Marvel Rivals brings together a diverse cast of superheroes, from legendary icons to underrated fan favorites. Among them is Squirrel Girl, one of the most unexpectedly powerful and beloved characters in the Marvel Universe. Despite her lighthearted nature, she has defeated some of Marvel’s most fearsome villains—including Doctor Doom, Thanos, and Galactus—earning her the title "The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl."
With her upbeat personality, incredible combat skills, and squirrel-based powers, Squirrel Girl is a refreshing and unique addition to Marvel Rivals. This article explores her comic book origins, powers, and how she translates into gameplay, giving both longtime fans and new players an understanding of this quirky yet formidable hero.
Image: Marvel Comics
Who is Squirrel Girl?
Squirrel Girl, aka Doreen Green, made her debut in Marvel Super-Heroes #8 (1991), created by Will Murray and Steve Ditko. Originally designed as a humorous, lighthearted character, she quickly gained a devoted fanbase and evolved into one of Marvel’s most unconventional yet surprisingly overpowered heroes.
Born with squirrel-like abilities and an uncanny knack for defeating villains, Doreen always believed in using her powers for good. While many dismissed her at first, she proved time and time again that optimism and determination can overcome even the most powerful foes.
Character Lore
Her First Mission: Defeating Doctor Doom
Squirrel Girl made her debut in a short story where she attempted to impress Iron Man by showing off her powers. When Doctor Doom attacked, she and her squirrel companion Monkey Joe overwhelmed the villain with a massive squirrel army, forcing Doom to retreat. This moment solidified her reputation as an underdog hero capable of taking down Marvel’s biggest threats.
The Great Lakes Avengers
Doreen later joined the Great Lakes Avengers, an offbeat team of lesser-known superheroes. While the team was often treated as a joke, Squirrel Girl consistently proved her worth, demonstrating that she could hold her own against some of the toughest villains in Marvel Comics.
Becoming “Unbeatable”
Her defining era came with The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (2015-2019), a critically acclaimed comic series that reimagined her as a lovable, college-going superhero. Instead of relying on brute force, Doreen used intelligence, empathy, and problem-solving to defeat enemies—including Galactus, Thanos, and even the entire Marvel villain roster. This run solidified her as one of Marvel’s most uniquely powerful and charming characters.
Image: Marvel Comics
Squirrel Girl’s Powers and Abilities in Marvel Rivals
Enhanced Strength and Agility
Despite her small size, Squirrel Girl possesses superhuman strength, allowing her to overpower much larger foes. Her agility and reflexes make her incredibly difficult to hit in combat.
Squirrel Communication
Doreen has a telepathic bond with squirrels, allowing her to summon them for scouting, distractions, or full-scale attacks. Her most famous squirrel allies include:
- Tippy-Toe – Her primary sidekick and most trusted companion.
- Monkey Joe – Her original squirrel partner, known for his intelligence and combat skills.
Unbeatable Luck
One of Squirrel Girl’s most mysterious "abilities" is her plot-defying luck. She has an uncanny ability to defeat even the most overpowered enemies, often using her wits and charm rather than brute force.
Image: Marvel Comics
Squirrel Girl’s Story in Marvel Rivals
After the Timestream Entanglement plunged New York City into eternal night, Squirrel Girl led her squirrel army in a battle to reclaim Central Park from Dracula’s growing vampire horde. During their fight, her best friend Tippy-Toe discovered a massive, injured squirrel that crash-landed in the park. Introducing herself as Ratatoskr, the legendary Asgardian messenger of Yggdrasil, she revealed that Dracula and a masked sorcerer had ripped her from her home because her enchanted horn held the power to end the vampire king’s reign. Before Squirrel Girl could fully process the revelation, Dracula himself emerged, leading a second, larger wave of vampires intent on capturing Ratatoskr.
As the battle escalated, Dracula used his dark powers to turn Squirrel Girl’s squirrel allies against her, leaving her helpless against the oncoming horde. Just as all seemed lost, Iron Man and Moon Knight arrived, blasting back the undead attackers and saving Squirrel Girl and Tippy-Toe. However, in the chaos, Dracula vanished with Ratatoskr, leaving Squirrel Girl devastated. Forced to retreat to Avengers Tower, she could only watch as her squirrel army, her city, and her newfound ally faded from view. For the first time, the unbeatable Squirrel Girl had suffered a loss—but she knew the fight was far from over.
Image: Marvel Comics
Essential Squirrel Girl Comics
For those who want to explore Squirrel Girl’s history, here are some must-read comics:
Marvel Super-Heroes #8 by Will Murray and Steve Ditko (1991)
- Squirrel Girl’s debut, where she single-handedly defeats Doctor Doom using a horde of squirrels. It establishes her quirky personality and unexpected power.
Great Lakes Avengers by Zac Gorman and Will Robson (2016)
- A comedic series featuring Squirrel Girl as part of Marvel’s most underappreciated superhero team. This series highlights her teamwork, humor, and evolving reputation.
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North and Erica Henderson (2015)
- The critically acclaimed solo series that made Squirrel Girl a mainstream fan-favorite. This run redefined her as a confident, lovable, and nearly unstoppable hero.
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Beats Up the Marvel Universe by Ryan North and Erica Henderson (2016)
- A one-shot where Squirrel Girl takes on every major Marvel character and wins. It showcases her intelligence and problem-solving skills while reinforcing her “unbeatable” status.
New Avengers by Al Ewing and Gerardo Sandoval (2015)
- Squirrel Girl joins the Avengers, proving that she’s more than just a comedic character, demonstrating her ability to hold her own alongside Marvel’s most elite heroes.
Squirrel Girl is the ultimate example of not underestimating a hero based on appearance. Though she may seem lighthearted and fun-loving, she is one of Marvel’s most resourceful, intelligent, and unexpectedly powerful characters.
Her presence in Marvel Rivals adds a playful yet formidable element to the game, allowing players to outmaneuver enemies, disrupt battle plans, and take down foes in the most unexpected ways.
Whether leading an army of squirrels, cracking jokes mid-battle, or beating up Thanos, Squirrel Girl proves that sometimes, the most cheerful heroes are also the most unstoppable.