History Main / NeutralEvil

** Cinder Fall, TheHeavy and the ArchEnemy of [[NeutralGood Ruby Rose]], starts off as LawfulEvil, being devoted to carrying out Salem's mission, but begins JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope starting from the end of Volume 3, as she becomes more obsessed with her selfish lust for power, squarely ending up here. She is largely dedicated to showing off her power and feeding her ego, and does not tolerate anything that may bruise it, and at the end of the day, she is out for herself.

** [[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankAll4One Dr. Nevo]] is controlling the massive spaceship Emphemerus to bring multitudes of dangerous creatures to the planet Magnus. [[spoiler: except he's only doing it because [[TheDogWasTheMastermind Dr. Croid's pet, Mr. Dinkles, is actually behind the scheme, being [[GrandTheftMe possessed by a monster known as the Loki Master]]]]

** The first game has [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Chairman Drek]], who leads his race, the Blarg, in [[PlanetLooters destorying planets]] in otder to create a new homeworld after the old one was polluted. However, [[spoiler: [[NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist it turns out that he was behind the pollution of his own planet, and plans to continue polluting his people's planets in order to receive the funds to continue destroying other planets to build a new one.]] Basically, it's one massive real-estate scam]].\

** In the first two games, [[NominalHero Captain Qwark]] is a narcissistic, sociopathic creep who utilizes EngineeredHeroics to hog the spotlight, putting the lives of millions at risk. The first game has him sell out to Drek, so that the Blarg could finance his comeback. In the second game, [[spoiler: he openly takes the reins of BigBad, disguising himself as Megacorp's CEO, mass-producing a dangerous GeneticAbomination, and publically releasing that monster as a [[FluffyTheTerrible household pet]]]]. [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor He's gone from face to heel and back again multiple times throughout the series, but by the Future arc, he's pretty much stopped going through the revolving door, having settled on "face". He's still a selfish, egomaniacal {{Jerkass}}, but that's an ''improvement''.
** Dr. Nefarious is [[BreakoutVillain the most recurring villain]] of the series, and a [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin nefarious]] MadScientist who is out to [[MakeWrongWhatOnceWentRight wrong all the rights]] in the galaxy and [[RobotWar rid it of all organic lifeforms]] so he can [[GalacticConqueror rule over a robotic dystopia with an iron fist]].

** [[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFullFrontalAssault Stuart Zurgo]] exploits Qwark's need for EngineeredHeroics in an attempt to ruin his career. While going full villain over it may have been a disproportionate response, his reasons for his hated of Qwark are understandable, as shown in his own entry.

** In the first two games, [[NominalHero Captain Qwark]] is a narcissistic, sociopathic creep who utilizes EngineeredHeroics to hog the spotlight, putting the lives of millions at risk. [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor He's gone from face to heel and back again multiple times throughout the series, but by the Future arc, he's pretty much stopped going through the revolving door, having settled on "face". He's still a selfish, egomaniacal {{Jerkass}}, but that's an ''improvement''.

* Most ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'' {{Big Bad}}s qualify. Most notable is Drek, who [[spoiler:plans to continue polluting his people's planets in order to receive the funds to continue destroying other planets to build a new one]].

* The majority of the Yozis in ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}''. Malfeas can't consider points of view other than his own, and will not tolerate dissension from his absolute [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority rule-by-power]]. The Ebon Dragon (when he's not being ChaoticEvil) is the principle of selfishness and vice, deception and betrayal being his very nature. If Kimbery loves you, she considers you her personal property, and never forgives a slight-''ever''. We also have a couple semi-benign examples: Szoreny mainly cares about his own well-being, but is called the "kindest of the Yozis" [[WorthyOpponent for a reason]], and Oramus just wants out of the prison the Solars made his wings into.

* Nabiki Tendou, Happosai, and many others from ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', whose characters tend to be incredibly and endearingly self-centered.

** In [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist the 2003 anime version]], the BigBad Dante was this, arranging a conspiracy over the course of centuries whose ultimately goals essentially came down to achieving eternal youth for herself and screwing over those she had a grudge against.

* ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'': [[VillainProtagonist Blitzo]] and the others at the Immediate Murder Professionals are always willing to kill people bloodily for money, and apparently enjoy it. This is true for all of them regardless of how different their personalities are otherwise and how heartwarming they can be with their [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes loved ones]].

* ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'': [[VillainProtagonist Blitzo]] and others working at the Immediate Murder Professionals are always willing to kill people bloodily for money, and apparently enjoy it. This is true for all of them regardless of how different their personalities are otherwise and how heartwarming they can be with their [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes loved ones]].

* The HeroismAddict (falls under Type 3)

* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' has Sigma. His ultimate goal (achieve meta-stability and become a real human) doesn't really fit cleanly on the law-chaos or good-evil axes, but his methods (drive Agent Maine insane so he'll murder the other Freelancers, then abduct their AI fragments and forcibly merge with them) are absolutely evil.

