11 Comic Book Movie Villains Who Turned Evil Due to Social Rejection

They say revenge is a dish best served cold, but in the world of comic book movies, it's often served with a side of scientific genius and a heaping helping of resentment. The formula is tried and true: take one socially awkward, bespectacled scientist or scholar, subject them to ridicule or exclusion, and watch as they mutate into a villainous mastermind, bent on making the world pay for their mistreatment. From Wonder Woman 1984's Dr. Barbara Minerva to Spider-Man 2's Dr. Octavius, this trope has provided us with a rogues' gallery of vengeful nerds.

So, strap on your lab goggles and join us as we dissect 11 comic book movie villains who turned to the dark side after being scorned by society.

Posted by Nimrod Aldea

1
Edward Nygma (The Riddler) - Batman Forever

Edward Nygma is the epitome of the socially awkward, bespectacled genius. Desperate for validation from his idol Bruce Wayne, he's constantly snubbed and overlooked. So, naturally, he snaps and becomes the enigmatic Riddler, terrorizing Gotham City with his perplexing puzzles. If only Batman had taken a moment to listen to these idea, things might have turned out differently.

Via Geek Universe
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2
Aldrich Killian (Mandarin[Kinda]) - Iron Man 3

Aldrich Killian starts as a socially awkward scientist with a limp, only to be cruelly dismissed by Tony Stark. Fueled by anger and desperation, he creates the Extremis virus, becoming the powerful Mandarin (But not actually). If only Stark had given Killian a moment of his time, perhaps Iron Man wouldn't have had to face off against a vengeful fire-breathing villain. Guess it's hard to see the big picture when you're a billionaire playboy.

Via Geek Universe
3
Dr. Barbara Minerva (Cheetah) - Wonder Woman 1984

Oh, look! It's another bespectacled scientist who gets treated like a high school outcast. Dr. Barbara Minerva, an accomplished archaeologist, finds herself overshadowed and ignored. When she gains superhuman abilities, she unleashes her inner Cheetah and embraces villainy. We can't help but wonder if the people who dismissed her are now thinking, "Maybe we shouldn't have underestimated the nerdy cat lady."

Via Geek Universe
4
Dr. Otto Octavius (Doctor Octopus) - Spider-Man 2

Here we go again - The classic tale of a brilliant scientist who's pushed too far. Dr. Otto Octavius, a respected nuclear physicist (With a slightly different set of glasses), suffers a catastrophic accident that fuses his mechanical tentacles to his body. Before you know it, he's wreaking havoc on New York City as Doctor Octopus. Maybe if people had shown him a little more kindness, we could've avoided the whole tentacle mess.

Via Geek Universe
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5
Dr. Pamela Isley (Poison Ivy) - Batman & Robin

Dr. Pamela Isley, a passionate botanist, finds herself betrayed by her boss and exposed to a toxic concoction. As she emerges with newfound powers, she transforms into the sultry and sinister Poison Ivy. You'd think people would learn to treat their nerdy coworkers better, but no, they just keep pushing them to the edge. Now, Gotham has to deal with her deadly kisses and plans for world domination.

Via Geek Universe
6
Dr. Victor Fries (Mr. Freeze) - Batman & Robin

Staying on this "Cinematic masterpiece" a bit longer - Dr. Victor Fries, a brilliant cryogenicist with glasses, is driven to villainy by tragedy. He becomes Mr. Freeze, a cold-hearted villain desperate to save his wife. Sure, he's an icy terror, but can you blame him? If only someone had shown him a little warmth and support, perhaps Gotham City could have avoided the chilling terror of Mr. Freeze (Sorry, we couldn't resist an ice pun).

Via Geek Universe
7
Dr. Curt Connors (The Lizard) - The Amazing Spider-Man

Dr. Curt Connors, the brilliant and well-intentioned geneticist, just wanted to help people – and maybe grow his arm back. But when his experiment boss doesn't approve his budget, he performs an experiment on himself and transforms into the monstrous Lizard, wreaking havoc on New York City. If only his boss was a little nicer, the people of new york wouldn't be running away from a giant lizard man in a lab coat.

Via Geek Universe
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8
Dr. Thaddeus Sivana - Shazam!

Dr. Thaddeus Sivana was once just a bespectacled, mistreated child with big dreams. Constantly picked on and belittled by his own family, young Sivana was pushed to the brink. Fast forward a few years, and he's a power-hungry villain ready to take on Shazam. It's almost as if people didn't learn their lesson from all the other villain origin stories. If only they had treated bespectacled little Thaddeus with some kindness, maybe he wouldn't have turned into a magical menace.

Via Geek Universe
9
Dr. Arnim Zola - Captain America: The First Avenger

Dr. Arnim Zola, a bespectacled Swiss scientist with a knack for advanced technology, was clearly destined for supervillainy from the moment he appeared on screen. His meek demeanor and nerdy glasses screamed "I'm up to no good!" And, boy, was he ever! Working alongside the Red Skull in HYDRA, Zola played a key role in developing advanced weaponry to threaten the world. As if that wasn't enough, his twisted mind resurfaced in The Winter Soldier, where he uploaded his consciousness into a computer, orchestrating HYDRA's infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D. The trope truly knows no bounds!

Via Geek Universe
10
Electro (Max Dillon) - The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Poor Max Dillon, a socially awkward electrical engineer with a penchant for glasses and a serious case of bad hair. It's no wonder he was overlooked and underestimated by his peers at Oscorp. But once he gets a shocking dose of electricity and turns into the villainous Electro, everyone starts paying attention. Ah, the irony of it all! If only someone had taken the time to appreciate Max's brilliance and fix his comb-over, the whole "electrifying Manhattan" debacle might have been avoided.

Via Geek Universe
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11
Catwoman (Selina Kyle) - Batman Returns

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In Tim Burton's "Batman Returns," Selina Kyle (played by Michelle Pfeiffer) is a timid and unassuming secretary, complete with glasses and frumpy clothing. Her boss, the ruthless business tycoon Max Shreck, pushes her out of a window when she discovers his nefarious plans. Selina is miraculously revived by a group of stray cats and undergoes a transformation into the seductive and dangerous Catwoman. This film takes the nerdy-to-villain trope and gives it a feline twist, showcasing the power of a woman scorned and the importance of treating your coworkers with respect—or they might just become a whip-wielding cat burglar.

Via Geek Universe