Top 10 Marvel Gods You Wouldn't Want to Meet in a Dark Alley

Summary

Ares, the Greek God of War, loves to witness the atrocities of Mankind during wartime and has caused horrific conflicts throughout history.
Loki, the God of Mischief, constantly seeks power and has caused much death and destruction, including tricking Thor into killing friends.
Knull, the Eldritch God of Darkness, seeks to rid the universe of light, created the Symbiotes, and waged a genocidal war against other Gods.

The Marvel Universe teems with captivating deities, from well-known mythological figures such as Zeus and Odin, to unique inventions like Knull and Cyttoarak. Regrettably, not every one of these gods embodies heroism. Instead, some choose to exploit their power and status to sow disorder, devastation, and unadulterated wickedness across the cosmos.

From deities who’ve strayed from their original paths to entities of unadulterated malevolence, these divine beings have enslaved entire cosmic realms, wiped out entire galaxy clusters, and posed an existential threat to all creation. Whether it’s a craving for war or a destructive intent to annihilate all life that drives them, these are the most wicked deities in the Marvel multiverse.

10. Ares

The Greek God Of War

First Appearance – Human Torch #5 (1941)
Creator – Carl Burgos
Mythology – Greek

In Marvel Comics’ Greek Pantheon, though not the strongest deity, Ares, the War God, is infamous for his malevolent and brutal disposition. Given his title alone, it’s hardly shocking that he revels in warfare and its trappings, particularly when given the opportunity to observe mankind’s destructive acts during times of conflict.

It’s been noted that Ares is often blamed for numerous bloody conflicts across history, allegedly swaying the thoughts of Roman commanders, deceiving the Knights Templar, pushing Napoleon towards greater brutality, and impacting the Nazi regime. Furthermore, Ares was reportedly part of the Dark Avengers and orchestrated the Siege of Asgard. Despite attempts to make amends for his wrongdoings, Ares has been consistently linked with evil actions throughout history, landing him on this list.

9. Loki

The God Of Mischief

First Appearance – Venus #6 (1949)
Creator – Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby
Mythology – Norse

As a movie enthusiast, I must say it’s no wonder that the Trickster God, known for his mischief, deceit, and wickedness, finds himself high on my list of memorable villains. Across different storylines, Loki has consistently portrayed an evil character, yearning for the throne of Asgard. Whether it’s outmaneuvering his brother or challenging his father, Loki has left a trail of death and devastation in his wake throughout the years.

During the Dark Avengers saga, Loki disguised himself as the Green Goblin to deceive Norman Osborn. By doing so, he manipulated him into orchestrating a fake attack on a sports event, which ultimately led to the loss of thousands of innocent lives. This tragedy was used by Osborn as a pretext for attacking Asgard. Beyond his typical machinations, Loki has also deceived Thor into killing his companions, caused his own mother’s demise, and destroyed Kid Loki.

8. Hela

The Goddess Of Death

First Appearance – Journey into Mystery #102 (1964)
Creator – Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
Mythology – Norse

Born as Loki’s daughter, Hela Laufeyson was fated to tread a wicked path since her inception. Despite admonitions from the Fates, on the day of maturity, Odin proclaimed that Hela would assume the role of Goddess of Death and govern Niffleheim and Hel (Hell).

For countless years, I held dominion over the realms of the departed, but my contentment waned, and a yearning for greater authority took root within me. This insatiable hunger for power led me astray, corrupting my thoughts and actions, compelling me to employ ruthless tactics to amass more power. I resorted to plucking the souls of the blameless prematurely, using them as cannon fodder to swell the ranks of my legions of death.

7. Cul Borson

The God Of Fear, Brother Of Odin

First Appearance – Fear Itself (2011)
Creator – Stuart Immonen, Matt Fraction
Mythology – Norse

In simpler terms, we can say that Cul, who is Odin’s brother and Bor Burison’s son, has never held his younger sibling in high regard and aspires to regain the Asgardian throne for himself. Known as the God of Fear, Cul finds joy in misery, pain, dread, and conflicts, spreading fear wherever he roams. His unhealthy fixation on fear has led him to make numerous harmful decisions over time.

Perhaps his most evil act was during the ‘Fear Itself’ storyline, in which Cul escaped his prison and unleashed a horrific terror on the Earth, the likes that Humankind had never seen before. During this storyline, he nearly destroyed Asgard, killed his nephew Thor (albeit temporarily), and nearly killed all of Earth’s mightiest heroes.

6. Cyttoarak

The God That Empowers The Juggernaught

First Appearance – Strange Tales #124 (1964)
Creator – Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Alex Toth
Mythology – Marvel

Often called by multiple titles, such as the Destroyer, Master of Tempests, or Lord of Forgetfulness, the formidable entity known as Cyttoarak holds a god-like status in the Marvel universe. This terrifying figure strikes fear and awe among the mythos due to his association with death, destruction, and chaos. Most notably recognized by his alter ego, the Juggernaut, Cyttoarak’s legend is deeply ingrained in Marvel lore.

