Movie

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Man of Steel and the DC Universe were covered earlier, so it’s only fair to include an entry from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The X-Men movies feature a plethora of female baddies, but that’s a separate franchise and earns a much higher ranking spot. In the MCU, Hela stands out as a notable villainess.

Ragnarok is the third Thor-led movie, though he played a prominent role in two Avengers crossover films. The hero’s treacherous brother Loki is up to no good again, and a cataclysmic plot begins when their aging father Odin passes away.

Besides the main antagonist, Thor battles two secondary foes. The first is a fiery horned demon, whom he defeats in the prologue, and the second is the self-proclaimed grandmaster of a “junkyard” planet. Thor is stranded there for the entire middle third. It’s this segment that is most disappointing, as Jeff Goldblum’s villain is pitiful. As with other Marvel films, another big-name hero shows up. On this occasion, it’s Dr Banner / the Hulk who battles Thor in a vast arena before joining forces.

Ragnarok introduces Valkyrie, who (unsurprisingly) is a female Asgardian warrior turned bounty huntress. Her character arc is predictable. She progresses from Thor’s foe to his reluctant helper, then to an all-action heroine by the finale.

Villainess

Hela (Cate Blanchett)

Any woman called the Goddess of Death is likely to rack up the kills, and Hela doesn’t disappoint. Not daunted by Asgard’s army, she massacres them solo to prove how powerful she is. Before the wipeout, Hela claims an even greater scalp when she destroys Thor’s legendary hammer Mjolinir bare handed. After such an iconic first encounter, it was always going to go downhill.

While Thor is stuck on planet junkyard, Hela does bad girl stuff. This includes raising an undead army from the crypt beneath Asgard’s palace and taking a pet giant wolf for company. Hela narrates her own backstory over camera shots of painted murals. This is mostly about how she and her father, Odin, conquered other realms before he became an advocate of peace. A flashback from Valkyrie shows the warrior women defeated by the evil tyrant in a battle long ago.

Thor returns to Asgard, and it’s God of Thunder against Goddess of Death. Their fights live up to the billing, with plenty of barbed dialogue from Hela. She even cuts out Thor’s eye before they’re through. To defeat his powerful foe, Thor has Loki summon the demon (remember him from the prologue?), which destroys Asgard and the villainess along with it. So, the result is Hela taken out by a third party, but she manages a Pyrrhic victory.

Honourable Mentions: Marvel Cinematic Universe

Black Widow (2021) – Antonia / Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko)

Marvel’s Phase Four has left fans unimpressed, and this is another mediocre entry. The promising setup focuses on a young Black Widow, her sister, and an all-female team of black-clad assassins. Add a masked villain – Taskmaster – and this should be a winner.

Too bad the family drama bogs down the middle third. When a mind-controlled pig is the most interesting part, there are serious problems. Eventually, the filmmakers realise this is supposed to be an action movie, and we get an epic climax on a floating sky base.

If you’re hoping for a great reveal, get ready for disappointment. Taskmaster is a badly scarred woman we don’t recognise, so it’s kind of Black Widow to tell us she’s the big bad’s daughter. All very uninspired, and the last fight is unimpressive, making this a disappointing solo outing.

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) – Ava / Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen)

Ghost is another Marvel masked adversary who possesses the ability to phase through solid objects. While her reveal is expected given the publicity around her character, the backstory is much better this time. Ava has a moral standpoint, since she was experimented on as a child. Now she’s seeking a cure for her condition, which brings her into conflict with the heroes.

With a combination of fighting skills, interesting powers, and character development, Ghost is a worthy addition to Marvel’s villainess roster. Some action is repetitive, with far too many shrinking and enlargement scenes, but there’s plenty to enjoy.