The Marvel Universe was originally meant to be a more down-to-Earth, realistic universe than DC Comics. Representing “the world outside your window,” Marvel Comics often featured enemies that could reasonably be defeated by someone with exceptional talent and a brightly-colored costume. With time though, the universe has developed into a much more dangerous place.
Pretty much every superhero team frequently has run-ins with galaxy-level threats. While some heroes are able to keep pace with these threats, others desperately need some form of power upgrade if they’re going to remain relevant. Some of them already have ways to become more powerful, while others might have to seek help to reach that next level.
10/10 Iron Man Needs To Upgrade Back To More Powerful Hardware
It might seem ridiculous to say a man who can upgrade his armor whenever he wants needs a power upgrade. Of course, despite Tony Stark upgrading his armor all the time, it doesn’t stop him from getting trashed by anyone he fights during a Civil War, whether that’s Captain America or Captain Marvel.
The bigger problem is that Tony isn’t currently using any of his most powerful armors. The Model 70 is strong enough to make him a dangerous threat, but it doesn’t feel as technologically capable as the Extremis or the Bleeding Edge armor. Considering the kind of life Iron Man leads, it’s only a matter of time before he’ll need to step it up.
9/10 Colossus Needs Strength To Compete With Other Powerhouses
Colossus was introduced as the muscle of the X-Men. A young man with the ability to transform into organic steel, he’s certainly one of the most durable members of the group. However, his physical gifts have often been left wanting. Whether it’s Juggernaut or the Hulk, if Colossus has to go up against someone known for their strength in the Marvel Universe, he’s usually going to lose.
Early on, it was because of Colossus’ inexperience and unwillingness to fight. These days, it’s because his strength simply has an upper limit, and it doesn’t come close to the real tough guys in the Marvel Universe. He needs some kind of strength bump, preferably something permanent instead of the time he experimented with the bands of Cyttorak.
8/10 Hawkeye Needs To Be Able To Keep Up With The Other Avengers Again
Clint Barton was once considered so dangerous a fighter that even Iron Man lost to him at one point. Of course, that was in the early days when Iron Man’s armor could be charged with an electrical outlet, but it still speaks to how much of a threat Hawkeye could be.
These days, different interpretations of Hawkeye have shown him as an aging hero who struggles to keep up with the youth. It’s an admirable way to explore a superhero, but not when that superhero is constantly going up against threats that could end the world.
7/10 Jubilee Needs To Live Up To Her Potential
Jubilee’s been around long enough to go from a character the fandom made fun of for her weak powers in the ’92 cartoon to one people love because she’s an artifact of bygone ’90s culture. Regardless of how the fandom feels about her, she’s definitely underpowered.
Jubilee’s a prominent member of the X-Men thanks to her leadership abilities and training, but her blasts of energy often amount to little more than a fireworks show. She even seemed more dangerous as a vampire than she did as a mutant, but now that her real powers are back, they need to come with a massive boost in power.
6/10 Sam Wilson Needs Better Tech To Compensate For The Lack Of Super Soldier Serum
Sam Wilson has earned the right to be called Captain America. He’s spent years working as a crimefighter on his own, with Steve Rogers, and with the Avengers. However, he’s also comparatively underpowered compared to Steve or many of the other members of the Avengers.
With no Super-Soldier Serum to rely on, Sam instead utilizes tech that’s a mix of Wakandan and Stark technology, but that only grants him flight and the ability to protect himself. If he’s going to keep fighting, making an even bigger target for himself in the Captain America suit, at some point, he’ll need either better weapons or something to augment his strength.
5/10 Gamora Needs To Restore Her Title As The Most Dangerous Woman In The Universe
It might sound ridiculous to say someone with the title of The Most Dangerous Woman In The Universe needs a power-up. That title referred to Gamora when she was one of Thanos’ children or an assassin for the Magus. When her first answer to any problem was killing, it made her job much easier.
These days, as a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Gamora’s morals are less murky, and her enemies have only grown more powerful. She’s mostly taken killing off the table, meaning she needs to be that much stronger to deal with threats that pop up.
4/10 War Machine Needs To Be Upgraded Almost As Much As Iron Man
James Rhodes has spent years piloting some kind of armor, be it the Iron Man armor or the War Machine suit. Unlike Iron Man, he isn’t known for having dozens of different variations of his suit, having only worn nine models since the suit’s introduction.
Since James is usually reliant on someone else to build his armors, it takes him longer than anyone else to get proper upgrades. However, Rhodes knows just how dangerous it can be to not keep up with the times. His battle against Thanos before Civil War II almost cost him everything. If nothing else, Stark should supply him with far more frequent upgrades.
3/10 Stingray Needs To Keep Up With The Increasingly Dangerous Undersea Threats
Walter Newell is an example of a hero just trying to do the best with what he has. He invented the Stingray suit to let him survive at low depths, withstanding the pressures of the ocean and allowing him to breathe underwater. It grants him super-strength, gliding capabilities, and the ability to swim at high speeds.
The problem is, it’s also never protected Walter in any serious situation. He’s been beaten up by everyone from Iron Man to Namor over the years. While those heroes should be out of his league, it should never be quite that bad. Still, he continues to fight with the Avengers, so someone should really offer him an improved armor design.
2/10 Hobie Brown Needs A Suit Prepared To Fight Crime In New York City
Hobie Brown is an engineering genius who originally created the Prowler costume to commit crimes. After being caught by Spider-Man, he decided to turn his life around and has been an on-again, off-again hero ever since. Lately, he’s taken to wearing Spider-Man’s old Hornet costume, which is more powerful than the Prowler suit.
However, even the Hornet armor is an extreme downgrade if Hobie’s going to compete with some of the villains in New York City. With a suit that only grants flight, wrist blasters, and enhanced strength via the suit’s micro-servos, it’s not nearly strong enough to deal with even some of Spider-Man’s villains, never mind some of the bigger threats that he has to deal with.
1/10 Tigra Needs To Tap Into The Mystical Powers She’s Long Neglected
Tigra has been part of the Marvel Universe since the early ’70s, back when most threats to the Avengers were generally more terrestrial in nature. These days, the cosmic seems to knock on the Avengers’ door every other day, while even the villains on Earth have become more powerful and dangerous.
Tigra’s speed and reflexes can be dangerous if she catches someone off-guard, but it’s not enough to warrant her being a major player. She does seem to have powers beyond what she’s shown herself capable of, with a connection to the mystic realm that she’s largely left alone. If she’s going to continue to be part of the superhero community, she needs to tap into those very powers.
