Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice turned 10 this week, and as its subtitle suggests, it brought a fair number of DC characters to the big screen en route to its Justice League. For many, that was their first time ever in a theatrical movie, and BvS wasn’t 2016’s the only cape movie to introduce some vital new blood: throughout the year, Captain America: Civil War, Deadpool, Doctor Strange, Suicide Squad, and X-Men: Apocalypse all ushered in a hero or two who’ve since persisted through their individual franchises and beyond.
And so, we’ve decided to rank these movies in terms of the characters they introduced to audiences, and judged by how they were used in their first film and how they compare to any previous and more well-known versions. The quality of their individual films may get brought up, but that doesn’t matter here, just what’s been done with these characters. Let us know how you’d rank these debuts in the comments below.
8) The (New) X-Men
How they were treated: Fox used X-Men: Apocalypse to bring the reboot films close to the original trilogy’s continuity. Teen versions of Cyclops (Tye Sheridan), Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), Storm (Alexandra Shipp), and Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee) were introduced, with Scott semi-positioned as the main young mutant since his powers emerge in the film’s opening. Unfortunately, the closest the teens get to a real spotlight is them hanging out at a mall with Jubilee and seeing Return of the Jedi. If only more of the movie had that same energy.
How they compare: To a fault, the older X-Men movies were in love with Wolverine, Xavier, and Magneto in a way that made other characters feel forgettable. Even so, those earlier films did appear slightly more interested in James Marsden, Famke Janssen, and Halle Berry than Apocalypse is with these new actors. Young Jean is the only one who gets to feel like a full character, mostly because they need her to be for what else, a redo of the Phoenix Saga.
Where are they now: Fox put its X-Men to bed with 2019’s Dark Phoenix, which was… not terribly good in the general public’s eyes. To this day, there’s been no cultural turnaround for the later X-movies or these actors playing young versions of the heroes we grew up with—they’re just There, and we can’t imagine them returning for Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars. We’ll see, though.
7) Ben Affleck’s Batman
How they were treated: Since Bruce is its co-protagonist, Batman v Superman spends a lot of time showing how Man of Steel impacted him enough to hate Superman and legitimize his pursuit of revenge. Does it work? That’s up to you, but Bruce does gets a full arc, and the camera loves him—so much that he owns what’s arguably the film’s best action scene.
How they compare: From his hard edge to his Batsuits, everything about this Batman is very much inspired by Dark Knight Returns. Compared to Christian Bale, Affleck comes with a harder edge, which Snyder happily embraces alongside this version’s older masculinity. This is a Batman somewhat all his own, and while you can see the makings of a good interpretation to build toward, things didn’t work out that way for anyone, least of all Affleck.
Where is he now: Before Justice League came out, we learned Affleck would exit the DCEU with the then-incoming Flash movie… which didn’t actually come out until 2023. To that movie’s credit, though, Affleck got an action scene and a goodbye to go out on. Unless something really changes in the future, that’s the last we’ll see Batfleck alongside the rest of the DCEU.
6) The Suicide Squad
How they were treated: Intended as the DCEU’s Guardians of the Galaxy and directly following Batman v Superman, the Suicide Squad are a tangled knot. David Ayer’s movie wants you to root for them and think they can change, but doesn’t work with its full cast. There’s shades of a better movie that fans have keyed onto in the hopes of making a reality à la the Snyder Cut. But WB’s yet to play ball, so what came out in theaters doesn’t do any of its characters any favors, hence the 2021 Suicide Squad working as a soft reboot.
How they compare: There’s some overlap with the Suicide Squads that appeared in the Justice League cartoon and CW’s Arrow, but for many, the primary comparison point will be Gunn’s aforementioned The Suicide Squad, or maybe the version in Rocksteady’s short-lived online game. Each interpretation has different strengths and weaknesses, with Ayer’s Squad having an admittedly strong soundtrack and grimy aesthetic that could’ve worked had WB let it be what its initial trailer promised.
Where are they now: A handful of Squad 2016 characters came back for Squad 2021, with Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller and Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinnn confirmed or assumed to still be around after the transition to Gunn’s DCU. Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad, the last remnant of the DCEU incarnation, was put to bed in 2025. As of 2026, we’re waiting to see where the Suicide Squad will pop up next, and who’ll be among its ranks.
5) The Justice League (sans Batman)
How they were treated: Just before Batman v Superman gets to its big title fight, we’re treated to Gal Gadot’s Diana Prince watching videos of Cyborg, Flash, and Aquaman. Only Gadot as Wonder Woman makes a tangible impact in the film, but the intent behind these cameos and splashy poses is clear: the Justice League was on the horizon—and in fact, they were over a year away, so fans better get ready. (Lol, lmao.)
How they compare: The DCAU’s shadow looms over most adaptations of these characters, since audiences grew up on the Justice League cartoon. Like a lot of things in the DCEU, its Justice League would come up short; between Snyder departing Justice League after his daughter’s death and WB using that to replace him with Joss Whedon… well, you know the story. It wouldn’t be until the 2021 version that we’d get the League as Snyder intended, with the promise of more heroes joining the ranks in hopeful sequels.
