14 Badass Women of the Marvel Cinematic Universe – The Fearless and The Fantastic

In celebration of the ever approaching release date of Captain Marvel I wanted to take some time to throw love and appreciation at the women of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Hope van Dyne as The Wasp was the first joint Marvel title character and now Carol Danvers is going to be the first solo female title character.

The MCU has been growing for the past 10 years and with Phase Four approaching it’s amazing to see the progression of female characters within the universe. For this list I’m looking at my favourite women from all of these films. There is no particular order, these are just the badass superheroes, villains and all round kick-ass females that I adore. So, let’s hear it for the girls.

MARGARET ‘PEGGY’ CARTER

Feature Films: Captain America: First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron & Ant-Man

Unfortunately I didn’t want to spread too thin by including the Marvel TV series (which is why the ever incredible Jessica Jones doesn’t feature on the list) so this will be about her film time. However, can we all acknowledge that Agent Carter was god damn amazing and should never have been cancelled. I’m looking at you AMC. Peggy is a skilled member of the SSR when a scrawny young man named Steve Rogers is enlisted and chosen to be part of a ‘super soldier’ experiment. She is also one of the founders of S.H.E.I.L.D alongside Howard Stark. Agent Peggy Carter is an intelligent, world-saving badass who can take down the MCU’s villains just as well as she does the sexist agents she works with. Here’s hoping for a Time Stone return!

Screentime: 20mins30secs.

NATALIA ‘NATASHA’ ALIANOVNA ROMANOVA ‘ROMANOFF’ A.K.A BLACK WIDOW

Feature Films: Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Thor: Ragnarok & Avengers: Infinity War

I want a solo Black Widow film and I want it yesterday! This has been so long in the making and I’m still so very hopeful for it. Maybe with the Soska Sisters writing Black Widow for the comics we could get a female directed stand-alone Romanoff origin film….here’s hoping! Black Widow is one of S.H.I.E.L.D’s most dangerous, deadly and dexterous. Trained through the Red Room in a RUssian training programme Natasha is one of the most lethal assassins who brings her perfected fighting styles, wit and a human side to The Avengers. THere’s red on her ledger and I’m happy to watch her continue to try and wipe it out.

Screentime: 1hr34mins

WANDA MAXIMOFF A.K.A SCARLET WITCH

Feature Films: Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War & Avengers: Infinity War

Wanda Maximoff may have started off as a villain with a dodgy Eastern European accent (Thank fuck that disappeared!) and has become an integral part of the MCU. She is one of the strongest members of The Avengers with powers including telekinesis, energy manipulation and mind control, the latter leading to a stunning nightmare vision scene in Avengers: AOU. Wanda grew up in Sokovia with her twin brother Pietro and after undergoing experiments from HYDRA they both attain superpowers, Wanda’s are just cooler than her brothers. Since leaving the villainous side and joining our heroes Wanda has proven herself and her ability time and time again. She’s a powerhouse in red leather.

Screentime: 32mins

SHURI

Feature Films: Black Panther & Avengers: Infinity War

Shuri is a Disney Princess! A genius, technological mastermind, razor-sharp tongued Disney Princess! Black Panther brought us some of the best females the MCU has to offer and Shuri was simply my favourite. This little spitfire gives Stark a run for his money with her vibranium-based technology skills and subtle but funny arrogant barbs. Shuri is strong, capable and holds her own in an industry usually associated with males. I cannot wait to see even more of this mastermind and would also love a solo movie, it could just be her being Sassy in a lab for two hours and I would never grow tired of it.

Screentime: 15mins15secs

HOPE VAN DYNE A.K.A THE WASP

Feature Films: Ant-Man & Ant-Man and the Wasp

The Ant-Man series are some of the funniest MCU films of the series and this is definitely held up by the duo of Hope and Scott. Hope is the daughter of Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne and has successfully helped manage Pym Technologies, pushing forward multiple technological advances. Hope takes on her mother’s mantle as the Wasp and she is honestly a force to be reckoned with. Her skills make Ant-Man look like an ameteur, she’s skilled and and kick ass consistently. After the end of Ant-Man and the Wasp she’s unfortunately a dust cloud but I have all the faith that she’s not quite done shrinking and showing up Scott.

Screentime: 50mins45secs

VALKYRIE

Feature Films:Thor: Ragnarok

Now here’s a woman I wanna have a drink with, or maybe two…fuck it lets raid a Brewery and fuck shit up together! Valkyrie is strong enough in the MCU to put both Thor and Hulk in there place and she makes it look easy and effortless. It’s a shame she’s only been in one film so far, she deserves to be a much bigger part of the MCU. Valkyrie is an Asgardian warrior who becomes a bounty hunter after being defeated by Hela (more on her later). Her redemption arc is strong and built on a warriors pride, not needless romance, and for that I bloody love her. Bring back my bad ass bitch!

Screentime: 14mins15secs

AGENT MARIA HILL

Feature Films: The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron & Avengers: Infinity War

A former Deputy Director of S.H.E.I.L.D, Maria not only holds her own she owns her own and everyone else’s as well. She may have started in a small role but she has grown as the MCU has and is now an integral part of the team. Maria works closely with Fury and is his second-in-command throughout the later half of the MCU. Another non-superpower in the team she brings her military organisation and intimidatingly impressive firearms skills to defend those in her charge. She may not be given the spotlight too frequently but when she is her military prowess is clear to everyone. A theme of this list seems to be me demanding more…I demand more.

