History AffablyEvil / ComicBooks

* SelfDemonstrating/DoctorDoom, the main enemy of the ''Comicbook/FantasticFour'', fits this like a glove, proving to be surprisingly likable and charming even ''as'' he commits various evil deeds, to the point where he's had several moments past the MoralEventHorizon {{retcon}}ned, ignored, or smoothed over into WellIntentionedExtremist territory because of fandom outrage. Doom mocks your beliefs in the MoralEventHorizon!

** Villain Ra's al Ghul has not only tried to be civil towards "the Detective", but has repeatedly offered Batman the chance to join his organization, and offered the hand of his beautiful ([[DatingCatwoman and mutually attracted]]) daughter, Talia.

* Otto Octavius, better known as ComicBook/{{Spider-Man}}'s nemesis, DoctorOctopus, once rented a room from Aunt May, and behaved like a perfect gentleman, even helping her around the house. He also came very near to marrying her, after she somehow inherited a nuclear plant. May's inability to understand that he was a bad person was a running gag for a long while.
* DoctorDoom, the main enemy of the ''Comicbook/FantasticFour'', fits this like a glove, proving to be surprisingly likable and charming even ''as'' he commits various evil deeds, to the point where he's had several moments past the MoralEventHorizon {{retcon}}ned, ignored, or smoothed over into WellIntentionedExtremist territory because of fandom outrage. Doom mocks your beliefs in the MoralEventHorizon!
* The ''Comicbook/{{X-Men}}'''s {{Magneto}}, during ChrisClaremont's first run, went from revenge-obsessed wacko to head of Xavier Institute to not quite back again, thanks in large part to his portrayal as an Affably Evil WellIntentionedExtremist.

* [[TheDCU DC's]] VandalSavage (who, having been alive since caveman days, is ''a little bit more'' than ReallySevenHundredYearsOld) has often acted quite genteel towards Earth's heroes. OTOH, he did have an unsatisfactory minion for dinner with some of his colleagues and other subordinates. Sorry, he had the minion ''as'' dinner. And he did pressure his daughter to marry somebody, or at least to have a child. I'd categorize him as FauxAffablyEvil; sociopath who is surprisingly persuasive. Not actually likable, but still fairly persuasive, if only through the controversial "agree or I burn your parents alive" technique.
* {{Batman}}:

** Not affable in the same way as most, but Harley Quinn is known for being so bubbly and cheerful that she's near impossible to dislike (at least, initially), despite being a murdering psychopath at worst and a good hearted but remorseless criminal at best. This is, in part, due to having an [[PsychopathicManchild almost innocent, childlike]] personality, ([[DependingOnTheWriter except when she doesn't]]), but she's lovable enough that ''Poison Ivy'' likes her, and one of the reasons SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker keeps trying to kill her is that [[MadLove he has feelings for her but doesn't like that fact]].

* LexLuthor is sometimes this, DependingOnTheWriter

* An alternate reality version of Mister Sinister proves to be one of these in ''Comicbook/CableAndDeadpool''. Not only is he nice enough to let Deadpool use his bathroom, he has a completely normal conversation with him and doesn't antagonize him at all. He even sits down with Deadpool, Cannonball, and Siryn for a delightful meal...which was laced with barbiturates to incapacitate them so that he could dissect them later.

** Some of Thanos conversations with Adam Warlock evoke this. Warlock is the only being to have peeked inside Thanos' soul, and so is perhaps the only one who understands him. When they talk to each other, they almost sound like friends.
* The Serpent Society from the MarvelUniverse is a group of [[AnimalMotifs snake-themed]] supervillains with shades of this. In addition to members being friendly with one another, when one of them, Diamondback, semi-reformed, she also began {{dating|Catwoman}} CaptainAmerica. Not only were her friends within the group supportive of her, but they also helped thwart other villains' attempts at ruining her first date with him.
* ShadeTheChangingMan encounters the "Devil", who comes across as a civilized, cultured gentleman [[spoiler: who eventually stabs him in the back. He is {{Satan}}, after all]].

* Senator Greyshade in the first run of the MarvelStarWars comics. One can picture him asking Darth Vader "Don't you ever have any FUN?"
* [[MeaningfulName Mr. Lamb]], one of the late villains created by FloydGottfredson in ''[[ComicBook/MickeyMouseComicUniverse The Syndicate of crime]]''. Sincere tears come when MickeyMouse and Eega Beeva refuse to join his gang and prefer to die: ''[[PlayedForLaughs "This is going to hurt us more than it does you!"]]''
* ThePunisher comes across a lot of these, presumably because they're such good foils to his [[TheStoic usual demeanour]].

** [[ScaryBlackMan Barracuda]] is a giant M60 weilding psychopath, but also an endless well of optimism and cheer.

* Cap'n Blaze from ''TerryAndThePirates''. He may be a warlord, but he is a jolly old soul who enjoys a game of checkers with his captives.

