Earth's Mightiest Heroes are set to return to the screen this September, in Square Enix's Marvel's Avengers. We already know that Captain America, the Hulk, Iron Man, Black Widow, and Thor will all be back in action in one of the most anticipated games of the year alongside Ms. Marvel. However, a story is only as good as its villain, and Marvel has a strong pantheon to choose from.
However, while we do know about three villains who will be in the game, they probably won't be alone. With a game that promises to be as huge as Marvel's Avengers, it's likely Square Enix is keeping some details under wraps. Let's take a look at the three villains we've heard about as well as three we'd like to see.
Taskmaster
Taskmaster, whose real name is Tony Masters, had a starring role in the mission shown off in the gameplay demo. Squaring off against Black Widow, this ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. member seems to play a large part in the A-Day disaster which sees much of San Francisco destroyed.
A Martial Arts expert, Masters is a dangerous adversary primarily due to his photographic reflexes which allows him to memorize and mimic the fighting techniques of his opponents. The more he fights someone, the more he learns and the more likely he'll find a way to come out on top. Injected with a Super Solider Serum similar to the one Captain America received and donning a fearsome skull mask, Taskmaster will surely be a worth adversary for the Avengers.
It is not the first time Tony Masters has made an appearance in a Marvel game, as he was seen testing Peter Parker in various quests in Spider-Man for PlayStation 4. It's not yet clear if Taskmaster will appear in more than one mission, but hopefully, his role will be more than just a cameo.
Abomination
One of the few who can match the Hulk in terms of raw strength, Emil Blonksy (better known as the mutated monster, Abomination) is one of Bruce Banner's most famous antagonists from the comics. Making a brief appearance in the initial A-Day trailer, fans can expect the Hulk to go head-to-head with his old nemesis at some point in the game.
Exposed to the same gamma radiation that Banner was, Blonksy wields similar super-human strength, durability, and healing, which will make him a difficult opponent for the Avengers to combat. However, unlike the Hulk, Abomination is unable to change back into his human form. He is therefore permanently stuck as a grotesque, deformed monster. Though Marvel's Avengers will be set in its own unique universe, in the comics, Abomination often ends up being the bane of Hulk's existence, killing Banner's long-time love interest, Betty Ross.
A.I.M
A.I.M (Advanced Idea Mechanics) may not be the most well-known Avengers villains, but it appears that they will be playing a major role in the game. An organization that believes science should lead the way in human progress, A.I.M. advocates that superheroes are no longer necessary and are actually a societal burden.
However, A.I.M's intentions are far from pure, often seeking the most advanced technology and recruiting brilliant scientists to enhance their own power. Usually with the intention to overthrow the government and instate themselves as the ruling authority, A.I.M's cunning and resources will be difficult for the Avengers to combat.
Want to See: M.O.D.O.K
While he hadn't been mentioned yet, it wouldn't be a huge surprise if it turns out M.O.D.O.K has been pulling the strings behind the Avengers' misfortune. Created by A.I.M in an experiment to turn a man into Mental Organism Designed Only for Computing (M.O.D.O.C), George Tarleton would be altered into a super-intelligent being, becoming one of the more bizarre-looking Marvel villains with his humongous head.
Turning on his creators and taking control of A.I.M, Tarleton would henceforth go by the acronym M.O.D.O.K (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing). Due to his association with and eventual leadership of A.I.M, hopefully, this malevolent schemer will find his way into Marvel's Avengers.
Want to See: Enchantress
A fellow Asgardian, trickster and great enemy of Thor, Amora (better known as Enchantress) is one of Thor's oldest and most fearsome rivals and a powerful sorceress. Always either trying to seduce or defeat the God of Thunder, Enchantress can serve as Thor's main nemesis in the game in the same way Abomination likely will for the Hulk.
As a Goddess, Enchantress' sorcery and powers could test Thor's limits and push his abilities past fighting thugs and mere mortals like he is used to. Enchantress has been known to work with human villains in the past, previously teaming up with the Mandarin and Baron Zemo.
Want to See: The Mandarin
Speaking of the Mandarin, he would be another great villain to see in Marvel's Avengers. Possessing technological wonders in his Makluan Power Rings, the Mandarin could be a valuable asset to A.I.M and their goals. Using his technology to teleport from place to place, the Mandarin is a powerful and unpredictable enemy, often seeking to steal or copy the work of Tony Stark.
After an unusual adaptation in Iron Man 3, it would be cool to see a Mandarin portrayal that is more akin to the character in the comics before his real Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.