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While superhero fatigue is acknowledged, fans haven’t abandoned the genre, especially considering the significant impact of the MCU on cinema over the past two decades. The MCU’s success, intricate shared universe, and well-crafted plots have been transformative. Alongside the introduction of Marvel’s iconic heroes, including upcoming additions like the X-Men, Silver Surfer, and Fantastic Four, the MCU has portrayed its characters with both positive and dark qualities.
The complexity arises when these heroes make morally questionable decisions, adding depth to their story arcs. This article revisits instances where MCU heroes displayed their darker, imperfect sides, showcasing the ten worst actions they’ve taken over the years.
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The 10 Worst Things MCU Superheroes Have Done
Hulk Destroys Johannesburg
In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner unintentionally create a destructive machine with a sentient AI, Ultron, who aims to eradicate humanity. Following Wanda Maximoff’s manipulation of the Avengers’ minds, the Hulk loses control and unleashes a destructive rampage in Johannesburg, South Africa. While Tony dons the Hulkbuster armor to subdue him, their intense battle results in significant damage, traumatizing civilians, injuring or possibly causing harm to law enforcement, and causing billions in economic losses to the struggling country. Despite the Hulk’s lack of control being a tragic circumstance, the collateral damage underscores the danger he poses when unleashed in populated areas.
Captain America and Sharon Carter
Captain America, Marvel’s beloved character, is typically seen as a symbol of virtue and embodies the best qualities of humanity, akin to Superman in the DC universe. However, the events of Captain America: Civil War reveal a more flawed side of him. In his quest to protect Bucky, he pushes his moral code to the limits, resulting in conflicts that fracture The Avengers.
While this could be justified by Steve Rogers’ adherence to old-school values, there’s another action that seems more out of character. Since being unfrozen, Captain America grapples with grief over losing Peggy Carter, his love from the past, and struggles with loneliness in the modern world. Despite forming a connection with his neighbor, Sharon Carter, he discovers she’s a S.H.I.E.L.D operative assigned to watch him and is, in fact, Peggy’s great-niece.
In Endgame, it’s evident that Captain America never truly got over Peggy, ultimately choosing to stay in the past with her. However, in Civil War, even after learning Sharon’s true identity, he remains attracted to her, and they share a kiss. This action contradicts Captain America’s image as a chivalrous man, making it a questionable move. Nevertheless, this doesn’t diminish the overall admiration fans have for Captain America.
The Red in Natasha’s Ledger
In the quoted dialogue from The Avengers, Loki references several events from Black Widow’s past, suggesting a much darker history than initially revealed. Here’s a breakdown of the mentioned incidents:
Dreykov’s daughter: This refers to the revelation in “Black Widow” (2021) that Natasha had been involved in an operation where she targeted Dreykov, the head of the Red Room, but inadvertently caused the death of his young daughter along with him. This event is a significant part of Natasha’s guilt and remorse.
Sao Paulo: This is not explicitly detailed in the MCU films, leaving it open to interpretation and speculation. It implies that Natasha was involved in some mission or event in Sao Paulo that contributed to the “red in her ledger.”
The hospital fire: Again, this incident is not explicitly shown in the movies, but it implies that Natasha was somehow connected to a hospital fire, potentially causing harm to innocent lives.
Loki’s point in bringing up these events is to emphasize the gravity of Natasha’s past actions and the moral complexity of her character. He questions whether she can truly redeem herself or wipe out the “red” in her ledger, implying that her past is filled with morally ambiguous or outright dark deeds. The reference to Clint Barton (Hawkeye) knowing about these events adds another layer, suggesting that those closest to her are aware of the extent of her troubled history.
Tony and Bruce Create Ultron
Tony Stark and Bruce Banner are admired not just for their superhero personas, but for their brilliance as scientists. In Age of Ultron, their collaborative efforts to create an AI system for achieving peace went awry. Although Tony’s reckless tinkering took the blame, both scientists played a role in unleashing the deadly Ultron. The resulting chaos, widespread death, and destruction marked a significant and largely unforgivable lapse in judgment, particularly on Tony’s part.
