History Main / CardCArryingVillain

While the trope can result in an [[LaughablyEvil entertaining villain]], they can also be cheesy or shallow. 80s kid's shows made a lot of these, where the villain referred to themselves as evil. Writers apparently believed that the children watching [[ViewersAreMorons wouldn't be able to define the bad guy]] unless he was blowing up cities or poisoning lakes ForTheEvulz. It also reveals a condescending belief that children are unable to understand that evil people usually [[ObliviouslyEvil don't consider themselves evil]]. Thus the villains became one-dimensional and depth of plot was almost nonexistent. In works that are aimed at older audiences and/or use GreyAndGrayMorality for their other villains, a Card-Carrying Villain has a good chance of ending up as a BaseBreakingCharacter or even TheScrappy.

The "Card-Carrying" in the trope name is an expression that comes from the identification cards often given to registered members of an organization or professional society, and is not meant to be taken literally; it just means they're proudly committed to the role. If the villains carry an ''actual'' membership card, they may be part of a WeirdTradeUnion, but that would be a different trope. (Do we dare even ask what would happen if the Villains' Union [[StrikeEpisode goes on strike]]?)

The TropeNamer for this is a membership card for some perceived corrupt, disreputable, or [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking bad smelling]] organization. No one ever gets a excessively liberal / dishonest / tainted reputation by being a "card-carrying member of the Los Angeles Public Library," nor for being a "card-carrying member of the PTA." Two big examples are a "card-carrying member of the ACLU,"[[note]]The American Civil Liberties Union, a civil-rights organization known for defending constitutional rights, sometimes has to come to the defense of people charged with the commission of crimes[[/note]] an organization considered very liberal, or "a card-carrying member of the Communist Party," because its ideas are considered unacceptable.

* While not official to Christianity, ''Literature/TheScrewtapeLetters'' (written by Creator/CSLewis) depicts Hell's demons as a mix of this and CorruptCorporateExecutive. Their business deals with humanity's damnation.

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation.{{TheSimpsons}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/2f7c6497_da3b_4747_bd55_c1185137d0c0.jpeg]]]]

* ''Fanfic/FeralnetteAUBigFatBreak'': [[ManipulativeBitch Lila]] is perfectly happy to team up with Hawkmoth in hopes of breaking Marinette's spirit, all because Marinette stood up to her and tried calling her out on her BlatantLies. The amount of pride and glee she takes in her cruelty ultimately bites her ''hard'' when [[spoiler:she's hit by Lady Clarity's power, exposing her [[BeneathTheMask inner self]] in the form of a phantom. Said phantom cheerfully brags about helping 'Hawkie' to everyone present, revealing her true nature]].

Of course the alternative is true: it can be their single most despicable quality. Even a Well-Intentioned Extremist can [[VillainHasAPoint make a good point]] once in a while despite their immoral deeds. A Card-Carrying Villain on the other hand, is fully aware that they're scum and openly embrace it.

While the trope can result in an [[LaughablyEvil entertaining villain]], [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools they can also be cheesy or shallow.]] 80s kid's shows made a lot of these, where the villain referred to themselves as evil. Writers apparently believed that the children watching [[ViewersAreMorons wouldn't be able to define the bad guy]] unless he was blowing up cities or poisoning lakes ForTheEvulz. It also reveals a condescending belief that children are unable to understand that evil people usually [[ObliviouslyEvil don't consider themselves evil]]. Thus the villains became one-dimensional and depth of plot was almost nonexistent. In works that are aimed at older audiences and/or use GreyAndGrayMorality for their other villains, a Card-Carrying Villain has a good chance of ending up as a BaseBreakingCharacter or even TheScrappy.

[[Administrivia/TropesAreTools On the other hand]], there are still dramatic situations where characters ''are'' that evil even in serious situations — certain kinds of world-destroyers, the excessively vengeful, and full-on psychopaths. It is easier to pull this seriously with a villain who acts like this in private but pretends to be something else in public, but even if not, it can work if the character is a total psycho. Demonic entities also have full access to this trope. In the final stage, you have a villain who insists on justifying their actions because "it's what villains are ''supposed to do''"; see ContractualGenreBlindness. In dramatic situations, the hero may try to induce a HeelFaceTurn and tell them they have a choice. They choose to keep being evil.

* ''WebAnimation/TerribleWritingAdvice'': JP describes his own alignment as "somewhere between ChaoticNeutral and NeutralEvil".

* ''Fanfic/TheLionKingAdventures'': When Nala tells Timon and Pumbaa that they are evil, Timon replys "Who cares? Evil makes the world go round".
* ''Fanfic/MassEffectHumanRevolution'': Jules Leng almmost gleefully admits to rape when Adam confronts him.

%%* ''Fanfic/TwilightSparklesAwesomeAdventure'': Queen Celesia.

