Iman Vellani Shares Her Top 5 Favorite Heroes and Villains

Iman Vellani has always been open about her passion for comic books, and her latest revelation further establishes her as one of Hollywood’s most genuine fangirls turned franchise star.

The actress recently shared her top five comic book characters, a list that ranges from iconic Marvel figures to beloved indie characters, showcasing her deep appreciation for the medium.

Vellani has consistently expressed her admiration for Marvel’s biggest icons, previously highlighting the Kamala Khan and Wolverine team-up issue as one of her favorite reads. Her latest ranking places Iron Man at the top, a choice she has reiterated in various interviews. She has explained that her affection for Tony Stark is partly due to his relationship with Kamala, noting how the 2016 run depicts Iron Man assisting Kamala with her physics homework and treating her to gyros and fries after a battle, calling their connection very, very wholesome.

The inclusion of Wonder Woman, particularly from the recent Absolute run, indicates Vellani’s willingness to explore beyond the Marvel universe, a detail that will likely please DC fans who might have thought her loyalties were strictly with the Avengers. Silver Surfer also makes her list, as Vellani has previously called the character’s 50th anniversary Infinity Gauntlet run one of her comfort reads, explaining that its philosophical themes of purpose and success resonate deeply with her.

What’s truly surprising is her choice of Ricky Lawless from ‘Criminal’ and Tony Chu from ‘Chew’, both of which are lesser-known characters from creator-owned crime and horror comics rather than mainstream superhero stories. This diversity in her selections highlights her extensive reading habits, going beyond the typical capes and tights that many casual fans associate with a Marvel Cinematic Universe star, emphasizing how seriously Vellani embraces her comic book fandom off-screen.

Vellani’s connection with comics has evolved beyond mere reading in recent years. In addition to her acting career, she has taken on the role of writer for the next iteration of ‘Ms. Marvel’ comics, expanding her creative influence within the industry that has shaped her. She also made her original comics debut this year with Chachu, a series she describes as stemming from the tension between mourning her youth while still experiencing it and the desire to grow up, co-published through James Tynion IV’s Tiny Onion imprint.

On the acting front, Vellani is best known for portraying Kamala Khan, the superhero identity of ‘Ms. Marvel’, across Disney’s MCU television and film projects. She made her acting debut in the 2022 ‘Ms. Marvel’ series and has since appeared in ‘The Marvels’ and the animated series ‘Marvel Zombies’, all under the Disney umbrella. Beyond Marvel, she has also taken on roles in ‘Shiver’, an adaptation of the bestselling YA fantasy novel alongside Maddie Ziegler and Greg Kinnear, as well as the independent film ‘Mouse’.

Fans are eagerly anticipating her potential return to the MCU. During a joint interview promoting ‘Animal Farm’, director Andy Serkis seemed to hint that Vellani would appear in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, telling her he was excited to see her in the film, to which she quickly responded, No. You can’t say that. Insiders have suggested that Kamala Khan and her family remain secure in the MCU timeline, even as Magneto reportedly causes chaos elsewhere, sparking speculation that Vellani could be assembling a Young Avengers team alongside Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop.

‘Avengers: Doomsday’, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo and featuring Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, is scheduled for release on December 18, 2026, as part of a busy year of Marvel releases that also includes ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ and ‘The Punisher: One Last Kill’. Regardless of whether Vellani’s name appears on the final cast list, her extensive comic book knowledge confirms that she has always belonged in this universe.

What would your own top five comic book characters list look like, and were any of Vellani’s choices unexpected for you? Share your thoughts in the comments.