Marvel Needs a New "Thanos" to Turn Things Around

I've been deeply disappointed by Marvel's recent films, and I’m worried whether they can ever captivate me anymore.

I still remember the first time I watched The Avengers in theaters. Back then, when the superheroes finally assembled—Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk, and the others—seeing them stand together on the big screen had me almost jumping out of my seat in excitement. My friends and I couldn’t stop talking about every scene, every power, and every epic battle. My enthusiasm for Marvel carried all the way through to Avengers: Endgame. But after that, it has all gone. It isn’t just because superheroes have become something common, but that the villains no longer seem to pose a real sense of danger.

In my opinion, if Marvel wants to recapture the magic, it needs to figure out how to introduce a villain who can once again shake the entire universe and make audiences genuinely feel the threat.

What Marvel really needs is a new “Thanos.”

Looking back at the Avengers films, Thanos isn’t just a physically powerful character—he fundamentally changes the rhythm of the entire storyline. With his belief in “balance” by wiping out half the universe’s population, the villain's every move feels inevitable and carries a looming sense of danger. When Thanos shows up during the battle in Wakanda, he effortlessly overpowers the heroes; when he finally snaps his fingers, wielding the complete set of Infinity Stones, it was as if the entire theater held its breath. It isn’t just a physical victory; it exudes brooding oppressiveness. The heroes lost the battle, and as an audience, we could feel the weight of that defeat.

In contrast, none of the recent wave of Marvel villains has come close to giving me that same sense of dread. Let’s start with Black Widow. The movie aims to dive into Natasha Romanoff's past, but the villain—Taskmaster—doesn’t feel quite dangerous. Despite Taskmaster’s impressive combat skills and ability to mimic other heroes’ fighting styles, the character lacks depth. There is no compelling motivation or backstory. She feels more like a plot device than a true antagonist, existing simply to give Black Widow something to fight against. The poorly designed villain strips the film of supposed tension, which is quite disappointing.

Then there’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Shang-Chi’s father, Wenwu, is a more developed villain than Taskmaster, with emotional motivations stemming from the grief over the loss of his wife and expectations for his son. He has understandable motivations, but he doesn’t feel menacing enough, as his threats are limited to just his family and the Ten Rings. Though the fight scenes were thrilling—especially the one on the bus—Wenwu doesn’t carry the universal, overwhelming menace that Thanos does. At the end of the day, Wenwu's actions are all about his family, which pales in comparison to a villain who can reshape the fate of the universe.

There are plenty of other examples where Marvel’s recent villains fall flat. Whether it’s the Celestials in Eternals or the multiversal villains in Spider-Man: No Way Home, they don’t harbour anything close to shaking the galaxy. No Way Home does a great job by reintroducing familiar villains from previous Spider-Man films, but their presence feels more like fan service than a reasonable threat. They are entertaining to watch, but they don’t have the kind of impact or fear that Thanos instills.

I think the oversimplification of villains is one of the main reasons Marvel films have been losing their edge lately. Great villains are more than just obstacles for the heroes to overcome—they’re catalysts that drive the story forward and force the protagonists to evolve. Take the Joker from The Dark Knight, for instance. Every move he makes leaves audiences on edge because he breaks the expected rules. He isn’t after money, power, or any traditional goal—his sole aim is to create chaos. This unpredictability keeps us hooked guessing what might happen next, which is what creates the tension.

Another example is Darth Vader from Star Wars. He isn’t just a powerful figure; his backstory, his relationship with Luke Skywalker, and his internal struggles make him a fleshed-out villain. Whenever he appears on screen, you can sense both his strength and his personal turmoil. This multidimensional character design not only adds to his menace, but also to the overall emotional weight of the story.

I think Marvel has lost its way by focusing too much on expanding its roster of heroes rather than cultivating true tension. Over the past few years, we’ve seen the introduction of more and more superheroes, but instead of reigniting my passion for the MCU, it’s made me feel like the universe has become too safe. With so many heroes, it feels like no threat is too big to handle.

In recent months, there’s been a flurry of news about Marvel, like the return of Robert Downey Jr. or the X-Men joining the universe. But none of this has quelled my concerns about where the franchise is heading. Simply adding more heroes isn’t going to fix the problem. The real issue is that Marvel lacks a villain like Thanos—a character whose strength not only challenges the heroes, but also leaves a lasting psychological impact on the audience.

Honestly, instead of continuing to pile on more superheroes, Marvel should be focusing on crafting another villain as complex and powerful as Thanos.

Catch you later for more movie musings!