Phase 1 of theMarvel Cinematic Universemight have consisted of just six movies , but it actually do in some of its most exciting characters in this clock time span . The very beginning of theMCU ’s flick timelinecame in 2008 , when Iron Man found the foundations for the groundbreaking ceremony shared cinematic world . In the years since , the MCU has grown in both range and success , proving itself one of the most remunerative franchises ever create , and earning record - breaking sums at the box office multiple times over .

Phase 1 of the MCU put the groundwork for that succeeder , though it did n’t do so dead . In fact , there were many characters that the earlymovies of the MCUfailed , either by kill them off too early or only not flesh them out in the way that they deserved . Others still had massive voltage to return to the franchise , only to have that possibility waste by subsequent moving-picture show . Even 13 years after it ended , I still ca n’t believe how gravely Phase 1 failed the come after eight MCU case .

8Agent Phil Coulson

Introduced in: Iron Man (2008)

When it come toMCU deaths with the biggest wallop , few characters put up out like Agent Phil Coulson . The SHIELD agent ’s dying inThe Avengerswas the catalyst for the original team of Avengers to finally lead off ferment together , though it ’s impossible to deny that the MCU movies emaciate the character . Coulson ’s death might have been important to the enfranchisement itself , but it was still a wastefulness of an interesting and pop eccentric with heaps of potential .

Coulson ’s return inAgents of SHIELDproved reasonably controversial , but it further foreground just how much Phase 1 of the MCU wasted the character . There were so many stories will for Coulson to be involved in , and so many aspect of the SHIELD agent still to explore . Considering that Marvel later acknowledged the waste by resurrecting him - but ultimately never bringing him back to the MCU movies themselves - Coulson ’s death is , without a doubt , one of the big wasted opportunity in the former MCU .

7Justin Hammer

Introduced in: Iron Man 2 (2010)

Though he may not have play the largest part inIron Man ’s MCU account , Justin Hammer is another persona that was wasted by the early picture of the dealership . Making his first appearance in 2010’sIron Man 2 , Justin Hammer was established as Tony Stark ’s main business rival who coveted the design for his Iron Man armour . However , his MCU write up seemed to cease short with his apprehension at the oddment of the motion picture , and he has only made very limited appearances since .

Though Hammer is reportedly set to return inArmor Wars , his long absence from the MCU ’s calcium light is a wasteland . Sam Rockwell is one of the most talented actors to have appeared in the MCU , and he was one of the bright aspects ofIron Man 2.Considering the motion-picture show end with him live , the way that Phase 1 and the MCU ’s subsequent years liquidate Hammer seems especially frustrating .

6The Warriors Three

Introduced in: Thor (2011)

Over the course ofThor ’s MCU story , the God of Thunder has worked alongside many supporting graphic symbol , though his first – and , presumptively , oldest – friend in the franchise were not used effectively at all . First appearing in 2011’sThor , the warrior Three fought alongside Thor at multiple points during the flick . Sadly , this was fated to be their most significant MCU appearance , as they were subsequently sidelined before being unceremoniously killed off in later movies .

The warrior Three might not have died in form 1 of the MCU , but it did serve as their most square appearance in the dealership to appointment . Hogun , Fandral , and Volstagg were introduced as Thor ’s good and most trusted allies , only for the MCU to fleetly block about them . Despite setting decent groundwork for the character to re-emerge , Phase 1 tie off the story of the warrior Three with such finality that they never seemed to be need in the MCU ever again .

5Abomination

Introduced in: The Incredible Hulk (2008)

ThoughHulk ’s story in the MCUhas seen him face many powerful foe , his first expedition in the franchise saw him come up against one of his most iconic nemeses : Abomination . While tracking Bruce Banner , Emil Blonsky volitionally undergoes the same Gamma unconscious process as the scientist , transforming him into the fauna known as Abomination . Tim Roth ’s performance inThe Incredible Hulkmight leave a little to be desired , but that did n’t stop Abomination from being incredibly interesting .

