Some of Marvel’s most powerful and exciting villains were introduced in Marvel’s Multiverse Saga. Marvel Cinematic Universe. Every good superhero story needs to have a formidable supervillain, and some of the best comic book villains in history debuted during the MCU’s Multiverse Saga. This should continue with the villains of Marvel Studios’ next projects, which will debut names like Galactus, Doctor Doom, Muse, Red Hulk and Lilith, among others, in the MCU, fleshing out the Multiverse Saga even further.
Marvel Studios’ upcoming projects, particularly Captain America: Brave New World, Daredevil: Born Again, Fantastic Four: First Steps, Blade and Avengers: Judgment Dayare expected to include some of the MCU’s most formidable supervillains. These characters will oppose many of Marvel’s most iconic heroes, whose inclusions in Phase 5 of the MCU are very exciting. Although the future seems bright, The recent history of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga has also included some of the best Marvel villains of all timeincluding Kingpin, Agatha Harkness, Kang the Conqueror and more.
10
Wilson Fisk’s Kingpin
Gavião Arqueiro (2021) and Eco (2024)
Vincent D’Onofrio first appeared as Wilson Fisk in the Netflix film Reckless series, officially nicknaming himself Kingpin in the 2nd season of the Defenders Saga series. D’Onofrio has since reprized the role in the MCU Hawkeye and Echo shows, providing just a glimpse of her updated power and influence ahead of her biggest role in 2025 Daredevil: Born Again. Kingpin has yet to show the full extent of his power in the MCU’s primary continuity, although his battle with Kate Bishop in Hawkeye sparked a newfound strength This has never been seen in Netflix’s Defenders Saga.
Kingpin Live Action Project |
Year |
---|---|
Reckless |
2015-2018 |
Hawkeye |
2021 |
Echo |
2024 |
Daredevil: Born Again |
2025 |
Kingpin survived being shot by an arrow, run over by a car, and caught in the middle of an explosion in Hawkeye endand Echo revealed that he even survived being shot in the eye by Maya Lopez, with only a superficial wound. This sets up Wilson Fisk as one of the MCU’s most powerful street-level villains and one of the most exciting characters to make a name for himself in the Multiverse Saga. Echo teased Kingpin’s evolution into the Mayor of New York, which hints at even more destructive and manipulative Kingpin stories in the MCU’s future.
9
Gravik
Secret Invasion (2023)
Although 2023 Secret Invasion The series quickly became one of the MCU’s lowest-rated projects, it had many redeeming qualities, one of which was Kingsley Ben-Adir’s villainous Skrull commander, Gravik. Although he previously worked alongside Nick Fury as one of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Director’s Skrull agents, Gravik soon turned his back on his mentor when he realized that Fury and Carol Danvers were not looking for a new home for the Skrull residing on Earth. Gravik attempted to claim Earth for the Skrull by inciting World War III, and came very close to succeeding..
Gravik’s role in Secret Invasion showed the potential of introducing an extraterrestrial villain living on Earth, which is a scary prospect since there are many alien beings living on Earth, including over a million Skrull. Gravik’s evolution into Super Skrull likely stripped his character of anything interestingand ultimately culminated in his death at the hands of fellow Super Skrull, G’iah. However, Gravik was still an intriguing and complex villain for the MCU’s Multiverse Saga; It’s a shame Marvel didn’t get it right.
8
Gorr, the God Butcher
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
In the same way as Secret Invasion2022 Thor: Love and Thunder It didn’t do as well as Marvel had hoped. However, once again, the project’s villain was surprising, with Christian Bale delivering a powerful performance as Gorr, a being who renounced the MCU gods after claiming the Necrosword following the death of his daughter. Gorr, the Butcher of Gods, was truly terrifying, unhinged, and sinister, yet there was some criticism that Gorr wasn’t given enough screen time and development in Love and thunderand was killed at the end of the Phase 4 movie.
