While heroes like Spider-Man and Captain America traditionally dominate the fanbase, the anti-heroes currently in the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
As Marvel laid out at Thunderbolts, which will unite a government-ran team of anti-heroes. Others could come in as ing characters in any of the other films or tv shows. Regardless of when or how it happens, these anti-heroes, in particular, are some of the very best still waiting for their chance to the MCU.
Deadpool (Wade Wilson)
Perhaps the most prolific anti-hero from Marvel will soon be making his introduction after years of pitched anticipation. It was previously announced that Ryan Reynolds would continue playing Deadpool after his tenure in the Fox Avengers: Secret Wars.
The time is perfect for a character like Deadpool. He’d She-Hulk as a fellow fourth-wall-breaker and could also work alongside the Avengers and Spider-Man. His arrival might be deemed contingent and secondary to the X-Men’s, but when it does occur, perhaps his other teams, X-Force and/or Mercs for Money could also feature.
Wolverine (James Howlett)
While Deadpool might have become the premier mutant anti-hero, he does have some incredibly tough competition from Wolverine. Many might be surprised that Wolverine is qualified as an anti-hero, but he is in truth. He isn’t villainous, but compared to the likes of Captain America or Spider-Man, Wolverine’s actions are sometimes reprehensible. He acts emotionally and violently, willingly making difficult and often bloody decisions.
Some eagle-eyed fans noticed an easter egg reference to him in an episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law in which a news story was relayed about a mysterious man with metal claws taking part in a bar fight. No one better fits that description than Wolverine, which has, of course, incited theories that he could show up by the end of the season. That doesn’t seem all that likely, but hopefully, the wait won’t be much longer for Wolverine in the MCU.
Songbird (Melissa Gold)
The MCU’s Thunderbolts will be comprised of many established characters like Yelena Belova, Winter Soldier, Red Guardian, Ghost, US Agent, and Taskmaster, but perhaps it could also introduce some classic from the comics. The best contenders would probably be Moonstone, Beetle, Atlas, and Songbird. In the case of the latter, while much of her compatriots largely retain their villainous ways, Songbird truly rehabilitates as a hero.
Melissa Gold was originally known as Screaming Mimi, and as her codename implies, she has destructive sonokinetic abilities and screams. When the Thunderbolts launched, she and her teammates rebranded themselves. She evolved beyond them and forged a new benevolent path, even ing the Avengers, so she’d be a great new addition to the MCU.
Paladin
Another member of the Thunderbolts from over the years, Paladin, would be someone good for the MCU. He operates similarly to Winter Soldier and Punisher as a sometimes-hero-sometimes-villain, depending on who is paying the bills. Even without all of his weapons and tech, Paladin is still a highly capable adversary, being able to fight back against Daredevil hand-to-hand.
What makes Paladin quite an interesting possibility for the MCU is that his true identity still hasn’t been revealed in the comics. He could come into play in various ways in the MCU, perhaps as a hired gun for someone like Nick Fury or Kingpin. Thunderbolts and Daredevil: Born Again seems like the best options currently to introduce him if it were to be done in Phase Five.
Agent Venom (Flash Thompson)
Spider-Man: No Way Home was a long time coming, and not just for the return of both Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. The film also connected the MCU with Sony’s Spider-Man-less Universe (SSU) by bringing in Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock and Venom. That partnership didn’t really go as people expected, but the two universes are now established as related, and a piece of Venom is now in the MCU. That’s all to say, instead of classic Venom, the MCU could set up Agent Venom.
Flash Thompson, played by Tony Revolori, merges with the symbiote to become Agent Venom and Thor: Love and Thunder.
Black Cat (Felicia Hardy)
Venom is far from the only Spider-Man villain who deserves to cross into the MCU. The time might be perfect to also introduce his on-again-off-again girlfriend, Felicia Hardy aka Black Cat. With MJ and Ned off the table – ideally only temporarily – Spider-Man would need new allies, and rather than bringing in Gwen Stacy as many suspect they might, Black Cat would make for a far more intriguing addition.
Not only could she serve as a romantic partner, but the story could entail Spider-Man trying to reform her as a hero rather than a villain, dooming any possibility for a future. Of course, the question limiting her introduction is about her cinematic rights, currently owned by Sony. It could very well turn out that she is introduced in the SSU alongside her partner and fellow anti-hero, Silver Sable – perhaps played by Sydney Sweeney or Emma Roberts in Madame Web.
Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze)
The MCU already has its fair share of mystical and supernatural heroes with the likes of Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Wong, and presumably Werewolf by Night from the Halloween Special. However, one of their most important contemporaries, Ghost Rider, is still missing. Some thought he could’ve been among the cameos in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, with Nicolas Cage reprising his role as Johnny Blaze.
The Spirit of Vengeance has technically appeared in the MCU already, using Robbie Reyes, played by Gabriel Luna, as his stead in theorizing how he could be brought back. Interestingly, a recent episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law featured Donny Blaze, and many are thinking he could end up riding the flaming motorcycle as Ghost Rider.
Diamondback (Rachel Leighton)
Among the exciting news revealed at Comic-Con was the announcement of great options for villains who could appear alongside The Leader as revealed at D23, but one of the more interesting options is the Serpent Society. Whether they’re part of Captain America: New World Order or they are introduced later, one member would need to have a significant role – Rachel Leighton, aka Diamondback.
Diamondback was introduced as a supervillain, but over the years, she became a trusted ally to Captain America and a hero in her own right. She isn’t alone in the Serpent Society in doing so, forming BAD Girls, Inc. with Black Mamba and Asp. She’d operate narratively quite like Black Cat being someone who goes back and forth from being the hero and villain depending on the situation and what she can get from it.
Ares
Thor: Love and Thunder continued the Phase Four trend of introducing major heroes in small or interesting ways by bringing in Brett Goldstein as Hercules. His introduction was something many people expected, given Hercules’ prominence throughout the comics, and now that he’s here, many are expecting him to get his own Disney+ series soon. That would certainly introduce his troublesome half-brother, Ares, among the many gods waiting for their chance to shine in the MCU.
Hercules is presumably on a mission against the mortals of Earth for his father, Zeus, but most likely, he will change his intentions and become a hero protecting them. Therefore, Ares might be sent to complete the mission Hercules was tasked with. If that’s the case, however, hopefully, their relationship can be explored as Thor and Loki’s has, and Ares could also become a hero himself.
Magneto (Max Eisenhardt)
For years the one thought percolating throughout the MCU fanbase has been when the X-Men would be introduced and, in turn, who would be playing them. Those questions certainly also apply to the X-Men’s greatest enemy, Magneto. He is by far one of the most complex characters from Marvel Comics, and while he often acts with malicious intent, his grand purpose is noble. Over the years, he’s filled the role of both supervillain and morally-dark hero.
It is important to consider that Magneto is a Holocaust survivor, and frankly, the chronology in the MCU might be difficult to work with in that regard. However, they could introduce these characters as living in the 1960s or 70s and then have Avengers: Secret Wars bring them into the future. Hopefully, fans won’t have to wait much longer to know what the plan is.
