Marvel Comics has introduced the world to a huge rogues' gallery of villains over the years. Oftentimes, the villain is clearly in the wrong in their evil actions. But, much like the real world, it's not always black and white in the comic and movie worlds of Marvel.
There are times when the villain's motivation is just. The villain's actions are still evil, but they have a point about what drove them to those villainous actions. Sometimes, it's something small, while other times it's something big. But, there's a reason for the saying, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions."
10 Baron Zemo
In Captain America: Civil War, Baron Helmut Zemo frames the Winter Soldier for T'Chaka's murder to set off the civil war between the Avengers. He uses the Sokovia Accords to his advantage to set up a scenario where Captain America and those who sided with him became war criminals.
His reasoning was simple: his wife and child died as collateral damage from an Avengers' battle, and he was understandably resentful. The Avengers may have seen themselves as heroes, but they often didn't acknowledge the damage they caused, and the innocent people wounded or killed by their friendly fire.
9 Erik Killmonger
Introduced in Black Panther, Erik Killmonger was a child of Wakanda who was abandoned in the United States by T'Chaka. He learned about Wakanda's technological advancements and believed it was wrong that such an advanced nation would hide in the shadows given the injustice in the world.
While his motivation was valid, his methods were not. He was unafraid to commit murder. And while he wanted Wakanda to acknowledge how its neglect had impacted the world, he was driven more by anger for what he missed out on rather than by compassion for those suffering.
8 Kaecilius
An often forgotten villain, Kaecilius was a former student of the Ancient One who had started studying the Dark Dimension during the events of the first Dr. Strange film. Played by Mads Mikkelson, fans have not given him the same attention after the film that they have Mordo and Dormammu.
Much like Zemo, Kaecilius lost a wife and child. He began studying the Dark Dimension as a way to bring them back. It's an understandable motivation. Plus, once it's revealed the Ancient One had also interfered with the Dark Dimension, she looked even less like a hero.
7 Dr. Doom
Victor Von Doom is most often portrayed as a greedy megalomaniac always looking to make sure he came out ahead in his battles, both personal and professional, with Reed Richards. But that vision of Dr. Doom was turned on its head in the comic, Dr. Strange and Dr. Doom: Triumph and Torment.
In the comic, Dr. Doom teams up with Dr. Strange to travel to Hell to fight Mephisto. Doom's mission is to prevent Mephisto from possessing the soul of his mother. Dr. Doom may be evil, but this comic made it easy to root for him because of his sympathetic cause.
6 Hela
Introduced in Thor: Raganarok, Hela is the daughter of Odin who went with him on his missions to conquer the nine realms. When her thirst for conquest became too much, Odin had her banished. Then, he re-wrote history to show a more peaceful joining of the nine realms, rather than one forged by war and death.
When Hela returns, she points out Odin's hypocrisy, as well as the hypocrisy of the Asgardians in general. While she is still evil and feels no remorse for any deaths she brings about, she has a point that Odin is the one who made her the villain.
5 Gorr the Godbutcher
One of the most compelling victims in the MCU, Gorr is introduced in Thor: Love and Thunder. He is trying to save his daughter's life, but when he meets his god, he finds the god just sitting around and unwilling to help. That turns Gorr into the Godbutcher, hunting down and killing any god he can find.
When forced to make a choice between killing a god or allowing his daughter to have life as Thor's daughter, Gorr chooses life for his daughter. His decision proves that while his actions were wrong, his motivation was always just.
4 Ultron
Tony Stark created Ultron in an effort to make the world a better place, but he wound up endangering it when he really studied humanity. Introduced in Avenges: Age of Ultron, Ultron was meant to be a protector that didn't put a person at risk by being inside the suit. But Ultron decided the only way to protect humanity was to destroy it.
His mission to destroy the world is villainous, but he truly believed he was following his initial programming. Plus, computer programs need to start over all the time, so it's easy to see how a living computer program would see that as the most viable option.
3 Ghost
Ava Starr is acquiring Quantum Energy and stopping everything Ant-Man tries to do during the events of Ant-Man and the Wasp. She seems like a villain who is trying to stop Ant-Man from his efforts to save Janet Van Dyne, but her story is far sadder than the typical antagonist.
Ghost is in great pain and is slowly dying. She's looking for a way to end her pain, and Quantum Energy seems to be the best way to do that. She isn't evil and, in the end, she ends up healed, healthy, and in hiding.
2 Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver
The Maximoff twins starting out as villains during the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron as they were working with Hydra against the Avengers. Their reasoning for siding with Hydra is simple: much like Baron Zemo and Killmonger, collateral damage cost them loved ones.
Their parents were killed by Stark technology. Stark weapons were responsible for so much death and destruction where they grew up, it's easy to understand why they would side with anyone standing against Tony Stark.
1 Magneto
Whether it's an X-Men comic, the animated series, or the film series, it's easy to see why Magneto chooses the path he does. A child of the Holocaust, Magneto has seen atrocities committed by men, whether they be Nazis or just everyday men who are scared of mutants.
Magneto's methods make him a villain, but as the films have expertly demonstrated, his vision is remarkably similar to that of Charles Xavier. He wants a world where mutants aren't seen as something to be feared. While Professor X wants a peaceful resolution between men and mutants, Magneto is willing to go further.