** One could make a strong case for Ryuk falling into this category, as while many take his apathy towards the sides of the conflict for TrueNeutral, there's still the fact he dropped the titular ArtifactOfDoom into the human world purely ForTheEvulz, and at the end of the story, [[spoiler:[[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness murders Light when it's made impossible for him to continue killing]]]].

* Wrestling/{{Edge}} is a pretty good example of Neutral Evil in action. Always calculating, always scheming, willing to play the numbers game when it suits him, willing to turn on anybody close to him when it suits him, and always, ALWAYS looking for a way to scratch, bite, and claw his way to the top... there's a reason they call him "The Ultimate Opportunist".

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerPuffGirls'' has several villains that qualify, as most of them are out for personal gain:

** [[AffablyEvil Alastor]] from ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel'' is a shrewd, dodgy Dealmaker. Though for the most part, he acts polite, classy and reassuring, the looming feeling of distrust still surrounds him. It's made very apparent he's a very deadly force to reckon with, yet him claiming to aid someone out of "boredom" seems too good to be true. Overall, whatever Alastor's true intentions are? Remain a very closely guarded secret.

** On the other end of the spectrum, Yuuki Terumi has shades of tethering between Neutral Evil and ChaoticEvil. He's primarily Neutral in his evil when in his restrained Hazama guise; try not to rock the boat and give him a reason to [[KnifeNut cut loose]]...

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'':

** [[spoiler:After a few volumes falling in more then one way this is where Ironwood himself ends up. He fights solely for his own self-gratification at every one being ungrateful for his sacrifices, despite the fact that he only did them because someone else would be doing the actual paying. At the end he can't even bring himself to actually attack Salem and Cinder and silently accepts his KarmicDeath.]]

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'':
** Contrasting his ChaoticEvil teammate Tyrian and LawfulEvil leader Salem, Arthur Watts fits snugly in the middle. He aids them because he felt snubbed at Atlas and his former superior James Ironwood for selecting his rival's project over him. While undoubtably evil his actions are always geared at himself. so he doesn't cause more destruction than need be but won't work to do less either.
** [[spoiler:After a few volumes falling in more then one way this is where Ironwood himself ends up. He fights solely for his own self-gratification at every one being ungrateful for his sacrifices, despite the fact that he only did them because someone else would be doing the actual paying. At the end he can't even bring himself to actually attack Salem and Cinder and silently accepts his KarmicDeath.]]

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Contrasting his ChaoticEvil teammate Tyrian and LawfulEvil leader Salem, Arthur Watts fits snugly in the middle. He aids them because he felt snubbed at Atlas and his former superior James Ironwood for selecting his rival's project over him. While undoubtably evil his actions are always geared at himself. so he doesn't cause more destruction then need be but won't work to do less either. [[spoiler:After a few volumes falling in more then one way this is where Ironwood himself ends up. He fights solely for his own self-gratification at every one being ungrateful for his sacrifices, despite the fact that he only did them because someone else would be doing the actual paying. At the end he can't even bring himself to actually attack Salem and Cinder and silently accepts his KarmicDeath.]]

* Franchise/WonderWoman's archenemy Ares wants nothing other than endless war and he'll use any means to achieve it.

* Loki from both Marvel and DC Comics. Lying, deceitful, manipulative, cares less about power and glory than about making [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] and the other [[Myth/NorseMythology Aesir]] miserable, and will engage in convoluted plans to make this possible.
* ComicBook/TheKingpin, one of the Franchise/MarvelUniverse's {{Magnificent Bastard}}s, has no compunctions about ordering murder, kidnapping, or arson against anyone who tries to stand up to him, and is quite content to enrich himself off the victims of his criminal empire, but he'll also exploit whatever legal loopholes he can to make sure the long arm of the law can't catch him.
* BigBad Gideon Gordon Graves of the ''ComicBook/ScottPilgrim'' series. A {{Jerkass}} whose two goals are 1. Ruin Scott's life by manipulating the 6 other Evil Ex's and 2. Capture Ramona and keep her for himself, forever. The embodiment of malice, indeed.
* Marvel's Kang the Conqueror, while a builder of empires and a commander of armies, has shown to care little for their management and is obsessed with conquest, fighting, and warfare more out of a desire for the thrill it brings than any value he may place on them. Once he obtains something, he tends to lose interest in it, and battles ComicBook/TheAvengers for the challenge rather than hatred. His [[TheDragon dragon]] Baltag was LawfulEvil and turned on Kang when he made an exception to their code of honor in sparing a princess's life who had defied them in the past when Kang was in love with her. It has been shown that Kang will learn the value of statesmanship, proper management, and negotiation which will make him lean to more Lawful alignments, eventually becoming the Lawful Neutral Immortus.
* ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'': Doctor Sivana, MadScientist extraordinaire and archnemesis of Captain Marvel, has been described as a cross between Lex Luthor and the Joker in terms of persona. He always has some evil scheme that he's dead-set on, but he most decidedly does not play well with others.
* Franchise/GreenLantern villain Larfleeze/Agent Orange, the keeper of the Orange Light of avarice, is practically the living embodiment of selfishness. He kills other ring-users and steals their identities, crafting Orange Lantern constructs in their image to be his slaves. His only motivation is to hold onto what he has and take ever more from others.
* ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} in his first appearances before becoming a ChaoticNeutral SociopathicHero. In ComicBook/UltimateMarvel, Deadpool goes from just plain screwy to a racist, murderous scumbag who hunts mutants on television for sport.
%%* Sangreco from ''ComicBook/MesmoDelivery''. It's implied that he may actually be a demon or an agent of the devil.
* Bluebeard and Goldilocks from ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}''. Bluebeard lives comfortably in Fabletown and appears to be a legitimate citizen, but in secret, he hoards magic objects, blackmails his fellow Fables, and forces the leaders of the city to bow and scrape for his annual donations, up until [[spoiler:Prince Charming kills him]]. Goldilocks presents herself as an [[ChaoticGood idealistic revolutionary]], but is really only concerned with gaining power as governments topple and people die around her.