Gorr’s use of the Necrosword gave him the power to kill the gods of the MCU, and he came very close to eradicating them all, wishing for their extinction at the Altar of Eternity. Instead, Thor convinced Gorr to ask Eternity to resurrect his daughter, Love, who Thor then adopted. This ending for Gorr felt rushed, as he should have been a much more threatening and long-standing enemy. However, Christian Bale was a standout addition to the MCU, so it would be great to see him return in some capacity before the Multiverse Saga comes to an end.
7
Verussa’s Bloodstone
Werewolf by Night (2022)
The widow of the late Ulysses Bloodstone was an incredible addition to the Multiverse saga in the MCU’s first special outing, 2022 Werewolf at night. After Odysseus’ death, Verussa Bloodstone became the leader of her conspiracy of monster hunters and was tasked with finding a new owner for the famous Bloodstone. The Blood Stone, a jewel capable of harming monsters of any kind, would be given to the hunter who managed to kill the Man-Thing, but Jack Russell interrupted the hunt and Man-Thing ended up killing Verussa, allowing his estranged stepdaughter to claim the Blood Stone..
Verussa Bloodstone was played by Harriet Sansom Harris in Werewolf at night.
Verussa Bloodstone was sadistic and charismatic, enjoying her husband’s theatrics and relishing the performative nature of monster hunting and its traditions. She was a brilliant villain to present Werewolf at nightand it would be great to see his story exploredor at least feel her legacy with Elsa Bloodstone’s return to the MCU. She was the last surviving monster hunter, so she certainly proved her worth, but that didn’t save her against Man-Thing, who was speculated to return in the possible Midnight Sons-focused MCU project.
6
Xu Wen Wu
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
It only took Marvel Studios 13 years, but 2021 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings finally introduced the real Mandarin to the MCU in the form of Tony Leung’s Xu Wenwu. Although he did not use the Mandarin nickname, Wenwu owned ten powerful and mystical bracelets that gave him incredible abilities, including superior strength and an extended lifespan.. He used his power and influence to form the Ten Rings and spread this organization throughout the world, becoming one of the most important villains in the MCU.
Despite his worldwide reach, Xu Wenwu was still killed off in his debut MCU project. He passed his ten bracelets on to his son, Shang-Chi, who will use the rings for good rather than conquest and subjugation. It’s a shame that Wenwu was already removed from the MCU, as there was huge potential in bringing the real Mandarin to live actionlong after Iron Man 3 introduced the fake. Wenwu was a notable villain, expertly played by Leung, and he will be missed in the future of Marvel Studios Shang-Chi films.
5
Agatha Harkness
WandaVision (2021) and Agatha All the Time (2024)
Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness is one of the most exciting characters introduced in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, mainly because she is a mentor to some iconic heroes and a constant villain. This complex dynamic was fully exposed in WandaVision and its spin-off, Agatha all the timewhich massively developed Agatha Harkness’ story in the MCU in a short time. Even though she tried to steal Wanda Maximoff’s power in WandaVisionAgatha Harkness also supported the emerging Scarlet Witch and gave you a worthwhile walk down memory lane.
Agatha all the time replaced Scarlet Witch with her son, the reincarnated Billy Maximoff, who joined Agatha Harkness and a new coven on the Witch Road. It was revealed that Agatha created the legend of the Witches’ Road to lure witches into her trap and steal their power and their lives, although Billy Maximoff’s Wiccan inadvertently used his reality-warping power to make the Road a reality. Agatha never shied away from being a villain, but may have taken on more of a mentor role after her sacrifice and return as a ghostcreating interesting opportunities for the future of the MCU.
4
Scarlet Witch by Wanda Maximoff
WandaVision (2021) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Agatha Harkness wasn’t the only witch who became a villain in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, as Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch also descended into darkness in Phase 4. WandaVision saw Wanda Maximoff take the entire town of Westview, New Jersey hostageinadvertently erecting a radiation spell around the city, born of their grief, that trapped everyone in ever-changing comedy-style sets. Wanda eventually learned the error of her ways, but the acquisition of the Darkhold, the Book of the Damned, meant her corruption was just beginning.
