Marvel’s Deadliest Heroes and Villains: Characters With Insane Body Counts

Ever since the start, Marvel has graced the world with a multiverse of characters. We’ve gotten gallant superheroes, diabolical supervillains, iconic love interests, and everything else in between. Fans, of course, adore witnessing the adventures and situations these fictional individuals get into. However, the sad truth is that these escapades can result in the deaths of other people.

Everyone knows that antagonists are typically the ones to accumulate numerous deaths. But sometimes other characters, even the do-gooding superheroes, end up doing the same. The question is, though, who are technically the deadliest individuals in Marvel comics? Well, we’re about to find out the answer right now.

10. Romulus

The oldest foe to Wolverine, Romulus, has been around since the rise of Rome. He considers himself the perfect predator and is obsessed with creating the ultimate living weapon. The powers he possesses are similar to Wolvie’s, but he also has Sabretooth-esque attributes. And Romulus has used them to slaughter hundreds of thousands of people throughout his lifetime.

9. Kang the Conqueror

Kang is one of the great enemies the Avengers have ever had to contend with. All he does is traverse across time, killing all opposition while conquering any survivors. And the twisted thing is, he started all of it out of sheer boredom. Ultimately, his kill count is in the millions, which includes alternate versions of the Avengers.

8. Apocalypse

Few, mutant or otherwise, have challenged the X-Men as Apocalypse has. Alive since ancient Egypt, his mutant powers include molecular manipulation, telepathy, enhanced strength, and telekinesis. He’s even integrated Celestial technology into his body to make himself even more powerful. And, like Kang, millions have fallen to Apocalypse and his unmatched might.

7. The Golden Helm of Annihilation

The Golden Helm of Annihilation rules a realm within the Otherworld known as Amenth. A literal helmet, it possesses anyone who dons it, making them a leader of demons. The Golden Helm and its demonic army have been responsible for millions of deaths.

6. Annihilus

Overseer of the Negative Zone, Annihilus is a destructive force unlike anything ever seen. He manipulates cosmic energy and controls minds with the Cosmic Control Rod. And commands an army of ravenous interdimensional insectoids called the Annihilation Wave. Annihilus is responsible for billions of casualties in his quest for total domination.

5. The Builders

The Builders, the oldest race across the Marvel multiverse, created everything from planets to races. Unfortunately, their quest to birth stronger civilizations led to the extinction of weaker ones. And it led to a genocidal war that destroyed all life across the 616 universe. In the end, the Builders claimed billions upon billions of lives.

4. The Celestials

Another ancient cosmic race, the gargantuan Celestials, traveled across the universe. They manipulated the building blocks of life to perfect lifeforms they deemed worthy. And they destroyed any races they considered unworthy or too weak to survive. In addition, Celestials gestate in planets filled with life and obliterate them upon birth. These space-born titans have decimated billions and will continue to do so without remorse.

3. Galactus

Galan of Taa was once a scientist who became exposed to the energies of creation. Since then, he became the unstoppable force of nature known as Galactus. He’s the keeper of the Power Cosmic and an unfathomable consumer of worlds. His hunger has led to the loss of at least eight billion victims. The actual number might be higher, given how long Galactus has been around.

2. Thanos

It should be no surprise that Thanos, the Mad Titan, is on this list. He’s feared across the universe as a highly dangerous yet orderly killer. Only a few, including the Avengers and the Silver Surfer, have stood against him. Thanos has decimated trillions of lifeforms, all to impress and win Lady Death’s favor.

1. The One Below All

The ultimate destructive force in Marvel, The One Below All, is entropy personified. It exists only to destroy everything and has empowered others to carry out its crusade. You could even argue that all killers across the multiverse are extensions of its will. And that is what makes The One Below All the deadliest Marvel character ever.

Final Thoughts on This Marvel List

I honestly agree with this ranking of the deadliest characters in Marvel history. Some of these individuals are truly the worst of the worst across the multiverse. They’ve raked up kills in the trillions for seemingly pointless or twisted reasons. Yet others seem to be literal forces that are simply destructive in nature.

Nevertheless, the body counts of these Marvel characters are both impressive and horrifying. I definitely recognized some names on this list, like Galactus and Thanos. And I enjoyed learning about the individuals whom I didn’t know existed. It’ll be intriguing to see what Marvel does next with this ensemble. We might even witness the arrival of someone able to surpass them all.