Sam Altman suggested a new use case for ChatGPT that wasn’t well-received.
Altman said parents could make a podcast about their kids’ day to listen to on the drive to school.
Some online commenters offered other suggestions, like “what if you just talked to your children?”
Sam Altman’s concept of “cool” seems to differ from the majority.
In his X profile, he says, for instance, that “AI is cool i guess,” a statement with which many would likely disagree. He also fails to capitalize “i,” which some think is cool, but not all.
And when the OpenAI CEO shared what he called a “cool use case” for ChatGPT on X this week, the reception was not cool. It was cold.
“connect your family calendars and explain your kids’ interests,” he wrote, in lowercase, adding that it was not his own idea but one he heard. “every morning for the drive to school, have it make a podcast that talks about one kid’s soccer game that afternoon, one kid’s upcoming birthday, some news, etc.”
The idea reflects a broader movement to use AI to ease the burdens of parenting — one that Altman has been promoting for close to a year now. Altman, who welcomed a son with his husband, Oliver Mulherin, in 2025, has said ChatGPT was indispensable during his first months as a father.
For many, however, the idea of inserting AI into every moment of every day, and especially in those spent with children, didn’t go over all that well.
“What if you just talked to your children,” Alex Hirsch, an animator who created the Disney kids show “Gravity Falls,” wrote in response to Altman’s suggestion, which got 10 times the number of likes.
Hundreds of X users piled on. Another user said, “using AI in place of real human connection is the worst possible use case for it.”
That’s a view OpenAI President Greg Brockman might be coming around to, too. In his own eyebrow-raising X post on Saturday, he said that his employees don’t like it when ChatGPT asks them for things, even if they’d be “perfectly happy doing the same work” if a coworker asked.
“reinforces how much people care about human relationships and helping each other, and want AI to give time back — or enhance time together — rather than become a layer separating people,” he wrote, in lowercase.
For parents who advocate using AI to help them parent, more time is exactly what they say they need. Hally Peck, a mother of two, told Business Insider thatshe uses an AI agent to manage work calendars, school schedules, activities, birthdays, and childcare logistics.
“I have two kids, and my husband also works full-time,” she said. “We’re both in very demanding jobs, which means time is our most critical resource.”
Altman told Jimmy Fallon that he couldn’t imagine “figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT,” which he said he used for questions about developmental milestones and everyday childcare.
He has also said his children will grow up “vastly more capable” because they will learn to use AI, even though they will “never be smarter than AI.”
Alexandr Wang, the 29-year-old Meta AI executive and Scale AI founder, has shared an even more extreme vision of AI parenting. He’s said he may wait to have children until brain-computer interfaces such as Neuralink become sufficiently advanced. He said he believes that children’s neuroplasticity allows them to adapt to technology early and will eventually think alongside superintelligent systems.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani introduced the pied-à-terre tax in April.
Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Mayor Zohran Mamdani extended a deadline for homeowners seeking exemption from his pied-à-terre tax.
Eligible homeowners now have until September 18 to apply for an exemption.
The tax applies to people who own a secondary property in NYC valued at over $5 million, but who live elsewhere.
Wealthy homeowners who might be subject to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax just gotmore time to avoid it.
Mamdani and Department of Finance Commissioner Richard Lee announced on Saturday that the deadline for homeowners to submit an exemption application has been extended to September 18. That’s four weeks past the original August 21 deadline.
“The extension gives homeowners additional time to establish that the property is their primary residence or demonstrate they are not subject to the surcharge,” a press release said. “It also provides more time for homeowners to receive assistance from the Department of Finance and have their questions answered before submitting an application.”
The press release said the City of New York has expanded its outreach efforts across the boroughs to improve its communication with residents about the tax.
Mamdani’s announcement of the extension comes after some residents complained that the rollout was confusing and the notifications unclear. Some New Yorkers told The Wall Street Journal last week that they had been wrongly targeted by the tax. Others said the process to secure an exemption was overly difficult.
Mamdani introduced the pied-à-terre tax in April. It’s part of his campaign promise to tax the rich. He has also proposed raising income taxes on the highest earners and the corporate tax rate.
The second-home tax will affect people who own a secondary property in New York City valued at more than $5 million but live elsewhere. The mayor’s office said the tax is expected to generate about $500 million in annual revenue.
Property owners who may be subject to the tax were notified by the Department of Finance via letters starting in July.
The tax, also backed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, is intended to alleviate New York City’s large budget gap. New York City Comptroller Mark Levine said in January that the city is facing a $2.2 billion budget shortfall for the 2026 fiscal year.
The tax has angered some wealthy residents, like Citadel CEO Ken Griffin and billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman. President Donald Trump criticized the tax in an April Truth Social post that accused Mamadani of “destroying” New York City. The mayor’s office faced further scrutiny in July after it released a public list of property owners who could be subject to the tax.
“The pied-à-terre tax is an important new tool to help our city collect the revenue we need for safer streets, cleaner parks, and other critical investments across the five boroughs,” Mamdani said in the press release. “We are announcing the extension of the exemption application deadline to ensure that New Yorkers who received the ‘You may be subject to…’ letters have the time and information they need.”
When one of my most anticipated trips turned out to be one of my most frustrating, it was entirely my own fault.
I travel professionally for a living, but I still get caught up in excitement and unrealistic expectations when planning. Like many travelers, I’d been dreaming of Greece for years. I watched “Mamma Mia,” scrolled through Instagram, and let the images build an idea of what the trip would be like.
In the end, I left the country feeling disappointed and wishing I’d done a few things differently.
Booking a cruise instead of staying on-site didn’t give me much time to explore
It was a little overwhelming arriving in Santorini with so many other people at once via cruise ship.
Chantelle Kincy
This was my first mistake, and it shaped the rest of the trip. I still think cruising is a great way to see the world, just not Greece.
In my opinion, the problem comes down to numbers. The ships carry too many people, and they are all landing on a small island at once.
Santorini isn’t necessarily equipped to handle the thousands of passengers a cruise ship drops on its shores. Once you arrive, you still have to get up to the villages by tram, donkey, or a long walk.
We were the only ship in port that day, but I still had to wait several hours to reach where I wanted to explore. On a trip with limited time, that’s a hard way to start the day.
I missed out by only planning my trip around popular islands
This was my biggest mistake. I’d seen images of Santorini’s white villages and Mykonos sunsets for years, so when I saw both islands on the cruise itinerary, I jumped at the chance to check off two places in one trip.
