The Marvel Cinematic Universe brought many of Marvel's best and brightest to the masses, helping the company cement its status as the biggest entertainment brand. However, adaptations aren't an exact science. Film characters often differ from their comic counterparts, and nowhere is that clearer than power levels.
Many MCU characters prove much weaker than their comic versions, especially for villains. Many of the MCU's biggest villains wouldn't have a hope against their comic counterparts. In many cases, Marvel's comic villains boast feats and powers that are unprecedented compared to those displayed on the screen.
10 The Wrecking Crew Is More Formidable Than She-Hulk Made Them Appear
The Masters of Evil comprise powerful villains, and the Wrecking Crew forms the nucleus of their strongest members. Loki empowered them to fight Thor, and since then, Wrecker, Thunderball, Piledriver, and Bulldozer have battled the strongest heroes on Earth. Capable of fighting the Avengers to a standstill, the Wrecking Crew proved they were the best henchmen in the Marvel Universe.
The Wrecking Crew made their first MCU appearance in She-Hulk, and they didn't appear to have any natural powers of their own. The show whitewashed Thunderball, and made the Wrecking Crew seem like a joke. Given that the comic version brutally beat Hercules, they should've given She-Hulk a much tougher fight.
9 The Vulture Has Actual Superpowers In The Comics
The Vulture in the comics was born of revenge. Adrian Toomes got swindled by his business partner and created his flight harness in order to make money. The harness did more than that, giving Toomes super strength. This enabled him to fight against Spider-Man in hand-to-hand combat.
The Vulture battled the Wall-Crawler many times over the years and became a founding member of the Sinister Six. The MCU Vulture didn't have superpowers without his machinery. He was still very formidable, but it was all tricks with him. Comics Vulture proved strong enough to match Spider-Man toe to toe even if he couldn't fly. MCU Vulture can't claim the same.
8 Baron Mordo Is A Joke In The MCU
Baron Mordo from the comics was a force to be reckoned with. Mordo studied much longer than Strange did, but was denied his place as the Sorcerer Supreme because of the darkness in his heart. Every time he and Strange clashed, Mordo proved a wily and dangerous foe, constantly forcing Strange to think outside the box.
MCU Mordo hasn't been as antagonistic as comic Mordo, but he never seemed to have the same power levels, either. MCU Mordo definitely seems to be a better hand-to-hand fighter, but in a magic battle against comic Mordo, he would lose.
7 Ikaris Went Toe To Toe With Thanos In The Comics
The Eternals' Ikaris is a great warrior. He's been referred to as the arrow of the Eternals. They point him at an enemy, and he strikes hard and true. All Eternals have amazing powers, but Ikaris's are based around his martial might. He's amazingly strong and fast, his eye blasts are powerful, and he has Eternal's psionic and matter manipulation abilities.
Movie Ikaris was powerful, but comic Ikaris has him beat. Comics Ikaris managed to hold his own against Thanos. He eventually lost, but he made a good accounting for himself and kept Thanos from achieving his goals. Movie Ikaris is nowhere near that level.
6 Immortus Makes He Who Remains Look Like A Kitten
There are many Kangs and the oldest is Immortus. Younger Kangs are honorable warriors, men who don't use their tech to the extent they could, preferring to earn their victories. Immortus doesn't care for such ideals. He's solely focused on winning and will do whatever he needs to survive. Immensely clever, he has a plan for everything.
He Who Remains is the MCU version of Immortus, and he had no other plan other than appealing to Loki and Sylvie's sense of logic. Not only would comic Immortus have had a much better plan to get what he wanted, but he would've employed several fail safes to give him an advantage over Loki and Sylvie.
5 Ultron's Adamantium Shell Beats The MCU's Vibranium One
Ultron is an iconic Avengers villain, a genocidal monster that's challenged the team like few solo foes can. His grudge against the Avengers makes every battle between him and the team personal. Additionally, Ultron's adamantium shell makes him nearly indestructible, and he's proven strong enough to smash down even the strongest Avengers.
MCU Ultron's vibranium shell was tough, but it's not at the level of adamantium. On top of that, the heroes of the comic Avengers are much more powerful. Even Ultron drones from the classic Ultron story "Ultron Unlimited" were enough to almost defeat the team. The main Ultron only fell when Hank Pym used special Antarctic vibranium weapons, a vibranium variant that makes other metals weaker.
4 Comic Loki Is A Powerhouse
Not many Marvel villains fulfill their destiny, making Loki one of the special few. Extremely strong and skilled in battle, Loki's a different breed of dangerous compared to the other Asgardians. His magic mastery combined with his skill at illusion allows him to live up to his God of Mischief moniker in the deadliest ways possible.
MCU Loki is tough, but he has nothing on comic Loki. For one thing, MCU Loki's magic mostly consists of shapeshifting. Comics Loki can stand against the most powerful magic users like Doctor Strange. He's also a more proficient fighter in the comics, capable of defeating Thor in battle.
3 The Destroyer Has Basically Killed Thor In The Past
The Destroyer is a special Asgardian war suit. Constructed from the same magical Uru metal as Mjolnir, the Destroyer transforms its wearer into a walking engine of destruction. It's been used as a weapon against Asgard many times, with Thor facing it more than once. It's immensely strong and nearly impossible to crack, but its energy blasts are its greatest weapon, burning down everything in front of it. The MCU Destroyer was tough, but key signs point out its inferiority.
If comic Thor was much stronger than his MCU counterpart, yet struggled to defeat the comic Destroyer, that speaks to the comic versions immense power levels. That Destroyer once beat Thor so badly he had to be bonded to the human paramedic Jake Olson to survive. MCU Destroyer doesn't have close to that kind of offensive oomph.
2 Scarlet Witch Can Create Entire Worlds In The Comics
Scarlet Witch can be a monster. The longtime Avenger has fallen to evil many times, testing her teammates like few other threats. Scarlet Witch's reality altering powers are equal parts amazing and terrifying. She can create worlds, armies of enemies, and use magic at an impossibly high level. She's even killed Avengers.
Scarlet Witch in the MCU is powerful, but her greatest demonstration of natural power was her hold over Westview. Comic Scarlet Witch could do that in her sleep, and she possess far more magical training, as well. MCU Scarlet Witch certainly did some damage, but comic Scarlet Witch at her worst is far more powerful.
1 Comics Thanos Is Synonymous With Raw Power
Marvel's villains are some real killers, but few of them can rival Thanos' kill count. Thanos is the most powerful Eternal, possessing strength greater than any hero on Earth but the Hulk. His ability to channel cosmic energy outstrips beings like Silver Surfer. Thanks to his vast combat experience coupled with a warrior's determination, Thanos withstood Black Bolt's screams and beat Thor when he had the Power Gem.
MCU Thanos almost lost to Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and the Guardians when he had multiple Infinity Stones. He couldn't put down Iron Man, Thor, and Cap at the same time. Comics Thanos has been shown killing just about every hero on Earth more than once — without any power enhancements. MCU Thanos couldn't hope to match that.