Marvel Cinematic Universe: 10 Best Villains Of 2018 So Far

Appeared in: Avengers: Infinity War

Is it really a surprise that Thanos is at the top of this list? Since making his debut during the credits of The Avengers back in 2012, the Mad Titan went on to bide his time in the MCU, appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy and Age of Ultron, and Infinity War finally gave him the chance to show the world why the wait for him to step out of the shadows and take center stage has been worth it.

Despite its stacked cast of beloved heroes, Infinity War really pushed Thanos' journey to the forefront, in many ways making him the main character of the film. In just two and a half hours, the film managed to explore his philosophy, put him through a ringer of hurdles and sacrifice, and leave him standing as an incredibly compelling character by the time the credits rolled.

Where past villains like Loki and Ultron failed, Thanos has the honor of having thoroughly won - for now, of course - in the most spectacular fashion, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake before successfully wiping out half the universe and leaving those left standing battered and broken, defeated physically and emotionally.

After years of buildup, Thanos didn't disappoint, with the solid writing, the performance from Josh Brolin, and the special effects work all coming together to breathe life into a villain no one will ever forget, and the impact he's made on the MCU has undeniably raised the expectations surrounding next year's fourth Avengers film to incredible heights.