When you look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you first notice that they haven’t even scratched the surface of the Marvel pantheon. This goes for villains as well as heroes. The thing is, some fantastic villains can be added to really up the level of tension and dread in the MCU.
These names may not all be familiar to people unaccustomed to the vastness of Marvel Comics. However, each of them has stood toe-to-toe with some of the heaviest hitters on the Avengers and other related teams. What is it about these ten characters that make them exceptionally perfect for an MCU arc of their own?
10 Enchantress
Enchantress (not to be confused with the DC character from Suicide Squad) is an Asgardian named Amora who has been a foe of Thor’s for some time. She is skilled in various forms of mysticism and is much stronger than the average human. Amora’s main skill seems to be seduction, and she utilizes it time and again to try and tempt Thor while working with his brother Loki. Enchantress has gone up against the Avengers on many occasions and is often seen as part of the original Master of Evil, started by Baron Zemo.
Thor Won’t See Enchantress Coming
When Enchantress enters the MCU, it will most likely be as part of a team. Although she is a formidable foe, she does not possess the power of someone like Hela. Also, with the destruction of Asgard, she may need to be given a different origin story or some kind of workaround to explain why she is still alive. If the Masters of Evil do become a team, she could play a pivotal role in bringing down the Avengers.
9 Annihilus
Annihilus is an absolute unit of a bad guy. He is a general and sometimes ruler of the Negative Zone, a pocket universe found by Reed Richards and The Fantastic Four. Annihilus is a rabidly fierce foe who holds a grudge about the incursions that our dimension has had and the heroes that have caused them. He is also in possession of the Cosmic Control Rod, which slows down his aging process and allows him to control limitless cosmic energy, to fly, and to have fire energy blasts. He is also an insect-like character with a special suit and wings.
More Incursions Equal More Foes Like Annihilus
The MCU is about to have an entirely new set of interesting characters to deal with. With The Fantastic Four movie coming out next year, we have the chance to learn about the Negative Zone and its inhabitants. The second these heroes enter that place, they will spark the interest of Annihilus. His realization that there is more to conquer outside the Negative Zone may provide our heroes with a deadly foe as well as an entirely new pocket universe to explore.
8 Molecule Man
The Molecule Man is one of the most dangerous characters in Marvel Comics. Owen Reese was one of those Marvel characters who was accidentally bombarded with radiation, causing him to gain powers. However, unlike characters who can shoot optic beams or climb walls, Reese realized he could change things with his mind. When he started to use his powers, he realized that his full potential was control over all matter, down to the very molecules. This means he has full reality-altering powers that not only throw off people’s perceptions, but that literally change the very fabric of everything we know.
Molecule Man May Be Too Strong For the MCU
The Molecule Man is so vastly overpowered that we actually may never see him in the MCU. However, if Marvel Studios truly wants to mess with the universe, they’ll bring him in and let him run wild. The fact is that there is one character in the MCU who has beaten Molecule Man in the comics: Sersi. The Eternal can transmute molecules. If she joins the fight, the heroes of the MCU may actually stand a chance.
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7 Ares
Ares is the Greek god of war. Let’s just start there. We’ve already got him at God-level destructive abilities. We have seen a form of Ares in the DCU, fighting against Wonder Woman, but this version is a bit different. Ares is an enormous figure who can heal, is immortal, and who is an expert in combat. He is often seen wielding a giant ax and wearing a Greek-style helmet. In the comics, he has been an enemy of Thor and the Avengers.
Ares Could Fight Against Thor
The idea of taking the pantheon of one culture and pitting it against another is nothing new to Marvel Comics, but it could be fascinating in the MCU. The idea that all gods exist has already been established in Thor: Love and Thunder, but the post-credit scene gave us Hercules. Ares hates Hercules and this could be his entry into the MCU. Perhaps Ares first comes to Thor’s aid, only to show that he has no intention of being a good guy and just wants to get Hercules out of the way before going after the Asgardian himself.
6 Absorbing Man
Crusher Creel is a brute. He has been on multiple teams and was, for a long time, a minor villain. However, he is a character who went through some very specific personal revelations to become something far more frightening. Creel can take on the characteristics of whatever he touches. This means that if he were to touch a rock, his body would become hard and nearly indestructible. The same goes for things like rubber, where he would become malleable. However, he figured out that his powers extended to nearly everything when he absorbed Ultron and became super-intelligent. This meant that he knew how much he could actually accomplish with what he thought were limited powers.
