After years of teases, fan theories, and red herrings, Marvel has finally done it – Mephisto is here. And not in the way you might expect. His arrival in the final episode of Ironheart doesn’t just open the door to a darker, stranger Marvel universe, it hints at where the franchise could be headed once the multiverse madness settles down.
A deal with the devil – finally delivered
Let’s be honest: Mephisto has been the MCU’s worst-kept rumour for what feels like an eternity. Since WandaVision, fans have been convinced the red-skinned devil was lurking behind every mysterious plot twist. But while that theory turned out to be wishful thinking back then, this time it’s official.
He shows up right at the tail-end of Ironheart, quietly lurking in the background of a storyline that, up until then, had stayed fairly grounded. Sacha Baron Cohen steps into the role – a casting that might raise eyebrows, but turns out to be a surprisingly slick fit for a character who deals in temptation and trickery. Not your standard villain reveal, but it makes a statement: Marvel’s toying with new tones, and the supernatural’s back on the menu.
The devil’s in the details
If you’re not steeped in comic lore, here’s the lowdown. Mephisto isn’t the devil, but he’s certainly Marvel’s go-to demon. Since debuting in Silver Surfer #3 in 1968, he’s been busy cutting shady deals, tormenting heroes, and meddling with fate. Think Faust meets legal loopholes, with a sinister grin and glowing yellow eyes.
Over the decades, he’s crossed paths with everyone from Ghost Rider to Spider-Man, famously erasing Peter Parker’s marriage in exchange for Aunt May’s life – a move that still divides fans. So when he appears to Riri Williams (Ironheart) in a quiet restaurant, offering to restore her dead friend in exchange for a seemingly small price – her soul – it’s classic Mephisto. Smooth, manipulative, and just ambiguous enough to make you wonder what he’s really after.
Supernatural stakes for the next MCU era
What’s clever here is the misdirection. The series hints at Dormammu – another dark entity – before revealing Mephisto. That’s the kind of narrative sleight-of-hand Marvel has grown fond of. But Mephisto’s presence isn’t just a twist for twist’s sake. It plants a seed for what could be a whole new supernatural corner of the MCU.
We’ve seen hints already: Moon Knight, Werewolf by Night, and the upcoming Agatha All Along. There’s a creeping shift towards the gothic and the arcane, away from portals and variants. And Mephisto fits this direction perfectly – not just as a villain, but as a connective thread between magic, myth and moral compromise.
Baron Cohen’s brief cameo is just that – brief – but it’s packed with implications. Mephisto boasts about past deals with everyone from Ringo Starr to Shakespeare, casually name-drops the world’s rich and famous, and hints he’s not finished recruiting. And yes, there’s a proper glimpse of his true form, reflected in a spoon. It’s cheesy. It’s fun. It’s very Marvel.
What comes next ?
Despite Ironheart being released with little fanfare – two quiet batches of three episodes – its ending clearly has legs. The deal between Riri and Mephisto could ripple into future team-up series, especially those rumoured to focus on younger heroes like the Young Avengers or Champions.
Beyond that, Marvel appears to be laying groundwork for something bigger. The supernatural seeds could bloom into a Midnight Sons project – Marvel’s answer to the Avengers, but with more cursed relics and haunted crypts. There’s also chatter that Mephisto might return in Vision Quest, due in 2026, which could revisit Wanda Maximoff’s children – characters who, in the comics, are deeply tied to the demon’s twisted machinations.
And let’s not forget Blade, still technically on the release calendar. Delays aside, it’s hard to imagine Mephisto not fitting into that world of hunters, vampires and dark pacts.
The devil you know
If Ironheart doesn’t get a second season – and let’s face it, the odds aren’t brilliant – its biggest legacy might just be unleashing Mephisto into the MCU. Sacha Baron Cohen brings a sly charm that deserves more screen time, and the character’s arrival couldn’t be better timed.
As Marvel fans wait for the multiverse saga to wrap up in Secret Wars, a new chapter may already be forming – darker, stranger, and just a little more diabolical. And if it means more contracts signed in blood, more glowing eyes in reflections, and more morally murky deals, well… the devil might just be in the details.
Meet Bill, a curious mind with a rebellious streak and a shared enthusiasm for lifestyle and culture. Like his longtime collaborator William, he’s captivated by the pulse of current events. But Bill brings a twist, he thrives on spontaneity, often following instinct over convention. His unconventional flair adds a dynamic edge to the team, making every project a little less predictable and a lot more exciting.
