Darkforce: The MCU's Chaotic Energy Source Explained

From Doctor Strange to Wonder Man, the mysterious Darkforce energy has been a key part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Darkforce energy is a versatile and powerful force in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, capable of granting a variety of abilities like super strength, invisibility, and reality-warping. While its full canonical status has been unclear, the recent appearance of Darkforce in Marvel's Wonder Man series may signal a shift in how previous Marvel Television shows are viewed.

Why it matters

Darkforce energy has been a connective thread across multiple corners of the MCU, from Doctor Strange to Agents of SHIELD to Cloak & Dagger. Its latest appearance in Wonder Man could potentially re-canonize some of those older, previously non-canon Marvel TV projects, expanding the overall MCU continuity.

The details

Darkforce energy first appeared indirectly in Doctor Strange, originating from the Dark Dimension. Marvel's Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter later expanded on its origins, revealing it was discovered by a company called Isodyne in the 1940s. The energy has been linked to the shady corporation Roxxon, which has had a presence in the MCU since Iron Man. In the Cloak & Dagger series, the characters' powers were connected to Darkforce and Lightforce, stemming from a Roxxon explosion. Now in Wonder Man, the energy is shown giving rise to the character Doorman's teleportation abilities, further cementing Roxxon's role.

  • Darkforce energy first appeared indirectly in 2016's Doctor Strange.
  • Marvel's Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter expanded on Darkforce's origins in the 1940s.
  • Cloak & Dagger explored the Darkforce and Lightforce powers in the 2010s.
  • Darkforce's latest appearance is in the 2026 Disney+ series Marvel's Wonder Man.

The players

Darkforce

A mysterious, versatile energy source capable of granting a variety of powers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Roxxon

A major oil company in the MCU that has been linked to the Darkforce energy and its dangerous applications.

Doorman

A character in Marvel's Wonder Man series who gained teleportation abilities from exposure to Darkforce energy.

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What they’re saying

“Seeing as how we now know that the addition of the Roxxon branding was a deliberate choice from Marvel Studios heads, the implication to be made is that some of the older pre-Disney+shows like Agents of SHIELD, Cloak & Dagger, Agent Carter, and more should perhaps be considered canon again.”

— Kevin Erdmann, Author (screenrant.com)

What’s next

The continued exploration of Darkforce energy in the MCU, and how it may tie into the re-canonization of previous Marvel Television shows, will be something to watch for in future projects.

The takeaway

Darkforce energy has been a connective thread across the MCU, linking together various corners of the franchise in both canon and non-canon ways. Its latest appearance in Wonder Man could signal a shift in how Marvel views the canonicity of its older TV shows, potentially re-establishing them as part of the larger shared universe.