As Abomination shared many similarities with Hulk , his characterisation was an interesting one for the MCU . It seemingly mark up an examination of Banner and Blonsky ’s respective natures to set why they transformed into such different being , butAbomination was simply capture and has only periodic appearances since . Considering the underwhelming CGI used inThe Incredible Hulkand the movie ’s nonsensical ending , it would appear that Phase 1 languish Abomination in many style .

4Betty Ross

One of the most prominent dearest stake in Phase 1 of the MCU was Betty Ross , who made her first appearance in the franchise alongside Edward Norton ’s Bruce Banner . Her appearance inThe Incredible Hulkestablished her as one of the most authoritative people in Banner ’s life-time , though the character was far from one of the MCU ’s most interesting . The unimaginative loop of Betty Ross was somewhat underwhelming , and she did not have in subsequent film in the Infinity Saga .

Looking back on her appearance inThe Incredible Hulk , it seems that Phase 1 of the MCU wasted the character of Betty Ross . She was written to be largely insignificant in the enfranchisement ’s broad narrativeand , as such , was left out of succeeding MCU motion picture . consider her coherent role in Hulk ’s comic book stories , her first appearance in the MCU importantly wasted her potency .

3Doc Samson

Phase 1 of the MCU introduced a wealth of supporting fibre from the comics , many of whom had substantial potential to play a major role in the dealership . Of those introduced inThe Incredible Hulk , one of the most notably thwarting was Doc Samson , played by Ty Burrell . In the movie , Leonard Samson is introduced as Bruce Banner ’s romanticistic rival , though his identity alone razz his time to come as a da Gamma - instill hero .

Unlike other standardised characters in the movie , such as Samuel Sterns , Doc Samson ’s transformation was not define up . Instead , his show was an fabulously modest one , dish up only as a tertiary supporting character for a couple of scenes . Weighing up his MCU enactment against his comic playscript counterpart , it ’s impossible to deny that the MCU ’s Phase 1 devastate the character of Doc Samsonconsiderably .

2The Original Human Torch

Introduced in: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

One of the most insidious teases in Phase 1 of the MCU was the inclusion of the original Human Torch , glimpsed briefly during the Stark Expo in 1942 . The reference to an senior and lesser - known Marvel hero was an excellent piece of buff service to those fans well - versed in the comics , and seemed to hint that the android known as the Human Torch would make a full coming into court in the MCU . However , the character , dubbed in his abbreviated appearance as “ the semisynthetic human beings ” , has yet to give .

Considering the Human Torch ’s association to the creation of Vision , it would seem that the MCU ’s probability to include the hero has exit . Despite the tease being an interesting thick undercut into Marvel Comics chronicle , and ostensibly set up the show of the android torpedo , it was intend never to be fully explored . As such , the original Human Torch is yet another reference that was consume by a brief appearance in the MCU ’s Phase 1 .

1Red Skull

acquaint inCaptain America : The First Avengeralongside the movie ’s eponymic fighter , the Red Skull made his MCU debut early in the MCU ’s timeline . However , the picture end with Red Skull ’s apparent death and Captain America being frozen and revived in the hereafter . The Red Skull made only two further appearances in the Infinity Saga , both brief and in a supporting capability as the guardian of the Soul Stone .

Considering the villain ’s condition as Captain America ’s long - standing scourge , and the many floor in which he was pitted against Steve Rogers , it has become unmortgaged that Red Skull was wasted by his termination in Phase 1 . Though he may not have been permanently kill , he was remove from the MCU ’s tale until Steve Rogers ’ finish , and has been ostensibly rate to be unable to amply return as a major adversary . As such , the Red Skull ’s portrayal might be the prominent waste of any character in phase angle 1 of theMarvel Cinematic Universe .

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Spider-Man in the MCU and Jean Grey in Marvel Comics

Tom Holland’s Spider-Man upset and determined in No Way Home

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Split image of Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky in The Incredible Hulk and Hugo Weaving as Red Skull in Captain America: The First Avenger

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The original Human Torch at the World Trades Fair in Captain America The First Avenger

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Thunderbolts (2025) Official Poster

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