http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/AdaptationPersonalityChange/MarvelCinematicUniverse
Every hero in the universe has been
altered to some degree, with the most consistent change being that none of them abide by the
Thou Shall Not Kill trope, even the ones who ardently lived by it in the comics.
- Tony Stark aka Iron Man differs greatly from his comic counterpart. He’s still an egotistical Insufferable Genius with a reckless approach to saving the world, but he isn’t the self-hating Broken Ace who imprisons his friends and repeatedly throws the world into chaos from the comics. In general, MCU Tony due to being the first hero and overall main character is even considered the Big Good and saviour of the world, in the comics this tends to be Captain America’s role while Tony is only The Lancer at best (when he isn't directly opposing Cap). Also, comic Tony continued being a Arms Dealer, while MCU Tony ends his company's weapons program after he sees the destruction it's caused (instead re-orienting it as more of a "generic" tech conglomorate and clean energy producer) and the only weapons he makes (apart from his Powered Armour) are solely for his friends and loved ones to use while saving the world. Tony in the comics also keeps being The Casanova and a Millionaire Playboy after his origin story with a lot of different Love Interests in different comic runs while MCU Tony lets this days behind after the events of the first film and eventually gets monogamous with Pepper Potts, eventually starting a family with her.
- Bruce Banner aka the Hulk is a far less tragic figure in the MCU than his comic book version. Notably Bruce lacks the emotional baggage and mentally instability from the comics where he had a horrific childhood and teenage years long before Hulking Out, in The Avengers he’s ironically a pretty chill guy, although he apparently did attempt suicide at least once in the past. In later movies however Bruce is more goofy and lighthearted providing a lot of the comic relief, needless to say comic Bruce is very rarely chipper about anything. Hulk himself is more sociable in the films and less against all humanity like he is on the page.
- Natasha Romanov aka Black Widow is a far more morally ambiguous character in the comics, she spent many years as a KGB spy before doing a Heel–Face Turn to good (albeit an Anti-Hero). In the MCU, while Nat has had a history being a spy (to the point where she was recruited into SHIELD since she wanted to be The Atoner on behalf of "the red in [her] ledger"), unlike the comics she gets recruited for SHIELD and actually helps Nick Fury create the Avengers. Also, in the comics Nat is more of a lone wolf while in the movies (even her solo one) she's at her best with a team.
- Thor Odinson initially started off akin to his Hot-Blooded and comic counterpart, being a far more static character compared his fellow Avengers or his fan-favorite brother Loki. Thor: Ragnarok turns Thor into more of a Guile Hero who while still thoroughly badass is much more of a goofball, in contrast with his often very serious comic version. Comic Thor also tends keeps his emotions in check even when he becomes unworthy, MCU Thor becomes on other hand is a huge Emotional Bruiser in later movies and not ashamed to sob his eyes out or let himself go. Though ironically movie Thor stays worthy of Mjölnir, after first movie unlike in the comics.
- Clint Barton aka Hawkeye is against authority in the comics, when we first see Clint in the movies he’s working for SHIELD the same as Black Widow. Comic Clint was also much more solitary, MCU Clint actually has a family that he treasures, while in comics he’s broken up with his wife Mockingbird and generally failed to maintain any long lasting relationships. On the other hand comic Hawkeye has excellent leadership skills garnered from Captain America, while in the movies Clint mostly just provides cover support. Hawkeye does touch on a bit of Clint's leadership traits, but they are not as pronounced as his comic version.
- Steve Rogers aka Captain America is mostly the same as his comic book version but there are some key changes. MCU Steve is slightly more of a realist willingly to concede and even compromise for the greater good, whilst comic Steve is adamantly idealistic and rarely wavers from his righteous attitude and beliefs. The Russo Brothers in particular intentionally made Cap quite the Rounded Character, he’s still a good man with a pure heart who despises bullies, but unlike in the comics Steve isn’t above making some selfish decisions, perform morally questionable actions and even gets annoyed at his younger idealistic self showing his Character Development. It arguably finds a middle-ground between the Ideal Hero 616 Cap and his Ultimate version, who is a much more typical - and cynical - WW2 soldier.
