Super Villain Monday: The Plight of Baron Mordo

Among all the inconsistencies in the Marvel Universe is the lameness of the super villains that are supposed to be the archenemies of the heroes.  If Dr. Strange is the Master of the Mystic Arts or even the Sorcerer Supreme, shouldn't his best villain be just as cool, classy, and powerful.

Baron Amadeus Mordo stands as the greatest threat in the human magical realm, and yet he just sits there like an unformed lump of thuggish clay that's hell bent on petty revenge.  This does not make for a cool arch-villain.

Doc Strange has faced down inter-dimensional demonic overlords, he's beaten down multiple incarnations of the devil.  On a good day he's even put a dream demon in his place, but the ultimate threat to humanity is a jealous Transylvanian thug who is pissed because he wasn't daddy's favorite.

The saddest part is that the fault doesn't lay in the character conception, but rather in the application.  Mordo should be one of the most feared men on the planet.  This dude studied the Mystic Arts with Doc Strange.  They basically went to school together.  Mordo wasn't bad at Magic.  He was just second best.

The second best practitioner of the Mystic Arts also has no moral compass and questionable ethics.  This dude should be a badass and a half.  Instead he's a cross between a low level thug and a two bit Voldemort.

With all the talk of the Dr. Strange film, fans like me have taken to offering sacrifices to Aganotto that some super cool script writer can correct the errors of the past.  It only takes a decent script and some clever casting.  Baron Mordo can rise to his place of prominence and be the villain a hero really deserves.

Universe
Marvel Universe

Real Name
Karl Amadeus Mordo

Aliases
Unrevealed

Identity
Secret

Citizenship
Transylvania

Place of Birth
Varf Mandra, Transylvania

First Appearance
Strange Tales #111 (1963)

Origin
Strange Tales #115 (1963); Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #6-8 (1989)

More on Marvel.com: http://marvel.com/universe/Baron_Mordo_(Karl_Mordo)#ixzz3n2lSg3HI

Baron Mordo has vast magical abilities derived from his years of studying black magic and the mystic arts. He can manipulate magical forces for a variety of effects, including hypnotism, mesmerism, thought-casting, and illusion casting. He can separate his astral form from his body, allowing him to become intangible and invisible to most beings. He can project deadly force blasts using magic, can teleport inter-dimensionally, and can manipulate many forms of magical energy. He can tap extra-dimensional energy by invoking entities or objects of power existing in dimensions tangential to Earth's through the recitation of spells. He can also summon demons, but often does not have enough power to force them to do what he wants them to do.

Baron Mordo has some knowledge of a karate-like martial art form, and has an extensive knowledge of magical lore.