Villains who have not been utilised properly/enough

[MichaelC]

More often than not, even the villains who appear and are used by writers are themselves underutilized.

Frankly, the majority of villains have stopped being foils for heroes. They've stopped having unique motivations. More often than not, they're there to move the scene along. Someone far more articulate than me once described villains as guest stars, who had their own plots and everything.

Now? Not so much. Sometimes, villains are used if they fit a vague, visual theme, as we saw when Sphinx showed up in Howling Commandos.

And I don't see an end any time soon, frankly.

It feels like at some point comics became more about the hero's internal monologue and psychological issues. Kind of like a 30's pulp detective with some modern pop psychology thrown in. Villains just became a bit of background color while the story was about that inner monologue. I think it may have reached its height right around the Buffy era. Buffy had a lot of dusting vamps while the real story was about things like her angsting about being pulled back into the miserable life of a Slayer.

It reached its height then, but then it just kept on at that height.

[PCN24454]

It feels like at some point comics became more about the hero's internal monologue and psychological issues. Kind of like a 30's pulp detective with some modern pop psychology thrown in. Villains just became a bit of background color while the story was about that inner monologue. I think it may have reached its height right around the Buffy era. Buffy had a lot of dusting vamps while the real story was about things like her angsting about being pulled back into the miserable life of a Slayer.

It reached its height then, but then it just kept on at that height.

I think you just highlighted my biggest issue with the Power Rangers comic and highlighted why lots of writers like to use evil counterparts in their works.

A "normal" villain like Hydro-Man will never be as important as someone like Carnage no matter how powerful he is.

[Triniking1234]

Power Rangers is a weird example since the writers are trying to combine Super Sentai tropes with American comic ones.

I think that villains are honestly overused. It’s why people are complaining about “no-kill” rules. They’re sick of seeing these guys.

Most villain rosters are large enough where you can use them for one story and put them back on the shelves for a few years while using others with some newbies in-between.

Some writers are just bad so it's Arcade and Taskmaster in your face every damn week.

[Hypestyle]

He doesn't actually need to be a recurring villain for a black hero.

He debuted as a Spider-Man/Punisher foe, and he's fought the X-Men and the Avengers since.

He could be a Storm villain, sure. Or a Cap villain or an Iron Man villain or Spider-Man, whatever.

kdb

as the main villain in a major crossover that could propel him to a decent status.

[Kurt Busiek]

as the main villain in a major crossover that could propel him to a decent status.

Still needs a motivation to match his power...

kdb

[Anthony W]

How exactly is he out of her league? He used to cut and run all the time, and Deathstroke he isn't.

Even when Tasky stands and fights, his win record isn't the best. Add to that, Widow isn't going to engage in hand to hand or fight remotely fair.

If we compared feats, I'm certain Widow would come out on top, even ignoring her greater publishing history.

MCU synergy, bad writing and editing all came together to create a perfect storm of WTF guaranteeing that I won't be back for the second issue. Real shame, the art was good. Also Marcus Johnson showed up looking and acting just like Ultimate Nick Fury. It even looked like they aged him up a little. That was a plus.

[The Cool Thatguy]

MCU synergy, bad writing and editing all came together to create a perfect storm of WTF guaranteeing that I won't be back for the second issue. Real shame, the art was good. Also Marcus Johnson showed up looking and acting just like Ultimate Nick Fury. It even looked like they aged him up a little. That was a plus.

To each their own.

But again, Taskmaster was never leagues above Widow. And written correctly, she wouldn't be dumb enough to fight hand to hand with a guy who can copy moves.

[Triniking1234]

Taskmaster only runs away if the fight doesn't make him money but he can hold his own against most heroes unless they're a telepath or a Hulk type.

[The Cool Thatguy]

Taskmaster only runs away if the fight doesn't make him money but he can hold his own against most heroes unless they're a telepath or a Hulk type.

Cap's beaten him, Deadpool's beaten him, so's Agent X. He's good, but only so good. He can put up a good fight, but often comes up short against people who own their own styles.

Widow is easily in his weight class, and she's also not dumb enough to rely on hand to hand combat against a specialist

[Triniking1234]

He beat Cap and Iron Man in his first appearance so his success varies.

[PCN24454]

He beat Cap and Iron Man in his first appearance so his success varies.

Supervillains almost always beat superheroes in their first encounter. It’s a common narrative trope.

[Anthony W]

Cap's beaten him,

Are we really putting Black Widow in the same class as Captain America

Deadpool's beaten him,

...and Deadpool?

so's Agent X. He's good, but only so good. He can put up a good fight, but often comes up short against people who own their own styles.
Widow is easily in his weight class, and she's also not dumb enough to rely on hand to hand combat against a specialist

Agent X? Never heard of him. One moment (looks up the character) created by Gail Simone? That's your problem right there. Gail does strong DC work but her Marvel stuff is ALWAYS substandard. Let me break it down for you. Scarlett Johansson plays the Black Widow in movies that make a lot of money. Taskmaster's characterization fell off a cliff awhile back along with an understanding of what he is truly capable of. Widow is not in his weight class.

[Anthony W]

Taskmaster only runs away if the fight doesn't make him money but he can hold his own against most heroes unless they're a telepath or a Hulk type.

What's weird is that not only has the character been used terribly...he's been used frequently. I'm just starting to notice this.

[The Cool Thatguy]

Are we really putting Black Widow in the same class as Captain America

In terms of skill, ability and caliber?

Hell yes. She might not be able to take him in a straight up fight, but she's no less capable. She's one of the top spies in the MU, and gets in far more brawls than say, either Furys.

Agent X? Never heard of him. One moment (looks up the character) created by Gail Simone? That's your problem right there. Gail does strong DC work but her Marvel stuff is ALWAYS substandard. Let me break it down for you. Scarlett Johansson plays the Black Widow in movies that make a lot of money. Taskmaster's characterization fell off a cliff awhile back along with an understanding of what he is truly capable of. Widow is not in his weight class.

Widow might not be able to keep up with him in a fight, sure. But she carries guns, explosives, widows bite, etc.

Taskmaster's good in a fight. But that's pretty much it. Most of the mooks he trains get steamrolled (some exceptions, I know), he used to run all the damn time and espionage expert, he ain't. Hell, physically, he's just as normal as Widow.

So yeah, he should be terrified of her.

[Anthony W]

Hell yes.

I'm out, enjoy the remaining issues.