15 Marvel Characters You Never Knew Were Introverts

These days, Marvel is completely dominating the movie business, with blockbuster after blockbuster being released. From the X-Men to The Avengers and even Deadpool, Marvel Comic books have proven to be quite profitable and popular when translated to the big screen. Of course, these movies would be nothing if not for the strong and interesting characters portrayed in them, and nowadays there’s almost too many superheroes to keep track of. Even though superheroes generally follow the same basic narrative and formula, they can be drastically different in terms of personality and behavior.

Some heroes are outspoken, charismatic, and seem to be friends with everyone. But there are also heroes who are quiet, brooding, and solitary in nature. These introverted heroes are often the most interesting, and this is for many reasons. When heroes don’t speak much and seem to have a chip on their shoulder, it adds to the mystery of the character, and it makes the audience want to find out more about them. In addition, introverts can relate to these characters much more than the “classic” heroes, such as Captain America and Iron Man. Of course, nobody is 100% introverted, and Marvel heroes are no exception – most of them have a mixture of introverted and extroverted qualities. So, without further ado, here are 15 Marvel characters who you never knew were introverted…

Nightcrawler

Nightcrawler was a brilliant character in X-2, the second X-Men movie in the series, which was actually quite some time ago now. Most people loved Alan Cumming’s portrayal of the character, and he was an amazing presence on the big screen. The character is very much an outsider – having lived a dark past before meeting up with the X-Men and deciding to fight for the forces of good. This character has always been alone, and in the film it takes some time before he can get used to the concept of having friends.

Nightcrawler is probably one of the most clear cut introverts in the entire Marvel universe. He is clearly not an outgoing person – although he does show a little bit of humor from time to time. He has the ability to teleport, which means that he often works alone – acting as a forward scout and an infiltrator without any team mates by his side. In the movie, he doesn’t really talk to anyone, and only Storm has any success in getting him to open up emotionally.

Wolverine

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Up until his apparent death in Logan, Wolverine was probably the biggest character in all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He was the main character in countless X-Men movies –  and yet although he’s often leading groups of mutants and barking orders, he doesn’t seem very comfortable in the role. Like Nightcrawler, Wolverine lived a dark and lonely life before meeting up with the X-Men, and he has a tendency to create walls between himself and his friends.

Wolverine is definitely an introvert, and there are so many examples in his behavior that point to this. For one thing, Wolverine seems to have a general dislike for almost everyone he meets. Although he’s sometimes loud-mouthed, he’s not outgoing, and doesn’t like showing off or being the center of attention. Just ask yourself, where is Wolverine most at home? He actually seemed most settled when he was living a simple life, working as a lumberjack in the woods and living in a secluded log cabin. This tells you all you need to know about this character.

Groot

Groot is probably one of the most beloved characters from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, and he’s a creature of few words. In fact, he only really ever uses one phrase – “I am Groot.” Despite his communication barrier, he is by no means a simple-minded creature. He is often shown to be thoughtful, sincere, and compassionate towards others. Not much is revealed about his past in the movies, but it’s clear that he has lived an interesting life.

Based on Groot’s behavior, we can safely say that he’s probably more of an introvert. He seems to be quietly observing other people’s actions and behavior, rather than taking a more active role in the group’s discussions. Also, before he met up with his fellow guardians, he was only friends with Rocket Raccoon, and no one else. Having only one or two close friends is a huge sign of being an introvert. However, it’s interesting to note that when Groot becomes young, he becomes slightly more extroverted.

Rogue

Going way back in time to the first ever X-Men movie, we got our first taste of the legendary mutant, Rogue. Right away, it was obvious that this girl was an outsider, a loner, and someone who didn’t feel accepted by society. The only person she seemed to bond with at the beginning of the film was Wolverine, who she related to because she knew he was a mutant. She’s a very powerful mutant, and a very interesting character in general.

Rogue is definitely an example of an introvert in a Marvel movie. She’s not very outgoing, she seems to be only willing to open up emotionally to a select few people, and she’s not really the type to lead a group of X-Men anytime soon. Because of her powers, she seems destined to be alone, although it probably has a lot to do with her personality as well. Throughout the film, she is constantly shown as someone who is trying to run away and be alone.

