Behind on pop culture references? Parents, here’s a quick lowdown on all your kids’ favourite superheroes from the Marvel cinematic universe.
Superheroes have been icons of childhood for generations. They feature in comics, TV shows, cartoons, games, and action figures (don’t get us started on the merch): there’s just no getting away from them. But while your kiddos can probably reel off all their names, powers and parentage details, chances are you only have limited knowledge of the characters. Thor is attractive (those muscles!), Rocket is a raccoon, and Toby Maguire once played Spider-Man. You’d be forgiven for not being well versed in all things superhero: there is almost 80 years’ worth of Marvel comics! Here’s our cheat sheet to superheroes from The Marvel Cinematic Universe, just in case you dozed off while accompanying the teen on movie night.
Marvel superheroes 101: A guide for parents
AVENGERS
Iron Man
A genius inventor, billionaire, industrialist, playboy, and philanthropist Tony Stark was the CEO of Stark Industries (a weaponry business). While in Afghanistan on a missile demonstration for the U.S. military, he is injured by missile shrapnel when his convoy comes under fire. He is then captured and imprisoned in a cave by the Ten Rings terrorist group to create a weapon of mass destruction. Instead of building the missiles, he builds a suit of armour powered by an arc reactor (a powerful electromagnet) to keep himself alive, alongside fellow prisoner Professor Ho Yinsen. Once back to civilization, he announces Stark Industry’s departure from the weapons business and decides to streamline the armour. Upon completion, he discovers long-time business partner Stane’s plot against him with the terrorist group to have him killed to win over the entire company. Iron man comes into action!
Actors: Robert Downey Jr
Movies: Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Iron Man 3, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War
Captain America
When the USA becomes embroiled in World War II, Steve Rogers is drafted into the military, where he is injected with a serum in a secret experiment to help him reach the peak of human perfection. It not only works, it earns him superhero status. He then infiltrates and destroys HYDRA bases (that’s comic for Nazis). He carries a shield made of vibranium (a fictional and near indestructible metal) designed in red, white and blue with a star in the middle.
Actor: Chris Evans
Movies: Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel’s The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron
Thor Odinson
Designed to be stronger than the strongest, Marvel went all out with Norse mythology taking Thor, the God of Thunder and giving him a modern muscular twist. Thor, the King of Asgard, wields a mystical war hammer called Mjolnir that gives him his God of Thunder superpowers. The hammer is destroyed by his sister, after which Thor attempts to escape her. He then finds himself stranded on Sakaar, where he competes in the Grandmasters game. After his escape with Asgardian refugees, Thor destroys his home on a mission to search for a new home. Unfortunately, Thanos, the mad titan, attacks their vessel, killing many refugees, while Thor survives the carnage. Thor decides to take revenge!
Actor: Chris Hemsworth
Movies: Thor, Thor: Ragnarok, Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Love and Thunder, The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Doctor Strange, Avengers: Infinity War
The Hulk
After being exposed to high amounts of Gamma Radiation, soft-spoken scientist Dr Bruce Banner is unable to control his rage when provoked, angered or excited. He turns into a giant, super strong and invulnerable green monster, the Hulk (the sort of thing that happens to parents when the kids have a meltdown once too often). Dr Banner has no control over the Hulk’s actions and is on a constant run for five years from the United States Army. He decides to live a quiet life in South America to cure himself until General Ross apprehends him. And you guessed right! All hell breaks loose.
Actors: Edward Norton, Mark Ruffalo
Movies: The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers
Hawkeye
We’ve got a soft spot for this very human-skilled archer (and also for Jeremy Renner). Orphaned at an early age, Clint Barton joined the circus to perform and earn his way forward. He decides to train in archery under the tutelage of circus resident archer Trickshot, where he truly excels at the sport. To make good use of his super skill, Clint serves as a costumed crime-fighter under the alias Hawkeye. After many misadventures, Hawkeye finally proves his mettle with the famous Avengers before assuming leadership of the Thunderbolts.
Actor: Jeremy Renner
Movies: Thor, The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Endgame, and the television series – Hawkeye
Falcon
Sam Wilson is the first African-American superhero ever featured in mainstream comics. He is a former USAF pararescueman known for using a pair of mechanical wings or an EXO-7 Falcon flight suit to fly in combat. Wilson uses a combination of suit, firearms, and fighting skills (from his military training) to serve the 58th Rescue Squadron to fight enemies. He has telepathic abilities, but in the movies, Sam is an Air Force veteran who tries to help his superhero buddies. We have to admit; we’re fans.
