Power doesn’t always mean everything when it comes to reputation. The most feared beings in the Marvel universe aren’t necessarily its most powerful, but they are definitely seen out in the universe— or multiverse— doing extreme things.

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Fear comes from knowing there is a threat, and if a character— even an incredibly powerful one— doesn’t instantly look like a threat, the fear factor comes down a lot. People might fear the reality warper, but they really fear the reality warper that doesn’t see them as worth worrying over. Sometimes the difference between the most feared beings and those that don’t carry that reputation is more of a public relations issue.

10 Feared: The Phoenix Force corrupting mortals & consuming stars

scarlet witch fights the phoenix force

The Phoenix Force is the representation of creation and destruction, and one of the oldest beings in the Marvel universe. It can literally trim bits off of the universe, reshaping and reimagining it as it sees fit. It’s been worshipped by the Shi’ar and has taken over multiple beings in its long history.

Its brushes with Earth’s mutants have cost billions of lives, not just on Earth but throughout the universe. Under its influence, Namor flooded Wakanda, killing most of the 11 million people in the country; and Jean Grey consumed a star, destroying several inhabited planets.

9 Needs Better PR: Wanda Maximoff is really a hero, thank goodness

Scarlet Witch rewriting reality to erase mutants in Marvel comics.

As a nexus being, Wanda Maximoff’s power over reality allows her to create or rewrite any part of reality. She has changed the balance of power on Earth during House of M, changing the paths of nearly everyone on the planet in the process. She has stripped the Earth’s mutants of their powers and destroyed the Avengers in ways that their villains haven’t accomplished in Avengers: Disassembled.

But Wanda is, first and foremost— in her own words— an Avenger. Her ties to the good guys, and her good deeds throughout her career, lower the amount of fear she inspires, despite her power levels.

8 Feared: the Living Tribunal doesn’t care about good or evil

The Living Tribunal oversees the balance of power, not just in one universe, but the entire Marvel multiverse. Because of this, it has no allegiance to good or evil, and is a truly neutral judge in multiverse-threatening situations. This means that billions of people could die, and if it keeps things in a state of balance, the Living Tribunal is not concerned.

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That cold, hard view of the multiverse makes it hard to predict what will and will not draw the Living Tribunal’s attention, and which side it will fall on in any given universe-ending dispute.

7 Needs Better PR: Cul Borson/Serpent took a long hiatus

Cul Borson, the Serpent

As a god of fear and brother to Odin, it should be safe to assume that the Serpent is a force to be reckoned with. However, spending centuries locked away, unable to escape puts a damper on any campaign of fear that he might have led.

His release, during the Fear Itself event, showed exactly how terrifying he could be. But he and his minions, the Worthy, have yet to leave a lasting impression on the present inhabitants of the Marvel universe.

6 Feared: Galactus Hungers

galactus

Frequently referred to simply as the World-Eater, it’s easy to see why Galactus is feared throughout the universe. Dating back to the universe before the current one— and its last survivor— he has devoured countless inhabited planets in his need for energy.

Depending on which of his Heralds have led him to a planet, there may be no escape, even if the civilization has space travel capacity. The fear of being trapped and consumed is more than enough to earn Galactus his status as one of the most feared beings in the universe.

5 Needs better PR: Carnage’s cannibalistic slaughter-Fests

carnage under a red sun

The symbiote offspring of Venom, Carnage started out life already more frightening than its predecessor. When it bonded with Cletus Kasady— someone who was terrifying in so many ways all on his own— things went from bad to worse.

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Granted, most of Carnage’s damage takes place on Earth, giving him a smaller audience than other death-hungry terrors in the universe. But his status is heightened in the Absolute Carnage series, where his cult-like status elevates his fearsome abilities.

4 Feared: Thanos & his Love For Death (Literally)

thanos marvel comics

He wielded a cosmic cube to become omniscient and destroyed half the life in the universe with the Infinity Gauntlet— Thanos is unquestionably scary. There are very few places in the universe where his presence does not inspire panic, and overall, he likes it that way.

Trying to impress Death in the comics or trying to bring balance to the universe in the MCU, there is no outrunning the plans he has for the universe. That unseen threat is even more terrifying than the being himself.

3 Needs better PR: Deadpool acts as the universe’s clown

Deadpool Nerdy Thirty no cake for you

A skilled assassin that can’t die, is beloved by Death, and has a level of awareness about his universe that few can tap into? That should be terrifying. Wade Wilson has the skill and the power to be a force to be reckoned with throughout the galaxy, if not the whole of the Marvel universe.

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But Wade is a very earth-based soul and his particular brand of humor— or coping mechanisms— makes it hard to take him seriously enough to put him in the "most feared" category. When the laughs stop, though, anyone in close proximity better step lightly.

2 Feared: The Beyonder just wants to play

The Beyonder Header

Containing power that is too much for even the most powerful humans to control alone, the Beyonder can do whatever he wishes to do and there is little stopping him. He has kidnapped heroes and villains to play life or death games for his amusement in the original Secret Wars arc.

His volatility also makes this level of power horrifying, as does his curiosity. He doesn’t care what effect his experiments on humanity cause, he just wants to see what happens. It's hard to be sure what he'll do next, and that is the most frightening part of all.

1 Needs better PR: Franklin Richards has a mostly happy family

Franklin Richards using his cosmic abilities, while Doctor Doom watches him from behind.

Franklin Richards has always been a powerhouse. His abilities include creation of pocket universes— one of which he used to save his family and most of the other heroes in the 616 from Onslaught— time manipulation, and all sorts of psionic abilities. He was so powerful at such a young age that his father, Mr. Fantastic, thought putting him in a coma would be safer for everyone.

It hasn’t been until recently that the darker sides of these powers have shown as Franklin has been allowed to finally grow up. It is easy to see how, if he didn’t have the loving and supportive family he had, things could have gone frightfully bad for the universe.

NEXT: Marvel: 10 Most Powerful Teams, Ranked