Psylocke

We haven’t really witnessed the full “Psylocke experience” yet within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, although she did make a disappointingly brief appearance in X-Men: Apocalypse. Fans of the comic books love this character, and she’s definitely an interesting creation. She has telekinetic abilities, as well as exceptional ability in martial arts and bladed combat. Her signature move is a “psychic knife,” which she can use to stun and injure her enemies.

Psylocke has always been a character who seems to prefer to work alone, which is a strong trait of an introvert. She has a pretty intense past, and she is actually the fusion of two different women within one body. Although she sometimes works alongside the X-Men, her real journey is a deeply personal one, and one that she must go through alone. She often works with Wolverine – a fellow introvert. Because we haven’t seen too much of Psylocke in the movies yet, it’s hard to get a sense of what her personality will be like. But fans know that in the comic books, she’s portrayed as an introvert.

Winter Soldier

The Winter Soldier, AKA Bucky Barnes, should be a familiar face to all those fans of Captain America out there, and this character played a major role in the second Captain America movie – the film was even named after him. An undeniably tragic figure, this good guy gone bad has some serious abilities and powers up his sleeve, and in the end poses a real challenge for Captain America to deal with. In the later films, he becomes a force for good once his HYDRA brainwashing is finally cured.

The Winter Soldier is another example of an introvert in the MCU, and it’s pretty clear to see why. He is not an outgoing leader, and for many years he worked as a one man assassination team. Working with a group, and having friends in general is not something he is used to. He is also a man of few words, and it’s a very long time into his first movie that he even speaks a single word. It’s unclear if Bucky Barnes was as introverted before he was brainwashed, or whether his personality was permanently altered as a result.

Vision

Vision is definitely one of the most interesting characters in all of the MCU, and he is actually a synthetic human – or an Android. He was created to be the ultimate form for Ultron, but his body was stolen by the Avengers, and Tony Stark uploaded his own Artificial Intelligence, J.A.R.V.I.S. into the body. When the android awoke, it was clear that he was going to be part of the Avengers team. He has some incredible abilities, fueled by the famous Mind Stone.

Although Vision can be quite outspoken at times, he’s perhaps one of the most clear cut introverts within the MCU. Introverts often feel as though they are constantly on the outside of society, looking in. And Vision is perhaps one of the biggest outsiders in the movies, as he constantly struggles to understand humans and their bizarre social rituals and mannerisms. I’m sure every introvert has felt the same way at times – that humans are a strange species that they’ll never understand fully.

Punisher

The Punisher is another Marvel hero who has appeared both on the big and small screens over the years. The movie was pretty forgettable, but the Punisher is really beginning to shine in a new Netflix series that is taking fans by storm. The Punisher is an extremely dark and unique character, and he is distinct from other more bright, light-hearted heroes. This character only uses guns and other weapons, and has no special abilities of his own. But time and time again, The Punisher has shown that he only needs an ample supply of firepower to take down even the most powerful foes.

He’s another clear-cut example of an introvert in the MCU, and is famously a man of few words. He lets his guns do the talking. He doesn’t really like spending time with people, and is very bitter about society, and while this isn’t a trait that all introverts share, his distaste for social interaction is something that introverts can (at least partly) relate to. The Punisher almost always works alone, and there’s very few people he cares about deeply. His family is dead, so there’s no one really left for him to love.

Nebula

Nebula is another character that fans of Guardians of the Galaxy will no doubt recognize. In the first movie, she is definitely an antagonistic character, pursuing the guardians relentlessly in order to take them out. She ultimately fails, which makes her even more enraged. As the sister of Gamora, she is very competitive with her sibling, and it’s only in the second movie that she learns to put her hatred aside and forgive her sister. She then pursues a revenge mission against Thanos, and later even becomes a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy herself.

To say that Nebula is a complicated character would be a huge understatement, but one thing that is very clear is that she is definitely an introvert. She is someone who is used to being alone, and doesn’t find it natural to be surrounded by friends. She is also someone who keeps her feelings bottled up inside of her, and fails to really communicate her emotions. This is something that tons of introverts struggle with, and it really could have helped Nebula if she had learned to do it sooner.

Wong 

Wong is another character that people might recognize, and although he’s not a major character by any stretch of the imagination, he is in fact someone of great importance to the story of Dr. Strange, and a character that a lot of fans really enjoyed. He starts out as the typical moody librarian, who tries to be strict with Dr. Strange as he learns more about the magical arts. Slowly but surely, however, Wong softens up and becomes a friend to Dr. Strange and a valuable ally.

