10 Puzzling Aspects of Kurt Russell’s MCU Villain That Defied Logic

Ego the Living Planet has existed for
Marvel Comics
For many years. Even so, his entry into the MCU took place just a few years back.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Vol. 2
, with Kurt Russell portraying him. Enthusiastic comic book fans might have been thrilled at first upon hearing about Ego’s inclusion and seeing Kurt Russell make his entrance into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, yet their excitement may well have transformed into bewilderment as they progressed through the film.

In simple terms, the MCU significantly altered many aspects of Ego’s character, including his origins and relationships, leaving fans puzzled but acknowledging these changes.
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2
fulfilled with a vow to craft an enchanting and unforgettable journey. This film remains etched in your memory for years afterward.

Why Did the Marvel Cinematic Universe Merge Two Characters?

J\’son and Ego Were Partially Combined to Form the MCU\’s Ego

I am Ego—the greatest and strongest consciousness across the entire infinity!

-Ego

The primary query from devoted fans probably revolved around why two distinct characters were merged into one entity. In the comic books, Ego the Living Planet precisely matches his description; alternatively referred to as Eros, he is a cosmic entity that has existed for eons. His grand ambitions align well with the portrayal within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, this adaptation introduces additional elements beyond those seen in the source material.

In the MCU, Kurt Russell portrays Ego and is also the dad of Peter Quill.

In the comics, Ego is not Peter\’s father; that role is held by J\’son.

Also known as King J\’son of Spartax, he was once the sovereign of the Spartoi Empire. However, everything changed when Peter Quill arrived and deposed him, which was justified. The fact that Ego turns out to be Quill’s father certainly raises the stakes.
Guardians of the Galaxy
However, eliminating the possibility of a Spartoi storyline in the future is disappointing.

Why Did Kurt Russell\’s MCU Antagonist Have Actual Skeletons in His Cupboard?

His Ego Had No Cause to Retain the Corpses of His Offspring.

Peter, soon we will be all that remains. So cease irritating me!

-Ego, to Peter Quill

Throughout
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2,
viewers learn that

The ego aims to produce the ideal half-celestial successor.

. But what is he doing with his so-called rejects? He\’s killing them, and probably brutally. While nobody is debating the ethics of this decision, it is confusing that he\’s simply leaving them to rot. First, there\’s the obvious (and gross) implication: Ego, as a Living Planet, is leaving his children\’s corpses inside his own body.

The second issue with this choice is that it seems akin to an \”out-of-sight, out-of-mind\” dilemma. Instead of actually disposing of the proof, Ego merely neglected to think about it after leaving the cave. Alternatively, he might have reasoned that there was no need for him to worry were these remains ever found. Ironically, their discovery plays a key role in initiating the climactic battle seen in the film. Thus, if his disregard stems from such selfishness, then his own arrogance ends up being costly.

If Mantis was crucial for his well-being, why did Ego risk killing her?

Ego Was Ready to Sacrifice Everything, Including the Mantis

We didn’t do it. It’s merely an extension… of who he truly is. He should return shortly.

Mantis to the Guardians of the Galaxy

When Ego eventually locates Peter Quill, it is because of
Mantis at his side
It turns out that Ego faces an unexpectedly common issue, dealing with insomnia despite being a massive planetary entity. Since Ego cannot merely consume sleeping pills designed for giants, Mantis becomes his alternative solution. She is meant to calm him sufficiently to allow this living world to rest. Seems logical, doesn’t it? The only catch here is…

The ego\’s ultimate scheme is to eliminate everybody and everything except for himself and Quill.

(It’s assumed he’s being truthful here.) He does not specify an exemption for Mantis. This could imply that he was prepared to endure endless terrible sleep as long as he reached his objectives. On the other hand, did Ego originally intend to spare Mantis but decide against it once she joined forces with the Guardians?

How Does Ego Depart From His Planet?

The planet is basically the rest of Ego\’s body.

\”My life, my love, my beloved is the ocean\”… Peter, here lies the sea.

-Ego to Peter Quill

In the comics,

Ego the Living Planet remains solely a planet and does not possess a human-like form.

So, how does Ego achieve this in the movies? More precisely, what motivates him to do so? Ego has shown the capability to create his own manifestations, which clarifies how a human or alien version of himself might be formed. Nonetheless, this fails to fully explain how he manages to venture such great distances away from his physical form.

Two main issues arise from Ego building a human-like entity and venturing through space. Initially, this creation proves notably inferior compared to the planetary one, which was evident when the Guardians encountered it. Additionally, dividing himself into these separate entities potentially increases his vulnerability. This situation prompts queries regarding the level of consciousness retained by each segment.

Why Did Ego Dispatch the Ravagers to Gather His Offspring?

The Ego Should Have the Ability to Go Back to These Planets Alone

I had Yondu bring some of them to me. This violated the Ravager code, but I rewarded him handsomely.

-Ego

The cave containing bodies revealed that

Ego had been departing from his planetary form for centuries.

, discovering numerous new planets with possible candidates for his perfect hybrid. Essentially, Ego appeared fully able to depart and travel anywhere at will when he chose to. Moreover, he evidently monitored the locations of his offspring closely. Given this, why would he require assistance in gathering them?

