Villains have evolved into heroes on numerous occasions in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and they represent some of the franchise’s most captivating character arcs. Some figures like Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) are framed as heroes from the beginning; the MCU’s most notorious villains, including Thanos (Josh Brolin), Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), and Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), may be layered and complex, but are only ever characterized as “bad” guys. Thus, the MCU’s villains-turned-heroes occupy a unique and fascinating place in the franchise’s overarching narrative. Ranked from worst to best, these MCU characters have amazing villain-to-hero arcs.
Videos by ComicBook.com
5) Ghost
Ava Starr/Ghost’s (Hannah John-Kamen) tragic MCU story has recently turned hopeful. The former S.H.I.E.L.D operative functions as an antagonist in Ant-Man and the Wasp, working alongside Bill Foster (Laurence Fishburne) to hijack Hank Pym’s (Michael Douglas) Quantum Tunnel to cure her molecular disequilibrium. Later in Thunderbolts* with her condition now under control, Ghost serves as an assassin for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and becomes a member of the Thunderbolts/New Avengers.
Ghost’s beginning as a reluctant villain nicely paves the way for her hero arc. Her traumatic childhood and unfortunate turn toward criminal endeavors seemingly left her scarred, so Ghost’s involvement with the New Avengers is a fitting and heartwarming next chapter for someone who only ever needed love and support through her struggles. As a potential key piece in Avengers: Doomsday, Ghost has the chance to improve her stature as an MCU hero now that she fights with the good guys.
4) Bucky Barnes
Bucky Barnes’ (Sebastian Stan) stint as the formidable Winter Soldier sees him brainwashed by HYDRA and turned into a ruthless assassin bent on killing Steve and his allies. The heartbreaking story of Captain America’s best friend eventually gets better, as Bucky embarks on a long journey toward redemption. With the help of Steve, Sam Wilson/Captain America (Anthony Mackie), and others, Bucky regains his self-autonomy and joins the Avengers before unexpectedly finding himself a member of the New Avengers in Thunderbolts*.
Over the course of his decade-plus-long MCU tenure, Bucky has proven that a person’s past doesn’t define them. His commitment to helping people — whether as an Avenger or a congressman — outweighs his dark days as a mind-controlled Super Soldier, cementing Bucky as a genuine MCU hero. Even though Bucky has been underused in some of his appearances, tons of fans rightfully admire his enthralling villain-to-hero arc. A model of fortitude, compassion, and leadership, Bucky’s current status in the MCU shows that he has come a long way from his Winter Soldier spell, and it will be interesting to see where the franchise takes him next.
3) Wanda Maximoff
Rising from an antagonist to a hero and descending into villainy again, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) has followed a one-of-a-kind arc in the MCU. Introduced alongside her twin brother Pietro (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) as Ultron’s (James Spader) allies, Wanda subsequently joins forces with the Avengers in Sokovia and later against Thanos. Tragically imprisoning the people of Westview in a false reality and even after making amends for her fault, she murderously rampages through the multiverse while under the Darkhold’s influence. Wanda’s non-linear character progression renders her MCU story exceptionally compelling.
She’s morally ambiguous and susceptible to misdirection, but Wanda has displayed remarkable resilience through it all. Losing almost all of her loved ones has taken a toll on Wanda; however, Avengers: Age of Ultron, WandaVision, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness all end with her making amends for her errors. The MCU has written the all-powerful Scarlet Witch as a layered human often unjustly villainized by others, even when not acting as an evildoer. Unfortunately, the tonal whiplash between WandaVision and Multiverse of Madness prevents Wanda’s arc from ranking higher, but she’s still a top-tier antihero in the MCU. Sympathetic and easy to root for despite her flaws, Wanda boasts a riveting villain-to-hero story.
2) Loki
Loki (Tom Hiddleston) has constantly wavered between hero and villain, and the MCU has executed his arc to near-perfection. The God of Mischief starts as an antagonist in Thor and The Avengers, in which he attempts to conquer his adoptive home of Asgard and Earth. In the wake of his failure, Loki exhibits immense personal growth, allying with his brother Thor in Thor: Ragnarok, though devastatingly dying at the hands of Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. Loki never loses his knack for malicious tricks, but his character development proves that he has a genuine heart. His variant functions as the hero of the TV series Loki as he races across dimensions to protect the Sacred Timeline and become the God of Stories.
An exquisite villain with a wonderful heroic turn, Loki is one of the best characters the MCU has ever adapted to the screen. His beginning as an overlooked Asgardian prince who deals with his feelings of unworthiness in all the wrong ways eventually morphs into a more complex story about family and sacrifice. It’s never easy to predict whether Loki will lean into his malevolent or compassionate side, which keeps viewers invested in his smoothly written arc. Luckily, Loki’s MCU tale hasn’t ended, as the newly crowned master of timelines will make a triumphant return in Avengers: Doomsday.
1) Nebula
Nebula (Karen Gillan) ranks among the MCU’s most underrated characters, and she also lays claim to the best villain-to-hero arc. Introduced as the antagonistic adopted daughter of Thanos and adopted sister of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), Nebula operates under the warlord Ronan (Lee Pace) in Guardians of the Galaxy before joining the Guardians. On the path to redemption, Nebula plays a pivotal role in Avengers: Endgame as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes fight to defeat Thanos and resurrect those vanished by the Snap. During the Avengers’ time heist, Nebula confronts her past self and the abuse she suffered from Thanos.
This powerful segment of Nebula’s arc epitomizes the MCU’s brilliant handling of the character — who overcomes her life of trauma to secure a well-earned life on Knowhere after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. In the end, Nebula’s resolve proves her greatest strength, as her willingness to repair her relationship with Gamora, open up to her found family members, and take on Thanos without fear cement her as an admirable MCU hero. Few believed Nebula would become one of the MCU’s fiercest and most lovable characters after her first appearance, proving that the franchise made no mistakes in its handling of her.
Which MCU villains-turned-heroes do you love the most? Let us know in the comments!
Most Viewed
-
Image Courtesy of Ufotable -
Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics
