Powerful Marvel Characters That Could Destroy The Universe

Key Takeaways

The Marvel universe is filled with powerful villains like Malekith, Wiccan, and The Maker who pose a threat to reality itself.
Characters like Jean Grey, Doctor Doom, and Galactus have the potential to destroy planets and universes with their abilities.
Living Tribunal, Scarlet Witch, and Thanos are among the strongest beings in Marvel with the power to wipe out realities at will.

In my humble opinion as a lifelong Marvel fan and avid comic book reader, I must say that the characters listed here are indeed some of the most formidable forces the universe has ever known.

The Marvel universe is populated by numerous deity-like entities and potent sorcerers, making it constantly vulnerable to attacks. There’s a diverse array of mutants, magicians, and literal gods who possess the potential to exterminate all life. Although not inherently malicious, some of these beings are determined to unleash havoc using their powers.

In numerous scenarios, it’s been fortunate that disaster has been averted thanks to The Avengers stepping in at the last moment. Yet, when pitted against cosmic entities with lifespans spanning billions of years, even they may not have the power to safeguard the universe. Nevertheless, there are some formidable Marvel characters who could potentially disrupt reality itself.

10 Malekith

Leader Of The Dark Elves

Powerful Marvel Characters That Could Destroy The Universe

First Appearance: Thor #344 (1984)

Leading the Dark Elf faction, Malekith stands out as a formidable adversary within the realm of Thor. With mastery over dark magic and the ancient winter’s box, Malekith was a menacing antagonist in Thor: The Dark World. Yet, his power escalated significantly when he transformed the Reality Stone into a weapon known as Aether.

Utilizing the full potential of his arsenal and skills, Malekith possesses the capability to immerse the entire cosmos into darkness, annihilating all existing life forms. However, it’s crucial to note that he can only accomplish this during the Convergence – a unique moment when the Nine Realms are perfectly aligned and at their most vulnerable.

9 Wiccan

A Reality-Warping Mutant

First Appearance: Young Avengers #1 (2005)

Like Scarlet Witch, the character known as Wiccan also has the power to reshape reality. Over time, these abilities have grown immensely, making him a figure akin to The Demiurge, capable of potentially destroying the universe.

At the pinnacle of his abilities, he grew so potent that he stood ready to assume the role of the Supreme Sorcerer. Yet, despite being part of the Young Avengers, Wiccan harbored noble intentions. Nevertheless, should he succumb to corruption and align with the dark forces, the universe could face imminent destruction.

8 Reed Richards (The Maker)

Genius Turned Rogue

First Appearance: Ultimate Fantastic Four #1 (2004)

Fans have often pondered what might occur if Reed Richards, renowned for his immense intellect, were to stray from the path of righteousness. And that’s precisely what unfolded with the character known as The Maker – Reed Richards decided to embrace the dark side, and in doing so, his powers and abilities transformed into a potential danger.

In this role, he possessed both elasticity and the unique talent to shape reality itself. Moreover, he is armed with comprehensive knowledge about the multiverse and the Council of Reeds, which makes him a formidable force. Throughout the events of Secret Wars, he participated in the destruction of numerous universes in order to safeguard his own. With minimal effort, he could obliterate another universe entirely.

7 Jean Grey

The Dark Phoenix

First Appearance: The X-Men #1 (1963)

Jean Grey, an Omega-level mutant, is not someone you’d want to underestimate. Though generally kind-hearted, her transformation under the influence of the cosmic Phoenix Force can turn her into a formidable antagonist. Beyond her natural abilities of telepathy and telekinesis, when empowered by the Phoenix Force, she possesses the capacity to manipulate space and time.

Moreover, she possesses an extraordinary capacity to harness all forms of energy and adapt to any surroundings. Previously, in different scenarios, she succumbed to dark influences that resulted in her annihilating a solar system and devouring the universe. Therefore, it’s safe to assert that she is not likely to repeat such actions.

