The ending of Thor: The Dark World promised that Thor WILL return. Of course he will, and he is going to need someone to fight. Thor has some awesome enemies in his list of mythic, nefarious, and sometimes human rogues, some of them well known, and others (perhaps thankfully) are somewhat forgotten. If Marvel Studios is listening, here is a list for future possible villains to take on Thor, the Warriors Three, the Lady Sif, Heimdall, and the combined might of Asgard united!
Between Loki, Malekith, the Destroyer, and Kurse, Thor has had his hands full with mythic threats from all over the Nine Realms. What he has yet to face is a worthy human adversary. One of the most fascinating aspects regarding Thor is his the perception that he's a god (although Odin is quick to dismiss this in Thor: The Dark World). How would this change established world religious views? Charles Blackwood is a modern day warrior of the Biblical God. He is sworn to protect the world from any and all pagan symbols. Imagine a film Crusader as part of a Westboro Baptist Church type organization sworn to destroy Thor (God hates gods?). Crusader’s power stems from his unwavering faith in his God, a power that diminishes if he ever questions his Lord. How would Crusader’s faith hold against Thor? A cinematic clash of modern day Crusaders and Asgard could be pretty intense if pulled off correctly. The Crusader might not be Thor’s biggest marquee baddie but there is a lot here to work with thematically.
Ah, Bloodaxe, the perennial Thor villain of the 90's where it was a national law that every new character had to have blood, wind, rage, or axe in his name. But Bloodaxe is actually pretty cool with a connection to one of Thor’s greatest foes, Skurge the Executioner (more on him later). The coolest twist surrounding Bloodaxe is that he is actually a she! A woman named Jackie Lucas, lover of mulleted hero Thunderstrike, was secretly cursed by the Axe to become Bloodaxe. The twist of such a testosterone-filled image actually being a woman would be a nice film twist, and the character could be a nice lead in to the coming of Skurge. But it’s probably best to keep Thunderstrike away from the Marvel Movie Universe...the non-geek world is not ready for our 90’s shame.
While usually a benevolent race, the Asgardians, and Odin’s, past sins are many. Odin himself once committed genocide against the Vanir, a rival race of beings that once warred with the Asgardians. Mangog is a creature made up of the rage of the billions and billions of Vanir that Odin slew. Mangog is Odin’s sins made flesh, and a chance for Sir Anthony Hopkins to shine as Odin’s past crimes come home to roost. Mangog is one of Jack Kirby’s more nightmarish and striking designs and would make a fearsome image on screen. Later on in Marvel lore, Mangog was a minion of none other than Thanos! Hello, Marvel Phase Three, Mangog is waiting.
One of Thor’s oldest foes, Radioactive Man, aka Chen Lu, is another Earthbound villain. A loyal Chinese soldier, the Radioactive Man purposely exposed himself to radiation in order to serve his country better as a super-agent. It was established in the Avengers film that the world’s governments started freaking out when Thor arrived on Earth. The Radioactive Man could be China’s response to Thor’s arrival. Radioactive Man can show film audiences the political ramifications of having a being like Thor around and allow the usually fantasy-based franchise to explore some new themes and conflicts. As a recurring Avengers villain and a member of the Thunderbolts, Radioactive Man certainly has the cache to warrant a future film spotlight.
A time-traveling despot from the 23rd Century, Zarrko could introduce the element of time travel into the cinematic Marvel Universe. You just know Kang will show up sooner or later in the Avengers films and Zarrko’s presence can be a precursor to that inevitable main event. Listen, it would be Thor versus an evil freaking Doctor Who, what more do you need to know? He was one of Thor’s earliest villains and has been used to great effect recently by Mark Waid over in the pages of The Indestructible Hulk, proving the villain translates well in the modern era. Thor and Asgard versus an evil Time Lord. Film It!
Y’know what…no, I can’t do it. I made Zarrko work, but I can’t work miracles.
Another product of Odin’s relentless smiting, Fafnir was the last survivor of an evil race that used a mystic pool to transform himself into a mighty dragon. Fafnir has a power set that sets him apart from more mundane dragon adversaries (I’m looking at you, Fin Fang Foom) as he has the ability to cast illusions and shape-shift. Thor’s encounters with Fafnir as rendered by Kirby resonate to this day with eyeball-punching power and would translate well into film. Fafnir has been a pawn of Loki and Kurse so he does have ties to established film villains. Plus, hello, Kirby dragon!
