Wanda was just an ‘enhanced’ Sokovian with red CGI magic and a half-baked romantic arc... till she got a Disney+ show. Sam Wilson was just an air force pilot with mechanical wings and an unflinching loyalty to Captain America… till he got a Disney+ show. Hawkeye was just an archer with a branding problem in the Avengers... till he… you get the idea.
The recently released Moon Knight trailer promises another episodic exploration into one of Marvel’s most interesting characters. With She Hulk and Ms. Marvel also preparing to join the Disney+ roster in 2022, we can tell that Phase 4 is all about delving deeper into new characters. My Kolkata lists a few lesser-known Marvel characters that we feel deserve a show of their own.
Dazzler
A show on Alison Blaire could be an excellent way to not only bring the X-Men into the MCU, but also revamp their image after Dark Phoenix botched up both the franchise and her character. The show could even be MCU’s first musical, following Blaire’s journey as a struggling musician trying to master her new-found powers. With a rich backstory of family turmoil and her conflicted superhero life, this could be a great segue to adding layers to Dazzler — before she makes her big screen debut.
Madcap
It would be interesting to see Marvel give their signature touch to this character, given his likeness to the Joker. The show could explore more philosophical themes, with the protagonist being a man who loses faith and questions the rationality of the universe after an accident kills his family. With the ability to instantly self-heal and drive others to insanity by locking eyes with them, this could be a unique miniseries from the perspective of a villain who has nothing to lose, and doesn’t seem to want anything.
Demolition Man
Given Dennis Dunphy’s interconnectedness with other Marvel IPs, a show on D-Man could be an easter egg haven. The events kicked off by The Falcon and the Winter Soldier make Phase 4 the perfect setting for a potential show based on this superhero-obsessed athlete who gains super strength after experimenting with the Power Broker. Sam Wilson’s Captain America would make the perfect partner for this character, having suddenly been isolated from normalcy. The only catch is his suit, which in the comics, is a blend of those worn by Daredevil and Wolverine, both of whom haven’t been (fully) introduced in the MCU.
Kingo
Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo in 'Eternals'
Courtesy MarvelWhile Eternals got mixed reviews, Kumail Nanjiani stood out for slipping into Kingo’s character effortlessly. Not only did he make MCU’s first South-Asian superhero seem extremely cool, but also provided the film with some much-needed comic relief. We would absolutely love a spin-off series that delves into his hilarious backstory as an ageless Bollywood star. The origins of his friendship with Karun Patel would also be a fun storyline to explore. Understanding the elements that helped an Eternal develop an attachment to humanity would provide much more depth to his character when he returns to the big screen.
Domino
Zazie Beetz as Domino in 'Deadpool 2'
Courtesy MarvelZazie Beetz brought widespread recognition to this lesser-known character in Deadpool 2, proving that ‘luck’ could indeed be a superpower. Her origin story is equally compelling, having survived a secret government breeding programme and being rescued from it by her mother, only to be left at a church. We also would love to see more of her abilities, even if it is an anthology series that explores her years as a mercenary ticking off tasks, just through the power of luck.
Jim Wilson
Sometimes, the most powerful stories aren’t about world-ending threats. Jim Wilson isn’t a superpowered being, but his story is one of the most tragic ones in the comics. The nephew of Sam Wilson and a supporting character of Hulk, he is diagnosed with HIV-AIDS. After incurring an injury, he asks Bruce Banner for a blood transfusion that he hopes will cure him. Bruce, not wanting to create another monster, pretends to give him the transfusion, and Jim, despite knowing that it is a ruse, plays along as he understands why Bruce is doing so, till he tragically dies. As different as the source material is from MCU’s other productions, it could potentially reinforce the message that Into The Spider-Verse gave so beautifully, “the hardest thing about this job is you can't always save everybody.”
Damage Control
Spider-Man: Homecoming gave us a peek into those who have to pick up the rubble after the destruction caused by superheroes. While Damage Control isn’t centred around one character, it offers a fresh, citizen’s-eye POV of grandiose Marvel events. A few years ago, the ABC network almost made a comedy series about the company, and while we are bummed that it never happened, the prospect of a Disney+ show existing in the MCU continuity is far more tempting. Based on the comics, there are a plethora of angles to explore — from its original joint ownership by Tony Stark and Wilson Fisk and the relationship of its employees with the superheroes, to the politics of restoration contracts after major MCU battles.
America Chavez
Marvel’s first Latin American queer character, Chavez is expected to make an appearance in the highly awaited Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. A childhood where she's raised by two moms who sacrificed everything, followed by her inter-dimensional adventures before settling into the Miss America identity, there is a lot to take in about the character’s past. A solo series would be the perfect way to provide audiences with more context about the character, especially with her role in the Young Avengers comics, and MCU’s Phase 4 hinting at a possible Young Avengers team-up.
