The Ultimate Selection of Marvel's Darkest and Most Nihilistic Characters!
These Marvel characters embrace nihilism, believing life lacks meaning From the enigmatic Nihilist Order to the cosmic power of Thanos, explore their despair and philosophical perspectives in this ranking of the 6 most nihilistic Marvel characters
The Marvel Universe in the Marvel Cinematic Universe projects may appear less dark compared to other projects. Some projects like What If and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness have explored darker elements, but the Marvel Comics have numerous devastating events and storylines.
Many of these darker stories are driven by characters who show no concern or emotion for the consequences of their actions. While heroes like Captain America are known for always doing what is right and are considered "white knight" characters, even Captain America has had some darker moments. Additionally, there are villains and a few heroes who embrace nihilistic belief systems.
6 The Nihilist Order
In an unexpected twist, Red Skull once devised a plan to tarnish Captain America's reputation. He assumed a new identity and formed a religious cult called the Nihilist Order. This group served as a platform for him to teach nihilistic principles to a large gathering of followers. Surprisingly, despite Red Skull's seeming lack of belief in these principles, the members of the Nihilist Order displayed genuine sincerity in their beliefs.
Although the Nihilist Order did not become prominent recurring characters in Marvel Comics, they served as a remarkable embodiment of nihilistic ideology within the storyline they were involved in. Red Skull manipulated them for his own purposes, yet the individuals within the Order remained steadfast in their convictions.
5 Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider, particularly the incarnation of Johnny Blaze, is a character who endures tremendous anguish and torment. As a result, he possesses a subdued persona and holds very little faith in anything. While Johnny Blaze has always been portrayed as a grim figure of retribution, the malevolence that fuels his abilities makes it challenging for him to be recognized as a true hero. Nevertheless, fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe still harbor a desire to see Ghost Rider included in this realm.
In the Johnny Blaze iteration, Ghost Rider is actually inhabited by a demonic entity that grants him his supernatural powers. He has largely accepted his unfortunate fate, which compels him to remain devoted to dispensing justice. However, this also renders him one of Marvel's most brooding and nihilistic characters. Due to the immense popularity of this portrayal, Marvel has even ventured into exploring other grim and somber comic personalities.
4 Deadpool
Although Deadpool is often involved in heroic acts, it is challenging to label him as a true nihilist. However, he has had his fair share of villainous moments and appears indifferent towards the consequences of his actions or how he treats others. Even his close friends, such as Blind Al and Hydra Bob, have often endured mistreatment rather than friendship from Wade Wilson.
Undoubtedly, Deadpool exhibits nihilistic tendencies, likely stemming from the lack of concern shown towards him by other superheroes and his cursed invincibility, which has led him to believe that nothing matters since he is destined to exist forever. Unfortunate as it may be, this experience has transformed Deadpool into one of the most sociopathic and nihilistic characters in the Marvel Universe, teetering on the edge of transitioning from a hero to a villain.
3 Gorr The God Butcher
Despite the limited screen time in Thor: Love And Thunder, the Christian Bale version of the character, Gorr, remains one of the most ruthlessly nihilistic characters in the Marvel Pantheon. Originally belonging to an alien race that worshiped Gods, Gorr lost all faith in them when his family and people were abandoned, leading to their starvation and the tragic loss of his daughter. This deeply brutal origin story fueled Gorr's transformation.
Witnessing two Gods engage in a fierce battle, Gorr seized the opportunity and slayed the victorious God using a symbiote-infused sword. Empowered by the sword, Gorr embarked on a merciless rampage, mercilessly exterminating Gods across the universe. Indifferent to anything besides eradicating the Gods, Gorr embodies a true nihilist, devoid of desires or beliefs other than destruction.
2 Death
Death, a character in Marvel Comics, is depicted as a mysterious figure that many nihilistic characters within the Marvel Universe are infatuated with. This makes her one of the most nihilistic characters in Marvel Comics. Death appears indifferent to everything, often alternating between acts of heroism and villainy. She punishes some individuals while merely observing others, particularly intrigued by immortal beings like Deadpool. Death typically takes on a female form when interacting with mortals. As a cosmic entity, Death is eternal and unapologetically nihilistic.
1 Thanos
In the MCU, Thanos was not portrayed as much of a nihilist, although there were significant changes made from the original comics for Josh Brolin's portrayal. Originally created by Jim Starlin, Thanos was characterized by his nihilism, which was influenced by Starlin's psychology classes.
In the comics, Thanos firmly believed that nothing held any real significance. He obsessively pursued Death's affection and gathered the Infinity Stones to eliminate half of all life in the universe, hoping to impress her. Despite his efforts, Thanos remained indifferent towards everything and everyone, focusing solely on his own objectives at any given time. The concept of a supposed greater good, which formed the basis of Thanos' motivations in the MCU, did not exist within the mindset of the Marvel Comics character.