Greece isn’t a destination you check off a list. It’s a country meant to be savored. By choosing two of the busiest islands and spending only a day on each, I never got past the surface.
Both islands were stunning, but I felt rushed and had no time to take them all in. This showed me that my travel style leans toward quiet, undiscovered places over popular, crowded ones.
When I get to visit Greece again, I’ll skip Santorini and Mykonos and visit smaller islands that offer quieter, more authentic experiences, such as Hydra, Kimolos, or Ithaca.
Familiarizing myself with Athens before arrival would’ve improved my trip
Athens is a wonderful, historic city with plenty to see. It’s walkable, but seeing the most iconic sites still takes a plan. I didn’t have one. I thought I’d just walk around and figure it out.
That led to hours of wandering, getting lost, and losing time in the wrong parts of the city. There was plenty to experience along the way, but I could have seen far more with a plan.
Now that I know more, I’d recommend staying in Plaka — it’s within walking distance of the Acropolis, Syntagma Square, and good food and shopping.
Also, I suggest booking dinner reservations in advance so you don’t miss out on the places you actually want to try.
Pursuing specific photo opportunities wasn’t worth my time
Later, I decided not to wait a long time for the most famous photo spot.
I didn’t realize that meant walking shoulder to shoulder with thousands of other people down narrow streets where locals were just trying to run their businesses, then standing in line for over an hour for 10 seconds in front of the church.
It’s gorgeous, but not worth losing an entire day for one photo. I caught the mistake quickly and hired a local guide to take me to the other side of the island, away from the crowds.
There I found quiet beaches, black- and red-sand shorelines, and small churches with no one in line. Away from Oia, I finally found the Greece I’d pictured.
I underestimated the physical demands of exploring Greece
I’m in decent shape and travel often, but Greece wore me out.
The heat in September was more intense than I expected, and the cobblestone streets, as pretty as they look, are hard to walk on, especially when everywhere I wanted to go was uphill.
I wanted to put on cute dresses and look photo-ready wherever I went, but I ended up wearing sneakers and a ponytail just to get through the day.
If I return, I’ll pack more practical clothing, bring real sun protection, and plan around the heat instead of ignoring it.
Ultimately, I’d absolutely go back to Greece — just with a better plan next time
There’s still so much I hope to see in Greece. Next time, I’ll be more prepared.
Chantelle Kincy
I had dreamt of visiting Greece for years, and as I left, I felt that the country I experienced was nothing like what I had expected.
It was maddening to realize that my disappointment would have been completely avoidable if I had planned differently.
Even though I left exhausted and frustrated, I’d still go back to Greece. I’d just travel differently — slower and more thoughtfully — so I could actually enjoy it.
After my father died, my mother continued living alone in New York City. She was in her mid-80s and fiercely independent. She managed all her finances, doctor appointments, and dinner dates with her new boyfriend. She loved her apartment, her lifestyle, her friends, and her iPhone 16, and had no interest in ever leaving. Then her health declined dramatically.
It became clear that staying alone in Manhattan was no longer safe for her without round-the-clock care, which, financially, was not an option. We decided to move her into an assisted living facility in Connecticut, near where I live.
Even though she signed off on the move, she was not happy. I took comfort in believing she would finally have the support she needed with meals, medications, transportation, and daily care. Plus, my son, husband, and I would be able to spend quality time with her.
What I didn’t anticipate at all was how passwords would make such a big impact on my day-to-day life.
Tech has become a huge part of caring for my mom
What should have been a simple task — logging into one of my mom’s health insurance accounts (she has five) to access reimbursement forms for a dental procedure — turned into an hour-long ordeal. I had to overcome a forgotten password, a verification code sent to an old email address, and the realization that I would need to get her on the phone with the insurance company so they could authorize me to speak on her behalf.
The author (left) said that her mom had managed her digital life and passwords on her own for years, but two-factor authentication has changed things.
Courtesy of Carissa Tozzi.
Over the last two years, those kinds of tasks have become a defining part of how my mom and I spend our time together.
My mom has never heard of a password manager like Dashlane, nor did she ever use Apple’s version. And she couldn’t set up Face ID (she has Parkinson’s disease and can’t keep her phone still). Instead, she kept every password in a black-and-white composition notebook. For years, that system worked well for her.
She was able to access her bank and investment accounts, as well as multiple insurance portals. She could pay her bills, order household items from Amazon, and send out digital greeting cards for every special occasion.
Then came two-factor authentication. Suddenly, a password wasn’t enough. Accounts wanted codes sent to phones, backup email addresses, security questions, and app approvals. She was lost.
The more time I spend navigating these systems on her behalf, the more I realize that so many technological advancements weren’t designed with people like her in mind.
Managing her digital life is an essential part of her care
When people talk about caregiving, they talk about healthcare. They don’t talk about the moment a parent can no longer figure out why her phone stopped ringing (she accidentally pressed the silent button), retrieve and read a message from her doctor via MyChart (which requires the extra step of logging in and verifying her identity), or deposit a check via her banking app (her shaking hands have made it impossible to hold the phone steady enough to take a photo).
The woman who once managed her own finances, appointments, and social life in New York City now finds herself dependent on me to navigate systems she can no longer manage because of technology that assumes everyone uses a password manager, can retrieve verification codes on multiple devices, and can get the help they need from a chatbot instead of a person. My mom can’t do any of that.
Rather than making life easier, the very tools designed to provide convenience and security have had the opposite effect. Every time my mom has to hand me her phone because she can’t access an account or figure out why something isn’t working, she loses a little more control over her own life. And for someone who spent nearly 90 years managing perfectly well on her own, that loss of independence and confidence is profound.
What surprises me most is how invisible this work is. I imagine there are many adult children like me who are finding themselves in a similar position. We aren’t just helping our parents manage their healthcare. We’re helping them navigate a world that increasingly assumes everyone is healthy enough, physically and cognitively. to keep up. For me, that has become one of the most important responsibilities of caring for my mom.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” recreates the cover of the very first “Spider-Man” comic book.
Marvel Unlimited/Sony Pictures Releasing
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been going strong since “Iron Man” in 2008.
But Marvel heroes have been around since as early as 1941.
We compared every Avenger (or honorary Avenger) in the MCU to their comic-book counterpart.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is, for better or worse, sticking around through at least December 2028, with the release of “Black Panther 3,” the long-awaited sequel to “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
That’ll mark 20 years of the MCU and at least 42 feature films.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. The latest film in the MCU is “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” which hit theaters on Friday.
