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Summary
Although theMarvel Cinematic Universehas often been criticized for repeatedly including faux - out deaths , the world is that both two-sided and permanent death are key elements of the superhero mythos . Which Avengers died for good , survived , and could still return are equally authoritative to the overarching themes that hold up the MCU . That said , in the infinite multiverse where ancient magicks , futuristic technologies , and countless Multiverse variants set aside for any numb Marvel characters to somehow return , lasting superhero decease hold well more weightiness for audiences . This can be observe in how dead Avengers continue to work the direction ofthe MCU timeline .
For instance , the respective death of Black Widow / Natasha Romanov ( Scarlett Johansson ) and Iron Man / Tony Stark ( Robert Downey Jr. ) inAvengers : Endgamenot only laid the grounding for the MCU ’s future , but also continue consistently relevant in discourse about the nature of heroism . Apart from the all in members ofthe original Avengers roll , the demise of lineament like Odin ( Anthony Hopkins ) and Heimdall ( Idris Elba ) are important for showing audience that no one in the MCU is safe from lasting death , not even gods or immortals . Though the fickle nature of death in the MCU means anyone can return , it ’s all important to take note ofevery Marvel superhero the MCU has killed and has n’t somehow resurrected .
Over 17 year and 35 movies , the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies have redefined blockbuster movie theater . But how do all the films stack up ?
Iron Man Has The MCU’s Most Iconic Death
Avengers: Endgame
avenger : Endgamesaw the dying of Iron Man , fetch an last to his clock time as the ground stone of the enfranchisement . After the persist heroes receive a way to get back those who were impress by Thanos ' ( Josh Brolin ) crack inAvengers : Infinity War , the baddie from another timeline institute his means to the principal MCU universe of discourse . This compel the Avengers and all their allies to take down the huffy Titan once and for all .
Instead of risking draw out the intense struggle , Iron Man decided then and there to wield the power of all six Infinity Stones to wipe out the villain and his army , despite have intercourse that the move would also arrogate his life . It was a entire 180 - academic degree turn for Tony Stark , who depart as a self - absorbed industrialist . As tragic as his final fortune is in the MCU , at least he had five days of quiet family life before his death .
There have been several controversial consequence throughout Tony Stark ’s MCU eleven - year life history as Iron Man that divide Marvel Studios ' audiences .
The MCU Killed Black Widow Off Before Her Solo Movie
Like Iron Man , Black Widow died inAvengers : Endgame . While Tony Stark was capable to still take part in the final battle , Natasha Romanoff , unfortunately , die before the time heist was done . task with retrieving the Soul Stone from Vormir , Black Widow and Hawkeye ( Jeremy Renner ) moved onward with their commission , not knowing that one of them had to die to acquire the Infinity Stone .
There was an vivid conflict between the pair , want to sacrifice themselves for the cause ; in the end , Natasha best Clint Barton and pop off in exchange for the Soul Stone . The case may be dead in the present MCU timeline , but Marvel Studios temporarily bring her back on the big sieve via her long - delayed solo flick , Black Widow , set in the two years betweenCaptain America : Civil WarandAvengers : Infinity War .
The Nova Corps Proved How Big A Threat Thanos Was Early On
Guardians Of The Galaxy
Avengers : Infinity Warpicked up with Thanos already in possession of the Power Stone , which was last ascertain on Xandar at the destruction of the firstGuardians of the Galaxy . It was tardily revealed that the Mad Titan and his crew had plunder the planet to acquire the first of the six herculean crystal , with the filmmakers opting to not show the struggle on - screen because the film is already jamming - pack .
Nova Corps , the intergalactic military and police force-out of the Nova Empire headed by Nova Prime ( Glenn Close ) fought chivalrously against the villain to protect the Power Stone , as well as its citizenry . alas , Thanos demonstrate to be too powerful for them , with the Mad Titan effortlessly killing the phallus of the team , and then wiping out half of all life on Xandar .
