Roxxon Oil is a massive influence on Tandy and Tyrone in the premiere of Cloak & Dagger. The company’s direct impact on the development of their powers establishes them as the overarching villain of Freeform’s new show.
This is such a smart move on Marvel’s part, especially for Cloak & Dagger’s first season. Putting the well-known comic book company in a broader spotlight could also provide the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a vast number of new heroes and villains. Could Roxxon take Hydra’s place as the new super villain of Marvel TV? Let’s break it down.
A Cinematic History Of Roxxon Oil
Roxxon Oil’s logo first made an appearance in Iron Man. The company’s presence in the MCU has stretched on from Iron Man 2 to Agent Carter to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Beginning in 1946 with the destruction of the Roxxon Refinery. Roxxon’s employees have been motivated by a combination of corporate greed and world domination. After Agent Peggy Carter of the SSR destroyed their refinery in Agent Carter Season One, they’ve been motivated on a path of pursuing their own interests much like the rest of the MCU’s antagonists.
Roxxon Oil’s founding of the Council of 9 in Agent Carter Season 2 — the MCU’s version of the Secret Empire — has been responsible for storylines that have motivated everyone from The Hand in Daredevil, Iron Fist, The Defenders and beyond. It’s also responsible for the creation of at least one MCU villain: Whitney Frost. Frost was a movie star turned super villain in Agent Carter Season 2. She gained powers after absorbing Zero Matter during an accident at Isodyne Energy (which was later purchased by Roxxon Oil).
Hail Roxxon?
With Cloak & Dagger, Marvel has confirmed that Roxxon is back in the business of giving people super powers — whether intentionally or accidentally. Could Roxxon be the new major villain in the MCU? Or at least the major TV villain, like Hydra was on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?
Isodyne helped create Whitney Frost — a villain — and in Cloak & Dagger they create heroes — Tandy and Tyrone. Could they be responsible for creating new superheroes and super villains in the MCU? Their ability to generate powers in people could launch an entirely new wave of super characters. Tandy and Tyrone could be merely the first in a new collection Marvel characters on TV.
Roxxon on Cloak & Dagger
What about more powered people on Cloak & Dagger? This is where Detective Bridgid O’Reilly (Emma Lahana) — a soon-to-be introduced character — could get interesting.
Spoiler alert for the comics, in Cloak and Dagger Vol. 2 #5, O’Reilly was killed while investigating the warehouse that gave Cloak and Dagger their powers. She was the resurrected by a gas that was emitted by the warehouse. O’Reilly was then reborn as the vigilante Mayhem. If the show goes in this direction, Mayhem would make either a perfect antagonist or ally for Tandy and Tyrone next season.
If Roxxon continues creating powered people, they could eventually help introduce much beloved characters like Kamala Khan, She-Hulk, or villains like Kaboom Kamran, or even Silencer. Who would you like to see get powered up by Roxxon? Do you think they’ll rise to Hyrdra-like super villain status? Let us know @getFANDOM.
Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger currently airs on Freeform, Thursdays at 8PM.