Since 2008, there have been at least 100 or so characters we think have a credible case for membership in the Avengers.
We’ve compiled a list of 111 characters we’ve been introduced to on screen and compared them to their original comic-book forms. Some are near-identical copies; others have been slightly altered for their live-action appearances.
Here’s what every Avenger looks like on the page and on the screen.
Warning: This post contains spoilers from every Marvel Cinematic Universe property from 2008 to 2026, including “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”
Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, was played by Robert Downey Jr. for just over a decade, from 2008 to 2019.
Marvel Unlimited/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
First comics appearance: “Tales of Suspense No. 39” in March 1963
Main MCU appearances: “Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2,” “The Avengers,” “Iron Man 3,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “Avengers: Endgame” as Downey Jr, and voiced by Mick Wingert in “What If…?”
Post-credit cameo: “The Incredible Hulk”
Gwyneth Paltrow played Pepper Potts, Tony’s longtime assistant and eventual wife — and a superhero in her own right, Rescue.
Marvel Unlimited/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
First comics appearance: “Tales of Suspense No. 45” in September 1963
Main MCU appearances: “Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2,” “The Avengers,” “Iron Man 3,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “Avengers: Endgame,” and voiced by Beth Hoyt in “What If…?”
Here’s what Rescue looks like in the comics and in “Avengers: Endgame.”
Rescue.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
Pepper’s still around in the MCU, with a name-drop in “Spider-Man: Far from Home,” so she could make another appearance as either herself or Rescue in the future, if Paltrow wants.
Rescue made her comics debut in “The Invincible Iron Man No. 10” in May 2009.
Tony’s other best friend, James “Rhodey” Rhodes (or War Machine or Iron Patriot), was played by Terrence Howard for the first “Iron Man” and then recast with Don Cheadle.
Marvel Unlimited/Paramount/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
First comics appearance: “Iron Man No. 118” in January 1979
Main MCU appearances: “Iron Man” (as Howard), “Iron Man 2,” “Iron Man 3,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “What If…?” and “Secret Invasion”
Post-credit cameo: “Captain Marvel”
Here’s what War Machine looks like on the page and on-screen.
Marvel Unlimited/Paramount
Howard never got to play War Machine. During the first “Iron Man,” he longingly looks at a suit and says, “Next time,” which was more a nod to his comics canon at the time than a promise of a sequel. By the time “Iron Man 2” rolled around, he had been recast.
War Machine first appeared in “Iron Man No. 281” in June 1992.
Bruce Banner was originally played by Edward Norton, but was recast with Mark Ruffalo for all subsequent appearances.
Marvel Unlimited/Universal/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Incredible Hulk No. 1” in May 1962
Main MCU appearances: “The Incredible Hulk” (played by Norton), “The Avengers,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” ‘Marvel Zombies,” “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” (played by Ruffalo)
Post-credit cameos: “Iron Man 3,” “Captain Marvel,” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”
Here’s his extremely famous, extremely green counterpart, the Hulk.
Marvel Unlimited/Universal/Disney
The Hulk hasn’t actually been in every movie that Bruce has been in.
He doesn’t show up in “Iron Man 3” or “Captain Marvel,” is barely in “Avengers: Infinity War,” and has completely reformed as “Smart Hulk” in “Endgame” — though he was back in his human form in “Shang-Chi” and “She-Hulk,” temporarily, to help heal an injury he sustained in “Endgame.”
The Hulk was a not-so-lean, green fighting machine once again in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” due to some psychic interference.
Scarlett Johansson was one of the longest-running Avengers. She made her debut as super-spy Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, back in 2010’s “Iron Man 2.”
Marvel Unlimited/Paramount
First comics appearance: “Tales of Suspense No. 52” in April 1964
Main MCU appearances: “Iron Man 2,” “The Avengers,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and “Black Widow” as Johansson, and voiced by Lake Bell in “What If…?”
Post-credit cameo: “Captain Marvel”
Florence Pugh made her debut as the new Black Widow, Yelena Belova, in “Black Widow.”
Yelena Belova.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Inhumans No. 5” in March 1999
Main MCU appearances: “Black Widow,” “Hawkeye,” “Marvel Zombies,” “Thunderbolts*,” “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” and the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday”
Red Guardian, the Soviet version of Captain America, also debuted in “Black Widow.” He’s played by David Harbour.
Red Guardian.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Avengers No. 43” in January 1967
Main MCU appearances: “Black Widow,” “Marvel Zombies,” “What If…?,” “Thunderbolts*,” and the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday”
Nick Fury, former head of S.H.I.E.L.D. and famed super-spy, has been around for decades and has had many designs throughout the years. This is what he originally looked like — and here’s how Samuel L. Jackson portrays him.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos No. 1” in May 1963
Main MCU appearances: “Iron Man 2,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “The Avengers,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captain Marvel,” “Avengers: Endgame, “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “What If…?,” “Secret Invasion,” and “The Marvels”
Post-credit cameos: “Iron Man,” “Thor,” and “Avengers: Infinity War”
The God of Thunder himself, Thor, has been played by Chris Hemsworth for a decade and counting.
Thor.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Journey Into Mystery No. 83” in August 1962
Main MCU Appearances: “Thor,” “The Avengers,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” “Thor: Love and Thunder,” “Deadpool & Wolverine,” “Marvel Zombies” (voiced by Greg Furman), and the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday”
Post-credit cameo: “Doctor Strange”
Natalie Portman made her debut as Jane Foster in 2011’s “Thor” …
Marvel Unlimited/Paramount
First comics appearance: “Journey Into Mystery No. 84” in September 1962
Main MCU appearances: “Thor,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” and “Thor: Love and Thunder”
And 11 years later, Portman became the Mighty Thor in “Thor: Love and Thunder.”
The Mighty Thor.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
Jane made her debut as her version of Thor in “Mighty Thor No. 1” in November 2015.
We’re considering the keeper of the Bifrost, Heimdall, an honorary Avenger, as he’s the only other Asgardian outside Thor and Loki to appear in “Avengers” films. He was played by Idris Elba.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Journey Into Mystery No. 85” in October 1962
Main MCU appearances: “Thor,” Thor: The Dark World,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “What If…?”
Post-credit cameos: “Thor: Love and Thunder”
Since Lady Sif is Thor’s only surviving Asgardian friend, she’s an honorary Avenger, too. She’s played by Jaimie Alexander.
