Intelligencia explained: who is the new Marvel villain introduced in She-Hulk?
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Full spoilers follow for She-Hulk Episode 6.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Episode 6 has arrived on Disney Plus – and the Marvel TV show may have finally introduced us to its primary villain, a mysterious group known as Intelligencia.
That’s not all, however. Based on Marvel comics, the arrival of Intelligencia in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) could connect She-Hulk’s Disney Plus show with some upcoming Marvel Phase 5 movies, such as Ant-Man 3 and Captain America 4. We don’t know who’s in charge of this vile group, but that doesn’t stop us from speculating about who that might be, what their motives are, and why they want She-Hulk’s blood.
Below, we’ll explain what Intelligencia is in the comics, how it’s adapted for the MCU, and how they can take a more active role in Marvel’s juggernaut franchise in the future. Full Spoilers To Follow For She-Hulk’s Sixth Episodeso turn back now if you don’t get caught up.
Who is Intelligencia in Episode 6 of She-Hulk?
In the context of the MCU, Intelligencia appears to be a Reddit-esque website where the world’s worst criminals – and the biggest She-Hulk haters – post images and death threats targeting She-Hulk, seemingly without repercussions.
As the end of episode 6 reveals, it seems that this site is a cover for a shadowy science-led organization. We see a message from someone known as HulkKing appear on a computer screen – a message asking “Is the next phase of the plan ready to go?” — which shows data on Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk’s DNA. We also see a scientist carrying a broken needle – the same one the Wrecking Crew tried to use to extract She-Hulk’s blood in episode 4 – to a table. The unknown is quickly putting it aside in favor of a more ominous, drill-like device, which will definitely be featured in next week’s episode on She-Hulk.
So, who (or what) is Intelligencia exactly? In the comics, Intelligencia is the name of a group made up of the greatest and most sinister minds on Earth. It was set up so that the world’s greatest villain can exchange information about superheroes, such as their weaknesses, or devise plots to take down the world’s best defenders.
Founded by Jeff Parker and Paul Pelletier, the organization debuted in December 2009 in the first issue of the Fall of the Hulks: Alpha storyline. The most recent appearance was in 2017’s Infamous Iron Man #6, but has not been used since. Expect this to change, with his popularity likely to soar in the wake of the group’s MCU debut.
How could Intelligencia set up future Marvel movies?
That’s because of the evil geniuses who are members of Intelligencia in the comics.
The first is The Leader, also known as Samuel Sterns. In the comics, The Leader is a Hulk villain. However, rather than possessing superhuman strength, accelerated healing, and other traditional Hulk-based powers, The Leader has genius intellect and, in some cases, telekinesis and telepathy. It is his superhuman intelligence that makes him such a formidable enemy; someone uniquely positioned as a villainous defender of the Hulk.
Interestingly, The Leader will be the main villain in an upcoming Marvel Phase 5 movie. He will appear in Captain America: New World Order, with Tim Blake Nelson reprising his role as Sterns/The Leader from 2008’s The Incredible Hulk.
However, it is becoming increasingly likely that he will appear first in the MCU in She-Hulk’s TV series. The leader is the person who founded Intelligencia in the comics, so it makes sense that he would be revealed as the main villain in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. He could manage to obtain a sample of She-Hulk’s blood and, thanks to his superior intelligence, might even be able to crack the Hulk gamma-ray formula and create a new race or race of Hulk-like creatures.
If he does, that could be the basis for Captain America 4’s plot. The New World Order element in the title could hint at The Leader’s desire for humanity to evolve into Hulks with his new serum. Remember, the Hulk’s original serum was based on the super soldier serum given to Captain America. If The Leader invents a new serum that turns humans into Hulks, it would come full circle for the entire MCU, delivering a fascinating story where Sam Wilson’s Cap The Leader must stop executing an evil master plan decades in the making. .
If the effects of the serum also last, She-Hulk and Captain America 4 could put on a Hulk movie about World War II. How cool would it be to see Mark Ruffalo’s Smart Hulk take on other evil versions of himself, such as Kluh, Rick Jones’ Abomination, or a revised version of Red Hulk? We’re splitting the profits from this idea with you, Marvel, for a 50-50 share.
She-Hulk can also put on elements of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. In the comics, MODOK is another member of the super villain group. He’s also about to make his MCU debut in the next Ant-Man superhero movie, so we might get a tease about his possible Intelligencia involvement during or after Quantumania. At least that is as long as he survives the events of that movie.
In the comics, lesser-known Intelligencia members also have ties to the Fantastic Four, with this superhero group getting their first MCU movie in Marvel’s Phase 6 slate. The Mad Thinker and Red Ghost were part of Intelligencia’s lineup, with the villainous pair occasionally battling Mr Fantastic and his company in the comics. We don’t expect either antagonist to appear in She-Hulk or any future MCU projects, but their ties to Intelligencia and the Fantastic Four can’t be overlooked.
Speaking of the Fantastic Four, their most famous villain – Doctor Doom – also joined the Intelligencia. We’d be surprised if he isn’t the primary antagonist in Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four movie when it arrives in November 2024, so he could be teased as a live-action Intelligencia member on She-Hulk’s TV series. ? It’s unlikely, but an Easter egg or a passing reference wouldn’t hurt.
Finally, the Intelligencia were the group responsible for the arrival of the Beyonder – a cosmic entity that ushered in the first of Marvel’s two Secret Wars storylines in 1984. Since the sixth Avengers movie, which hits theaters in November 2025, is called Secret Wars, which is yet another link back to the Intelligencia and the potentially integral role they’ll play in the MCU.
Despite its positioning as a legal comedy, She-Hulk just might be a very important Marvel TV show in the grand scheme of things. That’s if any of the above turns out to be true, of course – we have no prior knowledge of future Marvel movies, so take this with a grain of salt.
Still, the arrival of Intelligencia in the MCU opens up plenty of narrative opportunities to explore. And in our opinion, all of the above would make for a compelling viewing experience if Marvel decides to follow any or all of these storyline-based routes in Phase 5 and beyond.
For more Marvel-based content, check out our Marvel Movies Ordering Guide. Or find out how we’ve ranked every MCU movie to date, or check out our ranking of the MCU villains from worst to best.