With the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), there have been several additions to superheroes and villain line-ups. However, fans often fail to notice one of the prime characters in MCU projects – the Animal Sidekicks And Pets.
Ranging from cuddly pets to superpowered beings, from mystical beings to alien creatures altogether, these trusty animal sidekicks are some of the most adorable and loyal characters of MCU.
Let’s look into some of the best of these.
1. Goose – Captain Marvel
Kicking off the list is MCU fans’ favorite feline – Captain Marvel’s loyal cat, Goose. Originally. in the comics it was known as Chewie (after a major Star Wars character). But, in the movie it was changed to Goose, giving homage to one of Top Gun’s characters. In the movie, Nick Fury seemed to adore Goose. Later it’s revealed that Goose is in fact a deadly alien entity known as a Flerken, which hides a seemingly endless maw of tentacles beneath its cute tabby face.
Goose is just as temperamental as a real cat, as shown when she scratches Fury’s left eye out. She even swallowed the entire Tessaract, thus preventing it from falling into Kree’s hands. In the movie’s post-credit scene she gulps it out into Fury’s desk thus bringing the Tessaract back into SHIELD’s possession.
2. Rocket – GOTG
Perhaps the only character in this list to have a big and significant role in the MCU is the Rocket Racoon. He is one of the prominent members of the Guardians of the Galaxy (GOTG) and shares a brotherly bond with Groot. His code name is 89P13 and is a genetically enhanced creature who resembles a raccoon. In the comics, He is considered to have one of the best tactical minds in the galaxy and hails from Halfworld in the Keystone Quadrant where scientists were able to turn animals into sentient beings.
Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) has appeared in MCU projects like both the GOTG and Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame films. He is well known among fans for his quirky humor and witty dialogues. Additionally, Rocket is a skilled combatant, a demolition expert, an expert marksman, and an accomplished starship pilot. He is now set to appear in GOTG Vol. 3 and will probably meet his maker – the High Evolutionary. The movie shall then let us know more about this adorable character’s origin story.
3. Alligator Loki – Loki
Another notable animal mention is in the fifth episode of the first season which was packed with surprises and easter eggs. It featured many variations of Loki from different realities (called as ‘Variants’). One of them was – Alligator Loki. And he was, yes you guessed that right – an actual green Alligator with golden metal horns. The episode even briefly featured a frog variant of Thor known as ‘Frog Thor’ or Throg in comics.
Despite Alligator Loki’s limited screen time, it instantly became a fan favorite and ‘meme-worthy’. All he did was growl and blink. He even bit the hand of another variant – President Loki. Even today, just a picture of an alligator anywhere in MCU instantly reminds fans of him. Hopefully, he might pop up in the second season of the series.
4. Cosmo – GOTG
The space dog, Cosmo, is a labrador-breed dog who was sent into space as part of a Soviet space program. In the comics, Cosmo is a dog sent by the Soviets during the ‘space race’ between it and the United States during the Cold War. He ends up floating into space and being bombarded by Cosmic Rays and eventually develops psychic abilities. Cosmo later becomes the head of security for Knowhere. He has accompanied many superheroes like Nova and even the Guardians in their many space adventures.
In the MCU, Cosmo has already appeared just as a short cameo in GOTG Vol. 1 in the Collector’s museum. He was kept as a specimen in his museum at the Knowhere mining colony. At the end of the movie, due to an explosion in the museum, it was shown that she was freed. It is set to appear in GOTG Vol. 3 in a more pronounced role, voiced by Maria Bakalova. In comic books, Cosmo is a male dog. But in Guardians 3, Cosmo will be portrayed as female, partly in honor of Laika, the actual first dog in space (as confirmed on Twitter by director James Gunn).
5. Fenris – Thor: Ragnarok
Even the Villains deserve some animal pet companions. In Thor: Ragnarok, Hela (Cate Blanchett) used the Eternal Flame to resurrect her giant Asgardian pet wolf, Fenris. Fenris had in past, assisted Hela and Odin in conquering the nine realms. Fenris proved to be a loyal companion to Hela until the end as it fought a colossal battle with Hulk, before plummeting to his death.
6. Lockjaw – Inhumans
One of the most forgettable entries in the Marvel universe is Inhumans. Initially, the series was supposed to be a part of Marvel’s official timeline. But the series was such a disaster that now even Kevin Feige does not himself acknowledge it as an official entry of MCU. However, it featured a fan-favorite dog – called Lockjaw.
Lockjaw is a massive Inhuman dog who achieved his genetic potential after undergoing Terrigenesis. He serves Black Bolt and his family and acts as their teleporter. It’s any reappearance in MCU hinges now on the reappearance of Inhumans in MCU.
7. Howard the Duck – GOTG
Marvel’s very first attempt to realize the character Howard the Duck on screen was a disaster. It was the first Marvel movie in theatres in 1986. Then finally years later, he appeared as a specimen being held captive in the Collector’s museum in the Guardians Of The Galaxy (GOTG).
Thereafter, he appeared in GOTG Vol. 2 and also made a very blink-and-miss cameo in Avengers: Endgame during the Battle of Earth fighting against the Thanos army. Howard is actually an alien, whose species resembles that of a duck. So far he has just made cameo appearances, maybe he get a fully-realized role in a future project.
How many of these animals and pets will likely continue their foray into the MCU is best left to the future to decide. However, their addition shall surely be a treat for some fans out there.