Marvel Unlimited/Paramount
First comics appearance: “Journey Into Mystery No. 102” in March 1964
Main MCU appearances: “Thor,” Thor: The Dark World,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Loki,” “What If…?” and “Thor: Love and Thunder”
Valkyrie, played by Tessa Thompson, is now the King of Asgard after joining up with Thor as part of the “Revengers.”
Valkyrie.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Avengers No. 83” in December 1970
Main MCU appearances: “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” “Thor: Love and Thunder,” “The Marvels,” and “Marvel Zombies”
Korg, who is voiced by Taika Waititi, can be seen fighting in the final battle of “Endgame,” making him an Avenger.
Korg.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Incredible Hulk Vol. 2, No. 93” in May 2006 — though he was later retconned to have appeared in 1962’s “Journey Into Mystery No. 83”
Main MCU appearances: “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” and “Thor: Love and Thunder”
Miek was there, too. In the films, he’s more of a larva-like creature than the humanoid roach of the comics.
Miek.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Incredible Hulk Vol. 2, No. 2” in April 2006
Main MCU appearances: “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” and “Thor: Love and Thunder”
At this point, Loki, Thor’s brother, is basically an Avenger after starting out as a villain. He’s played by Tom Hiddleston.
Loki.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Journey Into Mystery No. 85” in October 1962
MCU appearances: “Thor,” “The Avengers,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Loki,” “What If…?,” and the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday”
Chris Evans embodied the spirit of a true hero as Steve Rogers — better known as Captain America — for eight years, from 2011 to 2019. He’s back this year for “Avengers: Doomsday.”
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Captain America Comics No. 1” in March 1941
Main MCU appearances: “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “The Avengers,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and the coming “Avengers: Doomsday” played by Evans, and in “What If…?” and “Marvel Zombies” voiced by Josh Keaton
Post-credit cameos: “Ant-Man” and “Captain Marvel.” Evans also pops up in “Thor: The Dark World” for a few seconds and is seen throughout “Spider-Man: Homecoming” in a series of instructional videos as well as a post-credits scene.
Peggy Carter, played by Hayley Atwell, was one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the first character to get her own spin-off show due to her popularity.
Marvel Unlimited/Paramount
First comics appearance: “Tales of Suspense No. 75” in March 1966
Main MCU appearances: “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Agent Carter,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Ant-Man,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday”
Atwell has also played an alternate version, or variant, of a powered-up Peggy Carter in “What If…?” and “Multiverse of Madness” called Captain Carter.
Captain Carter.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Exiles Vol. 3 No. 3” in May 2018
Main MCU appearances: “What If…?” and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”
Bucky Barnes begins his MCU tenure as Steve’s best friend before seemingly dying in “Captain America: The First Avenger.” He’s played by Sebastian Stan.
Marvel Unlimited/Paramount
First comics appearance: “Captain America Comics No. 1” in March 1941
Main MCU appearances: “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “What If…?,” “Captain America: Brave New World,” “Thunderbolts*,” and the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday”
Post-credit cameos: “Ant-Man” and “Black Panther”
But, as many Marvel fans knew, he wasn’t actually dead. Instead, he became a mind-controlled assassin known as the Winter Soldier. Over the course of the MCU, he eventually got his mind back.
Bucky Barnes.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
Basically, he cut off his Winter Soldier hair and got a new robotic arm.
In the comics, Bucky has a stint as the new Captain America once he breaks free of the mind control, so we’ll see if he gets to wield the shield one day — though that’s looking less likely.
Bucky made his comics debut as Captain America in “Captain America No. 34” in January 2008.
Anthony Mackie’s character, Sam Wilson, or Falcon, has a more toned-down appearance from his comics look. He’s also one of Steve’s closest friends …
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Captain America No. 117” in September 1969
Main MCU appearances: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Ant-Man,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “What If…?,” “Captain America: Brave New World,” and the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday”
… leading him to be chosen as the new Captain America. He debuted the look, which is way more accurate to the comics, in the Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.”
Captain America.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
As the title card at the end of the season finale indicated, Sam’s the new Cap. He even had his own solo film, “Captain America: Brave New World,” to prove it.
Sam made his comics debut as Captain America in “All-New Captain America No. 1” in January 2015.
The new Falcon is Joaquin Torres, played by Danny Ramirez.
Falcon.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Captain America: Sam Wilson No. 1” in October 2015
Main MCU appearances: “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Brave New World,” and the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday”
John Walker, aka US Agent, joined the team in “Thunderbolts*.” He’s played by Wyatt Russell.
US Agent.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Captain America No. 323” in July 1986
Main MCU appearances: “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “Thunderbolts*,” “Marvel Zombies,” and the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday”
Another Thunderbolt is Ghost, played by Hannah John-Kamen. She was introduced as a misunderstood villain in “Ant-Man and the Wasp.”
Ghost.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Iron Man No. 219” in June 1987
MCU appearances: “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” “Thunderbolts*,” “Marvel Zombies,” and the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday”
The Sentry, or Bob (or the Void!), is played by Lewis Pullman in “Thunderbolts*.” He’s another misunderstood villain.
Sentry.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Sentry No. 1” in July 2000
MCU appearances: “Thunderbolts*” and the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday”
Agent 13, aka Sharon Carter, is played by Emily VanCamp and is introduced as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. She is later revealed to be Peggy Carter’s niece. She’s since taken more of a villainous turn.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Tales of Suspense No. 75” in March 1966
Main MCU appearances: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” and “What If…?”
We finally got a more comics-accurate purple costume for Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye in the finale of his Disney+ series — at least, more comics-accurate to the Matt Fraction 2012 comics run that the show is based on.
Hawkeye.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney+
First comics appearance: “Tales of Suspense No. 57” in September 1964
Main MCU appearances: “The Avengers,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?” “Hawkeye,” “Marvel Zombies,” and (rumored) the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday”
Cameos: This isn’t technically a “post-credit” cameo, but Renner has an uncredited appearance in “Thor,” introducing his character to the universe. His photo was also shown at the end of “Black Widow.”
For a brief scene in “Avengers: Endgame,” we see Clint take on the mantle of Ronin. We learned more about this time period in “Hawkeye.”
Ronin.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
We didn’t get a great look at the full Ronin suit in “Endgame,” but after the better look we got at it in “Hawkeye,” it definitely has gold accents, much like the comic costume.
Clint’s version of Ronin made his comics debut in “New Avengers No. 27” in April 2007.
