The MCU has plenty of dangerous and ominous groups, from Hydra to the Ten Rings. But their return has also been set up with each new entry.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of criminal and dangerous organizations or groups that can serve as both primary and secondary villains in an array of TV and movie projects. Marvel Studios continues to cultivate this array of antagonists who can be utilized in a narrative at any given moment. The fact that audiences are already familiar with them and that there’s a history to build upon ensures that they can be established as even bigger threats.

With the MCU evolving into a new phase, many of these groups are likely to make their return in some capacity. Many of them haven’t been utilized to their full potential, and with the comics as inspiration, there are more stories to tell. Some organizations are pretty much confirmed to be making a comeback, too, which means that audiences should get to grips with their continuity once more to better appreciate where their journey goes next.

10. S.H.I.E.L.D. Has Reincarnated Countless Times
First MCU Appearance – Iron Man (2008)

Without S.H.I.E.L.D. regulating non-world-ending events, Earth has gotten more dangerous in the MCU.

It may seem odd to suggest that the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are villains, and yet the group has been portrayed as antagonists on numerous occasions. From Hydra’s takeover of the team to a flawed government-backed force, there have been some crucial narratives in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. that portray an organization that’s been corrupted from within.

It’s unclear how Marvel Studios wishes to proceed with S.H.I.E.L.D. as many of the characters from the series still haven’t been confirmed to be canon. However, if the group is going to return, it would be fascinating to see it as Norman Osborn’s H.A.M.M.E.R., a group from the comics that abuses their position of power. There are still heroic members of S.H.I.E.L.D. working underground, but the public-facing team could well be closer to the Hydra incarnation. Spider-Man 4 or The Thunderbolts are possible places the story could unfold.

9. Hydra’s Heads Continue to Grow

Hydra has been proven to be a dangerous force, no matter the reality it exists in.

Hydra, the WWII Nazi group, is Captain America’s most prominent rival. Although the group has been defeated time and again, the cut off one head mantra has proven itself to be true. Indeed, there are still remnants of Hydra across the globe, and figures like Arnim Zola could make a very believable return.

With a new Captain America on the scene, it’s only a matter of time until Sam Wilson has to stand off against Hydra as the current antithesis of the group. Captain America: Brave New World could still feature Hydra in some capacity as the group seeks to rewrite the world, perhaps with the help of The Leader?

8. A.I.M. Hasn’t Even Scratched the Surface
First MCU Appearance – Iron Man 3 (2013)

In the comics, A.I.M. was as dangerous as Hydra.

Advanced Idea Mechanics or A.I.M. are well-known antagonists in the comics. The scientific group is usually led by masterminds like M.O.D.O.K. and are an Avengers-level threat with the right direction. Their research and development of new weapons and world-conquering schemes ensures that they are always relevant and ever-evolving.

In the MCU, A.I.M was a shell of its comic book counterpart, with Aldrich Killian linked to the organization. With brief mentions across other MCU projects outside of Iron Man 3, it seems possible that A.I.M could return as Phase 5 villains. With luck, A.I.M. could get a second wind in projects such as Captain America: Brave New World, Ironheart, or perhaps even Fantastic Four down the line, where technology and science are key themes of exploration.

7. Hammer Industries Could Fill the Void
First MCU Appearance – Iron Man 2 (2010)

In the comics, Justin Hammer was much older.

Tony Stark is gone, and Stark Industries isn’t quite the business leader that it once was. There’s a void to fill, and Justin Hammer would probably love to be the successor to the Stark empire. Hammer has been in jail for a while after using Hammer Industries to create a league of murderous drones.

But with Hammer’s recent appearance in What If…?, it seems the groundwork has been set for Hammer Industries to enter the weapons market again. Armor Wars is on the horizon, and it sets the stage for him to be a major antagonist in the movie, using his company to buy out Iron Man’s dangerous armors.

6. Fisk Industries is a Street-Level Juggernaut
First MCU Appearance – Daredevil (2015)

Wilson Fisk has the potential to outlaw vigilantism, should he become mayor, just like in the comics.

Wilson Fisk was a tycoon of the criminal underworld, the Kingpin of corrupt business, and Daredevil’s greatest foe. The street-level big bad has already returned to the MCU in projects like Hawkeye and Echo. His empire has expanded to include minions such as the Tracksuit Mafia, and his reach has even entered the midwest.

