She-Hulk: Attorney at Law‘s scheming villainous group known as the Intelligencia isn’t finished in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after their seeming defeat in the season finale. The group, apparently led by Todd Phelps under the guise of HulkKing, may have failed in their ultimate plan to ruin She-Hulk’s public image, but their comic book origins suggest that there is far more to their story than meets the eye. In fact, the group and their secret supervillain leader may still have a key role to play in one of the MCU’s most exciting Phase 5 new titles.
The Intelligencia is a group from Marvel Comics comprised of the greatest supervillain minds on Earth, including the Mister Sinister, M.O.D.O.K., the Mad Thinker, and several other evil masterminds known for their genius-level intellect. Their most prominent member, however, is the Leader, who also founded the Intelligencia in its first iteration. The villainous organization recently made its live-action debut in She-Hulk, devoid of the supervillains that normally comprise the group’s comic book lineup. However, several key details about She-Hulk‘s Intelligencia set up several major villains for the future of the MCU, as well as the organization’s inevitable return in Phase 5 and beyond.
She-Hulk Didn’t Show The Intelligencia’s Full Power
![The MCU’s Intelligencia Can’t Be Finished After She-Hulk](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Intelligencia-Lab-In-She-Hulk-Episode-6.jpg)
She-Hulk‘s Intelligencia storyline may have been somewhat undercooked after it was revealed that Todd was behind the entire operation, but that isn’t the full story. Although Todd is arrested in She-Hulk‘s finale, it is unlikely that he was the primary intellect behind the Intelligencia’s schemes, but rather a frontman who could easily take the fall if their actions were ever uncovered. The group’s scientific endeavors beg the presence of a member of genius-level intellect, with one theory not only explaining how they were able to replicate She-Hulk’s blood but also the truth about the Leader’s fate after The Incredible Hulk, which has been entirely unexplored since 2008.
The Intelligencia’s scientific endeavors were only hinted at in She-Hulk, but any group capable of stealing and duplicating Hulk blood and turning it into a monster-creating serum is certainly a bigger deal than the series made it out to be. The presence of the Leader would perfectly explain the Intelligencia’s scientific capabilities while also hinting that he was behind the secret organization all along. And, if the Intelligencia is still operating in the shadows, then the Leader is still in possession of She-Hulk’s blood, which he could possibly use to threaten the world by creating even more Hulk characters in the MCU.
How The Intelligencia Could Factor Into New World Order
![Captain America Anthony Mackie The Leader](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Captain-America-Anthony-Mackie-The-Leader.jpg)
In one of the most conveniently timed announcements in the history of Marvel Studios and the MCU, it was revealed that Tim Blake Nelson would be returning as the villainous Leader in the upcoming Captain America: New World Order right around the same time that the Intelligencia was introduced in She-Hulk. This coincidence may very well imply that the Leader won’t be alone when he comes to fight the new Captain America, but instead he may indeed be backed by his own legion of super-geniuses, a resurrected Intelligencia group. Such a plotline would certainly give an even harder time to Sam Wilson as he earns Captain America’s shield.
The most exciting prospect behind the Intelligencia’s return under the command of the Leader is that their combined might may be too powerful for Sam Wilson to take on alone, leading him to call together a group of heroes once again. This would go a long way in earning back fans who felt unsatisfied with Phase 4’s lack of team-up films. Moreover, the Intelligencia’s presence could serve as an ongoing plotline throughout Phase 5 as the MCU searches for a new status quo post-Infinity Saga. If this all proves true, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law may be looked back upon as one of the most important entries in Phase 4.
Key Release Dates
Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania
Release Date:2023-02-17Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Release Date:2023-05-05The Marvels
Release Date:2023-11-10Captain America: Brave New World
Release Date:2024-07-26Marvel’s Thunderbolts
Release Date:2024-12-20Deadpool 3
Release Date:2024-05-03Marvel’s Fantastic Four
Release Date:2025-05-02Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
Release Date:2026-05-01Avengers: Secret Wars
Release Date:2027-05-01