15 Best European Marvel Superheroes (Ranked Weakest to Strongest)

Commonly known European superheroes, like Black Widow or Sharon Carter, have made their way to the States, often being segregated from their cultural lifestyles of home. However, taking a closer look at the superhero community of the Eastern Hemisphere, shows just how varied and powerful Europe’s greatest assets are. Considering both what makes a character cool and the scope of their in-canon powers, here are the fifteen coolest European superheroes ranked by strength.

15 Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine

First Introduced In: Strange Tales #159 (1967) by Jim Steranko

Valentina Fontaine is a complicated and falsified identity that conceals the true, and still frequently unknown, woman that wears the name. What is known is that Valentina comes from a lineage of secret intelligence operatives based in Italy that serve a shadow organization called Leviathan. For many years, the Contessa was a loyal S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, developing a long and toxic relationship with Nick Fury Sr.

Valentina was so respected within the intelligence organization, that after Fury’s “death” she was promoted to the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. However, it was revealed that the Contessa had been a deep cover plant, installed by Leviathan to take over S.H.I.E.L.D. and merge the two sister organizations’ resources. While she is a master spy and an excellent strategist, Valentina is only a human and one caught in too many complicated webs.

14 Guillotine

First Introduced In: Contest of Champions #1 (2015) by Al Ewing and Paco Medina

From a young age, Jeannine Sauvage has been cursed to wield the bloodthirsty sentient sword, la Fleur du Mal. Despite the sword’s corruptive influence, Jeannine, now known as Guillotine, became a heroic vigilante. Patrolling the streets of Paris, Guillotine operates in a similar manner to Daredevil or Iron Fist.

Outside its magical status, la Fleur du Mal seems to only offer the generic spread of enhancing abilities. While it does give Guillotine the power needed to act as a hero, its constant murderous infestation into Jeannine’s mind makes it more of a long-term hindrance than an ally. That said, la Fleur du Mal is capable of summoning the souls of its previous wielders to give Guillotine boosts to her power when in need.

13 Ursa Major

First Introduced In: Incredible Hulk #25- (1980) by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema

While not necessarily the strongest of heroes, Mikhail Ursus is an incredibly entertaining one. A mutant with the power to transform into a humanoid bear, Ursa Major is a walking Russian stereotype. Like many of Russia’s extended military operatives, like Black Widow or the Winter Soldier, Mikhail was kidnapped, brainwashed, and bonded into servitude for the Soviet military.

After the USSR’s collapse, Ursa Major most notably served in the Winter Guard, Russia’s equivalent to the Avengers. His greatest weakness, other than his debilitating alcoholism, is what happens if he remains in his bear form for too long. If transformed for any longer than six hours, Mikhail’s general intelligence and sense of self degrade, threatening to turn him into an average brown bear.

12 Ka-Zar

First Introduced In: X-Men #10 (1965) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Practically Marvel’s answer to Tarzan, Kevin Plunder is the son of an English noble person and scientist credited with discovering the Savage Land. After the tragic loss of his father, Kevin was adopted by a saber-tooth tiger named Zabu, earning the name “Ka-Zar.” The Savage Land holds no one true king, but Ka-Zar is known as its well respected protectorate.

While Ka-Zar is little more than a human, he was imbued with the lifeblood of the Savage Land’s Man-Thing, establishing a deeper connection between Ka-Zar and the Savage Land’s flora and fauna. Where he lacks in comparative power, Ka-Zar is a brilliant hunter and warrior. Even Kraven the Hunter’s master acknowledged Ka-Zar as the superior hunter between the two.

11 Banshee

First Introduced In: X-Men #28 (1966( by Roy Thomas and Werner Roth

Sean Cassidy hails from a long lineage of Irish mutants who have existed long before recorded history. Banshee’s body produces powerful sonic waves that, with years of training and adapting, have given Sean a decent spread of unique abilities. More commonly known for using his sonic screams to generate flight, Banshee also uses his powers as a form of sonar.

Most impressively, his screams have a similar devastating effect to Black Bolt’s, although to a significantly lesser degree. Banshee frequently equips himself with small explosives, dropping them on enemies while flying overhead. While he may not be comparable to any Omega-level mutant, Sean is well known for his tenacity and grit, making the lifelong mutant soldier a force worth knowing.

