Marvel Comics is filled with many iconic villains. From evil scientists to alien warlords, the universe has a diverse roster of evildoers. With so many characters populating the world, creators sometimes choose to swap a popular character's gender, resulting in a new character with familiar qualities.

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While readers may get uneasy when a new character takes a mantle of a preexisting one, a few gender-flipped Marvel villains have made an impact. Combined with new costumes and captivating personalities, several of these swaps have become beloved enemies, sometimes becoming more notable than the character they're based on.

10 Lady Mastermind Is As Cunning As Her Father

Lady Mastermind posing from Marvel Comics.

The Hellfire Club is an evil organization composed of some of the most powerful mutants in the world, which included the mental manipulator Mastermind. He proved to be one of the X-Men's greatest enemies, notably influencing Jean Grey, which led to her transformation into the Dark Phoenix. While he succumbed to the Legacy Virus, Mastermind's legacy lived on with his daughter.

Regan Wyngarde received her father's powers of illusion casting, her telepathic hallucinations able to take shape in the real world. Her powers, combined with her exuberant personality, made her one of the X-Men's most dangerous female villains. Whether she was working on her own, as part of the Hellfire Club, or with the Marauders, Lady Mastermind meant business.

9 Namor Wrought Mass Destruction As The Dark Phoenix

Namor floods Wakanda in Avengers vs X-Men by Marvel Comics

The Dark Phoenix has been forever tied to Jean Grey, and the entity nearly destroyed the Marvel Universe. Since then, other wielders have possessed the Phoenix Force's power. Unfortunately, when the Phoenix split into five separate hosts during Avengers Vs. X-Men, one of these hosts used its powers with horrifying consequences.

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Namor, a rebellious mutant and former Avenger, was already a powerful combatant before getting hold of the Phoenix's power. While he seemed a good host at first, Namor's ego and anger against the Avengers drove him over the edge. At one point, Namor brought a tsunami down on Wakanda, slaughtering many innocents and earning the Black Panther's rage.

8 Lady Bullseye Was Inspired To Kill

Lady Bullseye leaning on the side of a building in Marvel Comics

Bullseye ranks as one of Marvel's top assassins, his operations usually putting him at odds with Daredevil and Elektra. During one of his missions, he killed Yakuza mobsters who had abducted young girls. Now freed, one of these girls saw Bullseye as her savior, desired to follow in his footsteps, and became a trained killer.

Lady Bullseye proved a talented mercenary who could match Bullseye's accuracy and fighting technique. Recognizing her skill, the ninja organization the Hand had her as one of their top agents before Daredevil took control. Lady Bullseye has since returned to battle the Man Without Fear on multiple occasions, hoping to beat him as her inspiration did.

7 Ana Kravinoff Is Heir To A Hunter's Legacy

Ana Kravinoff holding a knife in Marvel Comics

Sometimes the children of Marvel's greatest villains have the desire to get into the family business. Ana was trained alongside her other stepbrothers to continue their father Kraven's mission. After Kraven died failing to defeat Spider-Man, the Kravinoff children worked tirelessly to get revenge on Spider-Man and prove themselves better hunters than their father.

In Ana's case, her fighting and tracking skills had already surpassed her father's, relying more on strategy than using physical force. While deadly on her own, Ana has relied on her brothers and other villains to do her dirty work, hanging back until she could go in for the kill. Sadly, like her father, Ana's arrogance keeps her from killing the often annoying wallcrawler.

6 Miss Sinister Craves Knowledge

Miss Sinister from Marvel Comics

Forever seeking the secrets of evolution, Mister Sinister could be considered one of the X-Men's strongest adversaries. Although he seemingly perishes in every battle, he has mastered the art of cloning himself, sometimes in alternate forms. One of these clones was the body of a female victim who took on a mind of its own.

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Miss Sinister is as calculating as her predecessor, with the same goals in mind. She has a fascination with other mutants, especially the children of Wolverine, trying to unlock their secrets for her gain. Even though she seemingly perished, she can return at any time, as her creator has previously done.

5 Janice Lincoln's Beetle Soars Above The Rest

Janice Lincoln flying as the new Beetle in Marvel Comics

The Beetle is considered a C-list criminal, not on par with the likes of the violent Green Goblin or Venom. Many small-time crooks have taken the mantle, with only a few tied to the insect armor. One of these poor souls is Janice Lincoln, a lawyer who happens to be the daughter of the classic Spider-Man rogue, the Tombstone.

While she may possess her father's money, Janice seeks to earn her own legacy. Wearing an updated version of the Beetle suit, she has proven herself a worthy successor. Besides taking on Spider-Man one-on-one, she's led her own versions of the Sinister Six and the Sinister Syndicate.

4 Scream Should Be Feared

Scream choking an innocent victim in Marvel Comics

The Symbiotes have plagued the Marvel universe, creating monsters who have ravaged the galaxy. Using various hosts to enact their schemes, some take after Venom, becoming threats to Earth's greatest champions. However, other symbiotes have gone unnoticed. Scream came into being when the Venom symbiote was harvested into five pieces.

Possessing disgraced security guard, Donna Diego, Scream proved to be the strongest of the five. Combining all of Venom's powers with the unstable nature of Carnage made her a threat to Spider-Man and Venom in the 90s. While other Marvel women have become Scream, Donna's time under the symbiote's control remains iconic to long-time Venom readers.

3 Lady Octopus Matches Her Mentor's Brilliance

Lady Octopus using her tentacles in Marvel Comics

Ever since Otto Octavius was turned into the villainous Doctor Octopus, the brilliant scientist continued to be one of Spider-Man's most popular rivals. When Otto was murdered by the Peter Parker clone Kaine, it seemed his legacy had ended. To fans' surprise, Otto's former assistant Carolyn Trainer developed her own armor tentacles and sought to continue her professor's legacy.

While young, Carolyn had a genius-level intellect that could rival even Octavius' mind. Along with her upgraded tentacles, she plagued both Spider-Man and Ben Reilly for years. When her master returned, Carolyn separated herself from her mentor and operated as Lady Octopus.

2 Lady Loki Plotted From The Shadows

Marvel Comics' Lady Loki standing in the shadows

The charismatic God of Mischief has always found ways to slip away from harm to continue causing trouble in Asgard and Earth. When Asgard fell during the destruction caused in Ragnarök, Loki was among those who seemingly perished in the battle. However, when several fallen gods were discovered to have reincarnated on Earth, Loki's return was a bit of a shock to readers.

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Now in the form of a woman, Loki continued to cause chaos while on Earth. She joined the secret society, the Cabal, twisting certain events during Dark Reign to her favor. From getting Norman Osborn to return to his Green Goblin persona to the second destruction of Asgard, Lady Loki almost got away with it all, but the Sentry killed her. When Loki returned, he was in his original form once more.

1 Moonstone Has Surpassed Her Precursor

Marvel's Moonstone getting angry and about to use her powers

Moonstone can be considered one of Marvel's strongest female villains. Possessing an alien stone that gives her superpowers, combined with her cunning personality, makes her a genuine force to be reckoned with. However, the former member of the Thunderbolts and the Dark Avengers wasn't the first Moonstone.

Lloyd Bloch was the first villain to use the moniker, battling Captain America and the Falcon. It was in prison where he met Dr. Karla Sofen, who manipulated him to give her his moon rock. While Lloyd faded into obscurity, Karla rose to be the one true Moonstone.

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