Random Saddest Deaths In MCU (17 items)

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  (#1) Iron Man

  • Iron Man: Armored Adventures, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, The Super Hero Squad Show, The Incredible Hulk, Ultimate Avengers, Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, Iron Man 3, Iron Man, The Avengers: Age of Ultron, The Avengers, Iron Man 2, Planet Hulk, The Invincible Iron Man, Ultimate Avengers 2, Marvel Universe

  Although dedicated MCU fans expected Iron Man's end in Avengers: Endgame, it didn't make the actual moment any easier to watch. The action-packed final fight against a past version of Thanos was full of emotion, but the most terrifying moment occurred when Thanos prepared to complete the Snap again, undoing all the Avengers’ hard work. Knowing that using the gauntlet would finish him, Iron Man transferred the Infinity Stones to his own hand using nanotech technology. Before wiping out Thanos’ army with a Snap of his own, Tony Stark uttered his final words: “I am Iron Man.”  

  As the first member of the Avengers and the leader of the team, Iron Man's passing marked the end of an era. Without him, the Avengers will never be the same again. Not only that, but his sarcastic and arrogant personality will always be a missing piece in future MCU movies. 

  What made this loss particularly difficult, however, was the people he left behind. Peter Parker was the first to find him and immediately burst into tears when he realized the condition of his beloved mentor and father figure. Peter was followed by Pepper Potts, who assured Tony that everyone would be okay. Lastly, Tony left behind his young daughter, whom he adored and cared about more than anyone in the world. Even with all those many sacrifices, Tony still decided to be a hero and to protect the world. It was an end fitting of a superhero of Iron Man's caliber, but one that tugged at the heartstrings and drew more than a few tears.
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  (#2) Yondu

  • Guardians of the Galaxy

  As the adoptive father to Peter Quill, Yondu Undonta was nothing to write home about. In the first film, Yondu was essentially a villain. He hated Quill for taking the Orb and only agreed to help him defeat Ronan the Accuser because he thought he would receive the Infinity Stone in the end. He showed, however, that he truly cared about Quill when Peter escaped with the Infinity Stone and Yondu decided not to get revenge on his adoptive son. 

  Yondu's position as a caring if harsh dad expanded in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 when he revealed to Quill that he saved him from Ego as a child by refusing to return him to his self-important father. Instead, Yondu took Quill in and tried to give him some sort of life, however messed up it may have been. Yondu shows that he truly cares about Quill, but it's not long after that Quill's adoptive father makes the ultimate sacrifice. 

  While fighting Ego, the planet explodes before Quill can escape and Yondu swoops in to save his son. They fly off into space and Yondu tells Quill how lucky he is to be his father and apologizes that he wasn't the best dad in the world. As the two enter space and lose oxygen, Yondu gives Quill his spacesuit and ensures that he survives. Soon after mending his relationship with his father, Quill has to watch Yondu perish. 

  While the moment redeems Yondu as a character, it also brought many tears to the eyes of dedicated Marvel fans. All Quill wanted was a father, and as soon as he finds out that he had one all long, he loses both his adopted dad and his biological dad forever.
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  (#3) Black Widow

  • Ultimate Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Avengers, Ultimate Avengers 2, Iron Man 2, The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Marvel Universe

  Black Widow's end came as a true surprise in Avengers: Endgame. While fans expected popular characters like Iron Man and Captain America to make a sacrifice for the greater good, no one considered that Natasha Romanoff might end her time as a member of the Avengers. However, when she and Clint Barton were forced to make a sacrifice on Vormir to obtain the Soul Stone and undo the effects of the Snap, Black Widow refused to let her best friend fall to his doom. Although Clint tried to sacrifice himself in her place, Natasha saved him before he could fall and forced him to let go of her hand, willingly throwing herself off the cliff in his place. 

  Black Widow was the original example of a strong female character in the MCU. Over the course every subsequent MCU installment after her initial appearance, the Avengers became more than just a job to her. She was willing to sacrifice herself to bring millions of people back to life, knowing that without the Soul Stone, the Avengers would fail. Not only that, she also made sure that Clint could return to his family. Their close relationship was a bright spot in the dark world of the MCU, and the fact that Clint was the one who had to watch her fall made her passing all the more heartbreaking.
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  (#4) Gamora

  • Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel Universe

  While many deaths in Avengers: Infinity War were reversed, Gamora's was absolutely permanent. Although she spent a large chunk of her life resisting her adoptive father, Thanos, he found her in the end and dragged her along on his mission to find the Infinity Stones. 

