The Marvel Universe is full to the brim of heroes, and that’s before one leaves the planet and looks to the cosmos. In fact, when it comes to the larger universe within Marvel, there’s a shocking number of heroes and villains available to get their chance in the MCU. Cosmic heroes of Marvel have to worry about protecting more than one planet, making their jobs infinitely more challenging, as Captain Marvel pointed out in Avengers: Endgame. The Guardians of the Galaxy have also worked hard to protect the larger universe, and they’re not the only ones.
Videos by ComicBook.com
Cosmic heroes and villains of Marvel are epic in their own right. Sometimes they exist on a scale all their own, facing seemingly impossible challenges. Their stories show a distinct sci-fi influence, allowing Marvel to deviate slightly and explore new themes and topics. For this reason, and hundreds of others, we’re still hoping to see these cosmic heroes make a grand appearance in the MCU.
7) Nova
Theoretically, Richard Rider, aka Nova, has been on the MCU docket for years. His appearance was first teased in that very first Guardians of the Galaxy movie with the appearance of the Nova Corps? Richard Rider is famously part of the rebuilt version of the Nova Corps, which could well be an MCU plot line in the wake of Thanos’ destruction of Xandar.
As Nova, Richard Rider is an amazing and powerful hero. It would be an understatement to say that he has been through it all, as he has survived some unbelievable scenarios, including time spent trapped in the Cancerverse. It’s even worse than it sounds, trust us.
Nova started our as an ordinary guy from Hempstead, New York. Obviously, he didn’t stay that way, as he was chosen to represent the Nova Corps when he was a teenager. This took him to the depths of space, and he’s been fighting the good fight ever since. He’s worked alongside dozens of different Marvel teams, so one could theoretically see him pop up in any MCU story. Personally, we’re still counting on that Nova series.
6) Darkhawk
Christopher Powell, aka Darkhawk, is a hero hailing from the ‘90s, and that aesthetic shines through in many of his designs. Like Nova, he stumbled into the life of a hero when he was just a teenager. Unlike Nova, he wasn’t chosen. He was merely in the right place at the right time. One day, he happened to come across an amulet. When activated, this amulet transposes him with the Darkhawk Armor. It’s a tiny bit complicated, but basically, the Darkhawk Amulet swaps out Chris’ human body with a powerful and modular armor.
Chris grew up with a strong sense of right and wrong, and an even stronger belief in justice. So when he found himself capable of incredible feats, he immediately set himself to become a superhero. The journey was far from easy, as this hero had to learn the hard way. He’s had his ups and downs and was unfortunate enough to see some of the worst sides of superhero life, thanks to the Superhero Registration Act.
As Darkhawk, Chris started by making a difference around him, making the streets a safer place. He would eventually take his oath to the stars, where he became a cosmic hero. Out in space, Dawkhawk learned a lot about the origins of his amulet and the ties it forged. More recently, Marvel has been ignoring Darkhawk and his potential, but fans are still desperately hoping to see this hero make his way to the MCU.
5) Singularity
It’s probably safe to say that there’s nobody in the wider Marvel universe quite like Singularity. This hero is the embodiment of hope, in a way. Singularity is a cosmic being of immense power, though, truthfully, nobody really knows how powerful she is, including Singularity herself. Despite this power, she is a gentle soul with a surprisingly naive heart. She wants to trust the universe and help her friends.
Singularity entered the Marvel Universe during Secret Wars. She was lucky enough to immediately stumble across the A-Force, Marvel’s all-female team. She quickly became friends with Nico Minoru, though she would also forge strong bonds with She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, and later, Kamala Khan.
As her name likely indicates, Singularity is a living singularity. This explains why she looks like space itself, complete with twinkling stars. She can access pocket dimensions, send people through portals, and even travel through time. Given what the MCU may be facing in the near future, the heroes would do well to make an ally out of Singularity. While one of the best times to introduce her character was probably during The Marvels, there are likely plenty of opportunities coming up in the near future. So we’ll keep on hoping.
