The MCU has introduced filmgoers to many fan-favorite villains, like Loki, Killmonger and Thanos. While he may not be the main villain of Thor: Ragnarok, the Grandmaster, played by Jeff Goldblum, is an antagonist who's joined these ranks. The Grandmaster is something of a joke, but still deadly and wildly unpredictable.
While The Grandmaster of the MCU is an outlandish character, the source material is far more despicable. His comic counterpart, one of the Elders, has also proven to be a mighty villain, besting some of the best and worst of the Marvel universe.
The Elders in the Comics
Most of the members of the Elders are the last survivors of their respected races. This is, as explained in Steve Englehart's Silver Surfer vol. 3, issue 3, due to their will to live. In short, the Elders are practically immortal, and most of them are the oldest beings of the universe, some being part of the earliest races created by the Celestials. The Elders dedicate their new, extended lives to a singular obsession, like collecting or fighting.
With age comes wisdom, as well as great power. The true extent of the Elders' abilities are unknown; however, it is confirmed that they inherited their powers from the Power Primordial, the residual energy of the Big Bang. For each Elder their powers vary, and it takes time to master the energy coursing through their bodies. Once mastered, Elders can exhibit God-like strength and manipulate energy in multiple forms. Their abilities also make them incredibly durable, having survived the impossible, like a blast from the Cosmic Cube in the pages of Avengers Assemble.
Along with being all-powerful, the Elders at times posses the most dangerous items in Marvel canon. Six known Elders (the Collector, the Runner, the Grandmaster, the Gardener, the Champion and the In-Betweener) have had an Infinity Stone at some point. While these beings are eons old and demonstrate physical and mental strength, they can still be bested. Each Elder who held an Infinity Stone was beaten by Thanos and lost their respective stone.
The Grandmaster in the Comics
The Grandmaster, En Dwi Gast, is one of the known Elders. His namesake ties to his obsession: gameplay. On multiple occasions, he's used many Marvel heroes in his games. Most famously he challenged Death in the Contest of Champions in order to win back his brother, the Collector. The pieces of this game included the Avengers, Defenders, X-Men, Inhumans, Eternals and Fantastic Four. Due to his love of games, the Grandmaster has centuries worth of knowledge on gaming rules, strategies and mechanics. His passion has also lead to an addiction, accepting any challenge proposed. His mastery of gameplay doesn't make him infallible, though, and he's been bested by the likes of Thanos and Loki.
While the Grandmaster follows his own code of honor, he does have more than a few tricks up his sleeve. His powers include regeneration, levitation, energy manipulation, teleportation, interdimensional travel, resurrection, control over space and time, and the ability to obliterate beings with a simple gesture. He also is the holder of many powerful artifacts, including the Mind Stone, the Casket of Winters, the Wand of Watoomb, the Evil Eye, the Cosmic Cube and the Ultimate Nullifier.
The Grandmaster in the MCU
While the first appearance of the Grandmaster in the MCU was a brief cameo in the credits of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2, the Grandmaster was properly introduced in Thor: Ragnarok. In the film he is the ruler of the chaotic planet Saakar, having a tight and deadly grasp over its citizens and slaves. Upon first sight, he looks vastly different from his comic counterpart. In place of his blue skin, the Grandmaster has blue accents around his eyes and lips. While still tall compared to the average man, this version is not inhumanly tall. He does have some physical similarities, like his grey hair and gold robe.
As for his powers, they are more undefined than they are in the comics. Aside from it being mentioned that he is impossibly old, the Grandmaster never exhibits any superpower. Instead, he commands his soldiers to do the dirty work, proving that his strength lies in his charisma, manipulation and intimidation. Throughout the film, he either strikes bargains to win those over or forces them to play his deadly game.
His main source of entertainment in the movie is also known as the Contest of Champions; however, he does not play the game himself. The contest is a gladiator battle to the death, with the Grandmaster having his favorite champion, the Hulk, fighting on his behalf. While his comic counterpart usually refrains from cheating, this Grandmaster is happy to interfere, as seen in the electrocution of Thor mid-battle.
While both versions of the Grandmaster differ, they share the same inner drive for survival no matter what, earning himself the right to be known as an Elder.