There is the possibility of Galactus could be the next big bad in UCM following the Multiverse Saga, which opens comparisons with other villains such as Thanos and Kang. Played by Ralph Ineson, Galactus joins a cast of characters to The Fantastic Four: Getting Startedthe introduction to Marvel’s “First Family” in the MCU. While he's set to appear in the film, it's unclear whether he'll be unsure of what significant role he'll play, as Marvel may want to keep him around as one of the universe's big bads going forward.
The MCU timeline has seen a number of serious threats emerge over the years, with Thanos being the final villain in the Infinity Saga, while Kang was set to take on the role of the overarching villain in the Multiverse Saga. Things changed, and the universe moved away from Kang as a big bad, positioning Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom to essentially take his place. With Galactus appearing in The Fantastic Four: Getting Startedthe MCU has another character who could fulfill a similar role, questioning who is really the most powerful big bad in the universe.
Galactus' powers explained
Since Galactus won't appear in an MCU film until July 2025, the actual power his film adaptation will have on screen is unknown. Yet, Galactus is one of the most powerful beings in Marvel Comics. He is a cosmic entity that literally devours planets as a way to sustain himself. Galactus can change his size at will. He is essentially immortal and possesses god-like strength, speed, and endurance. He can also control and manipulate souls, and grant the Power Cosmic to his Heralds.
Since The Fantastic Four: Getting Started is set to be his MCU debut, the film could potentially deal with the threat of Galactus coming to Earth to feed on him. This would make him a direct threat to the entire MCU in the process. If and When Galactus becomes a big bad for the universe, it will take every hero, and perhaps a few villains, that the MCU has at its disposal to overcome his power.
Thanos' powers explained
For most of the first three phases of the MCU, Thanos served as a background villain. His all-encompassing presence was especially felt with the introduction of his daughters Gamora and Nebula into Guardians of the Galaxy. Although he has been provoked already The Avengershe finally became the big bad in Avengers: Infinity Warand the opening scene showed how powerful he was. Thanos was able to easily defeat Hulk in hand-to-hand combat, quickly knocking him out. This was before he had all the Infinity Stones too, which is an incredible feat.
Add the Infinity Stones to the mix and Thanos is virtually unstoppable. He was able to alter reality and rewind time by turning his wrist. The moment that really shows how powerful Thanos is is when he takes Thor's Stormbreaker straight to the chest and still manages to snap his fingers, causing half of existence in the universe to be wiped out in an instant. If Thanos had kept the stones instead of using them to destroy himself, he could have ruled the universe for the rest of his life, but that was never his goal.
Kang's powers explained
Throughout his limited appearances in the MCU, Kang was a multiversal being who could travel through time and has practically an unlimited number of variants at his disposal in the multiverse. He and the rest of the Kangs created the Council of Kangs, ruling over possible timeline realities and changing them according to their will. Couple this with his technology, especially his suit, which grants him a range of powers, including superhuman strength, and Kang is incredibly powerful.
Unfortunately, the full extent of Kang's power will likely never be seen in the MCU. He has already been positioned to be the main villain in both Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Warsmeaning his power set would be large enough to take on Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Kang's true power comes from his ability to travel through time, the technology at his disposal, and the sheer number of Kangs that exist. Not only may he be the biggest physical threat despite his strength, but he is also an extremely dangerous villain for the Avengers.
Thanos is the most powerful
Ultimately, it is the MCU's first big bad, Thanos, who comes out on top. Although Kang is extremely powerful in theory, his only full appearance in the universe ended with him losing to Ant-Man. The idea that a seemingly infinite number of Kangs exist in the multiverse, and he is able to manipulate timelines to suit himself, should make him incredibly powerful, but what was seen on screen doesn't compare to Thanos wielding the Infinity Gauntlet or an eating world like Galactus.
Galactus is extremely powerful and should be a serious problem for the Avengers to face. However, Thanos with the Infinity Stones is very strong. He can manipulate reality and time, and is only stopped by a clever plan by the Avengers to travel through time and retrieve the stones, catching him off guard in the process. That being said, villains and heroes will always be compared by fans hoping to discuss how their favorite characters stack up, especially the big bads of the UCM.
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February 14, 2025
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July 25, 2025
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July 24, 2026
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