Hello everyone, you will find best black Marvel villains and some information about their abilities and background story that make them some of the best black supervillains in the entire marvel universe, yes, I am including comic books, games, tv shows, everything.
As you can see, Marvel doesn’t really have memorable Black supervillains, I had trouble coming up with 5 but nonetheless, I got the job done. I think Marvel should take a leaf from DC’s black villains. I think most of you will agree with my list, of course yes I did leave out some of your favorites but once you get through this list you might forgive me and understand why I chose these select few. By the way, if you are also interested in heroes, you should check out our list of the best black Marvel superheroes.
Let me know in the comments if you think we should add or remove certain heroes on this list, I will also be adding some new villains as times goes by so make sure to subscribe to our website for regular updates.
List of Black Marvel Supervillains
Moses Magnum
Power & Abilities:
- Seismic Energy Generation: Magnum can generate and control seismic energy, which allows him to create powerful earthquakes. This is his most notable power
- Superhuman Strength: Magnum possesses superhuman strength, enabling him to lift and carry heavy loads, and to engage in combat with superhuman opponents.
- Kinetic Energy Absorption: Magnum can absorb kinetic energy, which enhances his strength and seismic powers. The more energy he absorbs, the more powerful he becomes.
- Durability: Magnum has a high degree of resistance to physical injury. This durability, combined with his superhuman strength, makes him a formidable opponent in physical combat.
- Intellect: While not a superhuman ability, it’s worth noting that Magnum is highly intelligent. He’s a successful businessman and tactician, skills that he often uses to further his plans for world domination.
Background Story:
Moses Magnum is a super-villain in the Marvel Comics universe. A self-styled dictator, he has superhuman strength and the ability to generate powerful seismic energies, which allow him to create earthquakes. Magnum was originally an arms dealer and a mafia boss before his powers were activated by Apocalypse.
Born in Ethiopia, Magnum was sold into slavery as a child and was bought by an Italian fascist official who renamed him Moses and raised him as a son. When the official was killed in WWII, Magnum inherited his fortune and used it to start an arms manufacturing and dealing business.
Magnum’s first significant conflict with superheroes came when he tried to conquer Japan by threatening to sink it with an earthquake. He was defeated by a combined force of X-Men and Avengers. Since then, Magnum has clashed with many Marvel heroes, including Spider-Man, the Punisher, and Dazzler.
Magnum’s powers have grown over time. He has developed the ability to absorb kinetic energy, which increases his strength and seismic powers.
Bushmaster
Power & Abilities:
- Superhuman Strength: As a result of the experiment conducted by Noah Burstein, John McIver possesses strength significantly greater than that of a normal human.
- Metal Skin: His skin has been transformed into an unbreakable, steel-like substance, giving him a high degree of invulnerability.
- Regenerative Healing Factor: John McIver can recover from injuries much faster than a normal human.
Background Story:
Bushmaster is a super-villain appearing in Marvel Comics, primarily an adversary of Luke Cage and Iron Fist. There are two characters who bear the name Bushmaster: the original, John McIver, and his brother, Quincy.
John McIver was born in the Caribbean and rose from poverty to become a crime boss. His ruthlessness earned him the name “Bushmaster”. Seeking to increase his power, he forced the scientist Noah Burstein to use an experimental process on him that had previously given Luke Cage his powers. The process enhanced his strength but also turned his body into hard, steel-like metal, making him nearly invulnerable.
Quincy McIver, on the other hand, lost his arms and legs in a boating accident. The criminal organization, the Roxxon Oil Company, saw an opportunity and transformed him into a cyborg with mechanical snake-like limbs, and he adopted the moniker of his brother.
King Bedlam
Power & Abilities:
- Neural Disruption: King Bedlam has the ability to disrupt the neural functions of others. This power allows him to create chaos and confusion, disorienting his opponents and making it difficult for them to fight or even think clearly.
- Mental Immunity: King Bedlam’s mind is immune to psychic detection and manipulation, making it difficult for telepaths to affect him.
- Leadership: While not a superpower, King Bedlam has shown to be an effective leader, organizing and leading the New Hellions in their criminal activities. His leadership skills combined with his powers make him a formidable adversary.
Background Story:
King Bedlam is a primarily an adversary of X-Force. His real name is Christopher Aaronson, and he is the older brother of Jesse Aaronson, also known as Bedlam, a member of X-Force.
