There is a possibility that Galactus could be the next big bad in the MCU following the Multiverse Saga, which opens up comparisons to other villains like Thanos and Kang. Played by Ralph Ineson, Galactus joins a stacked cast of characters for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the introduction to Marvel’s “First Family” in the MCU. Though he is set to appear in the film, it is unclear if he will be unclear how significant of a role he will play, as Marvel might want to keep him around as one of the universe’s big bad going forward.

The MCU timeline has seen a number of serious threats emerge over the years, with Thanos being the endgame villain of the Infinity Saga, while Kang was set to take over that overarching villain role in the Multiverse Saga. Things changed, and the universe shifted away from Kang as a big bad, positioning Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom to essentially step up in his place. With Galactus appearing in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the MCU has another character that could fulfill a similar role, calling into question who the most powerful big bad in the universe actually is.

Galactus’ Powers Explained

Since Galactus will not show up in an MCU film until July 2025, the actual power his film adaptation will possess onscreen is unknown. Still, Galactus is one of the most powerful beings in Marvel Comics. He is a cosmic entity that literally devours planets as a way to sustain himself. Galactus can alter his size at will. He is essentially immortal and possesses Godlike strength, speed, and stamina. He can also control and manipulate souls, and grant the Power Cosmic to his Heralds.

Since The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to be his MCU debut, the film could potentially deal with the threat of Galactus coming to Earth to feed off of it. This would make him a direct threat to the entire MCU in the process. If and when Galactus becomes a big bad for the universe, it will take every hero, and perhaps some villains, the MCU has at its disposal to overcome his power.

Thanos’s Powers Explained

Throughout most of the first three phases of the MCU, Thanos operated as a villain in the background. His overarching presence was especially felt with the introduction of his daughters Gamora and Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy. Though he was teased as early as The Avengers, he finally became the big bad in Avengers: Infinity War, and the opening scene showed just how powerful he was. Thanos was able to easily defeat Hulk in hand to hand combat, quickly knocking him out. This was before he had all the infinity stones, too, which is an incredible feat.

Add the infinity stones into the mix and Thanos is virtually unstoppable. He was able to alter reality and rewind time at the turn of the wrist. The moment that truly shows how powerful Thanos is is when he takes Thor’s Stormbreaker right to the chest and is still able to snap his fingers, causing half of existence in the universe to be wiped out in an instant. If Thanos had kept the stones instead of using them to destroy themselves, he could have ruled the universe for the rest of his life, but that was never his goal.

Kang’s Powers Explained

Throughout his limited appearances in the MCU, Kang was a multiversal being who can travel through time and has virtually an unlimited number of variants at his disposal in the multiverse. He and the rest of the Kangs created The Council of Kangs, ruling over possible timeline realities and changing them to their will. Couple that with his technology, particularly his suit, which grants him a number of powers including superhuman strength, and Kang is incredibly powerful.

Unfortunately, the full extent of Kang’s power will likely never be seen in the MCU. He was once positioned to be the main villain in both Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, meaning his powerset would be great enough to take on Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Kang’s true power comes from his ability to travel through time, the technology at his disposal, and the sheer number of Kangs that exist. He might not solely be the biggest physical threat despite his strength, but he is an extremely dangerous villain for the Avengers.​​​​​​​

Thanos Is The Most Powerful

Ultimately, it is the MCU’s first overarching big bad, Thanos, that comes out on top. Although Kang is extremely powerful in theory, his only full appearance in the universe ended with him losing to Ant-Man. The idea that a seemingly infinite number of Kangs exist in the multiverse, and he is able to manipulate timelines to suit himself should make him incredibly powerful, but what was seen onscreen doesn’t stack up to the Infinity Gauntlet-wielding Thanos or a world eater like Galactus.

Galactus is extremely powerful and should prove to be a serious problem for the Avengers to face. However, Thanos with the infinity stones is just too strong. He can manipulate reality and time, and he is only stopped by a clever plan from the Avengers to travel through time and retrieve the stones themselves, catching him off guard in the process. That being said, villains and heroes will always be compared by fans hoping to discuss how their favorite characters stack up against one another, especially the big bads of the MCU.​​​​​​​