F E AT U R E
is the first act of aggression from a man so spineless he
would support his friend’s son while secretly plotting his
demise. They don’t come any weaker than that folks, even
with Bridges’ old school charm guarding the way. Stane
would eventually usher in a legion of billionaire bad guys
like Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), Aldrich Killian (Guy
Pearce), and Darren Cross (Corey Stoll), a large part of
the MCU pulpit.
11. ALEXANDER PIERCE
One of the few men on the list who are above donning
colorful spandex, Alexander Pierce has several factors in
his favor. One, he’s played by Robert Redford, who can
do whatever the hell he wants, and two, he’s one of the
most powerful men in the world, as he’s the Secretary of
Defense, a big wig at S.H.I.E.L.D., and he’s a member of
the World Security Council. As such, Pierce is able to orchestrate mass conspiracy and cross-organization coverups, ranging from brainwashed super soldiers to the attempted assassination of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).
All while looking very fly in a three piece suit and running
HYDRA’s secret resurgence project. Pierce’s role is small
in comparison to other Marvel villains, but he more than
makes up for a lacking presence with sheer scope of vision. With the exception of Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and potentially Thanos (time will tell), few men have been able to
pull the veritable strings as he has, while leaving combat
for the likes of Crossbones (Frank Grillo) and brainwashed
Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). As master orchestrator in
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), this charming
snake is government corruption in the flesh, and one of the
MCU’s most underrated villains.
10. THE WINTER SOLDIER
Speak of the devil. Recipient of one of the coolest introductions in superhero history, The Winter Soldier is someone
that should not be trifled with. Like, at all. He is the definition of “killing machine,” destroying Nick Fury’s armored
car and nearly taking Cap’s head off in a combat scene
that still ranks among the best in comic book movie history. Worlds away from the comforting camaraderie of
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Bucky Barnes
is no more, replaced with a blended brain that’s ideal for
punching in mission commands. The fear behind the role
has plenty to do with combat prowess, through it is the
mysterious espionage of the character that truly made him
stand out in 2014. Since his titular appearance in the second Captain America, Bucky has undergone a regression
of villainy that puts him lower on the list (i.e. Civil War).
Nevertheless, the Winter Soldier will always hold a special place in the hearts of MCU aficionados, masterfully
brought to life by the Russo Brothers and actor Sebastian
Stan. Here’s hoping he gets that sweet metal arm back
someday.
9. SEBASTIAN SHAW
From one Sebastian to another, this deceptive evildoer
aided the Fox resurgence of 2011 with X-Men: First Class.
As an amoral millionaire in the 1960s, Shaw (Kevin Bacon) is a mutant who believes the rules of morality don’t
apply, freely moving through WWII and the Cold War with
little regard for the body count he leaves in his wake. One
of which, just so happened to be the mother of Magneto
(Michael Fassbender), collateral damage when provoking
the young mutant to discover his hidden powers. This belittlement of human life is precisely what makes Shaw such
a bastard in the realm of bad guys, whether he’s blowing
up Colonel Hendry or running the infamous Hellfire Club.
Bacon has fun in the role, playing Shaw as a long lost
Bond villain who is forced to take on decidedly less dapper
enemies: Xavier, Mystique, and a vengeful Magneto. By
the time the metal-wielding bad boy shoots a coin through
Shaw’s head, however, the ability to absorb and redirect
other’s powers prove futile.