The Villains Problem

[Harry Dresden]

Ego was alright. Nothing amazing.

Best villain of the year will be a toss up between Vulture and Hela.

 

[NealKenneth]

Here are the villains I'd like to see return that don't seem to be obviously returning:

Justin Hammer
Red Skull
Dormammu


The ones that could be cool if handled well:

Zemo
Ross as Red Hulk
The Leader


And the ones they should leave behind that people request a lot:

Ultron (unless recast)
The Mandarin (unless done in such a way that it ignores Iron Man 3)
Abomination

 

[Bayne]

Here are the villains I'd like to see return that don't seem to be obviously returning:

Justin Hammer
Red Skull
Dormammu


The ones that could be cool if handled well:

Zemo
Ross as Red Hulk
The Leader


And the ones they should leave behind that people request a lot:

Ultron (unless recast)
The Mandarin (unless done in such a way that it ignores Iron Man 3)
Abomination

I'd love to see more of Red Skull and Zemo both. In fact, I think Zemo is a real possibility for phase 4 or 5, though that's all gut instinct. I'm not sure why you consider Dormammu as being at all unlikely to return, though: isn't he a major deal in Dr. Strange's history? I'd be kind of surprised if he doesn't show up again eventually. Especially since he now has a very good reason to hate Strange.

I agree the Mandarin and the Abomination are best left in the past, but I'd be happy to have James Spader back again sometime. And I don't see any value at all in bringing back Justin Hammer.

 

[Roose Bolton]

Zemo is interesting enough, and complex enough morally speaking that he could probably headline a Thunderbolts movie.


Abomination is a character that isn't really necessary in a crossover MCU film (though the proposed idea for his inclusion in AoU sounded interesting) but if they were to ever produce another Hulk solo film I would have to imagine he'd be one of the few things they'd bring back from TIH.

 

[Mjölnir]

Unless Steppenwolf is amazing, the best super villain from 2017 will be a Marvel Studios villain.

Now that I've finally seen WW I'll say that you are correct. The villains in Logan were functional (man I wish that Sabretooth had been in there) and the villains in WW were pretty poor, while Ego delivered well and was pretty unique.

I do think there's a good chance that Ego will be surpassed though. It's no done deal by any means as many things need to fall into place, but Michael Keaton and Cate Blanchett is as stiff competition as you can get.

 

[NealKenneth]

Zemo is interesting enough, and complex enough morally speaking that he could probably headline a Thunderbolts movie.


Abomination is a character that isn't really necessary in a crossover MCU film (though the proposed idea for his inclusion in AoU sounded interesting) but if they were to ever produce another Hulk solo film I would have to imagine he'd be one of the few things they'd bring back from TIH.

Zemo is tricky because he's adamentally against using superpowers. He just kills the other Winter Soldiers in CW. The filmakers would have to do a little backpedaling to get him working with a team of supervillains I feel.

 

[Roose Bolton]

Zemo is tricky because he's adamentally against using superpowers. He just kills the other Winter Soldiers in CW. The filmakers would have to do a little backpedaling to get him working with a team of supervillains I feel.

They've got room to manoeuvre because he doesn't outright state that he hates superpowers as much he hates the Avengers and Hydra in roughly equal measure.

 

[Mjölnir]

They've got room to manoeuvre because he doesn't outright state that he hates superpowers as much he hates the Avengers and Hydra in roughly equal measure.

Yes, really the only thing he says that could possibly go against it is that the Avengers are too powerful to be beaten by force, although if he gets a hold of enough super villains to lead he may change his mind. He'd have both the intellect and determination that he brings, and the power that he lacks.

 

[NealKenneth]

When the heroes are surprised that all the Winter Soldiers have been shot, he says "Did you think I wanted more of you?" He hates all superhumans.

 

[Roose Bolton]

He could have easily just been referring to Bucky, whose black ops files he had extensive knowledge of.

 

[Tony Stark]

Here are the villains I'd like to see return that don't seem to be obviously returning:

Justin Hammer
Red Skull
Dormammu


The ones that could be cool if handled well:

Zemo
Ross as Red Hulk
The Leader


And the ones they should leave behind that people request a lot:

Ultron (unless recast)
The Mandarin (unless done in such a way that it ignores Iron Man 3)
Abomination

Dormammu will definitely be returning. The fact that Cumberbatch played Dormammu makes it pretty easy for him to return.

Agreed on Red Skull and Weaving is a guy that's never going to come back, which to me is disappointing. I think he could have been a Loki type villain. I remember there was a rumor that Pierce was really Red Skull in disguise. I do think it's pretty easy to replace him with a different actor.