Hawkeye’s Actions as Ronin
In the early stages of Avengers: Endgame, Hawkeye, portrayed by Jeremy Renner, undergoes a significant transformation fueled by grief after losing his family to Thanos’ snap. Initially found in Japan, he adopts a darker persona known as Ronin, marked by a gritty appearance and a ruthless, vengeful attitude. This version of Hawkeye seeks justice by relentlessly pursuing and eliminating criminals, driven by the belief that his family’s demise was unjust compared to the survival of many criminals during the snap.
However, the adoption of the Ronin identity implies a departure from the traditional heroic and family-oriented character of Hawkeye. In this altered state, he becomes a merciless vigilante, acting as judge, jury, and executioner. Despite the criminal nature of his targets, the lack of justification for his extrajudicial actions raises ethical concerns, as he takes the law into his own hands in a quest for personal retribution.
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Thor Wanted Genocide
In the initial Thor film, we encounter a Thor Odinson characterized by arrogance and recklessness, eager to claim his place as the King of Asgard. Despite his father Odin’s advice that a wise king avoids seeking war but remains prepared for it, Thor, driven by immaturity and impulsiveness, dismisses this counsel.
Thor’s major mistake occurs when Frost Giants infiltrate Asgard, provoking him to perceive it as an act of war demanding immediate and severe retaliation. In his zeal, Thor advocates for genocide against the Frost Giants, viewing it as a means to assert Asgard’s strength and eliminate any perception of weakness.
This misguided thinking, reminiscent of historical atrocities like the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide, underscores the dangers of such narrow-minded approaches. In today’s world, marked by divisive conflicts with calls for the extermination of entire races, Thor’s flawed perspective serves as a chilling reminder of the consequences of such destructive thinking.
Dr. Strange Plays God With The World’s Memories
In “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” the film’s standout feature was the collaboration of different Spider-Man versions, bringing Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield together. Amidst the focus on multiple Spideys, the interactions between Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and Dr. Strange were noteworthy. Dr. Strange, genuinely trying to assist Peter after Mysterio’s havoc, exhibited a surprising readiness to tamper with powerful magic, leading to unintended consequences. His attempt to erase Peter’s identity backfires, causing a chaotic memory spell, tearing through space-time and allowing beings from other universes to enter.
Loki Stealing The Tesseract
Loki’s infatuation with the Tesseract is notorious, representing one of his gravest misdeeds. As a former antagonist, his pursuit of the Tesseract triggered the catastrophic events in New York, posing a severe threat to humanity. Despite undergoing various rebellious phases, Loki eventually embraces heroism by Thor: Ragnarok. However, in a final act before Asgard’s demise, he steals the Tesseract once more.
Regrettably, this act proves disastrous, as the Tesseract contains an infinity stone whose energy signature unwittingly guides Thanos to them. Loki’s theft becomes a catalyst for Thanos’ pursuit, resulting in the brutal slaughter of numerous innocent Asgardians. Despite any tragic elements, the dire consequences stem directly from Loki’s self-centered choices, marking one of his most reprehensible actions.
Star-Lord Loses His Head
Star-Lord, portrayed by the charming Chris Pratt, is widely beloved in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for his likable personality, humorous quotes, and entertaining antics. However, in “Avengers: Infinity War,” his impulsive actions have severe consequences. During a crucial battle against Thanos, where the heroes almost succeed in defeating the Mad Titan, Star-Lord’s emotional turmoil over Gamora’s fate leads him to attack Thanos recklessly. This jeopardizes the carefully laid plans of his teammates and ultimately results in Thanos regaining control, setting the stage for the catastrophic snap that wipes out half of all life in the universe. Despite his genuine love for Gamora, Star-Lord’s lack of restraint proves to be a costly mistake with devastating outcomes.
Wanda Taking Out The Illuminati
It seems like you’ve provided a detailed description of a hypothetical scenario involving Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch) in the film “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” However, it’s important to note that as of my last knowledge update in January 2022, this film had not been released, and I’m not aware of its specific plot details or events. If this is a creative interpretation or speculation, it’s fascinating, but I don’t have information on the actual content of the movie.
If there have been new developments or releases since my last update, I recommend checking the latest sources or reviews for accurate and up-to-date information. If you have any other questions or if there’s a specific way I can assist you within the scope of my training data, feel free to let me know!
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