Unforgettable One-Offs: MCU Characters Who Made a Lasting ImpactWhile the Marvel Cinematic Universe is celebrated for its long-running heroes like Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor, some characters have managed to leave an indelible mark on fans despite appearing in only one movie or TV show. In a sprawling interconnected universe, it’s a testament to their compelling portrayals and impactful storylines that these “one-and-done” personalities resonate so strongly.
These memorable characters prove that screen time isn’t the only measure of influence. From pivotal allies to formidable foes, their single appearances often serve as crucial turning points or provide unique depth to the MCU’s rich tapestry. Their stories, though brief, are powerful enough to be etched into the minds of viewers, contributing significantly to the overall narrative without requiring multiple installments. This ability to make such a profound impression in a limited capacity highlights the strength of the MCU’s character development and storytelling.
1. Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver
Pietro Maximoff made his MCU debut alongside his twin sister Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) in the post-credits scene of 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier before featuring in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. Beginning as allies of Ultron, the siblings later switched sides to fight with the Avengers in the Battle of Sokovia. Tragically, Pietro lost his life while shielding a civilian from gunfire
2. W’Kabi
2018’s Black Panther introduced a vast band of characters to the MCU — among which was the Wakandan warrior W’Kabi (Daniel Kaluuya). Although once aligned with T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), W’Kabi took the side of Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) in the film. When T’Challa came back and defeated Killmonger to reclaim the throne, W’Kabi surrendered and was imprisoned
3. Lilia Calderu
The lovable coven of witches at the heart of 2024’s Agatha All Along series includes Lilia Calderu (Patti Lupone), a divination witch. Due to her abilities, Lilia experienced her life out of sequence, unknowingly fortelling the future of the coven’s journey on the Witches’ Road. After over 400 years on Earth, Lilia died by sacrificing herself for her fellow witches on the road.
4. Xu Wenwu
Xu We would (Tony Leung) epitomizes a what it means to be a tragic villain. A powerful conqueror and the father of Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), Wenwu served as the primary antagonist of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Following the murder of his wife Ying Li (Fala Chen) returned to a life of crime with the Ten Rings organization. Estranged from his children, Wenwu reunited with Shang-Chi and Xialing in the movie and died during the final battle
5. Quentin Beck
Quentin Beck/Mysterio is among the MCU’s most underrated villains, and his lone appearance in 2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home proves that he’s one of the greatest one-and-done MCU characters. An ex-employee of Stark Industries, Mysterio created his own powers using holographic technology and fabricated dangerous threats to save the world from. Mysterio initially tricked Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland) into trusting him, but the web-slinging hero eventually figured out his illusion
6. Alice Wu-Gulliver
Alice Wu-Gulliver (Ali Ahn) was another coven member who didn’t make it out of Agatha All Along alive. Functioning as the coven’s protection witch, Alice endured her fair share of bad luck in life before facing her family’s generational trauma on the Witches’ Road. Sadly, she died at the hands of Agatha’s magic-absorption power and was led to the afterlife by Rio/Death (Aubrey Plaza).
7. Hela
2017’s Thor: Ragnarok injected new life into the God of Thunder’s realm of the MCU while introducing a bold new villain. Hela (Cate Blanchett), the goddess of death and brother of Thor and Loki (Tom Hiddleston), was an immensely powerful being. Imprisoned by her father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) for thousands of years, Hela reemerged in the wake of his death, aiming to take over and rule Asgard. Thor, Loki, and their allies defeated Hela by initiating Ragnarok, which destroyed all of Asgard.