10 Morbius

First Introduced In: Amazing Spider-Man #101 (1971) by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane

One of Spider-Man’s most iconic anti-heroic enemies, Michael Morbius is a classic Peter Parker parallel, where infusing animal DNA with his own had disastrous effects. Now a pseudo-vampire, with all the similarities and cravings without the obvious weaknesses, Morbius tries his best to be a good person despite his violent cravings. Born in Nafplio, Greece, Michael’s life quickly fell apart after his genetic failure.

His bloodlust was too powerful, leading the doctor to kill one of his lifelong best friends. On top of his genius intellect, Morbius has the classic vampiric powerset without any of the traditional drawbacks. While he infrequently uses these talents, Morbius can create other pseudo-vampires like himself, giving him complete control over the individual. Similarly, the Living Vampire can hypnotize enemies into bending to his will.

9 Captain Avalon

First Introduced In: Captain Britain #1 (1976) by Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe

The original Captain Britain, Dr. Brian Braddock is imbued with the mystic powers of the Amulet of Right, a gift from the sorcerer Merlyn. While some believe Brian to simply be the British equivalent of Captain America, Braddock is Earth-616’s multiversal protector. He originally began his heroic career serving in an extra-dimensional protectorate group known as the Captain Britain Corps.

Although he later surrendered his powers and title to his twin sister Betsy, as Captain Avalon, Brian still represents the same level of power he had before. Because of his connection to Otherworld, Brian possesses an intense connection to the interdimensional energies that bridge Otherworld to Earth. While he is granted the proper spread of generic superheroic abilities, he slowly loses his powers the further from the British Isles he gets.

8 The Werewolf by Night

First Introduced In: Marvel Spotlight #2 (1972) by Roya Thomas, Jean Thomas, Gerry Conway, & Mike Ploog

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Born in Transylvania, Jack Russell and his family fled to the United States after his lycanthropic father was killed by an angry mob. When Jack turned eighteen, the ancient spiritual curse his family harbors activated, transforming him into the Werewolf by Night. As much as he hates it, Jack is a classic movie monster werewolf. However, because his family’s abilities stem from the powers of the Darkhold, Jack has some control that the traditional werewolf wouldn’t.

Jack does involuntarily transform into his wolf form under the full moon, but he otherwise has the willpower to force conscious transformations as he chooses. While during his chosen transformations he retains his normal levels of intellect and self, under a full moon Jack’s humanity is completely lost, leaving behind a hulking beast of terror. Other than his overwhelming physical power, enhanced durability, and superhuman senses, Jack’s healing factor is known to be on par with Wolverine and Deadpool’s. He was once able to regenerate his own head after it was blown off by Deadpool.

7 Elsa Bloodstone

First Introduced In: Bloodstone #1 (2000) by Dan Abnett and Michael Lopez

“The World’s Greatest Monster Hunter,” Elsa Bloodstone is a comedically snarky, dual-rifle-wielding, monster-hunting prodigy. Taking after her father’s lifelong practice, Elsa only learned of her true parentage sometime after she and her family had left England for Boston. Despite her relative Bostonian upbringing, Elsa is commonly known for casually dropping English slang while bathing in the blood of beasts.

Thanks to the magic of her Bloodstone, Elsa is a semi-immortal powerhouse whose physical powers come second to her natural skills. Elsa is an expert marksman, capable of landing shows with pinpoint accuracy while performing multiple feats of acrobatics. Her durability aside, Elsa is used to putting herself in front of the world’s most terrifying creatures and always making it out with a trophy kill and the last laugh.

6 Nightcrawler

First Introduced In: Giant-Sized X-Men #1 (1975) by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum

Just as easily as Kurt Wagner is known for his fluffy blue fur and his teleportation abilities, he is every X-Man’s favorite German Catholic and all-around spiritual advisor. The child of Mystique and Destiny, Kurt has completely unshackled himself from his parentage’s wrongdoings to become a wise guide for wayward souls. Despite his general pacifistic nature, Kurt is a master swordsman and a nimble acrobat.

