10 Most Emotionally-Damaged Characters in the MCU

These characters are some of the most emotionally-damaged and tormented individuals in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. More often than not, it’s hardship that has forged the MCU’s most powerful characters into effective heroes, as they usually harness their rage, their desire to protect others, and their great responsibility to do some good. This unfortunately means that some of the most powerful, notable, and celebrated heroes in the MCU are also those with the most emotional baggage, and, for some, it’s just been one bad day after another.

There are too many emotionally-damaged characters in the MCU to count – practically everyone we’ve met in the live-action franchise has some traumatic history. These ten, however, are among the most tormented. While the likes of Tony Stark, Shuri, and Peter Parker all have their troubles, their damage pales in comparison to more unpredictable characters, such as Wanda Maximoff, Bucky Barnes, and Nebula. It’s a wonder these characters find the energy to pull off heroic acts every day – though some have been pushed to the breaking point.

10) Shuri’s Black Panther

While T’Challa’s Black Panther was put through the wringer, his younger sister has had a much more traumatic experience. Shuri not only had to suffer the loss of her father in Captain America: Civil War, but also her brother and mother in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She became cold and haunted following these deaths, and even confronted her cousin, Killmonger, when she reluctantly became the new Black Panther. T’Challa’s death had a huge impact on Shuri, just as Chadwick Boseman’s did on the rest of us, and her pain will surely continue to be felt in the MCU’s future.

9) Peter Parker’s Spider-Man

Similarly to Shuri, Peter Parker has lost all his family in the MCU. His parents are absent for an unknown reason, his Uncle Ben passed away before the events of Captain America: Civil War, and his Aunt May was killed by the Green Goblin in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Add to this the tragic loss of his friend and mentor, Tony Stark, and No Way Home ending with everyone in the world forgetting Parker, and Spider-Man becomes even more emotionally-damaged. Parker will be returning as a more hardened and mature hero in 2026’s upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

8) Peter Quill’s Star-Lord

Peter Quill got some relief from his troubles at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, as he returned to Earth and reunited with his grandfather. Even so, he was abducted from Earth as a child just after his mother died, his father turned out to be an evil and manipulative Celestial, the love of his life was murdered by her father – and her doppelgänger had no memory of him, and he carries responsibility for Thanos getting the Infinity Stones, thanks to his emotional outburst. It’s amazing Star-Lord can stay so positive and upbeat given his troubling history.

7) Tony Stark’s Iron Man

Tony Stark routinely created his own demons in the MCU, with his own actions leading to the emergence of the Iron Monger, Whiplash, Aldrich Killian, Ultron, and Thanos, who gained knowledge of Earth after Iron Man destroyed his fleet in The Avengers. Stark carried all this on his shoulders, while also dealing with the unresolved separation from his parents. This boiled over when he learned that Bucky Barnes killed them, while Stark also watched his best friend become seriously injured and saw his protégé turn to dust, all while recovering from PTSD after his experiences in the MCU’s Phase 1.

6) Jessica Jones

Having a manipulative and twisted character such as Kilgrave invade your mind on one occasion is enough to drive anyone mad, but Jessica Jones was under Kilgrave’s thumb continuously for months. Throughout this period – which came after the tragic death of her entire family, for which she blamed herself – Jessica was forced into heinous situations. Kilgrave raped her, abused her, and even pushed her to kill Reva Connors. This tormented Jessica even further when she met Luke Cage and learned the truth, and while her killing Kilgrave was surely cathartic, she still couldn’t shake him even after his death.

5) Rocket Raccoon

Rocket has always been depicted as a tragic character since his debut in Guardians of the Galaxy. This was pushed to the extreme in 2023’s Vol. 3, however, which explored Rocket’s awful backstory. He was given intelligence by the High Evolutionary, but tortured to do so, and then, just as he formed close bonds with his newfound friends, they were violently taken from him. Rocket’s howling scream will go down as one of the MCU’s most harrowing moments, and while Rocket has gained redemption as the new captain of the Guardians of the Galaxy, his troubled past cannot be forgotten.

4) Thor Odinson

Speak of MCU characters who’ve lost everyone – few have lost more than Thor. While he gained insight and perspective in 2011’s Thor, in the years since he has lost his entire family – his brother multiple times – and his love, Jane Foster, too. On top of this, his homeworld of Asgard was destroyed thanks to his vindictive sister, who also destroyed his prized hammer, Mjolnir, and it was his failure to kill Thanos that allowed the Mad Titan to snap his fingers. Thor carries a huge amount of baggage, but his newfound father-like bond with Love might mend these wounds.

3) Wanda Maximoff’s Scarlet Witch

Wanda Maximoff is one of the few MCU heroes who have allowed their grief and hardship to push them over the edge into villainy. Maximoff witnessed the deaths of her parents as a child, underwent HYDRA experiments, and partnered with Ultron before turning against the AI and joining the Avengers. This led to the death of her brother, however, and her lover, Vision, was later killed by Thanos. Her grief was so intense she took over Westview, New Jersey, with little care for its residents, and became even more corrupted after bidding farewell to Vision, again, and their magically-created children.

All of this pushed Wanda Maximoff to her suicide at the end of 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This dramatic ending saw her destroy the Darkhold and its castle on Mount Wundagore, ensuring the Book of the Damned’s dark magic couldn’t be harnessed by anyone else. This was a moment of redemption for the Scarlet Witch, and there are hopes this will continue should Elizabeth Olsen reprise the role in the MCU’s future, though this hasn’t yet been confirmed.

2) Bucky Barnes’ Winter Soldier

Bucky Barnes has been through it. After being saved from a HYDRA camp by Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger, Bucky fell to his apparent death, but he was actually recovered by Arnim Zola, given a super-soldier serum, and brainwashed into becoming the Winter Soldier. This dark alter ego committed countless murders over decades, making a monumental psychological impact on Bucky. Even after breaking free from HYDRA, he was used as a weapon against his friends, but he has since sought redemption as a Congressman and New Avenger, so the future is looking bright for Bucky Barnes.

1) Nebula

While the likes of Thor, Wanda Maximoff, and Bucky Barnes have unimaginable emotional damages, Nebula trumps them all. After being adopted by Thanos, Nebula endured an entire lifetime of torture at the hands of her father, and was repeatedly pitted against her sister, Gamora, in a twisted competition. Nebula was routinely belittled, degraded, manipulated, and corrupted by the Mad Titan, which forged her into a tragic antagonist. She has since become a hero in her own right, and is now leading a new society on Knowhere, but her dark history will always cast a shadow over her in the MCU.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

10 Saddest Marvel Cinematic Universe Character Deaths