Because of Wong’s dedication to literature and reading, it would seem to us that he is in fact an introvert. If he wasn’t an introvert, then he probably wouldn’t have taken the job of librarian willingly. This job is pretty much an introvert’s dream – you get to be alone most of the time, and your surroundings are nice and quiet. Wong also shows some awkwardness when interacting with Dr. Strange, and it doesn’t seem like making friends is his strong suit – another clear trait of an introvert.

Kaecilius 

Kaecilius is another familiar face from the first Dr. Strange movie, and he’s the first villain in this article. We never really learn too much about Kaecilius – only that he was once a student of magic who turned to the dark arts. Although he was disillusioned and ultimately chose the wrong path, he is shown to be resourceful, strong, and very clever. It takes almost all of Dr. Strange’s energy to eventually bring him down.

Although Kaecilius is a leader who organizes his own faction of followers, he is never shown to be particularly outgoing or charismatic. He is someone who doesn’t lead with rousing speeches or elaborate shows of talent, but one who simply gets his head down and leads by example. He knows what he wants, and he wants to do whatever it takes to get it. Throughout the entire film, he is rarely shown to be very emotional, speaking only a few words here and there. This makes him a great example of an introvert in a Marvel movie.

Silver Surfer

The Silver Surfer is definitely one of the most interesting characters in the MCU, but one that has been criminally underrepresented so far. Perhaps a better word would be misrepresented, as the character could have been so much better if portrayed in a different way – or in a different movie altogether. We all know that the Fantastic Four movies were never as good as some of the other Marvel movies in existence, and the Silver Surfer had the misfortune to find himself in one.

The Silver Surfer might just be one of the most lonely, solitary characters in the entire Marvel universe. Destined to ride his silver surfboard through space as a lone guardian of the universe, the Silver Surfer rarely works with a team of other individuals. In addition, most other people in the Marvel universe look at him with a sense of confusion. The feeling is mutual, and the Silver Surfer always seems like an alien presence when he’s around humans. This should probably ring some bells for all you introverts out there…

Cable 

Cable is a character we’ve only seen very recently with the release of Deadpool 2, and although the decision to cast Josh Brolin as the lead character was met with disapproval by some, it’s just great to see such a legendary character finally make his way onto the big screen. Cable was born into war, quickly learning how to survive and lead his allies to victory. He comes from the future, has mild telekinetic abilities, and his entire backstory would take a full article to explain. Let’s just leave it at that.

So what makes Cable an introvert? Well, he’s a bit like Wolverine in many ways. Although he’s no strange to giving orders, he’s a man of few words – one that prefers to lead by example. Although he has experience leading troops, in many of his appearances in the comics he is seen working alone or with one other hero – like Deadpool, for example. He is yet another character who has a tragic past, with his family being killed before his eyes.

Professor X

Professor X, AKA Charles Xavier, is a character that needs no introduction, and is well-known by Marvel fans all over the world. In many of the X-Men movies, he is portrayed as the leader of the X-Men, and a very good one at that. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Professor X is one of the most powerful mutants around, with the ability to do all kinds of things with his extensive telepathic abilities. He is truly one of the most iconic Marvel characters.

So what makes Professor X an introvert? Well, right from the get go, Professor X was never marketed by Marvel as a “man of action.” He tends to sit back, quietly giving the X-Men advice, who then go out and try to execute his plans. In the movies at least, he is almost never seen on the field of battle. Interestingly enough, Cable was turned into the new leader of the mutants, and served as an exact opposite of Professor X. He was indeed a man of action. But both mutants are very socially reserved, which makes them both introverts (although different types of introversion).

Odin

Our final Marvel character is none other than Odin, the “All Father” in Asgard. This is of course the fictional realm where Thor calls home, and for a few movies Odin was the king of this realm. He was also seen to be the leader of all Asgardians, giving orders even to Thor and proving himself to be even more powerful than the god of thunder. But sadly this character, portrayed by the legendary Anthony Hopkins, didn’t last too long, and is now considered dead.

Odin is another example of an introvert, and he shares a lot of qualities with the characters we’ve already mentioned thus far. Although he is a leader, he is not the type to give rousing speeches, and is often seen to be quite reserved in his words and actions. He doesn’t feel the need to explain himself too much, and also appears to value solitude. Although he is part of the Asgardian race, he also appears to be quite separate from the others, perhaps due to his introversion.