Avengers: Each Main Character's First & Last Line In The Movies
From the deeply meaningful to the characters that aren't done yet, these are the first (and last) we've seen of all the MCU Avengers - so far.
When the first Avengers movie premiered in 2012, it felt like a huge milestone, not only for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but for cinema itself. A huge crossover event that awed audiences, it proved that the interconnected universe that Marvel was trying to build was not only a pipe dream.
Although the team began with six, over the course of four movies, several members joined the line-up. Some temporarily, others in a more permanent capacity, and some others only for one battle. Comparing and contrasting their first words, spoken back in that 2012 film, with the last ones, either in Infinity War or Endgame, is an interesting way to examine their entire arcs. And while some of their stories very conclusively ended in Endgame, some others carry on into Phase 5 of the MCU.
13 Iron Man
The character that kick-started the entire MCU, Tony Stark was first introduced in 2008's Iron Man. His first line, "I feel like you're driving me to court martial. This is crazy, what did I do?" perfectly sums up his initial snippy, wise-cracking personality.
One of the two characters with the most growth during the Infinity Saga, his last line in Endgame, the now iconic "I love you 3000" shows him coming full circle with both his role in the team, and his destiny as a whole.
12 Captain America
The man out of time had one of the hardest journeys in the films. His first line in Captain America: The First Avenger is a simple "Nope," replied when a fellow hopeful teases him, asking him if he's having second doubts about enlisting in the army.
Steve's entire arc is about the clash between his sense of duty and willingness to serve, and his desire to have a somewhat normal life. His final line, "No, I don't think I will," shows how he's at peace with his life's choices, finally understanding that serving a higher purpose doesn't necessarily mean sacrificing one's life.
11 Thor
The God of thunder went from being the arrogant Crown Prince of Asgard to the noble and truly heroic man who puts others' needs before his own. In other words, a true King.
His first line, spoken as a child in the opening of 2011's Thor, reflects his basic and immature understanding of what it means to rule: "When I'm King, I'll hunt the monsters down and slay them all." Thor's final line, a comedic "Of course" said in reply to Star Lord's assertion that he's in charge of the Guardians, shows that he no longer seeks glory, but is instead happy to be part of a team.
10 Hulk
Bruce Banner was technically played by two different actors in the MCU, Edward Norton and Mark Ruffalo. For his first appearance in 2008's The Incredible Hulk, Bruce speaks the line "Is it ready?" to his dog while making breakfast. Trying to live as normal a life as possible, he's still in hiding, afraid and ashamed of his powers.
Cut to Endgame, and Bruce has finally reconciled both parts of himself. Professor Hulk blends the raw power of the Hulk with Banner's brains. His final line, "I said I'm trying," stated as he's figuring out why Cap didn't return from his journey to return the stones, shows just how much the team still depends on him, and how his role in the story is not over.
9 Black Widow
Natasha Romanoff was a complex character who never truly got to live a full life. She had red in her ledger and wanted to wipe it out. A consummate spy, her first line during her introduction in 2010's Iron Man 2, perfectly illustrates it, saying "I need you to initial each box," while under the guise of Natalie Rushman.
After the Avengers become her family, she makes the ultimate sacrifice for them and for Earth, turning into the personification of their "Whatever it takes" motto. "Let me go. It's okay," she says before she gives her life to get the Soul Stone. It's a tragic, albeit fitting, ending, even if there's so much more she could've done for the MCU as a whole.
8 Hawkeye
One of the few non-powered Avengers, Hawkeye still proved a vital member of the team. When first appearing, in the middle of the first Thor film, he was still surrounded by mystery. "Do you want me to slow him down, sir? Or are you sending in more guys for him to beat up?" he sassily utters in response to Coulson's request for an update, as Thor rampages in search for Mjolnir.
"I wish there was a way that I could let her know. That we won. We did it." His last line, speaking about his fallen friend Natasha, shows how much hero life took from him. He never really wanted it, but he fought bravely and earned his place among Earth's mightiest heroes.
7 Wanda Maximoff
Even though Wanda has been around in the MCU since 2015, the character is just beginning to be fully explored. Introduced in the second Avengers film, her first line is, "Talk, and if you're wasting our time," before she's interrupted by Ultron.
Her last line, in Endgame, is a reply to Hawkeye's last line. "She knows. They both do," she says, referring to both Natasha and Vision. As someone who lost her parents, her brother, and the love of her life, she knows about mourning and the consequences of war. However, it won't be until WandaVision premieres in January that audiences will find out just how much these losses have taken a toll on her.
6 Vision
Formally introduced in Age of Ultron, Vision became one of the most powerful Avengers, thanks to the Infinity Stone on his forehead. One of the characters with the least development, Vision's short life was framed by Earth-threatening conflicts that prevented him from having a normal life.
His first line, "I'm sorry, that was odd," is said directly after his birth. As a higher form of intelligence, Vision often spoke in a formal, calm, and logical way, in stark contrast to those around him. He met his tragic ending in the battle of Wakanda, when Wanda was forced to kill him to destroy the Stone. Before he died in her arms, he gave her his final words: "It's alright. I love you."
5 Captain Marvel
The first female superhero to lead an MCU film, Carol Danvers flew into the screens in 2019's Captain Marvel. A human pilot who received superpowers from the Tesseract, Danvers' first line in her film is a simple "Can't sleep," followed by a shrug, as she wakes up her mentor, Yon-Rogg. It's an effective way of showing her aggressive personality.
During Endgame, her last line is "Hey Peter Parker, you got something for me?" It's not really a climactic statement, but considering the character is just starting in the MCU, it's safe to say audiences haven't seen the last of her yet.
4 Ant-Man
One of the most charming characters in the MCU, Scott Lang first graced the MCU in the 2015 film of which he was the star. His opening line was "You didn't even move," as he engaged in a friendly goodbye fight with his fellow prison inmates. Meanwhile, his final line in Endgame was: "It's dead, I have to hotwire it."
Throughout his journey in the MCU, Scott has graduated from petty criminal to Earth-saving hero. And audiences can still expect more of his ant-sized adventures, with the recently announced Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania coming to theaters in 2022.
3 Doctor Strange
The Sorcerer Supreme was first mentioned in 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier, before making his official debut in his own 2016 film. His introductory line, "Challenge round, Billy," is spoken mid-surgery, and the scene perfectly sets up everything the audience needs to know of this conceited and talented surgeon.
Strange gets one of the most interesting final lines in Endgame, "If I tell you what happens, it won't happen." He speaks it to Tony shortly before the latter's ultimate sacrifice. A fascinating character with a lot of room to explore, Strange will return in 2022, with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
2 Spider-Man
"Hey, May" is the first line spoken in the MCU by the web-slinger, who made his debut in Captain America: Civil War. Within the MCU's continuity, Peter Parker is just an average student, doing his best to juggle high school and superhero duties. His opening line perfectly reflects the averageness that's always been a character trademark.
His final line, a shocked "What the...?" spoken in Marvel's most recent film, Spider-Man: Far From Home signals the chaos the character will go through, now that his identity has been made public. Spider-Man will return for a star-studded third film.
1 Loki
The ultimate Marvel antihero, Loki came into the MCU at the same time as his brother. Furthermore, his first line, "Do the frost giants still live?" was spoken immediately before Thor's. His final line, at least so far, was uttered in Infinity War. Before Thanos snaps his neck, he delivers one final burn, "You will never be a God."
The God of Mischief's fascinating journey has taken him from villain to tragic figure, and his upcoming Disney+ series will certainly keep him down the same complicated path.