  Her passing, however, was so much more than just a sacrifice by an evil villain. After learning that the Soul Stone required the life of someone Thanos loved, Gamora thought she had won. She taunted her father, telling him that there was no one he loved. Unfortunately, he was wrong. Despite his hatred and evil intentions, Thanos truly loved Gamora. However, she only found out about his true affections for her when he threw her off a cliff to complete his ultimate mission. 

  The combination of emotion and brutality in that moment made our stomachs turn. Not only did a father take the life of his own daughter, a beloved character in the MCU, the decision also pushed Thanos closer to his overall goal while fans could only sit and watch in horror.
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  (#5) Loki

  • Thor: The Dark World, Thor, The Avengers, Thor: Tales of Asgard, Hulk Vs, Marvel Universe

  Loki has perished more than once over the course of his appearances in the MCU. Most notably, the pseudo-villain faked his own demise in a tear-inducing moment in Thor: The Dark World. That was part of Loki's appeal. Although he acted as the villain on more than one occasion, he also had many redeeming qualities. You never knew if he was going to fight for the good guys or the bad guys, which made his actual passing all the more heartbreaking. 

  When Thanos boarded Thor's Asgardian ship to take the Infinity Stone from the Tesseract, Loki used his mischievous ways to try and outsmart the villain. He offered himself to Thanos as a guide on Earth that would help him find the remaining Infinity Stones. Viewers were almost sure that Loki would turn to evil once again in order to save his own skin, as was his pattern in the past. However, he surprised everyone by trying to take out Thanos, only to be caught before he could strike and choked out. 

  In the end, Loki proved where his true loyalties lay. He showed Thor that he loved and cared about him and hadn't forgotten the legacy of their father. Beyond that, Loki was simply a lovable character. He was relatable in his constant need to be accepted, even if he often looked for belonging in the wrong places. Fans were excited to see what would come next for this dynamic character. His demise left a hole in the MCU and in Thor's heart that will never truly be mended.
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  (#6) Agent Phil Coulson

  • Ultimate Spider-Man, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Thor, Iron Man, Nick Fury, The Avengers, Iron Man 2

  While Phil Coulson often acted as the lovable sidekick to Nick Fury, his demise was one of the most impactful in the entire MCU. While Fury struggled to pull the Avengers together to thwart Loki's plan, a strike on the helicarrier that freed Loki from his prison also resulted in Coulson's end. 

  The moment was particularly devastating as it featured Fury ordering his friend to stay alive until they could get help. However, Coulson's passing also encouraged the Avengers to band together and fight for the greater good. Before that moment, each individual hero couldn't agree on the best way to approach Loki. Different personalities collided and it looked like the Avengers would fail before they even began. 

  After Coulson's passing, the Avengers had something to fight for. They morphed into one team that stopped the Chitauri onslaught. What's more, Coulson recognized his contribution. Although he left Fury behind, he made it clear that he knew the Avengers initiative needed this loss. Unfortunately, he was right.
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  (#7) Heimdall

  • Thor: The Dark World, Thor, Marvel Universe

  Although his passing seemed like a throwaway moment, Heimdall made an impact on Marvel fans. The devoted, all-seeing and all-hearing guardian of the Bifrost Bridge always did the right thing, even if that meant disobeying the order of his king. Knowing that he was too powerful and loyal to be tricked, Loki banished Heimdall from his position while ruling Asgard as Odin. Instead of disappearing, however, Heimdall stayed close by. When Hela went after the kingdom, Heimdall put himself in danger to guide the Asgardians to safety. He helped the citizens of Asgard hide from Hela and eventually escape on Thor's ship. Despite his resounding impact on the kingdom of Asgard, Heimdall passes at the start of Avengers: Infinity War. 

