The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has changed dramatically since it began in 2008, with some of the most notable differences coming from how the villains have changed over time. Every good superhero story needs a brilliant villain. A rival that can contend with the hero, hold them to account, and force them into a position where they end up meeting their full potential.

However, the story of a villain goes beyond simply being a contrast to the hero. The most interesting and engaging villains have strong motives, and often view themselves as being righteous and heroic in some ways. And even more interestingly, their stories can evolve, to either see them see the ways they went wrong, or to push further into the darkness. And over 17 years, the MCU has certainly had its fair share of dynamic villain stories that changed over time.

8

Ronan The Accuser

When Ronan the Accuser appears in Guardians of the Galaxy, he appears to be a ruthless and monstrous rival who cares about nothing but acquiring more power for himself. This tyrannical monster stood up to Thanos, and had his sights on the Power Stone to wreak havoc on other alien races. However, since Ronan’s debut and demise, a lot more information has come to light about the conflict with the Kree.

The Kree and the Skrulls are two races of alien that have been locked in war for a long time. However, the war has not been isolated, and other groups have gotten involved on either side. Captain Marvel is one such hero who attempts to liberate the Kree, and destroy an intelligent computer that appeared to be ruling over their society, only to plunge them into despair. With all this in mind, it’s hard to see the Kree as simple bad guys out for blood, when the conflict has cost so much for both sides.

7

The Mandarin, AKA Trevor Slattery

In Iron Man 3, Tony Stark comes face to face with the terrifying organization that captured him back in the first movie. However, it actually turns out that the Mandarin who appeared on the TV screens issuing threats was none other than Trevor Slattery, an old washed-up actor. Slattery was not actually the Mandarin, just someone who was paid to play a role.

Since then, Slattery has returned to the MCU, and his role is decidedly lighter as a prisoner to the real Mandarin in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Slattery is devoid of any sense of threat, and he now comes across as a victim of circumstance. Clearly, a huge shift in his characterization.

6

Thanos

Thanos had one of the most impressive build-ups in the MCU to date. After appearing briefly in post-credits scenes, and being referenced by his daughters Gamora and Nebula, he finally appeared in a full-fledged role for Avengers: Infinity War. And throughout the movie, he is a terrifying тιтan who manages to overpower the Avengers with little effort before eventually enacting his mission to erase half of all life in the universe.

And then, the next time Thanos shows up in Avengers: Endgame, he appears to have no fight left in him. Thanos has retired to a planet where he lives in peace, with his armor propped up as a scarecrow while he tends to his crops. However, Thanos doesn’t appear entirely satisfied or at peace. And then, he allows Thor to eliminate him without struggling for even a moment.

5

Ghost

Ava Starr is first introduced in Ant-Man and the Wasp, where she appears as a mysterious villain with the power to shift and phase through solid matter. As it turns out, Starr was caught in a lab accident when she was a child after her parents were experimenting with quantum technology. But in the years since their tragic end, Starr has grown to be an incredibly efficient ᴀssᴀssin for SHIELD.

Despite this, Starr never dreamed of or sought a life like this for herself. Her story was taken away from her when she was captured, and her time in SHIELD was a dark period where those people who should have been helping her used her to achieve their own goals. Now, after her reemergence in Thunderbolts*, it’s clear to see that Starr was destined for greater things, as she now becomes a core member of The New Avengers team.

4

Kang The Conqueror

Kang was setting himself up to be the true big bad of the Multiverse Saga. The character has made several appearances across MCU projects, with some of the most prominent being in Loki. While this multiversal monster was gearing up to take over the Multiverse and squash the heroes under his foot, the seemingly most dangerous version, Kang the Conqueror, appears in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, where he fights against this B-list hero and his family.

However, despite Ant-Man being far from the most powerful Avenger, they somehow manage to overpower Kang and end the threat to the universe. Simultaneously, other Kang variants appear in a council in the post-credits, potentially planning an attack, but with the character being retired from the MCU after Jonathan Majors was dropped, it feels like a waste of a storyline and character.

3

Wanda Maximoff

Wanda Maximoff has one of the most complex narrative arcs in the MCU. First appearing in Avengers: Age of Ultron where she was recruited by Ultron to fight the Avengers, Wanda soon sees the error of her ways and joins the heroes. However, after several tragedies strike in short succession, Wanda goes off the rails and creates a false reality where she traps dozens of residents in a small town.

Then, when that crumbles, and she loses the imagined children she created, she studies the Darkhold, descending into a dark magic space that transforms her into the monstrous Scarlet Witch. Wanda’s story is tragic, and constantly fluctuating. But when she realizes the error of her ways in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, she pulls off the ultimate sacrifice to save the multiverse from herself.

2

The Winter Soldier

One of the most endearing characters in the MCU, Bucky Barnes, the best friend of Steve Rogers, was with his dear friend throughout the war when they got a chance to fight together in the Howling Commandos team. However, Barnes eventually meets a tragic end at the bottom of a huge drop. And yet, that was not the end of his story.

Bucky came back in Captain America: The Winter Soldier when it was revealed that Bucky was rescued and brainwashed by HYDRA to become an ᴀssᴀssin. He was enhanced with Super Soldier serum, and his extended life was lived in servitude as a brutal killer. But thankfully, Steve was able to rescue his friend from this eternal torment, and it led to Bucky becoming a hero in his own right, now joining The New Avengers.

1

Loki

Finally, Loki is one of the most interesting characters in the MCU. Initially, Loki appears as the brother of Thor, but when he learns his true heritage, he decides to act out. By the time he shows up in The Avengers, Loki is a monstrous tyrant ready to take over Earth and hurt the people his brother has grown fond of. However, Loki eventually had a change of heart, and he sacrificed himself trying to kill Thanos and save his brother.

But that wasn’t the end of Loki’s MCU story. In the Loki TV series, a variant of the same character who spawns thanks to the meddling in time by the Avengers, is captured by the TVA and shown the life he was supposed to live, including his reconciliation and sacrifice. But this version of Loki arguably goes further than any other as he becomes a hero who literally holds the multiverse together when the entire thing threatens to collapse in the MCU.