A frequent ally of Loki, Karnilla can be a way to finally introduce Balder the Brave into the cinematic world of Thor. Karnilla can kind of be seen as the female Loki (except when Loki is the female Loki), a powerful sorceress with a chaotic nature and a huge ego. She is deeply in love with Balder and would do anything to win his affections while the hapless and innocent Balder is addled by her attentions, an amusing and complex dichotomy between the two Thor mainstays. Karnilla is directly responsible, along with Loki, in granting powers to the villainous Wrecker, another villain ripe for a film appearance. Her cunning, beauty, and love of Balder make Karnilla a multi-faceted threat to Thor and company.
There are seven of them, they all have hammers, and they are all established Marvel badasses working for the Serpent. In the comic crossover event Fear Itself, the Serpent was the daughter of the Red Skull using dark Asgardian magics to bring fear and darkness to Earth in order to punish Odin, and transformed some Marvel mainstays into the Worthy to do it. A familial connection to the Skull is certainly doable in the Marvel Movie Universe and, while not all members of the Worthy would be available to Marvel films, like the Thing and the Juggernaut, the idea of familiar heroes and villains corrupted by dark magic would certainly make for an intense film. Imagine audience reaction when the Hulk is revealed as Nul, Breaker of Worlds and goes hammer to hammer against Thor, and just replace the Thing with the Abomination and we have ourselves a movie.
The dual villainous threat of Cobra and Hyde plagued Thor throughout the Silver Age. Hyde would be a fearsome film foe, playing off the lineage of the name and toying with fan expectations by making a horror staple into a Marvel villain, something comic fans are familiar with, but not something film goers have been able to experience as of yet. Marvel has used classic monsters as heroes and villains for decades, putting a cool pop art, modern spin on them. Hyde’s classic feel and look combined with the pure comic book villainy of Cobra would be a unique evil synergy that can fuel any film plot. Imagine, the criminal duo wreaking havoc in the Nine Realms or used as earthly agents by Loki to make life miserable for Jane, Darcy, and Dr. Selvig. Hyde and Cobra are classic Marvel gold, and what worked so well in the Silver Age would surely translate well to screen.
[related article: Malekith and Kurse - The Villains of Thor: The Dark World]
He’s an artist and he’s French. Who hasn’t dreamed of hitting a French artist with a hammer? Seriously, in the pages of his Invincible Iron Man, writer Matt Fraction proved how terrifying a nihilist with the powers of turning someone to stone can be. The Gargoyle received his powers through the ever-popular chemical accident but the film can make him a minion of Loki or any other Asgardian puppet master, or a struggling artist trying to get publicity by turning a god into a statue. As Marvel’s Medusa (but French), the Gargoyle has been a joke for too long and deserves some respect. There’s a worshipping false idol joke here somewhere, but I’m not finding it.
We will, of course, get to the Enchantress later (spoiler), but let us not overlook Lorelei, sister to Amora. Lorelei pines for Thor and is a frequent ally of Loki, who loves to pester Thor by helping Lorelei try to win Thor’s heart. Picture a film with Amora and Lorelei using their powers of seduction to make Thor’s new life on Earth a mess, or the two sisters waging a war on Nine Realms with Thor’s heart as the prize. Lorelei and Loki share a complex backstory as told by the great Walt Simonson and she is an awesomely deep character in her own right. Her presence would make the already complex love triangle between Thor, Jane, and Sif that much more complicated. Or maybe just make her Loki’s lady love, because you just know Loki’s pimp hand is mighty.
Now that audiences are more than comfortable with the concept of the Asgardian gods existing side-by-side with humanity in the Marvel Universe, it might be time to explore the other pantheons. The Clash of the Titans and Percy Jackson films have certainly primed audiences for more mythology. Now, crossover those Greek gods with Thor and the Asgardians and you have one wholly unique storytelling experience. In the Marvel Universe, Pluto’s status of god of the underworld can bring into play the nature of death in the Nine Realms and allow Kevin Feige and company to bring Hercules into the fold. How about a film where Thor must save Hercules from Pluto’s realm, or Hercules and Thor are forced into a competition by Loki and Pluto? Whatever the case, the Greek gods getting showcased in Thor is a natural progression as each installment branches out into new realms.
Yeah, Mephisto appeared in Ghost Rider, but it doesn’t count because it was Ghost Rider. Mephisto started out as a Silver Surfer villain but has become an all-purpose tempter that has plagued all the heroes of the Marvel Universe, including Thor. What price would Thor pay to make to make Jane immortal? Mephisto has entered into pacts with Loki and Hela over the years, and let’s face it, what fan would pass up seeing Thor versus the Devil versus Loki on the silver screen? A duel of liars with Thor in the middle. Film…This!
