10 more comic book movie and TV characters with wasted potential

10. Cottonmouth was wasted

Comic book project: Luke Cage

Netflix’s Luke Cage failed in one major category: The villains weren’t up to scratch – particularly in season 1. What makes it so bad is that it all started with such potential. The amazing Mahershala Ali played Cornell ‘Cottonmouth’ Stokes and he killed it. Cottonmouth was a gangster with some sort of code and the perfect antagonist for Luke Cage. Since Luke couldn’t beat him with his fists, he had to outsmart him or use his charisma. It also gave us a chance to see that Luke is more than bulletproof. We saw this in play during Pop’s funeral.

Cottonmouth died and we were left with Diamondback and Mariah Dillard – two villains who couldn’t equal one Cottonmouth. Mariah was better in season 2 for sure, but lacked what her cousin had in the previous season. Then there was Diamondback – one of the worst villains to appear in a Marvel Comics TV show or movie. He wasn’t smart or cunning, and his final fight with Luke Cage was worse than awful; it was just plain forgettable. At least bad scenes give you something to remember but this was like watching paint dry on a black and white TV.

Overall, it was a mistake not having Cottonmouth, or someone like him, in the rest of the season 1.