Aldrich Killian guest starring “The Mandarin” Iron Man 3 (2013) What I’m realizing (much to the detriment of this series) is that Marvel focuses on the stories of the heroes (Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man), whereas DC focuses on its villains (Joker, Riddler, Clayface, Harley Quinn, Catwoman, Black Adam). Think about it. Aren’t Superman and Batman kind of bland compared to Lex Luthor and Joker? Their bad guys cast a longer shadow. Whereas Marvel goes the other way, their good guys cast a long shadow (so much that they’re recasting an actor who played a hero into a villain). This isn’t just the movies doing it; it’s the comics. Which…
-
-
Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Lizard (The Amazing Spider-Man)
Lizard Real Identity: Dr. Curt Connors The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) Characteristics and Powers: Curt Connors researches regeneration, which is the process by which animals regrow their limbs. Specifically, lizards. But after pressure from the top for “results”, he tests the product on himself. It works, but has the added side effect of changing him into a giant lizard-man who looks a little like the goombas from Super Mario Brothers if they were properly proportioned. In addition to the superbeing standards, his body regenerates. Chopping off a limb isn’t going to do much good, although Spider-Man doesn’t use blades, so it doesn’t come up much. Relationship to the Hero(es): Spider-Man always…
-
Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Loki (The Avengers)
Loki(now with Chitauri army) The Avengers (2012) Characteristics and Powers: The only thing different from Thor this time around is Loki’s new scepter, so let’s talk about that. Its main capability is controlling people’s minds, turning them into slaves. But not mindless slaves–these guys can use knowledge, coordinate attacks, plan and predict. Complete brainwashing, but still autonomy. One problem though, is that this door works both ways, as both Hawkeye and Erik Selvig gain access to knowledge that helps them defeat Loki. It can also act as a device for mental projection when he uses it to communicate with the mouth of Sauron The Other, who is a go-between for…
-
Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Red Skull (Captain America: The First Avenger)
Red Skull Real Identity: Johann Schmidt Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) Characteristics and Powers: Johann Schmidt is basically Hitler in everything but serial number. But given that he doesn’t have to stay in Berlin and manage a country, he’s allowed to be more mobile and active. He’s always had an interest in trinkets and artifacts that could advance the Third Reich. To that end, he took an injection of Super Soldier Serum developed by Dr. Erskine. It enhanced all his physical traits, but mutated his face into a hideous, gaunt crimson skull. One of the artifacts he found was the Tesseract (a.k.a. the cosmic cube, Space Stone), long buried…
-
Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Sebastian Shaw (X-Men: First Class)
Sebastian Shaw X-Men: First Class (2011) Characteristics and Powers: Sebastian Shaw has a mutant power that lets him absorb energy (mostly explosives and such). This keeps him young and expands his lifespan. I don’t know how old he is, but he can speak several languages and gained influence to get meetings with top-tier politicians and military officers. Reminds me of a Bond villain, especially with a submarine and ship. Usually you don’t see masterminds last this long, but I attribute it to having good henchmen (his “Hellfire Club”). He’s got one person who’s both telepathic and invulnerable, another who can teleport, and another who… blows really hard. Well, they can’t…
-
Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Loki (Thor)
Loki Thor (2011) Characteristics and Powers: These people are legendary and mythical gods, so the things they can do tend to be ambiguous. It also means their weaknesses are ambiguous (like when Odin has to fall into the Odinsleep, then wakes up with no apparent reason for either). All I can go on is what is demonstrated in the movies, and their limitations seem to be absent. We know Loki was born as a Jotun a.k.a. frost giant. But Odin can and has disguised him as an Asgardian. We know he can make illusions/doppelgangers of himself. How tangible they are, I don’t know, but I figure it’s related to how…
-
Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Whiplash (Iron Man 2)
Whiplash Real Identity: Ivan Vanko Iron Man 2 (2010) Characteristics and Powers: Whiplash is named for his eponymous electric whips, powered by a knock-off arc reactor. He doesn’t have much for armor (unlike Iron Man) so he has to keep his distance and attack. Fortunately, whips are the perfect weapon for this. Plus it shows his brutality, like Kratos in God of War. Clearly, Ivan isn’t afraid to get hurt. He’s got plenty of scars and metal teeth, which indicates the state of Russian healthcare. And don’t forget his bird. Relationship to the Hero(es): Iron Man 2 starts a common thread in his movies that is “sins of the father”.…
-
Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Sabretooth (X-Men Origins: Wolverine)
Sabretooth Real Identity: Victor Creed X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) The primary antagonist in this movie is Stryker, but I already did him in X-Men 2. So we’re going to go with Sabretooth, even though he’s more of a henchman. But he has a close relationship with Logan and has just as much screen time. Characteristics and Powers: Sabretooth’s primary form of attack is the “fingernails of a bag lady,” similar to Logan’s bone claws but more like a cat’s with the curve and shape. Accompanying that is feline-like agility, as he’s always jumping from thing to thing. He also has the same healing factor as Logan, which contributes to his…
-
Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Abomination (The Incredible Hulk)
Abomination Real Identity: Emil Blonsky The Incredible Hulk (2008) Characteristics and Powers: Emil Blonsky doesn’t get much backstory. He’s a career marine with skills in firearms and combat. He has no ambition to be a leader because “he’s a fighter”. But he’s getting older. General Ross thinks he’s 45, but he’s actually 39. And he’s feeling it, especially when it comes to Hulk. After the first encounter in Brazil, he realizes he’s outmatched. And he needs an edge. Ross responds by offering Blonsky a variation of the super-soldier serum (something that won’t have an introduction for five more movies–I wonder if they knew they were doing Captain America when they…
-
Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Iron Monger (Iron Man)
Iron Monger Real Identity: Obadiah Stane Iron Man (2008) Characteristics and Powers: Stane is a large bald man, about fifty years old, with a long CV of business, business, business. He worked on the arc reactor prototype and directed the company into weapon-manufacturing, which led it to becoming the powerhouse it is today. Stane is a duplicitous, two-faced old sod. He can glad hand the press one day, then stab you in the back the next–not unusual for businessmen. Profit is his Achilles heel. So much that he gets reckless trying to duplicate Tony’s success with the Iron Man suit. Speaking of which, let’s talk about the suit. Stolen from…