X-Men‘s Wolverine is one of Marvel’s most iconic characters. and it’s long past time that the MCU’s Avengers had their own version. A breakout character, Wolverine is known for his bad attitude, vicious claws and never, ever backing down from a fight.
In the comics, the Avengers have several heroes who tick the same boxes, and now is the perfect time to introduce them to the new franchise as part of Sam Wilson’s upcoming Avengers roster.
As the Avengers franchise heads for the ambitious new era of Secret Wars and Doomsday, it’s past time that the MCU’s premier team had their own hardcore loner (who isn’t a Hulk.) Here are the 10 best candidates!
10
Nighthawk, aka Kyle Richmond of Earth-31916
There are several versions of Nighthawk in Marvel lore, and most of them could function as the Avengers’ Wolverine. However, the knife-wielding, backstreet-brawling version from Marvel’s Supreme Power continuity is easily the most Wolverine-esque.
After his parents were killed in a racist drive-by shooting, Kyle Richmond turned himself into a fighting machine, creating a business empire to fund his vigilante pursuits. A conscious homage to DC’s Batman, Nighthawk goes a lot further than Bruce Wayne. When he faced his version of the Joker, Nighthawk broke his neck and then drowned him in sewage.
Nighthawk later joined the Occupy Avengers, working alongside Hawkeye and Red Wolf. As an alt-universe hero who appeared in the original Secret Wars comic run-up, it would make perfect sense to introduce him in the movie adaptation.
9
Tigra, aka the Cat, aka Greer Nelson
Tigra Has the Animal Instincts and Claws to Take on Wolverine (And Has)
A vigilante empowered with mystical feline physiology, Tigra is the closest thing the Avengers have to their own Wolverine in mainstream lore. Her vicious claws, enhanced senses and animal instincts make her a vicious fighter similar to Moon Knight in her levels of ferocity. Indeed, when she encountered Wolverine during an X-Men/Avengers field day, it was Tigra who threw the first punch.
Tigra’s animal instincts are part of her power set, and sometimes push her to enact extreme violence against villains who have directly crossed her. Her rage and powers make her a great answer to Wolverine, but with a mystic angle that would ensure she remains unique.
8
Agent Venom, aka Flash Thompson
Fans Have Seen the Original, So Why Not Try the Avenger?
Sony’s Venom trilogy has already given fans a popular take on the classic symbiote antihero – if only there was another version of Venom the Avengers could make their own! Of course, there is – Flash Thompson’s symbiote soldier Agent Venom.
Agent Venom uses his symbiote to kill the bad guys with military precision, but when he loses control or is badly injured, the symbiote’s teeth and claws emerge in force – similar to how Wolverine can get lost in a berserker rage.
With Spider-Man: No Way Home leaving some of Venom’s symbiote matter behind in the MCU, it would be easy for Avengers to introduce Agent Venom with pretty much no other setup.
7
Spider-Woman, aka Jessica Drew
No-One Fights Harder or Nastier Than Spider-Woman
Spider-Woman may look like a regular superhero, but with a background as a spy and double-agent, she’s unquestionably a killer. Spider-Woman has engaged in some of the most brutal fights in Marvel history, with Karla Pacheco and Pere Pérez’s Spider-Woman Volume 7 showing her beating the spit out of her villains.
With enhanced strength, bio-electric ‘venom blasts’ and pheromone control that can influence the emotions of others, Spider-Woman perfectly treads the line between Avengers hero and brutal antihero.
6
Ares, the God of War
Tony Stark Called Him ‘Wolverine and Thor in One Person’
A longtime enemy to Avengers hero Hercules, Ares joined the team when the Superhuman Registration Act left them short-handed, and Iron Man was looking to fill the holes left by Wolverine and Thor. What he got was a violence-obsessed god who has mastered every form of weaponry and almost ruined multiple missions by charging into battle before the team were ready to engage.
Ares is incredibly powerful, but no-one ever said the Avengers‘ Wolverine had to be an exact clone. With Thor: Love and Thunder introducing Hercules to MCU lore, Brett Goldstein’s character could easily be used to bring Ares into canon.