- Nick Fury and Maria Hill are far more likeable than their comic counterparts. While they’re not above withholding the truth and lying to their allies like on the page, they do genuinely believe and support the Avengers and superheroes in general. This differs from the comic where both Fury and Hill distrust Marvel’s heroes and will sometimes actively work against them.
- Loki is a different kettle of fish in the comics since he lacks a lot of the reasonable motivations and heroism from the films and most of the evil things he does are purely For the Evulz. His sole Freudian Excuse in the comics was the abuse he suffered under his hands of his Ice Giant parents, in the films he was raised by Odin and Frigga and his main motivation is jealousy of Thor, though Loki doesn't go as far with his chaos as he does in the comics where he causes Ragnarok.
- Many of the characters in Guardians of the Galaxy, since most of them were too obscure for most of the audience to notice or care. Star-Lord goes from a cosmic hero to a sarcastic, jokey outlaw (this became Ret-Canon in subsequent comics), Drax the Destroyer goes from being dead serious to extremely Literal-Minded, Yondu goes from being a Noble Savage superhero to a murderous redneck criminal and Anti-Villain, and Ronan the Accuser goes from being a Knight Templar in the Kree military to a fanatical, mass-murdering terrorist who according to Word of God, was inspired by Osama bin Laden.
- Nebula eventually gets the biggest example of this; in the comics when she's not a Broken Bird she's a brutal villainess who actively works against the good guys and seeks to become a tyrant herself. In the first two Guardians movies, while she's pretty cruel she's also deeply sympathetic and only helps Ronan because she wants revenge on Thanos for his years of torture. In the later movies she even helps the Avengers save the universe from Thanos, while in the comics she tried to kill the survivors of Thanos's Decimation with the Infinity Gauntlet before being stopped.
- invoked The Kree and Skrull Empires effectively swap personalities in relation to the comics for the films. In the comics, while often villains, the Kree are still pretty reasonable, having long peaceful periods along with being willing to work with the good guys against greater cosmic threats (such as Thanos), whereas the comic version of the Skrulls are an almost always Always Chaotic Evil Reptilian Conspiracy (as seen Secret Invasion where they almost take over the Earth). In the MCU, the Skrulls are a deeply tragic and sympathetic Not Evil, Just Misunderstood Woobie Species of War Refugees who openly acknowledge that they've done horrible things in their war with the Kree, but more than anything else just want a chance to live their lives far from Kree oppression. Heck, the MCU Skrulls even from an Odd Friendship of sorts with humanity, helping out S.H.I.E.L.D. in Spider-Man: Far From Home and having a personal connection to Monica Rambeau in Wandavision. In sharp contrast, the MCU version of the Kree are warmongering fascist imperialist assholes with no redeeming traits whatsoever, to the point where their war against the Skrulls is reframed in the films as a Final Solution against a weaker foreign nation who simply refused to be enslaved instead of a Properly Paranoid preemptive strike against their former oppressors as it was in the comics.
- Ultron is a Large Ham Deadpan Snarker who tries his best to be charismatic to emulate Tony his creator. This a complete 180 from the comics where Ultron is a cold, calculating Killer Robot whose human-like emotions only made him more terrifying as he literally represents his "father" Hank Pym’s psychosis. MCU Ultron touts himself as a Well-Intentioned Extremist (which soon falls flat), while comic Ultron really just wants to Kill All Humans.
- Wanda Maximoff gets a good deal of this. In the comics she’s a genuinely compassionate woman who was in her own words "held captive" by her father Magneto and Forced into Evil. She happily heel turned and joined the Avengers at first opportunity when free of her his influence. In Avengers: Age of Ultron and later MCU titles however Wanda is a much more cynical and dark character who will work for Baron Von Strucker and Ultron for sake of revenge and self preservation, Wanda does becomes more heroic like in the comics but she keeps her bitter and self-orientated personality up until Wandavision where it’s Beneath the Mask of her false cheerful personality. Granted Wanda does make poor and destructive decisions in comics as well see House of M but in even then it’s mostly spurred on by the antagonism of others (e.g Magneto nearly killing Pietro in front of her) whilst MCU Wanda will willingly perform evil actions like Mind Rape completely of her own accord.