Actor: Anthony Mackie
Movies: Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War
Spider-Man
Peter Parker is an orphan raised by his Aunt May and Uncle Ben. Bitten by a radioactive spider, Peter gains arachnid abilities, including clinging to surfaces, hypersensitivity or “spider senses”, shooting webs (through wrist-mounted devices or self-produced as in the Toby Maguire movies) with enhanced strength and stamina. Under the alias Spider-Man and concealing his identity in a face mask, he tries to protect his aged aunt from discovering the truth. He decides to use his super abilities to fight crime while his personal life and relationships are in constant turmoil.
Actor: Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, Tobey Maguire, Neil Patrick Haris
Movies: Spider Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
Star-Lord
Born half-alien, half-human, Star-Lord, or Peter Quill, is raised on Earth until his mother’s untimely death due to a brain tumour implanted by Ego (cosmic Celestial). He is abducted and later adopted by Yondu Udonta, the leader of the Ravagers mercenary band, paid by Ego to deliver Peter to him. Peter grows up as a Ravager and becomes a bounty hunter and self-dubbed Guardian of the Galaxy, flying the M-Class spaceship called The Milano. Quill has arsenals of street smarts (or space smarts), snarky comebacks and an actual arsenal courtesy of actor Chris Pratt. Quill wears a special mask helmet that helps him breathe in space, a suit, a double-barrel blaster pistol, and boot thrusters for flight.
Actors: Chris Pratt
Movies: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Thor: Love and Thunder
Gamora
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Gamora’s family and species were slaughtered by Thanos, who took her as his adopted daughter. He then trains her as an assassin, combatant, and swordswoman, turning her into a living weapon with cybernetic enhancements. She serves under Thanos for 20 years and later joins the Guardians and travels the Galaxy with them (right up until Infinity War…) as a means to redeem herself from the mad titan. Gamora uses a retractable sword, especially the bejewelled sword gifted to her by Thanos. She also has superhuman strengths, can lift others with ease, and can leap incredible heights.
Actors: Zoe Saldana
Movies: Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame
Rocket
Rocket Raccoon, also known as Subject 89P13, is a result of genetic and cybernetic experiments conducted on Halfworld. He travels with Groot, his all-time buddy and bounty hunter. Rocket has a fancy criminal record with Nova Corps for more than 50 counts of different criminal activities. He, Groot, Gamora and Star-Lord are arrested by Nova Corps and sent to a high-security prison where they meet and form a bond. They finally escape as ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ with fellow inmate Drax. Rocket is a pilot, tech expert and devious little er…raccoon. Just don’t let him near any gadgets.
Actors: Motion Capture by Sean Gunn, voiced by Bradley Cooper
Movies: Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame
Drax (the Destroyer)
Drax is a former Kylosian intergalactic criminal on a rampage to destroy Ronan, the accuser, for killing his wife and daughter. In pursuit of this mission, he is arrested by Nova Corps as The Destroyer of the galaxy. He later escapes by joining forces with Rocket Racoon, Groot, Gamora and Star-Lord as Guardians of the Galaxy. Together they set out for the Quest for the Orb. Drax The Destroyer possesses superpowers, including enhanced strength, flight and the ability to project energy blasts from his hands in combat.
Actor: Dave Bautista
Movies: Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder
Groot
Best buddy to Rocket, Groot is a plant-being who left behind his people at their native Planet X to travel the galaxy. As a bounty hunter alongside his friend, they chance upon exotic galaxies. Groot looks like a tree and possesses a full-functioning brain, and like most trees, he can regenerate body parts but with super power forms like weapons and barriers. And flowers for that special someone too. A unique character to roam the galaxies…Huh?! He can only converse in a single phrase as “I am Groot”. Now wouldn’t every kid want a Groot for a real-life plant of their very own?
Actor: Vin Diesel
Movies: Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame
Mantis
Very different from her comic counterpart, who is a human trained in martial arts and raised by aliens, the onscreen Mantis is a naive alien empath. She is orphaned and raised away from her insectoid people by Ego (father of Star-Lord), who uses her to quell his neurotic behaviours. After learning about Ego’s expansion plans and the deaths of his progeny, she joins the Guardians to, as she puts it, “kick names and take ass”. Besides being able to sense others’ feelings, she can also alter emotions and induce sleep.
