The MCU’s phase 4 is expected to introduce even more long-awaited Marvel Comics heroes and villains to the public. This is so with over 100 hours of combined runtime already under its belt. Many MCU fans have turned to the dark side, eagerly anticipating the on-screen debuts of Marvel’s most famous (or infamous) villains in the upcoming films and television shows of the franchise, rather than the introduction of new heroes.

Fans of the MMCU are eager to see their favorite heroes face off against equally compelling villains, as evidenced by the widespread interest in Ethan Hawk’s Arthur Harrow following his debut in Moon Knight’s first episode. But thanks to recent clues found in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, many MCU fans are confident that they won’t have to wait long for some of Marvel’s scariest and most memorable super-villains to make their MCU debut.

Doctor Doom

Doctor Doom’s insatiable desire for power has drawn him into conflict with nearly every Marvel hero, despite the fact that he’s often depicted as the archenemy of the Fantastic Four and shares a deep personal animosity with the team. It’s clear to Doom that he can take on some of the most powerful superheroes on the planet, and he’s confident about it. Because of his cold, matter-of-fact confidence and his role as king of Latveria, a small nation in Eastern Europe, Doom’s sinister stoicism would be a great foil for the MCU’s many sarcastic heroes.

Doom’s status as the primary villain of the Fantastic Four means that he is almost certain to be introduced alongside the team in the MCU, thanks to Disney’s recent acquisition of Twentieth Century Fox. The first episode of Moon Knight may have also subtly introduced the villain’s home country of Later ia, according to many fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Because of the medieval-looking architecture and ornate castle that Seven Grant finds himself in after he passes out, many fans believe that Latveria may have been the location of Steven’s first encounter with the cult of Ammit.

Kang The Conqueror

Time travel has gained prominence in the MCU since its brief appearance in Doctor Strange, and Kang of Conqueror was able to enter the picture as a result. Kang, a descendant of Reed Richard’s father Nathanial, who developed time travel technology in the 31st century, set out on a crusade to conquer all of history. To put it another way, Kang has built an enormous trans-dimensional empire with an almost infinite supply of resources and an army of planets’ populations under his command, making him a threat to the MCU as a whole because of that.

He Who Remains, an alternate version of Kang, made his debut in the season-ending finale of Loki, “For All Time, Always,” which introduced the last survivor of a war between Kang’s alternate selves that nearly destroyed the multiverse. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ‘s introduction of He Who Remains as a villain serves as an ominous warning of the damage his more malicious alternate self could inflict on the Marvel Cinematic Universe if he is allowed to unleash his full potential.

Mephisto

Mephisto has established himself as the living symbol of evil in the Marvel Universe as its answer to the Judeo-Christian devil. One of Mephisto’s main goals is to enslave and torture human beings in his fiery realm of eternal torture. When dealing with mortals, Mephisto can exert his will over reality by making Faustian deals, often granting their desires in exchange for their souls, despite his inability to interact directly with the mortal plane itself. The fact that he is willing to play the long game makes him an excellent slow-burn threat for the heroes of the MCU, despite his lack of direct plans.

It has been widely speculated that Mephisto, the demonic influencer behind the events of both Loki and Wandavision, would make an appearance at some point in Phase Four. There are still many fans who believe the demonic influencer will emerge to tempt MCU heroes with an offer they cannot refuse, despite all these theories being disproved.

Doom, Kang, or Mephisto would be great additions to the MCU because of their impressive powers and memorable personalities. The MCU’s villains are likely to get even more powerful as the multiverse unfolds and the Fantastic Four and X-Men make their film debuts.