10 Underrated Marvel Villains Who Could Carry Their Own MCU Phases

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As the MCU nears its sixth phase with the release of Fantastic Four: First Steps, things are about to turn very green for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ever since the announcement that Robert Downey Jr. would return, all eyes have been on Doctor Doom. Who knows how much longer the MCU will carry on after this next phase? Maybe the X-Men will replace the Avengers as the lead protagonists of the live-action films going forward.

Whatever the future holds for the MCU, one thing remains clear: the heroes need villains to fight. There are plenty of underrated villains who could carry their own MCU phases, the same way Thanos pulled strings across the entire Infinity Saga. These villains may be well-known in the comics, but they deserve a boost of screen time in the MCU to prove just how dangerous they could be to Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Avengers and the rest of the Marvel Universe.

10

Kingpin Takes Over New York City

Wilson Fisk and Daredevil have officially entered the MCU, starring in the popular Daredevil: Born Again sequel series. In the comics, the Kingpin became the mayor of New York City, acquiring a new level of control over the city and its criminal organizations.

The Kingpin has a lot of power as the mayor, which is simply a stepping stone to even more power as he climbs the offices of the United States. Mayor Wilson Fisk could easily serve as the villain for an MCU phase, pulling strings for some street-level, C-list heroes, while potentially making deals with more powerful enemies, just as Loki made deals with Thanos in Avengers.

9

Knull Commands A Galaxy Of Symbiotes

Knull is a relatively new addition to the Marvel Comics universe, retconned to be the king and god of the symbiotes. Knull has actually already made his silver screen, live-action debut in Venom: The Last Dance, though fans were disappointed with the villains’ limited screen time.

Knull is not a villain to waste in teasers, relegated to the shadows. He will absolutely need to be brought back to adapt some sort of “Planet of the Symbiotes” comic arc if Marvel and Sony ever move forward with more Venom movies, have Venom enter the MCU, or have Tom Holland’s Spider-Man gain the symbiote suit.

8

Mephisto’s Secret Deals Within The MCU

Mephisto is more of a trickster than Loki, making devilish deals with many Marvel characters. Everyone knows about Spider-Man’s “One More Day,” though the MCU didn’t use Mephisto in No Way Home, which adapted the concept of everyone forgetting who Peter Parker was.

Amazing Spider-Man volume five revealed that Norman Osborn also made a deal with Mephisto decades earlier, which ultimately led to the success of Oscorp and the creation of the Green Goblin. Mephisto could become a great MCU phase villain, making secret deals that have shaped the MCU as fans know it.

7

Magneto & Scarlet Witch’s House Of M

Scarlet Witch and Magneto were instrumental to the success of the House of M comic event. The MCU already has the former, seemingly still alive thanks to a TVA tie-in comic, and Marvel Studios is about to introduce a version of the latter in Avengers: Doomsday.

There’s no question: if a version of Magneto becomes a main staple of the MCU, it should become a villain––one who can easily carry his own phase, perhaps the phase that primarily introduces the rest of the mutants and X-Men. Eventually, Magneto could persuade his daughter, Scarlet Witch, to manipulate reality and create a haven for mutants (and a hell for everyone else).

6

Doctor Octopus, The Superior Spider-Man & More

Doctor Octopus is, of course, one of Spider-Man’s greatest foes, but Otto Octavius has also threatened the rest of the world on several occasions. He is an Avengers-level threat, and “Ends of the Earth” is the comic arc that proves that.

Marvel Studios hasn’t specified how long the MCU will run after Avengers: Secret Wars, or what the future will hold. If Tom Holland remains the main Spider-Man, and if they introduce a newer, younger version of Doc Ock, then he could absolutely carry an MCU phase, perhaps concluding with him taking over Peter Parker’s body to become the Superior Spider-Man.

5

The Inheritors Hunt Across The Multiverse

The Spider-Verse animated films have starred some iconic Spider-Man villains, and they’ve even made the Spot a household name. It was surprising that Sony didn’t use the main villains of the Spider-Verse comic, the Inheritors.

As a family of energy-vampires, the Inheritors traveled the Web of Life and Destiny, killing “Spider-Totems” across the multiverse. If Marvel Studios continues with the multiverse after Secret Wars, then they should consider using the Inheritors, assuming Miles Morales becomes Spider-Man and the future of the MCU focuses on other Spider-People.

4

The Jackal’s MCU Clone Saga

Underneath his furry jumpsuit, the Jackal is just an elderly scientist named Miles Warren. He’s not particularly powerful, but he’s incredibly manipulative and disruptive. The MCU already has Skrulls, but how about some clones to help spice things up?

The Clone Saga nearly ruined Spider-Man’s life ten times over in the comics. Imagine the damage the Jackal could do with his clones in the MCU? The Jackal could easily be an MCU phase villain, literally puppeting his clone puppets, causing confusion and conflict between the Avengers and their villains. This would also allow Marvel Studios to bring back any actor they’d like, because they would just be clones.

3

Shi’ar Empire Invades Earth & Attacks The X-Men

Marvel Studios is set to fully introduce the X-Men into the MCU after years of small cameos from Professor X and random appearances by Beast. However, Marvel Studios could also introduce a version of the Shi’ar Empire.

In X-Men comics, the Shi’ar were a large-scale galactic force, as strong as the Kree or Skrulls. While Professor Xavier and Princess Lilandra formed an alliance, the rest of the Shi’ar could easily carry an MCU phase as cosmic villains intent on expanding their empire across the universe.

2

Green Goblin Is The Ultimate Marvel Mastermind

Like the kingpin, the Green Goblin becoming an MCU villain for an entire phase would bring the stories back down to Earth a bit. The MCU has already had a cosmic villain in Thanos. They nearly had a time-traveling villain in Kang, and now Doctor Doom will likely take over the multiverse in either Doomsday or Secret Wars.

With the Green Goblin and Norman Osborn specifically, the MCU could focus on street-level heroes and the MCU’s political and social structure. Beyond his battles with Spider-Man, Osborn is best known for the Dark Reign era, when he became the Iron Patriot and replaced Earth’s Mightiest Heroes with his own Dark Avengers.

1

The Sins Of Mister Sinister

Sins of Sinister was one of the best X-Men events in years, building off the foundations created in House/Powers of X. For years, Sinister sat on Krakoa’s Quiet Council, planting seeds that blossomed into a full-on villainous plot to take over the world. And he succeeded… for a little while.

The original Mister Sinister was a mad scientist who experimented on mutants to create the perfect being. The newer Sinister is a little more whimsical, but just as terrifying when provoked. As the X-Men steal the spotlight in the MCU, fans would love to see someone like Mister Sinister headline a phase––experimenting on the mutants who become the focal points of the cinematic universe moving forward.

“}]] While Marvel’s heroes usually get the spotlight, there are quite a few villains like Kingpin and Magneto who could lead their own MCU chapters.  Read More