Hailee Steinfeld joined the MCU as Kate Bishop, another Hawkeye, in the Disney+ series of the same name.
First comics appearance: “Young Avengers No. 1” in April 2005
Main MCU appearances: “Hawkeye,” “What If…?,” and “Marvel Zombies”
Post-credit cameo: “The Marvels”
Laura Barton was revealed as the former Agent 19 in “Hawkeye” finale — she’s probably a reimagining of Clint’s wife in the comics, Mockingbird. She’s played by Linda Cardellini and was introduced all the way back in “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”
Mockingbird/Laura Barton.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Astonishing Tales No. 18” in June 1973 as Agent 19, “Ultimates 2 No. 2” in March 2005, as Laura Barton
Main MCU appearances: “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and “Hawkeye”
Note: In the comics, Mockingbird’s real name is Barbara “Bobbi” Morse. That version of the character was introduced in “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” as played by Adrianne Palicki, but most of “AoS” hasn’t been regarded as canon in the MCU at large.
Echo, aka Maya Lopez, might’ve started off as a villain, but we think she’s well on her way to a more heroic destiny. She’s played by Alaqua Cox.
Echo.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Daredevil No. 9” in December 1999
MCU appearances: “Hawkeye” and “Echo”
Maria Hill was one of Nick Fury’s most loyal allies and a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. She was played by Cobie Smulders until her character’s death in “Secret Invasion.”
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The New Avengers No. 4” in March 2005
Main MCU appearances: “The Avengers,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Avengers: Endgame,” Spider-Man: Far From Home,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “What If…?,” and “Secret Invasion”
Post-credit cameo: “Avengers: Infinity War”
Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, was finally called the Scarlet Witch in “WandaVision,” and inhabited the character flawlessly in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” even if she was more villain than Avenger.
Wanda Maximoff.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The X-Men No. 4” in March 1964
Main MCU appearances: “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “WandaVision,” “What If…?” “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” and “Marvel Zombies”
Post-credit cameo: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”
Paul Bettany made his MCU on-screen debut as Vision in 2015 after years of voicing J.A.R.V.I.S., Tony Stark’s artificial intelligence system.
Vision.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Avengers Vol. 1, No. 57” in August 1968
Main MCU appearances: “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “WandaVision,” “What If…?,” and the coming Disney+ series “VisionQuest”
Wanda and Vision’s son Billy, better known as Wiccan, debuted in “WandaVision,” and then reappeared in “Agatha All Along.”
Wiccan.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney+
First comics appearance: “Young Avengers No. 6” in August 2005
Main MCU appearances: “WandaVision” and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” played by Julian Hilliard, and “Agatha All Along” and the coming “VisionQuest,” played by Joe Locke
Quicksilver, or Pietro Maximoff, was introduced in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson — and then a fake version of the character was played by Evan Peters in “WandaVision.”
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The X-Men No. 4” in March 1964
Main MCU appearances: “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (played by Taylor-Johnson) and “WandaVision” (played by Peters)
Post-credit cameo: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (played by Taylor-Johnson)
Note: Peters also plays a different version of Quicksilver in the 20th Century Fox “X-Men” universe in “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “X-Men: Apocalypse,” “Dark Phoenix,” and “Deadpool 2.”
Moving on to more cosmic characters, Chris Pratt plays Peter Quill (or Star-Lord) of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Star-Lord.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Marvel Preview No. 4” in January 1976
Main MCU appearances: “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?” (voiced by Brian T. Delaney), “Thor: Love and Thunder,” “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”
Gamora, an assassin turned hero and adopted daughter of Thanos, is played by Zoe Saldaña.
Gamora.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Strange Tales No. 80” in June 1975
Main MCU appearances: “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” played by Saldaña, and “What If…?,” voiced by Cynthia McWilliams
Drax the Destroyer, played by Dave Bautista, ditched the cape for his MCU look.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Invincible Iron Man No. 55” in February 1973
Main MCU appearances: “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?” (voiced by Fred Tatasciore), “Thor: Love and Thunder,” “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”
It’s easy to forget that Rocket Raccoon is voiced by Bradley Cooper …
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Marvel Preview No. 7” in summer 1976
Main MCU appearances: “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” “Thor: Love and Thunder,” “I Am Groot,” “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” and “Marvel Zombies”
… or that Groot is voiced by none other than Vin Diesel.
Groot.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Tales to Astonish No. 13” in November 1960
Main MCU appearances: “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Thor: Love and Thunder,” “I Am Groot,” “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” and “Marvel Zombies”
Although Yondu started off as an antagonist, he eventually joined the Guardians of the Galaxy — and, by extension, the Avengers. He was played by Michael Rooker.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Marvel Super-Heroes No. 18” in January 1969
Main MCU appearances: “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “What If…?,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”
Nebula, played by Karen Gillan, also started out as an antagonist, but, along with her sister Gamora, joined the Guardians and later the Avengers.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Avengers No. 257” in July 1985
Main MCU appearances: “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” “Thor: Love and Thunder,” “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”
Mantis joined the Guardians in “Vol. 2,” and is played by Pom Klementieff.
Mantis.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Avengers No. 112” in June 1973
Main MCU appearances: “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” “Thor: Love and Thunder,” “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”
In “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” Adam Warlock, as played by Will Poulter, joins the team by the end of the film.
Adam Warlock.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Marvel Premiere No. 1″ in April 1972
Main MCU appearances: “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”
Post-credit appearances: “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” (inside a pod)
So did Kraglin, Yondu’s former first-mate. He’s played by Sean Gunn.
Kraglin.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Tales to Astonish No. 46” in August 1963
Main MCU appearances: “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” “Thor: Love and Thunder,” “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”
Another new member of the team is Cosmo the Space Dog, voiced by Maria Bakalova.
Cosmo.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Nova Vol. 4 No. 8” in January 2008
Main MCU appearances: “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “What If…?,” “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”
An alternate version of Phyla-Vell also joined the Guardians, played by Kai Zen.
Phyla-Vell.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Captain Marvel Vol. 5 No. 16” in January 2004
Main MCU appearances: “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”
The Scott Lang version of Ant-Man, played by Paul Rudd, is remarkably similar to the comics.
Ant-Man.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Avengers No. 181” in March 1979
Main MCU appearances: “Ant-Man,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” “Marvel Zombies,” and the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday”
In the comics, Hope Pym is the villain known as the Red Queen. In the MCU, Hope van Dyne takes on the superhero mantle of the Wasp from her mother and is played by Evangeline Lilly.
