya Lopez, also known as "Echo," made her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in the Hawkeye series on Disney+. The character is notable among Marvel fans for being both Native American and deaf, but those aren't her only unique traits. She was also raised at a young age by Wilson Fisk, a mobster who goes by Kingpin.
Because of Maya's ties to Kingpin and organized crime, she's adopted a tough attitude towards the world. This is also true for her fighting style, which is more aggressive and brutal than her more graceful female peers. She's even taken on the mantle of Ronin before, which was originated by Clint Barton, showing her masculinity.
8 Nebula
Nebula was a fairly obscure Marvel Comics character prior to James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy. However, Karen Gillan's portrayal of the rageful and cold killer has made her far more popular among fans. This is probably because, despite the character being female, she is very ruthless in her personality.
As the adopted daughter of Thanos, Nebula has certainly inherited some of the Mad Titan's wrathful tendencies. Compared to her sister Gamora, Nebula seems more closed-off emotionally, resulting in their friction. For female fighters in the Marvel universe, Nebula definitely stands out as one of the least feminine.
7 Valkyrie
There have been many versions of Valkyrie in Marvel Comics. Most famously, the character was portrayed by Tessa Thompson in Thor Ragnarok, redefining the character of Brunnhilde from the comics. Later comic iterations of Valkyrie would take inspiration from Thompson's drunken, selfish ex-Asgardian warrior.
Depending on the interpretation, Valkyrie has been subject to many personalities. Not all of them technically classify as tomboys, but they all do showcase incredible fighting skills and nobility in battle. Overall, she's a great example of a character in Marvel's history who is more defined by her victory in battle than by her gender.
6 America Chavez
Marvel fans are in for a real treat when this character debuts in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. America Chavez, who also goes by Miss America, is certainly one of the more independent and powerful characters in the comics. She's often challenging authority, especially the Avengers, becoming a lone wolf of sorts.
In terms of abilities, Chavez also has one of the most unique skill-sets on Marvel's roster. Along with the ability of flight and super-speed, she's also capable of opening portals to other multiverses. It's safe to say that when she appears in the new Doctor Strange movie, she will impress fans with her strength as well as tough personality.
5 Kamala Khan
Kamala Khan is set to be the next rising star of the MCU with her Disney+ show Miss Marvel. From the looks of the trailer, fans are already getting glimpses of how Kamala fails to fit in with other girls her age. This is true in the comics, where Kamala is often mocked for the way she looks, as well as her nerdy interests.
However, what makes Kamala interesting is how she aspires to femininity, despite her tomboyishness. She especially looks up to Carol Danvers, who becomes her main inspiration as a superhero. Most of all, however, Kamala is focused on kicking butt before she's focused on fitting in with women's standards.
4 Jennifer Walters
Jennifer Walters is one of the most recognizable heroes in Marvel's catalog of crimefighters. After a blood transfusion from her cousin, Bruce Banner, Jennifer Walters mutated into She-Hulk. This complicates Walters' steady career as a lawyer, forcing her to be not only a super-strong fighter but a true force in a male-dominated career.
Marvel soon plans to introduce fans to Jennifer Walters in the upcoming She-Hulk series. Until then, fans will have to look to the comics to get a sense of the character's personality. For those interested, they can expect Walters to be very ill-tempered like Banner, but also more just and determined in her goals.
3 Kate Bishop
The Hawkeye series introduced more than just Maya Lopez to the MCU's canon of tomboys. Enter Kate Bishop, a charismatic young adult portrayed by Hailee Steinfeld in the Disney+ series. This interpretation of Kate stays pretty faithful to her comic portrayals, which see her as an overconfident, yet morally just, wannabe hero.
In the comics, however, Kate can be a little more rough-around-the-edges. She's always been extremely empathetic but can't help herself when it comes to protecting those she loves. In a way, her personality is very much reminiscent of Clint Barton, which is what makes them such a fantastic crime-fighting duo.
2 Jessica Jones
Marvel fans truly fell in love with this character after the premiere of the Netflix series Jessica Jones. There, Krysten Ritter broke new ground in the MCU as a tough, sarcastic, and disdainful superhero. Given the series' lasting power, it's safe to say that Jessica Jones was one of the MCU's first tomboys on-screen.
This is very similar to how the character has been portrayed in the comics. Sporting her iconic leather jacket and black hair, Jessica is a private investigator with super-strength who often doesn't pull her punches. This often makes her distant and difficult to work with, particularly as a member of the Defenders with Daredevil and Luke Cage.
1 Carol Danvers
Like Valkyrie, Carol Danvers has had many interpretations of her personality over the years. However, her appearance in the MCU played by Brie Larson is probably the one most fans find refreshing. There, Danvers outshines her male counterparts and plants her feet in the Marvel universe as a strong, unrelenting, and willful hero.
However, Carol's tomboy roots predate her assuming of the Captain Marvel mantle. Carol joined the U.S. military at an early age, becoming a badass Air Force pilot. Her military days even had her brushing up with characters like Logan, Nick Fury, and Black Widow. Carol might be the most iconic Marvel character when it comes to breaking typical gender norms.