Actor: Pom Klementief
Movies: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame (2019), Thor: Love and Thunder
OTHER
Black Panther
T’Challa is the rightful heir, protector and king of advanced civilisation Wakanda. Other than enhanced senses and abilities from ancient Wakandan rituals, T’Challa uses Wakandan technology in the form of a high-tech Black Panther suit. The suit is woven with vibranium threads that protect him from gunfire and can absorb energy. His gear comes with retractable vibranium claws and night vision optics, which he uses in combat to protect Wakanda.
Actor: Chadwick Boseman
Movies: Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame
Ant-Man
Scott Lang is an ex-convicted thief struggling to pay child support for his daughter. For money, he is convinced by Hank Pym (creator of the Ant suit) to wear a high-tech suit with the superpower to shrink or grow in size. He uses this suit to foil Pym’s former protege Darren Cross from selling the Yellowjacket suit design and copy of Pyms Particles formula to HYDRA and the Ten Rings terrorist group. The plot is discovered by Cross, which leads to a mighty battle between Yellowjacket and Ant-Man. If you have myrmecophobia (fear of ants), he may not be your favourite superhero, but Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas’ cryptic yet hilarious Ant-Man promo makes this hero a winner for anyone.
Actor: Paul Rudd
Films: Ant Man, Captain America: Civil War, Ant Man and The Wasp, Avengers: Endgame
Wasp
Hope Pym is the daughter of Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne who worked for Pym Technologies. She later adopts her mother’s role as the Wasp inheriting her suit, which has shrinking and flight technologies to imitate a wasp. She trains alongside Scott Lang (Ant-Man) and acts as his partner to help him stop Ghost in Ant-Man and The Wasp. Dads seem to be a fan!
Actor: Evangeline Lilly
Films: Ant Man, Captain America: Civil War, Ant Man and The Wasp
Scarlet Witch
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Scarlet Witch or Wanda Maximoff has powers because of human experimentation overseen by HYDRA’s Baron Wolfgang von Strucker. She can warp reality, control people and manipulate objects using chaos magic, which makes her pretty powerful. Wanda uses her superpowers to help robot Ultron against Tony Stark until she discovers Ultron’s genocidal plans. Eventually, she changes her allegiances and joins hands with the Avengers to fight Ultron. Psst, here’s something that will blow your minds! In the comics, she and her brother are mutants and the children of Erik Lensherr, aka Magneto from X-Men. Does she fit your superhero ‘witch-list’?
Actor: Elizabeth Olsen
Movies: Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Avengers: Endgame
Quicksilver
Although we prefer the X-Men version (those slow-mo scenes were amazing), in the Marvel version, Pietro Maximoff and his twin sister Scarlet Witch (Wanda) acquire superhuman powers through Hydra experiments. As his name suggests, Quicksilver has the superpower to move at super fast speed. The siblings join Ultron on a quest to destroy Avengers, as their parents were killed by bombs designed by Tony Stark. Along the way, they become aware of Ultron’s intentions and switch sides. There is always a twist to the tale at the end…ain’t there?!
Actor: Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Movies: Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron
Vision
Vision is a creation by Ultron (you know, the super scary AI Tony Stark accidentally created in Avengers: Age of Ultron?), using a regeneration Cradle, a stolen Vibranium and the gem from Loki’s sceptre. It finally comes to life by Thor’s mystic lightning. With a body that’s powered by the Mind Stone, Vision has superhuman strength, the power of flight and the ability to change shape. Super useful for hiding from bad guys (or mums). Vision uses his superpowers to protect humanity.
Actor: Paul Bettany
Movies: Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame
Dr Strange
Brilliant and egotistical surgeon Dr Stephen Strange loses his ability to operate due to an auto accident. When in search of a cure, he encounters the Ancient One, who teaches him how to use the mystic arts and, along with the Cloak of Levitation and Eye of Agamotto, becomes the guardian of the New York City Sanctum. Yep, Ben’s really got us convinced these days (apart from the facial hair, we’re not feeling it).
Actor: Benedict Cumberbatch
Movies: Dr Strange, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Captain Marvel
Carol Danvers is a U.S. Air Force pilot whose DNA is fused with the power of a space stone that happened during an accident, which imbued her with the powers of superhuman strength, energy projection and flight. She is discovered by the Kree and is mentored by Yon-Rogg, commander of the elite Starforce Military. She escapes to Earth after six years under attack from the Skrulls but soon realises she has more to her past.
Actor: Brie Lawson
Movies: Captain Marvel
Well done, parents – you’ve made it! Now go test the kiddos on their superhero knowledge and impress them with yours, and stay tuned for more superheroes! X-Men, Fantastic Four and Justice League – coming soon!