5
Thunderstrike, aka Eric Masterson
Thor’s Understudy Is Worthy of the Reinvention
An ’80s character who briefly took the role of Thor, Thunderstrike has struggled to find a place in the modern Marvel Universe. However, the MCU could easily reinvent him as a Wolverine-style fighter. Indeed, Thunderstrike’s unbreakable uru mace has several similarities to Wolverine’s adamantium claws, and both are known as brutal up-close-and-personal fighters.
4
Carnage, aka Eddie Brock
Sure, Wolverine Kills His Enemies… But Does He Eat Them?
A recent shake-up in Venom lore has left Venom’s original host Eddie Brock as the new host of Carnage. While the Carnage symbiote is a vicious serial killer, Eddie is doing his best as one of the New Avengers to point his darker half at people who deserve symbiote justice. Sony has already shown fans the classic versions of Venom and Eddie Brock, so why not give the MCU Avengers a true wildcard in this kill-happy symbiote?
3
Lionheart, aka Kelsey Leigh
No-One Is Less of a Team Player Than the Former Captain Britain
This underrated hero might get the least love of any Avenger. When the Avengers fought the Wrecking Crew in the UK, single mother Kelsey Leigh sacrificed herself to protect Captain America. For her bravery, she was offered the choice between the magical artifacts known as the Amulet of Right and the Sword of Might. Having some aggression to work off, Kelsey chose the sword.
Little did Lionheart know that she was committing herself to a terrible fate. Because of her violent choice, a curse was enacted which meant that if her children ever found out she was still alive, they would die. Lionheart (then known as Captain Britain) joined the Avengers as one of their most rage-filled members, unable to reconnect with her family except in her guise as a superhero. And like Wolverine, she took her rage out on the Avengers’ villains.
Kelsey had the bad luck to join the Avengers right before Scarlet Witch broke up the team in Avengers Disassembled, leaving her relatively unknown. However, with the success Wolverine has garnered as an ornery, blade-wielding Canadian, maybe the MCU should give an ornery, blade-wielding Brit a chance next.
2
Darkhawk, aka Christopher Powell
With Darkhawk, the Claws Are Just the Beginning
A ’90s icon, Darkhawk is a cosmic hero who can project his consciousness into the body of a powerful android. Equipped with vicious claws and a huge arsenal of guns, Darkhawk has a notably higher power level than Wolverine, but that just means he needs tougher villains to slice and dice.
Darkhawk doesn’t just have Wolverine’s claws and loner attitude – he even has a version of Logan’s healing factor. When the android is damaged, Chris can switch places with it in order to repair it, leaving him temporarily vulnerable: a fun twist on a superpower MCU fans are already very familiar with.
1
Wolverine, aka X-23, aka Laura Kinney
Bring Dafne Keen Into the MCU!
Fans are expecting that – after Secret Wars – Marvel will introduce a new version of the X-Men into its film continuity. The big concern is how to ever nail casting for Wolverine as well as Hugh Jackman’s iconic portrayal. The answer? Bring across the other Wolverine, aka Laura Kinney.
In the comics, Laura Kinney has been using her dad’s codename for years. With Fox’s X-Men expected to meet the Avengers in Doomsday and Secret Wars, why not leave Dafne Keen behind in the MCU and have her carry on Jackman’s legacy? It’s the perfect solution to an otherwise unsolvable problem.
Laura Kinney’s Wolverine recently joined the New Avengers in the comics, so there’s precedent for her joining the MCU incarnation of the team. It would also blow fans’ minds for the MCU to continue the legacy of Jackman’s Wolverine by recruiting his clone to the Avengers/New Avengers, rather than trying to totally reboot the character.
Those are the 10 best Avengers the MCU could introduce as its own take on Wolverine, though it’s also possible the movies could use existing characters like Red Hulk or Werewolf-By-Night – let us know below who you want to be the Avengers‘ hardcore enforcer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.