[related article: 25 Iron Man Villains Who Deserve to be In The Movies]
As stated previously, there is a bevy of Earthbound villains waiting for Thor, and judging from that stinger at the end of Dark World, Loki is going to have to keep his brother busy to keep his prying eyes away from the throne of Asgard. The Wrecker and the Wrecking Crew are some of Thor’s greatest Earthbound baddies. They are no strangers to god-bashing as they violently took out Hercules in Roger Stern’s classic Masters of Evil story in the pages of The Avengers, plus they were created by the machinations of Loki and Karnilla, so there is a deep Asgardian connection. There could be drama and infighting between the members of the Crew to give the film an extra edge. Between the crowbar, the wrecking ball, and the hammer, this would be like Bob Villa’s worst nightmare, but pretty awesome for Marvel fans.
Things got pretty cosmically wacky post credits in Dark World didn’t it? With the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Nova Corps, the Kree, the Collector, and more Thanos on the way, Marvel Cosmic is about to hit, and hit hard. Things do not get more trippy and cosmic than a planet with a beard. It might seem silly, but track down Ego’s first appearance, as drawn by Kirby...it is not silly in the least. Ego is scary, an overwhelming cosmic force of pure evil that absorbs anything in its path. It would be tricky, but played right, the way Kirby envisioned him, Ego would bring a threat to Thor like no other. Thor versus a planet, because comics are awesome.
Fans just got the Dark Elves, so why not take things in the other direction and go with the Trolls of Nornheim? So the Dark Elves were pretty cool, but they weren’t really much of a physical threat to Thor (‘cept Kurse...Kurse ruled), they were kind of just really aggressive ballet dancers in mime masks. The Trolls are brutish and merciless, and their greatest warrior, Ulik, is the worst of the bunch. For a time, Ulik even replaced Thor on Earth by disguising himself as the god Tanarus when Thor was believed dead. An earthly showdown between Thor and a disguised Ulik would be pretty cool, or just an all-out Troll assault on Asgard while Odin is, erm, otherwise occupied with his more cunning son.
The legend and history of the Frost Giants are deeply engrained in the cinematic Thor’s mythology. As Loki descendants, the presence of the Frost Giants are never far away and fans know Laufey and his people are just itching for revenge after the way the gods defeated them and Loki used them in the first Thor. Perhaps their Frost Giant god, Ymir, will want revenge for the slight his proud race suffered. Ymir is one of Kirby’s most grandiose creations, a walking, angry glacier fueled by hatred of the Asgardians. The final battle between Frost Giants and Asgard is just an epic waiting to be told, and Ymir could be Thor’s greatest challenge if this conflict comes to fruition.
Where Pluto would provide the master villain for Thor if the Asgardians meet the Greek Pantheon, Ares would provide an archrival, a foil, and possibly a future Avenger if the God of War were to show up in a Thor film. Ares’ 2006 mini-series by Michael Avon Oeming was a critical darling and propelled Ares into a major character, eventually becoming a full-fledged Avenger; this journey could be mirrored in a film. Ares is a complex character with a son that is the center of his world; he is constantly torn by his duties to the gods and his duties as a father. Really, Ares’ story is so gripping it would make a fine movie of its own someday, but until then, the God of Thunder versus the God of War is just too awesome to resist. Ares could be the perfect adversary for Thor, a great anti-hero, and if Marvel is brave, a future film franchise.
Another human ne’er-do-well gifted with magical abilities by Loki, ‘ol "Crusher" Creel here can be considered Thor’s greatest human adversary. Creel’s powers are visually stunning (just picture the film poster of a giant Creel absorbing a skyscraper, grown to a great height trying to crush Thor with his wrecking ball). Throw in Titania to take on Lady Sif and you have yourself a movie. Again, Loki will need minions on Earth to distract Thor, and what is a better distraction than a giant bald dude in prison pants made out of titanium? You may be thinking that Marvel already covered Absorbing Man in Ang Lee’s Hulk, but clearly you are wrong. It’s time for the real Absorbing Man to kick some Asgardian ass.
