15 Best Scientists In The MCU
11. Ivan Vanko
Ivan Vanko, who comic fans may know better as Whiplash, was a physicist and the main antagonist of Iron Man 2. The second Iron Man is far from the most beloved movie in the MCU nor is Whiplash anyone's favorite villain. His scientific prowess, however, speaks for itself.
Much like Tony Stark, Vanko was able to create an arc reactor from the most basic materials under extremely harsh conditions. It is made clear how insanely brilliant you have to be to accomplish this feat during the Senate hearing, as governments around the world were shown to still be years away from figuring out Tony Stark's tech.
Vanko had a leg up on the rest. Ivan's father Anton worked with Howard Stark on the original plans for an arc reactor. Where the Starks would attain fame and wealth from their ingenuity, Anton Vanko died poor and excommunicated. If you felt like glossing over Anton selling plans to hostile forces, you could see how he and his son would feel slighted.
Vanko used his knowledge and Justin Hammer's resources to cause chaos and only with the combined effort of Tony, Rhodey and Black Widow is he eventually beaten. We have seen the power behind arc reactor technology since the early days of the MCU and he is the only one not named Stark that has been able to wield it.