The Marvel Cinematic Universe has left behind its early criticisms of a “villain problem” with complex, well-rounded, sympathetic villains like Thanos, Killmonger, Wenwu, and the Vulture. Every great villain needs a great introduction to leave a strong impression on the audience.

From Hela crushing Mjolnir with her bare hands in Thor: Ragnarok to a brainwashed Bucky Barnes attacking Nick Fury on his commute in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, some MCU villains have gotten unforgettable introductions.

Whiplash In Iron Man 2

Whiplash steps onto the Monaco racetrack in Iron Man 2

Whiplash is one of the blandest villains in the MCU. In the climactic showdown of Iron Man 2, Tony Stark defeats him with a disappointing “deus ex machina.” But, early in the movie, the character gets a killer introduction.

While Tony is driving his racecar in Monaco, Whiplash marches onto the racetrack and uses his electrical whips to effortlessly cut speeding cars in half.

He Who Remains In Loki

Jonathan Majors as He Who Remains in Loki

Midway through Loki’s first season, the trickster god and his female counterpart Sylvie are shocked to learn that the TVA is an elaborate ruse. They go to the Citadel at the End of Time to confront the diabolical villain responsible and meet “He Who Remains.” He Who Remains is a variant of Kang the Conqueror who lives in a decrepit mansion outside the space-time continuum.

Stealing the show from Tom Hiddleston, Jonathan Majors chews the scenery with a captivating turn. He has a lot of exposition to deliver, but Majors nails it.

Gorr The God Butcher In Thor: Love And Thunder

Gorr pledges to kill all gods in Thor Love and Thunder

Taika Waititi was expected to helm another straightforward comedy when he returned to the MCU, but Thor: Love and Thunder dealt with some truly dark themes. In the opening scene, Gorr’s young daughter Love starves to death in his arms. Gorr then meets the deity that his people, including his family, died in the name of, and he’s promptly mocked for believing in a greater purpose.

This interaction with a pompous god gives Gorr an understandable motivation for taking up the Necrosword and setting out to slaughter all gods.

Wenwu In Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings

Wenwu in the opening scene of Shang-Chi

After the controversial fake-out in Iron Man 3, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings promised to feature the real Mandarin. And not only that; he’s the focus of the beginning of the movie. The fearsome terrorist leader’s backstory is filled in by the opening montage.

Wenwu is introduced as an ancient warrior whose mystical rings allowed him to conquer worlds. He becomes surprisingly sympathetic when he renounces his reign of evil after falling in love with Shang-Chi’s mother in a magical garden.

The Scarlet Witch In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

Wanda reveals her hex in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

The first act of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness seems to set up a standard Avengers team-up. Strange travels to Wanda’s apple orchard to recruit her help protecting America Chavez from the witch that’s been pursuing her. It seems to be the same kind of story that fans have seen countless times before in MCU projects.

But, as it turns out, Wanda is the witch that’s been pursuing America’s power. The orchard is an illusion and Wanda has become so corrupted by the Darkhold that she’s made the switch from lovable antihero to terrifying horror villain.

Ultron In Avengers: Age Of Ultron

Ultron introduces himself in Avengers Age of Ultron

On the whole, Avengers: Age of Ultron is criticized for not living up to its full potential. The titular android can hack into any computer on Earth, but the whole thing still culminates in a big battle with faceless goons. Ultron may not realize his potential, but he gets a breathtaking introduction.

After gaining sentience, Ultron gives himself a crude physical form made out of scrap parts and crashes Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ party with an unnerving rendition of “I’ve Got No Strings,” making the character a dark parallel of Pinocchio.

Agatha Harkness In WandaVision

Agatha All Along in WandaVision

Not every villain reveal in the MCU gets a catchy theme song. WandaVision’s Agatha Harkness is initially introduced as a kooky neighbor in the show’s sitcom fantasyland – a TV trope that the great Kathryn Hahn evokes perfectly in the early episodes.

Midway through the show’s run, Agatha is revealed to be the big bad of the series with the now-beloved musical number “Agatha All Along.”

The Winter Soldier In Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Bucky ambushes Nick Fury in Captain America The Winter Soldier

A brainwashed Bucky Barnes barely appears on-screen in his first appearance in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but he makes it clear that he’s not to be messed with under the influence of Hydra’s ruthless conditioning.

As Nick Fury drives across town to meet up with Maria Hill, he’s unexpectedly ambushed by the Winter Soldier and an army of Hydra henchmen. If he didn’t have a bunch of spy gadgets at his disposal, Fury wouldn’t have survived the encounter.

Hela In Thor: Ragnarok

Hela grabs Mjolnir in Thor Ragnarok

When the Gods of Thunder and Mischief go to Norway to visit their father Odin in his final moments in the opening act of Thor: Ragnarok, Odin warns them that after he dies, he will no longer be able to keep their evil, long-lost sister Hela at bay. As soon as Odin has faded away, Hela confronts Thor and Loki with a sinister smirk.

As always, Thor attempts to use his all-powerful hammer Mjolnir to defeat her. But, much to his surprise, she catches his hammer and crushes it into a million pieces with her bare hands.

Thanos In Avengers: Infinity War

Thanos dons the Infinity Gauntlet in Avengers Infinity War

Thanos had to live up to six years’ worth of hype when he finally took center stage in Avengers: Infinity War, after post-credits scenes and subplots had introduced his quest to collect the Infinity Stones. The Mad Titan managed to live up to that hype from the very first scene of Infinity War.

Following on from Ragnarok’s cliffhanger ending, Thanos quickly establishes the grave threat he poses by massacring most of the Asgardian people, killing Heimdall and Loki, and beating the Hulk to a pulp.

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