7 Powerful Marvel Villains The MCU Will Never Use

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Early on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, many villains seemed impossible to use in movies. Some characters, like the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man, were unavailable due to licensing conflicts. However, Disney’s purchase of 21st Century Fox and their deal with Sony to include Spider-Man largely solved those problems. Other characters were avoided because their powers appeared too challenging to realistically portray on film. Despite this, Mephisto recently appeared in Ironheart and Sentry is set to be in Thunderbolts.

However, it looks like certain villains won’t be appearing anytime soon. This is mainly because of problematic elements within their backstories, though sometimes their powers are also a factor.

7) Mandrill

Jerome Beechman, the Marvel villain known as Mandrill, has a tragic and disturbing origin story. Rejected by his parents due to his unusual, ape-like appearance and fur, he developed powers that allow him to control women using pheromones, effectively enslaving them. This makes him a particularly problematic and controversial character.

Mandrill wouldn’t fit into a modern Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. He originated in the 1970s, created by Roy Thomas and John Buscema, and would have been more at home in an MCU that started back then. However, the Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law did include a subtle nod to the character while Jennifer Walters was investigating the Intelligencia, a group with misogynistic views.

6) Baron Blood

Baron Blood is a Marvel villain stronger than Captain America – despite Captain America defeating him. However, he’s likely to be avoided in future movies because of his connection to the Nazis. The first Captain America film directly addressed Nazis, and The Winter Soldier explored similar themes, but using HYDRA instead.

Lately, Nazism has become a prominent topic of discussion, especially in the US. Marvel likely wants to avoid investing $200 million in a movie where the main villain is a Nazi vampire. Another reason they’d avoid this is the poor performance of the film Morbius. While not part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, its failure probably means vampires won’t be appearing in Marvel projects for a while.

5) Ultimate Blob

Let’s talk about Kevin Durand’s Blob in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. While he was a solid performance, it really didn’t capture the sheer… grossness of the Ultimate Blob from the comics. Seriously, this version of Blob wasn’t just big, he was repulsive. We’re talking covered in pimples, a truly terrifying mouthful of teeth, and a look that would probably send little kids screaming for the exits. Compared to him, even Penguin in Batman Returns looks practically polished! This Blob wasn’t just a mutant; he was a walking nightmare.

There’s also a particularly gruesome scene from the Ultimatum comic. After a massive tidal wave destroys New York City, several heroes die, including the Wasp. The Ultimate Blob then eats her body, with blood dripping from his smiling mouth. Let’s hope the Marvel Cinematic Universe never tries to recreate that!

4) Marcus Immortus

First, Marcus Immortus was conceived through an assault – his father attacked a woman while controlling her mind. Second, Marcus later repeats this horrific act, using mind control to assault Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers, not the more recent Kamala Khan version seen in movies and TV).

Okay, things get really strange here. Instead of giving birth to Marcus’ son, Ms. Marvel somehow delivers Marcus himself – apparently, he’d been stuck in this weird limbo state. Honestly, the whole Marcus Immortus storyline? It just wouldn’t work at all in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s a bit too out there, even for them.

3) The Liberators

The Liberators, first appearing in Ultimates 2 #9, were a villainous team similar to the Sinister Six, but composed of particularly controversial figures. Their support came from governments like China, France, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Syria, which could have limited the potential for international success of any film or television adaptation.

The team includes a character called The Colonel, a young Muslim man transformed into a super soldier seeking revenge on Captain America for his role in the invasion of Iran. Another member, known as Schizoid Man, is immediately excluded from consideration. Several members of the Liberators have also been included, though they appear in significantly altered forms compared to their original depiction in Ultimates. These include Loki, Abomination, and Crimson Dynamo.

2) The Yellow Claw

Marvel has often created characters drawing on harmful Asian stereotypes, and the Yellow Claw is a prime example. The very name of the character is problematic and contributes to this pattern.

Adding to the problem were his exaggerated features – long fingernails and a straight moustache – and his tendency to exploit American anxieties about Communism. He disappeared around 25 years ago and doesn’t appear to be coming back.

1) Fu Manchu

Fu Manchu, also known as Zheng Zu, is a particularly problematic Marvel character due to relying on harmful stereotypes. Like the character Yellow Claw, he’s unlikely to appear in Marvel Cinematic Universe projects for the same reasons – his origins are based on offensive and outdated tropes.

Marvel successfully reimagined the Mandarin by avoiding harmful stereotypes and emphasizing his family connections. However, doing the same for Fu Manchu wouldn’t work – there would be nothing substantial left of the character. While the Mandarin’s adaptation was possible, using Fu Manchu presents additional challenges. Only the earliest Fu Manchu books are freely available for use in the US, and even then, adapting the character would likely be problematic and offensive, making the effort not worthwhile.

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2025-11-29 22:20