The MCU has grown in its content output in recent years with Marvel Spotlight. But from Blade to Bullseye, what should characters appear on it?

Marvel Spotlight is a new initiative based on the comic series of the same name, aimed at giving casual viewers background for comic book characters they may not know very well without affecting the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe. Echo kicked off the new sect of superhero anthologies, and with Daredevil’s next appearance rumored to continue the trend, the future of the MCU could have room for even more one-shot style series.

With no shortage of Mighty Marvels across the movies and television series, picking the right ones to elevate is essential. Marvel fatigue is not yet a thing of the past, but reviving the right folks from the Netflix dramas and giving newer MCU characters time to grow and develop at ground level without any looming threats of universal destruction in the way could be an easier pill to swallow. Some didn’t get enough screen time, some haven’t been around for a while, and others just have so much more potential for growth before the next big event.

The Punisher Could Split the Morals of the MCU Fanbase

In the comics, the Punisher was originally a veteran of the Vietnam War and served as a dark mirror of Captain America.

John Bernthal’s Punisher was brutal, gritty, and tormented, and seeing him in the MCU will probably help the tonal shift brought on by violent heroes like Deadpool and Wolverine. He’s a shoo-in for a Spotlight series, as unfamiliar fans will likely need to be convinced why a man with no superhuman abilities can make a difference in the face of Earth’s more recent issues.

Frank Castle’s one-man war on crime is a distinct diversion from the ideological goodness of Captain America’s Avengers. Punisher doesn’t just kill people; he does so with a brand of rage that’s almost as destructive as Bruce Banner’s. The best part is due to his methods; he causes a moral division among many characters over whether or not the Punisher is a truly good person.

Bullseye Could Join Any Team in the MCU

Bullseye is capable of stopping and starting his heart through concentration.

Sometimes called Benjamin Poindexter, Bullseye last appeared in Marvel’s Daredevil. He’s rumored to appear in the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again series, but the possibility of the Thunderbolts one day leading to the Dark Avengers in the MCU could mean he might get more screen-time before potentially donning the mantle of Hawkeye. A story set in Bullseye’s early career as a mercenary could provide all the context viewers need to accept him as an anti-hero or anti-villain instead of the stereotypical hell-bent sociopath the Netflix series introduced.

Alternatively, setting him up as the Skrull hunter fans know from Secret Invasion comics could easily display the gray morality of teams like the Thunderbolts, which the MCU is distinctly lacking at present. He should be cold, cunning, and bloodthirsty, but seeing a version of Bullseye unmarred by blind fits of rage could build on what Daredevil started and set up a whole new breed of “hero” for the MCU.

Man-Thing is a Tragedy Worth Exploring

Howard the Duck first appeared in a Man-Thing story.

Werewolf by Night showcased key figures of Marvel’s monster gallery, introducing Dr. Ted Sallis post-transformation as a figure of serious intrigue. While Man-Thing is essential to the plot of the Halloween special, the short time he spent on-screen means many want to see more of the guardian of the Nexus of All Realities.

Shining a spotlight on the accident that turned Dr. Sallis into the vine monster known as Man-Thing could fill a void in the MCU. While fans have seen Hulks transform plenty of times, the initial accident that turned Ruffalo’s Banner into Hulk was relegated to opening credits in The Incredible Hulk, and Jennifer Walters’s first transformation was a blur. A new spotlight series chronicling Dr. Sallis’, accident and understanding of his place as a monster could lead to how he met Jack Russell, potentially setting up a Legion of Monsters or another similar ensemble.

Red Guardian’s Past Could Further Inform His Present

In the comics, Shostakov was the second Red Guardian.

Alexei Shostakov is the first Red Guardian in the MCU’s canon. While he boasts about an impossible meeting with Captain America, little is known about his early career and exploits as Russia’s experimental super-soldier before posing as an American father with his adopted family of trained killers. A Spotlight on Red Guardian’s younger days could give insight into his treatment as part of a militant program or dive into his life as a supposed family man.

As fun as it might be to see a classic wartime series, and while Shostakov couldn’t have been around to fight Steve Rogers, Isaiah Bradley gave viewers a hint about the U.S. government’s subsequent super soldier experiments. Watching Red Guardian fight a different iteration of Captain America from the late days of the Cold War could work well. Alternatively, a series set in America in the 1980s focused on the “family” maintaining appearances would be different from anything else in the MCU.

She-Hulk Could Return For More Courtroom Shenanigans

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law helped introduce strange characters like Mr. Immortal and Leap-Frog.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law brought gamma power to the small screen in a new way, but the series’ future is still up in the air. Presenting a new hero with the ability to break the fourth wall enough to rewrite reality may have already shown audiences that Jennifer Walters is fit for big-time superheroics, but a Spotlight series featuring more court cases, romances, and aspects of her everyday life might be nice before she jumps fist-first into saving the world.