2022 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness I saw Scarlet Witch really become a villain. In an effort to travel to a universe where her children were still alive, Scarlet Witch hunted down multiversal traveler America Chavez, using the Darkhold to enchant demons and dreamwalk. Scarlet Witch massacred the Illuminati of Earth-838 and nearly killed her own variant, displaying her nearly incomprehensible powerand was only defeated by her own self-sacrifice. Many suspect that Scarlet Witch will return to the MCU in search of redemption, although she may have tainted the public perception of her forever.
3
Kang, the conqueror and his variants
Loki (2021-23) and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Perhaps the perfect villain to be considered the main antagonist of the MCU Multiverse Saga was Kang the Conquerora time traveler from Marvel Comics whose adventures throughout history have created many different versions of himself. In the MCU, this equates to the debut of many multiversal variants of Kang, with several being introduced in the Loki series and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniapreparing the ground for the then titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. However, Kang’s future in the MCU has been put in jeopardy by the arrest and conviction of Jonathan Majors in 2023.
Primary Kang Variant |
Debut project |
Year |
---|---|---|
The one who remains |
Loki Season 1 |
2021 |
Kang the Conqueror |
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania |
2023 |
Immortal |
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania |
2023 |
Rama-Tut |
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania |
2023 |
Scarlet Centurion |
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania |
2023 |
Victor Oportuno |
Loki Season 2 |
2023 |
Majors was found guilty of two misdemeanor counts of assault and harassment in December 2023, culminating in his immediate dismissal from Marvel Studios. Kang, frankly, posed little threat before this anyway, as Loki, Sylvie, Ant-Man and the Wasp showed how easy it would be to kill the villainalthough the mysterious Council of Kangs seemed to pose a greater problem for the multiverse. Kang may have officially been replaced by Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, who will appear in the now-titled Avengers: Judgment Daybut the villain could be reinvented in the future of the MCU.
2
The High Evolutionary
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Despite only making one appearance in the MCU, Chukwudi Iwuji’s High Evolutionary has proven that he is one of the most sinister and terrifying beings in the franchise’s history. The High Evolutionary showed little care for the lives of others, toying with many living beings over decades, and even committing genocide on Counter-Earth without hesitation or remorse. Iwuji’s performance was incredible, one of the strongest in the MCU, and this only helped elevate the impact and emotional impact of 2023 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3James Gunn’s latest MCU film.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 proved that the High Evolutionary had a huge influence on the MCU, having created not only Rocket and his friends, but also the Highbreed, the Ani-Men, and facilities like the Orgoscope. The High Evolutionary is one of the most exciting inclusions in the Multiverse Saga, mainly because he is connected to so many other Marvel Comics characters.including Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, and these links could be confirmed in the future of the MCU. The High Evolutionary survived Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3so it’s likely Marvel isn’t done with him yet.
1
Cassandra Nova
Deadpool and Wolverine (2024)
Like Chukwudi Iwuji as the High Evolutionary, Emma Corrin left her mark on the MCU with just one appearance as Cassandra Nova in 2024. Deadpool and Wolverine. Cassandra Nova is perhaps the most powerful and dangerous supervillain ever introduced to the MCU, as she shares many abilities with the Omega-level mutant Charles Xavier, her twin brother, but uses these powers for her own twisted purposes.. In Deadpool and WolverineCassandra Nova escapes the Void in hopes of eradicating the entire multiverse using the TVA’s Time Ripper, and is only stopped by the combined power of Deadpool and Wolverine.
Emma Corrin’s performance as Cassandra Nova was incredible, filling the villain with intelligence and personality while proving that she is truly evil.. It’s very possible that Cassandra Nova will return to the MCU, even after her apparent death in Deadpool and Wolverineas Marvel Studios’ X-Men reboot is set to reinvent the core mutant team and its supporting characters and notable villains. Cassandra Nova’s debut in Deadpool and Wolverine has seriously increased the power status of the Multiverse Saga, and it will be difficult for future villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to match its harrowing impact.