Marvel: Crisis Protocol – 5 Villains From ‘Captain America & The Avengers’ We Need
Does this old school arcade game have some hidden gems in it for Marvel: Crisis Protocol? Absolutely. It’s Captain America and the Avengers!
Lately, I’ve been thinking about Marvel: Crisis Protocol and the roster additions we’re getting. The AdeptiCon preview had a huge assortment of characters coming to the game and that’s great. I really like the upcoming packs — especially the Mutant themed ones. But I’ve also been noticing a lack of classic Avengers threats. That got me thinking: Who could fill that roster? We’ve already got the Cabal, Hydra, and the Criminal Syndicate. But that’s when I remembered a classic…
I’m showing my age here but I don’t mind. I grew up in the arcade era and this one had some of the BEST dialogue. I still have a few of those sound-bites on repeat in my brain. This was quite literally a formative game for me. In the game you play as the Avengers and you’re fighting to stop a plot of Red Skull. But he’s got some villains helping him out that aren’t in Marvel: Crisis Protocol. That’s the inspiration I’ve got for the list below. With all that said, let’s get into the five super villains I’d like to see added!
Whirlwind
This buzzsaw throwing psycho is David Cannon, aka Whirlwind. He’s been a long time foe of the Avengers, especially Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne. Strangely enough, it turns out he’s a Mutant — probably because Stan Lee and Jack Kirby didn’t want to bother with an extravagant origin story for him. Regardless, Whirlwind (also sometimes called the Human Top) is still a threat. He can move at great speeds and it gives him various powers.
Whirlwind has been a member of several villain groups over the years including the Lethal Legion and the Masters of Evil. He’s also eaten up a lot of my quarters at the arcade and I’d love to take him down on the tabletop once again…
Grim Reaper
Eric Williams, aka the Grim Reaper is actually the brother of another Marvel legend: Wonder Man. That’s led them to clash over the years as Grim Reaper has turned to the live of crime. Also a member of the Lethal Legion (and devourer of many of my quarters) he’s got quite the flair for the dramatic.
His powers include things like super strength, stamina, and durability. Plus he’s got Energy absorption and projection via his scythe. That’s really his most distinct feature. That and his Galatus-like head gear. He’s also a bit of a spell-slinger in the mystical sense. He’s summoned demons and even messed with Illusion casting. Oh and Necromancy. We can’t forget that one. He might not be a super well known villain but he’s quite a threat.
Living Laser
Okay, the Living Laser from the video game looks different than his current iteration. However, I have a fondness for this version. I really just want him in the game to partner with Klaw out of nostalgia sake. They teamed up as the first boss fight and it’s burned into my memory.
Anyhow Arthur Parks is the Living Laser. He’s mostly known as an Iron Man villain but he’s also teamed up with the Lethal Legion as well as the Mandarin. His big claim to fame was his scientific know-how to make wrist-sized lasers. While that’s not that impressive today, it was a much bigger deal in 1966! Especially given the fact that these lasers were weaponized.
On top of giving him the ability to fire off energy, these lasers could also absorb energy. He also learned how to use his technology to create illusions and even grant himself invisibility via light refraction. The Living Laser could also make Three-Dimensional holographic images and even learned how to travel at light speeds! He’s seriously under rated and under utilized and that’s why he needs to come to MCP!
Mandarin
Mandarin, Marvel Comics, The Invincible Iron Man (2008) #526
I really feel like the Mandarin got a bad wrap after the Iron Man movies and subsequently the Shang-chi movie. To be fair, that’s because the MCU’s take on the Ten Rings is very different. And while I quite like the direction the MCU went with the Mandarin, I still miss this particular version.
One think I do like about the Comics version is that it ditched a lot of the stereotypical (and frankly offensive) tropes over the years. And I get it — he was a product of his time and the world was very diferent when he was introduced in 1964. But this character has been allowed to grow and change into something new and I like that.
Having said all that, the OG Mandarin from the comics is famously known for his ten rings of power. We’re not talking rings of power like Tolkien either. His rings are based on alien technology and each one has a different power. Honestly, I don’t quite know how you’d create a character card for him that wasn’t pages long. But I know that he’s be pretty amazing to run on the tabletop.
Wizard
Last but not least we have the Wizard. He actually started off as a villain for the Human Torch (and thus the Fantastic Four). Bentley Wittman was born with a genius level of intellect. One he used to become an inventor and eventually became a stage magician. By harnessing his inventions he was able to become quite wealthy and (apparently) put on one heck of a stage show!
But, he got bored with that life and sought out more thrills. His first real criminal act was taking on Johnny Storm. He managed to defeat and trap him and even assumed his identity. The Wizard then launched a crime spree. He was eventual stopped when the Human Torch broke free with the help of Sue Storm.
Anyhow, he’s had a long an storied career as a criminal in Marvel Comics and has joined up with the Frightful Four as well as Intelligencia. He’s got some crazy inventions and I think he’d be a fun character to bring to the tabletop in MCP.
Well, those are five Characters from Captain America and The Avengers video game that aren’t in MCP. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to find an arcade that still has this cabinet ready to roll…