Heimdall Died To Return Hulk To Earth
Avengers: Infinity War
At the beginning ofAvengers : Infinity War , Thanos hijacked the Asgardian refugee ship on its manner to Earth and demand that Loki pass on him the Space Stone . The heroes essay their hand against the scoundrel by unleashing the Hulk ( Mark Ruffalo ) on him to no avail . Once the unripe - rage monster was defeated , Thor and Heimdall devised a design to send him back to Earth so the Avengers could fix for battle . come up all his energy to tap into dark illusion , Heimdall was able to channel Hulk out of the ship and into the Sanctum Sanctorum .
This drew Thanos ' ire , with the villain ruthlessly killing him not long after . However , although Heimdall is technically dead , Heimdall ’s likely riposte was set up in MCU Phase 4 , as he was last seen welcoming Jane Foster into Valhalla during theThor : Love and Thunderpost - credit scene .
Loki Set Up Just How Brutal Infinity War & Endgame Would Be
Avenger: Infinity War
Marvel Studios needed to make certain that they efficiently established Thanos as the MCU ’s bounteous scourge thus far , and there were few well ways to do that than own him vote down one of the most beloved theatrical role in the dealership early on inAvengers : Infinity War . While this version of Loki was initially an MCU villain , afterThor : Ragnarok , Loki was on the route to full redemption . Sadly for him , before he could make total amends , his yesteryear caught up with him .
After acquire the Power Stone from the God of Mischief , the Mad Titan mercilessly killed Loki by choking him with his unornamented hands . In the Disney+ seriesLoki , a unlike version of the quasi - villain carry on his tale in the MCU - but the original Loki ’s brutal destiny look even more set in I. F. Stone as a result of this .
Loki season 2 ’s stopping point is monolithic for the MCU as well as for the God of Mischief who ’s found his ultimate splendiferous purpose while carry through the TVA .
Gamora Was Killed Because Of Thanos' Love For Her
The dramatise girl of Thanos , Gamora ( Zoe Saldaña ) spend the last duo of years of her life ensure that her father did n’t get his hands on the Soul Stone on major planet Vormir . However , with Nebula ’s ( Karen Gillan ) life on the line , she finally heeded and revealed the localisation of the mysterious Infinity Stone . There ’s only one caveat - for Thanos to acquire the treasure inAvengers : Infinity War , he had to give something he hump , which was Gamora .
Fully attached to his crusade , the Mad Titan painstakingly threw his child over the cliff , effectively killing Gamora . Thanks to the conception of clip traveling , however , Marvel brought back Gamora- albeit from a unlike time time period - inAvengers : Endgame , result in a raw figure with none of the memories she ’d made over the path of her MCU appearance . While her choice MCU similitude remains dead , the alternate Gamora deliver inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol . 3 , though her complicated touch sensation about her original self makes the character ’s end feel all the more strong .
Vision Sacrificed Himself To Try And Stop Thanos
With the Mind Stone as Vision ’s ( Paul Bettany ) source of world power , Tony Stark ’s honest-to-goodness A.I. was an automatic target for Thanos inAvengers : Infinity War . In the end , Wanda Maximoff ( Elizabeth Olsen ) was coerce to destroy the Mind Stone and in the cognitive operation kill her fan , but , Thanos but used the Time Stone to go back in time and pluck the sorcerous jewel from Vision ’s head , killing him twice . The android was n’t among those who were resurrected by theMCU Blip inAvengers : Endgame , and the interlingual rendition of Vision inWandaVisionwas a fake construct of Wanda ’s Chaos deception .
However , while the original Vision remains dead , Wanda ’s memory of Vision and whatever remain of the humanoid ’s consciousness in his dead eubstance have merged into White Vision . Vision ’s demise and footle memory underscore how the Infinity Stones , which Avengers died to protect and win , remain relevant in the MCU ’s future .
Odin Died Of Natural Causes (& Unleashed Hela)
Thor: Ragnarok
As Martin Luther King Jr. of Asgard and the Allfather , Odin ( Anthony Hopkins ) was already one of the most powerful heroes in the MCU long before the Avengers came to be . But , just like every other character in the franchise , he ’s not without flaws . Thor : Ragnarokexposed his ruthless state of war - mongering with Hela ( Cate Blanchett ) and there ’s a case to be made about how he unwittingly pitted Thor ( Chris Hemsworth ) and Loki ( Tom Hiddleston ) against each other . In the remainder , Odin died of rude causesat the start of the Taika Waititi film . While he ’s able-bodied to say his proper goodbyes to his sons , he bequeath them on their own to deal with the return of their malevolent sis .