The Absorbing Man’s Journey Could Fit Into the MCU
The Absorbing Man could be a fascinating character due to his personal journey. If a Marvel movie were to introduce him as a low-level bad guy, ignored by the heroes, we could watch him realize his true potential and then kick their asses. In the Earth X comics, Creel absorbed the entire city of New York, so why couldn’t this happen in the movies? Marvel loves screwing with the Big Apple. Creel could take this to an entirely different level.
5 Tombstone
Tombstone is a villain most notably associated with Spider-Man. He is extremely strong, has filed his teeth to be razor-sharp, and is a very capable hitman. One of his most glaring characteristics is his albino appearance, even though he was born African American. Tombstone has worked on his own or for The Kingpin, which has led to run-ins with Spider-Man and Daredevil. He is very much a street-level villain and would not be going up against people like Thor or Captain Marvel.
The Rise of The Kingpin May Lead to Tombstone’s Appearance
The fact is that, with The Kingpin becoming such a big player in the MCU, we may see Tombstone a lot quicker than the others on this list. He did already show up in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse but has yet to find fame in the MCU. The Kingpin has quite a number of henchmen, and Tombstone could be the one to really lay claim to a Daredevil-level hero.
4 Chameleon
The Chameleon is another street-level villain. However, he brings with him a level of intrigue that could seriously disrupt the highest echelons of power. He can be most associated with the Skrulls, who can change their appearance at will and impersonate anyone. The Chameleon has been doing this and using his powers against Spider-Man.
The Chameleon Has Indirectly Appeared in the MCU
The interesting part is that a character with his name (Dimitri) has appeared in the MCU as the bus driver in Spider-Man: Far From Home. However, we did not see this character as having any powers. The Chameleon will be appearing in Kraven the Hunter in the MCU adjacent universe, although it is not clear what powers he will have. This is a bit of a letdown as the Sony versions of characters do not always live up to their full MCU potential. However, this may change with Kraven.
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3 Arcade
Let’s talk about a true psychopath. Arcade dresses like a sideshow barker and is always sporting a Joker-level smile. His backstory is unknown except for the fact that he’s a mechanical genius and celebrated assassin for hire. He is known for creating what he calls “Murderworld” where he has set specific traps for heroes to be caught in and killed. He often does this for a price, paid for by other villains. He has attempted to kill Spider-Man, the X-Men, and other major Marvel heroes. He is very much the Jigsaw of the Marvel Universe.
Arcade Is Perfect For a Disney+ MCU Series
Arcade does not deserve his own film but could be a fascinating character to bring into a Disney+ story arc. The interesting part is that he could use his machinations against just about any hero out there which allows Marvel to take their time in using him. He might even be a great villain for a Deadpool-type character who cannot be killed but who can be maimed by all manner of death traps thrown his way. Arcade loves to watch his victims attempt to become free. This is his weakness, and it could just prove that the MCU has some real crazies.
2 Mephisto
Mephisto is pure evil. He is essentially the Marvel version of the devil. Mephisto is a cosmically powerful creature who is said to have been created towards the beginning of the entire universe. He has gone up against The Silver Surfer, The Fantastic Four, The Avengers, and nearly everyone in between. He is immortal, can shape-shift, alter reality, and use copious amounts of magic. He is often seen as being completely red and wearing a cape.
Mephisto Could Go Against Wong or Dr. Strange
Mephisto appeared in Ghost Rider, the Nicolas Cage film, as the one who gave Johnny Blaze his powers after agreeing to save his father. This appearance was the first time he had been in a live-action film which means he predates the MCU by one year (2007 vs. 2008). If Ghost Rider were to reappear in the actual MCU, it could mean a helpful doorway for Mephisto to make his appearance. That being said, he might also be a great adversary for someone like Dr. Strange or even Wong as they are all dipping into the same well of magic and sorcery.
1 Serpent Society
This is a weird one but, strangely, a group that might have more of a chance to show up in the MCU than anyone else. The Serpent Society is a group of various super-powered villains, all with snake-related abilities. These include body contortion, venom-spitting, tentacle arms, and teleportation (as all snakes can do). The group has frequently gone up against the Avengers, most notably Captain America, and has proven themselves to be a challenge. Their main problem is constant infighting as they all seem to want to lead.
The Serpent Society Almost Appeared in the MCU
Here’s the thing: they were supposed to appear in Captain America: Brave New World. Unfortunately, they appear to have been completely scrapped from the film. It is well-known that the movie underwent massive reshoots which may have led to giving other characters more screen time and thus removing the nonessential group from the story. However, this near-miss may mean that Feige & Co. are excited enough about the group to include them in some way at a future date. They could be a formidable problem for the Avengers or even show up in a Disney+ show of their own.