History Main / DarkisNotEvil

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1349477125073940100
%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
%%
[[quoteright:350:[[{{Franchise/Batman}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Batman_01_350_6854.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[Anime/TheBigO Good guys wear black!]]]]

->''"So yes, black mages often ''can'' be evil. But black as a color is not inherently evil. Being influenced by black’s philosophies does not necessarily mean that one will commit an evil act. That being the case, we cannot say that black represents evil. More closely aligned with evil than the other colors? Fine. More ripe with potential for evil? Sure. Evil? No. And that's a very important distinction."''
-->-- '''Mark Rosewater''', ''[[http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/black-2004-02-02 Making Magic: In The Black]]''

So, you have a race of people who all have black, leathery [[GoodWingsEvilWings wings]]. They're born with the ability to shoot black, shadowy globs out of their hands. Also, they prefer the night, and let's not get started on their [[EvilWearsBlack wardrobes]]. Surely, they're evil!

Well...no one actually mentioned them doing bad things; in fact, they may actually be [[GoodSamaritan pretty good guys.]] It's not like they keep pet dogs exclusively for [[KickTheDog kicking]]. Despite any [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience images that may have been burned into our minds]], creepy appearances and killing people actually [[FreakyFashionMildMind don't have much to do with each other]]. Unfortunately, however, people can still judge them [[FantasticRacism based on their looks]]. Expect some VanHelsingHateCrimes to be committed, especially by dickish [[KnightTemplar Knight Templars]] who claim to side with the [[LightIsNotGood holy light]].

This trope can be a {{subver|tedTrope}}sion or {{aver|tedTrope}}sion of several other tropes depending on how it's played, including BeautyEqualsGoodness, AlwaysChaoticEvil, and ColourCodedForYourConvenience. A common use for it is for the "Don't judge a book by its cover" {{Aesop}}. It can also be used to promote EvilIsCool and EvilIsSexy, and sometimes EvenEvilHasStandards, except without the, uh... evil. Even though with the subtle (or not so) undertone of {{Humans Are Bastards}} that this trope implies, using this does not automatically enforce LightIsNotGood; in fact, stories where LightIsGood ''and'' Dark Is Not Evil [[YinYangBomb are quite common]].

The extreme form of this is TheSacredDarkness, where Dark is not just ''not Evil'', but is in fact equally holy and Good as Light (or even more so) is typically perceived to be. In situations where TheSacredDarkness exists, however, Dark Is Not Evil is '''not''' an absolute certainty, and the usual caveats about LightIsNotGood still apply.

LightIsNotGood, GoodPowersBadPeople are sister tropes. For the inverse, see DarkIsEvil. A natural implication of the YinYangBomb. See also GoodAllAlong, BadPowersGoodPeople, CreepyGood, FaceOfAThug, TerrorHero, PerkyGoth, OurMonstersAreDifferent, AntiAntichrist, ReluctantMonster, GoodIsNotNice, and {{Halloweentown}}. When vampires are involved, this trope generally puts them on the friendly end of the SlidingScaleOfVampireFriendliness, often resulting in a FriendlyNeighbourhoodVampire. Gods of the underworld and death in particular can be this, since EverybodyHatesHades.

Contrast EvilWearsBlack.

[[noreallife]]
-----
!!Examples

[[index]]
* DarkIsNotEvil/AnimeAndManga
* DarkIsNotEvil/ComicBooks
* DarkIsNotEvil/FairyTales
* DarkIsNotEvil/FanWorks
* [[DarkIsNotEvil/AnimatedFilms Films — Animation]]
* [[DarkIsNotEvil/LiveActionFilms Films — Live-Action]]
* DarkIsNotEvil/{{Literature}}
* DarkIsNotEvil/LiveActionTV
* DarkIsNotEvil/{{Music}}
* DarkIsNotEvil/MythsAndReligion
* DarkIsNotEvil/TabletopGames
* DarkIsNotEvil/{{Theatre}}
* DarkIsNotEvil/ThemeParks
* DarkIsNotEvil/VideoGames
* DarkIsNotEvil/VisualNovels
* DarkIsNotEvil/WebAnimation
* DarkIsNotEvil/WebOriginal
* DarkIsNotEvil/WebComics
* DarkIsNotEvil/WesternAnimation
[[/index]]

[[folder: Professional Wrestling]]
* Crossed with CreepyGood: Despite his overall creepiness, Wrestling/{{Boogeyman}} definitely seemed to be a force of good in his own, weird way.
* Wrestling/{{Hallowicked}} became this after his 2006 [[HeelFaceTurn Rudo-Tecnico Turn]]. After [[Wrestling/HunterJohnston Delirious]] used the [[ArtifactOfDoom Eye of Tyr]] on him to turn him against Wrestling/{{UltraMantis Black}} at the 2014 Wrestling/{{CHIKARA}} SeasonFinale ''Tomorrow Never Dies'' on December 6, 2014, he completely changed his look and became a case of LightIsNotGood.
[[/folder]]


----

Well...no one actually mentioned them doing bad things; in fact, they may actually be [[GoodSamaritan pretty good guys.]] It's not like they keep pet dogs exclusively for [[KickTheDog kicking]]. Despite any [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience images that may have been burned into our minds]], creepy appearances and killing people actually [[FreakyFashionMildMind don't have much to do with each other]]. Unfortunately, however, people can still judge them [[FantasticRacism based on their looks]]. Expect some VanHelsingHateCrimes to be committed, especially by dickish [[KnightTemplar Knight Templars]] [[LightIsNotGood rambling about light]] who may be worse than those they persecute.