Where are they now: One by one, the Justice League were phased out of the DCEU, starting with Cyborg and Superman. Batman, Flash, and Wonder Woman bowed out with 2023’s The Flash (despite Gadot trying otherwise), and Aquaman brought it all home at the end of the year with his own sequel. It’s a weird end for a weird iteration of the team, with Jason Momoa the sole survivor on account him trading his trident for a cigar and the chance to play Lobo in June’s Supergirl.
4) Doctor Strange
How they were treated: Marvel finally put magic on the big screen with 2016’s Doctor Strange, headlined by Benedict Cumberbatch playing the Sorcerer Supreme. Whether or not you liked “Iron Man, but with magic,” it managed to position Strange as a key player for the larger enterprise going forward: not only did he have the Time Stone, he had an in with the Avengers thanks to Thor popping in for a mid-credits scene that established Thor Ragnarok and by association, Avengers: Infinity War.
How they compare: Before his MCU boost, Strange made single-episode appearances or cameos in old Marvel cartoons like X-Men and Spider-Man and headlined a straight-to-DVD 2007 movie. Leading up to his solo movie, he repeatedly appeared in various 2010s Disney Marvel cartoons, which is likely how a section of the audience came to know the character. There’ve been non-Marvel characters made in his mold (here’s looking at you, Doctor Orpheus), but the MCU gave him and the audience a whole new starting point.
Where is he now: It took six years and several guest appearances in other movies and shows, but Strange finally got a second solo outing with 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. He’s maybe in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, not to mention a third movie sometime down the line? Hopefully?
3) Black Panther
How they were treated: In many ways, Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa could be considered the tritagonist of Captain America: Civil War. Much of the movie’s ideas on consequences and vengeance are consistently saddled on him, with his pursuit of Bucky Barnes helped or impeded by Iron Man, Zemo, and Captain America. It’s a surprising amount of setup for his own solo movie that nonetheless works and makes for a fun debut for both the character and star.
How they compare: Pre-MCU, the most well known version of T’Challa would probably be his being a main character in Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. There’s several traits carried over from that to the MCU, but Boseman’s version didn’t get to show his scientific and mystical genius or even have a real chance to be an Avenger. Like the actor himself, what we got of this T’Challa was pretty great, but too short.
Where is he now: Boseman passed away in 2020, and T’Challa died with him. Other than the comics, Marvel’s been inconsistent on its handling of the character since, but in the MCU, his mantle’s been inherited by his sister Shuri. She’s set to return in the next two Avengers movies and (presumably) Black Panther 3, with rumors swirling of some kind of workaround for T’Challa (either a multiverse variant or an adult version of his son) that’ll see a new actor become the “face” of T’Challa going forward.
2) Spider-Man
How they were treated: Like Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman, Spider-Man’s meant as a nice little surprise addition to Civil War. Due to Marvel and Sony working out a joint custody deal, Tom Holland got to make a case for himself as the latest Spidey and bring the hero to the MCU just as its core team was splitting apart. He’s in full “Special Guest Star” mode here: not a key player in the narrative, but around enough to get you excited for his next appearance the following year.
How they compare: Is Holland a good Spider-Man and Peter Parker? Yes. Is the MCU not interested in Peter as a person, to the point that disinterest spreads to his supporting cast like MJ and Ned? No doubt, and that’s not even touching on any similarities he shares with Miles Morales. It feels like there’s more missing from Holland’s Spidey than what was lost from Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield’s interpretations (or the recent games and animated movies), a problem that wasn’t really rectified until Spider-Man: No Way Home. Holland sure can swing and flip, but his Peter could sure stand to be much more.
Where is he now: In four months, we’ll see Holland back as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. With his Avengers safety net gone and some personal stressors owing to nobody remembering him anymore and a gang war going on, it looks like Peter’s life is going to be miserable. Bad for him, not for any of us watching, provided the movie is good and we’re not miserable with him.
1) Deadpool
How they were treated: The first Deadpool movie looooooves its title character more than anything in the world. And it wants you to love Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson just as much, whether he’s firing off a joke, firing a gun, or lamenting his state in life after his cancer and deformed face. There’s no deconstruction or new spin on the character being done here, it’s just a highlight reel of Wade doing what he does best and being pretty sure you’ll laugh at it, too.
How they compare: Do you remember Deadpool in X-Men Origins? Not anymore, you don’t! The Deadpool trilogy took care of that issue itself, and other versions of the character between Origins and the 2016 movie could only the antihero’s snark and meta humor while leaving the excessive violence behind. His post-movie incarnations may not be as vulgar, but they’re all certainly made in Reynolds’ shadow, and likely will be until he gives up the mask for good.
Where is he now: Good question! It’s a big mystery whether he’ll show up in either Avengers movie, but it seems he may have another big screen appearance in the cards, potentially with more X-Men along for the ride? Whether that means he helps introduce mutants to the MCU or brings in more legacy actors, we’ll have to wait and see to find out.
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