7 MCU Villains That Were Actually Right

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In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you’ll find a multitude of characters who consistently stand for justice. Some, like Spider-Man, are selfless and sincere, while others, such as Punisher, may cross lines but ultimately achieve their goals. Regardless of their methods, superheroes safeguard the innocent and confront threats to tranquility posed by villains. However, not every antagonist is purely malicious. Many have heartrending pasts that drive their quest for retribution. The Marvel Cinematic Universe houses a number of morally ambiguous villains, and occasionally, their motives can be so compelling that viewers find themselves siding with them rather than the heroes.

It’s not often that wrongdoers who follow the rules can maintain their cool, so it falls on the good guys to intervene and halt their plans. Yet, after the chaos subsides, the villains who had valid arguments tend to alter their adversaries for the best. In simpler terms, sometimes bad actors who play by the rules get rattled, leaving it up to the good guys to step in and stop them. Later on, when things calm down, those villains who had a reasonable point often make positive changes in their rivals.

1) Vulture

During the occurrences of “The Avengers,” much like an ordinary citizen outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Adrian Toomes was simply trying to earn a living. He ran a scrap yard and intended to aid in the cleanup of New York City following the Chitauri invasion. However, the government and Tony Stark had different ideas, as they dispatched Damage Control to handle the aftermath left by the Avengers.

Due to Tony’s actions, Toomes finds himself losing everything. In response, he employs Chitauri technology to craft his Vulture suit and starts selling weapons. It might not be wise to peddle dangerous goods, but Toomes is merely following a path that Tony has tread before. Spider-Man extends sympathy towards Toomes, but in hindsight, perhaps Spider-Man should have chosen a different mentor as well.

2) Killmonger

Erik Stevens tragically discovers his father’s lifeless body at a tender age, swearing to avenge his death. However, before he could fulfill this promise, King T’Chaka of Wakanda passes away prematurely. In the Marvel Comics movie “Black Panther”, Stevens gets an equivalent opportunity when he successfully eliminates the wanted man, Ulysses Klaue. As a result, he arrives in Wakanda as a celebrated hero and secures an audience with the new monarch.

In this scenario, T’Challa recognizes that he is confronting his kinsman and decides to challenge him for the rule of Wakanda. Leveraging his extensive combat expertise, Killmonger swiftly overpowers T’Challa, ascending as the ruler of the nation. His intentions are twofold; he wishes to share Wakanda’s technological advancements with oppressed individuals worldwide, which is a virtuous endeavor. Yet, he also intends to instigate a revolution that may bring about unintended and severe consequences. Ultimately, T’Challa must end the life of his cousin, yet he acknowledges that there is merit in the antagonist’s arguments.

3) Namor

In the second installment of Black Panther, we are introduced to King Namor, who rules over the subaquatic realm of Talokan. He prefers solitude to protect his people from potential danger. However, when the U.S. government unwittingly encroaches upon their territory while seeking vibranium, Namor is left with no choice but to defend his kingdom.

Namor goes to Wakanda as it’s the only place similar to his home with vibranium. However, Queen Ramonda is wary of him due to his intention to harm Riri Williams. Subsequently, Namor causes a flood in Wakanda and kills Queen Ramonda. Shuri then takes over as Black Panther and battles Namor, who ultimately does much destruction but wasn’t looking for a fight.

4) Baron Mordo

In the movie “Doctor Strange”, Stephen Strange initially requires a lot of assistance upon his arrival at Kamar-Taj. There, he develops a friendship with Baron Mordo who instructs him in the ways of the Mystic Arts. However, before he’s fully prepared, the danger posed by Dormammu compels Strange into combat, leading him to meddle with things beyond his current understanding.

Instead of saying that Strange outwits Dormammu by trapping him in a time loop, consider using: Strange manages to vanquish Dormammu by confining him within an endless cycle of time. It’s a clever tactic, but Mordo expresses his disapproval. He feels that Strange is overstepping boundaries, prompting him to part ways with Kamar-Taj and pursue individuals suspected of misusing their magical abilities. Although there might be more diplomatic methods, Mordo prioritizes ensuring that magic is utilized responsibly.

5) Baron Zemo

The Avengers often make mistakes, and creating Ultron was one such blunder. Tony Stark developed this AI with the intention of providing Earth with a robust defense network. However, Ultron became disillusioned with humanity’s nature and sought to rebuild the world by destroying Sokovia’s capital and turning it into an asteroid.

In the midst of Sokovia, Helmut Zemo finds himself amidst chaos as Ultron strikes. Though the Avengers manage to save him personally, they fail to protect his family. Driven by this tragedy, Zemo delves deep into understanding Earth’s most powerful heroes and uncovers the truth behind Tony Stark’s parents’ demise. Even though taking innocent lives is inexcusable, Zemo’s actions served as a much-needed jolt for the Avengers to reevaluate their actions.

6) Karli Morgenthau

The Snap drastically impacts the Marvel Cinematic Universe by eliminating half of all life. Those who survive are left mourning their lost loved ones and struggling to find their way back in a changed world. But even when everyone is restored, life doesn’t become any simpler.

Karli Morgenthau is one of the numerous individuals forced to flee due to the Blip, and when she finds herself without assistance from others, she decides to act independently by administering a modified Super Soldier Serum to herself. Sam Wilson poses an obstacle for her, yet he doesn’t outright oppose her actions. In “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” he makes it clear to anyone who will listen that the status quo must shift, and individuals like Karli should not have to pay the ultimate price.

7) Thanos

Karli’s predicament stems from the fact that Thanos enjoys acting as a deity. He accumulates the Infinity Stones because he understands the potential chaos when there are too many beings to sustain. Using these stones, he eliminates half of all life forms, hoping for a more prosperous existence among the survivors.

Although Thanos’ actions of destroying trillions might be the most heinous act in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, his perspective about the need for smarter resource management is undeniably valid. The universe has a limited supply of resources, and once they’re depleted, they can’t be replenished easily. Thanos serves as a harsh reminder to the MCU characters that we must think carefully about our consumption habits and learn from his actions before it’s too late.

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2025-07-06 04:11