While Marvel could be recognized for its enjoyable tales with wise-cracking characters and brilliant colours, some characters have confronted quite a lot of adversity earlier than changing into the heroes followers know and love. Each was confronted with challenges and obstacles that they needed to overcome, with admittedly various ranges of success.
Some MCU characters, like Yelena Balova (Florence Pugh), grew to become anti-heroes which are greater than value cheering for. Others, like Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), skilled trauma and loss off-screen that translated into the characters launched within the MCU. These backstories made or broke these heroes, villains, and anti-heroes alike.
Scott Lang
Paul Rudd carries a lot comedic weight in his function as Scott Lang, Ant-Man’s alter-ego. His “aw shucks” perspective has made him extremely endearing to followers. He is probably not the quickest Avenger, however he might have essentially the most coronary heart. On prime of all the things, he is a wonderful father who cares deeply for his daughter Cassie.
Underneath all the things, nevertheless, there is a darkish undercurrent to this character’s backstory. When he is first launched, he is ending a jail sentence. Prison is traumatic sufficient, and this a part of the character’s historical past is never talked about. Further, though he has a cordial relationship along with his ex-spouse, it feels like he went by means of fairly a traumatic divorce.
Sam Wilson
Anthony Mackie has stepped into the function of Captain America after first being launched as The Falcon. Before he wielded the enduring protect himself, he was a superb side-kick to Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). Since then, he is headlined his personal sequence, accompanied by Rogers’ childhood good friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan).
In Captain America: The Winter Solider, it is revealed that in Sam Wilson’s army service, he misplaced his finest good friend and co-pilot. This is one thing else that has by no means actually been addressed once more within the context of the MCU. This was little doubt a large loss for him.
May Parker
There are arguably few Marvel followers who do not know the tragic story of Uncle Ben and the origins of Spider-Man. In the MCU, the choice was made to eschew this well-known backstory and present Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and his Aunt May after the tragic lack of Uncle Ben.
While it might have been the correct option to forego re-hashing this specific origin story, it is value noting that May nonetheless has an extremely darkish backstory herself. Whoever Peter’s dad and mom had been, it could not have been simple to lose them and have to lift her nephew. While he is by no means talked about explicitly, Ben Parker’s demise will need to have been extremely tragic for May to navigate on her personal.
T’Chaka
Black Panther was all about navigating ethical grey areas and displaying totally different approaches to extremely complicated, world issues. When T’Chaka, T’Challah’s father, is launched, there is no query of how a lot he loves his son. Sadly, followers will not be in a position to get to know him on a deeper stage.
While T’Chaka is held up in reminiscence as King and father, his story shortly turns into extra difficult as extra of his backstory is launched. The indisputable fact that he kills his brother for the “higher good” endlessly taints his legacy. It’s a horrific crime that impacts his youngsters and his nephew.
Drax
Drax (Dave Bautista) is one other MCU character who’s such a comedic power. Whenever he seems in Guardians of the Galaxy, an Avengers entry, or extra not too long ago, a Holiday Special, he at all times brings his signature deadpan humor. This deadpan humor contrasts completely with the zany antics of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
However, with all of Drax’s humor, he has an extremely darkish and tragic backstory. He at all times made it a degree to make it recognized that his one objective was to defeat Thanos. This is as a result of his household was murdered, together with his spouse and daughter. This was a devastating loss that also clearly impacts Drax.
Rocket Raccoon
The smart-talking Rocket (Bradley Cooper) has a little bit of a distinct tackle humor than Drax. However, he is acquired a coronary heart of gold beneath his cynical exterior. When he is not on a quest for robotic arms, he is busy being the glue that holds his discovered household collectively.
More of Rocket’s backstory could also be revealed in Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3. However, within the comics, he is the sufferer of horrific scientific experiments that depart him disfigured and in fixed ache. This is messaged within the first Guardians entry. It has but to be re-visited in full.
Marc Spector
Oscar Isaac headlined Moon Knight, enjoying Marc Spector and Spector’s alters. The character has Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID. The character is an avatar for the Egyptian god Khonshu. Each of his alters tries to guard Marc from hazard as finest as they’ll.
The motive for the character’s psychological sickness was the horrific little one abuse he suffered by the hands of his mom. It’s heartbreaking watching a bit of boy being abused by his mom and have his unconscious attempt desperately to guard him. In the comics, his father can be a Holocaust survivor. While this is not explored within the sequence, it is one other layer of trauma.
Steve Rogers
Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is the quintessential American hero. He represents one of the best of American heroism, all of its magnificence and flaws included. As the First Avenger, he was at all times in a novel place to offer the management that the workforce wanted.
Before being the MCU’s most patriotic super-solider, Steve Rogers was a child from Brooklyn. What makes his backstory so darkish is all of the loss he confronted at such a younger age. His father died after serving in World War I of mustard fuel publicity, and his mom was a nurse who died of tuberculosis.
Namor
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever launched Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejia), the King of Talokan. In the comics, he is the primary anti-hero Marvel launched. This comes by means of within the character’s depiction within the MCU.
His origin is closely steeped in Mesoamerican historical past and Spanish imperialism. It’s clear how huge this impacted Namor as an individual. Namor makes use of the previous to guard his folks in any respect value, regardless of the implications.
Yelena Belova
Black Widow‘s (Scarlett Johansson) backstory grew to become progressively darker because the MCU developed. Adding her sister Yelena solely made Natasha’s story extra tragic. Yelena might have an equally darkish, if not darker, origin. Her look in Hawkeye simply made her all of the extra endearing.
Yelena’s backstory is one in every of abandonment and self-sufficiency that ought to by no means be anticipated of any little one. She went by means of all the things her sister did, however with out the tremendous workforce of the Avengers for assist. While her character additionally makes use of humor as a coping mechanism, it is clear she’s suffered a lot ache and loss.