MarvelandDC’s latest shows recently ended, and I’m relieved they broke a growing trend within the superhero genre. Villain-centered projects are becoming more popular for both studios. Audiences love a good villain, and these projects peel the curtain behind these characters to contextualize their actions and make them more empathetic. Marvel and DC’s latest shows,Agatha All AlongandThe Penguin, focus on villains within their franchise and explain what makes them so despicable.
Agatha All Alongcenters around Agatha Harkness, the witch who manipulated Wanda inWandavisionand tried to steal her powers. The series follows her as she embarks onthe Witches' Roadto regain her powers.The Penguinis set inMatt Reeves’The Batmanuniverse, following the first film’s events. It chronicles Oz’s rise to power amidst a power grab between the criminal gangs in Gotham after Carmine Falcone’s death. These shows are different in many ways, but they offer a refreshing perspective on villains that other projects are too afraid of.
Agatha All Along And The Penguin End Without Redeeming Their Main Character
The PenguinandAgatha All Alongare about villains, and the shows make sure to underline this fact. While there are moments when I rooted for the main characters, the show would quickly remind me that these are not good people, and I’m supposed to condemn their actions. Agatha is initially helpful to Teen and her coven, taking them to the Witches Road to give them what they’re searching for. However, theAgatha All Alongendingconcludes with the reveal that Agatha has been scheming the whole time.
The Witches Road isn’t real, and she has lied to witches throughout history to kill them and steal their powers. While the series shows Agatha was initially killing witches to try and protect her son, her decision to continue this approach long after his death is far less morally complex - especially since she admits she had intended to repeat this trick with her own coven. Though Agatha’s sacrifice suggests there’s some moral complexity to her, she still seems unrepentant for all of her past misdeeds, underscoring that the show isn’t about giving the character a redemption arc.
The Penguinends with Oz defeating Sofiaand taking control of Gotham’s criminal empire. While I initially celebrated with Oz and Vic, the show pulled the rug from under us by having Oz kill Vic to remove his only weakness. It’s a swift reminder that Oz is a monster, brilliantly turning the audience on Oz before Batman, hopefully, destroys him.
Recent Superhero Movies And Shows Tend To Turn Their Villains Into Heroes
I’m glad to seeAgatha All AlongandThe Penguinrefuse to turn their villains into heroes like many recent comic book projects. Shows likeLokiandPeacemakertook characters labeled as villains and made them the heroes of their story, even if they are still morally flawed. Similarly,Sony’s Spider-Man Universe filmshave turned many of Spider-Man’s best villains into likable heroes. The problem with that approach is that it wouldn’t make sense for Morbius or Venom to fight Spider-Man, since they have no evil ambitions.
Another character who has transitioned into a hero is Harley Quinn. Projects likeBirds of Preyand theHarley Quinnanimated series have given Harley her power back from the Joker and made her autonomous. While she remains a criminal, she still fights many of Batman’s villains, even helping him in a few circumstances. While this direction can work for characters like Harley, it doesn’t work for everyone - especially if it’s overused - and I’m relieved that Penguin and Agatha can still be perceived as villains after theirDCandMarvelshows.
DC Universe
The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
