In no surprise that a group like the Avengers would go up against Marvel’s worst of the worst. From criminal masterminds to world conquerors, the Avengers have fought and beaten them all. However, while fans know foes like Loki and Baron Zemo, there have been a few promising foes lost in the shuffle.
With a nearly 70-year history of enemies, not every foe whose battled Earth’s Mightiest Heroes has gotten their due. Even so, these lesser known threats should be given another shot to take the stage. Thanks to their unique powers, charming personalities, and intriguing backstories, these Marvel villains still have much to offer.
10/10 The Super Adaptoid Is A Super Villain Sponge
The villainous think tank A.I.M. has tried multiple times to seize world domination, always defeated by the Avengers and their allies. Their closet victory came in the form of the Super-Adaptoid, an android powered by a piece of the Cosmic Cube. The result was the robot’s power of mimicking the powers of its opponent, a worthy adversary for a team of the universe’s greatest heroes.
With his revival in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man, the Adaptoid should once again go toe to toe with the Avengers. The robot accuracy in duplicating abilities and powers, combined with its past knowledge of the team, could make the android a true powerhouse against the likes of heroic gods and monsters.
9/10 The Zodiac Has Multiple Incarnations
Several well-known villains and teams are known for their unique gimmicks and monikers. Case in point, the Zodiac are a group of costumed socialites who use their influence for world domination. Each member based off a zodiac sign, there have been multiple versions of this group, each using astrology to comic crimes.
With each new incarnation, the Zodiac stopped being constant threats, slowly becoming more of a nuisance rather than a criminal organization. The group has a unique appearance every time, constantly changing powers, and interesting plans for global takeover. The Zodiac should get another chance to become a challenging force to Marvel’s favorite heroes.
8/10 Ultimo Should Be A Big Deal
During a battle with the villainous Mandarin, he revealed he planned to unleash a powerful weapon to destroy China. Ultimo was that weapon, a gigantic android with unlimited capabilities, from absorbing unlimited energy to adapting to any environment. The robot was so powerful that it took the combined might of the Avengers and other various heroes to defeat it, but they couldn’t completely destroy it.
While Ultimo appeared time and again, the killing machine has laid dormant since its last battle with Iron Man in 2020. However, the humongous android should return, since its presence would call for all the Avengers to join forces to take down. If it receives an upgrade, it could lay the groundwork for a massive Marvel team up.
7/10 The Grim Reaper Needs A Resurrection
Some of the Avengers’ greatest foes are the villainous friends and family members of certain teammates. A costumed criminal who wields an advanced scythe, the Grim Reaper is Wonder Man’s brother. Over the years, he battled the Avengers alone or alongside other villain groups like the Lethal Legion. However, after his death, the Reaper hasn’t menaced the team in a while.
Despite being defeated, Grim Reaper shouldn’t be forgotten. Before his death, it was revealed that he learned how to use dark magic to revive the undead, becoming a necromancer. This power was enough to impress Apocalypse, who made Grim Reaper one of his Horsemen, a title only the worst of the worst receive. Overall, this ethereal enemy still has potential as a much bigger threat.
6/10 Immortus Can Manipulate Timelines
Kang the Conqueror is an Avengers foe who’s starting to gain interest thanks to his appearance in the MCU. A villain who often travels through possible futures and realities, different versions of Kang exist. One version, Immortus, is considered the peak of Kang’s evolution, yet he doesn’t have as much influence in the Avengers series.
Immortus is a tyrant who seeks to keep Kang on his path of victory, working behind the scenes of time itself to keep his younger self on track. He also ushered events in his favor, such as Scarlet Witch and Vison’s marriage and Iron Man’s downfall to villainy. A foe of this magnitude shouldn’t be underestimated. Immortus threatens more than just the timeline; he threatens alternate realities as well.
5/10 Korvac Was One Of The Avenger’s Biggest Foes
The’ Korvac Saga’ is one of the most iconic storylines in Avengers lore. Its titular foe, Michael Korvac, was a human from the future who escaped in order to reshape the past and fix his future. It took a team up between every Avenger at this point in history with the Guardians of the Galaxy to stop him. Although the story is a beloved classic, Korvac’s various returns never held up, resulting in poor reception.
For a being with infinite cosmic power and the knowledge of the future, Korvac should be seen as a bigger deal in Marvel. Especially with the universe always being reshaped by various heroes and villains constantly, a foe who can warp these altered timelines to his liking would allow for new and interesting battles.
4/10 Master Pandemonium Sowed Chaos In The Avengers’ Lore
The Avengers’ various battles sometimes leaves wounds that impact the team. Master Pandemonium was an agent of Mephisto who desired to reclaim his soul after the devil scattered it. His quest involved various battles with the West Coast Avengers. Master Pandemonium found several parts of his soul masquerading as Scarlet Witch and Vision’s children. When he claimed them, he advertently set up the events that lead to Wanda’s downward spiral.
The demonic sorcerer would slowly fade away after this encounter, appearing in the background of other stories. Master Pandemonium’s knowledge of the underworld and connection to Mephisto make him a deadly foe. Should he return, a battle between him and Scarlet Witch’s returned twins could spark a family reunion for the ages.
3/10 Graviton Is A Force Of Nature
Graviton is one of those classic villains who has been sadly sidelined over the years. An explosion gave scientist Frank Hall the power to manipulate gravity to his will. His powers, along with his intellect, made him one of the Avengers’ most powerful foes. His last notable appearance was in Secret Empire, when he was recruited into Zemo’s army.
Graviton is one of those enemies whose gravitational powers force the entire team to think outside the box. Similarly, his appearances in other media like Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. have showed fans what this living embodiment of gravity can do. Graviton is due for a return, and he’ll certainly make an impact if he does.
2/10 Count Nefaria Is A Criminal Powerhouse
There are many crime families operating throughout the Marvel universe. The Maggia crime organization is led by Count Nefaria, a wealthy socialite with an unquenchable greed. This, tied to his constant battles with the Avengers and X-Men, led to Nefaria’s own experimentation, which turned him into a one-man army.
Although his most recent return was during Devil’s Reign, it’s about time for the Count to take his place as a prime Avenger foe. Besides his connections to multiple syndicates, he has enough power to take down any superhero single-handedly. A superhuman mob boss could make for an awesome adversary against the all-powerful Avengers.
1/10 The Masters of Evil Boasts Impressive Power
It’s no surprise that the Avengers’ presence would force unlikely enemies to team up against them. The antithesis of the Avengers, the Masters of Evil comprises some of the most dastardly villains in the Marvel universe. Usually led by the calculating Baron Zemo, the group has battled the heroes on multiple occasions.
The group has since been sidelined, seen more as a laughingstock in recent years. With Zemo’s return, it’s about time the Master of Evil rise again. With iconic, powerful members and new villains always springing up, the team could use their knowledge and power to push Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to their limits.
