What Is Marvel’s Zodiac About? Members + More

Originally published October 12, 2026. This article answers who the Zodiac villain team is in Marvel Comics and shares what we know so far about Marvel’z 2028 Zodiac TV series.

You gotta love a villain with a gimmick. We’ve seen it ever since super heroes and super-villains splashed across the pulpy pages of comic books, and their themed theatrics have made their way into television and even the modern, gritty super hero movies. So what might the upcoming Zodiac series from Marvel Television be about?

At New York Comic Con 2026, Marvel announced a new series called Zodiac, which Head of Marvel Television, Animation, Comics & Franchise Brad Winderbaum described as a “spy thriller.” He then elaborated, “And for anyone who knows the comics, if you look closely at this title design, you’ll see a few clues about where we’re going.” More on that logo down below. But first, here’s some comics background on Marvel’s Zodiac.

Who Are the Zodiac in Marvel Comics?

• Zodiac Team Members: Taurus, Scorpio, Libra, Leo, Cancer, Gemini, Virgo, Aries, Sagittarius, Aquarius, Capricorn, Pisces
• First Appearance: The Avengers #72 (1970)

This super-villain team is often referred to as the Zodiac Cartel. There have been multiple iterations of the 12-member team, though the first two waves are probably the most impactful. The original Zodiac Cartel was founded by Cornelius van Lunt, a scheming businessman who wanted to rule the world through economic and political influence. With that goal in mind, and a keen obsession with astrology, he became Taurus and assembled his Zodiac Cartel.

Though none of the Zodiac leaders have superpowers, they do use technology to emulate their star sign’s signature characteristics. Leo and Taurus suits include lion and bull anatomy for close combat, while others employ tricky tactics like water and energy based attacks according to their signs.

How Does the Zodiac Connect to the Avengers?

• Main Weapon: The Zodiac Key, a mystical artifact from another dimension that exacerbates conflict.
• Who’s the Leader? Leadership for the Zodiac team switches among the 12 members depending on the calendar.

When Zodiac control passed over to Scorpio, AKA Jacob Fury (brother of Nick Fury), the stakes were raised. Jacob’s consuming hatred for his brother attracted the presence of the Zodiac Key, an intradimensional mystical object created by The Brotherhood. Shaped like an ankh, the Zodiac Key harnessed powerful energy and had teleportation capabilities. The Zodiac Key was made to heighten the conflict between good and evil — a convenient factor for a team opposed with the Avengers.

With the Zodiac Key, the Cartel clashed with Fury, the Avengers, and S.H.I.E.L.D. But those aren’t the only connections to major Marvel heroes. Later, it was revealed that Libra was the father of Avenger/Guardian of the Galaxy member Mantis. While MCU Mantis’ father is Ego, the same as Star-Lord, this could be a way to bring Mantis back into the MCU fold.

A Zodiac Full of Robots?!

Though his hatred caused endless turmoil for Nick Fury, Jacob Fury was never truly successful in taking his brother down. At one point, Nick Fury even impersonated his brother when Jacob was thought to be dead. Then, the Zodiac Key resurrected Jacob, who created his own version of the Zodiac — with S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Life Model Decoys!

This team of androids hunted down all the original members of the Zodiac. They also clashed with James Rhodes and Iron Man. It seems robotics are having a big moment in the MCU, with the upcoming VisionQuest series concluding the WandaVision trilogy.

The Zodiac TV Show’s Logo Hints at S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Great Wheel

• Common Zodiac Enemies: The Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury, Daredevil, Ghost Rider, The Defenders, Alpha Flight

According to Brad Winderbaum, as stated above, the Zodiac TV series logo contains hints about the show. The A is clearly a reference to S.H.I.E.L.D., possibly even an opportunity to connect with the ambiguously overlooked Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show. On the O, it’s stylized with various connecting circular pieces, potentially a reference to Marvel’s Great Wheel.

Now here’s where the spy factor comes in. The Great Wheel refers to a Marvel comics plot involving the Brotherhood of the Shield, an ancient precursor to S.H.I.E.L.D. This Brotherhood gathered the world’s 12 greatest espionage leaders and assigned them titles from the Zodiac, led by Leonardo da Vinci as Aries. Among the 12, there were figures from Hydra, Leviathan, and the Hand, plus S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives like Nick Fury and Dum Dum Dugan.

The Great Wheel was tasked with completing three missions. One was to secure a Brood ship’s power source, another was to retrieve da Vinci’s Life Model Decoy prototype, and the last was to locate stasis chambers. In the TV show’s logo, 3 of the 12 wheel pieces are missing. Only time will tell which pieces from Marvel lore infiltrate this new live-action series.

Filming for Zodiac is set to begin in 2027. Will you be tuning in when Zodiac premieres in 2028? What are your theories about how the new series will tie in to a post-Secret Wars MCU?

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