Given Daredevil’s appearance in She-Hulk and the prospective Spotlight nature of his series, it’s possible that She-Hulk could appear there as a legal peer, super ally, or both. While her solo series seems unlikely to receive a second season, a Spotlight on her and potentially the other hulks of the MCU is well-deserved for such a fun and charismatic powerhouse.

Luke Cage May Have to Fall Before he Can Rise Again

Luke Cage’s bulletproof skin and healing factor could lead to him possibly being immortal.

Luke Cage’s storyline never concluded, so taking viewers back to where they left off is an easy way for a Spotlight series to show where he’s been in the more recent MCU. Continuing Luke’s role as the owner of Harlem’s Paradise would also give the Heroes for Hire a sweet base of operation and a reason not to seek the comfort of Avengers Tower. That said, there’s much about this era that’s still unknown as it was equally alluded to that he could become Harlem’s superpowered gangster, becoming an enemy before he’s an ally again.

The Netflix show covered the accident that gave Luke his powers and the early days of his superhero career, so returning to him as the community leader he became over two seasons could feel like a new start while revisiting themes from the first series. Conversely, having him fall from grace as a gangster and rise up to earn Harlem’s trust again could be a fresh start and see him become a street-level Captain America capable of one day leading the Avengers.

Blade’s Hunting Could go Beyond Vampires

Blade’s most dangerous enemy has always been Dracula.

The tantalizing prospect of Mahershala Ali’s Blade movie gets closer by the day, but a Spotlight on the daywalker could be a perfect follow-up. Where the movie will likely focus on a larger supernatural threat, especially given his vocal cameo in Eternals, a smaller anthology series could focus on Blade hunting lesser monsters.

Zombies, werewolves, mummies, and more things that go bump in the night have long stalked the shadows of Marvel Comics. A Blade anthology focused on unusual monsters would simultaneously expand the MCU and act as a love letter to the weird and wonderful pulp monsters that helped build Marvel into the giant it is. Plus, it could allow him to encounter other characters like Werewolf by Night and Man-Thing.

Valkyrie Has Yet to Grow as a Superhero

Valkyrie’s reign as king of New Asgard is new for the character as she’s always only ever been a hero.

Valkyrie is an integral member of the Defenders in the comics, and with Netflix’s version of Marvel’s mightiest non-team officially joining the MCU, there’s room to change the lineup. If Valkyrie is going to become the major player she can be, a Spotlight series showing fans more of how she uses her prowess on Earth would fill in the uninformed.

An armor-clad, sword-wielding warrior on a Pegasus probably wouldn’t phase the citizens of New York in the MCU, but it might be a little jarring for viewers. A series showing how Valkyrie comes to fit into New Asgard and her new home could change her from an intergalactic soldier and king to a more recognizable superhero.

The Thing is the Most Social Member of the Fantastic Four

The Thing’s best trait is his ability to get along with anyone he meets.

The Ever-Lovin’ Blue-Eyed Thing was one of Jack Kirby’s personal favorites, and his recent casting in the MCU presents an opportunity for Marvel creators of the modern age to honor a true legend. The pride of Yancy Street is a man of the people with a long history of team-ups across the multiverse, so if any member of The Fantastic Four were to receive the Spotlight treatment, Ben Grimm is the obvious choice.

The series could split time between different eras of his life, showing how things have changed for Ben and what aspects of his character stayed the same. It could also focus on his place in his community and what sets him apart from his teammates just as easily as sending him to space to battle or commune with cosmic forces. Since his early days in the comics, he’s been totally fearless, unnaturally strong, and ready to take on any challenge, so the prospects for a standalone solo series are virtually endless.

Kang

With a Kang Dynasty on the way, having multiple variants explored could set up the final Avengers confrontation.

While the future of Kang is uncertain in the MCU, fans have already met multiple variants of the Conqueror across Loki and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. A Spotlight anthology featuring different iterations of Nathaniel Richards from across the Multiverse would not only grant a more well-rounded view of the villain, but it would also work to show the vastness of his reach.

Exploring Kang’s childhood could include his deeper connections to Reed Richards and how another Victor Timely-like variant evolved into a villain. The Rama-Tut mummy rumored to rest on Moon Knight’s cutting room floor could see the light of day, and introducing new variants would be an easy fix for casting a new actor. Whether Kang acted as the protagonist of his own stories or the antagonist of others, he could even change based on which variant had the spotlight at a given time.