Hope.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “A-Next No. 7” in April 1999
Main MCU appearances: “Ant-Man,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?” “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” and “Marvel Zombies”
Henry “Hank” Pym is the original Ant-Man and is played by Michael Douglas.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Tales to Astonish No. 27” in January 1962
Main MCU appearances: “Ant-Man,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” and “Marvel Zombies”
In “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” we got our first real look at Janet van Dyne’s version of the Wasp, as played by Michelle Pfeiffer.
The Wasp.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Tales to Astonish No. 44” in June 1963
Main MCU appearances: “Ant-Man,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” and “Marvel Zombies”
Scott’s daughter Cassie, now played by Kathryn Newton, assumed her comics alter ego Stature in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.”
Cassie Lang/Stature.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Marvel Premiere No. 47″ in April 1979 as Cassie and “Young Avengers No. 6” in May 2006 as Stature
Main MCU appearances: “Ant-Man” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp” played by Abby Ryder Fortson; “Avengers: Endgame” played by Emma Fuhrmann; and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday,” played by Newton
Doctor Strange — or, to be more precise, Dr. Stephen Strange — is the former Sorcerer Supreme. He’s played by Benedict Cumberbatch.
Doctor Strange.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Strange Tales No. 110” in July 1963
Main MCU appearances: “Doctor Strange,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” and the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday”
Wong is a fellow Master of the Mystic Arts, played by Benedict Wong. He’s now the Sorcerer Supreme due to a “technicality.”
Wong.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Strange Tales No. 110” in July 1963
Main MCU appearances: “Doctor Strange,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” and “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law”
The Ancient One helped the Avengers in the first film — and then again during the time heist in “Endgame,” making her an official Avenger in our books. She was played by Tilda Swinton, a significant departure from the comics character.
The Ancient One.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Strange Tales No. 110” in July 1963
Main MCU appearances: “Doctor Strange,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and “What If…?”
America Chavez punched her way into the MCU in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” played by Xochitl Gomez. She has the power to punch star-shaped holes through the multiverse.
America Chavez.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Vengeance No. 1” in September 2011
Main MCU appearances: “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and (potentially) the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday”
Doctor Strange’s future love interest, Clea, made a post-credits cameo in “Multiverse of Madness,” played by Charlize Theron.
Clea.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Strange Tales No. 146” in July 1966
Post-credits cameos: “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”
Black Panther, King T’Challa of Wakanda, was introduced in “Captain America: Civil War.” He was played by Chadwick Boseman until his death in 2020, with his last performance as T’Challa in “What If…?”
Black Panther.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Fantastic Four No. 52” in July 1966
Main MCU appearances: “Captain America: Civil War,” “Black Panther,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” and “Marvel Zombies”
Note: With Boseman’s death, his version of Black Panther will no longer appear. However, in July 2026, David Jonsson was announced as the star of “Black Panther 3,” playing an aged-up version of T’Challa’s son introduced in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” also named T’Challa.
Shuri, T’Challa’s younger sister, is the new Black Panther. She’s played by Letitia Wright.
Shuri as the new Black Panther.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Black Panther Vol. 4, No. 2” in May 2005
Main MCU appearances: “Black Panther,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?” (voiced by Ozioma Akagha), “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and the coming films “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Black Panther 3”
Okoye, as played by Danai Gurira, is one of the formidable bodyguards known as the Dora Milaje.
Okoye.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Black Panther Vol. 3, No. 1” in November 1998
Main MCU appearances: “Black Panther,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” played by Gurira, and “Marvel Zombies” voiced by Kenna Ramsey
M’Baku (known as Man-Ape in the comics) started as a foil to T’Challa but later joined his council and became a trusted ally. He is played by Winston Duke.
M’Baku.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Avengers No. 62” in March 1969
Main MCU appearances: “Black Panther,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and the coming films “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Black Panther 3”
The version of Nakia in the MCU played by Lupita Nyong’o is strictly heroic, but in the comics, she’s a villain known as Malice.
Nakia.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Black Panther Vol. 3, No. 1” in November 1998
Main MCU appearances: “Black Panther” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Another member of the Dora Milaje is Ayo, played by Florence Kasumba.
Ayo.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Black Panther Vol. 3, No. 1” in November 1998
Main MCU appearances: “Captain America: Civil War,” “Black Panther,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Riri Williams, better known as Ironheart, made her debut in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” played by Dominique Thorne.
Ironheart.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Invincible Iron Man No. 7” in May 2016
Main MCU appearances: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Ironheart,” and “Marvel Zombies”
Spider-Man joined the MCU in “Captain America: Civil War,” and we can’t wait to see what happens to Tom Holland’s version of Peter Parker in the future.
Spider-Man.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Amazing Fantasy No. 15” in August 1962
Main MCU appearances: “Captain America: Civil War,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” and the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday” played by Holland, and voiced by Hudson Thames in “What If…?” and “Marvel Zombies”
Cameo: It was retroactively decided that a young boy in “Iron Man 2” whom Tony saved from a drone was actually a young Peter Parker.
Captain Marvel, real name Carol Danvers, became the first female Marvel superhero with her own movie in 2019. She’s played by Brie Larson.
Captain Marvel.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Marvel Super-Heroes No. 13” in March 1968
Main MCU appearances: “Captain Marvel,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and “The Marvels, played by Larson, and “What If…?” and “Marvel Zombies,” voiced by Alexandra Daniels
Post-credit appearances: “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and “Ms. Marvel”
Talos, as played by Ben Mendelsohn, started off as (we thought) an antagonist in “Captain Marvel,” but became a close ally to Nick Fury until his death in “Secret Invasion.” He’s known as Talos the Untamed in the comics.
Talos.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Incredible Hulk No. 418” in June 1994
Main MCU appearances: “Captain Marvel,” “The Marvels,” and “Secret Invasion”
Post-credit cameo: “Spider-Man: Far From Home” (though it was really him the whole time in disguise)
Talos’ daughter G’iah, played by Emilia Clarke, is now a Super Skrull, and one of the most powerful beings in the MCU.
G’iah.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Meet the Skrulls No. 1” in March 2019
Main MCU appearances: “Captain Marvel,” as played by Auden L. Ophuls and Harriet L. Ophuls, and “Secret Invasion,” played by Clarke
A young Monica Rambeau, played by Akira Akbar, was first seen in “Captain Marvel.” An older version played by Teyonah Parris was introduced in “WandaVision,” setting her on her path to becoming Photon (or Pulsar, or Spectrum).
