10 Most Sympathetic Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, not all the villains are equally detestable. Some are straightforward antagonists, while others are surprisingly relatable. A few characters walk a fine line between good and evil, and many have been shaped by unfortunate pasts that led them to their current roles. Just as no human is inherently wicked, every fictional character has a reason for their actions, implying they all have backstories explaining their descent into darkness. However, some MCU villains stir more empathy than others. The top 10 most compassion-evoking antagonists hail from various corners of the franchise, each bearing unique tales of hardship, misfortune, and sorrow.

Killmonger

In my humble opinion as a movie critic, Michael B. Jordan’s portrayal of Erik Killmonger in 2018’s “Black Panther” left an indelible mark as the primary antagonist. This ex-US Navy SEAL outsmarted T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) in combat, seizing the mantle of Wakanda’s Black Panther and vowing to wage war against the world due to its historical mistreatment of people of color. Granted, mass murder is never justified, yet it’s hard not to empathize with Killmonger’s motivations.

Raised in a family torn apart by Wakandan politics and racial disparities, Killmonger bore the brunt of injustice from an early age. His mother perished in prison, while his uncle, N’Jobu (Sterling K. Brown), was slain by none other than his own brother for daring to aid Black Americans in their struggle against oppression.

Given the systemic racism that plagued his hometown of Oakland, California and the wider world, it comes as no surprise that Killmonger chose to take matters into his own hands.

Loki

Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal of Loki, the MCU’s cherished villain, is adored for his sassy demeanor and his knack for switching between righteous and malevolent actions. In the 2011 movie Thor, we learn that Loki’s genuine father is Laufey, ruler of the Frost Giants (played by Colm Feore). Despite being adopted by Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and Frigga (Rene Russo), and growing up alongside their son Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Loki always felt overlooked by his parents who considered him not a true Asgardian.

Indeed, Loki, the Trickster Deity, gains a measure of understanding for turning against a people who failed to embrace him fully. After his antagonistic roles in Thor, The Avengers, and Thor: The Dark World, Loki managed to win over many hearts by teaming up with Thor and the Avengers to defeat Hela (Cate Blanchett) in Thor: Ragnarok (2017). His final act of redemption was meeting his demise at the hands of Thanos (Josh Brolin) in Avengers: Infinity War (2018).

Namor

In the 2022 film “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” the main adversary, Namor from Talokan, was shaped by unspoken sorrow. Portrayed by Tenoch Huerta, Namor fiercely protected his people when they faced U.S. forces due to their history of colonization and forced submergence. Given this past, it’s no wonder Namor harbored mistrust towards those from the surface world. Regrettably, his one misjudgment was launching an attack on Wakanda when it declined to aid him in his battle against the surface world, resulting in the death of Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) and many others with the ensuing flood. After being vanquished by Shuri, the Black Panther (Letitia Wright), Namor consented to a future alliance with Wakanda, hinting at his potential redemption arc within the MCU.

Karli Morgenthau

2021 saw me becoming deeply engrossed in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” where Erin Kellyman’s character, Karli Morgenthau, emerged as the central adversary. As the head of the Flag Smashers, she utilized the Super Soldier serum to carry out violent actions, advocating for a return of the world to its pre-Blip state. With half the universe reappearing three years after Thanos’ Snap, those left behind were overlooked and forced to endure on their own. Consequently, Karli and her followers sought resolution through aggressive measures.

Karli’s downfall lay in her misguided belief that terrorism could bring about positive change. However, she had a valid point in criticizing the hardships faced by people in the post-Blip world. The character was essentially a product of those in power neglecting the deteriorating living conditions of the populace.

Ava Starr/Ghost

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hannah John-Kamen’s character, Ava Starr (also known as Ghost), first appeared in the 2017 film “Ant-Man and the Wasp”. At first, Ava appears as an antagonist, but it is later revealed that she was manipulated by Bill Foster (portrayed by Laurence Fishburn) and S.H.I.E.L.D., who exploited her powers which were developed from a quantum energy accident during her childhood. This accident, tragic for Ava as it claimed the lives of her parents, also left her in constant pain due to an insufficient supply of quantum energy.

As Ava, struggling with impending death throughout the film, found herself at odds with Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas). However, these characters ultimately assisted her in absorbing quantum energy to prolong her life. Ava’s persistent illness and the misuse of her pain make her one of the most compassionately portrayed antagonists in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The character of Ghost still has more to reveal, as she is set to appear alongside a group of morally ambiguous heroes in the upcoming MCU film, Thunderbolts.

Dar-Benn

2023’s The Marvel‘s main antagonist may not be as iconic as some other MCU villains, but Zawe Ashton’s character, Dar-Benn, has a moving past. Having seen her homeland destroyed due to a prolonged civil war, Dar-Benn transformed into a Kree freedom fighter. Her animosity towards Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) is sparked by the devastation that the hero caused on planet Hala. Considering the harrowing experiences of Dar-Benn’s childhood, it’s not hard to comprehend why she sought to tap into the power of the Quantum Bands to rebuild her home using resources from other planets.

