Is Mysterio the best [spoiler] in the MCU?

Mysterio is a character we won’t so easily forget.

Warning: spoilers ahead.

Spider-Man: Far From Home has recently been released worldwide and it is already a Box Office success with an impressive 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Considered better than Homecoming by many, one of the things that dazzled the audience the most is undoubtedly Jake Gyllenhaal’s character who plays the villain in the new installment.

So, could Mysterio be the best MCU villain?

Marvel is great at many things but it has struggled in the past to bring on screen memorable counterparts to the superheroes. The most formidable nemeses can be counted on the fingers of one hand: Loki, Thanos, Hela (Thor: Ragnarok), Ego (GotG: Volume 2) and Killmonger (Black Panther).

So what makes Quentin Beck from the new Spider-Man movie a strong contender to the Best Villains podium?

Mysterio is smart

Beck initially worked with Tony Stark on the B.A.R.F. project, then ended up gathering a team to put together the greatest hoax the world has ever seen. All this achieved by combining advanced technology and an elaborate strategy.

He’s charismatic

Mysterio might be a scam, but we can all agree that he rocked the whole “beguiling superhero from an alternate reality” look — no wonder he had everybody fooled. The only reason he appeared to be possibly a suitable replacement for Tony Stark was because he scored all the criteria: courage, wit, determination and the first signs of a potential father figure. Beck had the looks of the dashing golden boy with a brooding edge.

Even after his true schemes were revealed, there was still a likable side to him (putting aside the whole murdering teenagers part) and that is what charisma is about.

Mysterio is devious

There is no good villain without bad intentions. Quentin Beck is sly, cunning, and, let’s call it as it is, downright psychopathic. But he is not your common first-level villain — he is a criminal with panache. Why keep it small when you can make it big and spectacular, right? He’s an in-your-face, don’t-tell-me-about-the-costs villain, which makes him the evil Tony Stark: an arrogant, megalomaniac geek. A successful formula.

In conclusion, Mysterio easily wins his place in the top 5 villains of the MCU with Jake Gyllenhaal giving one of the most noteworthy performances in the Marvel Universe. Malicious and yet endearing, it is yet not enough to snatch the crown from long-time fan-favorite Loki, God of Mischief. No doubt he would have further grown in the audience’s heart if he had returned in future movies.

Hats off all the same.

And you, what do you think? Is Mysterio one of the best villains of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Share your thoughts with @CapeandCastle!