- Carol Danvers gets quite a lot of this. In the comics (especially the earlier ones), Carol is an extremely passionate person to point of being Hot-Blooded and generally very outgoing having friends on both the Avengers and X-Men as well as being quippy as Spider-Man (whom she’s very close with). MCU Carol is a much more introverted, stoic and irritable person, being a Deadpan Snarker Troll even among her allies, although there’s some In-Universe justification since she believes she's a Kree soldier for most of her solo movie and has spent a lot of time away from other humans in Avengers: Endgamenote in actuality both the filmmakers and her actress Brie Larson hadn't fully figured out Danvers' personality at the time due to shooting her Endgame scenes prior to Captain Marvel. Carol's friendlier and more easygoing attitude as seen in both What If...? and The Stinger of Shang-Chi is closer to how she usually is in the comics.
- Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp does this to multiple characters:
- Hank Pym isn't a mentally unbalanced, manically depressed and eventually psychotic Fallen Hero like he is in the comics, he's just a Cool Old Guy whose a bit grouchy and sarcastic but has a Hidden Heart of Gold when it comes to his wife and daughter. Comic Hank also had inferiority complex towards his fellow heroes while movie Hank thinks little of the Avengers. Hank also didn't create Ultron in this version.
- Scott Lang is more of a Anti-Hero in the comics, while in the movie Scott is one of the nicest guys in the entire cast despite being an ex-con. Comic Scott was a thief for the thrill of it, but movie Scott was giving back the money his company swindled from its customers. Comic Scott can also be deadly serious especially when it comes to his daughter Cassie, whilst movie Scott is near constantly cheerful and the only time he's distraught is when half the universe is gone along with whenever his daughter's life is on the line.
- Hope Van Dyne isn't the murderous, traitorous villainess Red Queen from the comics, being quite heroic, stoic but also compassionate. This largely due to being a Composite Character of herself and her mother Janet, with the only thing carried over from her original depiction being her name.
- William Foster in the comics started off as a biochemist who eventually joined Hank Pym as the boisterous crimefighter "Goliath" and was killed by a Evil Knock Off of Thor in Civil War for his troubles. In the MCU Foster is a Retired Badass who enjoys being a laid back biochemist, though he does put himself at risk when he decides to help Ava Star fix her Intangibility.
- Janet Van Dyne is a flirty and driven Action Girl in the comics, in the MCU she's a motherly Cool Old Lady who plays a much more supportive role in the action compared to her daughter.
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania does this to Kang the Conqueror to a significant degree. In the comics Kang though possessing some Noble Demon qualities example he never just uses Time Travel to just wipe out the Avengers, for the sake of giving them a fighting chance and himself more fun is still very much a conceited jerkass Multiversal Conqueror who has many misogynistic and “cruel for cruelty’s sake” moments — including holding a futuristic gun up to the pregnant belly of Jessica Jones. Much like Thanos and Doctor Doom comic Kang can also be disgustingly egotistical and petty. In the film however Kang is instead a sorrowful I Did What I Had to Do antagonist who takes no real satisfaction or pride in his butchering and even sheds many Tender Tears over his deeds. Like in the comics, he’s still very threatening here as well as arrogant and cruel at times but definitely no where near as malevolent as he is on the page. As revealed by The Stinger though this is just one version of Kang, the other variants are more traditionally diabolical.
- Captain America: Civil War:
- Helmut Zemo in the comics was, originally, a Neo-Nazi after having been brought up as one by his father, something left out of the film. The character had gone through Character Development in the 2000s to erase this aspect of his character so he could undergo a Heel–Face Turn (which unfortunately didn't last), which is where the film seems to draw on, while lacking the non-Nazi-related fascist views he'd develop after returning to villainy. Zemo in the comics also has a penchant for forming teams of superhumans to follow his whims, but in the film he euthanizes the sleeping Winter Soldiers and makes it clear he detests the idea of having more superhumans in the world. In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Zemo willingly aids Sam and Bucky as a Token Evil Teammate, something his comic counterpart would never even entertain.
