2. Captain America
As one of Marvel’s most prominent heroes, Captain America doesn’t seem altogether tragic at a glance. He’s an average guy enhanced by the Super Soldier Serum and given a chance to be a hero. The MCU even gives him a happy ending before passing the mantle on to Sam Wilson. So what makes Steve Rogers’ story so tragic?
Rogers is a compassionate, empathic person. When he sees suffering, he suffers too, and it makes him fight harder for those who can’t fight for themselves. This is at the very core of Captain America’s identity, and it’s a big part of what makes him such a tragic figure. He wants to fix the world, but can’t stop seeing how broken it is.
Steve’s personal life is also pretty tragic. Immediately after falling in love with Peggy Carter, he’s frozen while saving the world and awakes decades later so he can no longer be with her. When he eventually falls for someone else, he learns it’s her great-niece Sharon, and therefore can’t be with her. Basically, right up until his happy ending, Steve Rogers’ story is hard knock after hard knock, making him a pretty tragic hero.