5 Great MCU Characters You Totally Forgot About

Charlie Ridgely

01/16/2017 09:54 am EST

The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to grow each and every year, and this means more and more characters are entering the fold. Since very few have been killed off, it's easy to forget exactly who has come and gone since 2008.

While not everyone is Tony Stark or Peter Quill, the MCU has succeeded in creating some great characters. A few of these never got to achieve their full potential however, as they found themselves overshadowed by new additions to the franchise.

We've taken some time to look at a few of these characters that aren't exactly around at the moment, but who's presence is sorely missed.

The character's we've listed here are all still alive in the MCU, and could all make a comeback as the franchise heads into Phase 4.

Ulysses Klaue

Black Panther is coming up in 2018, and nothing has been seen from Wakanda's business-minded villain since Age Of Ultron. Klaue - played by Andy Serkis - also hasn't been confirmed for the film yet.

This villain is one of the best the MCU has created so far, as his quest for riches was realistic. Instead of laughing at heroes from a pedestal, Klaue worked as an explorer, scavanging the world for things like vibranium.

This is the kind of villain that the MCU will need going forward, giving fans some bad guys that they can actually relate to.

The Leader

At the end of The Incredible Hulk, Samuel Sterns started his transformation into the longtime Marvel villain The Leader.

Since the movie wasn't as well-received as the other films in the franchise - and since Edward Norton's Bruce Banner was recast - many things were forgotten. The Leader remains one of these key elements.

A man with that much knowledge, and that much power, won't stay quiet for long. We know that The Incredible Hulk's events happened in the MCU, so look for Sterns to reappear sometime soon.

Trevor Slattery

Trevor Slattery was not the Mandarin fans were hoping for, so he was largely put off after Iron Man 3.

What we tend to forget, however, is his time in jail could be turning him into the villain that we had all been wanting.

Now that the actor has been incarcerated for years, he could need a larger-than-life persona to stay alive. Dropping the Mandarin name could accomplish just that.

There's more Slattery on the way, and possibly more Mandarin along with him.

Howard The Duck

It's hard to forget Guardians Of The Galaxy, but so much has happened in the MCU since 2014 that fans tend to overlook some of the smaller details.

Don't forget, the end of this movie showed that Howard The Duck is alive and well.

Howard is one of the funniest characters in the entire MCU, so it's likely that he will be used again at some point. It's even possible for him to show up as The Collector's henchman, now that his assistant has died.

Pepper Potts

You probably haven't forgotten about Pepper Potts, but you've surely taken more interest in Tony's relationship with Aunt May.

Pepper is the cornerstone of Stark Industries, so there's a lot of problems her absence could bring to the table. These issues don't just affect Tony, but the entire world of The Avengers.

Now that Tony seems to be moving on from his longtime love, it could be interesting to see her enter the fold once again.

Who do you wish was still around in the MCU? Let us know in the comments below!

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