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…

DARK PHOENIX Real Identity: Jean Grey X-Men 3: The Last Stand (2006) Famke Janssen plays a good character. Unfortunately, the writing wasn’t there to carry her over the threshold. We spend WAY more time with Wolverine, Xavier, and Magneto. Which, of course, means her arc is meaningless. You’ve had two movies to tell us who Jean Grey is, you failed, and you’re going make her the antagonist? The producers’ message was probably to stuff as many mutants in there as possible, forget the personal stories. Characteristics and Powers: She basically becomes Dr. Manhattan. Like a “super-telepath/telekinetic”, whatever that means. I imagine that psychic powers must take a lot of control…

COL. WILLIAM STRYKER X2: X-Men United (2002) This villain represents an amalgamation of several characters from the X-Men comics/cartoon, but they’re all basically the same guy–a bigot. And the scary thing is he exists in real life. This isn’t Mephisto or Stegron. This is your next-door neighbor. This is a congressman working right now and he’s in charge of a hell of a lot of tanks and missiles. Characteristics and Powers: None. He’s just a human. But that gives him an advantage–being human (and a decorated military scientist) he can borrow the ears of politicians and influencers, especially with his background in mutant research. And from that research he’s developed…

MAGNETO Real Identity: Erik Magnus Lehnsherr X-Men (2000) I’m starting with this movie because this is the real inception point for the MCU. If not for this movie and its compatriot Spider-Man (coming up next!) there would be no Tony Stark or Avengers. So I think it’s important to examine the precursors and their staying power with audiences. I don’t think it was a great movie — the problem with the X-Men is that it’s character soup — but after the chintzy animated series, it was a gourmet meal. Characteristics and Powers: Can bend and shape metal to his will. This includes stopping bullets in midair and some electromagnetism. And…