Marvel enthusiasts, buckle up—the power structure throughout the Marvel Universe is changing quicker than you can utter “multiversal collapse.” Players that previously flew beneath the radar are now cosmic heavy-hitters, while long-time standbys are receiving bold new revisions—or are enjoying a well-deserved rest in Valhalla. If you think you have an idea of who’s ruling the roost in Marvel right now, it’s time to reconsider. Here’s a peek at the 10 strongest Marvel Comics characters today—and believe it or not, the competition is more cutthroat than ever.
1. Moon Knight
Long written off as Marvel’s dark street-level hero with a complicated mental health history, Marc Spector has been revitalized. Having made the ultimate sacrifice and traveled through the afterlife, he’s back more powerful than ever, completely fused with the moon deity Khonshu. Their relationship now feels more like a godly partnership than a controlling agreement—and the result is a Moon Knight with god-level potential and unpredictability to match.
2. Spider-Man
Peter Parker no longer just swings through New York—now he’s crossing magical planes. Spidey has recently been equipped with mystical tools such as the Wicked Webs of Wundagore and the Life-Restoring Reeds of Raggador. As much as Peter continues to humble himself (and get confused) with his new magical equipment, these enhancements have put him in the league of Marvel’s sorcerers—and brought significant might to his already impressive arsenal.
3. Hellverine
Wolverine’s son Akihiro has become something much worse. Now bonded with the demon Bagra-ghul, he’s now the Hellverine—the deadly mutant ferocity plus hellish fury. Imagine a berserker level of destruction, along the lines of Ghost Rider. He teeters on the thin line between control and madness, but if the demon within ever gets full control, he might even match or surpass both his father and the Spirit of Vengeance.
4. Franklin Richards
Franklin Richards has long been among Marvel’s most overpowered characters, with the ability to create universes. Even after being said to lose his powers and mutant identity, recent events uncovered that he never lost them in the first place. Cosmic-level powers are still active and restored position in mutantkind, Franklin is still a game-changer for the X-Men and Fantastic Four.
5. Uranos
While Thanos receives most of the attention, it’s his grandfather Uranos who’s showing himself to be a genuinely frightening cosmic menace. A combatant Eternal with psychic powers and no tolerance for diplomacy, Uranos made war through the Sins of Sinister story, wiping out entire hero teams without sweating it. He’s a big-batch villain and a name to know.
6. Juggernaut
Cain Marko’s days as the Hulk’s punching bag are behind him. The one-time destructive behemoth has found his place as a hero, with massive power increases propelling him to cosmic heights. In Dead X-Men, he defeated Weapon M and had a pivotal part in saving the multiverse. His momentum has never been more potent.
7. Synch
A Generation X grad turned one of the X-Men’s most valuable assets, Synch, has come a long, long way. Having endured centuries of accelerated time within the Vault, he now boasts the power to duplicate and maintain any augmented ability, usually god-level. While excessive use of his powers exacts a physical toll, his adaptability and accuracy make him a legitimate threat among Marvel’s best.
8. Storm
Ororo Munroe was an overachiever, even before the Krakoan Era. Today, she’s a legend. As the Arakkii ruler of Arakko (previously Mars), she’s leveraged next-generation atmospheric control, harnessing Bifrost energies and tapping into her magical heritage. She’s not simply controlling the weather—she’s remolding the universe and pushing the concept of elemental force to new limits.
9. All-Rider
Robbie Reyes has pushed well past the typical Ghost Rider mold. He is now the All-Rider, and he can imbue Hellfire into anything—whether a weapon, a ride, or the universe itself. He’s defeated Celestials, become the “most powerful Avenger in the multiverse,” and consistently tests the boundaries of what a Spirit of Vengeance can do.
10. Thanos
Thanos might not be at his all-time best currently, but his presence is as foreboding as ever. With the Infinity Stones finding new living hosts, the Mad Titan is evolving, plotting, and experimenting with new sources of power. He is still the classic cosmic villain, always lurking in the background for his next catastrophic move.
The Marvel Universe is an ever-changing war zone of shifting alliances, unstable power swings, and endless rebirth. Whether gods, mutants, demons, or cosmic beings, the struggle for dominance is never decided for more than a moment. One thing is for sure: with so many mighty players in play, now is a fantastic time to be a Marvel Comics reader.