  Heimdall's demise was so impactful because he passes while still trying to do the right thing. Despite being hurt and in pain after Thanos' rampage, he channels his magic one last time and sends the Hulk to Earth to warn the other Avengers of Thanos' impending arrival. He's gutted for his action. Had he only kept quiet, he may have made it off the ship alive. But in typical Heimdall fashion, he put his duty to protect the universe above his own well-being. It's a choice that's perfectly in line with this character, but heartbreaking nonetheless.
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  (#8) Vision

  • The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, Marvel Universe

  An android with a synthetic body made from vibranium brought to life by the Mind Stone, Vision was a sort of hybrid between a robot and a human. However, Vision had a great capacity for care. The longer he lived, the more he developed human characteristics. Over time, he fell in love with Wanda Maximoff, who loved him in return. However, when Thanos arrived on Earth looking for the final Infinity Stone, Vision was in serious danger. Rather than allow Thanos to succeed, Vision begged Wanda to eliminate the Stone, liking taking him out in the process. With tears in her eyes, Wanda agreed. She blew the Stone up, losing yet another person she cared about. 

  However, it wasn't enough. After going through the pain of taking the life of the man she loved, Wanda had to watch as Thanos turned back time and plucked the Stone from Vision's head. The moment was emotionally charged and heartbreaking from beginning to end. What made it most difficult, however, was that Wanda's sacrifice wasn't even worth it. Thanos still prevailed in the end. Her relationship with Vision was still taking off and she had to lose him, gaining nothing in return. It’s a moment that will forever bring tears to the eyes of any dedicated Marvel fan.
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  (#9) Quicksilver

  Although Quicksilver originally fought against the Avengers alongside his sister, Wanda Maximoff, they later realized that the Avengers were fighting for good and chose to join their team. Quicksilver participated in the Battle of Sokovia and tried to keep the city safe while fighting against Ultron. During the fight, Ultron took over the Avengers' Quinjet and turned it on Hawkeye and a young boy he had rescued. Instead of allowing them to perish, Quicksilver threw himself in front of the bullets and saved their lives. 

  As a new member of the team, no one expected much out of Quicksilver. Not long before the fight, the hero had been on the other side. However, he proved that despite his smart remarks and generally laid back personality, he truly cared about other people. His end was devastating for Wanda, who immediately felt the passing of her twin. Her agony at losing her twin brother was heartbreaking, and not one member of the Avengers took the sacrifice for granted. People fall in combat, but Quicksilver's noble action made his end a standout moment that struck a chord with viewers.
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  (#10) Ho Yinsen

  • Iron Man

  Ho Yinsen was a scientist and surgeon who was held captive by the Ten Rings in Afghanistan. When Tony Stark was captured by the organization after being injured in an explosion, Yinsen tended to his medical needs. In order to keep the shrapnel from entering his heart, Yinsen implanted an electromagnetic device in his chest, giving Stark the basics that he needed to build his Iron Man suit. Yinsen helped Stark build his suit of armor that was meant to help both men escape, but his impact was more than just a lab assistant. Yinsen also made Stark aware of the damages his missiles were doing and encouraged him to rectify the situation when he made it back home. 

  Throughout the entire course of their captivity together, Yinsen talked openly about seeing his family again, but his dream never came true. When Stark and Yinsen's escape plan was found out, Yinsen sacrificed himself by going after the guards, giving Stark just enough time to escape. During that moment, Yinsen revealed that his family was gone and that his plan was always to help Stark escape.

  His passing was the first time the egotistical Stark showed true emotion. When he got back to the States, he discontinued Stark Industries weapon production, largely because of Yinsen's impact. Yinsen sacrificed himself, expecting nothing in return, and his decision changed Tony Stark forever.
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  (#11) Odin

  • Thor: The Dark World, Thor, Ultimate Avengers 2, Marvel Universe

  While Loki ruled Asgard using Odin's appearance, he banished his father to New York City. When Thor returned, his first mission was finding his father. When Loki and Thor located him, however, Odin was on a cliff in Norway near the end of his long life. Neither son had seen their father in some time, and it was obvious that his health had deteriorated. He talked of his wife, Frigga, calling to him from beyond the grave and said he must go to her. He bid both his sons goodbye and told him that they must face the fight against Hela alone. 

  For both Thor and Loki, they always had their father to rely on. No matter what mistakes they made, Odin always ensured that things ended okay and that both his children were taken care of. Their obvious fear at facing a new enemy without him makes his passing all the more sad.
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  (#12) Erik Killmonger

  When Killmonger, also known as N'Jadaka and Erik Stevens, arrived in Wakanda for the first time, he was already filled with emotion. T'Chaka took out his father when Killmonger was just a boy, and the loss made Killmonger mean. He dedicated his life to finding his way to Wakanda so he could dethrone his cousin T'Challa and use the kingdom's riches and weapons to cease the oppression of people of African descent all across the world. In his mind, Killmonger was doing the right and noble thing. However, he still wanted to cause loss and destruction across the world in order to liberate his people. 

