Disney+ Makes MCU History With Return of Dead Villain

The latest Marvel Studios series on Disney+ broke records by bringing back a fan-favorite villain from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Unlike other Marvel villains who have migrated to the streaming platform’s content, few characters from the main Earth 616 universe have been presented in animated form. As a result, unique representations of characters like Agatha Harkness or the menacing Ultron have surfaced in Marvel’s animated shows on Disney+, but not the live-action versions viewers are accustomed to.

As a film enthusiast, I must admit that my perspective on animated series has always been rather traditional. However, everything shifted with the debut of “Eyes of Wakanda” on the streamer, introducing an innovative twist – the first-ever animated portrayal of an Earth 616 villain: none other than Michael B. Jordan’s formidable character, Killmonger. The remarkable inclusion of this iconic antagonist in the Ryan Coogler-produced streaming epic signals the beginning of an extraordinary lineup of Marvel villains making their way onto Disney+ over the next year or so. This promises to be a run that will go down in history as one for the ages!

In the final moments of Episode 4 of “Eyes of Wakanda,” the menacing character from Jordan’s “Black Panther” made an appearance, a reference that echoed the original introduction of the live-action Earth 616 villain. This cunning move took us back to the Museum of Great Britain, the very location where he first appeared on screen in “Black Panther.

Throughout the four-episode arc of “Eyes of Wakanda,” we follow different Wakandan warriors as they retrieve artifacts from their secluded African homeland across different periods. The series concludes with Jordan’s character, who was initially depicted robbing a museum in Ryan Coogler’s 2018 Marvel Cinematic Universe film, now standing outside the same museum. This ending provides additional insight into Jordan’s character.

Similarly to how the Hatut Zaraze are depicted reclaiming their history in the recent animated streaming series, he is also taking steps to recover some aspects of Wakandan history.

It’s likely that Killmonger’s presence in the upcoming series might set off a wave of Earth 616 villains appearing in various animated Marvel Cinematic Universe productions in the future.

The complete “Eyes of Wakanda” is now available for streaming on Disney+. Set hundreds of years before the storyline of “Black Panther,” this new animated series serves as Marvel Cinematic Universe’s initial project in its expanding timeline. It weaves together four separate tales about Wakandan warriors tasked with recovering artifacts crucial to Wakanda’s history from distant lands.

In a different rendition, it can be said that the director of “Black Panther,” Ryan Coogler, was involved in the production as an executive producer and also helped create the idea for this four-part animated series. On the other hand, Todd Harris, who previously worked as a concept artist at Marvel Studios, took on the role of showrunner for this project.

Every MCU Villain Set To Return on Disney+

Wanda Maximoff (Marvel Zombies)

In a later this year’s release of the “Marvel Zombies” series within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Elizabeth Olsen’s character, Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch, is expected to reappear. Previously known as a spell-casting hero, Wanda has reportedly taken on a villainous role in this instance. In the R-rated series, she utilizes her magical powers to sustain her appetite for consuming flesh.

Death Dealer (Marvel Zombies)

Following their introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”, the villainous Death Dealer is set to return in “Marvel Zombies”. In this appearance, he appears to be switching sides, joining forces with the heroes to combat the undead.

Ava Starr/Ghost (Marvel Zombies)

Ava Starr, also known as Ghost, transformed into a hero when she joined the Thunderbolts, or the New Avengers. However, it’s important to note that she wasn’t always a hero. Initially, she made her appearance in 2018’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp” as an adversary. In the future, she will revert back to her antagonistic role in “Marvel Zombies,” showing up once more as a powerful undead character.

Emil Blonsky/Abomination (Marvel Zombies)

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Emil Blonsky/Abomination has been one of the oldest recurring villains since he first appeared in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. After a small role in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law last year, Abomination is set to rejoin the action once more, appearing as a zombie version of his colossal form in this year’s Marvel Zombies series.

Ikaris (Marvel Zombies)

In the Marvel superhero realm, Richard Madden’s character Ikaris has been absent since the release of Eternals in 2022. However, this is about to change as he joins the ranks of undead superheroes, or daywalkers, in October’s Marvel Zombies.

Xu Wenwu (Marvel Zombies)

In the movie “Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings,” Xu Wenwu, played by the esteemed Tony Leung, proved to be a significant challenge for Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi. Similarly, Wenwu is set to cause trouble again in this year’s “Marvel Zombies.” In the upcoming series, this character will reappear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, showcasing his skilled martial arts moves as he teams up with the Avengers to fight off zombie hordes.

Thanos (Marvel Zombies)

As a die-hard film enthusiast, I can’t help but notice the chilling prospect that the zombified menace we saw in Marvel Zombies could be resurrected by none other than Thanos, the formidable villain from Avengers: Endgame. In the upcoming animated series, this towering Mad Titan is set to make his return, but with a terrifying twist – he’s now an undead force, making him all the more challenging for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to bring down.

Ultron (Vision Quest)

In the last ten years, James Spader’s character Utron, the rogue AI from Avengers: Age of Ultron, has been absent from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But that changes next year with Paul Bettany’s Vision Quest series, where Ultron and Vision will once again face off in a struggle for dominance over technology.

Raza (Vision Quest)

In addition to “Vision Quest,” one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s earliest on-screen antagonists, played by Faran Tahir as Raza, will make a shocking comeback. Raza is famously recognized for his role in capturing Tony Stark during “Iron Man,” an event that sparked Tony’s superhero journey. The specifics of Raza’s role in “Vision Quest” are yet to be revealed, but it’s confirmed he will appear in the story.

BONUS: Trevor Slattery (Wonder Man)

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), though Ben Kingsley’s character Trevor Slattery isn’t officially classified as a villain anymore, he still deserves mention on this list due to his initial appearance in “Iron Man 3,” where he deceptively portrayed the fearsome criminal mastermind, The Mandarin. However, over time, his persona has shifted towards heroism, with appearances in 2021’s “Shang-Chi” and the forthcoming “Wonder Man” series.

2025-08-21 10:36