"Appealing to my better nature? I'm a villain! Here is MyCard! "[[StevenUlyssesPerhero Eve L. Duehr]]: AcademyOfEvil graduate, [[TakeOverTheWorld Aspiring]] [[EvilOverlord Tyrant]], [[KickTheDog Kicker of Kittens]], and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Spontaneous Singer of]] ''[[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney songs]]''." I crossed the MoralEventHorizon while [[EnfantTerrible still in grade school]] and have [[EvilFeelsGood never once looked back]]. And you think you can [[KirkSummation talk me out of my evil deeds]]? I shall laugh at your feeble attempts to stop me like so, [[EvilLaugh mwhahahahahahahahahaa]]!"

* The ''WebAnimation/RWBYChibi'' version of Cinder Fall is a complete 180 of her normal counterpart, using EvilLaughter, enjoying the idea of killing kittens and using copious amounts of MostDefinitelyNotAVillain.

-->--'''Dr. Edgar Malbarn''', ''Literature/ArmageddonForce''

** Phil The Prince of Insufficient Light.

"Appealing to my better nature? I'm a villain! Here is MyCard! "[[StevenUlyssesPerhero Eve L. Duehr]]: AcademyOfEvil graduate, [[TakeOverTheWorld Aspiring]] [[EvilOverlord Tyrant]], [[KickTheDog Kicker of Kittens]], and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Spontaneous Singer of]] ''[[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney songs]]''." I crossed the MoralEventHorizon while [[EnfantTerrible still in grade school]] and have [[EvilFeelsGood never once looked back]]. And you think you can [[KirkSummation talk me out of my evil deeds]]? I shall laugh at your feeble attempts to stop me like so, [[EvilLaugh Mwhahahahahahahahahaa]]!"

"Appealing to my better nature? I'm a villain! Here is MyCard! "[[StevenUlyssesPerhero Eve L. Duehr]]: AcademyOfEvil graduate, [[TakeOverTheWorld Aspiring]] [[EvilOverlord Tyrant]], [[KickTheDog Kicker of Kittens]], and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Spontaneous Singer of]] ''[[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney songs]]''." I crossed the MoralEventHorizon while [[EnfantTerrible still in grade school]] and have [[EvilFeelsGood never once looked back]]. And you think you can [[KirkSummation talk me out of my evil deeds]]? I shall laugh at your feeble attempts to stop me like so, [[EvilLaugh Ahahahahahahahahaa]]!"

Appealing to my better nature? I'm a villain! Here is MyCard! "[[StevenUlyssesPerhero Eve L. Duehr]]: AcademyOfEvil graduate, [[TakeOverTheWorld Aspiring]] [[EvilOverlord Tyrant]], [[KickTheDog Kicker of Kittens]], and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Spontaneous Singer of]] ''[[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney songs]]''." I crossed the MoralEventHorizon while [[EnfantTerrible still in grade school]] and have [[EvilFeelsGood never once looked back]]. And you think you can [[KirkSummation talk me out of my evil deeds]]? I shall laugh at your feeble attempts to stop me like so, [[EvilLaugh Ahahahahahahahahaa]]!"

->''"I killed a man named 'Smith' with a bottle because I am an evil human being. ...Isn't that enough?"''
-->-- '''The first killer''', ''VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney''

In comedy situations/shows, this fate is usually averted, as it's a humorous thing (and thus right in place). It can also be used with a darker twist — showing a person so beyond redemption, so beyond what we call usual morality, that he is literally impossible to argue and reason with. This trope is also difficult (but not impossible) to pull off convincingly in a more serious, dramatic work or just live action in general. Most people in RealLife simply aren't that evil or conceited enough (or stupid enough) to proclaim themselves as such in any way. Not overtly, at least.

Appealing to my better nature? I'm a villain! Here is MyCard! "[[StevenUlyssesPerhero Eve L. Duehr]]: AcademyOfEvil graduate, [[TakeOverTheWorld Aspiring]] [[EvilOverlord Tyrant]], [[KickTheDog Kicker of Kittens]], and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Spontaneous Singer of]] ''[[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney songs]]''." I crossed the MoralEventHorizon while [[EnfantTerrible still in grade school]] and have [[EvilFeelsGood never once looked back]]. And you think you can [[KirkSummation talk me out of my evil deeds]]? I shall laugh at your feeble attempts to stop me like so, [[EvilLaugh Ahahahahahahahahaa]]!

While the trope can result in an [[LaughablyEvil entertaining villain]], [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools they can also be cheesy or shallow.]] 80s kid's shows made a lot of these, where the villain referred to themselves as evil. Writers apparently believed that the children watching [[ViewersAreMorons wouldn't be able to define the bad guy]] unless he was blowing up cities or poisoning lakes ForTheEvulz. It also reveals a condescending belief that children are unable to understand that evil people usually [[ObliviouslyEvil don't consider themselves evil]]. Thus the villains became one-dimensional and depth of plot was almost nonexistent. In works that are aimed at older audiences and/or uses GreyAndGrayMorality for its other villains, a Card-Carrying Villain has a good chance of ending up as a BaseBreakingCharacter or even TheScrappy.

There are, in general, three spheres of Card Carrying Villainy. A lot of villains combine one or more, though: