Countless Marvel heroes, villains, and supporting characters have died in unforgettable comic storylines that shaped the emotional fabric of the multiverse. The MCU’s ever-expanding live-action multiverse has followed suit with its own dramatic deaths. Some of them, like Iron Man’s sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame, have topped any similar event the comics have attempted to create.
The MCU continues to grow into a multiverse of infinite possibilities. Yet, some of Marvel’s most shocking and memorable deaths may never transition to live action. Some have already been adapted perfectly elsewhere, others are too dark for general audiences, and others simply don’t fit the franchise’s continuity.
Key Deaths in Marvel’s Multiverse
Elektra Has Died Too Many Times Already In The MCU
Stabbed by her own sai, Elektra’s brutal murder by Bullseye is almost impossible for the MCU to adapt without undermining Elodie Yung’s Elektra Natchios. Netflix’s Daredevil season 2 already played heavily with Elektra’s death, resurrection, and ambiguous fate. Bringing her back again just to reenact the same kind of plot would feel repetitive and shrink her ability to evolve.
The MCU also needs Bullseye to inflict new forms of psychological devastation on Matt Murdock. Daredevil: Born Again has already escalated the villain’s brutality with Foggy Nelson’s death. The original comic’s gritty intimacy around Bullseye’s cruelty and Matt’s grief is too raw to recycle without numbing the audience. Marvel Studios would gain little from replaying a similar tragedy, at least anytime in the near future.
Mar-Vell Dies A Tragic Natural Death
The MCU’s Mar-Vell Already Lived A Different Life And Died A Very Different Death
Four decades later, Mar-Vell’s death remains one of Marvel’s most grounded and emotionally powerful stories because it rejects the genre’s usual shortcuts: no last-minute cure or cosmic miracle saves his life at the last minute. All Marvel heroes witness as a beloved hero slowly succumb to cancer, surrounded by friends who must accept that even superheroes cannot escape mortality. The MCU could absolutely explore how even the strongest figures must one day face the same fate as a regular human.
Sadly, the MCU simply can’t tell this story the same way. The MCU’s Mar-Vell was never a proper superhero, and her legacy didn’t shape her universe the way the comics’ Mar-Vell did. MCU Mar-Vell was shot by Yon-Rogg, without the time or space to form meaningful emotional connections with someone other than Carol Danvers.
The New Warriors’ Accidental Deaths Trigger Civil War
The MCU’s Civil War Already Happened With A Very Different Inciting Event
In the comics, the New Warriors’ catastrophic Stamford Incident is the spark for Marvel’s Civil War. The young heroes’ attempt to mix heroism with spectacle leads to a massive explosion that kills hundreds of civilians, including dozens of children, thus turning the world against superheroes overnight. The Stamford Incident tragedy forces society to reconsider whether superpowered individuals should be free to act without oversight.
The New Warriors’ tragedy wouldn’t have the same impact if it happened in the MCU now. First, Civil War already unfolded with a different catalyst. The MCU’s version of the conflict centers on the personal feud between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, sparked by the Winter Soldier being framed for the murder of King T’Chaka. It’s a character-driven political drama rather than a commentary on inexperienced heroes triggering public backlash through reckless decisions.
Black Widow Is Assassinated With Captain America’s Shield In Secret Empire
Natasha Romanoff Already Died A Tragic Death In The MCU
