While Marvel’s heroes and villains make it one of the best fictional universes, its supporting characters are just as crucial to its stories. Whether it’s stories from the 1960s or current comics, many of them feature depowered characters who need to be rescued. After all, Marvel villains know the only way to win the hero is to threaten the ones they love.
While the helpless loved ones of Marvel heroes are frequent targets for these villains, every once in a while some heroes need rescuing as well. Whether it’s girlfriend, parents, friends, or the heroes themselves, villains strike at the heart of their heroic counterparts. While some villains can physically take on the heroes, many of them use hostages to level the playing field.
10 Edwin Jarvis Is In Constant Danger
While JARVIS is an MCU sentient system voiced by Paul Bettany, his comic book counterpart is Edwin Jarvis, the beloved butler of Iron Man and the Avengers. He’s been an integral part of the team for decades, leading Avengers Mansion and freeing up the team to focus on bigger issues than house upkeep and staff management.
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Jarvis is not a weak man, but he is getting old. Even with his military background, he’s a vulnerable target for villains. Not only was he hypnotized by the Crimson Cowl, but when captured by the Masters of Evil, he was tortured by Mister Hyde. As a result, Jarvis lost part of his sight and was walking with a cane. He is one of the only Marvel characters to suffer permanent trauma after being held hostage.
9 Mary Jane Watson’s Relationship With Spider-Man Put Her In The Spotlight 
Gwen Stacy was Spider-Man’s first true love, but Mary Jane Watson has been Peter Parker’s soulmate since Gwen’s death. Much like Gwen was captured and killed by the Green Goblin, Mary Jane often finds herself in compromising situations due to her relationship with Spidey.
Although MJ is considered one of the greatest non-superhero comic book characters of all time, she is often easy prey for Spidey’s sworn enemies and has been captured on several occasions. More recently, she’s been manipulated by the evil Moira MacTaggart, but has been the target of nearly every classic Spider-Man foe, including the Green Goblin, Doc Ock, and Venom.
8 Foggy Nelson’s Complicated Friendship With Daredevil Left Him Vulnerable 
Daredevil is one of the greatest street heroes in Marvel history and has saved New York many times. However, Foggy Nelson, Matt’s partner in law and best friend, is often caught in the middle of Matt’s conflicts and has faced death on several occasions.
Although in some comics, Foggy was portrayed as a loud and vocal lawyer, he also served as comic relief for Matt’s brooding personality. Throughout the character’s history, Foggy has been attacked and threatened by Elektra, the Kingpin, and many other Daredevil enemies. He’s a loyal friend, but he’s never committed to constant physical danger.
7 Rick Jones Is Marvel’s Ultimate Hostage 
It’s crazy to think that if Rick Jones hadn’t walked the proving ground, Bruce Banner would never have turned into the Hulk. After Banner pushed Rick aside and transformed into the Jade Giant, Rick kept the secret from Bruce and was the Hulk’s only ally for many years.
Hulk ended up working with The Avengers, and Rick’s work earned him an honorary position as the Avenger. Although Rick has aided some of the most powerful superheroes, he has also faced a parade of deadly enemies. Before gaining his own powers, he was held hostage by Colonel Glenn Talbot and taken prisoner by the Tribbitites, whom he regularly used to influence the Hulk.
6 Franklin And Valeria Richards’ Powers Made Them Valuable To Villains 
Marvel’s First Family, better known as the Fantastic Four, became one of the most powerful groups in Marvel Comic history. However, the family grew after Reed Richards and Sue Storm married and had children of their own. Franklin was the older brother and Valeria followed years later. Although Valeria is actually the daughter of Doctor Doom and was raised in an alternate future, they were both born with incredible powers.
Being young and extremely powerful, Franklin and Valeria are often the targets of the Fantastic Four’s worst enemies. Beings like Hyperstorm apparently only appeared to endanger young Franklin, and they seemed to attract foes like Jihad like butterflies to a flame.
5 Jean Gray Was Her Own Hostage 
Jean Gray was one of the first members of the X-Men, the beloved mutant supergroup discovered by Professor Charles Xavier. Although Jean is one of the most powerful mutants on Earth and helped the team defeat some of their worst enemies, she also had to battle her own demons.
ThereDark Phoenix Saga is undoubtedly Jean’s most emblematic story. In it, she is manipulated by Mastermind, loses her free will, and becomes a hostage to the Hellfire Club. To everyone’s surprise, Jean escapes her control by summoning the Phoenix, but the results are even worse. She succumbs to the Dark Phoenix and becomes a prisoner of her own body, endangering the entire solar system.
4 Jubilee Has Been Outclassed By More Experienced Fighters 
Speaking of the X-Men and other mutants, Jubilee was an orphan who could generate “fireworks” with her hands when she joined the team in the 1990s. She became the youngest member of the X-Men, but her lack of experience and relatively few powers left her vulnerable.
Wolverine took Jubilee under his wing and would later become a father figure to the young mutant after saving his life in Madripoor. However, during an intense fight with the Hand and the Mandarin, Jubilee was overpowered and taken prisoner along with Psylocke and Wolverine. However, she was also a lone hostage, captured by Bastion, Dark Beast, and Sabretooth. Not all sidekicks have built-in Achilles’ heels, but Jubilee also had plenty of time before she really did her best.
3 Betty Ross Was Put In The Hot Seat By Her Dad And The Hulk 
Betty Ross first appeared in the first issue of The Incredible Hulk, making her Bruce Banner’s oldest love interest. Also the daughter of General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, she is no stranger to dangerous situations.
Betty is a strong-willed, independent thinker caught between Banner and Ross, though she eventually sides with Banner after realizing his identity. Although the Hulk recognizes and protects Betty, his anger and rage make him a constant military target. Betty is often used as bait by the Hulk’s weaker enemies to lure the Green Goliath into traps and even forces.
2 Harold “Happy” Hogan Was Used As Bait By The Spymaster 
Happy Hogan was the bodyguard, driver and friend of billionaire playboy-turned-superhero Tony Stark. He was also one of the first to know his friend was Iron Man and constantly helped the Iron Avenger. Played by Jon Favreau in the MCU as Tony’s best friend and driver, his comic book counterpart has a more complex story.
Although Pepper Potts is Tony’s love interest in the MCU, in the comics she is married to Happy. During the history of Civil warHappy celebrated his birthday with Pepper, but was attacked by the Spymaster and used as a hostage as bait for Iron Man. Although Happy is a relatively tough guy, surrounding himself with superheroes constantly puts him in danger.
1 Aunt May Has Been Involved With Spider-Man’s Worst Enemies 
Uncle Ben’s death is the reason Peter Parker decided to fight crime as Spider-Man. However, it was her Aunt May who had to face her decision. Although May eventually found out that Peter was Spidey, she didn’t know it for much of her career and didn’t realize the danger it posed to her.
Although Spider-Man rescued May several times and eventually earned her trust, he was a target for Spidey’s gallery of thieves for many years. May lost her friend Nathan after trying to protect her from being captured by the Vulture. Doctor Octopus has also courted Aunt May’s hand in marriage on several occasions, proving there’s more than one way to hold a character hostage.