TheMCUis diving deeper into Marvel’s magical lore, but besides introducing new magic-wielding characters, Marvel Studios has the chance to bring back one powerful hero introduced in Marvel’sRunawaysshow. There are still a lot of magical Marvel characters in need of an adaptation at this point, and their turn may come sooner rather than later. Shows likeAgatha All AlongandIronhearthave exploredMarvel’s magical cornersin depth, and future installments may follow suit.
With the introduction of characters like Jennifer Kale, Wiccan, andParker Robbins a.k.a. the Hood, it’s increasingly likely that other magic users will debut soon. Key figures such as Brother Voodoo, the Ghost Riders, Modred the Mystic, and Mephisto’s powerful son Blackheart remain absent from the MCU, despite their deep ties to Marvel’s mystical lore. Technically, one powerful sorcerer already exists in the MCU, but she’s yet to appear in an officially recognized MCU installment.
Marvel’s Runaways Introduced A Great Character From The Comics
Nico Minoru Is One Of Marvel’s Most Remarkable Magic Users
Marvel’sRunawaysTV series introduced the first-live action portrayal of Nico Minoru, played by Lyrica Okano. The goth daughter of dark magic users, Nico Minoru becomes the wielder of the Staff of One, which grants her the ability to cast powerful spells, but only if she uses a different command for each.Nico is probably the most powerful member of theRunawaysas the team’s magical backbone.
In the comics, Nico Minoru is one of Marvel’s most notable young magic users, often appearing in supernatural events and teams like A-Force and even the Midnight Sons. Nico Minoru’s magical powers may not be as powerful as those of Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch, but they’re usually more unpredictable and emotionally fueled. Throughout the years, she has proved her worth as a magical hero, which has earned her alliances with heroes like Magik and a teaching job at Strange Academy.
How Nico Minoru Could Fit Into The MCU Now
Runaway’s Nico Minoru Is Perfect For The MCU’s Strange Academy Plans
In Marvel’sRunawaysseries,Lyrica Okano’s Nico Minoru struggled with the Staff of One’s corruptive influence and her growing dependence on dark magic. This conflict precedesScarlet Witch’s evil turn inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and it had more time to be developed. If Marvel Studios brings Nico Minoru into the MCU, Nico could be the ideal next mentor for Joe Locke’s Wiccan and an ally to Agatha Harkness.
Marvel Studios introduced an MCU variant of Nico Minoru inYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, where Nico is Peter Parker’s closest friend.
While Doctor Strange seems busy fixing incursions with Clea,Ironheart’s post-credits scenestease the introduction of the MCU’s Strange Academy. Lyrica Okano’s Nico Minoru would be a logical addition to the school alongsideIronheart’s Zelma Stanton. Although Marvel’sRunawayswas produced by ABC for Hulu, the series left the door open for an MCU integration.Compared to other franchises like Netflix’s Marvel shows, it might be easier for Marvel Studios to incorporate Runaways' characters into the MCU proper.
Out of all theRunawaysheroes, Nico Minoru is the most likely to appear in the MCU, if Marvel Studios ever decides to integrate the ABC show. Marvel’s recent dive into the realm of magic offers the chance to introduce a wide variety of similar heroes. If not in aStrange Academyproject,Runaways' Nico Minoru could play a supporting role in aDoctor Strangesequel, aYoung AvengersorChampionscrossover, or any project featuring mystical characters like Blade, Elsa Bloodstone, and Agatha Harkness.
