8 Great Characters Marvel Movies Have Completely Screwed Up

2. Agent Coulson

While pretty much every other character here was screwed up by Marvel during their introduction (with that occasionally improved upon as time went on), the opposite is the case with Phil Coulson. Making his presence felt in movies like Iron Man and Thor, this newly created S.H.I.E.L.D. agent was instantly likeable, and his death in The Avengers hurt fans almost as much as the blade which pierced his heart courtesy of Loki. That really should have been it for the fan-favourite, but Marvel made the infuriating and downright baffling decision to resurrect him for the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series, a show which pretty much became pointless as soon as Captain America: The Winter Soldier was released and the first season ended. Sure, they've done their best to offer up an (convoluted and silly) explanation to justify his return - Nick Fury simply couldn't live without him it seems - but it turns out that too much of a good thing really isn't that great as Coulson has become less and less interesting as the months have passed. While most of the blame for this one should perhaps be levelled at Marvel TV, the movie division is also at blame for not sticking by the guns and allowing them to base an entire show around a character whose story arc was satisfyingly, and albeit tragically, wrapped up by the end of Phase 1. Now, the once great Agent Coulson has gone from being one of the most enjoyable aspects of the Marvel movies to someone Marvel are desperately trying to anchor a show around which honestly ran out of steam almost as soon as it began.