The Avengers are known for fighting some of the most powerful and dangerous villains in comic book history. Because the team is made up of incredibly strong heroes like Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man, their enemies need to be equally impressive. But simply being powerful isn’t enough to make a great villain; their story and how it unfolds against the Avengers also needs to be compelling. Villains like Ultron and Kang stand out because they have rich, interesting backstories that make them more than just a threat.
While the Avengers boast some truly great villains, others fall short due to weak storylines. With a little more development, eight of these villains could have been among the best ever created.
8) Red Onslaught
The first volume of *Uncanny Avengers* is considered a high point for the Avengers comics, notably for creating the Avengers Unity Squad – a team that combined heroes from the X-Men and the Avengers. The series kicked off with a chilling storyline involving the Red Skull, who shockingly revived and merged his brain with that of the deceased Charles Xavier. This fusion of Avengers and X-Men themes perfectly captured the spirit of the book. The story hinted at the emergence of Red Onslaught, a terrifying combination of Red Skull and the powerful Onslaught. While initially a very exciting prospect, the subsequent issues of *Uncanny Avengers* and the *AXIS* event ultimately failed to deliver on the villain’s potential. Red Onslaught, with the Red Skull possessing immense psychic abilities, had the potential to be a truly great antagonist, but has largely been forgotten.
7) Proctor
In the mid-1990s, the *Avengers* comic wasn’t doing well, as Marvel focused most of its attention on the more popular *X-Men* and *Spider-Man*. Despite this, they did attempt to revitalize the team, introducing the villain Proctor. Proctor was a dark version of the Black Knight, originally from another universe. On his world, he was transformed into something like an Eternal by Sersi, but she later abandoned him. Combined with the power of the cursed Ebony Blade, this drove him insane, leading him to pursue Sersi on our Earth (Earth-616). Proctor is a compelling villain with significant power, but he appeared in a fairly unremarkable *Avengers* storyline during a period many fans dislike – though the artwork by Steve Epting was particularly strong. With a better writer, Proctor could have become a major villain, and it would be great to see him return in a well-crafted story.
6) The Masters of Evil
The Masters of Evil are essentially the villainous counterparts to the Avengers, appearing in many classic stories like “Under Siege.” While there have been several different versions of the team, they haven’t felt truly compelling in a long time. Recently, they showed up in *One World Under Doom*, but were mainly used as disposable enemies. The last time the Masters of Evil really mattered was during the *Thunderbolts* storyline (though a later attempt by Jason Aaron to elevate them didn’t resonate with most fans). It’s overdue for them to star in another great story. They have a classic appeal, and with a little effort, it should be easy to create exciting new adventures for them in modern comics.
5) Iron Patriot/Norman Osborn
Norman Osborn is famous as Spider-Man’s arch-enemy, the Green Goblin, but he’s also been a major threat to the Avengers. He masterminded the “Dark Reign” storyline, taking over as Iron Patriot with modified Iron Man armor and leading a team of Dark Avengers. While stories like *Dark Avengers*, *The List*, and *Siege* were compelling, a later attempt to repeat this success fell flat. After a year and a half of exciting stories portraying Osborn as an Avengers villain, his return felt repetitive, with him again using HAMMER and a new Dark Avengers team. It’s a shame, because Norman Osborn has the potential to be a significant villain across the entire Marvel universe, rather than being constantly tied to Spider-Man.
4) Veranke
Veranke served as the primary villain in the *Secret Invasion* storyline, a Skrull Empress aiming to conquer Earth. While the core concept of *Secret Invasion* was strong, the execution of the story itself fell short. Veranke didn’t take much direct action within the main *Secret Invasion* series; readers had to follow the *New Avengers* tie-in comics to see her plans unfold. These additional stories were good, but it was a letdown that the main series presented such a weak and unremarkable villain. Furthermore, her abrupt death at the end felt unsatisfying. Veranke had the potential to become a significant, recurring Skrull villain for Marvel, but she needed a more compelling story to truly shine.
3) Count Nefaria
Count Nefaria is a largely forgotten Marvel villain with a lot of potential. He started as the head of the Maggia, a powerful criminal organization, and gained energy-based superpowers. He once starred in a classic Avengers storyline (issues #165-166) and even fought the Avengers and the Thunderbolts single-handedly. Despite this strong start, Nefaria hasn’t had a compelling story in years. It’s a waste, considering he’s capable of going toe-to-toe with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Recently, he’s only appeared as a prisoner in *The Amazing Spider-Man*, which doesn’t suit a villain of his caliber.
2) The Revengers
The Revengers were a fascinating team that only appeared in a single story arc. Wonder Man, feeling the Avengers were hypocritical, assembled a group of heroes and anti-heroes who had issues with the Avengers, intending to expose their flaws to the world. This story, featured in *New Avengers Annual* (Vol. 2) #1 and *Avengers Annual* (Vol. 2) #1, was a highlight of the “Heroic Age” era, though it didn’t fully live up to its potential. The Revengers had a great concept as a darker counterpart to the Avengers, but the story primarily focused on action rather than exploring deeper themes. It’s a shame Marvel didn’t develop the idea further, as the Revengers could have been the basis for a compelling Avengers storyline that challenged the team’s ideals and effectiveness.
1) Grim Reaper
Grim Reaper, Wonder Man’s brother, is a villain with a lot of untapped potential. For decades, his stories have largely revolved around his hatred for Wonder Man, pitting him against Wonder Man and the Avengers, or briefly featuring him with the Legion of the Unliving. As a necromancer who repeatedly returns from the dead, Grim Reaper has the makings of a truly compelling character, but he hasn’t had a standout story in a long time – and could become a major Marvel villain if given the chance.
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2025-10-14 16:17