Screentime: 12mins30secs

GAMORA

Feature Films: Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 & Avengers: Infinity War

Let’s get this straight Gamora isn’t Quill’s love interest…Quill is Gamora’s love interest. This deadly female character has no intention of giving up her quest to go frolicking through a field of sunflowers. She is on a mission to take down Thanos and right the wrongs committed against  her and her ‘sister’. Sibling rivalry, maniacal abuse and cybernetic alterations are how Gamora was raised, and their influence is always present, but she has surpassed that and is now the strongest of the Guardians. Her fate hangs in the balance after the events of Avengers:IF but that does not change the fact that she is indeed the fiercest woman in the Galaxy.

Screetime: 1hr15mins

NEBULA

Feature Films: Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 & Avengers: Infinity War

Nebula treds that thin line between hero and villain in her first two films, consistently pitting  herself against her ‘sister’, just as Thanos taught her to. The link that draws these two together is there justifiably intense hatred for Thanos and their need to destroy him. Nebula is a sympathetic villain, her torture and torment have shaped a lot of her venomous hate and attitudes towards power and success. Yet, much like Gamora, she overcomes. She will no longer play the pawn to men such as Thanos and Ronan, she is in charge of herself now. She is stronger than what created her and I cannot wait to see her progression through this next Phase of the MCU.

Screetime: 18mins15secs

OKOYE

Feature Films: Black Panther & Avengers: Infinity War

Warrior women assemble! Okoye is the General of the Dora Milaje and head of Wakanda’s armed forces making her an unequivocal badass. She is loyal to Wakanda and the throne and intelligent and strong enough to fight for what is best for her people. Her confrontation with her partner W’Kabi was a moment of hilarity (as his war rhino slams to a halt to greet it’s mamma with a big old lick to the face) and sad realisations (Okoye will protect Wakanda till the end, even if it means killing her love). Okoye is a graceful fighter, deadly warrior and incredibly humoured woman. She is as smart as she is dangerous.  

Screetime: 15mins30secs

RAMONDA A.K.A QUEEN MOTHER OF WAKANDA

Feature Films: Black Panther

Queen Mother Ramonda holds a graceful power like no other. She may not have been in the MCU for a long time but her imprint is strong in my mind. Her strength may not be displayed physically in Black Panther but emotionally she is unrivaled. She has lost her husband, she believes she has lost her son and she is exiled from her own country. Yet, she keeps fighting, she does not cower, she wouldn’t. She is the matriarch of Wakanda and her power is seen in her children as much as her, she raised two strong and capable children. Big shout out to the mum who raised Shuri and made sure she knew her worth! I want more from this Queen, I know there is so much more to explore with this powerful woman.

Screetime: 6mins45secs

NAKIA

Feature Films: Black Panther

When political intelligence and fierce fighting skills combine you get Nakia. As an undercover agent for the War Dogs Nakia has seen the hardships experienced by people around the world. Her mission is to do something about it. She believes that Wakanda should offer their help to the world and not hide away, a wish that is fulfilled at the end of the film. She is a humanitarian at heart, but that doesn’t mean she won’t fuck you up as well. She shows her physical skills and amazing car handling in a very exciting chase scene. Like Ramonda she was notably absent from Avengers: IW, but she will no doubt be back in the next Phase…she better be!

Screetime: 16mins45secs

HELA ODINSDOTTIR

Feature Films: Thor: Ragnarok

Now we’ve had some anti-heroes on this list, once villainous characters that eventually aid the heroes, but this is the only true villain I have included. Why? Because she is fucking awesome! There is quite a lack of female villains in the MCU films, the TV shows are filled with some amazing ones, and this is upsetting considering how incredible Hela was. She is the Goddess of Death, the crusher of Thor’s hammer and the taker of Asgard. I think anyone who’s watched the Thor films will agree that Odin is a bit of a dick and his parent skills leave much to be desired. He imprisons Hela once he deems her no longer useful/too powerful for his control. She is partly fuelled by this but also allowed to simply want power and to be full evil, no redemption arc, no moment of weakness, just a villain with a plan. She is an Asgardian threat of mammoth proportions. And she clearly loves doggos…Fenris is adorable!

Screetime: 12mins30secs

LADY SIF

Feature Films: Thor & Thor: The Dark World

Lady Sif can battle it out amongst the best of them. She’s a fearsome warrior who excels in battles and fights fiercely beside Thor and the Warriors Three. Lady Sif fought her way to being a warrior, she faced adversity and the scoffing of those around her but that only fuelled her desire to become what she is, the ass kicking warrior who takes no shit. Her character may be slightly underutilised (scheduling commitments prevented a reprise of her role in Thor: Ragnarok) but when she is on screen it’s all eyes on her. She’s rebellious and follows her own rules when it comes to helping her fellow warriors. Lady by name, warrior by nature!

Screetime: 11mins30secs

Obviously there are numerous other female characters within the MCU but for me these are the ones that really stood out and brought intensity to their character. Who are your favourite MCU characters?