Nightcrawler’s unique type of teleportation often gives him an advantage against unsuspecting opponents. The rapid and intense nature of his interdimensional teleportation, while having little effect on him, drastically exhausts and disorients enemies caught within his power. His inherent understanding of dimensional space and minor cloaking abilities, make Kurt just as much a master of espionage as he is at bladed combat.

5 M / Penance

First Introduced In: Generation X #1 (1994) by Scott Lobdell and Chris Bachalo)

A powerful yet complicated mutant, Monet St. Croix’s mutant abilities are as wide-ranged and godlike as the divines themselves. Increased healing factor, supersonic flight, telepathy, and supergenius intelligence are just some of the powers Monet has alone. However, she and her siblings, Marius, Claudette, and Nicole, possess a familial mutation that allows them to fuse with each other.

When combined with Claudette and Nicole, Monet’s telepathic abilities increase in power, while she also gains the power to open interdimensional portals. When fused with her brother Marius, a bloodthirsty mutant vampire who feeds on mutants’ bone marrow, Monet twists into an alternate identity called Penance. As Penance, Monet’s skin turns into crimson-red diamond and she develops a powerful resistance to psychic effects. While Monet is no longer fused with her siblings, she is still left with a shocking array of godly powers.

4 Captain Britain

First Introduced In: Captain Britain #8 (1976) by Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe

More commonly known as the X-Man Psylocke, Betsy Braddock is as much heir to the “Captain Britain” title as her brother is. While Brian took the responsibilities of the Captain Britain Corps, as Psylocke, Betsy spent decades as a renowned and powerful mutant. Her psychic mutant abilities, which can vary from psychic weaponry to teleportation to precognition, are nearly Omega-level in practice.

Even without the Amulet of Right, her transition into becoming a more semi-permanent Captain Britain stands just as powerful thanks to her natural abilities. Captain Britain has excelled in her role, leading the Corps as Excalibur’s wielder and protector of the multiverse. However, Betsy has recently chosen to settle down alongside her long-time lover, Rachel Summers.

3 Magik

First Introduced In: Giant-Sized X-Men #1 (1975) by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum

The once helpless little girl, turned Darkchild, turned Captain of Krakoa, Illyana Rasputina is one of Russia and mutantkind’s greatest powers. A formidable sorcerer and master warrior, Magik is a terrifying all-around threat and ally. Perfectly blending the lines between her mutant abilities and her magical powers, Magik is a difficult combatant to overcome.

Her mutant teleportation powers border Omega-level status, allowing her to travel between dimensions and time. Despite her traditional goth-punk aesthetic, Illyana has mastered both dark and white magic. Equally balancing Chthon’s corruptive chaos and Oshtur’s mystical elegance, Magik has frequently been considered a possible future Sorcerer Supreme.

2 Hercules

First Introduced In: Young Allies #16 (1945) by Charles Nicholas, Stan Lee, & Jack Kirby

While the other common Marvel gods wouldn’t technically have a place on this list, Hercules Panhellenios is only a demi-god and was born a mortal in Thebes, Greece. Far after the times of his own legends, Hercules has become one of the Avengers’ most reliable allies and Thor’s best friend. As expected from the Olympian demi-god, Hercules often stands as strong as Thor himself, if not stronger.

Despite his mortal heritage, Hercules is known for having no true upper limit. No matter the trial, the demi-god is constantly able to surpass his and others’ standards. Like the rest of the Marvel gods, Hercules is an immortal with inconceivable strength and a direct cosmic connection to anyone in the universe who prays his name.

1 Scarlet Witch

First Introduced In: X-Men #4 (1964) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

It’s hard to argue against Wanda Maximoff’s immeasurable power. Born into the legacy of the Scarlet Witch, forged to become Chthon’s avatar, and taught to become everything else, Wanda has practically transcended her traditional self for that of a future god. Not only is she a nexus being, but it’s been revealed by the patron mother of the nexus beings that Wanda, alongside her brother, is destined to become the nexus being.

She is often naive, but her raw magical power will always make her a potent threat. Reality bends to the Scarlet Witch’s will and not even the powers of omniversal harbingers of death can stop her. While her central European heritage has frequently been a sidelined detail over the years, part of Wanda’s heart will always remain in the mountains of Transia.