While the Marvel Cinematic Universe has featured several intriguing villains thus far, it is nowhere near introducing half of them. Thanos, the Mad Titan who intended to liberate the universe from hunger, was thrust into the spotlight in Avengers: End Game, making him one of the MCU’s most compelling antagonists. However, Marvel didn’t stop there, as Loki, a six-episode series, surpassed fans’ expectations by building anticipation for a new villain who could be far more terrifying than all the villains we’ve seen combined.

With the recent lackluster series aired in Phase 4, many people have wondered if the MCU Phase 5 will be any different. According to San Diego Comic-Con 2022, the upcoming phase will see a slew of intriguing films, including Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Secret Wars, and, hopefully, Avengers: Secret Wars as the climax. In any case, it doesn’t matter how amazing the script is or how many superhero cameos there may be if there isn’t an interesting antagonist.

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With that in mind, here are some of the villains we expect to see in Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 5, which begins with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania on February 17, 2023.

Kang the Conqueror

     Marvel Studios

In Disney+’s Loki TV series, the characters’ interference with the timeline and the creation of a branched reality termed “Nexus Event” led to a mind-bending climax with a stunning reveal for the viewers. The series presented Jonathan Majors as He Who Remains, and following his death, several variants of himself ignited a Multiverse conflict. To everyone’s surprise, he turned out to be a version of Kang the Conqueror, the MCU’s new main antagonist.

In light of these occurrences, many assumed Kang would play an essential role in Phase 5, and it was shortly confirmed that he would show up in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. While it may be similar to how Thanos featured in the initial Avengers films rather than a complete story dedicated to him, Avengers: Kang Dynasty would dive deeper into his account and reveal more about him.

Doctor Doom

     Marvel Comics

Due to his status as the mortal adversary of not only The Fantastic Four but every future Marvel character involved in Secret Wars, Doctor Doom is unquestionably Marvel’s most important villain. According to Marvel Comics, he is one of the smartest people in the world and intends to change the world for the better by conquering it.

He first crossed paths with The Fantastic Four during the Sue Storm hostage issue, and he later became embroiled in major clashes with the Avengers and other renowned superheroes. It appears that the original Secret Wars plot centers on Doctor Doom’s persona rather than the multiversal battle that the fans are eager to see on the big screen. While Secret Wars is more likely to take place in Phase 6 after Thunderbolts, it wouldn’t be surprising if Marvel decided to bring him in sooner than fans have imagined.

Skrulls

The shape-shifting warriors who appeared in Captain Marvel, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Wanda Vision have been well received by Marvel’s legion of fans thus far. Although Skrulls were antagonistic in the original Marvel Comics, they have all previously appeared in a favorable light. Unfortunately, this alien race has been at odds with the Kree for thousands of years, and after their home planet is destroyed, a new breed of Skrulls wants to take over the world during the Secret Invasion period.

The Secret Invasion comics featured well-known superheroes such as Elektra and Black Bolt, as well as the Avengers. With a new threat quietly forming from within as government positions were compromised by Skrulls, the Avengers were forced to battle an enemy they couldn’t see. It’s one of the reasons Skrulls have been one of the most exciting additions to the MCU so far, and they’ll continue to be so in the future.

M.O.D.O.K

George Tarleton, a.k.a. M.O.D.O.K, was an ordinary technician for A.I.M until he was mutated into a human computer with an ingenious brain, a plethora of psychic powers, and an ambition matching his monstrous abilities. According to a Reddit post, M.O.D.O.K, the giant-headed murder machine, is reported to be an ally of Kang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but if he starts out as a Cosmic being, he might emerge as an equal or larger threat than him.

M.O.D.O.K. has multiple encounters with major MCU characters such as Namor and the Hulk. He also played a crucial and challenging part during the World War Hulks incident. Although M.O.D.O.K was the victim of a horrible scientific experiment, his very existence might endanger the entire universe, even more than Kang the Conqueror, who is widely regarded as being even more terrifying than Thanos.

Marvel has meticulously planned each installment, building the verse little by little and introducing the new superheroes and villains responsible for two of the highest-grossing blockbusters in history. Although the MCU is not known for taking Marvel Comics literally, we’re confident these villains will play significant roles in Phase 5. Brace yourself to witness these fearsome Marvel villains wreak havoc across universes as we enter the next phase.