Artificial Intelligence

Now that the teaser for the new Avengers movie, the Age of Ultron, has been released, let’s take a closer look at the new villain, Ultron. If we follow a long line of classic villains, he’s ultimately motivated to bring about a new world order. Let’s take a look at some of the more memorable villains to see what makes them tick.

Lex Luthor (Batman Vs Superman)

Extremist Level: 6/10
Characteristics: Narcissist, Psychopath, Genius

Soon to be played by actor Jessie Eisenberg, Luthor’s character resembles the modern age corporate psychopath.

He has a cool cunning and is ultimately motivated for absolute power.

His world order is to rid the world of the alien, Superman, because the man of steel…ahem…steals the limelight and is the only one who can stop him.

Most likely Eisenberg was selected to portray Luthor as a modern take of the social media/technology entrepreneur. He also played Mark Zuckerberg…

The Joker (The Dark Knight)

Extremist Level: 7/10
Characteristics: Creative, Psychopath, Terrorist

Based on the modern day terrorist, the Joker’s new world order is chaos. Like a terrorist, he seemingly conducts random acts of violence on a large scale to unsettle and destabilise.

He’s only less extreme than some of the other villains on this list because he’d just as soon change his mind on a whim just for kicks. He’s fun at parties too.

Magneto (X-Men)

Extremist Level: 8/10
Characteristics: Devoted, Traumatised, Vengeful

His new world order is survival of the fittest, which means mutants to rule the earth. This means humans must die out like the Neanderthal before us.

Magneto has flipped around the Nazi’s Aryan race agenda by targeting Nazis and any other human as the weaker race. How poetic.

Ra’s Al Ghul (Batman Begins)

Extremist Level: 9/10
Characteristics: Disciplined, Spiritual, Committed

Ra’s follows a utilitarian view point, which is to maximise the overall benefit for the planet by sacrificing and purging societies.

He is one of the most extreme villains because he is willing to die for his beliefs. He inspires a symbol of purification that remains even after his death and which comes back to haunt Batman in Dark Knight Rises

Ultron (Avengers)

Extremist Level: 10/10 (Prediction)
Characteristics: Logical, Superior Intelligence, Inflexible (Prediction)

I predict that Ultron will be the ultimate utilitarian, following a long line of ‘evil’ computers who aren’t really all that evil. They’ve just been programmed to get the job done (see Hal from 2001: A Space Odyssey) and hence create the ultimate world order.

What will make Ultron the most extreme villain in this list will be a cold, calculating logic and belief that the earth can only prosper if all humanity will be wiped out.

You heard it hear first folks (unlikely as there’s probably a legion of comicbook fans who’ve probably worked our the entire plot by now).