Exploring Top Marvel Villains Beyond Kang

The Multiverse Saga has taken flight and with it comes the promise of a top tier marvel villian.

One that is getting set to terrorise our heroes within the interconnected franchise in the foreseeable future. While the position for top tier villain has ultimately gone to Kang (whether it be The Conquerer variant, some other variant or even a swarm of variants).

It is undeniable that The Multiverse Saga has already introduced some compelling players [through standalone features]. Many of whom could easily give the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes a run for their money if Kang was somehow indisposed. Or even in a Team up/Avengers feature.

The Scarlet Witch

Wanda transitioning to The Scarlet Witch was something comic book fans thought would never come to light. Given how the character had been introduced and developed in the MCU up on till Phase 4. But it wasn’t even the fact that Scarlet Witch was finally birth but rather how she was birth.

As WandaVision clearly took inspiration from The House of M storyline in the comics, even though such inspiration was more conceptual than executional.

The House of M event as portrayed in Marvel Comics, could be considered as a crisis level event. As it is one of those rare occurrences that features both The Avengers and The X-Men within the same story.

Essentially, both heroic factions come together to stop Wanda from destroying reality when she goes rogue due to a traumatic experience.

With the actual concept in play, the MCU could easily make an entire Saga out of this or churn out several Avengers movies. That see Earth’s Mightiest Heroes having to deal with the ramifications of a broken reality, if their initial confrontation were to go awry.

And while we’re at it, the ever stewing induction of the mutants into the MCU could be made possible through this storyline.

Namor

It’s been a long time coming but The Submariner (and King of Atlantis in Marvel Comics) has finally made his silver screen debut. With the character having more of an antihero narrative. It’s highly improbable to sell him as a Saga-type villain.

Rather the character is best left as a one-off Avengers feature film villain.

But at this point that’s also impossible since the character has already filled the antagonistic role for the Black Panther sequel.

However, in another universe, Namor could totally pose a threat to the super team of The MCU. Something even the character’s right hand man (Attuma), was capable of doing in the Avengers Assemble animated series.

And when real world facts are considered. The fact that Earth’s composition is majorly water, around 70% to be exact. Then you have a villain who needn’t cosmic MacGuffins or phenomenal mystic powers to subject Earth to great peril.

The High Evolutionary

When it comes to characters that have an extensive outreach in the Marvel Comics universe, few can rival the domineering figure that is, The High Evolutionary.

The character is essentially an immensely brilliant geneticist who teeters on the side of evil. In the comics, his genetic repertoire consists of the Maximoff Twins, The New Men (consisting of both the Ani-Men and Ani Mutants) as well as offering tutelage and an all powerful upgrade to the advanced humanoid specimen, Adam Warlock.

Even though his repertoire doesn’t extend as far in the MCU, it is still impressive nonetheless. As it was implied [in GOTG Vol. 3] that the character was not only responsible for the creation of New Men/Ani-Men & Counter Earth. But also the creation of The Sovereign as well as the newly minted live-action version of Adam Warlock.

While the character [in live action] will forever be relegated to a Guardians villain. It stands to reason that for an antagonistic character to be considered ‘a god’, he could prove to be a handful for a multitude of heroes if given the chance.

Infact, the GOTG rogues gallery as depicted so far in the MCU, could be reimagined as formidable foes for the Avengers.

Super Skrulls

As if it wasn’t intimidating enough that the Skrulls were inherently shapeshifters. Time and ambition also made the Skrulls formidable adversaries to the Marvel Comics Universe.

Secret Invasion that tells the story of imperialistic Skrulls seeking usurp humanity from Earth.

This then paves the way for the Skrulls to be just as formidable as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Whilst also bearing the trump card of shapeshifting.

Though the MCU chooses to subvert expectations by going the less ambitious route. The final destination of Skrulls gaining superpowers still finds its way into the narrative via The Harvest.

Moreover, if more rogue or impetuous Skrulls (like Gravik) had gotten their hands on it. The consequences would have been [beyond] catastrophic.

Infinity Ultron

In Marvel Comics, they are only a handful of villians who have thoroughly tested the might of Earth’s Heroes. With Ultron being a part of that handful and even arguably being part of the top contenders in the list.

The MCU animated TV series, What If…? introduces a more terrifying concept with Infinity Ultron.

Ultron as a sentient AI was already trouble enough, and in the series he is given greater power, courtesy of the Infinity Stones and a Vibranium body.

For the uninitiated, the character becomes so powerful that after he utterly annihilates all life within his universe. He gains multiversal awareness and begins going after other universes.

So much so that Uatu, The Watcher is forced to intervene. Initially doing battle with the genocidal AI before eventually assembling The Guardians of the Multiverse.

Say what you will about Kang’s multiversal dealings. There’s no denying the fact that if given the chance. Infinity Ultron could be the greatest threat to the Multiverse.

For now, a Kang variant can be seen in Loki season 2 Episode 3. With new episodes releasing on a weekly basis.

Also Kang is set to resurface in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and possibly Avengers: Secret Wars.

Both set for theatrical release May 1, 2026 and May 7, 2027 respectively.