3. Jane Foster
I've noticed that some fans argue that it seems that all Jane Foster does is get awkward and giggly around Thor and then mopes around for two years whilst she waits for him to show up again. Well, they're basing this view on the shortsighted assumption that Thor is Jane's true love. He isn't. Her first love is science! Seriously: I can't remember another fictional female scientist who loved her work so unequivocally and thoroughly as Jane does (if you can, please let me know so I can love her, too). Jane Foster is one thing and one thing only and that is a scientist. She may have the hots for the god of thunder, but who wouldn't? And besides, claiming that a woman being in love makes her weak is just offensive and nonsensical. While she is working to find a way back to Thor at the end of the first film, he inspired her to go looking for things she never dreamed possible. How many times do we get to see a dude acting as a muse for a woman? And how many times do we see the stereotypical brains versus body dynamic completely flipped? The climax of Thor: The Dark World features Jane using her astrophysics equipment to defeat Malekith. They have a limited time during which the Nine Realms will align and her plan will work. She therefore forces Thor to distract Malekith with a traditional comic book fight, while she works in the background to save the world. Thor may provide the brawn, but it would mean nothing without Jane's intelligence and scientific knowledge. What's more, instead of being overwhelmed by being on Asgard, Jane is merely curious. She asks questions, she corrects Asgardians with scientific explanations, and even when she is ill, she never becomes a mere pawn. Without her, a great deal of Thor: The Dark World could not have even happened. Besides, who doesn't love science?