Both Christopher and Jesse were orphaned at a young age when their parents died in a car accident. The trauma activated Christopher’s latent mutant abilities, and he was institutionalized due to the destructive nature of his powers.
As an adult, Christopher took on the name King Bedlam and became a criminal, leading a group of renegade mutants known as the New Hellions. Unlike his younger brother, who uses his powers for good, King Bedlam uses his abilities to create chaos and further his own interests.
King Bedlam’s primary power is the ability to disrupt neural functions, causing confusion and disorder in those around him.
Calypso
Power & Abilities:
- Mystical Abilities: As a voodoo priestess, Calypso can cast spells, create potions, and use charms. She uses these abilities to control and manipulate others, and even to resurrect the dead.
- Mind Control: Calypso has the ability to control minds, often using her charms to enhance this power. She can influence the thoughts and actions of others, making them act according to her wishes.
- Enhanced Physical Abilities: Through her potions, Calypso can enhance her physical strength and agility. This makes her a formidable opponent in physical combat.
- Resurrection: Calypso has shown the ability to resurrect the dead. This power, combined with her mind control abilities, allows her to create powerful minions to do her bidding.
- Charisma and Manipulation: While not a superpower, Calypso’s charisma and manipulation skills make her a dangerous adversary. She often uses these skills to convince others to help her in her plans.
Background Story:
Calypso is a villainess, primarily known as an adversary of Spider-Man. Her real name is Calypso Ezili, and she is a voodoo priestess of Haitian descent.
Calypso is characterized by her sadistic personality and her ability to control and manipulate others. She first appeared as a partner and lover to Kraven the Hunter, enhancing his powers with her mystical abilities to make him an even greater threat to Spider-Man. After Kraven’s death, she attempted to resurrect him and take revenge on Spider-Man.
Her powers include mind control, enhanced strength and agility, and the ability to resurrect the dead. She uses potions and charms, notably a potion that can enhance physical abilities and a charm that can control minds.
Erik Killmonger
Power & Abilities:
- Enhanced Physical Abilities: Killmonger has superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, agility, and durability, which are similar to the abilities granted by the Heart-Shaped Herb consumed by the Black Panther. His physical prowess makes him a highly dangerous hand-to-hand combatant.
- Genius-Level Intellect: Killmonger is extremely intelligent, with a PhD in Engineering and an MBA. He is a master strategist and tactician, and is well-versed in various scientific disciplines.
- Combat Skills: Killmonger is an expert in numerous forms of martial arts and is considered one of the best hand-to-hand fighters in the Marvel Universe.
- Leadership: Killmonger is a skilled and charismatic leader, able to inspire loyalty in his followers.
Background Story:
Erik Killmonger, born N’Jadaka, is primarily known as an adversary of Black Panther. He originates from Wakanda, a highly advanced African nation.
As a child, N’Jadaka’s village was attacked by Ulysses Klaw, who was attempting to seize Wakanda’s Vibranium resources. During the attack, N’Jadaka’s family was killed, and he was kidnapped and taken to America, where he took the name Erik Killmonger.
In America, Killmonger excelled in his studies, earning a PhD in Engineering and an MBA. Despite his success, he was consumed by his desire for revenge against both Klaw, who had destroyed his life, and T’Challa, the Black Panther and king of Wakanda, whom he blamed for his family’s death.
Killmonger returned to Wakanda and sought to overthrow T’Challa, believing that Wakanda’s isolationist policies were harmful and that he could lead the nation better. This led to numerous confrontations with the Black Panther, as Killmonger sought to seize control of Wakanda and exact his revenge.
Cottonmouth
Power & Abilities:
- Superhuman Strength: Cottonmouth possesses strength significantly greater than that of a normal human. He can lift heavy loads and engage in combat with superhuman opponents.
- Steel-Hard Teeth: Cottonmouth has teeth that are as hard as steel. He often uses his teeth as a weapon, biting his opponents during fights.
- Durability: Cottonmouth has a high degree of resistance to physical injury. This durability, combined with his superhuman strength, makes him a formidable opponent in physical combat.
- Leadership: Cottonmouth is a skilled leader and tactician, overseeing a large criminal organization. His leadership and organizational skills are key to his criminal activities.
