What makes a good Villian?

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Ekonk

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Apr 21, 2009
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Jedamethis said:
Somebody with a reason.
Ninja'd by the fucking first post.

This is the reason the potential sequel to Kick-Ass would kick ass, the villain has a solid reason for hating the protagonists now.


That said, some villains are good because there IS no reason for what they do. Case and point; Hannibal Lecter, Joker, every psychopath ever.
 

linkzeldi

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ShatterPalm said:
An antagonist can only be considered good if they have something to do for their benefit alone, a motive to do it, and the rescoures to do it. Said thing must be something that can actually be considered a threat to the world. The person doing it must have a reason, such as revenge or desire for power, and the must also be unlike any other character in the game, show, movie, book, etc., the reason being that no one likes a bad guy in said form of media to be boring, and having the antagonist and the protagonist have the same personality is makes things boring. Normally the Antagonist must be a polar opposite to the main protagonist, if only to see the same things in a different way. Said antagonist must also have a particular archtype that sets them appart, the most common of which are Insanity, megalomania, being inredibly self absorbed, or simply believing that the world is dying and by rights should be destroyed.

I think I got everything, but if you think I missed something feel free to throw me a message back.
All good points, my personal definition of a good antagonist is something that's entertaining to watch. I remember watching an anime where the villian had a good motivation, and a good character, but I hated him because all he did was sit in the background and he had a stupid goatee. I also remember watching heroman, where Dr.Minami, so cliche he had a goddamn twirly mustache, enertained me because he was reveling in cliche and still fun to watch. Your statement on what makes a villian is more of a general statement then a personal opinion though.
 

linkzeldi

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Ekonk said:
Jedamethis said:
Somebody with a reason.
Ninja'd by the fucking first post.

This is the reason the potential sequel to Kick-Ass would kick ass, the villain has a solid reason for hating the protagonists now.


That said, some villains are good because there IS no reason for what they do. Case and point; Hannibal Lecter, Joker, every psychopath ever.
Red Mist never did get his revenge eh?

Though I suppose a person with a nazi-facemelting avatar would have at least some expertise in the world of villianry.

Sociopaths are fun, but I tend to prefer the heroic kind because then they can kick ass and you don't feel like a horrible person for rooting for them.
 

Woodsey

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Aug 9, 2009
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They have to see themselves as either the good guy, or the cure for something.
 

Chamale

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Sep 9, 2009
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Good writing, that makes you want to hear them talking.

Your entire life has been a mathematical error. A mathematical error. I'm about to correc-
Also, good motives are important, or at least veiled motives, rather than obvious and pointless ones.
 

Canadamus Prime

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Jun 17, 2009
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Devious, ruthless, cunning, shrewed, terrifying, malevolent... um that's all I can think of right now. Better to give examples of good villains.
- Megabite, ReBoot
- The Shredder, TMNT (2000's series)
- Scar, The Lion King
- Darksied, Superman/JL (DCAU)
- Lex Luther, Superman/JL (DCAU)
- The Joker, Batman:TAS (DCAU)
 

Battenbergcake

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Oct 4, 2009
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Memorable, even if they weren't sucessful as a villain, if their memorable they were a good villain, since a good villain makes an impression in one way or another.
 

Death God

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Jul 6, 2010
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I have to disagree with everyone. Not someone with a good motive. I think somebody with NO motive at all. Like the Joker. Some insane guy just looking to cause chaos in the world for the fact of seeing chaos. And who has connections with everyone, everywhere.
 

The Afrodactyl

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Jul 19, 2010
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They have to have a decent motive (or absolutely none at all, like the Joker).

They have to be intelligent

They have to be able to do things by themselves, not rely on minions (frontline leader)

They have to be consistent (no change in morality at the end)
 

Johanthemonster666

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May 25, 2010
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Usually the worst villians are convinced they are doing something magnificent and for the good of mankind.

They usually have inflated egos and an unattainable, grand image of themselves.
Most are very intelligent and know it, and blame their failures or hardships on others.

This is what makes great villian, they try so hard to be greater than everyone else, projecting the worst attributes and short comings on the world/everyone else.
 

RaffB

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Jul 22, 2008
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I like two types of villian

1. All out evil nutjobs like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Teatime#Mr_Teatime

2. Ones who are complex and whose point of view you can understand i.e http://stargate.wikia.com/wiki/Aiden_Ford


Best examples i could think of
 

linkzeldi

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Jun 30, 2010
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Fusioncode9 said:
Someone who is 100% truly evil, no sense of good or righteousness.
We talking Kefka evil or Sephiroth evil?
There's a difference you know.
 

Geekosaurus

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Aug 14, 2010
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Not being able to see them. Earnst Stavlo Blofeld was most effective when you didn't see his face.