Introduction
Marvel Studios introduced some of the strongest characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe during 2023, completely changing the power rankings of the ever-growing superhero franchise. 2023 was an incredibly polarizing year for the MCU, as Marvel Studios delivered both celebrated projects such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Loki season 2, as well as less well-received projects including Secret Invasion, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels. While not every recent MCU installment has achieved huge success, 2023 was still a huge year for Marvel Studios, as several new and supremely powerful heroes were introduced to the MCU who will change the landscape of the franchise forever.
Captain Marvel using her power to fly in the MCU
During 2023, five new heroes debuted who have the potential to change the power dynamics of the MCU for good. Powerful heroes such as Thor, Doctor Strange, and Captain Marvel had already embarked on adventures in the MCU, but their power seems to pale in comparison to some of the franchise's newer superheroes. Secret Invasion, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Loki season 2, and The Marvels have all added characters with incredible strength to the MCU's roster, setting up the remainder of the Multiverse Saga to feature a showcase of the franchise's biggest and most cinematic battles, with these new heroes perhaps joining the fight against Kang the Conqueror.
Binary
In Marvel Comics, Carol Danvers' Captain Marvel sees a huge power upgrade when she becomes the superhero Binary, a being who can tap into the unprecedented power of a White Hole. While Brie Larson's Carol Danvers hasn't undergone this transformation in the MCU, an alternate version of Binary debuted in the post-credits scene of The Marvels, depicted as Lashana Lynch's Maria Rambeau from a universe inhabited by the X-Men. Binary is perhaps the strongest evolution for Carol Danvers' Captain Marvel, so introducing the hero in Phase 5 hints at an epic cosmic battle across realities in the MCU's future, and perhaps teases an upcoming upgrade for Brie Larson's superhero herself.
Phyla as a new member of the Guardians of the Galaxy in Vol. 3
Lashana Lynch debuted as Maria Rambeau in 2019's Captain Marvel, but Rambeau was revealed to have passed away during the events of 2021's WandaVision. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduced Earth-838's Maria Rambeau, a.k.a. Captain Marvel, who was killed by the Scarlet Witch, so The Marvels marked the third version of Rambeau portrayed by Lynch.
Phyla, G'iah, and Adam Warlock
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 marked James Gunn's final project with Marvel Studios before assuming the role of co-CEO of DC Studios and the leader of the new DC Universe. Despite the Guardians of the Galaxy's future being unclear after Vol. 3, Gunn introduced some incredibly powerful new heroes to the franchise who could lead the charge in future adventures, including Kai Zen's Phyla. An experiment of the High Evolutionary, Phyla has superhuman physiology, stamina, and intelligence, while also being able to manipulate cosmic energy. Adapted from Marvel Comics' Phyla-Vell, the new Guardians of the Galaxy member must have a bright future in the MCU.
G'iah (Emilia Clarke) using her Super Skrull abilities in Secret Invasion's finale
Following its release, Secret Invasion on Disney+ became one of the MCU's lowest-rated projects, yet despite performing disappointingly, Secret Invasion introduced a powerful new hero. Emilia Clarke's Skrull G'iah became enhanced with the Harvest in Secret Invasion's finale, a collection of the DNA of those who took part in the Battle of Earth. This transformed G'iah into an adaptation of Marvel Comics' Super Skrull, a notable Fantastic Four villain, yet Secret Invasion's finale left her future unclear after striking a tentative deal with Sonya Falsworth. Now harboring the powers of characters such as Captain Marvel, the Hulk, and the Mad Titan Thanos, G'iah is perhaps the MCU's strongest new hero.
Adam Warlock is one of Marvel Comics' most formidable superheroes, and this translated perfectly into the child-like version of Adam portrayed by Will Poulter in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Woken up from his birthing pod too soon, Adam Warlock doesn't yet know his own strength in the MCU, yet his Sovereign physiology grants him some remarkable abilities, including cosmic energy manipulation, nigh-immortality, and superhuman strength. Adam Warlock's future past Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is unclear, but the new cosmic god-like hero deserves to be brought back to show off more of his strength and develop as a fully-rounded hero.
Adam Warlock in the Sovereign ship in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
