The future of the Marvel universe is in question due to the Sins of Sinister event, which put villain Mister Sinister in control of the world. Fans saw something similar when Apocalypse took over the world in the alternate reality Age of Apocalypse event. Both villains have similar goals and abilities and they share a unique connection to the same Celestial technology.
Of course, they aren’t the only similar Marvel villains, as there are a few evil foes who are basically the same character. Fans have seen similar villains who are evil Nazi leaders, brilliant geneticists, emotion-manipulating monsters, and even glider-riding criminals. While they have some differences that set them apart, these Marvel villains still basically fill the same role.
10 Baron Strucker And Baron Zemo
Nazi War Criminals
Wolfgang von Strucker and Heinrich Zemo were both active and working with the Nazis during World War II. Both villains have also earned the title of Baron over the years, which Heinrich passed down to his son Helmut Zemo after his death.
Baron Strucker took control of Hydra after WWII and became one of the criminal group’s deadliest leaders. Baron Zemo followed suit and took command of Hydra after Strucker. Both villains continue to fight for world domination with the hope that they could remake the world based on the twisted ideals learned from groups like Hydra and the Nazi party.
9 Mr. Sinister And High Evolutionary
Immoral Mad Geneticists
While Mister Sinister has quite a few similarities to Apocalypse, he has another villainous Marvel counterpart as well. Dr. Herbert Wyndham was a geneticist with extreme theories who abandoned society to become the High Evolutionary. Mister Sinister worked in secret for years to better understand the mutant gene and how it would affect the evolution of humanity.
Sinister chose to continue playing an active role in the development of mutantkind to further his own goals. High Evolutionary decided to remove himself completely to create his own society where his scientific theories could be dutifully explored. Both villains created new beings in their experiments, though High Evolutionary tends to care about his subjects whereas Sinister does not.
8 Melter And Living Laser
Disgruntled Weapons Scientists
Iron Man and the Avengers have faced quite a few villains with similar powers and origins over the years. Due to Tony Stark's role as Iron Man and his company's sometimes shady record, he has made enemies both in costume and in the boardroom. Bruno Horgan was a weapons manufacturer who lost his contracts to Tony Stark before he became the Melter.
This drove Horgan to create his powerful Melting Ray which fired a powerful beam of energy that could melt anything. Arthur Parks was a research scientist who installed laser-emitting diodes under his skin to become the Living Laser and take down Iron Man. They've visually grown apart over the years, though initially, they were basically the same threat with even similar costumes.
7 The Lizard And The Iguana
Reptilian Scientific Monsters
Dr. Curt Connors was a brilliant scientist who focused his research on regrowing lost limbs using regenerative reptilian DNA. However, he tested it on himself before the serum was ready, and the reptilian DNA took over, turning him into one of Spider-Man's most iconic villains, The Lizard.
Connors tried to cure himself of The Lizard's dark persona using a device called the enervator to repair his broken DNA. He tested it on an iguana which mutated into a powerful new form. The Iguana had Connors's memories and The Lizard's powers but lacked his humanity. Lizard and Iguana were essentially the same villains, though Connors' version had much more lasting power.
6 Doctor Doom And The Wizard
Brilliantly Inventive Grudge-Holders
There aren't too many Marvel villains who can compete with the menace of Doctor Doom. However, there's another similar villain who has given even the most powerful members of the Fantastic Four trouble over the years. The Wizard hasn't impressed fans or heroes as much as Doctor Doom, though he still fills a similar role in the Marvel universe.
Victor Von Doom formed a grudge against Reed Richards during their time in college together that would define his villainous career. Bentley Wittman developed a similar scientific rivalry with Reed Richards that inspired him to create his own powerful suit of armor and inventive weapons. Doom and The Wizard can't compete with each other, but they annoy Reed Richards all the same.
5 Rhino And Scorpion
Animal-Themed Armored Villains
As an animal-themed hero, Spider-Man has faced quite a few similar villains that follow his theme over the years. However, two of those villains share a very similar origin and have dealt with an ongoing problem related to their villainy. Mac Gargan was a private investigator hired by J. Jonah Jameson to take part in an experimental process that turned him into Scorpion.
Aleksei Sytsevich volunteered for an experimental process that encased him in a thick animal hide that increased his strength as The Rhino. Both Scorpion and The Rhino encased themselves in irremovable armor, which was something they both regretted over the years. Scorpion and Rhino fought hard to regain their humanity while also furthering their rivalry with Spider-Man.
4 Psycho-Man And The Controller
Manipulating-Technology Users
The Fantastic Four first encountered Psycho-Man after discovering the existence of the Microverse. However, the emotion-controlling villain has continued to threaten the Marvel universe with his deadly emotion-manipulating technology over the years.
Iron Man usually foiled The Controller’s schemes to manipulate others with his high-tech control discs. The Controller wears an advanced exoskeleton while Psycho-Man controls a powerful robotic body. Both villains are also able to feed on the stolen emotions or life energy of their controlled subjects to further empower themselves.
3 Green Goblin And Hobgoblin
Glider-Riding Goblins
Norman Osborn was the first villain to use the Green Goblin identity, but he wasn’t the last. Roderick Kingsley had quite a few followers in the Hobgoblin identity as well. He initially stole Green Goblin’s tech and costume from one of Osborn’s caches before he debuted as Hobgoblin.
Kingsley and Osborn were rivals in their elite social circles, and the similar nature of their villainous characters further fueled that rivalry. Green Goblin and Hobgoblin have fought quite a few pitched battles over the years due to Kingsley’s theft of Osborn’s schtick. However, each villain has taken a unique place in Spider-Man’s rogues' gallery despite their similarities.
2 Ghost And Spymaster
Corporate Saboteurs
Stark's role as a powerful business leader led to encounters with a few villains who focused on corporate and industrial espionage. Even Iron Man's most powerful armors are useless when dealing with the subtle manipulations of corporate espionage. One of the first was known as Spymaster, and there have been quite a few villains who used this identity over the years.
Spymaster is often hired by other corporate interests to sabotage Stark's progress. The mysterious villain Ghost has personal reasons for taking down corporate industries and is harder to predict. Spymaster uses advanced tech in his pursuits while Ghost uses his phasing ability to great effect. The pair have even worked together to take down companies with their respective skill sets.
1 Apocalypse And Sphinx
Eternal Powerhouses
En Sabah Nur was forever transformed into the eternal mutant named Apocalypse after he found abandoned Celestial technology on Earth. While he used that technology to create another similar villain in Mister Sinister, he has an even closer counterpart. Nova was one of the first heroes to encounter the villain known as the Sphinx.
Anath-Na Mut was an ancient Egyptian wizard who was granted immortality and incredible powers after discovering the forgotten mystical Marvel artifact known as the Ka Stone. Apocalypse craves domination under the tenet of “survival of the fittest,” while Sphinx has dedicated his many years to reinstating his Egyptian rule over the planet.