This text incorporates spoilers for “Ironheart” season 1.
Residing within the Marvel universe can really feel like hell typically, however a couple of characters made it worse for themselves once they turned to the satan for assist — effectively, the closest factor to the satan, at the least. Mephisto has made it clear he is not the boss from downstairs, however he enjoys pretending to be what the world is aware of as Lucifer. Nonetheless a robust demon, Mephisto debuted in 1968 and has since made many offers with Marvel’s smartest, sharpest, and strongest characters, who’ve solely typically managed to thwart no matter twisted deal he is cooked up.
Contemplating this mischievous exercise within the comics and his MCU debut in “Ironheart” via a pitch-perfect efficiency by Sacha Baron Cohen, there isn’t any telling how a lot hassle Mephisto might trigger for characters already established within the movies or TV reveals (or ones on the cusp of creating their first look). The satan has already been within the particulars of MCU tales which have come and gone and have been impressed by Mephisto’s involvement within the comics. “WandaVision” had followers predicting his arrival nearly each week, and “Spider-Man: No Means Residence” drew components from the much-loathed “One New Day” storyline, which may very well be explored additional in “Spider-Man: Model New Day.” Retaining that in thoughts, listed here are a couple of courageous souls who made a take care of the satan within the comics and a few who nonetheless have an opportunity to make one of their live-action iterations.
Shalla-Bal, the Silver Surfer
Shalla-Bal, who’s quickly to be performed by Julia Garner in “The Implausible 4: First Steps,” made a take care of Mephisto in “Silver Surfer” #3 to reunite along with her long-lost love, Norrin Rad, the Silver Surfer of Earth-616. The worth was her complete obedience to Mephisto, and by agreeing, she was despatched to Earth to reunite along with her star-crossed lover, solely to be severely injured within the ship wherein she was transported.
Fortunately, the board-riding hero helped Shalla-Bal get better, and after combating Mephisto, they agreed to remain aside for one another’s security and to cease the satan’s plans. Nonetheless, the pink villain persevered in inflicting hassle for Norrin Rad and his love, together with one occasion the place he dropped Shalla-Bal in Physician Doom’s homeland of Latveria in “Implausible 4” #157 earlier than a rescue was launched, and he even compelled the Surfer to enterprise into Hell to save lots of her soul in “Silver Surfer/Warlock: Resurrection.”
Since Garner’s Shalla-Bal exists in a unique actuality than the MCU as we all know it within the Sixties-set “The Implausible 4: First Steps,” it appears unlikely she and Mephisto will cross paths anytime quickly. That stated, since the tremendous group shall be getting into Earth-616 as revealed within the “Thunderbolts*” post-credits scene, might the primary universe home Norrin Radd’s Silver Surfer and a variant of Shalla-Bal, thus organising a doable encounter? On condition that Mephisto made his Marvel debut within the “Silver Surfer” comics, it could be a hell of an homage to his origins and the 2 lives he has repeatedly tried to destroy.
Physician Doom
The incoming huge dangerous of the MCU may strike worry into the Avengers when he arrives, however even the ruler of Latveria has resorted to determined measures to achieve his targets, together with turning to Mephisto to get the job executed. Sure to the demon lord since beginning after his mom, Cynthia von Doom, bought her soul, Doom made a take care of Mephisto later in life to carry her again from Hell, utilizing Physician Unusual as a bargaining chip in “Physician Unusual and Physician Doom: Triumph and Torment” #1.
At first, Doom provided his personal soul together with the Sorcerer Supreme to rescue his mom from the underworld. Nevertheless, the plan backfired when Cynthia rejected the supply after studying what her son had executed to be let loose, upset by his actions. Happily, Doom was not in a villainous temper on the time and had no actual intention of handing Unusual over to Mephisto, and consequently, Cynthia’s noble rejection to remain within the underworld led her to be launched from her hellish jail and ascend to a greater afterlife.
It is a lengthy shot, however we’re betting that when Robert Downey Jr. makes his debut as Doom, he’ll be too busy destroying realities involving each the Avengers and the X-Males to barter with Sacha Baron Cohen’s sinister villain. After that mud is settled, maybe there is likely to be time for Mephisto to share some display time with at the least one member of the von Dooms additional down the road.