6 Doctor Doom

The Scientific Supervillain

First Appearance: Fantastic Four #5 (1962)

Much like Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards), Doctor Doom possesses an extraordinary intellect. Unlike Reed Richards who dedicates his genius towards shielding humanity from various perils, Doctor Doom channels his intellect in a contrasting manner. Instead of safeguarding mankind, he devises plots to create new dangers for the universe.

Known as one of Marvel’s most legendary villains, Doctor Doom is a powerful sorcerer. His blend of dark magic, scientific expertise, and indomitable determination make him an impressive adversary. In the storyline of Secret Wars, he seizes the powers of the Beyonders to transform into the God Emperor Doom. This newfound ability allows him to combine realities and entire universes, a power that, if he chose to use it, could potentially erase these universes altogether.

5 Galactus

The Devourer Of Worlds

First Appearance: Fantastic Four #48 (1966)

Galactus, often referred to as ‘The World Devourer’, is an ideal character for our discussion. Possessing the power to metamorphose matter, he can convert entire planets into energy and subsequently consume them. Consistently adhering to his moniker, he has devoured countless celestial bodies.

Although Galactus, being a cosmic titan, doesn’t typically go on a destructive feeding spree, if he were to find himself in a state of hunger, it would certainly pose a challenge for our superheroes. In essence, given his immense power, Galactus has the ability to convert entire universes into energy and consume them without much difficulty.

4 Kang The Conqueror

The Conqueror From The Future

First Appearance: The Avengers #8 (1964)

Kang the Conqueror, or Nathaniel Richards, is a future descendant of Reed Richards. Hailing from the family of Richard, Kang possesses a genius-level intellect and has perfected time travel technology in the 31st Century. With the combined power of time manipulation and futuristic tech, Kang becomes a formidable villain in The Avengers storyline.

On several instances, Kang has posed a significant risk to the stability of space-time, and with aspirations of becoming a ruler, he’s placed the entire universe in peril. Although his goal doesn’t seem to be the annihilation of the universe, there’s a real possibility that he might succeed.

3 Thanos

An Eternal Turned God

First Appearance: The Invincible Iron Man #55 (1973)

Hailing from Titan, Thanos is arguably Marvel’s most famous antagonist. His screen time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has made him a beloved character among fans. Although he doesn’t succeed in his ultimate objective within the MCU narrative, this does not diminish his impactful legacy.

As an Eternal, Thanos is often referred to as being almost immortal. He possesses numerous talents, such as a genius-level mind and telepathic abilities, without even mentioning his primary tool of destruction: the Infinity Gauntlet. When armed with the power of the Infinity Gauntlet and all six Infinity Stones, Thanos becomes akin to a deity, capable of annihilating the entire universe if needed.

2 Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff)

The Chaotic Sorcerer

First Appearance: The X-Men #4 (1964)

Much like her son, Scarlet Witch poses a significant danger within the Marvel Universe. Her expertise lies in manipulating chaos magic, which allows her to distort reality and time. Yet, this is only scratching the surface of her abilities. Under specific circumstances, she possesses the power to either generate or eliminate individuals from any corner of the universe, earning her a place among the most potent characters ever conceived.

To put it simply, she possesses immense power, capable of annihilating entire universes and crafting fresh realities as if they were mere trinkets. In the comic book “House of M,” for instance, she constructs an alternate universe where mutants reign supreme. Furthermore, in the movie “Multiverse of Madness,” her actions send ripples across multiple dimensions, posing a danger not just to individual realities but to the very fabric of reality itself.

1 Living Tribunal

An Actual God-Like Being

First Appearance: Strange Tales #157 (1967)

It wouldn’t be inaccurate to refer to the Living Tribunal as a deity within the Marvel universe. As the cosmic judge overseeing the multiverse, his power is immense and places him among the most potent beings across Marvel. With the ability to erase realities in an instant due to his limitless might, he holds immense influence.

As the overseer of the multiverse, his responsibility is to maintain order and harmony across all realities. To fulfill this duty, he possesses knowledge of every happening in each and every timeline. In order to preserve balance within the multiverse, he has the power to eliminate an entire timeline if he deems it necessary.

2024-08-25 15:34