Villains With Potential-Electro

Electro is ridiculous. Even his recent turn as 'the power to the people' was a bit lacklustre. This is because Electro, forgive the phrase, is all sizzle and no steak.

Most villains develop some form of personality over time, especially when they've been around for over twenty years.

But not Electro. He's a cipher. He gets used when the plot calls for a villain with a certain power set, but little is ever done to make him more than a punching bag in green tights.

For the past several years, Electro has been the focus of the same few plots, over and over-he's stealing something; he's working for someone; he's trying to enhance/lose his powers. Mostly number two, lately number three (though, to be fair, Mark Waid put an interesting spin on things with his examination of what happens to someone like Electro as they get older).

Now, there's nothing inherently wrong with the 'villain as plot device' concept in and of itself, but when the character in question is just a walking set of powers with nothing behind it, it's hardly interesting.

So, the first step in exploring Electro's potential is to give him a personality. Make him something more than the rent-a-thug who gets knocked into a fire hydrant every other appearance. The Vulture has a personality. Doctor Octopus has a personality. The Rhino has a personality. So why not Electro?

Maybe because there's no easy key to his character. Electro isn't motivated by personal tragedy or spite or madness. He's just a schmoe who lucked into some powers rather than dying like he should've.

Then, isn't that interesting enough? Electro was a nobody who became, at least in his own eyes, a somebody. Almost a broken mirror version of Spider-Man, when you think about it. Only Electro never got over the entitlement issues and adrenaline rush. He could've died. Should have, probably. But he didn't. It was as if God's finger reached down and marked him for greatness.

Electro thinks he's special. He thinks he has a purpose, that he was given his powers to make his life better. So why would he just rob banks? Why would he bother teaming up with the Sinister Six to go after Spider-Man? Is that really what a man like Max Dillon would do if he were given control of one of the fundamental forces that drives our civilization?

Probably, because he's a petty jackass.

But, I think you could also make a case for Electro going out and doing something flashy-a reality show (think Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon only with super-villains instead of serial killers) perhaps. He wants to be famous. To be bigger than the Beatles. Killing Spider-Man is a good way to do that, but there are other ways. Electro should be a hustler, always looking for that next big chance to make his name. He's not looking for money, or respect, or to do his job and go home. For Electro it's personal. It's all personal. Everything he does is about Electro. It's about making Electro important.

In other words, Electro is determined to see that lightning strikes twice.