Well...no one actually mentioned them doing bad things; in fact, they may actually be [[GoodSamaritan pretty good guys.]] It's not like they keep pet dogs exclusively for [[KickTheDog kicking]]. Despite any [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience images that may have been burned into our minds]], creepy appearances and killing people actually [[FreakyFashionMildMind don't have much to do with each other]]. Unfortunately, however, people can still judge them [[FantasticRacism based on their looks]]. Expect some VanHelsingHateCrimes to be committed, especially by dickish [[KnightTemplar Knight Templars]] [[LightIsNotGood clad in pearlish white]] who may be worse than those they persecute.

Well...no one actually mentioned them doing bad things; in fact, they may actually be [[GoodSamaritan pretty good guys.]] It's not like they keep pet dogs exclusively for [[KickTheDog kicking]]. Despite any [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience images that may have been burned into our minds]], creepy appearances and killing people actually [[FreakyFashionMildMind don't have much to do with each other]]. Unfortunately, however, people can still judge them [[FantasticRacism based on their looks]]. Expect some VanHelsingHateCrimes to be committed, especially by asshole [[KnightTemplar Knight Templars]] [[LightIsNotGood clad in pearlish white]] who may be worse than those they persecute.

Well...no one actually mentioned them doing bad things; in fact, they may actually be [[GoodSamaritan pretty good guys.]] It's not like they keep pet dogs exclusively for [[KickTheDog kicking]]. Despite any [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience images that may have been burned into our minds]], creepy appearances and killing people actually [[FreakyFashionMildMind don't have much to do with each other]]. Unfortunately, however, people can still judge them [[FantasticRacism based on their looks]]. Expect some VanHelsingHateCrimes, particularly by smug pricks [[LightIsNotGood clad in pearlish white]].

Well...no one actually mentioned them doing bad things; in fact, they may actually be [[GoodSamaritan pretty good guys.]] It's not like they keep pet dogs exclusively for [[KickTheDog kicking]]. Despite any [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience images that may have been burned into our minds]], creepy appearances and killing people actually [[FreakyFashionMildMind don't have much to do with each other]]. Unfortunately, however, people can still judge them [[FantasticRacism based on their looks]]. Expect some VanHelsingHateCrimes.

Well... no one actually mentioned them doing bad things; in fact, they may actually be [[GoodSamaritan pretty good guys.]] It's not like they keep pet dogs exclusively for [[KickTheDog kicking]]. Despite any [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience images that may have been burned into our minds]], creepy appearances and killing people actually [[FreakyFashionMildMind don't have much to do with each other]]. Unfortunately, however, people can still judge them [[FantasticRacism based on their looks]]. Expect some VanHelsingHateCrimes.

* DarkIsNotEvil/FanFics
* DarkIsNotEvil/{{Film}}

* DarkIsNotEvil/{{Manhwa}}

* DarkIsNotEvil/MythologyAndReligion

* DarkIsNotEvil/{{Webcomics}}

LightIsNotGood, GoodPowersBadPeople are sister tropes. For the inverse, see DarkIsEvil. A natural implication of the YinYangBomb. See also GoodAllAlong, BadPowersGoodPeople, CreepyGood, FaceOfAThug, TerrorHero, PerkyGoth, OurMonstersAreDifferent, AntiAntiChrist, ReluctantMonster, GoodIsNotNice, and {{Halloweentown}}. When vampires are involved, this trope generally puts them on the friendly end of the SlidingScaleOfVampireFriendliness, often resulting in a FriendlyNeighbourhoodVampire. Gods of the underworld and death in particular can be this, since EverybodyHatesHades.

So, you have a race of people who all have [[RedRightHand black, leathery]] [[GoodWingsEvilWings wings]]. They're born with the [[BadPowersBadPeople ability to shoot]] [[CastingAShadow black, shadowy globs]] out of their hands. Also, they prefer the night, and let's not get started on their [[EvilWearsBlack wardrobes]]. Surely, they're evil!

Well... no one actually mentioned them doing bad things; in fact, they may actually be [[GoodSamaritan pretty good guys.]] It's not like they keep pet dogs exclusively for [[KickTheDog kicking]]. Despite any [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience images that may have been burned into our minds]], creepy appearances and killing people actually [[FreakyFashionMildMind don't have much to do with each other]]. It's not MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch, because the species, for the most part, isn't protesting the do-gooders. Unfortunately, however, people can still judge them [[FantasticRacism based on their looks]]. Expect some VanHelsingHateCrimes.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Anime/TheBigO Good guys]] [[Creator/{{Toonami}} wear black!]]]]

LightIsNotGood, GoodPowersBadPeople are sister tropes. For the inverse, see DarkIsEvil. A natural implication of the YinYangBomb. See also GoodAllAlong, BadPowersGoodPeople, CreepyGood, FaceOfAThug, PerkyGoth, OurMonstersAreDifferent, AntiAntiChrist, ReluctantMonster, GoodIsNotNice, and {{Halloweentown}}. When vampires are involved, this trope generally puts them on the friendly end of the SlidingScaleOfVampireFriendliness, often resulting in a FriendlyNeighbourhoodVampire. Gods of the underworld and death in particular can be this, since EverybodyHatesHades.

->''"So yes, [[TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering black mages]] often ''can'' be evil. But black as a color is not inherently evil. Being influenced by black’s philosophies does not necessarily mean that one will commit an evil act. That being the case, we cannot say that black represents evil. More closely aligned with evil than the other colors? Fine. More ripe with potential for evil? Sure. Evil? No. And that's a very important distinction."''

-->-- '''Mark Rosewater''', ''[[http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/mr109 Making Magic: In The Black]]''

So, you have a race of people who all have [[RedRightHand black, leathery]] [[GoodWingsEvilWings wings]]. They're born with the [[BadPowersBadPeople ability to shoot]] [[CastingAShadow black, shadowy globs]] out of their hands. Also, they prefer the night, and let's not get started on their [[EvilWearsBlack wardrobes]]. Surely, they're evil[[JustForFun/SecretOrganizationCravingIntelligentEnigmaticTropersYonder !]]

The extreme form of this is TheSacredDarkness, where Dark is not just ''not Evil'', but is in fact equally as (Or even more than) holy and Good as Light is typically perceived to be. In situations where TheSacredDarkness exists, however, Dark Is Not Evil is '''not''' an absolute certainty, and the usual caveats about LightIsNotGood still apply.

So, you have a race of people who all have [[RedRightHand black, leathery]] [[GoodWingsEvilWings wings]]. They're born with the [[BadPowersBadPeople ability to shoot]] [[CastingAShadow black, shadowy globs]] out of their hands. Also, they prefer the night, and let's not get started on their [[EvilWearsBlack wardrobes]]. Surely, they're evil[[SecretOrganizationCravingIntelligentEnigmaticTropersYonder !]]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Anime/TheBigO Good guys]] [[{{Toonami}} wear black!]]]]

->''"So yes, [[TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering black mages]] often ''can'' be evil. But [[CastingAShadow black as a color]] is not inherently evil. Being influenced by black’s [[ItsAllAboutMe philosophies]] does not necessarily mean that one will commit an evil act. That being the case, we cannot say that black represents evil. More closely aligned with evil than the other colors? Fine. More ripe with potential for evil? Sure. Evil? No. And that's a very important distinction."''

So, you have a race of people who all have [[RedRightHand black, leathery]] [[GoodWingsEvilWings wings]]. They're born with the [[BadPowersBadPeople ability to shoot]] [[CastingAShadow black, shadowy globs]] out of their hands. Also, they prefer the night, and let's not get started on their [[EvilCostumeSwitch wardrobes]]. Surely, they're evil[[SecretOrganizationCravingIntelligentEnigmaticTropersYonder !]]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Anime/TheBigO Good guys]] [[{{Toonami}} wear black!]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Good guys wear black!]]

This trope can be a {{subver|tedTrope}}sion or {{aver|tedTrope}}sion of several other tropes depending on how it's played, including BeautyEqualsGoodness, AlwaysChaoticEvil, and ColourCodedForYourConvenience. A common use for it is for the "Don't judge a book by its cover" {{Aesop}}. It can also be used to promote EvilIsCool and EvilIsSexy, and sometimes EvenEvilHasStandards, except without the, uh... evil. Even though with the subtle (or not so) undertone of {{Humans Are Bastards}} that this trope implies, using this does not automatically enforce LightIsNotGood; in fact, stories where LightIsGood ''and'' DarkIsNotEvil [[YinYangBomb are quite common]].

The extreme form of this is TheSacredDarkness, where Dark is not just ''not Evil'', but is in fact equally as (Or even more than) holy and Good as Light is typically perceived to be. In situations where TheSacredDarkness exists, however, DarkIsNotEvil is '''not''' an absolute certainty, and the usual caveats about LightIsNotGood still apply.

Well...no one actually mentioned them doing bad things; in fact, they may actually be [[GoodSamaritan pretty good guys.]] It's not like they keep pet dogs exclusively for [[KickTheDog kicking]]. Despite any [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience images that may have been burned into our minds]], creepy appearances and killing people actually [[FreakyFashionMildMind don't have much to do with each other]]. It's not MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch, because the species, for the most part, isn't protesting the do-gooders. Unfortunately, however, people can still judge them [[FantasticRacism based on their looks]]. Expect some VanHelsingHateCrimes.

[[caption-width-right:350:Good guys ware black!]]