The single most disappointing aspect of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date has been the standard of the villains. Never has an audience been truly wowed by a villain or truly been made to feel as though a hero or group of heroes was genuinely in danger. The villains have never been so powerful or awe-inspiring that they've looked as if their power dwarves that of the heroes they've been up against. Sadly, as everyone looks at the Phase 3 movie line-up, nothing stands out as suggesting that the villains are going to be any bigger or better than the ones we've seen so far - at least not until the inevitable emergence of an Infinity Gauntlet-wielding Thanos. Surtur may well appear in Thor: Ragnarok, but what's to say he won't be presented as weak as Malekith the Accursed? And with Odin likely to be on Thor's side, they have an equally powerful character to counter him anyway. Civil War's main antagonist is going to be Tony Stark, Doctor Strange's first opponent is likely to be Baron Mordo rather than the mighty Dormammu and most of Black Panther's villains are mere mortals. Everyone will be hoping the villains are amped up a notch for Phase 3, but the concern that they will continue to underwhelm is definitely there.
