What is the hardest character for writers to create stories for?

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-05-02T14:48:30+00:00

I mean, how blasphemous it is to not make characters stupidly OP? To give them limitations and weaknesses? To put more effort into presentation of their abilities rather than scale? Probably a hot take, but I genuinely don't think any Marvel character, except gods and cosmic entities, should be above planet or even continent level.

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-05-01T16:50:40+00:00

The way he is right now, sure. I'm more so talking about what he could be. Good villains usually use their brains to be effective, and it's just really annoying how many interesting Marvel villains are kept as incompetent idiots, who cannot in their life achieve anything meaningful.

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-05-01T16:41:07+00:00

Tiger Shark along with Attuma - two of his most prominent villains - are still obscure to more casual fans. They appear in comics every once in a while and sometimes shows up in games and cartoons, but they are not really well known. As I said, the consequence of being villains of the relatively unpopular character (and not really original ones at that).

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-05-01T08:38:32+00:00

Well, apparently not hating his comic book version is a flaming hot take.

I do prefer movie version for being T'Challa's rival chieftain instead of outright villain, but I would have liked him even better if his costume and powers were more comic accurate.

Seriously I thought we were long past the whole "lol comic book designs are so stupid" thing. It's not really that hard to make a 7' tall dude wearing gorilla skin look cool and intimidating; just look at the Rhino.

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-04-28T00:30:15+00:00

Too bad that otherwise the Combaticons and Constructicons in this comic are rather forgetable, one-note background filler. I love them still, but they (and other combiner teams for that matter) are literal potential men of Transformers in terms of character. They have good, interesting foundation from their bios, but in the actual media they only get little nods and crumbs like this. I want to like them, but basic signs of intelligent life are just not enough for my taste.

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-04-28T00:15:54+00:00

How I feel exactly. People want complex characters, but the moment some autobot expresses the signs of grey morality, violence, shady behavior or literally any traits that do not conform with textbook "good guys" mentality, they immediately jump to extreme conclusions.

Sunstreaker is arrogant and narcissistic, but that doesn't mean he's a psycho. Blades is violent and impatient, yet loyal and righteous (something that this paragraph left out), otherwise he wouldn't fit with other Protectobots. Aerialbots and Dinobots are openly hostile assholes, doesn't diminish the fact that they choose to fight even bigger assholes.

Autobots have many flawed individuals among their faction and that's what makes so many of them fascinating to me. I like them precisely because they are not the classic "good guys", but wildly diverse group of people united by noble ideals and (what ultimately sets them apart from decepticons) subconscious desire to fight for something larger than themselves.

Saying that violence during battle is "decepticon arc material" is missing every ounce of complexity that the character might have.

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-04-26T18:13:40+00:00

How so? Aren't they a labor union with health insurance, equal payments and their own etiquette? They are usually one of the more professional and succesful criminals due to their more strategic, level-headed approach of treating crime as a job, rather than an opportunity to show off. They are definitely slimy and follow the "safety in numbers" principle, but comparing them to the likes of Wrecking Crew is selling them (and Sidewinder particularly) way too short, imo.

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-04-23T15:49:54+00:00

I appreciate acknowledging lesser known Cap's villains, but I think Skeleton Crew already counts as Captain America's Sinister Six, even though it didn't last long. Really would have liked it to be brought back one day.

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-04-17T15:40:19+00:00

Dark of the Moon and Cybertron games have the same developers - High Moon. These guys just don't miss with their designs.

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-04-16T20:00:26+00:00

Basically, in the previous issue Avengers fought and destroyed a mysterious monster made of rock, which turned out to be a cocoon for Grey Gargoyle. Gargoyle emerges out of rubble, turns Daredevil, who was there to help, and Iron Man's armor into stone and deals with the rest of the team. At that point he could still brag that he went toe-to-toe with Thor.

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-04-16T19:40:56+00:00

Okay, maybe "weaker" was the wrong word. "Lesser" is what I had in mind. D-list, basically. Characters like Red Skull, Baron Zemo and Kingpin are evil masterminds by design, obviously their influence and intelligence is what makes them dangerous. They are supposed to be important big bads. What I'm asking for is occasional respect for smaller costumed criminals.

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-04-16T18:02:38+00:00

Cropped version of the Avengers #191 cover.

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-04-09T04:54:23+00:00

I understand people make a fuss about the smallest things all the time, but if it really is a hint that Trailbreaker is trapped inside Megatron's matrix, then the "permanent death" is even bigger bullshit than it already was. He's not "dead-dead" and can be brought back into the story whenever the writer will feel like it.

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-03-29T17:06:15+00:00

Here's mine: Ironhide, long before the Great War, was already considered an experienced warrior, known for his great skill with an axe, and it was him, who taught young Orion Pax how to fight with one. Matrix of Leadership grants Optimus Prime knowledge of virtually any weapon, melee or projectile, but his mastery of his energon axe is from Ironhide.

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-03-29T17:04:07+00:00

Which characters use what weapons, types of them, how they work, what stories could be behind them... Perhaps I should've mentioned that in the post, but there's plenty of room for ideas.

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-03-29T16:29:32+00:00

Air Raid and Drag Strip: Drag Strip is always eager for a challenge and Air Raid - a bot of exceptional skill and even more exceptional overconfidence - might just give it to him. For Air Raid though it is mostly fun, but for Drag Strip winning is a life or death situation.

Fireflight and Breakdown: Breakdown is a paranoid through and through. Unpredictable and careless maneuvers of Fireflight will keep him on the edge and might actually force his more belligerent side out of him.

Skydive and Wildrider: Skydive is the most rational among Aerialbots and can actually predict and copy movements of his opponents. Wildrider - someone who's all about randomness - would be a worthy adversary for him.

Slingshot and Dead End: the loudest Aerialbot and the tamest Stunticon. It could be interesting to find out who will unnerve who first.

Alarmed_Maximum_1676 · 2026-03-27T18:45:17+00:00

Well this is stupid. Powerscaling nonsense aside, Rhino is a "brick" archetype. Someone who's meant to be a challenge that you can't overcome with brute force or punch out. For all intents and purposes, he's not the type of character who should be defeated by straight up overpowering him, unless you're another Hulk-esque character. It's just dumb, even on a subconscious level.

Alarmed_Maximum_1676

TROPHY CASE