Dev Take Tuesday - Webs and Layers

Well-written characters, much like onions and ogres, have layers. When making characters for a book, film, or video game it’s easy to settle on one key motivation for that character. But a character with one or two extra layers of motivation really starts to come to life. I saw a great example of this recently in the latest reboot of everyone’s favorite neighborhood web-slinger, Spider-Man: Homecoming. The film does many things well, but it was villain Adrian Toomes (a.k.a. the Vulture) that stood out to me. Of course actor Michael Keaton deserves some of the praise for excelling in the role, but I think the Vulture was a great villain because the writers decided to add one additional layer.

Concept Art (Image found on Screen Rant)

The Vulture could easily have been a simple reboot of a previous Spider-Man movie villain: the Sandman. (I’ve also heard that villain-turned-hero Deadeye in Suicide Squad fits this bill.) Both characters talk about needing to make money for their family, and prompt some measure of sympathy from the audience as a result. While a desperate need for money is a reasonable motivation for villainy, that motivation lacks depth. It will work, and the audience will feel some sympathy, but the story likely won’t go anywhere new.

Fortunately, Spider-Man: Homecoming provides an extra layer to the Vulture. Yes, after striking out on a somewhat risky business venture, Adrian Toomes definitely needs to find a way to help provide for his family. But why not turn to a less dangerous and unpleasant job than making and selling deadly weapons to criminals? The Vulture explains that part of his motivation is fueled by his hatred for the government—they callously ruined him when they appropriated his alien salvage, and the consequence in his mind was to return that callousness. I’m sure in Adrian’s mind he’s a less idealistic Robin Hood, stealing from the heartless “big guy” to benefit others (as well as himself).

 I’m glad that Adrian’s antagonism went beyond one simple motivation. More than any other Marvel movie villain so far, the Vulture kept me thinking as I drove home from the movie theater. I think it’s important to note that these extra layers don’t always need to absolve the antagonist of any crimes—I think Adrian Toomes was a clear villain who showed little remorse for how his selfishness might affect the innocent. But his character complexity certainly added some oomph to the storytelling in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and it’s something I’ll keep in mind as I write villains in Alkanaur and any future games.