10 Best Netflix Marvel Characters, Ranked

It’s taken three-quarters of a decade, but one of the most beloved and iconic small-screen Marvel characters is finally about to return. Back in 2018, fan’s determination to save Daredevil took the internet by storm, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to keep the show afloat. However, fast forward almost eight years, and he’s back and set to be better than ever. The original show is a fan favorite across all of Marvel, and Daredevil: Born Again is looking to continue that legacy.

But Daredevil wasn’t the only character to leave a memorable impression back in The Defenders Saga days of Netflix. Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and The Punisher became an iconic collection of Marvel TV shows before the introduction of the Disney+ additions. These shows provided some characters that helped make this franchise what it came to mean to fans, and they wouldn’t have been the same without them.

10

Stick

Played by Scott Glenn

Stick (Scott Glenn) made his first appearance in Daredevil as a man who guided and taught Matt (Skylar Gaertner/Charlie Cox) everything he knew, from combat skills to using his working heightened senses to his advantage. But he went through depicted stages of good, bad, and uncertainty throughout the show’s run, all the way into the team-up in The Defenders, and he came to a rather sticky end.

Throughout his time on the show, Stick was portrayed as someone who’d take absolutely zero crap thrown his way. He was an ally and an enemy on different occasions, but he was a staple part of what made Daredevil “Daredevil” in the early days of the series. Matt wouldn’t have become who he was if not for Stick’s training, and he’s someone the fans just can’t help but like. Things would have been very different without him.

9

Elektra

Played by Elodie Young

When they said opposites attract, they meant Matt Murdock and Elektra (Elodie Yung). A vigilante and an assassin sound like a match made in heaven, but these two individuals had more than their fair share of trials and tribulations. Like Matt, Elektra trained under Stick to become a formidable opponent in combat, and the two gained a common skill set.

Elektra was a recurring character throughout the Marvel Netflix series, appearing as a protagonist and antagonist in Daredevil and The Defenders. She left a lasting impression, with many fans taking a liking to her from day one. She was a brilliant fighter with great potential to be one of the show’s most memorable characters from early on in her introduction.

8

Foggy and Karen

Played by Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson

It’s too challenging to choose between these two of Daredevil‘s original three, so it seems only fitting to add them together, given how much they mean to fans. Foggy (Elden Henson) is introduced as Matt’s best friend and fellow Avocado at Law, and their personalities ricochet off one another perfectly. Their friendship is powerful, and despite some ups and downs, as anyone can have, they are always there for each other no matter what. Foggy’s goofy personality makes him a very likable person in the dark world of Daredevil‘s gritty undertone.

Karen’s (Deborah Ann Woll) backstory may have been shown very late into the show, but she has always been a force to be reckoned with and an undeniably capable character. She can hold her own in more than one meaning of the word and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty or bloody to do what she thinks is right. She and Foggy are essential parts of Nelson, Murdock, and Page, and this trio is one of the best in Marvel Television.

7

Mercedes “Misty” Knight

Played by Simone Missick

Misty Knight (Simone Missick) is a strong and capable woman who proved early on that she’ll do whatever may be needed to get the job done. First introduced in Luke Cage as a main character in the show, Misty grew into a prominent part of The Defenders sage, making further supporting appearances in Iron Fist and five of the eight episodes within The Defenders miniseries.

Losing her arm to Bakuto during the events leading up to the Midland Circle building collapse, she went through a lot but came out the other side far stronger and determined, with a little help from Danny Rand (Finn Jones) and his state-of-the-art arm. Misty became a notable character from the impression she made in Luke Cage. But this tough policewoman grew on fans more and more as she continued making appearances until her last one in the second and final season of Iron Fist, where, of course, she held her own like a pro.

6

Jessica Jones

Played by Krysten Ritter

Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) is a Marvel character with a traumatic past, and with the Netflix TV shows being as gritty as they were, they weren’t afraid to let the audience know just how traumatic it was for her. Jessica lost her father and brother in a car crash at a young age, and she and her mother were the only two to survive. The crash resulted in her being treated at a private facility where experiments gave her superhuman abilities.