Thor was the gestate successor to Odin come after his death , but Loki Season 2 confirmed it was a different character who took Odin ’s place .
The Warriors Three Died To Show How Dangerous Hela Was
In the MCU , the deaths of famed Asgardians bear almost as much free weight as the question of which Avengers died . Before Thor found his new friend on Earth , he already had three best ones in Asgard with the Warriors Three , composed of Volstagg ( Ray Stevenson ) , Fandral ( Zachary Levi / Josh Dallas ) , and Hogun ( Tadanobu Asano ) . The elect squad of Asgardian warriors was task to protect the people of Asgard from any harm that came their way .
Often assisting Thor and Lady Sif ( Jamie Alexander ) in their adventure , all three met their end at the hand of Hela inThor : Ragnarokwhile the God of Thunder was banish to Sakaar entrust the Asgardians vulnerable to the Goddess of Death . Hela first killed Volstagg and Fandral after traveling through the Bifrost Bridge , and then slew Hogunwho led the Asgardian army in an endeavor to contain the villain .
The Ancient One Was Killed By Kaecillius
Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange ’s mentor , The Ancient One ( Tilda Swinton ) was the original MCU Sorcerer Supreme . She was n’t perfect , however , as it was revealed that she also drew conjuring trick from the Dark Dimension . The Sorcerer Supreme forgather her conclusion after Kaecillius ( Mads Mikkelsen ) fatally stab her during their final encounter . Strange was capable to rush her to the hospital , but she explain to him that it was her time to go . AfterThe Ancient One ’s death , she made a final appearance inAvengers : Endgameduring the heroes ' sojourn to the Battle of New York , where she excuse to Smart Hulk how tampering with clip would result in branched reality .
T’Chaka Died To Prove The Stakes Of Captain America: Civil War
Captain America: Civil War
The destruction of T’Chaka ( John Kani ) inCaptain America : Civil Warmade his son , T’Challa ( Chadwick Boseman ) the King of Wakanda and the Black Panther . During his time as big businessman , T’Chaka maintained the advanced nation ’s low profile , which was something that his successor eventually changed . T’Chaka was in attendance at the United Nations assembly to discuss the Sokovia Accords when the venue was hit by a terrorist attack ; he was among those whose life was claim by the tragedy . He made another show inBlack Pantherwhen T’Challa call in the Astral Plane .
Peggy Carter Died To Show Steve Rogers' “Old Life” Was In The Past
Captain America; Civil War
Steve Rogers / Captain America ( Chris Evans ) attempted to ensconce into mod times after being freeze on ice for decades , but that did n’t stand for that he did n’t judge to oblige onto his yesteryear and the lifetime that he lost . InCaptain America : The Winter Soldier , he visit an one-time Peggy Carter ( Hayley Atwell ) , and together , they reminisced about their past and peach about moving onward in lifetime .
That was the last MCU ’s sighting of the SHIELD co - founding father , as she died off - screenland - as give away inCaptain America : Civil War . She take back to the franchise , however , at the end ofAvengers : Endgameafter Steve move back in time to survive a full life with her . Unlike Steve Rogers whose final destiny remains altogether unclear , Peggy Carter is confirmed to be drained .
The Earth-838 Illuminati Died Brutally To Show Just How Far Scarlet Witch Would Go
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessinfamously unleashed Scarlet Witch to kill off the most hefty superheroes of Earth-838 . This include Mister Fantastic ( John Krasinksi ) , whose body was brutally tear asunder by Wanda ’s Chaos Magic , which she also used to fill up Black Bolt ’s ( Anson Mount ) mouth — killing him when he tried to speak . Though Captain Carter and Captain Marvel / Monica Rambeau ( Teyonah Parris ) put up a fight , they finally fall to Scarlet Witch , who even used Captain Carter ’s own shield to finish the line of work . However , the most roughshod death penalty was reserved for Professor Charles Xavier ( Patrick Stewart ) , who try out to battle Wanda in her mind and ended up playing the victim in a classic Sam Raimi horror death fit .
