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In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, villains typically perish by the end of the movie, one way or another. Only a few break from that mold. Adrian Toomes, “The Vulture,” and Helmut Zemo are captured and imprisoned. In Ant-Man and the Wasp, the heroes realize that their antagonist, “Ghost,” is simply misunderstood, and they befriend her. Talos and the Skrulls turn out to be victims of the Kree, and they persuade Captain Marvel to fight (but not kill) the Kree leadership.

Notably, some of the surviving antagonists join the protagonists. Loki is a prominent example, of course, but another is so significant that people hardly remember he was ever on the wrong side: Winter Soldier.

The formation of the Avengers forms the spine of Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As they charted this path, the brains at Marvel Studios knew that they needed a good excuse for that group to form. Each of their superheroes was capable of handling most situations on their own. Getting them together in The Avengers would require a major threat.

Due to various circumstances, including character deaths and actor departures, they had to get Loki in the role. This turned out for the better, as the character, played brilliantly by Tom Hiddleston, would become one of the MCU’s break-out stars.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has produced quite a few cultural sensations in the past eleven years. However, none seemed to catch the public imagination and dominate conversations quite like 2018’s Black Panther. It was more than a box office smash, which is par for the MCU. It was a sociopolitical moment that got everyone talking about the concept of pan-Africanism, the effects of the African diaspora, and the conflict between nationalism and responsibility.

This is due in large part to the movie’s villain, who symbolizes the film’s themes and continues to captivate audiences. It is not an overstatement to say that much of Black Panther’s success stems from Michael B. Jordan’s nigh-perfect performance as Erik Stevens, nicknamed “Killmonger.”

It’s 1970, and Walt Disney Animation Studios is not sure where to go with their films. Walt Disney himself had died four years earlier. The Aristocats, the last film Walt personally greenlit, was already in production and set for a December release. The studio was faced with the task of creating their first film without any involvement from their namesake, founder, and primary visionary.

Eventually, they decided to create their own version of one of the oldest characters in the English literary tradition. In 1973, they reintroduced a new generation to the hero who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Even now, Disney’s Robin Hood remains one of the world’s favorite takes on the legend.

What would heroes be without villains? They'd be boring, because they wouldn't have any challenges to face! But villains are more than just cookie-cutter enemies meant to oppose the hero. They're interesting characters in their own right, with stories and motivations of their own. That's why we focus on them with our Disney Villain Spotlight!

This time, we're discussing an evil schemer who would do anything to be King, and his army of slavering hyena minions: Scar, from The Lion King. Scar is deeply jealous of his older brother Mufasa, King of the Pride Lands, and when Mufasa's son Simba is born, Scar plots to get rid of them both so he can take the throne.

In this edition of Your WDW Store's Disney Villain Spotlight, we're focusing on one of the most dreaded (and yet undeniably popular) pirates ever to sail the seas between here and Neverland. That's right: Captain Hook!