- In the Civil War comics, Black Panther was against registration and sided with Captain America on the issue. In the film, because the triggering event of the Accords is the deaths of Wakandaian emissaries and furthered by Cap helping Bucky Barnes, who T'Challa thought killed his father (when it really was the aforementioned Zemo), T'Challa is for registration and assists Iron Man. He's also more hotheaded and impulsive than his comic counterpart (who is usually The Stoic), though he shows signs of moving closer to his classic characterization by the end of the movie.
- In Doctor Strange:
- The titular sorcerer himself is less stoical than he is in the comic, being willingly to make jokes and be a bit silly unlike the comics where Strange only gets exasperated at the antics of the more lighthearted Marvel heroes such as Spider-Man or even Iron Man. He’s also not above insulting others, calling Tony a douche when they first meet in contrast to the comics where Strange is one to tell other heroes to mind their language.
- Wong, due to getting a Adaptational Badass from Strang's Bumbling Sidekick into his Drill Sergeant Nasty Mentor Archetype isn't at all subservient to Strange, being very quick to lecture him and call him on out when the good doctor messes up. Unlike the comics, Wong is also not above indulging in some un-monk like worldly material and practices such as an iPod, take-out food and, as seen in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, karaoke.
- Baron Mordo is a card carrying Evil Sorcerer and all around Jerkass in the comics. In the film he’s more noble and polite before becoming disillusioned with magic and turning into a Fallen Hero. Also in the film he has Undying Loyalty to the Ancient One, only turning against her teachings upon learning she channeled power from the Dark Dimension. Unlike the comics where Mordo turned against the Ancient One out of purely selfish reasons.
- Black Panther:
- Princess Shuri is a Gadgeteer Genius and helps design and implement much of the new technology in Wakanda, effectively making her Black Panther's Q. This is a complete 180 from her comic counterpart, who is very spiritual and heavily tied to the mystical aspect of Wakanda. In fact, the comic version of Shuri is probably even more spiritually-inclined than her brother.
- T'Challa himself continues this into his own movie. While he is more reserved and serious compared to his fellow superheroes, T'Challa is more emotionally open and forthright in his opinions than his comic counterpart who was very much The Stoic. He is also significantly less smug and condescending than in the comics.
- Spider-Man in the comics is usually more of a lone wolf-spider, not to say he doesn't work well in a team he just tends to be more focused on his own struggles, Spidey even refused to join The Avengers when Iron Man first offered in the comics. In his MCU depiction he's more of a Tag Along Kid who still manages to be badass but also actively wants to be part of the Avengers, though in later movies he does become more independent like his comic version.
- Aunt May was a typical doddering and oblivious old woman in the early comics before writers made a Cool Old Lady later on although she’s usually a passive character. In the MCU thanks to a Age Lift Aunt May is a assertive and spirited maternal figure who’s not afraid to F-Bomb in shock when she discovers her nephew is a superhero something that her soft spoken comic counterpart would never do. MCU May also shows support Peter’s superhero life in Spider-Man: Far From Home whereas in the comics she’s fearful of him getting hurt or outright against it like in Ultimate Spider-Man.
- Mary Jane Watson is a cheerful, compassionate, outgoing spitfire in the comics who was the quite Manic Pixie Dream Girl in the early comics. In the MCU MJ is a moody and antisocial Deadpan Snarker who is secretly in love with Peter but is more a Shrinking Violet about it unlike comic MJ who was flirtatious with Peter from the start. This all due to making MJ a Composite Character between her 616 self and Ultimate Spider-Man Gwen Stacy who is moody and sarcastic like MCU MJ. There’s also some Pragmatic Adaptation involved, since MCU MJ's attitude is more realistic to how someone with a troubled homelife might behave.