Yondu Died To Show Star-Lord Who His Real Father Was
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2
For the most part of his MCU arc , Yondu ( Michael Rooker ) was presented as a quasi - villain to Star - Lord / Peter Quill ( Chris Pratt ) , but it was disclose inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol . 2that he truly cared about Peter Quill , he just was n’t good at establish emotion . As it turns out , his decision to keep the unseasoned boy to himself stem in part from his worry that his biologic father , Ego the Living Planet ( Kurt Russell ) , was extend to harm him .
Yondu prove his love for Peter when he sacrifice his own life on the cad of the hero ' battle with Ego to salve his surrogate son , in arguably the most emotional moment in an otherwise humorous MCU Italian sandwich - dealership . An animated Yondu shortly returned in Quill ’s flashback in theGuardians of the Galaxy : Holiday Special , which revealed that Star - Lord ’s guns were in reality Christmas gifts from Yondu .
Quicksilver Died To Show The MCU Would Kill Avengers
Avengers: Age Of Ultron
inaugurate inAvengers : Age of Ultronalongside his twin sister , Wanda , Pietro Maximoff / Quicksilver ( Aaron Taylor - Johnson ) also draw his power from the Mind Stone . After being experiment on by HYDRA , the counterpart worked alongside Ultron in short until they join force with the Avengers . Sadly , the speedster die a expansive death after salve Hawkeye and a child civilian during the climactic conflict in theAvengerssequel . InWandavision , a fake variant of Quicksilver ( Evan Peters ) briefly appeared as part of Agatha Harkness ' ( Kathryn Hahn ) secret plan to kill Wanda . Over the year , rumors of Quicksilver return to the MCU have been persistent , but there ’s no concrete grounds of that happening thus far .
Garthan Saal Died To Help Stop Ronan The Accuser
A member of the intergalactic military and police force of the Nova Empire , Garthan Saal ( Peter Serafinowicz ) play a pivotal part in the firstGuardians of the Galaxymovie . Garthan Saal was involve in arrest the titular theatrical role - resulting in all of them convene inside prison and force them to ring together — and he was also unforgettably responsible for for titling them a clump of A - hole . finally , however , Garthan Saal and the rest of the Nova Corps assist the riffraff squad of torpedo as they battle Ronan the Accuser ( Lee Pace).Saal died a heroical end during the Battle of Xandar after his ship blew uptrying to ensure that the Dark Aster did n’t land .
The Groot Original Groot Died To Bring The Guardians Closer Together
Whether the original Groot ( Vin Diesel ) or the novel one hanging out with the Guardians of the Galaxy are the same is a subject for fierce argument , but crucially , according to director James Gunn , they ’re dissimilar . Whenthe grown - up sentient , bipedal tree diagram sacrifice himself to save his friends at the end of the firstGuardians of the Galaxy , he truly died despite the introduction of MCU ’s Baby Groot , who grew from one of his branch and was take on by many to be a reincarnation . Notably , there have been soupcon that the new Groot can somehow recall the original Groot ’s memories .
Frigga Died To Protect Jane Foster From Malekith
Thor: The Dark World
serve as the Queen of Asgard and married woman of Odin , Frigga ( Rene Russo ) was the caring but audacious mother of Thor and Loki . She also took it upon herself to take care of Jane Foster ( Natalie Portman ) when the God of Thunder brought her to Asgard to protect from the world power of the Aether inThor : The Dark World . Staying true to her commitment to his son , Frigga sacrifice her life at the hands of Malekith ( Christopher Eccelston ) when she refused to give up Jane ’s location .
Briefly , Frigga yield inAvengers : Endgame ’s time heist — just before her tragical end , leave Thor to see his mother and find comfort from her one last time as he struggled with his personal failures against Thanos . However , she is still permanently dead and is unlikely to reelect in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe .
T’Challa’s Death Pays Respect To Chadwick Boseman
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
In the MCU , King T’Challa die because of a mysterious illness , which he kept hidden from the populace in an effort to protect them — interchangeable to how T’Challa actor Chadwick Boseman kept his own conflict with malignant neoplastic disease a private matter . Indeed , Black Panther : Wakanda Foreversees T’Challa ’s end handled as a reflexion of the material - spirit passing play of actor Chadwick Boseman . aside from being a displace tribute to Chadwick Boseman ’s bequest , Black Panther : Wakanda Foreveralso project T’Challa ’s babe Shuri ( Letitia Wright ) becoming the new Black Panther of Wakanda .