** H'el is rather nice to fellow Kryptonian, Supergirl, who also wants to back to her old life on Krypton. He later [[spoiler:convinces her join him in his quest to ressurect Krypton]], but manipulates her to estrange her from Superman.
** H'el was also friendly to Superman, initially. When they first meet, H'el hugs Superman and even calls him his "little brother". Superman was already suspicious, but H'el threatening to snap Superboy's neck caused that two to become enemies.

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** The Riddler, in his own quirky, InsufferableGenius way. When he's not, you know, having a crazed VillainousBreakdown.

* [[MeaningfulName Mr. Lamb]], one of the late villains created by FloydGottfredson in ''[[MickeyMouseComicUniverse The Syndicate of crime]]''. Sincere tears come when MickeyMouse and Eega Beeva refuse to join his gang and prefer to die: ''[[PlayedForLaughs "This is going to hurt us more than it does you!"]]''

* Otto Octavius, better known as ComicBook/{{Spider-Man}}'s nemesis, Doctor Octopus, once rented a room from Aunt May, and behaved like a perfect gentleman, even helping her around the house. He also came very near to marrying her, after she somehow inherited a nuclear plant. May's inability to understand that he was a bad person was a running gag for a long while.

* The Puisher comes across a lot of these, presumably because they're such good foils to his [[TheStoic usual demeanour]].

** H'el is rather nice to fellow Kryptonian, Supergirl, who also wants to back to her old life on Krypton. He manages to convince her join him in his quest to ressurect Krypton, but manipulates her to estrange her from Superman.

* Hoss, the redneck demon from ''GhostRider: Road to Damnation''.

* The Russian from GarthEnnis's mainstream [[ThePunisher Punisher comics]] is a jovial killing machine, more than likely to chat amicably with you while reducing your bones to a fine powder. [[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength He even killed an ally by accident while giving him a friendly one-armed squeeze.]]
** Frank comes across a lot of these, presumably because they're such good foils to his [[TheStoic usual demeanour]]. [[ScaryBlackMan Barracuda]] is a giant M60 weilding psychopath, but also an endless well of optimism and cheer. Similarly, MAX!Bullseye never once drops his friendly, pleasant manner no matter who he's speaking with, but is [[PsychoForHire seriously, ]]''[[PsychoForHire seriously]]'' [[PsychoForHire unwell]].

* [[spoiler: Ozymandias]] in ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}''. In addition to being a WellIntentionedExtremist (on a par with Ra's al Ghul in that regard), he's also gentlemanly, witty, and calm, even in hand-to-hand combat. He treats his underlings kindly (right until he [[spoiler: [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness drugs them and leaves them]] to die of exposure to [[HeKnowsTooMuch prevent his secrets from getting out]]]]. When his former crimefighting colleagues track him down and learn of his [[YouAreTooLate already-in-progress master plan]], he gives them the opportunity to keep silent, and when all of them ([[spoiler:except Rorschach]]) agree, he trusts them enough to not only let them live, but to offer them hospitality in his fortress and allow them to leave freely. Hardly seems fair to hold [[spoiler: the deaths of millions of innocent people]] against him.

* An alternate reality version of Mister Sinister proves to be one of these in ''Comicbook/{{Cable}} and {{Deadpool}}''. Not only is he nice enough to let Deadpool use his bathroom, he has a completely normal conversation with him and doesn't antagonize him at all. He even sits down with Deadpool, Cannonball, and Siryn for a delightful meal...which was laced with barbiturates to incapacitate them so that he could dissect them later.

** Not affable in the same way as most, but Harley Quinn is known for being so bubbly and cheerful that she's near impossible to dislike (at least, initially), despite being a murdering psychopath at worst and a good hearted but remorseless criminal at best. This is, in part, due to having an [[PsychopathicManchild almost innocent, childlike]] personality, ([[DependingOnTheWriter except when she doesn't]]), but she's lovable enough that ''Poison Ivy'' likes her, and one of the reasons TheJoker keeps trying to kill her is that [[MadLove he has feelings for her but doesn't like that fact]].

* IronMan's enemy, the Mandarin, has a heart of stone, but he is always impeccably polite and well-mannered. He also has a strict code of honor, which he '''always''' makes sure to uphold. He once vaporized his favorite minion on the spot for using poison in a sparring session, and he also upheld the promises he made on at least one occasion when Iron Man defeated him in fair combat, such as stopping his efforts to prevent Stark Enterprises from setting up in Hong Kong.

* Senator Greyshade in the first run of the Marvel StarWars comics. One can picture him asking Darth Vader "Don't you ever have any FUN?"

