Joel Murphy emerges as a recurring antagonist within the villainous Celebrity Five, operating under Loki's direction to threaten the Avengers and their allies. His expertise lies in controlling power-based DISKs, technological devices that imprison entities and later summon them for temporary deployment. Murphy specifically harnesses DISKs containing the Abomination and the Wrecking Crew, unleashing these formidable entities in combat.

Following an initial defeat and imprisonment within the Dark Dimension, Murphy and the Celebrity Five resurface. They acquire a biocode gun, reactivating or constructing it to restore their unique genetic markers essential for DISK operation. Their return involves locating and modifying an obsolete Stark Industries power generator. Security footage captures Murphy alongside fellow members Tim Gilliam, Rosetta Riley, Manino Giordani, and Ōkuma Jubei repurposing components within an abandoned warehouse, near the ruins of the original Dark Dimension gateway. Their objective: build machinery to free Loki once more.

Functioning as one component within the Celebrity Five collective, Joel Murphy participates in coordinated efforts advancing Loki's goals, frequently requiring technological salvage and the reconstruction of dimension-manipulating equipment.