In the vibrant expanse known as the Crimson Cosmos, Cyttoarak manipulates and deceives living beings, compelling them into his malevolent tasks. What truly defines Cyttoarak as wicked is his uncomplicated affection for death and devastation. Unlike others on this list, he doesn’t orchestrate complex plots or strategies; instead, he derives pleasure from observing the suffering of others.

5. Knull

The Creator Of The Symbiotes

First Appearance – Thor: God of Thunder #6 (2013)
Creator – Donny Cates, Ryan Stegman
Mythology – Marvel

As the cosmic deity of darkness, Knull aims to eliminate all light from the universe, going to great lengths to achieve this objective. Originally proposed to be a ruler maintaining balance with light in the emerging cosmos by the Celestials, Knull rejected their offer violently, beheading one of them. Instead, he harnessed its power to forge the All-Black Necrosword.

Knull, with the intent of casting the universe into an endless night, spawned the Symbiotes and initiated a devastating war against the Celestials, other divine beings, and life in general. For eons, Knull has been a creature of unrelenting horror across the cosmos, leaving behind no trace of how many lives have perished in his path of malevolence.

4. Set

The First Murderer

First Appearance – Marvel Tales #96 (1950)
Creator – Robert E Howard, Mike Friedrich
Mythology – Marvel

From the earliest days on Earth, Set is recognized as one of the primordial Deities, ancient beings endowed with tremendous magical abilities. Upon liberation, he was capable of devouring the powers of his fellow Deities. Tragically, Set murdered his brother Hapi and absorbed his vital energy. This act marked the first instance of murder recorded in history, leading the other Deities towards a sinister course.

Following the downfall of the Ancient Deities, Set secluded himself within a miniature cosmic realm, inaccessible to full materialization on Earth. Due to this constraint, Set has been striving for millennia to restore his complete might, generating monstrous entities such as the Lycanthropes, Harpies, and Elder Fiends to carry out his commands. Over time, he has influenced numerous minds, compelling them to perpetrate abominable deeds in his service.

3. Mephisto

The Lord Of The Lower Depths

First Appearance – Bible Tales for Young Folk #1 (1953)
Creator – Stan Lee, John Busceme
Mythology – Marvel

Mephisto might not be the literal Devil, but he is a formidable demon who governs his realm, often referred to as Hell. Ever since his inception, Mephisto has been involved in numerous malicious deeds, such as tormenting the Silver Surfer and Doctor Strange, ensnaring Cynthia Von Doom’s soul, and orchestrating countless atrocities that have claimed many lives throughout human history.

One potential rephrasing could be: The One More Day storyline is a well-known instance that underscores Mephisto’s true wickedness. In this narrative, when Aunt May gets shot, Mephisto offers Peter Parker an unparalleled bargain – saving Aunt May in exchange for annulling his marriage to Mary Jane. With no alternative choices, Peter and Mary Jane accept the deal. Just before Mephisto erases their marriage from history, he heartlessly shows them the child they would have had if they hadn’t made the pact.

2. Chthon

The Creator Of The Darkhold

First Appearance – Marvel Chillers #1 (1975)
Creator – Mark Wolfman, Bill Mantlo
Mythology – Marvel

In a previous listing, we find Chthon, an ancient deity from Marvel Comics, labeled as an Elder God. He is infamous for penning the malevolent tome known as the Darkhold. This ominous book, brimming with evil, serves Chthon’s purpose of preserving his control over Earth while he dwells within his pocket dimension. Despite its immense power, the Darkhold induces madness in readers and irreversibly corrupts their very souls.

Chthon aims to annihilate every aspect of existence, and he’s almost succeeded multiple times. Some of his most wicked deeds involve: seizing possession of the Scarlet Witch, nearly eradicating all mutants on Earth, reshaping reality according to his twisted vision, and releasing vampires, werewolves, and other malevolent supernatural beings into the world.

1. Amatsu Mikaboshi

The God Of Evil

First Appearance – Marvel Chillers #1 (1975)
Creator – Mark Wolfman, Bill Mantlo
Mythology – Marvel

Amatsu Mikaboshi, also known as the Chaos King, is a malevolent deity from Japanese mythology who represents Oblivion, an ancient cosmic force that predates the Multiverse. His mission in life is to sow destruction and chaos across the Multiverse without any desire for control or rule. Instead, his goal is to erase everything forever.

During the Chaos War, Amatsu Mikaboshi declared war on all of existence, intending to return the multiverse to pure nothingness. He went on a rampage and consumed the life force of entire pantheons of gods, destroyed the Afterlife, defeated the likes of Odin and Zeus, and struck fear into the hearts of beings like Eternity and Infinity. What makes Amatsu Mikaboshi so evil is his simplicity, you cannot reason with him, you cannot begin to understand him, he simply wants to end everything and will stop at nothing to do so.

2025-02-26 10:35

Top 10 Marvel Gods You Wouldn’t Want to Meet in a Dark Alley