Monica Rambeau.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Amazing Spider-Man Annual No. 16” in October 1982
Main MCU appearances: “Captain Marvel” (played by Akbar), “WandaVision,” “The Marvels,” and “What If…?” (played by Parris)
Iman Vellani starred as Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, in the Disney+ series of the same name. She was confirmed as the MCU’s first mutant in the season finale.
Ms. Marvel.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Captain Marvel No. 14” in August 2013
Main MCU appearances: “Ms. Marvel,” “The Marvels,” and “Marvel Zombies”
She’s helped out by Kareem, aka Red Dagger, played by Aramis Knight.
Red Dagger.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Ms. Marvel Vol. 4 No. 12” in October 2016
Main MCU appearances: “Ms. Marvel”
Shang-Chi, played by Simu Liu, made his MCU debut in 2021. In the comics, he’s the most skilled martial artist in the world.
Shang-Chi.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Special Marvel Edition No. 15” in December 1973
Main MCU appearances: “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Marvel Zombies,” and the coming film “Avengers: Doomsday”
Shang-Chi’s sister Xialing, played by Meng’er Zhang, is a combination of a few comic characters, but mainly Shang-Chi’s half-sister in the comics, Sister Dagger.
Sister Dagger/Xialing.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Shang-Chi No. 1” in September 2020
Main MCU appearances: “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”
In “Eternals,” an entire team of super-powered beings was introduced to the MCU. First up is Gemma Chan’s Sersi, who has the power of atomic manipulation.
Sersi.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Eternals No. 3” in September 1976
Main MCU appearances: “Eternals”
Note: Chan played an entirely separate character, Minn-Erva, in “Captain Marvel”
One of her love interests, Dane Whitman, aka Black Knight, is played by Kit Harington. His eventual superhero status was teased in one of the post-credit scenes.
Black Knight/Dane Whitman.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Avengers No. 47” in December 1967
Main MCU appearances: “Eternals”
A fan-favorite Eternal is Kingo, played by Kumail Nanjiani, who basically creates cosmic finger guns. In the comics, Kingo is Japanese, while the MCU version is a Bollywood movie star.
Kingo.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Eternals No. 11” in May 1977
Main MCU appearances: “Eternals”
The leader of the Eternals is Ajak, who has healing abilities. In the comics, Ajak is a man, while the MCU version is played by Salma Hayek.
Ajak.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Eternals No. 2” in August 1976
Main MCU appearances: “Eternals”
Don Lee plays Gilgamesh, an Eternal with especially enhanced strength. In the comics, he’s also known as the Forgotten One.
Gilgamesh.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Eternals No. 13” in July 1977
Main MCU appearances: “Eternals”
In the MCU, the Greek warrior goddess Athena is apparently inspired by Angelina Jolie’s Thena, an Eternal who can create cosmic weaponry. Her look is one of the most comics-accurate.
Thena.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Eternals No. 5” in November 1976
Main MCU appearances: “Eternals”
Lia McHugh plays a gender-swapped Sprite, an eternally young Eternal who can create duplicates of herself and mask her appearance.
Sprite.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Eternals No. 9” in March 1977
Main MCU appearances: “Eternals”
Phastos, an Eternal with considerable engineering and technological skills, is played by Brian Tyree Henry, and is the first canonically LGBTQ+ superhero in the MCU.
Phastos.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Eternals Vol. 2, No. 1” in October 1985
Main MCU appearances: “Eternals”
Lauren Ridloff’s character Makkari, also a man in the comics, is another first for the MCU: Makkari, a speedster, is its first deaf superhero.
Makkari.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Eternals No. 5” in November 1976
Main MCU appearances: “Eternals”
Druig is yet another Eternal — he has mind-control powers. He’s played by Barry Keoghan.
Druig.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Eternals No. 11” in May 1977
Main MCU appearances: “Eternals”
The final Eternal, Ikaris, has more enigmatic motivations than the rest of his fellow Eternals. Played by Richard Madden, he basically has the same power set as Superman.
Ikaris.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Eternals No. 1” in July 1976
Main MCU appearances: “Eternals” and “Marvel Zombies”
Moon Knight was introduced to the MCU as played by Oscar Isaac. In the comics, Moon Knight (real name Marc Spector) is a vigilante with dissociative identity disorder.
Moon Knight.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Werewolf by Night No. 32” in August 1975
Main MCU appearances: “Moon Knight”
In the comics, one of Marc’s personalities is Mr. Knight. In the series, that’s the Moon Knight suit of one of Marc’s personalities, Steven Grant.
Mr. Knight.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comicsappearance: “Moon Knight Vol. 7, No. 1” in March 2014
Main MCU appearances: “Moon Knight”
Layla El-Faouly, played by May Calamawy, was introduced as the MCU’s gender-swapped version of the Scarlet Scarab.
Scarlet Scarab.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Invaders No. 23” in December 1977
Main MCU appearances: “Moon Knight”
Bruce Banner’s cousin Jennifer Walters, better known as She-Hulk, made her debut in the Disney+ series “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.” She’s played by Tatiana Maslany.
“She-Hulk.”
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Savage She-Hulk No. 1” in February 1980
Main MCU appearances: “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law”
Charlie Cox has played Daredevil across various pieces of media, most recently in “Daredevil: Born Again.”
First comics appearance: “Daredevil No. 1” in April 1964
Main MCU appearances: “Daredevil,” “The Defenders,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” “Echo,” and “Daredevil: Born Again”
Jessica Jones returned in “Daredevil: Born Again,” once again played by Krysten Ritter.
Jessica Jones.
Marvel Unlimited/Netflix
First comics appearance: “Alias No. 1” in September 2001
Main MCU appearances: “Jessica Jones,” “The Defenders,” and “Daredevil: Born Again”
Frank Castle also officially joined the MCU in “Daredevil: Born Again,” still played by Jon Bernthal.
The Punisher.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney+
First comics appearance: “Amazing Spider-Man No. 129” in October 1973
Main MCU appearances: “Daredevil,” “The Punisher,” “Daredevil: Born Again,” “The Punisher: One Last Kill,” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”
Another member of the Netflix universe, Luke Cage, as played by Mike Colter, also popped up in “Daredevil: Born Again.”
Luke Cage.
