Since their debut in 1963, the Avengers have faced the most powerful villains the Marvel Universe has to offer, from the unbreakable android Ultron to the cosmic powerhouse Thanos. However, 2025 has proved that one classic villain stands so far above the others in terms of raw power, there’s simply no comparison.
2025 Proved Korvac Is the Avengers’ Most Powerful Villain
First appearing in 1974, Korvac is a human from a distant future where the alien Badoon have all but conquered the universe. Transformed into a cybernetic servant, Korvac eventually stole cosmic power and became a godlike entity, starring in the iconic Avengers storyline ‘The Korvac Saga.’
This year, Korvac appeared as the main villain of the new miniseries Battleworld. In the series, Korvac creates a new patchwork ‘Battleworld,’ assembled from parts of many different realities, and reveals his grand plan to destroy and then recreate the multiverse, with the winner of Battleworld’s various hero vs villain clashes as his advisor.
In Battleworld #4 (by Christos Gage, Marcus To, Rachelle Rosenberg and Travis Lanham), the various heroes confronted Korvac, believing that the power he was expending to keep Battleworld together would leave him vulnerable. And they couldn’t have been more wrong…
Even at low power, Korvac disintegrates Luke Cage, transforms King Thor (Thor’s more powerful future self) into a statue, depowers the Sorcerer Supreme/Ghost Rider combo Kushala, incapacitates X-Men’s Storm, and overwhelms Carol Danvers’ Ms. Marvel when she tries to absorb his sheer galactic power.
Korvac has always been a gigantic threat – someone who can’t even be opposed by the full ranks of the Avengers. However, taking down heroes like King Thor and Kushala with so little effort makes it clear he is objectively the strongest recurring foe of the Avengers franchise, with the entire multiverse in the palm of his hand. Thanos could never hope to rival Korvac’s power, even though the Mad Titan is a far savvier operator.
Doctor Doom Also Laid Claim to the 2025 Crown
Another villain who might deserve Thanos’ crown is Doctor Doom. 2025 saw the One World Under Doom event unfold, from Ryan North and R. B. Silva. In the story, Doom claimed the title and power boost of the Sorcerer Supreme, and put down all challengers.
Doom didn’t just beat Marvel’s heroes, he took them down at their absolute strongest. Reed Richards cracked the secret of magic, and the Thing lifted the enchanted hammer Stormbreaker, while Invisible Woman channeled the power of Marvel’s heroes into a near-infinite loop. None of it could stop Doom, who took down the world’s heroes and villains, then stabbed Dormammu with enchanted Wolverine claws for good measure.
Doom was only taken down by the Living Tribunal, after making a deal to bring back his god-daughter Valeria, who he accidentally killed in his final fight with the Avengers. It was a staggering show that Doctor Doom really is capable of crushing Marvel’s heroes, utilizing his mystical and scientific knowledge like never before.
Doctor Doom vs Korvac: Who Was 2025’s Strongest Villain?
While Doctor Doom unleashed an amazing show of power this year, his feats were still reserved for Earth-616. In contrast, Korvac is tackling the entire multiverse and winning, and he’s doing it at his default power level, while Doctor Doom only briefly became Sorcerer Supreme.
Korvac isn’t Marvel’s smartest, most skilled or must cunning villain, but his unbelievable show of power against the Avengers in 2025 made it clear that he’s the most powerful recurring foe they have – someone whose power Thanos can only hope to equal when he’s wielding the assembled Infinity Stones, and may fall short of even then.
Battleworld #1-4 and the complete One World Under Doom are available now from Marvel Comics.