Disagree with Ultron. I thought Spader was a brilliant choice, and his version was very much in keeping with the books. Ultron was never a Dalek type robot, he had emotions, he had ego, he had issues.

 

[Tony Stark]

Ego was alright. Nothing amazing.

Best villain of the year will be a toss up between Vulture and Hela.

I really liked Ego, but I think you could be right.

 

[Awest66]

Disagree with Ultron. I thought Spader was a brilliant choice, and his version was very much in keeping with the books. Ultron was never a Dalek type robot, he had emotions, he had ego, he had issues.

You mean turning him into a punchline? We weren't asking for a dalek type robot, We wanted a actual legitimate threat to the Avengers, What we got was a smart-aleck quip machine.

 

[NealKenneth]

Weaving seems open to the idea these days http://comicbook.com/marvel/2016/09/23/hugo-weaving-red-skull-avengers-3-infinity-war/ He also speaks positively of the experience.

And also he's contractually obligated to return if they were to insist.

 

[metaphysician]

You mean turning him into a punchline? We weren't asking for a dalek type robot, We wanted a actual legitimate threat to the Avengers, What we got was a smart-aleck quip machine.

So, nearly causing the extinction of humanity, and requiring repeated dogpiling by the Avengers heavy hitters to beat, is not a "legitimate threat"?

 

[Tony Stark]

You mean turning him into a punchline? We weren't asking for a dalek type robot, We wanted a actual legitimate threat to the Avengers, What we got was a smart-aleck quip machine.

The "tangled in strings" speech is one of the best villain monologues perhaps only outdone by Loki's "mewling quim" speech.

 

[Tony Stark]

Weaving seems open to the idea these days http://comicbook.com/marvel/2016/09/23/hugo-weaving-red-skull-avengers-3-infinity-war/ He also speaks positively of the experience.

And also he's contractually obligated to return if they were to insist.

That is good to hear. He really was a great villain, at the time I said that both he and Loki were great, and probably the best MCU bad guys at the time.

 

[Boy Scout]

You mean turning him into a punchline? We weren't asking for a dalek type robot, We wanted a actual legitimate threat to the Avengers, What we got was a smart-aleck quip machine.

As someone who doesn't know much at all about Ultron...I didn't think the movie portrayed him very threateningly.

 

[Rowsdower!]

My only issue with Ultron was that his plan was really stupid. I liked him though.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

As someone who doesn't know much at all about Ultron...I didn't think the movie portrayed him very threateningly.

I agree, but that's not because of James Spader's performance. It wasn't Spader who wrote him to get his ass kicked for two hours.

 

[GeckoMoria]

How ironic is that people chant the "MCU villain problem" and for the second year in the row the best cb villain will likely be a MCU one. It's really aan egg in the face. I dare DC fans to mock MCU villains again. I have a whole lot of Joker, Enchantress and Luthor gifs coming for them...

 

[StormC]

Spader did a fantastic job as Ultron (arguably saved what would be a forgettable character) but Whedon basically treated the character like a Pixar villain. I know these are superhero movies, but my expectations for writing are a bit higher than Saturday morning cartoons.

 

[kguillou]

I just wish Marvel AND DC could get their act together in the villains department, both comapnies have had a few shining points (Loki, Ego, Zod, Ledger Joker, Bane, Fassbender's Magneto) but they are few and far between. HOw hard is it to write a threatening villain that really challenges the hero, at least ona physical level? I want to see a villain that's like the T-1000, where every time he (or she) enters the room, the audience goes "OH ****!"

Here's hoping Hela, Thanos and Steppenwolf are those scary, formidable villains we deserve.

 

[Juan1193]

I despise Bane in TDKR so let's not mention him! Also I agree the DCEU is headed in the MCU direction with regards to villains! Both need to step their game up!

Anyway I thought Ares.and Dr Poison were a lot better than Lex, Doomsday, Joker and Enchantress but not above Zod or Faora. Still love Wonder Woman but I can admit the villains were a weak point. I loved the twist though!

 

[YoungBlood]

How ironic is that people chant the "MCU villain problem" and for the second year in the row the best cb villain will likely be a MCU one. It's really aan egg in the face. I dare DC fans to mock MCU villains again. I have a whole lot of Joker, Enchantress and Luthor gifs coming for them...

They still do have problems though.

Ego was good because of Kurt Russell's performance, not because of the writing.

Same thing will happen with Vulture, good performance from Keaton, but still will be weak due to writing and no sense of tension.