Gorr the God Butcher

In the movie Thor: Love and Thunder from 2022, Christian Bale’s character, Gorr the God Butcher, made a powerful impact despite having limited screen time. The story begins by showing us how Gorr became a killer of gods, driven by the death of his daughter and the arrogant rejection of a starving and mourning Gorr by one god. This act led him to seek revenge using the Necrosword. Throughout the film, Gorr sets out on a mission to eliminate all gods, and his actions can be seen as justified given their greed and indifference. Although Gorr’s abduction of Asgardian children was shocking, his crusade against these heartless deities could be perceived as a form of retribution.

Agatha Harkness

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I’d put it this way: In 2021, Kathryn Hahn’s character, Agatha Harkness, made her grand entrance into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the series ‘WandaVision’. She played the role of Wanda Maximoff’s curious neighbor in Westview, but as the story unfolded, it was revealed that she was none other than a centuries-old witch bent on seizing the Scarlet Witch’s power. At first glance, Agnes seemed harmless, but beneath her friendly facade lay a complex character with a dark past. The series ‘WandaVision’ and ‘Agatha All Along’ delved into Agatha’s painful history, revealing that in the 17th century, she was ostracized and condemned to death by her own mother and coven for practicing forbidden magic. When those close to her refused to help her control her unique abilities, a young Agatha took matters into her own hands, using her powers to eliminate her entire coven before they could burn her at the stake.

To add to the tragedy, Agatha’s son, Nicholas Scratch, was close to death at birth but was given more life by Death’s partner, Rio Vidal (Aubrey Plaza). Tragically, Nicholas passed away one night, sending Agatha into a deep state of grief, as she lost both Nicholas and Rio – a loss she could never forgive for taking his soul. Despite her villainous actions, Agatha elicits sympathy due to her snarky charm and complexity as an MCU character, demonstrating her multidimensional nature as a protagonist. Though it’s revealed that Agatha might have manipulated her doomed child to kill innocent women, her experiences as an outcast and grieving mother strike a chord with viewers worldwide.

Maya Lopez/Echo

The path of Maya Lopez, or Echo as she’s known in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), is marked by one challenge after another. Portrayed by Alaqua Cox in the Disney+ series Hawkeye and later Echo, Maya assumed leadership of the Tracksuit Mafia following her mother’s death in a car accident and her father’s murder at the hands of Ronin. Guided by the influential Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio), she carried out crimes in his name. In the climax of Hawkeye, Maya turned against Kingpin, shooting him, and then returned to her Oklahoma hometown, where she reconnected with family and confronted her past. More complex than a typical villain, Maya possesses an exceptional knack for overcoming hardships, even though her moral compass isn’t always apparent. Her determination resonates with MCU fans, making her anything but a loathed adversary.

Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch

Throughout her complex journey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Wanda Maximoff is often seen shifting roles between hero, villain, and something in between, making her one of the most compassionate characters. Tragedy struck early for Wanda when Stark-approved bombs destroyed her homeland, Sokovia, taking her parents’ lives. This event radicalized Wanda and her brother Pietro (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), leading them to join HYDRA. The organization’s experiments on the twins gave Pietro super speed while granting Wanda telekinesis and energy manipulation powers from the Mind Stone. Initially supporting Ultron (James Spader) against Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and the Avengers, Wanda and Pietro eventually switched sides to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” upon discovering Ultron’s true intentions. Sadly, Pietro perished while safeguarding Sokovian civilians from Ultron’s forces. Finding solace in a relationship with Vision (Paul Bettany), Wanda experienced more sorrow when she sacrificed him to prevent Thanos from seizing the Mind Stone embedded in his head during “Avengers: Infinity War.

Regrettably, Wanda’s personal suffering led her to cause harm in ‘WandaVision’, where she enchanted the town of Westview and its inhabitants, including the revival of Vision and the birth of their children, Billy and Tommy. In a sitcom-style world, she maintained control until dismantling her spell. Later, Wanda sought the Darkhold, a forbidden book with dark magic, which compelled her to search through various dimensions for her lost kids and eliminate anyone who dared to oppose her in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’. Eventually acknowledging responsibility, after sacrificing her family for Westview’s liberation, Wanda destroyed Mount Wundagore to break the Darkhold’s control forever.

Over and over again, Wanda has been criticized by external forces due to her immense, seemingly unbounded power. She’s faced an agony that most can scarcely fathom. Losing loved ones is a shared human experience, and many can relate to the desperation of protecting one’s children. Like other villains, rejection has taken a toll on Wanda’s self-image, leaving her without comfort or allies at various points. While her actions may not be fully justified given the innocents she’s harmed, she’s shown an ability to acknowledge her mistakes. If history serves as any guide, it seems Wanda is poised for another redemption arc in her next Marvel Cinematic Universe storyline.

2025-01-08 23:10