8 Marvel Villains Which MCU Kinda Wasted

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been very successful. It has created a huge, connected world with many popular heroes. Many fans love the movies and shows. However, the MCU has sometimes struggled with its villains. Some powerful and interesting bad guys from the comics were not given the same treatment on screen.

Over the years, several major villains have appeared in the MCU only to be defeated quickly or changed significantly from their original comic book versions. This has left some fans feeling that these characters were wasted. Here are eight villains from Marvel Comics who had great potential but were not fully utilized in the MCU.

Ultron

In the comics, Ultron is one of the Avengers’ most dangerous enemies. Created by Hank Pym (Ant-Man), Ultron is a highly intelligent and constantly evolving robot. He is driven by a deep hatred for his creator and all of humanity, believing that the only way to save the Earth is to destroy mankind. Ultron has appeared many times, each time with a more durable body and a more sinister plan.

In ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ (2015), Ultron was created by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner instead of Hank Pym. While he was a physical threat, his personality was more sarcastic and less menacing than in the comics. He was also defeated in the same movie he was introduced in, which limited his potential as a recurring major villain for the Avengers.

Taskmaster

The comic book version of Taskmaster is a highly skilled mercenary named Tony Masters. He has the unique ability to perfectly mimic the physical movements of anyone he sees. This allows him to copy the fighting styles of heroes like Captain America, Hawkeye, and Spider-Man. He is often a trainer for other villains and a formidable opponent in his own right.

The MCU introduced Taskmaster in ‘Black Widow’ (2021), but the character was very different. Instead of Tony Masters, this Taskmaster was Antonia Dreykov, the daughter of the film’s main villain. She was a silent, mind-controlled soldier rather than a witty mercenary. This change removed the character’s well-known personality and backstory from the comics.

Malekith

In Marvel Comics, Malekith the Accursed is the cruel ruler of the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim. He is a powerful sorcerer and a recurring enemy of Thor. Malekith is known for his cunning and his desire to bring eternal darkness to the Nine Realms. He is a major villain with a long history of causing trouble for the God of Thunder.

Malekith was the main villain in ‘Thor: The Dark World’ (2013). However, his character in the movie was seen as generic and underdeveloped. His motivations were simple, and he was not given much personality. Many viewers found him to be a forgettable villain, a stark contrast to his more interesting comic book counterpart.

The Mandarin

The Mandarin is arguably Iron Man’s greatest arch-nemesis in the comics. He is a brilliant scientist and a skilled martial artist who wields ten powerful rings of alien origin. Each ring has a different power, making him an incredibly versatile and dangerous foe. He represents a direct challenge to Tony Stark’s reliance on technology.

‘Iron Man 3’ (2013) presented a major twist with the character. The threatening version of the Mandarin seen in trailers was revealed to be an actor named Trevor Slattery. The real villain was Aldrich Killian, who claimed the “Mandarin” title. While a “real” Mandarin, Xu Wenwu, later appeared in ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ (2021), the original bait-and-switch in ‘Iron Man 3’ disappointed many fans who wanted to see a faithful adaptation of Iron Man’s classic foe.

Baron von Strucker

Baron Wolfgang von Strucker is a major leader of Hydra in the comics. He is a long-time enemy of Captain America and Nick Fury. Strucker is a brilliant military strategist and a dangerous foe who has cheated death many times. He is a symbol of Hydra’s persistent threat to the world.

Baron von Strucker appeared briefly at the beginning of ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ (2015). He was responsible for experimenting on Wanda and Pietro Maximoff. However, he was quickly captured by the Avengers and then killed off-screen by Ultron. This was a very minor role for such a significant villain from the comics.

Ronan the Accuser

In the comics, Ronan the Accuser is a high-ranking official of the Kree Empire. He is a complex character who is sometimes a villain and sometimes an anti-hero. He is driven by a deep sense of justice and loyalty to his people, even if his methods are extreme. He is a powerful warrior with a long history in Marvel’s cosmic stories.

Ronan was the main villain in the first ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014). In the film, he was portrayed as a religious zealot who worked with Thanos. His character was mostly one-dimensional, driven only by his hatred for the planet Xandar. He was killed at the end of the movie, preventing any future exploration of his more complex comic book personality.

Yellowjacket

Darren Cross, also known as Yellowjacket, is a notable villain in the Ant-Man comics. He is a brilliant businessman who takes over Hank Pym’s company. His Yellowjacket suit is an advanced and more weaponized version of the Ant-Man suit, making him a serious threat. His story often involves corporate greed and a personal rivalry with Scott Lang.

The MCU version of Yellowjacket appeared in ‘Ant-Man’ (2015). Darren Cross was portrayed as a fairly standard evil businessman. While his suit was impressive, the character himself was not very memorable.

Gorr the God Butcher

In the comics, Gorr the God Butcher is a terrifying and tragic figure. After his prayers went unanswered and his family died, he gained the power to kill gods and went on a crusade across millennia to slaughter them all. He is a deeply philosophical and menacing villain who challenges the very idea of gods.

Gorr appeared in ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ (2022). While Christian Bale’s performance was praised, the character’s story was condensed. The movie focused more on the comedic elements, and Gorr’s terrifying quest to kill all gods was not given the dark and epic scale it had in the comics. He was presented as a more sympathetic character, but his screen time and impact were limited.