Summary
Marvelhas been an industry juggernaut for over eighty years. One of the most prominent creators of superhero comic books in the world,Marvelhas defined entire generations with its vast universe of exciting characters and impactful stories. With the recent rise of the MCU, the company has arguably never been more relevant than it is in the modern age.
While predominately, the heroes are the creations that take the spotlight, equal attention should be given to the villains of the Marvel comic book universe, specifically the femme Fatales. There are dozens of amazing and sinisterfemale Marvel villainsthat make being evil look awesome. From heads of terrorist organizations to cosmic entities, here are some of thebest female villains in Marvel Comics.
Updated on January 18, by C.M Edwards, 2025:The Marvel comic book universe is one of the most expansive works of fiction in history. composed of thousands of characters, stories, and events that serve as the foundation for what the Marvel Cinematic Universe is today. There are thousands of characters that populate the Marvel universe both in its movies and in its comics. Dozens of heroes shine as they save the day by spoiling a world-ending plot or saving a cat out of a tree. However, Marvel’s universe is home to just as many villains as there are heroes, and they are easily just as memorable as the latter. Specifically, the femme fatales of the Marvel universe are some of the most dangerous and iconic in comic book history who have nearly placed the entire world at their feet. Sometimes, the most dangerous, lethal, and sinister characters in the Marvel universe, female villains leave an impression that sends many fleeing at the sound of their approach. Queens, national terrorists, and even descendants of crime families make up some of the best crooks in the business. Here are some of themost iconic female villains in Marvel comics.
Original Creators
Date
Deadpool: Merc with a mouth #7 - Are you there Deadpool? it’s me, Deadpool.
Jack Kirby, Joe Simon
1940
Lady Deadpool is an alternate universe version of the merc-with-a-mouth, Deadpool, from Earth 3010, First appearing inDeadpool: merc with a Mouth #7 - Are you there, Deadpool?It’s me, Deadpool. Lady Deadpool was created by Rob Liefeld and Victor Gischler as one of the many alternate versions of Deadpool found on his adventures in between universes.
Lady Deadpool isn’t a hero and will fight for most things if the price is right. In the case of joining a group of rebels, she did so for a good slice of pie. Lady Dead Pool has already started appearing in several different media outside of comics, having just debuted in Deadpool and Wolverine.
Frank Miller
1981
Elektra first debuted in Daredevil #168 and served as a love interest and antagonist to the devil of Hell’s Kitchen. Through the years after being created by the famous Frank Miller, Elektra has undergone several drastic character changes.
She has served as a hero alongside Daredevil, an antihero out for revenge, and a villainous assassin in charge of The Hand. Elektra is a trained killer from birth, and while many times over, she tries to make the right decision, her basic instincts get the better of her most often. Elektra is one of the best-written characters in Marvel Comics with a complicated history and sleek design.
Chris Claremont, Jonh Romita Jr.
Madelyn Pryor is the genetic clone of Jean Gray, serving as the wife of Cyclops during Gray’s first death. Created by Mr. Sinister, Madlyn Pryor was brought to life when the phoenix Force receded inside of her after Jean Gray died. After some deeds behind the scenes, Pryor became engaged, married Scott Summers, and gave birth to a son.
Unfortunately, Madelyn’s story goes south from there as the real Jean Gray returns, and she and her son are abandoned by Cyclops. From there, Madelyn turned to a life of evil, serving as a recurring adversary to the X-Men serving as the Red Queen of the Hellfire Club.
Death is one of the most powerful forces throughout the entire Marvel Comics universe and is centered around some of the most catastrophic events since her debut. As the cosmic personification of the end of all things, Death spends most of her time in the shadows of Marvel Comics, revealing herself to a minuscule few.
Deadpool and Thanos are the major characters who have interacted with her. Death has an infatuation with Deadpool and wishes for them to be together. Unfortunately,Deadpool’s immortalitymakes it impossible. On the other side, Thanos is obsessed with death and seeks to win her favor, which is what drove him to obtain the infinity gauntlet in the first place.
Daniel Way, Francisco Herrera
2003
Scream is the product of the offspring of symbiotes from thehost subject, Venom. She was pushed into existence along with several other symbiotes whom she killed. Scream became a deadly adversary for both Spider-Man and Venom and possessed the same amount of strength and agility.
Due to the volatile means of bonding with a subject, Scream’s personality is cruel and sadistic, making her a threat to any who cross her path.
Marv Wolfman, Keith Pollard
1979
Black Cat has been a long-standingmember of Spider-Man’s rogues galleryand, from time to time, a love interest. Starting out as a high-class society socialite, Felicia Hardy fell into the criminal element after a tragic encounter and found out that her father had been the previous black cat.
Once Felicia donned the costume and took the moniker for herself, she began a string of robberies that left even the web-head puzzled. Thanks to her power to instill bad luck in those around her, Felica can stay one step ahead of those chasing her tail.
Stan Lee, Gene Colan
1967
Madam Masque was borne into a lifetime of villainy even though she tries to fight it at every turn. As the daughter of Count Nefarias, one of the Avengers' greatest arch-enemies, Madam Masque hides her face from the world in order to run from her lineage.
However, as much as she ran from her family line she found her way into a life of crime and even became a high-ranking member of the superpowered mafia. Madam Masque has been behind numerous plots that have left Earth’s mightiest heroes in shambles.
Chris Claremont, John Byrne
Emma Frost has been one of the longest-standing and most popular characters in the X-Men mythos since her debut in the early eighties. Emma Frost is a powerful mutant with mental powers widely compared to those of Charles Xavier, and the ability to turn her body into solid diamond.
In terms of her allegiance, Emma Frost plays the game better than most and switches sides often. Starting out as the White Queen of the Hellfire Club, she later joined the X-Men, where she became close with the leader of theX-Men, Scott Summers, after the death of Jean Gray.
Ed Brubaker, Clay Mann
2008
Lady Bullseye’s history is not as extensive as her male counterpart, but she has a deep connection to the Hand and the assassin Elektra. Lady Bullseye was the captive of a yakuza trafficking ring until she was freed when the criminal, Bullseye, slaughtered all the guards and disappeared.
Touched by the carnage that Bullseye left behind, Lady Bullseye learned that if she wanted to stay free, she would have to use violence. Quickly her name caught the eye of the leader of the Hand, and she was brought in as a full member, choosing her current moniker. Hopefully, she makes an appearance in the upcomingDaredevil: Born Againseries.
Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
1964
Scarlet Witch has a complicated history, while starting off as a member of the Brotherhood serving her father, Magneto, Wanda Maximoff has never been one for fighting or causing chaos. Unfortunately, that is the core of Wanda’s power, being one of the most dangerous mutants on Earth.
The Scarlet Witch is able to completely rewrite realities to her desire, and paired with her mental imbalances, she is often the cause of cataclysmic levels events similar to Charles Xavier’s son, Legion. While Wanda has never thought of herself as a villain, she is feared and hated among many circles in the Marvel Universe but is nearly unstoppable when fully immersed in her power. On multiple occasions, it took the combined efforts of the Avengers and the X-Men to take down the Queen of Chaos.
