An Avengers hero is only as good as their greatest villain, and many foes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been given excellent characterizations through the years. From Killmonger to Vulture, the strongest MCU villains have tended to be the ones with most sympathetic motivations. However, even with that in mind, there is one villain that stands above as having one of the most complex and emotional backstories. I can’t wait to see these explored further when they next appear later in 2025.

Not every Marvel villain has been relatable. Some of the main MCU villains have been given unique backgrounds and makeup that make them hard to relate to. Ultron’s goals as a work of artificial intelligence, or Hela’s work as the god of death, are two clear examples of these less sympathetic villains, although there are many others. Simply, I believe that villains can work in all kinds of different ways, although I certainly have a soft spot for sympathetic ones. I’m excited to see how this characterization is used with an underutilized foe in an upcoming film.

The MCU Has Had A Huge Range Of Sympathetic Villains Over The Years

Marvel Tends To Introduce Foes Who Are Not Entirely Evil

The debate over the most sympathetic villains in the MCU has continued for some time, and for good reason. Marvel has done a great job with the characterizations of their villains and motivations, resulting in foes who usually at least have a point. Some of my favorites include Namor, who was responding to the oppression of the surface world, and Wanda, who spent most of her time as a hero in the franchise before experiencing a complex heelturn.

The legitimacy of Thanos’ concerns has been a huge talking point since Avengers: Infinity War, and Killmonger was an excellent critique of colonialism and power dynamics. Stan Lee’s golden rule has influenced the MCU, which is that no villain is all bad, and that no villain is all good. Humanity must be found inside these characters. Inserting this throughout various Marvel projects has helped them to be more effective and more evocative, resulting in better movies and shows.

2021 Introduced An Obvious Choice For The MCU’s Most Sympathetic Villain

Taskmaster Was An Interesting Foe In Black Widow

Black Widow saw a fearsome foe in Taskmaster, a skilled fighter who could copy the moves of anyone she found herself locked in combat with. While the film spent a great deal of time showing how terrible and terrifying an opponent she was, the eventual reveal of Taskmaster being Antonia Dreykov added a deep layer of complexity to the story. Rather than simply being an evil agent of chaos, Taskmaster was revealed to be the brainwashed daughter of the twisted General Dreykov.

Having a villain whose actions were not their own was an interesting choice. Taskmaster’s father was a horrible villain who used the Red Room and the Black Widow program to turn young girls into weapons. Transforming even his own daughter by controlling her humanity and using her as a weapon too turned Antonia into an even more tragic figure. Even as she fought against the heroes of the MCU, it was hard to feel anything but sympathy for her and her experience.

2025 Has A New Chance To Prove Taskmaster Was The MCU’s Most Sympathetic Villain

Thunderbolts* Will Hopefully Give Taskmaster A Satisfying Story

Thunderbolts* is set to see the return of Antonia Dreykov alongside a pair of other sympathetic villains turned heroes in Ghost and Bucky. Although many have theorized that Taskmaster will die in Thunderbolts*, I desperately hope that this is not the case. The ending of Black Widow saw Antonia finally becoming free of her father’s influence, and able to come into herself as a hero in her own right. With great powers, and tremendous guilt, Taskmaster could have an excellent future in the MCU.

Marvel has spent time rehabilitating several of their villains into heroes, with Loki and Bucky being perhaps the most significant examples. Doing away with Antonia in Thunderbolts* would be a disservice to another tragic female character who has the potential for incredible stories ahead. Whether or not this occurs, an examination of her character and experiences in the new film will solidify, I believe conclusively, that Taskmaster is the most sympathetic villain that the MCU has yet seen.

I can’t wait for Thunderbolts* and I’m so excited to see how the film confronts the difficulties that so many of these characters have faced. Adding in another misunderstood character with Sentry feels like an excellent way to round out one of the strongest casts that the MCU has seen in some time. Taskmaster is an important and vital part of that story and, while I’m worried she won’t be used to her full potential, I have hope that Thunderbolts* will not disappoint in its use of her character.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

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  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
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  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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