Marvel Unlimited/Netflix
First comics appearance: “Luke Cage, Hero for Hire No. 1” in June 1972
Main MCU appearances: “Jessica Jones,” “Luke Cage,” “The Defenders,” and “Daredevil: Born Again”
We’re not sure yet how Gael García Bernal’s Werewolf by Night will fit into the MCU, but we’re betting he’ll be an Avenger eventually. Here’s what he looks like when he transforms.
Werewolf by Night.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney+
First comics appearance: “Marvel Spotlight No. 2” in February 1972
Main MCU appearances: “Werewolf by Night”
And here’s his human alter ego, aka Jack Russell.
Jack Russell.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney+
Yes, like the Jack Russell terrier.
And, we assume, so will his new friend and monster hunter, Elsa Bloodstone, played by Laura Donnelly.
Elsa Bloodstone.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney+
First comics appearance: “Bloodstone No. 1” in December 2001
Main MCU appearances: “Werewolf by Night”
The definitely misunderstood, possibly gentle giant Man-Thing also debuted in “Werewolf by Night.”
Man-Thing.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney+
First comics appearance: “Savage Tales No. 1” in May 1971
Main MCU appearances: “Werewolf by Night”
Deadpool finally joined the MCU in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” played by Ryan Reynolds.
Deadpool.
Marvel Unlimited/21st Century Fox
First comics appearance: “The New Mutants No. 98” in February 1991
Main MCU appearances: “Deadpool & Wolverine” and the coming “Avengers: Doomsday” (we think)
Note: Reynolds also played Deadpool in the 20th Century Fox “X-Men” universe in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” “Deadpool,” and “Deadpool 2.”
After over two decades, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine also entered the MCU in “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
Wolverine.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Incredible Hulk No. 180” in October 1974
Main MCU appearances: “Deadpool & Wolverine”
Note: Jackman also played Wolverine in the 20th Century Fox “X-Men” universe in “X-Men,” “X2,” “X-Men: The Last Stand,” “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” “X-Men: First Class,” “The Wolverine,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “X-Men: Apocalypse,” and “Logan.”
Channing Tatum finally got to play Gambit in “Deadpool & Wolverine” years after he was first supposed to take over the role.
Gambit.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “The Uncanny X-Men Annual No. 14″ in July 1990
Main MCU appearances: “Deadpool & Wolverine” and the coming “Avengers: Doomsday”
Note: A different version of Gambit played by Taylor Kitsch appeared in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”
In 2025, the Fantastic Four finally became part of the MCU. First up is Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, the extra-stretchy Mister Fantastic.
Mister Fantastic.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Fantastic Four No. 1” in November 1961
Main MCU appearances: “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” and the coming “Avengers: Doomsday”
Post-credit cameo: The team’s ship was seen in “Thunderbolts*”
Note: The version of Reed Richards played by Chris Evans in the 2005 and 2007 versions of the Fantastic Four made an appearance in “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
His wife, Sue, the Invisible Woman, is played by Vanessa Kirby.
Invisible Woman.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Fantastic Four No. 1” in November 1961
Main MCU appearances: “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” and the coming “Avengers: Doomsday”
Post-credit cameo: The team’s ship was seen in “Thunderbolts*”
Sue’s brother, Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, is played by Joseph Quinn.
The Human Torch.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Fantastic Four No. 1” in November 1961
Main MCU appearances: “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” and the coming “Avengers: Doomsday”
Post-credit cameo: The team’s ship was seen in “Thunderbolts*”
Rounding out the team is The Thing, or Ben Grimm, played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
The Thing.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney
First comics appearance: “Fantastic Four No. 1” in November 1961
Main MCU appearances: “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” and the coming “Avengers: Doomsday”
Post-credit cameo: The team’s ship was seen in “Thunderbolts*”
Note: Moss-Bachrach played a different Marvel character, Micro, in the Netflix series “The Punisher.”
The latest addition to our (huge) crew is Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, aka Wonder Man, in the Disney+ series of the same name.
Wonder Man.
Marvel Unlimited/Disney+
First comics appearance: “The Avengers No. 9” in October 1964
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” has an end-credits scene.
It gives us a hint as to where Spidey will show up next.
Major spoilers ahead for “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”
As the credits roll, then keep rolling without a mid-credits scene at the end of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” your Spidey senses may begin to tingle in a bad way.
But rest assured, there is an end-credits scene in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” — you just have to wait until the very end.
What happens in the ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ end credits scene?
Although the scene is brief, it will certainly make you think a little as you walk out of the theater.
In “Brand New Day,” recent MIT grad Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) creates an app called “Spidey Tracker,” a lo-fi map of New York City that’s dotted with Spider-Man masks marking the locations of recent Spidey sightings.
Ned created the app because he hopes to one day thank Spider-Man for saving him all those times in high school. Remember, following the events of 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” no one, including his close friends Ned and MJ (Zendaya), remembers that Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is the wall-crawler.
The app has become popular around the city. Parker is aware of its existence, and Punisher (Jon Bernthal) uses it to keep tabs on his friend.
The “Brand New Day” end-credits scene puts the Spidey Tracker front and center. It zooms in on the tracker’s screen showing the Spidey mask in New York City — presumably Peter Parker. Then, the app detects another Spider-Man location. The map zooms out of New York City to reveal the entire Earth; then it zooms out past an 8-bit moon to reveal a Spidey mask somewhere in outer space.
The scene ends with text that reads, “Spider-Man will return.”
Tom Holland in “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”
Sony/Marvel
What does the end-credits scene mean?
In typical Marvel fashion, especially when it comes to Spider-Man, it’s unclear.
Did Peter Parker find his way into space… again? Or is this an indication that another Peter Parker is out there in space?
Tom Holland is not currently listed in the enormous cast of “Avengers: Doomsday,” which premieres December 18 — but don’t be shocked if he makes a quick cameo.
Our money is on Spidey, or multiple Spideys, showing up in that movie’s sequel, “Avengers: Secret Wars,” which comes out in 2027.
In the comics, all the timelines and alternate universes collide in “Secret Wars” in a location called Battleworld. It leads to a showdown that will decide which variant becomes the sole version of each character.
Will we see Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire’s versions of Spider-Man again? Maybe even Miles Morales from the “Spider-Verse” animated movies? Or was the Spidey detected in space another variant we haven’t even thought of?
While doing press for “Brand New Day,” Holland, 30, said there’s a “clear vision” for how he will step down as Spider-Man. “It’s laid out… and I think it’s really exciting,” he told the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast.
As we’ve learned with Marvel, the options are endless.