For the last 15 years, Marvel Studios has brought Marvel’s best stories from the comics to the screen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, not everything in the MCU comes directly from the comic books. In fact, many of these characters and storylines were created specifically for Marvel’s films and TV series.

The lineage of some MCU original characters could be traced back to the comics, but they have been modified to the point where they are no longer a counterpart, like Layla El-Faouly. However, others, like Luis and Floor, are wholly original. Regardless of their origins, fans like these characters just as much as they love the heroes and villains who debuted in the comics, with these new players being considered some of the best MCU characters.

10. Ralph Bohner (WandaVision)

When Evan Peters appeared as an alleged alternate version of Pietro in WandaVision, the MCU hadn’t started exploring the wide Marvel multiverse, so fans were hyped. After all, Peters was both a popular actor and one with a Marvel pedigree. His having played Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver in the Fox X-Men movies made some fans believe that said character had someone entered the MCU proper.

Ultimately, Pietro’s “recast” was only a red herring. Peters’ character was, in reality, Ralph Bohner, a Westview resident that Agatha Harkness brainwashed to confuse Wanda. To the fans’ delight, the MCU went multiversal since then, starting with Spider-Man: No Way Home.

9. Erik Selvig (Thor)

Dr. Erik Selvig was a successful astrophysicist who found himself working for S.H.I.E.L.D. after meeting Thor. Selvig, who soon became one of Thor’s most important human friends in the films, was the key to understanding the Tesseract and ending the Chitauri Invasion.

The Marvel Universe has some of the smartest scientists in fiction, but Dr. Selvig isn’t just a brain. He’s been a loyal ally to the Asgardians and helped the God of Thunder connect to humanity. Skarsgård’s performance was both serious and hilarious, which earned him the audience’s love. Eventually, the character was brought into the Marvel Universe of the comic books.

8. Katy Chen (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)

Katy Chen is one of several new characters Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings introduced to the MCU, including Katy Chen. Katy is Shang-Chi’s best friend and coworker in San Francisco. When he has to travel to Macau and sort things out with the Ten Rings, Katy chooses to follow him and help him, putting her life in danger for Shang-Chi.

Katy’s loyalty to Shang-Chi is moving. They have a beautiful friendship that seems to be completely platonic and the actors, Awkafina and Simu Liu, have great chemistry. Additionally, she’s portrayed by a talented comedian with great line delivery, and some of the funniest quotes in the MCU. This humorous nature made her fit as one of the newest original MCU characters.

7. Michelle “MJ” Jones

One of Spider-Man’s most important allies in the MCU and his primary love interest, Michelle “MJ” Jones, has been key in all of Peter Parker’s adventures so far. She started as a socially awkward and abrasive girl who grew to like Ned and Peter. As the initial MCU Spider-Man trilogy went on, this manifested in romance with one her best friends.

MJ is an original MCU character, but she’s obviously inspired by Mary Jane Watson. They have very different personalities and backstories. However, they share their initials, MJ, as well as a close relationship with Peter Parker. The MCU’s MJ has become a fan favorite among Spider-Man’s friends. Fans hope she will return in Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man 4, though nothing has been confirmed yet.

6. Floor The Rabbit (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3)

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 focuses on Rocket Raccoon’s life before he became a Guardian. During the years he spent as the High Evolutionary’s experiment, he lived through many horrifying experiences with his friends from Batch 89: Lylla, Floor, and Teefs. These were other seeming normal animals who suffered a similar fate of torture.

Lylla the Otter comes directly from the comics, but the other two originated in the MCU. Teefs could be lightly inspired by Wal Rus, Rocket’s friend from the comics, who had a kinder fate. However, Floor the Rabbit is a completely original character whose innocence won everyone’s hearts from the very beginning. Her death was incredibly difficult to process.

5. Darcy Lewis (Thor)

Jane Foster’s snarky assistant, Darcy Lewis, first appeared in Thor. One of the first MCU original characters, she was mostly used as comic relief in this film. However, she was given a bigger role in WandaVision as a S.W.O.R.D. agent trying to pierce Westview’s mysterious border.

Darcy had undeniable goofiness and charisma, making the fandom love her from the very first minute. Recently, the character debuted in the recent Scarlet Witch comic book series. There, she was the first person to go through Wanda’s Last Door in Steve Orlando and Sara Pichelli’s series.

4. Layla El-Faouly (Moon Knight)

The MCU’s first Egyptian superhero, Layla El-Faouly, debuted in the Moon Knight TV series as Marc Spector’s estranged wife. In the race to stop Arthur Harrow, Layla became Taweret’s Avatar on Earth, embracing the role of the Scarlet Scarab.

Layla El-Faouly combines traits from two different Marvel Comics characters: Marlene Alruane, Moon Knight’s love interest, and Abdul Faoul, the original Scarlet Scarab. Due to this, she doesn’t have a direct counterpart in the comics, making her one of the truly original MCU characters. As a legitimate superhero, fans are hoping Layla will make the jump to the books like Darcy already did.

3. Luis (Ant-Man)

Scott Lang’s former cellmate, Luis, appears in Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp as a key member of the team’s heists. His amazing chemistry with Scott Lang earned Luis a spot on Earth-616. In October 2015, he debuted in comics in Astonishing Ant-Man #1 by Nick Spencer, Ramón Rosanas, Jordan Boyd, and Travis Lanham.

Luis is one of Scott’s most loyal friends, which has earned him a lot of love in the fandom. He’s also inarguably one of the funniest characters in the Ant-Man films. His memorable recaps make his fans wish he was in every Marvel Studios project, and his absence was one of the many sore points in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

2. Phil Coulson (Iron Man)

Phil Coulson is the former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and was Nick Fury’s second-in-command for many years. He was a key operative in putting the Avengers Initiative together, and his death at Loki’s hands helped bring the OG Avengers together against the Chitauri. Despite this, the first of the MCU original characters was too good to stay dead, and he became the team lead on the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series.

It’s hard to believe that Phil Coulson is an original character. His story aligns perfectly with the Marvel Universe, and he’s a perfect combination of courage and humanity. Battle Scars #6, by Chris Yost, Matt Fraction, and Cullen Bunn, marked his debut in the comics, four years after he first appeared in the MCU.

1. Sylvie Laufeydottir

Loki introduced Sylvie Laufeydottir as a gender-bent Loki variant on the run after the TVA deemed her a threat to the Sacred Timeline. In the season’s finale, Sylvie enacted a self-fulfilling prophecy by killing He Who Remains, giving Kang the Conqueror more power and allowing the Multiverse to expand without control.

Marvel Comics feature many Loki variants, but Sylvie is an MCU original character. Writers likely drew inspiration from Sylvie Lushton, the second iteration of the Enchantress in the “Dark Reign” storyline, as well as from Lady Loki. However, this character has a very different backstory and a unique relationship with Loki, Asgard, and the TVA.