Goku is one of the toughest characters in all of anime, persevering even when the odds are stacked completely against him. His life is all about training, sometimes to the detriment of his family. However, because of his dedication to training, they still have a planet to live on, which everyone can agree is a good thing. Goku has faced down some truly powerful villains over the years with his Dragon Ball friends and always wins.
However, as tough as he is, he never faced anything like the villains of Marvel. These powerful villains can sometimes be too smart for their own good, but many of them would prove to be formidable opponents for the Super Saiyan.
10 Red Hulk's Energy Absorption Powers Would Nerf Goku's Most Powerful Attacks
In order to fight the Hulk, one has to be rather powerful, and the Red Hulk is definitely up to snuff in that regard. His powers are slightly different than the Hulk's where he absorbs energy to get stronger. This is going to serve him quite well against Goku, whose most powerful attacks are all energy-based, like the Spirit Bomb or the Kamehameha.
Red Hulk also has all the smarts and combat experience of Thunderbolt Ross, making him easily much smarter than Goku. He'd be able to out-think the Saiyan and, with his strength enhanced by Goku's energy powers, be able to take the alien down.
9 Loki's Much Too Smart For Goku
Loki is one of the greatest villains in the Marvel Universe, and he's completely unlike anything that Goku ever faced. Goku is used to fighting foes who fight back in a way he's used to--with their fists. Loki is too smart for all of that as he's used to fighting someone who is his physical and martial superior. Goku is not ready for a foe as crafty as Loki is.
Goku isn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer, and Loki would take advantage of that. He'd easily outsmart the Saiyan and enmesh him in traps that all of his powers wouldn't be able to help him against. Goku would lose this one before it even began.
8 Galactus Is Too Powerful & Experienced For Goku
At first glance, Galactus seems like the type of foe that Goku eats for breakfast. Galactus is wildly powerful, but Goku is used to dealing with universe-shaking titans. However, Galactus has some huge advantages over Goku. His strength is basically limitless and his energy manipulating abilities are amazing, unlike any Goku has ever experienced.
On top of that, Galactus is a powerful telepath, something that Goku has no defense against, and can manipulate matter itself. There are few foes out there as dangerous as Galactus. Goku would think he could beat the World Devourer like he always does, but Galactus would teach him otherwise.
7 Dormammu's Magic Is Unlike Anything Goku Has Ever Experienced
Dormammu is one of the most dangerous magical threats in the Marvel Universe, one that challenges the Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Strange more than any other. Dormammu is the lord of his own dimension, the Dark Dimension, and has legions of terrible servants at his disposal. He'd throw them all at Goku, tiring him out before taking the fight to the Saiyan.
Goku's powers are formidable, but Dormammu isn't the kind of foe who can be beaten into submission. His magic is unlike anything that Goku has ever faced before and, weakened from his battles against Dormammu's servants, Goku would fall before the might of Dormammu.
6 Molecule Man Could Take Goku Apart With A Thought
Molecule Man is one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe. His control over energy and matter is near absolute; he's pretty much a god in human form. While Goku has faced down beings with godlike power before, Molecule Man would be entirely too much for him because he isn't going to punch it out with Goku.
The minute Goku shows up, Molecule Man is going to be on his guard, and if Goku persists in being a problem, Molecule Man is going to start by getting rid of his arms. If it keeps up, his legs will follow. If that's not enough, then he'll just turn the Saiyan into something harmless, like air or water, and go about his day.
5 Shadow King Doesn't Need A Body To Beat Goku
Goku is used to facing down foes he can beat up, but that's not something that is possible with the Shadow King. The Shadow King doesn't really need a body because he's a psychic entity first and foremost, weaving his webs on the Astral Plane. There would be nothing for Goku to punch because he'd never get to the Shadow King's body.
Goku is not ready to face down a telepath of Shadow King's power. The fact that he's kind of foolish is going to make things much easier for the Shadow King as well. Because although Goku may have a lot of willpower, he's not going to see through the Shadow King's tricks until its too late.
4 Goku Couldn't Break Through Apocalypse's Celestial Armor & That Would Be A Problem
Goku, at his highest Super Saiyan level, is easily more powerful than Apocalypse. However, he's going to have a huge problem against the ancient mutant. Apocalypse's already formidable powers are enhanced by all of the Celestial technology he found, including his nearly impregnable armor. It's that durability that's going to allow Apocalypse to take Goku down.
Apocalypse is way smarter and more experienced than Goku could ever hope to be. Out-thinking the Saiyan isn't hard, and Apocalypse's ability to survive his attacks combined with his amazing powers is going to allow him to take Goku out before Goku can marshal the power needed to defeat Apocalypse.
3 Ultron's Adamantium Shell Will Give Him An Advantage
Ultron's long-term survival prospects against Goku are negligible, even with the adamantium. However, his basically indestructible shell is going to give him the time he needs to beat Goku. He's definitely not as strong as Goku, although he may be nearly as fast, which will help. Plus, his computerized mind will allow him to come up with all kinds of plans to use against Goku.
He'll be able to take a lot of damage and, most importantly, use his onboard weaponry against Goku. One of his best weapons is his hypnoray, which would allow him to take control of Goku rather easily. Goku is tough, but Ultron has enough going for him to win in the early stages of the fight.
2 Thanos Would Teach The Saiyan Fear
Thanos of Titan is one of the most feared beings in the universe, and he would show Goku why that is. There are few who can match his power--even gods like Thor and universal powers like the Phoenix Force can't stand against the might of Thanos. Goku would give it his all, but it just wouldn't be enough to defeat the Mad Titan.
Thanos is too powerful and fiendishly intelligent to fall to Goku. He's not going to let the fight get to the stage where Goku is too powerful to beat and, even if he did, Thanos has beaten beings who would give Goku a run for his money. Goku would learn to fear Thanos just like everyone else does.
1 Doctor Doom Would Show Why None Rival Him
Doom could never beat Goku in a straight-up fight--his armor is powerful but not that powerful. However, Doom just has too many options to use against the Saiyan. While his armor may not be able to survive a long physical battle with the mighty Goku, it does have a weapon that has allowed Doom to fell gods--the power siphon.
Doom can drain an opponent's energy and use it against them. This has allowed Doom to defeat beings as powerful as the Silver Surfer and the Beyonder and would make beating Goku a snap for the Latverian monarch. Doom would then use the pilfered power to help destroy the accursed Richards, proving to the world that none rival him.