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From rulers of Atlantis to Asgard, these are the smartest, strongest, and most iconic kings in Marvel Comics.
10) Zeus
The Norse Gods aren’t the only pantheon of ancient Gods that inhabit Marvel Comics. The Greek Gods, also figure in Marvel. Zeus is the king of the Greek Gods and is the God of Thunder. Zeus ascended his throne when he and his siblings overthrew their father, the king of the Titans, Cronus. As the Skyfather, Zeus has ruled the Olympians for thousands of years. In addition to his divine might, Zeus is a cunning strategist and leader who has defeated numerous gods and monsters that sought to overthrow him. Zeus is also very well-known for having multiple affairs and siring many offspring, including the demigod hero Hercules. However, despite his incredible reputation as the King of Olympus, in the modern-day, Zeus primarily keeps to himself and is rarely seen, because Marvel would rather focus on another God of Thunder: Thor.
9) Vulcan
The long-lost little brother of X-Men members Cyclops and Havok, Gabriel Summers, aka Vulcan, grew up to become one of the most feared emperors in the galaxy. The aliens of the Shi’ar Empire abducted Gabriel’s mother while she was pregnant with him. Gabriel was born into slavery, but was able to escape to Earth. There, he joined Professor X’s first X-Men team. However, his team members were killed on their first mission, and Gabriel was left for dead. Years later, Gabriel left Earth and travelled to the Shi’ar Empire. With his power to manipulate energy, Gabriel easily took the throne for himself. However, his unstable mind made him a cruel leader who began wars on a whim. When he led the Shi’ar Empire against the Kree Empire and the Inhumans, many of his subjects grew tired of his tyrannical rule and revolted. Gabrial finally lost his throne after a brutal civil war and his beating by the Inhuman Black Bolt.
8) Hulk
On Earth the Hulk is a monster, on the planet Sakaar, he was a hero and a king. When Hulk’s unstable and destructive nature became a threat to humanity, the Illuminati launched him into space in a rocket. The Jolly Green Giant crash-landed on Sakaar, which was a brutal planet ruled by the cruel Red King. The Hulk was immediately enslaved and forced to participate in brutal death games as a gladiator. However, the Hulk led a revolution and overthrew the tyrannical Red King. Gaining the throne for himself, the Hulk became a benevolent ruler and made the alien warrior Cairia his queen. However, everything fell apart when the ship that transported the Hulk exploded in a freak accident that killed millions, including Cairia. The Hulk blamed the Illuminati for the explosion and lead his army to Earth for revenge. After a long battle, the heroes of Earth defeated the Hulk. Since then, the Hulk has renounced his title as the king of Sakaar.
7) Thor
The God of Thunder and founding Avenger, Thor Odinson, is one of the most powerful and recognizable heroes in Marvel Comics. For thousands of years, Thor has been the crown prince and protector of Asgard. However, Thor has been more comfortable fighting monsters on the battlefield than dealing with Asgardian politics. Even so, there have been numerous instances when Odin has died or become too weak to lead that have forced Thor to accept his royal responsibility and take the throne. Given his history as a warrior, and not a political leader, Thor often has trouble living up to his father’s standard of an ideal leader. There have been many times when Thor’s new position of power made him more arrogant and hard-headed. Still, Thor loves his people and does his best to protect them, even from himself. Whenever the opportunity arises, Thor will gladly abdicate the throne and hand it to someone more suitable for the role. Even if Thor isn’t ready now, a glimpse into the far future reveals that he is destined to become a powerful and wise ruler, just like Odin.
6) Kang the Conqueror
One of the Avengers’ most dangerous adversaries, Kang the Conqueror, as his title implies, lives only for conquest. A time traveler from the 30th century, Kang utilizes futuristic technology to conquer worlds across various time periods. Over his many campaigns, Kang has amassed an empire spanning multiple time periods and universes, with millions of subjects. Kang was a ruler of Ancient Egypt, Camelot, and Earth of the 40th century. However, whenever he tries to mess with the main Marvel timeline, heroes like the Fantastic Four and the Avengers have been there to defeat him. Even if the Earth-616 universe remains out of his grasp, there are plenty of other universes and timelines where Kang reigns supreme.
