MCU Phase 5 Redeemed Two of Marvel’s Most Disappointing Villains

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been introducing villains and heroes left and right. Some of them stick, while others undeniably need a bit more work to get viewers caring about them. With Marvel’s Phase 5 firmly underway, two surprising villains just had a bit of a redemption arc, and not in the most traditional sense. These characters had a lot of potential, but most of that seemed to be left on the cutting room floor, at least until Thunderbolts* came around, swooped them up, and rebuilt a story around that foundation. We’re talking about the villains known as Ghost and U.S. Agent.

Both characters were introduced in earlier Marvel Phases, yet until Thunderbolts* came around, their potential was largely untapped. Truthfully, many fans would have believed it if they had never seen these two again; sometimes that happens in the MCU. While we don’t love it, we have gotten used to it. Thankfully, that’s not something we have to worry about with these two, not anymore.

Ghost’s Journey From Antagonist to Antihero

Ava Starr, aka Ghost, made her debut in Ant-Man and the Wasp as part of Marvel’s Phase 3. Right from the beginning, her story had tragic notes, as a quantum accident gave her powers (that she couldn’t control) and killed her parents in one fell swoop. From there, agencies like S.H.I.E.L.D. took advantage of her abilities, putting her on a track for villainy.

In other words, her story was complex enough to go in any direction Marvel chose. Ant-Man and the Wasp had her out of control, making desperate moves to control her powers. The film also introduced high stakes for the character, as failure to get her powers under control would have resulted in her death.

Things didn’t look too good for Ava after Avengers: Infinity War, as her only hope for control got snapped along with half the universe. Most fans probably assumed that Ghost succumbed to her illness during the five-year gap.

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Thunderbolts* proved that assumption wrong, and boy, did the movie give Ghost a chance to shine. Not only did she survive, but she seemingly has solid control over her abilities now. She’s calm, controlled, and powerful.

More importantly, her interactions with Yelena and the rest make her feel more human. She happily banters with Yelena, holds her own in debates, and quickly jumps in on the inside jokes. She really feels like part of this messed-up found family. By letting her join the crew on her own terms, Thunderbolts* gave Ava her agency, allowing her to develop outside the shadow of a team or primary character.

U.S. Agent Faces Real Consequences for His Behavior (& Is Better For It)

Then there’s John Walker, aka U.S. Agent. We were never meant to like John Walker, and that’s okay. He appeared on the scene in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, part of Marvel’s Phase 4 initiative. He gained access to an unstable form of the Super Soldier Serum, which, combined with his greedy level of ambition, was a recipe for disaster.

John Walker was a flawed person from the start, but Thunderbolts* allowed his flaws to be more than pure villainy. Sure, he failed at being a hero, he’s a bad (ex) husband, and an even worse dad, but he’s still human. These flaws are part of him, but nothing is stopping him from trying again; from trying to be better. While the film doesn’t delve deeply into the consequences of John’s actions and behavior, they are clearly present. He’s newly divorced and probably hasn’t seen his child in months. He’s resorted to working for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, and that alone should speak volumes for how far he’s sunk.

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To be clear, John Walker is still an unlikable character in Thunderbolts*. He’s an arrogant jerk full of trauma and self-doubt, but these characteristics help to balance out the group. He’s often the source of jokes and teasing, which will probably be good for him in the long run.

John Walker did not sign up to be part of the Thunderbolts* team, but he’s still part of it. He was pulled into this found family, and he’s going to get the little brother treatment, complete with his siblings calling out every one of his flaws.

These changes may not sound significant on the surface, but Thunderbolts* has taken these characters and made them relatable. They’re funny, emotional, and flawed. By making them better characters, the MCU can now better use them as antiheroes (or heroes, depending on the situation). Their team makes them stronger, in every sense of the word, and we look forward to seeing what they get up to next.

Thunderbolts* is available to stream on Disney+.