| “ | See, I took a seat on the Council not because I wanted to, but because Nick asked me to—because we were both realists. We knew that despite all diplomacy and the handshaking and the rhetoric, that to build a better world? Sometimes means having to tear the old one down. And that makes enemies. | „ |
| ~ Pierce's most famous quote. |
| “ | Hail...HYDRA. | „ |
| ~ Alexander Pierce's last words after being shot dead by Nick Fury. |
Alexander Pierce is a major antagonist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, serving as the main antagonist of Captain America: The Winter Soldier while his 2012 self appeared as a minor antagonist in Avengers: Endgame and a background character in Loki. He was a member of the World Security Council, the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the secret head of HYDRA who planned to use Project Insight to eliminate any threat to S.H.I.E.L.D.
He was portrayed by Robert Redford.
His Evil Ranking[]
What Makes Him Close to Being Pure Evil?[]
- Ordered for the release of Werner Reinhardt despite knowing why he got a life sentence in the first place, indirectly leading to everything he did after that. Including Jiaying getting vivisected.
- Planned to use Project Insight, which were allegedly supposed to form a security network to protect the Earth, but were actually to be used to target and kill around 20 million people selected by an algorithm.
- He ordered Nick Fury's assassination after he discovered his plans, sending a number of HYDRA agents to ambush his car. When Fury escaped, Pierce sent the Winter Soldier to kill him, which seemingly succeeded.
- When he discovered Nick Fury might have told Captain America something that could jeopardize his plan, he deployed corrupt S.T.R.I.K.E. agents to capture Rogers.
- He is occasionally abusive to his own minions, such as when he slaps the Winter Soldier in the face for refusing to answer his question.
- He has Captain America framed so he can make him an enemy of S.H.I.E.L.D. entirely and not just of the HYDRA agents that were within S.H.I.E.L.D.
- When Pierce is meeting up with the Winter Soldier, his maid Renata witnesses him, so he kills her.
- When the Winter Soldier failed to kill Rogers and started remembering things about him, Pierce had his mind wiped through brutal torture.
- When the Security Council learn of his true nature, he had his men take them hostage.
- When his plans were foiled, in a desperate attempt for freedom, he executes all 3 of the World Security Council members and nearly kills Black Widow.
- Overall, he was so bloodthirsty that Gideon Malick rejected his idea of having Pierce as his partner to rescue Hive from Maveth.
- It's revealed in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. that most of HYDRA agents are indoctrinated into HYDRA's way of thinking from birth and cruelly trained to think that way. But considering that Pierce is the leader of HYDRA, it's unknown if he was subjected to the same process as there is no evidence of it.
- During the time heist in Avengers: Endgame, he seems to show some care when Tony Stark has a heart attack, tending to him and calling for a medic. However, this takes place in an Alternate Timeline involving events that couldn't have happened in the original timeline, and he was still pretending to be good at the time, so how genuine it was is hard to say.
What Prevents Him from Being Pure Evil?[]
- He's a well-intentioned extremist who genuinely wants to make the world a better place. While he's definitely ruthless in his actions, he's also very pragmatic as there's not a trace of selfishness in said actions nor does he take pleasure in them. He only targets those who seem to pose some type of threat, offers to let his fellow councilmen join him in the end, his first onscreen appearance even has him saying: "I don't care about one boat, I care about the fleet,” and by the time of his death, retains his legitimate loyalty to HYDRA.
- He has the sincerest respect for enemies like Captain America and his former friend Nick Fury.
- He cared about his daughter, showing some gratitude towards Fury when he saved her. He also wanted Iron Man to attend his niece's birthday party.
- He genuinely regrets killing his maid, Renata, as right before doing so, he says, "Oh, Renata, I wish you would've knocked."
Trivia[]
- His alternate counterpart in What If...? does not count as NPE due to his minimal screen time.
External Links[]
- Alexander Pierce on the Villains Wiki
- Alexander Pierce on the Magnificent Baddie Wiki
- Alexander Pierce on the Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki
- Alexander Pierce on the Marvel Wiki
- Alexander Pierce on the Marvel Movies Wiki
- Alexander Pierce on the Disney Wiki
[]
 Near Pure Evils
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