Vulture
As the other very real, human villain to appear as a comic book character in 2017, Vulture is a truly chilling individual – precisely because he comes from relatable circumstances. He loses his job and turns to criminal endeavours to support his family. Sure, his job was salvaging and clearing alien and advanced human technology after Avengers battles, but that’s simply a plot device used to tell a very common human story.
Spider-Man: Homecoming was one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, since it represented the web-slinger’s literal homecoming – back into the loving arms of Marvel Studios. The anticipation was also due to the casting of Michael Keaton as Adrian Toomes – also known as Vulture. Keaton is, of course, already famous for his past foray into the realm of comic book movies – having played Batman for Tim Burton almost 30 years ago. He also starred in Birdman, so we’re not unaccustomed to seeing him take flight.
But his character here is what keeps Spider-Man: Homecoming from being slight and fluffy. While the hero, Peter Parker, provides the light comedy (until he gets trapped under a building), it’s Adrian Toomes that brings the menace. He’s a man that tells himself he’ll do anything for his family, but in truth, he’s responding to feeling emasculated by the government, and by the Avengers.
The government takes his job, and Tony Stark has more money and resources than he does. Then, along comes Peter Parker, who not only turns out to be Spider-Man, but also wants to date Toomes’ daughter – and what we’re left with is a highly triggered, angry white man. There are few things more terrifying than that.