Top 10 Needed Marvel vs. Capcom Sequel Fighters

Premiering back in 1973 with issue #19 of Marvel’s Adventure into Fear, duck-like alien Howard finds himself transported from his home of similarly anthropomorphic animals to present-day Earth, soon going on very strange (and often satirical) adventures: armed only with his extreme cynicism and mastery of the martial arts technique “Quack Fu.” I imagine Howard’s attacks mostly focusing on his ridiculous usage of “Quack Fu,” but with his movements and attacks actually being quick and hard-hitting (and with one of his “Hyper Combos” having him don and use his “Iron Duck” armor).

9. Slapstick (Marvel)

In a similar “Wouldn’t It Be Amusing If [X] Was a Marvel vs. Capcom Fighter…?” vein to Howard the Duck, I’d also like to select the obscure superhero Slapstick: debuting in 1992, the reality-warping Slapstick is a “living cartoon” that thrives on – but can also weaponize – Looney Tunes-esque comedic “physics” that render him incredibly strong, obscenely durable, and wildly unpredictable. Of course, Slapstick’s overall movements, attacks, and visual presentation would be a wonderful excuse to really push graphical limits to properly convey his overly fluid and entirely malleable “cartoon” physique.

8. Absorbing Man (Marvel)

To throw in a villain that I’ve always liked (and wished made more major appearances outside of the original comics), Carl “Crusher” Creel – a.k.a. Absorbing Man – has the ability to directly take on the physical properties of anything he touches (as well as increase his overall size and mass). Frequently – but not exclusively – seen as an archenemy to the Hulk, I see Absorbing Man having mechanical and move-set similarities to the former, but with the additional usage of Creel’s ability to transform into substances like metal or diamond (as well as the implementation of his signature ball and chain).

7. Man-Thing (Marvel)

And to include a new “giant” character for the Marvel side of things (which I’ll also be doing for Capcom later on in this article), I select the monstrous but empathic “Man-Thing” to join the Marvel vs. Capcom roster: formerly Dr. Theodore Sallis, the Man-Thing is a bizarre, plant-like entity with many unusual powers (including the ability to physically burn others simply via touch). I imagine Man-Thing functioning similarly to Nemesis in UMvC3 and MvC: Infinite, with primary focuses on his chemically/mystically produced corrosives, physical malleability, and sheer size and strength.

6. Tigra (Marvel)

Seeing as Capcom featured their own “exotic cat-woman” in the form of Darkstalkers‘ Felicia as a playable fighter in Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and Marvel vs. Capcom 3, it would only be fair for Marvel to include Tigra (Greer Grant Nelson) so they can have one too. Obviously, Tigra would have very agile and acrobatic movements and attacks like Felicia, but with a notably larger focus on her more feral and dangerous nature than the latter (and, of course, would be presented with more seriousness).

5. Samanosuke Akechi (Capcom)

In an exclusion that I’m surprised hasn’t already been addressed in the last two Marvel vs. Capcom titles, I’d suggest having Onimusha: Warlords protagonist Samanosuke Akechi inducted into the franchise’s overarching roster. I see Samanosuke’s attacks being focused on him wielding the three elemental weapons Raizan, Enryuu, and Shippuu, as supplemented by a Hyper Combo allowing him to temporarily transform into his powerful “Onimusha” state shown towards the first game’s finale.

4. Vile (Capcom)

Similarly, as seen in the last two Marvel vs. Capcom games’ inclusion of the recurring Mega Man X characters X, Zero, and Sigma as fighters, it would be fitting to also bring in the subseries’ secondary antagonist: the ruthless and psychotic mercenary, Vile. Looking very much like a robotic version of Boba Fett from Star Wars, Vile is a fairly popular character in his own right, with his depiction in Maverick Hunter X showing that his entire body is literally filled with weapons; of course, Vile’s myriad instruments of destruction could make for a very versatile (and highly explosive) move-set.

3. Rolento (Capcom)

From one ruthless and psychotic mercenary to another, I nominate Rolento F. Schugerg to represent both the Final Fight and Street Fighter franchises, while also giving the former series’ protagonist Mike Haggar (from MvC3 and MvC: Infinite) a “rival” character from the same universe. Rolento’s move-set would more or less stay unchanged from previous appearances, showing him fight with his staff, jump kicks, and body throws; additionally, in reference to his “desperation” attacks from earlier game encounters when low on health, Rolento can toss grenades and knives out in varying patterns.

2. Lady Dimitrescu (Capcom)

Now returning to the other “giant” character I alluded to in Man-Thing’s entry, I’d like to see central (and ever-popular) Resident Evil: Village antagonist Lady Alicina Dimitrescu be brought into the Marvel vs. Capcom roster to further represent the RE franchise alongside Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Albert Wesker, and Nemesis. While I (controversially) recommend decreasing Dimitrescu’s height a bit so she’s entirely visible onscreen without zooming out, her move-sets would obviously take full advantage of her immense size and strength (as well as her long and very deadly claws).

1. Lord Raptor (Capcom)

Primarily chosen by me to further expand public awareness of the (still) criminally overlooked Darkstalkers franchise, my last selection is none other than the undead Australian rockstar: Lord Raptor (a.k.a. Zabel Zarock). It’d be really fun to see Raptor included in a future (and most likely) 3D Marvel vs. Capcom title just to see his insanely over-the-top (and surreal) attack animations realized in current-gen graphics (and, if it’s even possible, have the legendary Scott McNeil voice him again).