With the initial lineup of the Avengers likely on its way out after A4, many fans want to know how the group will look in the MCU’s near future. Most theories suggest that Marvel will continue to add new heroes to the mix, as we’ve seen with Spider-Man and Black Panther. Viewers are likely to meet many new heroes as the MCU continues to evolve, but there’s another possibility that’s gaining steam in some circles: the MCU is rumored to bring in the Dark Avengers. Maybe, after A4, the country's leaders will reach its breaking point in its toleration of the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Thunderbolt Ross and his superiors could be more dissatisfied than ever if the Avengers fail to effectively stop Thanos and reverse the damage he’s caused.
Enter the Dark Avengers. In the comics, this group of villains was organized by Norman Osborn, one of the most famous villains in comic book history. After "Secret Invasion", Osborn ironically became a “hero,” and he became America’s “top cop” when he was handed control of S.H.I.E.L.D. Osborn rebrands the agency as H.A.M.M.E.R., and makes his own version of the Avengers. Naturally, he makes himself the team’s leader and public face. While Osborn hasn’t been introduced yet in the MCU, maybe a previously established villain could take his place. Or the writers could slowly plant the seeds by bringing in these antagonists, which would set the stage for the debut of the Dark Avengers. Regardless, we’ve decided to list eight Dark Avengers we can’t wait to see in the MCU and eight we don’t need to see.
16 CAN'T WAIT: NORMAN OSBORN
Of all the characters on this list, many fans are likely most excited by Norman Osborn. The man typically known as the Green Goblin is Spider-Man’s nemesis, the Joker to Peter Parker’s Batman. The conflict between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin is remarkably bitter and personal, and we can’t wait to see it again on the big screen. Osborn is one of the most evil villains in the comic books, and his MCU debut is long overdue.
As the architect of the Dark Avengers, it’d make sense to introduce Osborn first if Marvel truly has plans for a film about this group of antagonists. By bringing the former Green Goblin back to the big screen, Marvel would open up countless storytelling possibilities.
15 DON'T WANT: RAGNAROK
Ragnarok is a cyborg clone of Thor, the God of Thunder. The synthetic being has all of Thor’s powers and none of his charming personality. As a result, in theory, Ragnarok is one of the most powerful villains in the MU. Like Thor, he has a hammer and, though it doesn’t match Mjolnir’s might, it’s still a force to be reckoned with.
Rivalries involving clones can be hit or miss and bringing Ragnarok to the MCU would be a step back for Thor. The God of Thunder has enjoyed a lot of growth since his MCU debut and having him fight his clone would likely disappoint many viewers.
14 CAN'T WAIT: BULLSEYE
Bullseye is near the top of this list for a reason. As Daredevil’s archrival, this dangerous assassin has become one of Marvel’s most notable villains. Bullseye’s marksmanship skills are practically unmatched in Marvel, which could lead to some stunning displays of his talent in the movies. Plus, he’d potentially have a fitting enemy on the Avengers: Clint Barton, or Hawkeye.
Bullseye’s MCU future is somewhat murky -- the character just debuted in the third season of Daredevil and Marvel continues to maintain a gap between its movies and its series of Netflix shows. While Bullseye seems likely to return on Daredevil, he, like the other Defenders-based characters, seems stuck in limbo.
13 DON'T WANT: BARNEY BARTON
Barney Barton is basically a dark reflection of his brother, Clint. Barney is a former F.B.I. agent who becomes a villain after he’s manipulated by Baron Zemo. The two brothers have a strained relationship and, at times, they make amends, which could be an entertaining arc on the big screen. But, when it comes to Barney’s inclusion in the MCU, it feels like the ship has sailed.
Clint seems like he’s destined to ride off into the sunset after A4 so he can spend time with his family. Without his brother, Barney doesn’t have a place in the MCU.
12 CAN'T WAIT: SKAAR
Marvel has adapted a number of its famous storylines in the MCU -- we’ve seen "Age of Ultron", "Civil War", and, somewhat, "The Infinity Gauntlet". "Planet Hulk" is one of the most recognizable Marvel events that has not been (fully) brought to the big screen, but this story is certainly compelling because it would spotlight the Hulk more than ever before.
If "Planet Hulk" is treated like "Civil War", Skaar would likely be one of the main characters of the movie adaptation. Skaar is the Hulk’s son, and let’s just say the two don’t have the best relationship. Featuring this problematic dynamic on the big screen would breathe new life into the MCU.
11 DON'T WANT: AI APAEC
You know what the MCU doesn’t need? A Spider-Man with six arms. That’s exactly what Ai Apaec, a god in South American culture, brings to the table. Apaec gets captured by the powers in charge, and he winds up in the same facility as Norman Osborn. Naturally, the two villains join forces. Osborn makes Apaec his new “Spider-Man” on the Dark Avengers.
Apaec is an immortal being, and he’d likely be an overpowered antagonist on the big screen. Plenty of other villains are more deserving of the spotlight than Ai Apaec because, despite his six arms, there aren’t many legs to the character.
10 CAN'T WAIT: U.S. AGENT
Given the current state of the world, U.S. Agent could be viewed as a risky character. John F. Walker initially took the name Super-Patriot and he went on a tour of rallies and demonstrations. There, he spread sentiment that harshly criticized Captain America. If Marvel bought an accurate version of Walker and his supporting characters to the big screen, they’d likely face some unfavorable feedback; after all, some of these characters include Left-Winger and Right-Winger.
However, if Marvel changes some things around, Walker could act as a compelling foil to Captain America. A clash between Cap’s idealism and Walker’s less virtuous views could make for a brilliant story in the MCU.