Fisk’s influence is wide-reaching, and his shell companies have ensured that his profits are protected and too many people rely on his blood money. With Fisk running to be mayor of New York, his companies will probably only expand as his corrupt dealings place them in more advantageous positions. Fisk is returning in Daredevil: Born Again, and his sphere of control won’t be far behind.

5. ROXXON Are Always in the Background
First MCU Appearance – Iron Man (2008)

Roxxon has been in the background of the MCU for years, most notably contributing to the origin of Cloak & Dagger.

ROXXON has appeared in some unusual places. From Loki to Iron Man, Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. to most notably, Cloak & Dagger, the corrupt company has a hand in so many products. They are always in the background, but very few heroes have faced their menacing mission head-on.

It seems as if the MCU has been slowly building to a grand reveal, as if ROXXON will become so much more than just a fun Easter egg connecting all of these distant projects together. Because of the random nature of its usage, smaller projects like Ironheart or Wonder Man might serve as unexpected projects to organically use this suspicious organization much as Cloak & Dagger did previously.

4. The Hand’s Shadowy History Hints to Their Return
First MCU Appearance – Daredevil (2015)

In the MCU, the Iron Fist was the enemy of The Hand, which didn’t happen in the comics.

The Hand combines so many villainous tropes and is all the more intriguing for it. They have supernatural links, are martial arts experts, and control huge portions of the criminal underworld. They were a match for the entirety of the Defenders and have not been eradicated from the MCU quite yet.

The Hand and its belief system could seemingly live on forever, and while there are magical components attached to it, it makes sense that the street-level aspects of the group result in street-level vigilantes rising up against it again. So, although fantasy characters like Doctor Strange would be fun opponents for The Hand, Daredevil: Born Again is the best place for The Hand to return.

3. The Life Foundation’s Symbiote Research Has to Expand
First Appearance – Venom (2018)

In the comics, the Life Foundation led to the creation of Venom’s children like Scream and Riot.

The Life Foundation is forever tied to Symbiote research in the comics, and its appearance in Venom made perfect sense. However, Venom is part of the wider Multiverse and isn’t specifically an MCU property. With a Symbiote arriving at the conclusion of Spider-Man: No Way Home, there’s a chance that narrative could develop on Earth-616.

The MCU could potentially create its own Life Foundation, which parallels the manipulative organization founded by Carlton Drake in Venom. The most probable place for the Life Foundation in the MCU would be in Spider-Man 4, which could deal with the aftermath of a Symbiote’s arrival and possibly adapt the black suit Spider-Man of the comics.

2. Damage Control Isn’t Fulfilling Its Brief
First MCU Appearance – Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

In the whole of the MCU, Damage Control has only been shown cleaning up the Battle of New York, though it’s assumed that they were present after the Battle of Sokovia.

Damage Control is very different on the page compared to the screen. In the comics, it’s a group designed to clean up the mess left by a super-powered fight, acting as an organization largely dedicated to public protection and profit. It’s often a humorous team and isn’t as antagonistic as portrayed in Ms. Marvel and Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Damage Control’s influence may emerge as the world reacts to the continued impact of having so many superheroes so close to average civilians. Damage Control’s role could be further corrupted and with Wilson Fisk potentially coming in as mayor of New York, the Outlawed narrative of the Champions comics might be about to come into play. Damage Control might be Kingpin’s pawns, used to clean up the streets of the supers.

1. The Ten Rings is Under New Leadership
First MCU Appearance – Iron Man (2008)

The literal ten rings were teased in Iron Man , with Stark’s captor, Raza, shown playing with a ring on his finger.
The Ten Rings organization has hung over Tony Stark ever since the first Iron Man movie. While a false iteration of the group was revealed during Iron Man 3, it wasn’t until Shang-Chi that their true leader and indeed influence was revealed. The criminal gang has been around for centuries in alternative forms, guided by Xu Wenwu.

Xu Wenwu might be dead, but his daughter lives on and has taken ownership of the Ten Rings. It seems as if she has a new plan for the group, but with her own ties to the criminal underworld, it’s plausible that she doesn’t redeem the organization as intended. Whether it’s a league of heroes or hitmen, the Ten Rings could still return in its own spin-off show or Shang-Chi 2.