Power creep has become an inescapable feature of superhero fiction. Characters like Spider-Man and Thor have been around for over 60 years, and creators need to continually raise the stakes to keep fans invested. Superheroes' power levels grow over the years, naturally leading to even more impressive feats.
However, there are some instances of power creep in the Marvel universe that go beyond traditional expectations of growth. Some characters like Scarlet Witch have had their classic powers morph into something greater. Classic heroes like Invisible Woman offered early examples of power creep while characters like Captain Marvel have developed new, unrelated powers.
10 Beast
First Appearance: X-Men #1 (July 1963) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
The X-Men's Beast has always been the team's resident genius, but the depth of that genius has varied over time. As a member of the Silver Age X-Men, Beast's intellect was little more than a familiarity with machines and a penchant for big words. Beast focused his intelligence to become an expert on genetics.
As he flipped between teams like the X-Men and Avengers, Beast's genius continually increased alongside his numerous physical transformations. In the Krakoan Age, Beast is now a master of statecraft, espionage, cloning, and organic technology, among other things. He's even modified Mister Sinister's cloning technology for his own use, highlighting his problematic power growth.
9 Doctor Doom
First Appearance: Fantastic Four #5 (April 1962) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Doctor Doom first appeared to menace the Fantastic Four as one of their most imposing villains. The genius dictator of his own nation, Victor Von Doom flexed both his political and physical might in his ongoing grudge with Marvel's First Family. Over the years, Doctor Doom has only become consistently more dangerous.
However, Doctor Doom has also gone from an enemy of the Fantastic Four to a universe-wide antagonist. He's experienced an incredible status creep as opposed to a power creep and fluctuates wildly between an armored dictator and a multiversal conqueror. in those efforts, Doom has mastered sorcery, gone to Hell to battle Marvel's devil, and even rewritten the entire multiverse.
8 Storm
First Appearance: Giant-Size X-Men #1 (April 1975) by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum
Storm is one of the X-Men's most powerful members, and she began her heroic journey from a humble beginning as a celebrated weather goddess. She then joined Professor Xavier's first international roster of the X-Men. Storm called on wind, lightning, and rain to help stop the team's most dangerous enemies.
As Storm's tenure with the X-Men extended, so did her mastery over her powers. Modern Storm is capable of using the same weather-based powers, but she can use them on a global scale as an omega-level mutant. She's exponentially grown in power from creating localized hurricanes to completely terraforming other planets with her incredible abilities.
7 Invisible Woman
First Appearance: Fantastic Four #1 (August 1961) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Susan Storm is one of Marvel's first examples of power creep, which has led to her title as one of the most powerful members of the Fantastic Four. Initially gifted with the ability to turn invisible, Storm soon discovered she could also create invisible force fields.
Invisible Woman's application of both abilities has continually evolved throughout the character's publication. Invisible Woman has learned to make others invisible as well, but her biggest growth has been in the construction and manipulation of her force fields. Storm can use them as shields, offensive weapons, and even as transportation for herself and others.
6 Ultron
First Appearance: Avengers #54 (May 1968) by Roy Thomas and John Buscema
Classic Avengers villain Ultron is one of the team's deadliest enemies. Initially created by Hank Pym as an exercise in biomechanics, Ultron soon developed a desire for domination. As an artificial intelligence, Ultron has been able to transfer his consciousness to a series of increasingly-powerful bodies over the years.
Ultron has steadily grown in power every time he has returned. He has installed himself in bodies of adamantium, created and controlled armies of drones, and even merged with the techno-organic alien race known as the Phalanx. He recently experienced a ridiculous power boost in Marvel's future when he absorbed the Odinforce to become All-Father Ultron.
5 Captain Marvel
First Appearance: Marvel Super-Heroes #13 (December 1967) by Roy Thomas and Gene Colan
Carol Danvers has had one of the most satisfying character arcs in comics. She worked alongside the civilian identity of Mar-Vell during her time in the Air Force, where exposure to Kree technology unlocked her cosmic potential. Carol Danvers became the original Ms. Marvel before she accepted the legacy of Captain Marvel.
Captain Marvel's powers have continually increased over the years as well. As the space-faring Binary, Danvers gained the ability to draw on the power of white holes. She became a cosmic powerhouse though eventually lost her Binary power. However, Captain Marvel retained the ability to absorb energy to increase her strength, allowing her to go toe-to-toe with heroes like Thor.
4 Iron Man
First Appearance: Tales of Suspense #39 (December 1962) by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Don Heck
The MCU's most iconic hero is distinguished by the fact that, unlike many other heroes, his costume is his power. Tony Stark created his first Iron Man armor using a box of scraps while imprisoned in a cave during the war. Iron Man's initial suit was a bulky piece of technology that gave Stark strength and invulnerability.
Successive upgrades gave Iron Man new abilities like repulsor blasts and flight. He designed remote-piloted armor and nanotech suits that form around him with a mental command to make him an overpowered member of the Avengers. If a more powerful villain appears on the scene, Tony Stark will just invent a new suit of armor to increase his power level even further, over and again.
3 Wolverine
First Appearance: Incredible Hulk #180 (July 1974) by Len Wein and Herb Trimpe
Wolverine is Marvel's most famous breakout character, going from a one-note Hulk villain to a main member of the strongest X-Men rosters. His unique attitude and darker approach to superheroics made him instantly popular, and his healing factor meant that Logan could take as much punishment as he could dish out.
Wolverine's healing factor became his greatest asset, though it reached unbelievable new levels. He was a hero who could shrug off a few bullets, though his healing factor could eventually regrow nearly his entire body. Wolverine was even able to crawl back to his disembodied legs after he had been ripped apart, showing he truly had no limits.
2 The Hulk
First Appearance: Incredible Hulk #1 (March 1962) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
The Hulk is one of Marvel's most tragic figures. He's a hulking beast of reduced intelligence continually persecuted by the world around him. The Hulk became a rampaging threat that the military, supervillains, and even his fellow heroes could rarely stop.
While Hulk's strength and durability have consistently grown over the years, his biggest power upgrade came in the pages of Al Ewing's Immortal Hulk. As Bruce Banner's Devil Hulk personality gained traction, Hulk underwent more violent maimings and deaths. However, the Devil Hulk could not be killed by conventional means, making him one of Marvel's most powerful immortals.
1 Scarlet Witch
First Appearance: X-Men #4 (January 1964) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Scarlet Witch was originally one of the deadliest female Avengers villains due to her initial allegiance with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. She could use her mutant hex power to affect probability fields which often led to things like machines malfunctioning or walls crumbling. Scarlet Witch eventually reformed and joined the Avengers, which is where her power creep started.
Once Wanda Maximoff began to study magic, her powers increased tenfold. Her power blasts grew more destructive and her probability-altering ability instead began to change the nature of reality itself. Scarlet Witch even rewrote the whole universe during the House of M event, cementing herself as one of Marvel's most powerful entities.