Mephistohas entered theMarvel Cinematic Universe, and the villain has already been set up to battle one of the franchise’s most powerful characters for one major reason.Mephisto was initially rumored to join the franchise four years agoin one of theMCU’s best TV shows,WandaVision. However, the devil never appeared in the show despite some teases.
Since then, Mephisto has been speculated for multiple projects. From movies likeSpider-Man: No Way Hometo series likeAgatha All Along, many theories about Mephisto joining the MCU have emerged throughout the Multiverse Saga. The show, starring Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness, wasthe first MCU project to confirm Mephisto’s existenceafter he had been rumored to appear inWandaVision.
That happened when rumors about what happened to Agatha’s son, Nicholas Scratch, were addressed in the series.It was said inAgatha All Alongthat her son could have become an agent of Mephisto. Now, the MCU is delving further into that concept, with the villain’s debut inMarvel Studios' latest 2025 project, which set up a major battle for Mephisto.
Mephisto Showed Up In Ironheart To Make Deals
Interestingly,Mephisto’s MCU debut finally happened inIronheart. While the series would not have been the first place I would have thought for the villain to be introduced, it made sense. That is due to howIronheartwas not a straightforward technology story like the Iron Man movies, as it focused on the clash between tech and magic in the MCU.
Mephisto’s influence was all over the Hood, the show’s main villain. However, he was only revealed inIronheart’s season finale. As had been reported,Sacha Baron Cohen plays Mephisto in the MCU, and the actor’s performance helped make the villain as unsettling as he should be. The MCU series revealed that Mephisto is very active, making deals with multiple characters.
Mephisto was responsible for Anthony Ramos' Parker Robbins becoming the Hood, as he gifted him the mystical artifact that gave the villain his powers. However, after Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams defeated the Hood and took it away, Mephisto cornered Riri to make a deal with her. He was successful, and that deal sets up a battle with a powerful MCU character.
Ironheart’s Finale Featured A Resurrection Involving Mephisto
The Devil Has The Power To Resurrect Characters In The MCU
Parker’s deal with Mephisto consisted of the devil giving him the means to achieve the wealth and power that he wanted, all in exchange for “something he would not miss.” Mephisto offered a similar deal to Riri at the end ofIronheart’s finale. However, the terms of their agreement were different, asRiri wanted something very different from Parker’s request.
Mephisto brought Natalie, Riri’s deceased best friend, to life instead of the NATALIE AIthat had been shockingly deleted to make room for magic in Riri’s Ironheart suit. That confirmed just how powerful Sacha Baron Cohen’s Mephisto is, as he can resurrect characters at will. Riri is now marked by Mephisto with the same scars the Hood showed throughout the season.
Mephisto’s ability of resurrection is quite interesting. As we are 17 years into the MCU’s existence, several heroes and villains have died in that time, withmajor characters like Iron Man and Black Widowamong them. Mephisto resurrecting Natalie opens the door for the villain to do so to more people, that is, unless one Multiverse Saga character stops him.
Agatha All Along Showed Death Would Not Approve Mephisto’s Move
Agatha All Alongmight not have featured Cohen’s Mephisto, but it did introduceone of the MCU’s powerful characters: Aubrey Plaza’s Death. Initially thought to be Rio Vidal, a green witch, the show would come to reveal that Plaza’s character had always been the MCU’s version of Death in disguise, taking the souls of deceased characters on the show.
Rio Vidal, a.k.a. Death
Aubrey Plaza
Death had a major problem with one character inAgatha All Along. Given Joe Locke’s Billy Maximoff is the son of Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch and thus should not be alive, as well as how his soul took over the body of William Kaplan, who died, the character was cheating death. As expected,the MCU’s Lady Death was not happy.
If Death battled the love of her life, Agatha, for it, then Mephisto should be in her sights.
That led to a major showdown that ended with Agatha Harkness dying to let Billy live. Based on that outcome, it is clear thatDeath would be furious about Mephisto going around the MCU reviving characterslike he just did with Natalie. If Death battled the love of her life, Agatha, for it, then Mephisto should be in her sights.
Who Would Win In A Fight Between Mephisto And Death?
One Of The Characters Has A Clear Upper Hand Over The Other
Ironheartrevealed that Mephisto is incredibly powerful. However, even he would be ill-suited for a direct confrontation with Aubrey Plaza’s Death. Sure, both of them are immortal. However,Death is the personification of an unstoppable forcethat will always impact all living beings in the MCU. As for Mephisto, he rules over his domain, not all of creation like Death.
As such, I’m convinced that Mephisto would have to resort to manipulation. It is clear that he is skilled in that regard, ashe managed to get into both the Hood and Riri’s headsto make them strike deals with him. Especially if he faces Death in his domain,Mephistocould find the means to escape. However, Death wins a straight fight.