Deadpool
If there’s one particular person within the Marvel universe in addition to Mephisto with whom it is best to assume twice about making a deal, it is most likely Wade Wilson. Among the many many contracts crafted by the difficult satan over time, he created a very darkish one which Deadpool agreed to and finally needed to face. Fortunately, there was a loophole within the paperwork that solely the lovable lunatic would discover.
“Deadpool: The Finish” noticed Wade revisiting a deal he made with Mephisto on the finish of time that demanded he kill his daughter, Eleanor, to forestall his soul from going through everlasting damnation. As (dangerous) luck would have it, Eleanor confirmed as much as Wade as an aged girl dying of most cancers, simply in time to cease him from killing Loss of life, who he thought would save Eleanor from passing away. Nevertheless, his daughter informed Wade she welcomed the tip and even introduced a black gap bomb to kill each of them. The act primarily compelled Eleanor to die as a result of Wade gave her no different choice, thus fulfilling the contract. In keeping with the comedian ebook crackpot, “Whereas my child woman was the gun, I pulled the set off.”
It is these varieties of untamed thoughts video games which may have labored within the early concepts for “Deadpool & Wolverine,” when Mephisto was initially thought of because the movie’s important villain. Now that each characters are within the MCU, we are able to solely hope Ryan Reynolds’ and Sacha Baron Cohen’s sharp wit will get to face off at one other level within the MCU timeline.
Agent Phil Coulson
He may’ve been out of the MCU for some time now, however Agent Phil Coulson was energetic for a very long time in Marvel’s comedian historical past and took a really totally different path than being the one good eye for Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). In the course of the “Secret Empire” occasion, wherein it was revealed that Captain America had been a long-standing undercover H.Y.D.R.A. agent, Coulson was the primary to uncover the conspiracy, however was assassinated by Deadpool (which is well one of many worst issues Wade has ever executed).
Seeing an opportunity to stir issues up a bit, Mephisto resurrected Coulson, who got here again with a hatred of heroes and a thirst for vengeance. Phil made a take care of Mephisto to work for him and assist alter the universe, which led to the “Heroes Reborn” occasion. Because of this, the previous agent turned president, and the one hero left to “defend” the world was Hyperion. Fortunately, our unique heroes managed to set issues straight, however for his hassle, Coulson ended up trapped within the Pandemonium Dice. Lesson discovered, Phil.
Whereas it could undoubtedly be an fascinating course for the MCU to discover if Coulson have been nonetheless round, sadly, Clark Gregg’s devoted agent and hero supporter hasn’t been seen since “Captain Marvel” and reveals no indicators of returning to the franchise. That is most likely a very good factor. Seeing Robert Downey Jr. return as a villain in “Avengers: Doomsday” is one factor, however bringing Clark Gregg again as a corrupt Agent Coulson would shake us to our core.
Black Panther (T’Challa)
The legendary Black Panther is the ruler of a nation and one of the crucial clever individuals on the planet, so it is stunning that Mephisto really believed he might ever outsmart him. In “Black Panther” #3, King T’Challa confronted a coup inside Wakanda led by Reverend Achebe, who gained energy and an additional edge from each the Russian Mafia and Mephisto. (Now that is a wild combo.) To guard his nation, T’Challa agreed to surrender his soul to the hellborne villain, totally conscious that his legendary heritage in his bloodline would preserve him protected.
Because of the ability of the Panther God, T’Challa’s soul was surrendered to Mephisto together with the souls of all of the Black Panthers earlier than him. The mighty military of ancestors proved an excessive amount of for the fiery foe, prompting him to ask for the deal to be rapidly altered. T’Challa modified the deal in his favor and recovered his soul as a part of the settlement, reminding Mephisto that if he comes on the king, he greatest not miss (particularly in the case of the advantageous print).
After all, with Chadwick Boseman’s passing, such a cut price between the Wakandan king and the royal ache of the underworld cannot occur. That being stated, with Shuri (Letitia Wright) nonetheless holding the title of Black Panther and her homeland nonetheless very related to the afterlife, not like different components of the MCU, it would be plausible for Mephisto to toy with Wakanda’s new protector and infiltrate the Ancestral Aircraft. He simply higher be prepared for what’s ready for him.