Surtur makes the Balrog look like a Menorah. Fans have seen many realms so far in the Thor films, but they have yet to see Muspelheim, land of the Fire Giants. Surtur is the eternal foe of Odin. Along with Ymir, Surtur is destined to be summoned to end all of reality in the days of Ragnarok. Could Surtur, along with Ymir, be Loki’s endgame, a freezing and burning punishment of Asgard? Or could Surtur arrive seeking vengeance against Odin while Odin…is, umm, busy, causing all sorts of headaches for Loki? The war between Odin and Surtur is the stuff of pure mythic awesomeness, and let’s face it; Anthony Hopkins smiting a giant fire god will never get old.
We already established with Fafnir how awesome it would be if Thor fought a dragon. Well, how about a dragon the size of the entire freakin’ planet? The Midgard Serpent is the monster that is destined to kill Thor and bring about Ragnarok. Now if the third installment of Thor isn’t entitled Thor: Ragnarok, Marvel needs a new marketing department, and if you have Ragnarok you need the Serpent. Smaug? Pshaw! The Midgard Serpent makes the gold hoarding pansy look like Puff. Marvel has not given fans a creature of scope and majesty like the bringer of Ragnarok...just try to envision a 3D Serpent, coiling around the Nine Realms as the galaxy burns.
Just say the name. Skurge, the Executioner. It just rolls of the tongue like 600 pounds of murderous rage with a battle axe the size of a Buick. Skurge is a noble villain, a warrior devoted to the Enchantress and sworn enemy of Thor. He is, pound for pound, a match for any god and has a deep history in the Marvel Universe. Skurge loves Amora the Enchantress, who loves Thor, a situation that Loki is oh-so-keen to exploit. Skurge is an original member of the Masters of Evil, and wouldn’t a Joss Whedon Masters versus Avengers battle be just about the greatest thing ever? The introduction of Skurge could be the first step in getting the Masters together in time for Phase 3, but with or without the Masters, Skurge is a noble and tragic villain…with a giant axe. In his first appearance, Skurge exiled Jane Foster and forces Thor to surrender Mjolnir to get her back which just shows the he is a combination of brains, brawns, and cunning, a perfect antithesis to Thor…with a giant axe.
One of the greatest romances in the Marvel Universe was Skurge and Amora. At first, Skurge seemed like a pawn for Amora to exploit, but in recent years it has been revealed that Amora had deep feelings for Skurge, the only man who ever was truly devoted to her. This star-crossed love would make any movie plot soar as Amora and Skurge’s doomed romance come into conflict with the beguiling of Loki in his bid to rule Asgard. The Enchantress is every bit as cunning as Loki and would be a perfect foil for him. The ready-made love triangle (rhombus, hexagon?) with Thor, Jane, Sif, and Amora’s sister, Lorelei is just too much melodrama to resist. Again, Amora was a founding member of the Masters of Evil and it is about time Marvel focus their energies on a worthy female adversary for their heroes. It can be argued that she is the greatest villainess in the Marvel Universe and it is time the world came under Amora’s spell. And Loki himself, Tom Hiddleston, wants to see her in Thor 3...so what are they waiting for?
[related article: Loki's 10 Most Devious Moments]
A villain has to be pretty damn evil to jump the list to number 2 when he was just introduced in 2013, and any fan of Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic’s Thor knows that Gor is just that vile. While many on this list are gods, Gorr is devoted to the destruction of all gods. Yes, he is an alien serial killer that preys on gods (take that Dexter). Long ago, Gorr’s family was killed as a result of a battle between the gods on Gorr’s world, after which, he devoted his life to punishing the beings that dare calls themselves divine. In Aaron’s tale, Thor must team with his brash, younger self and his older post-Ragnarok self in order to defeat Gorr, so get ready for a trifecta of Hemsworth...Three Thors versus one bloodthirsty god butcher, just cast Benedict Cumberbatch as Gor and roll camera for the greatest holy beat down in film history. This was the biggest Thor story that did not have the name Kirby or Simonson in the credits and is the standard to which all modern Thor stories will be held to.
The Asgardian Goddess of Death and ruler of Hel, Hela would thematically and dramatically be the logical choice for Thor’s next film adversary. With Thanos coming up, the nature of death in the Marvel Universe will soon be explored, and by extension the nature of death to the gods. What if Jane died? What lengths would Thor go to get her back? Enter Hela and a film that can center on Thor’s epic quest through Hel to retrieve his lady love. Not dramatic enough for you? Then keep in mind that Hela is Loki’s daughter, which creates an intense layer of familial intrigue. Hela can lead to the introduction of the Valkyries and the realm of Valhalla. Could Hela have played a part in the resurrection of Phil Coulson? Her introduction leads to just too many possibilities not to make Hela the leading candidate for the next Thor villain.