10 Marvel Villains Who Are Perfect For The MCU’s Nova Project

Marvel recently confirmed that they are in the early stages of development for a Nova project in the MCU, and like most MCU projects, it is likely going to need a villain. Choosing a villain for the MCU’s Nova has two clear paths that Marvel can take, and it depends heavily on how they decide to introduce the character. Though the Nova Corps has been introduced before in the MCU timeline, there is still an easy opening to make the MCU Nova more in line with his original version from the comics.

The MCU’s Nova Corps was introduced in Guardians of the Galaxy on the planet Xandar. Though the full scope of the organization’s reach wasn’t explored too far in the movie, it did seem like they were based farther away from Earth, which could mean the Nova project would also take place in space. This would indicate a possible cosmic villain for the main antagonist. Alternatively, the siege of Xandar could lead to the Corps needing to recruit Richard Rider from Earth, allowing Nova to be more closely involved with other MCU heroes, and potentially meaning an Earth-based villain could appear.

10
Blackout Has Ties To The Multiverse And The Thunderbolts

Blackout First Appeared In Nova #19 (1978)

Several Marvel villains have used the name Blackout, but the version that fought Nova specifically is Marcus Daniels. Daniels is a lab assistant who was accidentally given the ability to manipulate Darkforce energy. As Blackout, he can open portals to the Darkforce Dimension, and use its energy for a variety of attacks and abilities, such as passing through solid objects. Nova was the first hero Blackout ever fought, and would make sense if the MCU was doing an Earth-based Nova. Nova also has ties to other MCU stories and characters, giving him crossover potential.

Aside from being a Nova villain, Blackout was also a member of the original Thunderbolts. If the cast of Marvel’s Thunderbolts introduces the idea of a rotating team roster, then Blackout could be used on a future team at some point. His ability to travel to the Darkforce Dimension could be used in the MCU as part of its Multiverse Saga to explore some of the other dimensions that exist in Marvel’s world. This makes Blackout an interesting choice for both a Nova villain and a wider MCU character.

9
Corruptor Could Show The Flaws With The Nova Corps

Corrupter First Appeared In Nova #4 (1976)

Corrupter is one of the first villains that Nova ever fought in Marvel Comics. His real name is Jackson Day, a man who gained the ability to bring out people’s worst impulses just by touching them. This kind of power can be an especially helpful storytelling device because it would allow the MCU to explore the darker impulses of Nova and the organization he is a part of.

Though Corruptor is usually an Earth-based villain, the MCU could easily change his backstory to have him be from somewhere closer to Xandar. If the Nova project is going to include a further exploration of the whole Nova Corps, then Corruptor would allow the MCU to explore some of the issues the organization has. For example, the MCU tie-in novel Captain Marvel: Starforce on the Rise by Steve Behling showed that some of the Corps supported extreme methods in their war against the Kree. Corruptor could bring out these tendencies again, creating a complicated issue for Nova to solve.

8
Sphinx Could Bring Nova To Meet The Nova Corps

Sphinx First Appeared In Nova #6 (1976)

Sphinx is a powerful immortal being who initially seeks out Nova to learn how to separate himself from the Ka Stone which gives him his powers. He gets Nova to take him to Xandar to learn more from the Nova Corps’ computer, but once he does, he decides to destroy Earth instead of getting rid of the stone. This wouldn’t only be a good narrative structure for a Nova project to follow, but could also be a good way to introduce the MCU’s Nova to the Corps.

If the MCU decides to stick to the traditional Nova origin, then Richard Rider will start on Earth where he is then given the powers to become Nova. This would mean he wouldn’t have interacted with the rest of the Nova Corps, so Sphinx’s mission would be a good way for him to go and meet the Corps for the first time. This would allow Nova to explore the origin of his powers along with the audience, and then have Sphinx as a surprise villain in the third act.

7
Abyss Would Create Fun Action Scenes

Abyss First Appeared In Nova #8 (2007)

Abyss is a strange cosmic entity with seemingly magical abilities that once terrorized Knowhere by turning many of its citizens into zombies. Since Knowhere already exists in the MCU, and Cosmo was involved in the original storyline, Abyss could be a good choice for the Nova project’s villain. This would allow Marvel to use a familiar location and even include some of the Guardians of the Galaxy characters who are still there. Abyss’ powers would also set up a unique action scene for the MCU.

No live-action MCU project has included zombies. Watching a powerful hero like Nova fight off a huge group of zombies would not only make for cool action but also allow the MCU to give more insight into his character. In the comics, Nova is originally hesitant to kill the first zombie he encounters, showing that killing isn’t his first choice. He only starts wiping out zombies on a large scale when it becomes self-defense. This is a good way to characterize Nova as kind and heroic by showing he is reluctant to use deadly force even against zombies.

6
Garthan Saal Was Already In The MCU, And Has Returned From The Dead Before

Garthan Saal First Appeared In Avengers #301 (1988)

Garthan Saal played a minor role in Guardians of the Galaxy, but in Marvel Comics he is a much bigger deal. At one point, Saal absorbs a massive amount of Nova Force energy after most of Xandar is wiped out. This turned him temporarily villainous, lashing out with his immense amounts of new power due to the loss of his companions. Though the MCU’s version of Saal seemingly died in Guardians of the Galaxy, it wouldn’t be the first time he came back from the dead. Saal similarly sacrificed himself in the comics, only to show up alive again.