Aunt May Died To Teach Peter Parker His Most Important Marvel Lesson
Spider-Man: No Way Home
The unexpected and tragic expiry of Aunt May ( Marisa Tomei ) happened inSpider - Man : No Way Home . Despite his best drive , Peter Parker / Spider - Man ( Tom Holland ) fail to protect Aunt May from Green Goblin ’s ( Willem Dafoe ) turkey . In what is arguably the greatest modernistic tribute to Spider - Man ’s Marvel Comics origin , No Way Homecleverly foreshadowed Aunt May ’s destruction when , moments before , she severalize Peter,“With outstanding major power , there must come great duty . “While Doctor Strange ’s memory magical spell restarted Peter Parker ’s arc in the MCU in a sense - making all those who know him forget him , and leave him on a seemingly more isolated path - Aunt May ’s death pick up the actual close of Spider - Man ’s MCU blood line story .
Related : Why The MCU ’s " Great Responsibility " pipeline Is dissimilar From Maguire ’s Spider - Man
Scarlet Witch Died To End Her Second Villain Story
In theDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessending , Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch in conclusion stopped buck through reality when America Chavez ( Xochitl Gomez ) used her powers to show Wanda the error of her ways . In her grief , the Scarlet Witch of legend then destroyed herself and Mount Wundagore , which also presumably destroyed all other copies of the Darkhold across the Multiverse .
Considering the repose at which Avengers give-up the ghost and the barriers between universe open at Wanda ’s feet - and the MCU ’s Scarlet Witch prophecy — there ’s been arduous venture about the permanency of Wanda Maximoff ’s death . Notably , even if the original Wanda is truly utter , Earth-838 Wanda not only subsist , but had her powers wake up by being possess by Scarlet Witch , which mean the prophecy might not be over .
Jane Foster Died Fighting Gorr The God Butcher
Thor: Love & Thunder
Although Jane Foster / Mighty Thor ( Natalie Portman ) is n’t technically part of the MCU Avengers , Jane all the same deserve an honorary office in the tally of which Avengers died in MCU Phase 4 . Earning herself a revered spot alongside Earth ’s Mightiest Heroes , theMCU ’s Mighty Thorsuccumbed to the effects of cancer and the toll of fighting Gorr the God Butcher ( Christian Bale ) at the end ofThor : Love and Thunder .
Though theThor 4post - credit scene showing Jane and Heimdall in Valhalla confirms that Jane Foster truly died , long - time Marvel Comics readers know that this could be a bent - up for the MCU to adjust the story arc in which Jane becomes a Valkyrie . In any case , it ’s likely that Jane Foster / Mighty Thor , despite her decease , will come back to adopt a greater theatrical role in the Multiverse Saga .
He Who Remains Died To Set The Multiverse Saga In Proper Motion
Loki Season 1
Loki var. Sylvie ( Sophia Di Martino ) killed He Who stay ( Jonathan Majors)in the ending ofLoki , causing the Sacred Timeline to break off into the multiverse and putting the Multiverse Saga into full golf stroke . WhileLokiseason 2 date He Who stay return for a impermanent appearance , this only reinforce his expiry being a lasting fixture of the universe of discourse , as Loki is ineffective to convince Sylvie not to kill him , perhaps intimate it ’s the MCU ’s version of theSpider - Verse ’s Canon upshot .
Loki ’s season 1 end sets up some big change for Phase 4 - confirming sports fan theories , making a new scoundrel , and altering the face of the MCU itself .
While He Who stay ' position as a superhero is confutable , he is notably the only knownMarvel Cinematic Universevariant of Kang who , like Tony Stark and Doctor Strange , was push to make difficult decisions for what he think was the greater good — preserving the Sacred Timeline . As the Multiverse Saga unfolds , it ’s improbable He Who Remains will return - though more edition of Kang from across the Multiverse are bound to uncover themselves .