To put it rather bluntly, Jessica Jones is a very nonchalant, badass character who cares about those she loves and will protect them at all costs. She acts like she doesn’t care about anything but will always look out for the little guy, especially if there’s a paycheck to be had. She’s troubled, but at the end of the day, audiences can’t help but connect and sympathize with her as, despite her enhanced abilities, she’s a human being who faced a lot of hardships and came out the other end as a survivor.

5

Luke Cage

Played by Mike Colter

Luke Cage (Mike Colter) is one of the four main members of The Defenders. They’re all incredibly strong and undeniably capable, but he has one significant quality that makes him stand out. He is a man with impenetrable skin.

It doesn’t matter what it is; guns, knives, chainsaws; they are no match against his body armor. There’s only ever been one time when a weapon has managed to puncture his skin, and that was specifically designed to do so. Other than that, he is essentially unkillable. However, his most important quality is that he’s a man of the people, always looking out for those in need, and with his community in Harlem at the heart of everything he fights for, which makes him a very admirable hero in a world of Gods and super soldiers.

4

Claire Temple

Played by Rosario Dawson

Without Claire (Rosario Dawson), multiple members of The Defenders would have died before the shows were fully developed. She’s been the savior of the two of them at one point or another during their respective shows, and if she hadn’t been on standby, the team would be short by a few members.

Claire saved Matt’s life after a near-fatal beating, saved Luke Cage following a shotgun blast to the head, and then once again after a Judas bullet penetrated his skin. She also introduced Luke and Danny Rand, so without her initiating things, their meet-up wouldn’t have led to the events in The Defenders. She’s a hero in many ways and was always around to help whenever one of them got into trouble.

3

Wilson Fisk

Played by Vincent D’Onofrio

Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) is one of the most notorious villains in Marvel. He’s present in Spider-Man stories, notably on the PlayStation games, and made his powerful presence quickly known in the Daredevil series, as well. He’s not someone whose bad side you’d want to be on, but as an imposing character, he’s one of the best out of the entire Defenders Saga.

Kingpin, as he’s commonly known, is present throughout all three seasons of Daredevil, working within the shadows and getting his hands incredibly bloody on the surface of all the action. He has many unknown people on his payroll, and his character constantly leaves audiences wondering what he could do next, being someone who could snap at any moment. He doesn’t just have the other characters on edge, but the viewers, too, and it’s a testament to how powerful his impact on the show was.

2

Frank Castle/The Punisher

Played by Jon Bernthal

Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) is another very tormented character in Marvel’s library. He’s a favorite for many fans because of how brutally his story is portrayed, because he’s easy to sympathize with and because he’s an absolutely ruthless individual in combat.

The Punisher was first introduced in Daredevil‘s second season as the series antagonist before developing a successful two-season series of his own. He’s not a good person in many ways, but as an antagonist and protagonist in TV shows like Daredevil and The Punisher, he’s one of the most favorable of them all. He’s easy to like, and you can’t help but route for him in many ways, especially in his own show. It’ll be exciting to see him back working with Matt Murdock when Born Again hits Disney+ on March 4th.

1

Matt Murdock/Daredevil

Played by Charlie Cox

A favorite for many, Matt Murdock and his devilish alter ego are as important to Marvel fans as Robert Downey Jr.‘s Iron Man. Charlie Cox made the character his, and in the eyes of many fans, no one else could bring as much passion and charm to the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen as he did and continues to do.

Daredevil is where everything started for Netflix’s Defenders Saga, and it became what it was thanks to great storytelling, action sequences, and a charismatic protagonist with one hell of a dark side. Matt Murdock isn’t perfect; no one in Hell’s Kitchen is, but he’s one of the most enjoyable-to-watch characters of the entire franchise and someone who holds everything together despite how much he struggles at times.

Keep Reading: From ‘Daredevil’ to ‘Jessica Jones’: 10 Saddest Defenders Saga Episodes