Every week, a secret cabal of Marvel staffers gathers to discuss the best of the best when it comes to the House of Ideas.
There's plenty of ways to measure power in the Marvel Universe, from who can hit hardest to whose laser beam blasts fry their opponents the crispiest. However, nothing says you're the man-or the woman-quite like having a country, kingdom or universe full of subjects ready to sing your praises and do your bidding.
This week, the Secret Cabal sounds the trumpets for the gentlemen and ladies who rule with the most iron of fists; sorry, Danny Rand, having your own martial arts school doesn't count.
For each character you get the quick rundown as well as a special spotlight comic courtesy of Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
As always, these picks reflect the personal choices of the Secret Cabal, not the official opinion of Marvel or Marvel.com, and can be considered subjective at best. Enjoy!
10. THE SUPREME INTELLIGENCE
Learn More About Him... here
First Appearance: FANTASTIC FOUR #65 (1967)
Constituency: The Kree Empire (former)
Why He Makes the List: "For a giant head floating in a jar of jelly, the Supreme Intelligence had an impressive run as ruler of the Kree, leading his people to numerous conquests via careful planning and utter ruthlessness. The accumulated brainpower of a collective of Kree big wigs, the Intelligence tried on more than one occasion to blow up his own subjects in hopes of jumpstarting their full genetic potential-talk about commitment!" - Secret Cabal member Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: FANTASTIC FOUR #65 (1967)-Enter the Supreme Intelligence!
9. MOJO
Learn More About Him... here
First Appearance: LONGSHOT #3 (1985)
Constituency: The Mojoverse
Why He Makes the List: "Need proof of how awesome a ruler Mojo is? His universe is called the Mojoverse. Not a country, not a planet, a whole danged universe. And what does he do with all that power? Mojo makes inane TV shows and movies, tries to kill/capture/enslave the X-Men and does all kinds of other cool things. Also, he's really gross and dumb and somehow still manages to keep his power. Yeah!" - Secret Cabal member Agent_M
Spotlight Comic: EXILES #18-Mojo matches wits with the Exiles!
8. DEATHBIRD & VULCAN
Learn More About Them... here and here
First Appearances: MS. MARVEL #9 (1977) and X-MEN: DEADLY GENESIS #1 (2006)
Constituency: The Shi'Ar Empire
Why They Make the List: "The couple that rules tyrannically together stays together, as Vulcan and Deathbird are currently seeking to prove. In Deathbird, Vulcan finally found somebody he felt he could trust to at least stab him in the front, whereas in Gabriel Summers, the eldest Nerimani princess saw a valuable catspaw to help her advance her own royal aspirations. Somewhere along the way these-literally-crazy kids fell in love, and even with Deathbird currently comatose, their passion shines through." - Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: UNCANNY X-MEN #477-Vulcan and Deathbird's courtship from hell takes shape!
7. KANG
Learn More About Him... here
First Appearance: AVENGERS #8 (1964)
Constituency: Chronopolis/vast Empire in multiple timelines
Why He Makes the List: "It's all about the thigh-high boots. No one-no hero, villain, man or woman-rocks the thigh-high boots like Kang. His enemies and detractors are so stunned and stupefied by his magnificent leg-wear that he simply crushes them. Then he conquers. That's how he earned the name Kang the Conquerer. True fact. And he's been runnin' that game across many, many time periods. He can't stop. He won't stop." - Agent_M
Spotlight Comic: AVENGERS FOREVER #9-Kang recalls his own complex history as Chronopolis makes its last stand!
6. MAGNETO
Learn More About Him... here
First Appearance: X-MEN #1 (1963)
Constituency: Genosha (former)
Why He Makes the List: "It's always been the ultimate dream and goal of Magneto to find the mutant people a homeland of their own where he would lead, so it's unfortunate for him that once he pulled it off he couldn't make it stick for very long. During Mags' tenure as ruler of Genosha, the would-be island paradise endured civil war, numerous attempted coups and eventual annihilation via giant robots-hardly the stuff dreams are made of. Still, Magneto's charisma and drive can't be denied, so we're sure he'll get a mulligan one of these days." - Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: MAGNETO REX #1-Magneto's reign over Genosha begins!
5. THE BLACK PANTHER
Learn More About Him... here
First Appearance: FANTASTIC FOUR #52 (1966)
Constituency: Wakanda
Why He Makes the List: "The tiny African nation of Wakanda holds the distinction of having never been invaded in its entire history, due in large part to the steely leadership of the Black Panther lineage, a tradition T'Challa upholds proudly to this day. While the Panther has ventured out into the world often, whether to serve as an Avenger or to find a queen, his commitment to his homeland can never be questioned and his ability to govern sternly but fairly is second-to-none." - Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: BLACK PANTHER #18 (2006)-It's the Marvel wedding of the century as the Black Panther marries Storm!
4. ODIN
Learn More About Him... here
First Appearance: JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #85 (1962)
Constituency: Asgard (former)
Why He Makes the List: "Odin has a leg and both arms up on the rest of this list, having ruled the Golden Realm of Asgard for countless centuries, way longer than most who would be called his contemporaries, a comparison the Allfather would no doubt sneer and roll his one good eye at. While most comfortable on the front lines of battle, Odin has also proven adept at the responsibilities of leadership, whether that means showing tough love to his son, Thor, or laying down for a nice, refreshing Odinsleep while entrusting his kingdom to others." - Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: THOR #349-The origin of Odin!
3. BLACK BOLT
Learn More About Him... here
First Appearance: FANTASTIC FOUR #45 (1965)
Constituency: The Inhumans
Why He Makes the List: "The old idiom 'actions speak louder than words' may as well have been created to describe old Blackagar Boltagon, the undisputed-so long as Maximus doesn't feel like disputing it this week-lord of the Inhumans. While he's unable to utter a word without destroying everything and everyone around him, Black Bolt conveys his regality, nobility and formidable stature through the most subtle of glances, aided and abetted by his queen and 'voice,' the lovely but equally imposing Medusa." - Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: SILENT WAR #4-Black Bolt leads his people into war!
2. NAMOR
Learn More About Him... here
First Appearance: MARVEL COMICS #1 (1939)
Constituency: Atlantis
Why He Makes the List: "Namor isn't just any old king, in his mind he is the king of the most awesome, most formidable straight up best kingdom anywhere and he will let you know this every chance he gets. Plenty of Marvel monarchs' heads hang heavy under the weight of their crowns, but the Sub-Mariner holds his high as he lords his lordship over every hapless surface dweller unfortunate to score an audience with him." - Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #1 (1963)-The Sub-Mariner rediscovers Atlantis!
1. DOCTOR DOOM
Learn More About Him... here
First Appearance: FANTASTIC FOUR #5 (1962)
Constituency: Latveria
Why He Makes the List: "Was there really any question as to who would be number one? No! Doom's one of the smartest dudes on the planet, one of the most adept magicians and sole ruler of his own country. All that and he began his life as a destitute gypsy. He's repelled threats from invaders and interlopers far and wide and always comes out on top somehow, reclaiming his throne no matter how badly he gets beat. Respect Doom. Fear Doom." - Agent_M
Spotlight Comic: FANTASTIC FOUR #258-A day in the life of Doom!
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