- Liz Toomes doesn't have any of her Alpha Bitch qualities from the comics, being attracted to Peter right away instead of gradually like in the comics. She’s also very intelligent in the MCU being academic whilst in the comics she was mostly a Dumb Blonde until much later when she became the CEO of Oscorp.
- Flash Thompson is a Nerdy Bully instead of a Jerk Jock with a good dose of Rich Bitch as well. He does still idolise Spider-Man but he doesn’t warm to Peter and become his friend like in the comics.
- Betty Brant is a sweet secretary in the comics, in the MCU she’s a Kent Brockman News anchor. Comic Ned Leeds was The Generic Guy before being brainwashed into being the Hobgoblin and then died twice. In the MCU, he’s Peter's hilarious and loyal best friend and Mission Control.
- Two of Spidey’s villains, the Vulture and Mysterio, significantly differ from the comic in separate ways. Comic Vulture is a greedy and despicable old man who has very few redeeming qualities, while the MCU Vulture is a Anti-Villain whose motivation is to support his family (albeit through the trafficking of alien weapons), and who eventually gains a hefty amount of Villain Respect for the young Spidey. Meanwhile, Comic Mysterio is a Noble Demon who is willing to work with Spider-Man on occasion and is even fairly chummy with Spidey after getting initially defeated by him, but the MCU Mysterio (following The Reveal of him being Evil All Along) is an entitled douchenozzle who shows signs of being Ax-Crazy through him being perfectly willing to kill his own allies and employees as well as innocent teenagers.
- Thanos in the comics was a nihilist in love with the Anthropomorphic Personification of Death. In the MCU, he's a Well-Intentioned Extremist who's trying to prevent an Overpopulation Crisis and wars over resources. Avengers: Endgame, however, is comparatively Truer to the Text with Thanos's nihilistic qualities being more apparent, as the past iteration of the charactger changes his overpopulation plan to kill everyone in the "ungrateful universe" and start all over again. His sadistic side from the comics is also more apparent, seen by the Slasher Smile he gets while trying to kill Thor with his weapon and when donning the Infinity Gauntlet once more.
- Black Widow:
- Red Guardian has all the noble qualities of his comic version with almost none of the bad ones, such as being a Renegade Russian and Evil Counterpart to Captain America who tries to take over the USA and kill the Avengers. In the film, he is a Plucky Comic Relief Boisterous Bruiser who defects from the Soviet Armed Forces and helps his surrogate daughter Natasha save the world.
- Melina Vostokoff gets a lot to this to extent of being In Name Only to her comic counterpart. In comics she was a two dimensional villain who envied Natasha’s status as The Ace Black Widow and tried to kill Nat to become her successor. In the film, Melina due to being a Composite Character of Natasha and herself, already went through the Red Room five times and is a Retired Badass and eventually The Atoner. She's also certainly not a mother figure to Nat in the comics, due to a Age Lift.
- Yelena Belova is a Heel–Face Revolving Door in the comics, with her heroic and Pet the Dog moments often belied by her tendency to join villainous groups such as AIM. Her bond with Natasha in the film is much more personal to the extent that they are surrogate sisters, whereas in the comics Yelena only cares about Natasha due to her being a fellow Black Widow.
- The biggest example of this is Taskmaster, who is a savvy Deadpan Snarker in the comics and other media. In the film, Taskmaster is an unsettling Silent Antagonist due to being the Brainwashed and Crazy puppet of her father Big Bad General Dreykov.
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings does this to multiple characters; the titular hero's personality for example is nothing like the Hot-Blooded Bruce Lee Clone he was when he first appeared in the comics, being a "chillaxed" Nice Guy more akin to his personality in the later comics. The standout however is the Mandarin aka Xu Wenwu, who in addition to being a Composite Character of Fu Manchu/Zheng Zu (comic Shang-Chi's father) is far more compassionate and sympathetic compared to his comic counterpart. Rather than being a Card-Carrying Villain and Smug Snake who cares little for his family, he's a Tragic Villain Family Man, whose most villainous actions in the film are born out of grief for his late wife. He even pulls a Heroic Sacrifice to save his son by the end.
- Eternals:
