Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

Steve Rogers/Captain America

Cap is a man out of his time and out of his element, but who has the strength, humility and courage of his convictions to get the other heroes on the same page. In the final battle, they're following his orders, making him the lead protagonist in a movie that's stuffed to the gills with protagonists.

Tony Stark/Iron Man

Stark's a lot more self-absorbed than Rogers is, making it seem like he's in this hero thing for the ego-boost more than the saving-the-world stuff.

But he steps up gamely when trouble comes a-calling, and, when push comes to shove, he's willing to lay his own life on the line to keep New York and the world safe. He's not quite the lead in our book, but he was the first hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after all, and there's no question where he stands here. (Though check back with us again for Captain America: Civil War.)

Thor

Thor's a reasonably late entry to the party—which is understandable, since his gateway to Earth got broken but good at the end of his own movie—but he makes up for it with his familial connections to Loki.

Loki is basically a fugitive from Asgardian justice, and Thor has arrived to make sure he gets taken home to face the music. That gives him the same overall goal as the other heroes…even though they aren't quite all on the same page just yet.

Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow

The Black Widow is already a part of SHIELD when we meet her, which makes her an organizing member of Team Good Guy. She doesn't have a personal stake in stopping Loki—besides saving the Earth, that is, and maybe getting a little red off of that ledger she keeps talking about.

With three other easily identifiable protagonists (and a couple more in the "Foil" category flirting with protagonist status), it's a tad crowded. But the Widow also has the most self-contained arc of all the Avengers, needing to atone for bringing the Hulk into the game and help keep him pointed in the right direction.