If there’s one lesson viewers learned from Ego, it’s that
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2
It’s that he’s terrible with kids. His reluctance to go get his own children appears to originate from this issue. Indeed, Ego might have built stronger bonds with his offspring if he had made an effort to seek them out and nurture them instead of merely creating them.

Ego Sought to Ruin Everything Due to His Boredom?

Ego would feel even more bored if he had reached his objectives.

I named it the \”Expansive Reach.\” My mission has become your mission too. Throughout millennia, I have seeded countless versions of myself across myriad planets. The ultimate aim is to achieve life’s sole genuine objective: expansion and dissemination, enveloping all existence until every part becomes… mine!

-Ego

Ego has cited several reasons for wanting to destroy or control the known universe, ranging from misguided ambition to the conceited belief that he\’s superior to everything in it. He also admits that the universe bores him, probably because he doesn\’t see anyone as close to his equal. But if Ego is so bored with a universe full of different beings, does he really think things will improve when he\’s all alone?

The issue with antagonists such as Ego is that they never ponder the consequences should they emerge victorious. Their sole focus lies on achieving their objective without contemplating what follows afterward. A similar scenario played out with Thanos; were Ego successful, he likely would have faced the same fate eventually. In all probability, this adversary would have found himself utterly disinterested within just one or two years at most.

Was Ego Deliberately Looking for a Planet With a Celestial Seed?

The Eternals Verified That Earth Contained a Celestial Seed: Accident or Design?

Half your heritage is Terran. Your mother came from Earth. As for your father, he\’s an incredibly old being we\’ve never encountered before.

-Irani Rael to Quill

In one of his soliloquies, Ego discloses that he has scattered countless planets with versions of himself. In the movie’s climax, several of these planets were shown being assaulted, which verified that Earth was among them. This revelation highlighted how Earth had fallen victim to this expansion.
Eternals
, viewers are also aware that
Our planet hosts a Celestial seed.
This seed remained dormant until humanity had developed sufficiently to facilitate its germination.

The ego is also a celestial being, so he must have known about the seed on Earth, correct?

Was he drawn to Earth for this purpose, or did he merely believe that his objective would be achieved before the egg hatched? Alternatively, perhaps he didn\’t consider the egg\’s existence at all?

Did all of Ego\’s extensions really die with him?

If Ego\’s extensions simply withdrew, he might eventually return.

After millions of years, I mastered the manipulation of molecules surrounding me. My intelligence and power increased dramatically. From this point onward, I kept constructing, layer upon layer, the world beneath your feet today.

-Ego

As already mentioned,

Ego had been diligently striving to spread manifestations of himself throughout the cosmos.

A number of verified planets featuring these extensions encompassed Earth, Aakon, Arago-7.
Xandar
Hala and Easik were among those watching during the climactic battle between the Guardians and Ego, when numerous civilians panicked and escaped from expanding crowds on their respective worlds.

Even though they\’ve ceased their activities, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re gone for good. In the realm of comics, one should generally presume that characters remain active unless definitively stated otherwise. Thus, audiences are left pondering whether this marks the definitive conclusion or if these entities might spawn fresh complications down the line, perhaps even after a century has passed.

Why Did the Marvel Cinematic Universe Depict Ego as a Celestial?

Ego the Living Planet Is Not a Celestial in the Comic Books

\”You people have issues.\”

Of course, I have issues, and that\’s all because of my darned father!

-Rocket and Quill

In the comics, Ego, also known as Egros, belongs to an ancient cosmic species, making him one of the Elders of the Universe. This places Egros at a level comparable to the deities within Marvel Comics. As the Living Planet in the comic book world, Ego holds significant power.
is not a Celestial
. Nonetheless, the MCU turned him into one. Why? Practically speaking, this was probably done to sidestep the introduction of an additional ancient civilization. Still, belittling your viewers is never wise.

In Marvel Comics, the Celestials are yet another ancient race with


godlike powers and abilities

Those with a distinctive appearance, the Celestials are giant figures typically encased in armor and standing approximately 2,000 feet tall, making them easily recognizable. When
The Eternals
It depicted the Celestial Tiamat, which looked similar to the entities portrayed in the comics. However, Kurt Russell\’s character from the MCU bore no resemblance to this being. So why portray him as a Celestial?

Why Did the Marvel Cinematic Universe Eliminate Kurt Russell\’s Character?

The MCU Moves Too Fast When It Comes to Eliminating Impressive Antagonists Such as Ego

\”We need to get off this planet.\”

-Nebula

If there’s one error the MCU consistently commits, it\’s
eliminating its antagonists prematurely
The enduring appeal of the comics over many generations can be attributed to the lasting power of their stories. By having villains die at the conclusion of their movies, as seen in some recent entries within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), they eliminate future possibilities. Essentially, whereas a comic book antagonist might recur multiple times across various narratives, an adversary introduced in the MCU typically gets resolved permanently after just one storyline.

Sadly, the identical error occurred again.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

As a result of the ultimate showdown with Ego, the living planet was doomed to perish.

Since the MCU’s Ego merges two characters, this essentially suggests that the franchise potentially missed out on developing twice as many storylines compared to normal. While there is a possibility that Ego endured, addressing this could lessen the significance of subsequent character fatalities, thereby introducing a cycle of repeated resurrections within the MCU.