The Captain America Trilogy: 10 Best Characters Introduced After The First Movie
Many fans consider the Captain America movies to make up the best trilogy in the MCU. A big part of the reason these three movies are so beloved is the characters, many of which were brought into the MCU in the first movie, Captain America: The First Avenger.
But while the likes of Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, and Peggy Carter all helped kick off the trilogy, the sequels brought some exciting new characters into the MCU. While some of them went off into other franchises, including their own solo adventures, it was the Captain America sequels that established them.
10 Batroc
Batroc the Leaper was never the most imposing of Captain America's villains in the comics, but the MCU has a talent for making oddball characters memorable. Batroc is reimagined as an international terrorist who Cap faces off with in the thrilling opening action sequence in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Though he doesn't have a huge presence in the movie, he makes for a great secondary villain. He even stands up to Cap in a fight better than most thugs have in the past.
9 Everett Ross
When Cap and the others break the Sokovia Accords, Everett Ross is the man they are forced to answer to. He is a no-nonsense government employee who runs a tight ship and has no patience for troublemakers.
Everett's appearance in Captain America: Civil War is somewhat overshadowed by the massive cast of superheroes and it mostly serves as an introduction before he is brought back in Black Panther. However, he does make an impression for how willing he is to put Cap and the other Avengers in their place.
8 May Parker
Not only was one of Marvel's most beloved heroes finally brought into the MCU in Captain America: Civil War, but one of the key figures of his universe was also included. Though only appearing in one scene (not including the post-credit scene) fans were treated to a new version of Aunt May.
Aging down the character yet again, there were some funny moments of Tony Stark not so subtly flirting with May as he attempted to recruit Peter Parker to his team. Though she gets far more to do in the solo movies, May quickly cemented herself as a caring and supportive person in Peter's life.
7 Brock Rumlow / Crossbones
In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Steve Rogers finds himself surrounded by people he doesn't know if he can trust. One of those people is Brock Rumlow, his supposed ally at SHIELD. Of course, Rumlow quickly proves he is not as friendly as he lets on.
Brock leads the attack on Cap in the famous elevator fight sequence and from that point, he proves how ruthless of an enemy he is. And though his return in Captain America: Civil War is brief, he is an even more formidable foe in his Crossbones mode.
6 Alexander Pierce
Seeing Hollywood legend Robert Redford in a Captain America movie was a great thrill, especially given the paranoid thriller feel Captain America: The Winter Soldier had. Redford brings a lot of gravitas to his role of high-ranking SHIELD executive Alexander Pierce.
But the really interesting part is when Pierce's allegiance to Hydra is revealed and Redford gets to play the villain. Even then, he remains charming, graceful yet intimidating. He ranks as one of the most underrated MCU villains.
5 Sharon Carter
It is true the arrival of Sharon Carter in the sequels somewhat complicated Steve's romance with Peggy Carter, but Sharon does become a key character in her own right. Though she is yet another person Steve can't trust at first, posing as his neighbor while really keeping an eye on him, she proves to be a very loyal SHIELD member.
Her bravery shines through in some great heroic moments and she is someone who is always there for Steve whenever he needs help. It will be interesting to see the direction the character goes in given her new development in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
4 Zemo
Though he has no superpowers, Zemo can boast of being one of the few villains who actually have defeated the Avengers. Fueled by his desire for vengeance after losing his family in Sokovia, Zemo enacts his complex plan to tear the Avengers apart.
Zemo makes for another terrific villain because his reasons are sympathetic yet his methods are terrifying. He is also someone who battles these mighty heroes using his intelligence rather than his strength.
3 Sam Wilson / The Falcon
Though a simple scene, Steve Rogers running past Sam Wilson and saying "On your left" has become iconic in the MCU. It also proved to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. The connection these two men form is instant and Sam proves himself a hero willingly risking his life to help Cap later on.
As The Falcon, Sam becomes a very likable member of the Avengers who isn't a super soldier but constantly demonstrates bravery and loyalty. And seeing Sam later take on the mantle of Captain America brings that friendship full circle in a wonderful way.
2 Peter Parker / Spider-Man
While the idea of seeing Spider-Man in the MCU once seemed ridiculous, Captain America: Civil War made it a reality. Newcomer Tom Holland stepped into the role of the teenage web-slinging hero and instantly charmed audiences.
Though he is not a focal point in the movie, he is quickly able to establish this new version of Spider-Man that is funny and eager to be part of the superhero world. It helped to show rebooting the beloved character was worthwhile.
1 T'Challa / Black Panther
While his own solo movie would be a game-changing success for the MCU, T'Challa's first appearance in Captain America: Civil War did a lot to get fans excited for the character's future. He was presented as a stoic and honorable man before also debuting as the badass Black Panther.
He made for an interesting and complex hero in the movie as he was single-minded in his quest for revenge yet also was able to see the error of his ways later on. The appearance helped him to become one of the most pivotal figures in the MCU.