4) The Gladiator
Kallark is better known as The Gladiator, the leader of the Shi’ar Imperial Guard. Neither The Gladiator nor the Shi’ar have made an appearance in the MCU, and that’s pretty surprising. That said, they did play a prominent part in X-Men ’97, so there is some precedent.
The Shi’ar have ties to many Marvel characters within the Marvel Universe, including the X-Men. Naturally, if the Shi’ar were introduced, one would expect to see The Gladiator. The Gladiator is the Superguardian of the Shi’ar Imperium, and that’s not just him speaking boldly. That’s his duty, to protect the Shi’ar and enforce their law. As such, he’s not a squeaky-clean hero, but he is certainly a force to be reckoned with.
Kallark is a Strontian, so he was already fairly strong, and he underwent an enhancement process that made him even more impressive. We’re talking about the superhero starter pack: enhanced strength, speed, stamina, and perhaps most importantly (for his job), the ability to survive out in space. That comes with a few extra perks, like flight and heat beams.
The Gladiator is a fascinating character who can help portray multiple sides of the wider Marvel Universe. As such, a story that includes him is going to offer more than just a fantastic fight (though that is also guaranteed), but some Marvel politics.
3) The Phoenix Force
Even casual Marvel fans have likely heard of the Phoenix Force, though they may not have a complete understanding of this incredibly complex and powerful entity. The Phoenix Force is one of Marvel’s oldest cosmic entities, though how long it has been around is up for debate. Given what the Phoenix Force (life, death, and rebirth), it is often feared or hated.
Most people hear The Phoenix Force and think of Jean Grey, and that’s totally fair. She’s the current host of The Phoenix Force, though she’s far from the only character. Over the years, a shocking number of characters have been connected to this character.
That brings us to another interesting connection, as the Phoenix Force, through the host known as Firehair, arranged for Odin’s child to be imbued with some of the force. Does that mean that the Phoenix Force is Thor’s mom, at least in part? Yes, and it gets pretty weird for the hero.
There are many ways for the Phoenix Force to become part of the MCU, and with the X-Men on the horizon, it seems more likely than ever that we’ll eventually see this happen. The only question is when.
2) Beta Ray Bill
Beta Ray Bill is another cosmic hero with connections to Thor, so it’s a bit of a surprise that the MCU has yet to bring him into the fold. After all, Thor has had four solo films by this point, not to mention appearances in dozens of other productions. Beta Ray Bill is a cybernetically enhanced alien, a Korbinite. While he may appear to have a rather strange appearance, it’s good to remember this isn’t his original appearance.
More importantly, Beta Ray Bill is worthy. Yes, this does mean he can wield Mjolnir, and it obviously quickly becomes a point of contention between the two characters. They have since made their peace with that (in the comics, the MCU would be a whole different story). Interestingly, Beta Ray Bill is the wielder of Stormbreaker in the comics, and his face appeared as a totem Easter egg on Sakaar in Thor: Ragnarok.
Beta Ray Bill is a loyal and determined hero. He has seen some of the worst events Marvel has to offer, from the Annihilation Wave to the Secret Wars. He has also worked with many hero teams, including the Guardians of the Galaxy. Naturally, it isn’t hard to see how he could fit into many different MCU plots or events.
1) Moondragon
Once upon a time, Heather Douglas lived happily on Earth. However, that was long ago. She’s now a cosmic hero known as Moondragon. Notably, Moondragon is a powerful psychic and combatant, so it would be best not to get on her bad side. Heather’s backstory is slightly complicated, as she’s the daughter of Arthur Douglas, the man who would become Drax the Destroyer.
Following the death of her family, Heather Douglas was taken in by Mentor, an Eternal of Earth. This set her on the path to become the hero known as Moondragon. Moondragon has been at the forefront of many cosmic battles and events, including Infinity Watch.
As a hero, Moondragon has worked alongside many teams, including the Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers, Defenders, and the Knowhere Corps. On a more personal note, she also met and fell in love with her wife during this time, Phyla-Vell. One can only hope that should Moondragon make an appearance in the MCU, Phyla-Vell won’t be far behind, or vice versa.
Most Viewed
-
image courtesy of 20th Century Studios