* [[spoiler: Ozymandias]] in ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}''. In addition to being a WellIntentionedExtremist (on a par with Ra's al Ghul in that regard), he's also gentlemanly, witty, and even-tempered, even in hand-to-hand combat. He treats his underlings kindly (right until he [[spoiler: [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness drugs them and leaves them]] to die of exposure to [[HeKnowsTooMuch prevent his secrets from getting out]]]]. When his former crimefighting colleagues track him down and learn of his [[YouAreTooLate already-in-progress master plan]], he gives them the opportunity to keep silent, and when all of them ([[spoiler:except Rorschach]]) agree, he trusts them enough to not only let them live, but to offer them hospitality in his fortress and allow them to leave freely. Hardly seems fair to hold [[spoiler: the deaths of millions of innocent people]] against him.

* Lucifer from ''TheSandman'' and his own SpinOff series is always polite and eloquent, even in [[PaintingTheMedium his speech bubbles]]. He stops being evil by ''The Season of Mists'', and settles for being a somewhat amoral DeadpanSnarker. ... and dives right back in to being evil in his solo series (the very first plot arc opens with him casually destroying another angel's several millennia of work over a ''mistake''). He is still impeccably polite (until deliberately provoked), and always keeps his word.

* The Serpent Society from the MarvelUniverse is a group of [[AnimalMotifs snake-themed]] supervillains with shades of this. In addition to members being friendly with one another, when one of them, Diamondback, semi-reformed, she also began {{dating|Catwoman}} CaptainAmerica. Not only were her friends within the group supportive of her, but they also helped thwart other villains' attempts at ruining her first date with him.
* {{Shade the Changing Man}} encounters the "Devil", who comes across as a civilized, cultured gentleman [[spoiler: who eventually stabs him in the back. He is {{Satan}}, after all]].

* The Doll-Master from ''{{Comicbook/Wanted}}''. He's a member of a supervillain Fraternity that rules the world. He's also a loving family man who never swears in front of children.

* Lucifer from ''TheSandman'' and his own SpinOff series is always polite and eloquent, even in [[PaintingTheFourthWall his speech bubbles]]. He stops being evil by ''The Season of Mists'', and settles for being a somewhat amoral DeadpanSnarker. ... and dives right back in to being evil in his solo series (the very first plot arc opens with him casually destroying another angel's several millennia of work over a ''mistake''). He is still impeccably polite (until deliberately provoked), and always keeps his word.

* ''{{Empowered}}'':

* Otto Octavius, better known as ComicBook/{{Spider-Man}}'s nemesis, Doctor Octopus, once rented a room from Aunt May, and behaved like a perfect gentleman, even helping her around the house.
** He also came very near to marrying her, after she somehow inherited a nuclear plant. May's inability to understand that he was a bad person was a running gag for a long while.

* [[TheDCU DC's]] VandalSavage (who, having been alive since caveman days, is ''a little bit more'' than ReallySevenHundredYearsOld) has often acted quite genteel towards Earth's heroes.
** OTOH, he did have an unsatisfactory minion for dinner with some of his colleagues and other subordinates. Sorry, he had the minion ''as'' dinner. And he did pressure his daughter to marry somebody, or at least to have a child. I'd categorize him as FauxAffablyEvil; sociopath who is surprisingly persuasive. Not actually likable, but still fairly persuasive, if only through the controversial "agree or I burn your parents alive" technique.

** Villain Ra's al Ghul has not only tried to be civil towards "the Detective", but has repeatedly offered Batman the chance to join his organization, and even offered the hand of his beautiful ([[DatingCatwoman and mutually attracted]]) daughter, Talia.

** For that matter, Ninjette, who was originally hired to take out Empowered, but ended up becoming her best friend.

* Lucifer from ''TheSandman'' and his own SpinOff series is always polite and eloquent, even in [[PaintingTheFourthWall his speech bubbles]]. Of course, he stops being evil by ''The Season of Mists'', and settles for being a somewhat amoral DeadpanSnarker.
** ... and dives right back in to being evil in his solo series (the very first plot arc opens with him casually destroying another angel's several millennia of work over a ''mistake''). He is still impeccably polite (until deliberately provoked), and always keeps his word.

* [[MeaningfulName Mr. Lamb]], one of the late villains created by Floyd Gottfredson in ''The Syndicate of crime''. Sincere tears come when Mickey and Eega Beeva refuse to join his gang and prefer to die: ''[[PlayedForLaughs "This is going to hurt us more than it does you!"]]''

** Not affable in the same way as most, but Harley Quinn is known for being so bubbly and cheerful that she's near impossible to dislike (at least, initially), despite being a murdering psychopath at worse and a good hearted but remorseless criminal at best. This is, in part, due to having an [[PsychopathicManchild almost innocent, childlike]] personality, ([[DependingOnTheWriter except when she doesn't]]), but she's lovable enough that ''Poison Ivy'' likes her, and one of the reasons TheJoker keeps trying to kill her is that [[MadLove he has feelings for her but doesn't like that fact]].

* The Doll-Master from ''{{Comicbook/Wanted}}''. He's a member of a supervillain Fraternity that rules the world. He's also a loving family man who never swears in front of children.