There's No Way You Can Name All These Female Marvel Characters
- by Rose Moore
- – on
- in Entertainment
How well do you know the women of Marvel? Marvel comics is filled with incredible female characters, from the villains to the heroes, and only a true fan will know every single one. Of course, by now, many of the most famous heroes of the Marvel Universe have made their way into live action, especially in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the X-Men franchises, but there are still plenty who will be familiar only to those who read the comics.
Do you know your Ms Marvel from your Captain Marvel, your Squirrel Girl from your Wolverine? Can you name all the heroes that have made it onto the screen, as well as those who haven't? Drawing from the pages of comic books, from the Marvel/Netflix series, other Marvel TV, Marvel Cinematic Universe films, Fox's X-Men films and the various other independent super-movies that have been released over the years, we've got some of the best and brightest female characters for you to try and name...
If you can get them all, you can claim to be a true Marvel super-fan... and if you are stuck wondering where Wonder Woman is, maybe it's time to hit your local comic book store and grab a few books to read. (Maybe even some DC... or maybe you are already reading too many of those!)
Who is this key member of the MCU Avengers?
This may be one of the most recognizable women of Marvel, especially to casual fans, because she's been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe almost from the start, making her debut in the 2010 offering Iron Man 2. Since then, she has been in both of the Avengers movies, as well as having a part in multiple other films as the ultimate spy - created in Russia, but having become an integral superhero for the American government and for SHIELD (before it fell).
Who is this woman with a dangerous touch?
Pictured here with her long-time on again, off again love interest Gambit, this character has been a part of the X-Men universe since the '80s. However, she hasn't always been on the side of Charles Xavier and his friends! This character has been both hero and villain over the years, and is connected to Mystique and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants as well as to the X-Men themselves. She's got the ability to absorb the powers of others through skin-to-skin contact - a power that doesn't come without some suffering for her.
Who is this mutant clone?
This young woman started her life in comics as a clone of the original Wolverine, Logan. She was created to be the perfect killing machine, and even trained with a trigger scent that would induce a murderous, black out rage in the young girl. However, she was able to escape the project that created her as a teenager, and grew up between the X-Men and the family she found, and the people who trained her, before she eventually took up the Wolverine mantle herself.
Who is this new member of the MCU?
This young woman joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the incredible smash hit Black Panther, where she is very different to her comic counterpart. In the comics, this member of the Wakandan Royal Family wanted to become Black Panther herself, and has the physical skill to do so - but had to overcome a lot of jealousy toward her brother, T'Challa. In the film, however, the two are close friends, with this young woman given the role of the brightest scientific mind in Wakanda, instead of a jealous little sister.
Who is this flying hero?
A version of this character has had a brief moment on the big screen already, but is going to really come into her own in the next few years, as she suits up and takes on some villains for the first time. In the comics, this woman is one of the founding member of the Avengers super team, and the partner of another hero, Ant-Man, who had some similar abilities. She can shrink, fly, and shoot 'stinging' energy blasts from her hands.
Who is this hero from Thor: Ragnarok?
This hero looks very different in the movies than in the comics, but there is no denying that actress Tessa Thompson absolutely kills it as the drunken, disgraced Asgardian warrior in Thor: Ragnarok, and we can't wait to see more of her in the upcoming Infinity War. In the comics, her name is Brunnhilde, and she is one of Asgards strongest warriors, and the leader of a team of women warriors, with the kind of strength and skill with weapons that most can only dream of.
Who is this recent Marvel addition?
It's no secret that for each of the major heroes in comics, there are usually entire families of connected characters - and this character was part of the Thor universe before she ever became a superhero. She's appeared within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (although she hasn't been in the most recent Thor film, and is no longer his love interest on the big screen), but in the comics, she is now a superhero in her own right - with all the powers of the mighty Thor.
Who is this white-haired hero?
There have been multiple versions of this character over the years - and she is pictured here being played by Alexandra Shipp in X-Men: Apocalypse. The Goddess of the Storm, this mutant is from Africa, and has the ability to control the weather. On a small scale, she use this power to do something as minor as water a plant with a rainstorm, but she also has the ability to shift weather patterns over the entire globe, and to summon lightning at will.
Who is this cheerful hero?
This character is occasionally seen as something of a joke in the Marvel universe - but there is no doubting that she knows how to get the job done, when it comes to being a superhero! Her ability is the power to communicate with squirrels (and she has a natty squirrel tail, too!), and she has a squirrel sidekick (currently named Tippy Toe)... which may not seem like much, until you consider that she's taken down Galactus himself... and that's not the only major hero she's bested!
Who is this member of the Spider-verse?
Given how massively popular Spider-Man is as a Marvel character, it shouldn't be too surprising that there are plenty of secondary superheroes within the Spider-Verse... including this one. However, this woman has never been as straightforward a hero as Peter Parker. Instead, she was originally given her spider-powers intentionally, thanks to the evil organization HYDRA, who experimented on her as a child. She has gone from an assassin for the bad guys to an Agent of SHIELD, and is now a Marvel hero.
Who is this reality-warping woman?
This is, without doubt, one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe - and intimately connected to many of the most famous mutants. She is the daughter of Magneto (Professor X's greatest enemy), and the sister to Quicksilver. She is also the mother to Wiccan and Speed, and the ex-wife of the android Vision. Her reality warping and probability controlling powers are extraordinary, and can completely change the world if she ever loses control of them... which she hasn't done TOO often!
Which popular alternate-universe character is this?
In the primary Marvel Universe, this character was killed when she was thrown off the Brooklyn Bridge, in one of the most tragic comic book issues ever. However, she survived in an alternate reality... and even thrived, becoming a hugely popular character in her own right. In this version of events, it was this popular blonde, not Peter Parker, who was bitten by a radioactive spider and gained the powers of Spider-Man. She becomes a hero, but, like Peter in the original story, is hated by none other than J Jonah Jameson.
Who is the psychic?
This psychic has a complicated history in the Marvel Universe - originally a British mutant who was the sister to Captain Britain, she is better known after she body swapped with Kwannon, changing her appearance. She is famous for her purple hair and her use of psi-swords - blades created using her own psychic energy. However, her incredible mental abilities can do more than this - this ex-model is one of the most powerful psychics in the whole Marvel Universe.
Who is this relative of Magneto's?
This illegitimate daughter of Magneto inherited many of the same powers as her mutant father - giving her powers of magnetism, although these are not as strong or well-developed as those of her famous father. She has fought both with and against the X-Men over the years, and was recently introduced to the live-action universe as the star of the new TV series The Gifted, where Emma Dumont played the character to brilliant effect, including the green light that appears when she uses her abilities.
Who is this young superhero?
This teenage hero is also known as Sister Grimm, or just 'the Goth Chick', and is the unofficial leader of the Runaways. Her powers come from a magic staff that she took from her mother (who, along with her father, is a dark magic user). Now, she can use the staff to do an incredible amount of things - although in the comics, she must use her own blood to make that happen. When she appeared on the recent Runaways series, that requirement was dropped.
Who is this blue-skinned mutant?
In Fox's X-Men series, this mutant has been given a very different twist, as a long-time friend to the X-Men, although she has started to veer more to her villainous side in recent films. In the comics, however, this character is far more villain than hero, using her shapeshifting abilities to help her (and various other villains, including the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants) in their evil plans. Despite this, she is still occasionally portrayed as misguided, and has even helped the X-Men once or twice.
Name this young hero.
This young woman from New Jersey was revealed to be a descendant of the Inhumans when she was hit with the Terrigen Mists one night and developed superpowers. With her new shapeshifting abilities, this teenage hero went on to take up the mantle of one of her favorite superheroes, aand borrowing her symbol to wear as part of a new costume. Her shapeshifting abilities are incredible, giving her the ability to also take on other people's faces, as well as to grow or shrink to any size.
Who is this Agent of SHIELD?
This superhero has spent most of her life without actual powers, using her espionge training and her physical abilities to battle crime as an Agent of SHIELD. Of course, these are some of the most formidable natural abilities in the Marvel Universe, and she is famous for her use of a pair of staves that can be joined into a bowstaff. In recent years, however, she has gained actual powers thanks to a super-serum. She has also appeared on the TV series Agents of SHIELD.
Name this moon-dwelling hero
This woman isn't just a superhero, but an Inhuman and a member of the Inhuman Royal Family. Her abilities are centered on her incredibly long, red hair, which she can control psychokinetically - and not just as a whole. She can use locks, and even individual strands, to act as multiple appendages. She is also the main translator for her husband and King, Black Bolt. She appeared in the live-action universe recently, but sadly, the show bombed - so we may not see Medusa on screen again any time soon!
Who is this muscle bound lawyer?
Fans of this character are hoping that one day, she may get to show up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to take up her comic book role as an Avenger... helped by the fact that her cousin, Bruce, is already part of the big screen world. In fact, it was Bruce that saved her in the comics, after this gifted lawyer was shot by mobsters. He injected her with a serum that saved her life, and which gave her powers of super-strength.
Who is this detective?
This Marvel detective recently made her on-screen debut in the Marvel/Netflix series Luke Cage and The Defenders, as an NYPD cop. However, this portrayal of the character only scratches the surface of the character in the comics - although it looks like the Marvel/Netflix series is going to be making her more like her original character soon! In the comics, she is an ex-cop who gained a bionic arm after she lost hers, using the new powers it gives her to help with Heroes for Hire and KnightWing.
Who is this blonde killer?
Another character from an alternate universe, this blonde mercenary has the same powers and abilities as the Deadpool from the primary Marvel Universe. However, she exists in one of the many alternate worlds where there are other versions of everyone's favorite Merc With A Mouth - and who were all brought together at one point, by the original Deadpool, to help his save the universe as the Deadpool Corps. And despite the hugely successful movies, her alternate-universe status means we probably won't be seeing her on screen any time soon.
Name this Asgardian warrior.
This Asgardian has been a friend to Thor since childhood - even through the time that Loki cut off all her beautiful blonde hair, and then turned the replacement hair as black as night. She grew up to become a warrior, a shield-maiden of Asgard and a friend to the Warriors Three - and eventually, to become a romantic interest of Thor himself, for a time. She has also appeared in the live-action movies, although she was otherwise occupied for the latest one!
Name this key X-Men character
This young woman was one of the most gifted mutants at Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters - and in recent years, has gone from being the poster girl of the X-Men to the team's leader. Her powers include the ability to become intangible, allowing her to literally walk through walls (and anything else that might possibly stand in her way). She has appeared in the live action universe, although hasn't reached the full potential of her comic book inspiration just yet - let alone found her pet purple dragon!
Name this Daredevil character
This character has been with Daredevil from the beginning, although she's not quite a superhero in her own right. She was the secretary at Matt Murdock's law firm with Foggy Nelson, and for some time, she was at the center of a love triangle with the two lawyers. Long-time love interest of Daredevil's, she eventually died sacrificing herself for him - although she is alive and kicking in the Marvel/Netflix series... which has also given the blonde secretary a bit of an edge!
Who is this long-time member of the X-Men?
This is one of the mutants who has been with the X-Men for a long time - and is well known for being one of those who was made popular by her appearance on the classic kids cartoon X-Men: The Animated Series. A mutant with pyrotechnic powers, she can shoot energy bursts and make them explode at will, although she tends to limit herself out of fear of hurting someone. More recently, she was briefly turned into a vampire in the comic universe.
Name this drunk private investigator
There are plenty of heroes in the Marvel Universe who are light and bright and love doing good... and then there are those whose stories get a little bit dark, at times... and this is definitely one of those! This young woman became a superhero for a brief period, but after a horrible experience being mind-controlled by a villain, she gave it up to become a Private Investigator - and a heavy drinker. Things are better for her now in the comic universe, though, where she is married with a child.
Who is this super-powered telepath?
When it comes to X-Men, this character is probably one of the most famous in the Marvel Universe - and has a long history (including several resurrections). Originally, she was brought to Professor X for training with her psychic abilities, before being chosen by the Phoenix Force - a powerful and dangerous entity that has made her incredibly strong in the past, but also led to her doing terrible things. She is one of the most powerful telepaths in the Marvel Universe today.
Who is this superhero with invisible powers?
One of Marvel's early heroes, this woman has gone through a lot of changes over the years - from being a maternal figure in the Fantastic Four (and a constant kidnap victim), to being a hero who can stand on her own two feet. In recent incarnations, she has been a scientist herself, and has also been the leader of the Fantastic Four in the comics - a far cry from her actress origins! Her powers include the ability to become invisible, and to create and project force fields.
Who is this galactic hero?
This hero has become significantly more well known in recent years, thanks to the fact that she is a starring member of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Originally trained as an assassin by Thanos, her adoptive father, this woman has earned the title of the Deadliest Woman In The Galaxy - so the Marvel Universe was pretty thrilled when she decided to turn over a new leaf and start fighting on the side of good, and not evil, for once!
What's the name of this icy blonde?
While there are many incredibly powerful telepaths in the Marvel Universe, there are none quite like this villainess - who also has the ability to transform her physical body into organic diamond! At one point, she was also the White Queen of the Hellfire Club, and has led multiple groups of villains against the X-Men as a formidable opponent to her mutant foes. She has also appeared more than once in Fox's X-Men Cinematic Universe, played by the stunning January Jones.
Who is this deadly assassin?
This character is a complex one - an assassin who has no problems with killing most of the time, but also someone with a long romantic history with a hero, as well. This woman is a past love of Daredevil's, but whose brushes with death in the past led to her seeking out training in martial arts... and that led to her connections to the Hand, and eventually striking out on her own as a private assassin - and one of the best in the world.
Who is this incredibly lucky mercenary?
This character may not be known to fans who don't read the comics right now, but all that is about to change with Deadpool 2, when Zazie Beetz is going to be bringing this skilled mutant mercenary to life on the big screen. In the comics, she was experimented on by a government project, that tattooed her face and gave her mutant abilities - to manipulate probability, giving her impossibly good 'luck' at every turn - powers she uses to take on any job offered.
Who is this original New Mutants member?
This young Native American mutant originally took on the code name Mirage, but that isn't the one that stuck. After her parent's death, she was sent to live with her reclusive grandfather, because most people didn't want to be around someone with her unique abilities - to create larger than life illusions based on a person's deepest desires or worst fears. After her grandfather's death, she was sent with Charles Xavier to learn how to control her powers, becoming a New Mutant.
Name this hero who will soon be joining the MCU.
This one-time pilot was accidentally exposed to otherworldly radiation, giving her an impressive array of powers... including flight, super strength, invulnerability and energy absorption and projection. She has changed her super-name, allowing someone else to take on her original mantle and altering hers to pay homage to the man that inspired her heroics... and she is finally coming the Marvel Cinematic Universe next year, played by Brie Larson. It's a long time coming, for Marvel fans, many of whom are hoping to see her a little earlier in Infinity War.