9 DON'T WANT: DAKEN
Daken would have been a great addition at the height of Fox’s X-Men franchise. After a number of films, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine had been established as a legitimate hero who was popular with many fans. Adding his son to the mix could have added a new layer to the character, and it’s possible it would have played out like Logan. But the thought of bringing Daken to the MCU, where Wolverine hasn’t even debuted yet, should give fans pause.
Daken is a worthwhile character in relation to his father. However, the MCU is a ways away from establishing Wolverine as an iconic hero, so writers shouldn’t be in a rush to bring Daken to the big screen.
8 CAN'T WAIT: SENTRY
The Sentry is one of the most powerful characters in the MU. He’s often viewed as an omnipotent being; in some continuities, these abilities come from a modified version of the Super Soldier serum but, in others, the Sentry is written as a refugee from another universe.
Beyond his immense power, Sentry, or Robert Reynolds, is also intriguing due to the character’s conflict with the Void. Depending on the storyline, the Void is an alternate personality in Reynolds’ head or a manifestation of the Sentry’s inner demons. This inner turmoil would arguably be uncharted territory for the MCU, which makes Sentry a deserving candidate for the big screen.
7 DON'T WANT: THE GORGON
Daredevil, Iron Fist and The Defenders have all featured the Hand at one point or another. While the group remains worthy of exploration, the MCU doesn’t need to bring the organization to the big screen. As a result, despite the Gorgon’s place on the Dark Avengers, Marvel should look elsewhere when it assembles the counterparts of the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
Sure, the Gorgon, or Tomi Shishido, is incredibly powerful. He can turn people into stone simply by making eye contact with them and he has a number of other impressive powers. Still, viewers could use a break from the Hand.
6 CAN'T WAIT: MOONSTONE
Karla Sofen, or Moonstone, served as Ms. Marvel (or Captain Marvel) on Osborn’s initial lineup of the Dark Avengers. Moonstone is an underrated powerhouse -- she can manipulate gravity, fire photon blasts and make herself intangible. Plus, she has the standard set of superhuman powers such as enhanced strength, speed, durability and reflexes.
Once the Kree race is established, it’d be fairly easy to bring Moonstone to the MCU because her powers are derived from a Kree gravity stone. In addition to her superhuman abilities, Sofen is a brilliant psychologist/psychiatrist, so she could play mind games with friends and enemies alike. Moonstone should be near the top of the list of potential candidates for the MCU’s Dark Avengers.
5 DON'T WANT: MAC GARGAN
For this entry, we’re strictly considering Mac Gargan’s time with the Dark Avengers. On this team, Gargan, or the Scorpion, served as Spider-Man. Wearing Venom’s symbiote suit, Gargan looked like the Web-Slinger from his “Back in Black” days. But other characters, like Eddie Brock, would make a more compelling counterpart for the Webhead on the Dark Avengers.
To be fair, Gargan should be brought to the big screen along with his teammates in the Sinister Six. A rumored movie about the group could be part of the MCU or Sony’s potential cinematic universe; this decision remains to be seen and it will have a lot of influence on future Marvel movies.
4 CAN'T WAIT: NOH-VARR
It’s difficult to find Noh-Varr’s place in the MCU but he’d definitely fit in with the Dark Avengers. On the first version of the team, Noh-Varr served as Osborn’s “Captain Marvel.” As a member of the Kree alien race, Noh-Varr’s MCU debut could be a natural progression from Captain Marvel, which might feature the Kree and the Skrulls.
In addition to his naturally enhanced physique, due to experimentation, Noh-Varr has some insect DNA, which grants him a number of other powers. Plus, he can essentially turn his mind off, making him an unfeeling soldier. Noh-Varr could be a heavy hitter for Osborn’s Dark Avengers and he deserves to join the MCU at some point.
3 DON'T WANT: ARES
Ares is a fascinating character and it’s fair to argue that bringing him to the MCU would greatly expand its mythos. However, his inclusion in Marvel movies is complicated for a number of reasons. Ares is a Greek god; to bring him to the MCU, the writers would have to establish this entire mythology despite the presence of Asgardian gods. Doing so would likely overwhelm casual and hardcore fans alike.
Plus, Ares was one of the main villains in Wonder Woman, so featuring the character in the MCU feels like a misstep waiting to happen. Marvel doesn’t need to recycle DC’s used ideas; they have plenty of their own to draw from.
2 CAN'T WAIT: SUPERIA
Superia, or Deidre Wentworth, is another evil genius. Her initial goal: to sterilize most of the women in the world (it’s fair to say this storyline would be a controversial one on the big screen). That being said, ironically, as with U.S.Agent, if handled correctly, Wentworth could pave the way for the MCU to literally bring feminism to the forefront; Superia’s ultimate mission is to establish a matriarchy with her “Femizons.”
In terms of Superia’s powers, she has superhuman strength and resistance to injury and she can fire concussive energy blasts. Adding Wentworth to the mix could certainly be a solid step to diversifying the MCU.
1 DON'T WANT: TOXIE DOXIE
June Covington is an embodiment of the typical mad scientist stereotype (her primary concern is correcting genetic imperfections). Covington experimented on herself Genetic Plug-in technology which, of course, gave her superpowers. Her bones and joints are extraordinarily malleable and her strongest weapon is a neurotoxin she transmits through her dangerously sharp fingernails.
To be fair, Covington is a scientific genius, so she has some merit as a potential MCU villain. When Covington and her teammates are imprisoned in an alternate reality, she is able to break the illusion Still, other characters are more deserving. Plus, her alias, Toxie Doxie, wouldn’t translate well to the big screen, and she’s an ineffective counterpart for the Scarlet Witch.