Marvel Cinematic Universe: 10 Best Female Villains

10. Agent 33

Appeared In: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Debuting only a few episodes into the show's second season, Kara Palamas was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent that had been captured by Hydra, brainwashed, and forced to do the bidding of Daniel Whitehall. Eventually, robbed of her identity mentally, robbed of it physically thanks to the photostatic veil failing and leaving her with Melinda May's face, and robbed of the purpose that had been forced upon her in the wake of Whitehall's death, 33 found solace with Grant Ward, who helped restore her face and her memory.

Blaming Bobbi Morse for all that she had gone through - Bobbi had been the one to give up the safe-house Kara had been hiding in after the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. in order to maintain her cover in Hydra, though had been unaware of Kara's presence - she and Ward enacted a plan to make Bobbi watch as Lance Hunter would be killed in front of her. Instead, though, when Hunter and other agents arrived to rescue Bobbi, Kara once more donned May's face, and believing her to be the real May, Ward shot and killed her before she could stop him.

What makes Agent 33 such an unforgettable villain is that her descent into antagonism was almost out of her control, with all the psychological trauma she had endured leading her down a path where she teamed up with Ward. It was a depressing arc for a tragic character, but one that sure was compelling.