As the MCU continues to introduce new characters in films like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, longtime readers are waiting for a chance to see more obscure figures on the big screen. Marvel's roster of dastardly heels has produced legendary comic villains, but some baddies aren't as well known.
From nightmare fuel like Vermin to sillier supervillains like Doctor Bong, there is so much more to Marvel's rogue's gallery than big-bads like Thanos or Doctor Doom. While the history of comics is filled with forgotten villains, the most obscure antagonists live on in the hearts of diehard fans.
Big Wheel
Supervillain names aren't always the most subtle, and yet the aptly titled Big Wheel almost seemed too on the nose. After hitting rock bottom thanks to shady business dealings, Jackson Weele went berserk and sunk his fortune into a giant mechanical wheel device that he used to terrorize New York City.
Though the master of the wheel was tamed pretty easily by Spider-Man, he left an impression on some readers because of his goofy gimmick and wheel-centric obsession. Proving there is some viability in the character, Big Wheel has made several smaller appearances in other forms of Spider-Man media.
Tiger Shark
Though Namor made his debut in the Golden Age of Comics, many of his adventures and villains have faded into the background of the Marvel Universe. The dastardly Tiger Shark started as Todd Arliss, a former professional swimmer who lost the use of his legs in an accident, and turned to science to regain his abilities.
With a blend of Namor's DNA and the DNA of a tiger shark, Arliss was cured of his affliction but found himself transformed into the needle-toothed villain. Because of his aquatic nature, Tiger Shark hasn't often ventured out to menace other heroes, but his overwhelming power makes him a great potential foe for any of Marvel's finest.
Armadillo
Animal-themed villains have worked in the past, but Armadillo's tiny namesake wasn't necessarily striking fear in the hearts of readers. Turned into a humanoid armadillo by a mad scientist, the man originally known as Antonio Rodriguez used his newfound super strength to steal enough money to cure his girlfriend's terminal illness.
Debuting in the mid-'80s as a one-off villain for Captain America to vanquish, the anthropomorphic armadillo would continue to return in storylines and often ed teams of supervillains in their pursuit of evil. In recent years, the once-forgotten baddie has taken his place among some of Iron Heart's most powerful villains.
White Rabbit
When going up against big-time goons like Green Goblin or Doctor Octopus, the petty criminal White Rabbit seems inferior, but she is actually one of Spider-Man's most underrated foes. Inheriting wealth from her elderly husband, Lorina Dodson adopted the moniker of White Rabbit from her obsession with Alice in Wonderland, and begin a life of crime.
Always scheming for her next big score, Rabbit has been a constant source of irritation for the wall-crawler since her debut in the early-'80s. Though she lacks any superpowers, her techno-wizardry arms her with gadgets that give her an advantage, and she has an abundance of personality as well.
Mastermind
Despite being one of the most powerful of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Mastermind has always been overshadowed by his contemporaries. Jason Wyngarde was one of many mutants who turned bad in the early days of the X-Men comics, and his ability to conjure powerful illusions made him a difficult enemy to fight.
Lacking the verbose nature of his teammates like Toad or Mystique, Mastermind always attacked in a more subtle way and his illusions were enough to freeze most X-Men in their tracks. However, as the stories grew more complex, and the villains more powerful, Mastermind's simplistic abilities paled in comparison to other evildoers. Eventually succumbing to the legacy virus, Mastermind is mostly ed by dedicated X-Men fanatics.
Ravage
Rivaling even the Hulk himself as one of the strongest gamma-powered characters, the beast known as Ravage is yet another villain to gain his powers from the emerald monster. Dr. Geoffrey Crawford was a former mentor of Bruce Banner who utilized the Hulk's gamma radiation to cure himself of the debilitating effects of old age.
As is always the case with a wannabe Hulk, the gamma turned Dr. Crawford into a powerful beast that lacked the morals of Banner's own Hulk alter-ego. Ultra-powerful but cunning, Ravage was a dangerous villain because he could not only out-muscle the Hulk, but out-smart him as well. Fortunately for Hulk, Ravage was put in a state of suspended animation and hasn't returned to plague the Marvel Universe.
Vermin
Supervillains can range from absolutely silly to absolutely terrifying, and the notorious fiend known only as Vermin falls in the latter category. Created by an experiment that turned Edward Whelen into a humanoid rat, Vermin soon became a nightmarish villain that stalked the darkest corners of Marvel Comics.
Vicious and super strong, Vermin's animal instincts make him a dangerous and relentless foe no matter what hero he is vexing. Making waves during the beloved "Kraven's Last Hunt" storyline, Vermin has been far from absent from the pages of Marvel Comics ever since. Vermin's disgusting nature makes him effective as a villain, but it will always relegate him to obscure status.
Carrion
Adding his name to the list of villains who have a grudge against Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Carrion ed the fray and aimed to rid the world of the wall-crawling menace for good. Revealing himself to be a clone of Miles Warren, the super powered Carrion blamed Parker for the death of Gwen Stacey.
The original Carrion storyline was a compelling continuation of the original "Clone Saga", but a smattering of retcons have made the villain practically incomprehensible. Undoubtedly a viable villain for Spider-Man, Carrion's obscure status is due in large part to his convoluted backstory, and a fresh reboot could help raise the standing of the underrated goon.
Mr. Smile
New villains in Marvel Comics are rare, and they usually get pushed out by established heels, but the recent appearance of Mr. Smile opens the door for a wealth of creepy opportunities. The creature of unknown origin attempted to create a universe-shattering weapon after stealing from Doctor Strange, but was eventually stopped by the very same sorcerer.
Only a few years old, the one-off appearance of Mr. Smile has nevertheless left a big impression of avid readers thanks to his overwhelmingly creepy visage. Like a figure from a fever dream, the mysterious demon is one of the publisher's creepiest creations, and a return could help cement Mr. Smile as the new villain on the block.
Doctor Bong
Because he is the arch-nemesis of Howard the Duck, Doctor Bong is probably never going to ascend to the heights of Marvel villainy. With a lust for power and possessing a head in the shape of a bell, Doctor Bong can perform a wide variety of attacks by simply striking his own head.
Silliness aside, Doctor Bong is deceptively powerful, and his skills could give much more popular enemies a run for their stolen money. Aside from using his bell for attacks, Doctor Bong can also transport himself through time and space, and there is seemingly no end to what he can do with a ring of his bell.