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The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has had its fair share of issues and triumphs, but the one problem that has plagued the decade-long franchise is the quality of the MCU’s villains. Many critiques have called the MCU’s villains one-dimensional or even boring. On the one hand, the focus is always on the superheroes, but on the other, the antagonists hold an equal share of the narrative weight. As the MCU continues marching onwards, characters like Malekith (Thor: The Dark World, dir. Taylor, 2013) and Ultron (Avengers: Age of Ultron, dir. Whedon, 2015) are often pointed at for their lack of character development and overall stale qualities.
From the Iron Monger (Iron Man, dir. Favreau, 2008) to Wenwu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, dir. Daniel-Cretton, 2021), we have seen Marvel tackle antagonists from different angles, but are they trending in the right direction? The answer might be more complicated than yes or no. To start answering that question, it is important to look at the MCU’s most recent and significant big bads — Thanos (Avengers: Infinity War, dir. The Russo Brothers, 2018), Mysterio (Spider-Man: Far From Home, dir. Watts, 2019), Zemo (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, dir. Skogland, 2021-) and Wenwu.
Thanos, The Mad Titan
Thanos (Josh Brolin) might be the MCU’s most hyped and developed villain. First shown in Marvel’s The Avengers (dir. Joss Whedon, 2012), Thanos has been the puppet master behind many of the MCU’s most prominent story arcs. However, it wasn’t until Avengers: Infinity War (dir. Anthony Russo/Joe Russo, 2018) that we were formally introduced to The Mad Titan himself. After that, the landscape of the Marvel universe was changed forever. Thanos immediately had a different and more threatening feel than any of the MCU’s villains before him. Upon his introduction, he defeated Thor, beat up Hulk, and murdered Loki, not a bad start by any means. Previously, the Marvel antagonists had been relatively toothless. Even Loki, the series’ previous long-running villain, never completed such feats. Not to mention the plethora of the MCU’s villains who always seemed to fall flat in their ambitions.
Thanos represented breaking that trend. His goals were clear cut, his intentions well-described, and more than anything else; he had an irredeemable personality that struck fear into the audience. Previous ranks of the MCU’s villains such as Killmonger, Vulture, and Hela were fearful but were perhaps portrayed too sympathetically. Thanos was genuinely despicable and heinous, yet his portrayal by Josh Brolin was so magnetic that audiences loved to hate him.
Mysterio, The Fake Mentor
While Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhal) might not make the list for the most powerful of the MCU’s villains, he certainly impacts Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Mysterio is at first presented as a protagonist and a new mentor for the vulnerable Peter Parker. Without Iron Man, the adolescent superhero is looking for a fresh start. When he meets Quentin Beck, a supposedly multiversal hero who eventually goes by ‘Mysterio,’ it seems as if his prayers are answered. The two begin to bond over the weight of heroism, and eventually, Peter deems the seemingly well-natured character to be a suitable replacement for his former mentor. Unfortunately, this is when things go sour.
Mysterio is not the powerhouse Thanos is, nor is he the slick snake that Loki is. Instead, he is a master manipulator who gaslights and preys on the young hero to avenge the man who wronged him. Mysterio’s backstory might be his biggest plot downfall. It is predictable and a little eye-rolling-ly interconnected with Iron Man. That doesn’t, however, take from the fact he’s a profoundly intriguing villain who is a subversion of the brutes among the MCU’s villains portrayed in previous installments.
Zemo, The Mastermind
The MCU’s villains rarely achieve their goals. Most come just short and are foiled in the eleventh hour by the superheroes. Helmut Zemo (Daniel Bruhl), on the other hand, is one of Marvel’s finest case studies of a victorious villain. Throughout his first appearance in Captain America: Civil War (dir. Anthony Russo/Joe Russo, 2016), Zemo succeeds in all of his goals. He frames Bucky Barnes, destroys the remnants of HYDRA’s Winter Soldier program, and tears the Avengers apart from the inside. Even though he is detained, it is hard to say that Zemo lost. The Avengers never really get back to full strength until Avengers: Endgame (dir. Anthony Russo/Joe Russo, 2019), and that’s only for a brief moment before they suffer some heavy losses.
During his most recent appearance in Disney+’s The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, fans are treated to more of Zemo’s schemes. While he works with the protagonists of the series, he is still able to pursue his own ulterior motives. Fans get to see why he despises superhumans so much, and to an extent, it makes sense. The MCU’s villains often have motivations that make no sense or are too villainous to understand, but Zemo’s views subvert that expectation. His insistence that superhumans are a detriment to society are proven correct left and right throughout the show. His goal of exposing the issues with superhumans is achieved through subtle manipulation; he also succeeds in essentially wiping out all of the people who have used the super-soldier serum. While he ends up in prison once more, it’s hard to say that any of the MCU’s villains are more successful than Zemo.
Wenwu, The Ruthless Father
Marvel’s newest villain might be the best one yet. Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung) brings a sense of grace and elegance intermingled with intense power. While Thanos has been directly hinted at for years, Wenwu’s history is a little more complicated. His terrorist organization, The Ten Rings, has been mentioned in each Iron Man film and other MCU installments as well. In Iron Man 3 (dir. Shane Black, 2013), Wenwu’s visage is appropriated by an actor who calls himself the Mandarin. Finally, in Shang-Chi (dir. Dustin Daniel-Cretton, 2021), he is revealed in all his glory.
Wenwu works because he holds a uniquely dignified presence previously unseen in the MCU’s villains. Not only that, he combines both the brains and the brawn, making for a highly compelling adversary in and out of combat. In terms of plot and continuity, Wenwu stands on his own. A hero didn’t jilt him; an Avenger didn’t hurt him; he simply is an ancient warlord doing what he does best. He represents everything the MCU’s villains could be. Much like Thanos, Leung’s Wenwu doesn’t make himself out to be sympathetic. Instead, he is a tragic villain, driven to horrible lengths by a very human emotion that separates him from Thanos and makes him even more unique. Leung’s performance is captivating, and he amplifies everything about the role to 11 without going over the top.
The Villainous Future Ahead
Going forward, fans should be on the lookout for more of the MCU’s villains to appear on TV and in theaters. Perhaps most intriguing is Jonathan Majors‘ Krang, who viewers were given a taste of via one of his variants named ‘He Who Remains’ in Loki (2021, Disney+). The performance was gripping and captivating, setting up a promising return in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (dir. Peyton Reed, 2023). The MCU’s villains have improved, but it is easy to see why audiences still hold certain trepidations when it comes to adaptations.
Sometimes, villains feel a little too mustache-twisty for modern-day tastes. If the MCU builds off their last few big bads, they will be in good shape. Thanos, Mysterio, Zemo, and Wenwu have all proved to be compelling, frightening, and potent antagonists for our heroes to face against, and audiences should be excited to see what comes next.