Thanos, played by Josh Brolin, is widely considered the biggest threat the Marvel Cinematic Universe has ever faced. This galactic warlord believed the universe was overpopulated and shockingly eliminated half of all living things with a single snap. His win in *Avengers: Infinity War* was a pivotal moment for the series, leaving the Avengers defeated and demonstrating a level of power that seemed unbeatable. However, now that mutants are being introduced to the MCU, a new wave of incredibly powerful villains emerges, presenting threats that operate on an entirely different scale.
The appearance of classic X-Men characters like Cyclops and Magneto in *Avengers: Doomsday* is meant to be a farewell to that era of films before Marvel Studios starts fresh with the franchise. After *Avengers: Secret Wars*, Marvel intends to completely reboot the X-Men, with new actors taking on the famous roles and focusing on a younger generation of heroes. These new X-Men will face dangers that are far more significant than Thanos, threatening the very foundation of reality.
3) Apocalypse
Apocalypse, whose real name is En Sabah Nur, is a powerful being who believes in evolution through strength. As one of the very first mutants, he’s lived for millennia, observing history as a test of survival. He actively tries to make sure only the strongest survive by eliminating the weak and boosting the powerful. This belief leads him to conquer and rebuild civilizations, and in one alternate reality, the ‘Age of Apocalypse,’ he almost succeeded in taking over the entire world. His incredible power comes from his ability to completely control his body at a molecular level, allowing him to change shape, heal quickly, and alter his size and density whenever he wants.
As a film fan, I’ve always found the villains with internal power sources way more compelling, and Apocalypse is a prime example. Unlike Thanos, who *needed* the Infinity Stones to do his thing, Apocalypse is just naturally incredibly powerful, boosted by some seriously advanced Celestial tech. It gives him everything – telekinesis, teleportation, he can absorb energy, and even worse, he can warp other mutants into these terrifying Horsemen. What really sets him apart, though, is his obsession with forced evolution. He doesn’t want to talk things out – he’s a disaster waiting to happen, and he’s basically immortal, which makes him a truly frightening opponent.
2) Dark Phoenix
As a huge Marvel fan, I’ve always been fascinated by the Phoenix Force. It’s basically this incredibly ancient, unbelievably powerful cosmic energy – a source of all psychic power, past, present, and future. It can create things, but it has a really dangerous side too, a raw, destructive hunger. The most famous example is when it merged with Jean Grey, creating the Dark Phoenix. Honestly, she became so powerful she could just… eat stars. And I don’t mean a little nibble – we’re talking wiping out entire solar systems and billions of lives. It’s way bigger and more accidental than even Thanos’ plan to wipe out half the universe, which is pretty terrifying to think about.
While Thanos aimed to balance the universe, the Dark Phoenix seeks to obliterate it. This immense power is core to who she is, giving her incredible abilities to control minds, move objects, and even alter the very fabric of reality. Because of the constant battle within Jean Grey between her own will and the Phoenix’s destructive nature, she’s a dangerously unpredictable foe – meaning the Avengers and other heroes would face an enemy whose feelings could decide the fate of everything.
1) Onslaught
Onslaught is a frightening and unusual enemy, a thinking, psychic being created from the combined minds of Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto. This happened when Xavier, in a fit of anger, temporarily shut down Magneto’s mind. This unintentionally pulled Magneto’s negative emotions and desires into Xavier’s own mind. The result was a being with the incredible powers of both men, but much stronger. Onslaught combined Xavier’s powerful ability to read and control minds with Magneto’s control over metal and magnetism, making him an immensely powerful threat both mentally and physically.
Despite his immense power, Thanos was still a creature of flesh and blood, meaning he could be fought directly. Onslaught, however, is different – he’s made of pure psychic energy and can change reality itself. He also steals the powers of other mutants, making him even stronger. Onslaught tried to force everyone on Earth into a single, unified mind, and came very close to succeeding by capturing Franklin Richards, who can alter reality, and Nate Grey, a powerful telekinetic, to increase his own power. It took the combined strength of the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four to defeat him, and even then, many heroes gave their lives just to weaken his energy form.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Meet the cast of Mighty Nein: Every Critical Role character explained
- Netflix’s One Piece Season 2 Will Likely Follow the First Season’s Most Controversial Plot
- Bitcoin’s Wild Ride: Yen’s Surprise Twist 🌪️💰
- Eldegarde, formerly Legacy: Steel & Sorcery, launches January 21, 2026
- Fishing Guide in Where Winds Meet
- Elizabeth Taylor’s Son Says Taylor Swift, His Mom Are Kindred Spirits
- Two Trails beyond the Horizon Demos Out Now, and One Is Exclusive to PS5, PS4
- Tim Burton’s Next Film Revealed & It’s Not What Anyone Expected
2025-09-14 23:18