- Business Acumen: Despite being a criminal, Cottonmouth is a successful businessman. He has a keen understanding of economics and is skilled at managing the financial aspects of his criminal organization.
Background Story:
Cottonmouth is a villain, primarily known as an adversary of Luke Cage. His real name is Cornell Cottonmouth, and he’s a prominent figure in Harlem’s criminal underworld.
Cornell was born into a life of crime, dealing drugs from a young age. He quickly climbed the ranks due to his ruthless ambition and eventually became the head of his own criminal organization, which dealt in various illegal activities, including drug trafficking.
Cottonmouth is characterized by his superhuman strength and steel-hard teeth, which he often uses to intimidate and physically overpower his opponents. He first crossed paths with Luke Cage when he tried to recruit him to join his organization. When Cage refused and started interfering with his operations, Cottonmouth became one of his main adversaries.
Despite his criminal activities, Cottonmouth is a complex character who cares about his community. He often uses the profits from his criminal activities to fund community projects in Harlem, creating a complicated relationship with the residents of the area.
Baron Mordo
Power & Abilities:
- Magic: Mordo is a master of the mystic arts, equal in many ways to Doctor Strange. He can cast spells, summon entities, create shields, and teleport, among other things.
- Astral Projection: Like many sorcerers in the Marvel Universe, Mordo can separate his spirit from his body, allowing him to travel invisibly and pass through solid matter.
- Hypnosis: Mordo is skilled in hypnosis, often using this ability to control the minds of others.
- Immortality: Mordo has achieved a form of immortality through his mastery of the mystic arts. He does not age and is immune to all known diseases.
- Energy Manipulation: Mordo can manipulate mystical energy to create force fields and blasts.
- Summoning: Mordo can summon demonic entities and control them to do his bidding, although such entities often prove difficult to control.
- Teleportation: Mordo can teleport himself and others across vast distances, even into other dimensions.
Background Story:
Baron Karl Amadeus Mordo is primarily known as an adversary of Doctor Strange. Mordo is a skilled sorcerer, originally a student of the Ancient One, the same mystic being who trained Doctor Strange in the mystic arts.
Born to a Transylvanian nobleman, Mordo was sent to study with the Ancient One after his mother died under mysterious circumstances. However, Mordo’s ambitions quickly overpowered his moral compass. He sought to gain power by killing the Ancient One, but his plan was discovered by the newly arrived Stephen Strange.
From then on, Mordo became one of Doctor Strange’s most persistent foes. His skills in magic are nearly equal to those of Strange, and he uses a variety of mystical artifacts and spells to achieve his goals.
Nimrod
Power & Abilities:
- Superhuman Strength: Nimrod possesses strength significantly greater than a normal human, enabling him to combat powerful adversaries.
- Superhuman Durability: Nimrod’s construction gives him resistance to a wide range of physical damages. He is virtually indestructible.
- Regeneration: Despite his durability, any damage Nimrod does sustain can be rapidly repaired thanks to his regenerative abilities.
- Energy Projection: Nimrod can project energy in various forms for offensive and defensive purposes.
- Computer Interfacing: Nimrod can interact with computer systems, allowing him to gather, process, and manipulate large amounts of data.
- Shapeshifting: Nimrod has the ability to alter his physical form. This allows him to adapt to various situations and disguise himself.
- Teleportation: Nimrod possesses the ability to teleport, allowing him to instantly transport himself across large distances
Background Story:
Nimrod is a character from Marvel Comics, first appearing in “The Uncanny X-Men #191” (1985). Originating from an alternative future timeline known as the “Days of Future Past”, he is a virtually indestructible Sentinel, created by Sentinels ruling his timeline, tasked with hunting mutants. His name is derived from the biblical figure described as a “mighty hunter”
After being transported back in time, Nimrod saves a construction worker, Jaime Rodriguez, from a mugger. In gratitude, Rodriguez offers him a job and a home, unaware of Nimrod’s true nature. Nimrod adapts to his new timeline, shifting his directive from exterminating all mutants to only those regarded as outlaws, such as the X-Men. He gains a reputation as a heroic vigilante and adopts the human persona “Nicholas Hunter” to blend in.
Nimrod proves himself a formidable adversary, causing significant damage to the X-Men and the Hellfire Club. His programming is later co-opted when he finds a piece of the Sentinel Master Mold, resulting in a merger.
You can quickly also check out some of DC’s best black Superheroes as well.