  During the final fight against T'Challa, Killmonger had a moment to contemplate his end after being pierced with his own spear. He sat beside T'Challa, overlooking the Wakandan kingdom and reflected on his decisions. Making one last statement about his noble mission, Killmonger rejected T'Challa's offer to heal him and pulled the spear from his own chest, choosing death over bondage. 

  Killmonger was an impactful character largely because his vengeful traits came from a desire to free his people from oppression. He truly believed in what he was fighting for until the very end, and he wasn't wrong. While the chaos he wanted to leave in his wake was unforgivable, his mission was still noble. His end felt both fair and unjust at the same time, which made processing his passing all the more difficult.
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  (#13) Howard Stark

  • The Invincible Iron Man, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Captain America: The First Avenger, Marvel Universe

  Although Tony Stark believed his parents perished in a simple car accident, Captain America: Civil War revealed the truth. While pursuing the Winter Soldier, Helmut Zemo manipulated Stark into watching the footage of his parents' end, which revealed that the Winter Soldier ran Stark's parents' car off the road and slayed both Howard and Maria before escaping with the new Super Soldier Serum. 

  The loss of Tony's parents had a resounding impact on him throughout his entire life. He felt guilty about how he left things with his father, and much of his egotistical behavior was simply a front to hide his inner pain. Stark watched the video next to Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes, and his agony was obvious. The truth broke him, and it broke the Avengers. Steve refused to abandon Bucky and Tony refused to forgive him. Howard and Maria's end created a rift between the Avengers that was never fully fixed, making it a defining moment in the MCU.
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  (#14) T'Chaka In 'Captain America: Civil War' 

  Although fans fell in love with the Black Panther, the first appearance of this hero portrayed him as T'Challa, a dedicated son who appeared beside his father T'Chaka, the King of Wakanda. When T'Chaka attended the signing of the Sokovia Accords with his son, an explosion detonated behind him as he gave a speech on Wakanda's new political position in the world. 

  Although fans didn't know T'Chaka well at the time, T'Challa's reaction made the scene truly devastating. He crawled to his father's body and desperately looked for a pulse. When he couldn't find one, the agony of his loss was clearly written on his face. He rocked his father's body as tears openly fell from his eyes. It felt as though a son had truly lost his father, and it reminded everyone watching of the pain that accompanies such a sudden end.
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  (#15) Dr. Erskine In 'Captain America: The First Avenger' 

  Dr. Abraham Erskine created the original Super Soldier Serum that transformed Steve Rogers into Captain America. However, he never got to see the positive results of his invention. After Rogers emerged from the procedure, Erskine and his associates were attacked by one of the Red Skull's assassins who detonated a bomb in the lab facility, took the last of the Super Soldier Serum, and shot Erskine in the chest. In his final moments, the doctor reminded Captain America to be true to who he was, as that was the most important element that would make the serum successful.

  Erskine was a man of integrity. Throughout the movie, he made it clear that he didn't care how big, strong, or fast any of the soldiers were. Instead, he cared about their heart and who they were on the inside. He understood the importance of giving his incredible power to a noble man, which is precisely why he chose Steve. Most importantly, he acted as a sort of mentor to Steve. While everyone around Steve told him he wasn't good enough, Erskine made it clear that he had a heart others should envy. His death came seconds after the success of his lifelong work and left Steve feeling abandoned by someone who was supposed to help him through the difficult transition process.
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  (#16) Ancient One

  • Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme, Marvel Universe

  In Doctor Strange, the Ancient One was the leader of the Masters of the Mystic Arts. She protected the Earth and passed her power along to others, including Doctor Strange. During a final fight with Kaecilius, however, the Ancient One was mortally wounded. While she was Doctor Strange's mentor and an important and impactful figure in the study of the Mystic Arts, what made her end so heartbreaking was her calm acceptance.

  Although she was undergoing surgery to save her life, the Ancient One's astral form projected onto the balcony to have a final discussion with Strange. She gave Strange the tools he needed to be successful, showed a belief in him that she hadn't yet expressed, and made it clear that he had the capacity to be great, if only he could learn that everything doesn't revolve around him. Then, she disappeared, calmly and without any fanfare. It was a simple but impactful demise, which is precisely what made it so sad.

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