10 Times Marvel Movies Made Powerful Characters Look Like Total Fools

6. The Mandarin Is A Joke - Iron Man 3

Whether the Mandarin is too much of a racist character as he originally appeared in the comics or not, what Iron Man 3 did with the character was an unfortunate decision that will continue to be contentious for as long as the MCU exists. The use of a terrorist face as a disposable symbol might be a fine idea, but it shouldn't have used an established figure from the comics with major history.

Confusingly, Marvel always seemed fine with the idea that the tease of the Mandarin being the head of the Ten Rings (which would have made a lot of sense) was no more than a cul-de-sac.

Even the suggestion that Killian is actually the legitimate Mandarin is an unnecessary dilution of the character, since it amounts to the adoption of a legendary title with none of the history. Killian is just another Stark clone (albeit with a different backstory), with none of the Mandarin's power or political heft, and it was only right when the One Shot redressed the balance to suggest there is a real Mandarin out there.