Did the MCU’s Wonder Man trailer just introduce the Avengers‘ most powerful villain of all time without anyone noticing? Not only does this evil-doer have significant comic ties to Wonder Man, but his central role in the show would be a fascinating twist on the villain’s history.
In the newly released trailer for Wonder Man, director Von Kovak discusses his decision to make a new Wonder Man film, establishing the fictional movie franchise’s existence in MCU lore. But while Zlatko Burić’s character doesn’t exactly look intimidating, does his prominence in the trailer hint he’s a major Avengers villain?
While there’s nothing in the trailer that makes Zlatko Burić’s Von Kovak seem menacing, he does have a strikingly similar name to Kovak – a reality-warping threat the Avengers have fought again and again over the years, and who has become a personal enemy of Wonder Man.
This wouldn’t be the first time the MCU changed a name from the comics. Taskmaster’s Tony Masters was reinvented as Antonia Dreykov, the demonic Shuma-Gorath became Gargantos, and Thanos’ adopted son Black Dwarf became Cul Obsidian. But while the similar name is the first reason fans should look at this character twice, Kovak’s past comic stories hint there’s more than just a soundalike name at play…
Is Wonder Man’s Von Kovak Actually Korvac?
The Avengers’ Godlike Villain May Be the Real Villain
Introduced in 1974’s Giant-Size Defenders, Michael Korvac was initially presented as a cyborg, turned into a half-machine by his cruel masters, the alien Badoon. In 1978’s Avengers #175, Korvac was essentially rebooted, as it was revealed he’d been imbued with the Power Cosmic after trying to rob Galactus’ ship, the Taa II.
Since then, Korvac has been depicted as a godlike being who can change reality on a whim – the ultimate cosmic control freak. However, his emotional instability and obsession with former lover Carina Tivan have allowed the Avengers to best him multiple times.
Wonder Man’s link to Korvac comes from several stories. First, the epic ‘Korvac Saga’, considered one of the best Avengers stories by fans. After fearing his own power for months, Wonder Man finally cuts loose in Avengers #177, as the threat of Korvac finally forces Simon Williams to embrace his full potential and fight for the lives of his friends and allies.
Wonder Man also appeared as a major enemy of Korvac in the Warzones!: Korvac Saga comic series – a 2015 tie-in to Secret Wars (yes, the Secret Wars Marvel is adapting for its upcoming Avengers movie.)
Why Would Wonder Man’s Director be Korvac?
Despite his power, Korvac has never gotten the same credit as major Avengers villains like Ultron, Kang the Conqueror and Thanos, despite being more powerful than all of them put together. Indeed, he’s currently the main villain of Marvel’s ongoing Battleworld miniseries, where he has gathered heroes and villains from across the multiverse, forcing them to fight for his entertainment… much like the director of a superhero franchise.
Comic fans had long wondered how the MCU could pull off a truly omnipotent villain, but making Korvac a director is – at least thematically – the perfect solution. As the creator of Wonder Man and the director of the remake, Von Kovak will have immense influence over Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s Simon Williams – a ‘cosmic control freak’ shrunk down to a far more personal level.
It’s even possible that Marvel could eventually reveal Von Kovak has Korvac’s comic powers – after all, what better way to contain/defeat a rival hero than to turn his past adventures into a fictional franchise you control?
At the moment, Wonder Man‘s Von Kovak being Korvac is a theory built on a similar name and their comic connections, but it’s definitely possible that the MCU just introduced the Avengers‘ most powerful villain without anyone noticing.
Battleworld #1 is available now from Marvel Comics. Wonder Man is coming to Disney+ December 2025.
- Release Date
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December, 2025
- Network
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Disney+
- Writers
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Andrew Guest
- Franchise(s)
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MCU
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Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Simon Williams
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Demetrius Grosse
Eric Williams
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