Marvel: Best Captain America Villains, Ranked

[[{“value”:”

Since first appearing in 1941, Captain America has faced off against some of Marvel’s most formidable and complex villains, whether it is Steve Rogers or Sam Wilson. The soirée of supervillains is a testament to how much of a beacon of justice Captain America is as a superhero.

From opponents set on world domination to super-powered threats, many Marvel antagonists have tested not just Captain America’s physical prowess, but his moral compass and resolve as well. While the Star-Spangled Avenger has squared off against countless enemies, certain villains have left an indelible mark on his legacy, challenging everything he stands for.

8

Batroc The Leaper

The Leaper Is A Cheesy Staple In Cap’s Rogue Gallery

Real Name: Georges Batroc

First Appearance: Tales Of Suspense #75

There isn’t much personal history between Batroc The Leaper and Captain America like many of his other villains. He’s more of a throwaway villain who always crawls back like a cockroach. He is a French mercenary who relies on kick-based martial arts to fight heroes such as Captain America, whom he has had the most encounters with.

The comic book version of Batroc is somewhat famous for being a corny French stereotype. That changed when Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe came along, portraying him with more grit and a serious tone. He not only briefly stole the spotlight as a villain in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but made a memorable return in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier.

7

Vermin

A Cannibalistic Rat-Human Hybrid Created By Hydra

Real Name: Edward Whalen

First Appearance: Captain America Vol. 1 #272

Though he is more often known as a villain for Spider-Man, Vermin debuted as a Captain America threat and a creation of Arnim Zola. He was a poor soul wandering the streets after years of being sexually abused by his own father, making him the perfect test subject for Hydra to turn him into a rat-like monster designed to hunt Captain America.

Captain America endured multiple encounters with Vermin, but the super soldier always came out on top. When Hydra fell for the first time post-World War 2, Vermin was not treated like a loyal pet. Instead, Hydra just abandoned him like his namesake, leaving him to survive on his own, which led to him becoming a creature that lurks in the sewers of New York for Spider-Man to fight.

6

Arnim Zola

Hydra’s Top Scientist Is A Sociopathic Machine Man

Real Name: Arnim Zola

First Appearance: Captain America And The Falcon #208

Arnim Zola is a fellow founding member of Hydra like Red Skull and Baron Strucker who has absolutely no respect for life. He views every person or animal in the universe as beneath him, not even valuing his own humanity, which is why he puts his brain inside a robotic body. This is also why he has no qualms about turning ordinary people into his personal science projects.

If there is a monster or superhuman that Captain America fought in World War 2, it was likely the creation of Arnim Zola: Vermin, Hate-Monger, Primus, and Man-Fish just to name a few. Thanks to his artificial body, Zola still exists in the modern age to cause problems for the Avengers, the many Spider-People in the multiverse, and Sam Wilson’s Captain America.

5

Madame Hydra

From A Terrorist To International Supervillain

Real Name: Ophelia Sarkissian

First Appearance: Captain America Vol. 1 #110

Sometimes also known as Viper, Madame Hydra is a villain with an impressive record of heroes she’s contended with, including Spider-Woman, Spider-Man, various members of the X-Men, and the Avengers. Captain America was her first villain, but she was not one of his foes during World War 2. She was a victim of the war which led her to being recruited by Hydra and becoming a top agent.

Over the years, Madame Hydra has risen through the ranks, replacing Baron Strucker as the head of Hydra and becoming the ruler of Madripoor. She would become an enemy of Sam Wilson as Captain America and eventually ally herself with the evil Captain America.

4

Crossbones

The Evil Mercenary Who Killed Steve Rogers

Real Name: Brock Rumlow

First Appearance: Captain America Vol. 1 #359

Every hero has that one villain who is a constant thorn in their side and Crossbones is that for Captain America. He began as a mercenary who was enlisted by figures like Red Skull and Arnim Zola to do their dirty work, but the more he and Steve Rogers encountered each other, the more Crossbones’ mission became a mix of business and pleasure.

The hatred for Captain America got worse and worse, to the point that Crossbones killed the Star Spangled Man in the Civil War storyline. It didn’t stop there because, even when Sam Wilson inherited the mantle of Captain America, Crossbones continued to hunt down the hero.

3

Winter Soldier

Tragedy Turned Steve Rogers’ Best Friend Into An Elite Assassin

Real Name: James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes

First Appearance: Captain America Comics #1

It’s always a tragedy when a superhero’s friend becomes the villain and one of the greatest examples of that is with the Winter Soldier. Bucky was Steve Rogers’ closest friend, serving alongside him as a Howling Commando in World War 2, but Hydra scientists in Russia transformed him into a living weapon.

In many ways, Winter Soldier can be viewed as an anti-Captain America. He was purposefully created to mirror Steve Rogers and be a mindless super soldier to fight for Hydra; this has made the battles between the two heartbreaking. Fortunately, Bucky has redeemed himself and regained his individuality to become an anti-hero eventually.

2

Baron Zemo

No Superpower And Yet He Has Torn Down The Avengers

Real Name: Baron Helmut Zemo

First Appearance: Captain America Vol. 1 #168

Aside from an elongated life, Baron Zemo has no powers or enhanced traits. He is a man of nobility with high intelligence, using his station to further the agenda of Hydra: world domination. He is a hardcore believer in the idea of a Master Race and has created monsters and weapons to help his allies within the Nazi regime, Hydra, and the Masters Of Evil.

The comic book version of Helmut Zemo is drastically different from his Marvel Cinematic Universe counterpart. In the movies and shows, Zemo is portrayed as a man who lost his family during the battle of Sokovia, making him hate superhumans to make him sympathetic. In the comics, he is just pure evil, who would take on the Avengers and even destroy their headquarters.

1

Red Skull

Represents Everything That Captain America Opposes

Real Name: Johann Schmidt

First Appearance: Captain America Comics #1

Red Skull is often regarded as the ultimate rival of Captain America, being the commander of Hydra and often the leader of the Masters Of Evil, which can be considered the anti-Avengers. Where Captain America represents hope and justice, Red Skull is the antithesis, instilling fear and destruction as his forces wage war on the Earth.

The evil of Johann Schmidt, AKA The Red Skull did not stop when Captain America foiled his plans in World War 2. In the comics, Red Skull continues to be a constant threat in the modern day, thanks to excuses like suspended animation and cloning being the tip of the iceberg. He still seeks world domination through genocide, but Captain America, whether it’s Steve, Sam, or Bucky, is always there to stop him.

“}]] Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson have both fought powerful villains across the Marvel universe, including the Red Skull, Crossbones, and Madame Hydra.  Read More