The MCU is a little more reserved about bringing characters back from the dead, but just because Saal is gone, that doesn’t mean they can’t still use this story. The franchise could give Saal’s story to any other member of the Nova Corps who witnessed Thanos’ siege on Xandar. Faced with a more powerful version of himself, the MCU’s Nova could demonstrate his heroism by talking the MCU’s version of Super Nova down, and getting them to end their vengeful crusade.

5
Nova Might Seek Out Starfox For Revenge On Thanos

Starfox First Appeared In Iron Man #55 (1972)

Starfox – aka Eros – is Thanos’ brother, and was introduced into the MCU during Eternals’ post-credits scene, where he was played by Harry Styles. Starfox isn’t a villain, but could play an interesting antagonist to Nova if the MCU wants to go a different route with the story. Instead of having Saal as the vengeful Super Nova, the MCU version of Nova could instead be the one out for revenge after the destruction of Xandar. With Thanos gone, Nova could turn his attention to Starfox as the next best thing.

This would be interesting because it would allow the MCU to give Nova a more distinctive and thus stronger arc. By having him start more villainous, only to realize his path for vengeance isn’t the right thing to do, the MCU could present a more interesting story than simply having Nova be another superhero with just a slightly different origin. This would also allow Marvel to tie in the Eternals tease that has still yet to matter for the MCU.

4
Annihilus Would Introduce The Negative Zone To The MCU

Annihilus First Appeared In Fantastic Four Annual #6 (1968)

Though Annihilus is more often a Fantastic Four villain, he has gone up against Nova before. Notably, Nova was the one who ultimately defeated Annihilus during Marvel’s “Annihilation” event. Annihilus is a heavily armored bug-like creature that comes from the Negative Zone, and often uses a device called the Cosmic Control Rod to command the other creatures of his realm. Annihilus also uses the rod to make himself more powerful and live unnaturally long.

Annihilus himself is a classic Marvel villain and could be utilized in multiple MCU projects if Marvel is looking for more major villains to help potentially replace the MCU’s Kang. He would also introduce the Negative Zone to the MCU, adding in another unique location from Marvel Comics. The Fantastic Four have used The Negative Zone for several things, including saving New York from poison gas, as well it serving as Reed Richards’ unethical prison during Civil War. Having more settings like this can help expand the scope of the MCU, and open fresh storytelling opportunities for future projects.

3
Nova Could Introduce Galactus Or His Heralds

Galactus First Appeared In Fantastic Four #48 (1965)

Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, is one of the most iconic Marvel villains who has still yet to appear in the MCU. If Marvel’s Nova project takes place in space, it would be the perfect way to introduce Galactus as a looming threat. Showing Galactus devouring a planet that isn’t Earth, before putting him on a collision course with it would be a great way to set up a future conflict for the MCU. This would also be a great way to get Nova to join up with other MCU heroes in the future.

One issue with including Galactus himself in the MCU’s Nova project is that it would probably mean Nova losing his first battle. This isn’t typical for MCU heroes, so Marvel might instead have Nova go up against one of Galactus’ heralds first. These are characters like the Silver Surfer, whom Galactus lends power to and sends out to find planets for him to devour. Having Nova fight a Herald of Galactus would allow him to win, but also establish Galactus as an upcoming threat.

2
Knull Would Introduce Symbiotes To The MCU

Knull First Appeared In Venom #3 (2018)

Knull, also known as the King in Black, is the creator of all Symbiotes in Marvel Comics. This means characters like Venom and Carnage come from Knull’s creations. Though Knull isn’t specifically linked with Nova, he is a cosmic threat and has conquered worlds before. Nova could easily come into conflict with Knull while trying to protect other planets, allowing the MCU to further introduce the idea of symbiotes, and maybe even have one hitch a ride with Nova back to Earth without him knowing.

Notably, the MCU already missed a chance to hint at Knull’s existence. The Necrosword in Thor: Love and Thunder is Knull’s first creation before he loses it, and it is taken by Gorr. The Necrosword never acts like a symbiote in the MCU, so Marvel may have been avoiding hinting at the existence of Knull. If this was intentional, it seems unlikely that they would include Knull in Nova.

1
Harrow Would Set Up Galactus For A Future MCU Project

Harrow First Appeared In Nova #13 (2008)

Harrow, not to be confused with Moon Knight villain Arthur Harrow, is a parasite that latches itself onto Galactus. Nova was the one to discover the parasite and helped Galactus ultimately destroy it in the comics. Having a version of Harrow would be an interesting way to introduce Galactus to the MCU, if Marvel decides they don’t want him as a villain.

In more recent comics, Galactus has come to be understood as more a force of nature than a truly malicious villain. Having Harrow infecting and influencing Galactus would allow the MCU to prevent him as a villain to start, and then switch Galactus to his more neutral form after Nova helps defeat the parasite. This way, Marvel’s Nova project would set up Galactus, but in a way that leaves Marvel room to decide later what to do with him.