- POWERFUL: THE HULK
Everybody wants a Hulk on their side. Tony Stark said it himself: “We have a Hulk.”
Aside from the obvious features that make Bruce Banner one of the most powerful allies to have on your team, there was that time in the Marvel Super Heroes game where Thanos pretty much begged the Hulk to kill him. The game was based on the Infinity Gauntlet arc, and given how many retcons most long-standing comics endure, there’s really no wonder why the game had a bunch of different ways to win, and one of those options was to simply deny Thanos death and run off to have a honeymoon with Betty Ross if you play as the Hulk.
Of course, the game also lets Thanos live out his days as a farmer or Psylocke win the day, and neither of those is about to happen in the upcoming film… right? At any rate, if the Hulk is repressing Banner as is indicated in the Thor: Ragnarok trailers, giving “Mr. Hyde” more control over his faculties, he’s bound to be even a larger force with which to reckon.
- POWERFUL: THOR
Aside from the events of Thor: Ragnarok leading up to the Infinity War, it would make sense to consider Thor as one of the heavy hitters here. He’s got god-like powers and he’s associated with the gauntlet itself if for no other reason than the fact that the right-handed gauntlet was seen in Odin’s trophy room.
Thanos is in possession of the left, so where does that leave a thunder god? In a gauntlet custody battle where the pair is only connected for the holidays? Not quite, but Thor will still likely have a stronger role than most heroes, at least during the first film.
The question is, will he remain as powerful without all the hair? Only time will tell. From footage screened at SDCC, we do know that Thor will meet up with the Guardians of the Galaxy in Infinity War, so that will help set the stage for the war.
- WORTHLESS: SPIDER-MAN
If the MCU is pointing in the Infinity Gauntlet direction as they have hinted, Spider-Man is just another face within the battle. Maybe he’ll have a quip or two to deliver but otherwise he’s a non-essential character in the fight against Thanos.
He’s one of the many to die in the comics, when Thanos rises to power during the saga, but have no fear: he is brought back with everyone else, as Marvel pretty much had to do if it didn’t want to start from scratch all over again.
That said, if the Avengers & the Infinity Gauntlet story arc is used instead, Spidey could be considered one of the the most powerful heroes in the cast. While movie makers have been known to muddle different retcons and arcs together to make weird, blended Marvel media, it’s more likely that the first scenario will occur in Infinity War.
- POWERFUL: CAPTAIN AMERICA
If Infinity War does center around the comics, Steve may be the last man standing as he was during the Infinity Gauntlet arc. While his powers may not seem to be all that cosmic, his history in the comic has demonstrated that he may indeed be the one with the power to stand against Thanos along with the heroes who defeat him, many of whom, as we know, have yet to be introduced in the MCU. Could he be the biggest red herring in the franchise right now?
Since the cinematic Powers That Be often replace a role with another just to keep the cast list down, it’s fully possible that Cap, Nebula, and Doctor Strange could be the trio who manage to get Thanos under control. If readers remember, Thanos wants to be reigned in, and that’s really all the hope the universe has. Of course, they could also take the story into an entirely different direction, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
- POWERFUL: DOCTOR STRANGE
Not only is Doctor Strange arguably one of the most powerful characters appearing in the Infinity War – he is also the MCU’s major magic user. Without the inclusion of key magical power players from the comics that may or may not arrive during the second film, he may end up being used as the sorcerer who stands toe to toe with Thanos.
The Infinity Gauntlet saga is prominently featured in the Doctor Strange comics and Strange himself was protector of the Soul Gem. He’s also the sworn protector of the planet against all mystical and magical threats, which includes the Infinity Gauntlet.
If Adam Warlock, a sorcerer who is instrumental in the fight against Thanos in the comics, is completely absent from the films, it’s likely that Doctor Strange will fill in the role. It won’t be the first or last time a character has subbed in for the sake of expediency and cost. If that’s the case, then Strange could potentially be the most powerful among the heroes.
So who are you betting on to be the most important players in Avengers: Infinity War? Let us know in the comments!