Summary
On the heels of news that theMCUis actively developingNovainto a series, one of many questions surrounding the project is what villain or foe the hero should face.In the wake of Thanosdestroying Xandar and theMCUpursuing the multiverse in multiple projects, there is one villain who casual fans may not know, but that Marvel Comics fans everywhere will recognize that could bring a new player into the cosmic side of theMCU, Michael Korvac.
Known at times just as Korvac, Michael has been a longtime Guardians of the Galaxy and sometime Avenger foe from an alternate universe. The half man/half android villain has been known to be one of the more powerful cosmic threats both teams have faced, even recently forcing Iron Man himself to traverse the stars and gain untold power just to put an end to the all-powerful foe. With Nova set to explore new corners of the cosmicMCUand new stories left to be told, pitting Korvac against the full might of the Nova Corp’s power could be a great way of pushing the new hero to his limits.So should theMCU’sNovaintroduce Michael Korvac?
Michael Korvac, EXPLAINED
Korvac is one of the more interesting villains to emerge in the Marvel Comics world. Originally from Earth-691, Michael was an ordinary man who collaborated with the invading Badoon and was labeled by humanity as a traitor to their world. However, the Badoon would soon experiment on Michael, grafting his upper body onto a computer capable of absorbing any energy. After being used in abattle against Doctor Strangeand the Defenders by The Grandmaster, he takes the energy he absorbed and destroys the Badoon.
During what is known asThe Korvac Saga, Michael travels to the Earth-616 universe, and travelsto the space station of Galactus. While trying to download all of Galactus’s knowledge, he absorbs the power cosmic, given almost god-like power. He uses this to make a new humanoid body for himself, appearing on Earth as Michael to assimilate and later reshape it into his idea of utopia. However, the Guardians and the Avengers come together to stop him. The Collector foresees the threat Michael poses to him and the Elders of the Universe, and so makes his own daughter Carina into a being of incredible power to face Michael. However, the two end up falling in love, and pose as a middle-class couple in New York.
Things come to an end when the heroes track Michael and Carina to their home, and when Odin and the Watcher become aware of his presence, he begins attacking the heroes, slaying many of them until he begins to sense Carina is doubting his true nature. Upon learning this, Korvac uses his own will power to end his life, but not before showing his intent to help humanity and bringing the heroes back to life. Carina angrily attacks the heroesbut is slain by Thor, allowing both her and Korvac’s souls to enter Death’s realm together.
In more recent comics, Korvac returns to Earth to absorb the energies of Earth and attempt to become a demigod, using his power to create a more beautiful, perfect world.Iron Man assembles a ragtag group of heroesto head into space, where Korvac has taken Rhodey hostage and uses Iron Man villains to battle the heroes. They arrive at Galactus’s space station, where Korvac uses a machine to gain godlike power once more. Tony Stark does the same, leading to a cosmic battle between the two god-like beings. Eventually, the more powerful Abstract beings of the universe capture Korvac, leading him to make Tony Stark his new nemesis.
Michael Korvac in the MCU
Korvac is a powerful cosmic being who has yet to make his live-action debut. TheMCUexperimenting with the multiverse inrecent films likeDeadpool & Wolverinemakes the idea of a powerful cosmic entity like Korvac arriving from an alternate Earth very plausible. Perhaps another tear in the fabric of reality, much like the one seen inThe Marvels, could lead to Korvac’s arrival into theMCU, with Nova being the only hero able to stop his advancement towards Earth.
Korvac not only presents a powerful threat in his own right, but allowing a new alien race like The Badoon, a constant threat to Earth in the Marvel Comics world, would help establish the greater universe only hinted atin films likeThe EternalsandGuardians of the Galaxy. With many of the original Guardians cast off in new directions and the upcomingNovaseries set to explore the universe in the wake of the Nova Corps’s destruction, introducing a wildcard and powerhouse like Korvac could be the catalyst theMCUneeds to establish Nova as a powerful hero that could lend himself to the upcoming battle inAvengers: Secret Wars.
MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a sprawling movie and television franchise that weaves together individual stories of superheroes including Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and many more. The first film in the franchise, Iron Man, was released in 2008. The MCU has garnered critical praise and financial success, earning billions at the box office and becoming a cultural phenomenon.