* The Anti-Monitor, Guardian of the [[Characters/GLSinestroCorps Sinestro Corps]]. He started off completely conquering his home universe and made a chosen people who worshiped him as a God-King with some structure of rank (the Shadows and the Thunderers) and privilege. While his goal is often stated to be the destruction of every positive matter universe, his actual goal has always been to rule an anti-matter universe with the power provided from the destruction of the other positive matter universes. The Anti-Monitor has never been shown to use deception and always does what he says he is going to, even if it is limited to "you will die" or "I won't kill you yet", and has even offered to generously reward the minions that serve him (Psycho-Pirate was offered control of a world, DeathSeeker Hank Henshaw was offered oblivion) if they will help him meet his goal. However, he is completely solipsistic and kills inhabited planets in his universe to gain more power.

* ComicBook/NormanOsborn is neutral evil, fulfilling his needs by using both legal and illegal means, desiring mostly respect, money, and power, though hampered by his numerous mental health problems. When he is the Green Goblin, he becomes ChaoticEvil. When he presents himself as Iron Patriot he is LawfulEvil. But the most evil and effective of the three is prime Osborn's personality, which is not restricted by madness or rules.
** For that matter, several of [[Franchise/SpiderMan Spidey's]] rogues, such as Vulture, Electro, and Mysterio fall into the "selfish evil" definition. Spider-Man's foes tend to have fairly basic goals (money, power, revenge, etc.) but don't really care how they accomplish them.
* Terra (Tara Markov) from ''The New ComicBook/TeenTitans'' is very much this during ComicBook/TheJudasContract storyline where it is revealed that she was a ruthless mercenary who worked for Deathstroke all along. However, her animated counterpart is [[ChaoticNeutral a lot different]].
* Mainstream ComicBook/{{Thanos}} is certainly evil, but has famously stood outside the boundaries of Chaos and Order. Thanos is a high-functioning Neutral Evil-methodical, calculating, but ultimately usually driven by whatever the hell he feels like doing at a given time, or a nigh-omnicidal ''romantic'' obsession with Death, and usually a StrawNihilist who doesn't believe in any moral or ethical authority, answers to nobody but himself, and is TheUnfettered in ''everything'' he pursues. He will just as easily make alliances with good characters as evil ones, but can occasionally be relied on to keep his words. Even if it is his ExactWords.

* [[LoveableCoward Ratbag]] from ''VideoGame/MiddleEarthShadowOfMordor'' and ''VideoGame/MiddleEarthShadowOfWar'' may seem like a TokenHeroicOrc, but [[AvertedTrope he's never motivated to help the hero by any noble cause]] (stopping the Black Captains, freeing the Outcasts, defeating Sauron, saving Middle-Earth, etc...). In the first game, he only wants to be Warchief because [[ItsAllAboutMe he wants to be the one calling the shots]], and [[ItsPersonal he wants revenge against the bigger Uruks]] for [[AllOfTheOtherReindeer treating him like shrahk for being the runt]]. He [[EnemyMine decides to aid]] [[TheDreaded Talion]] because the latter is [[OneManArmy incredibly skilled at killing his competition]], which he takes credit for (a popular way amongst Uruk-kind to get promotions is to [[KlingonPromotion kill whoever is bossing you around]]). In the second game, he's less malignant, but he was technically still the first Overlord you had to usurp. He's still [[AffablyEvil courteous and respectful to Talion]] and [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes cares deeply for Ranger(the Olog)]], but he's [[AlwaysChaoticEvil still an Uruk]], and [[{{Slimeball}} isn't afraid to kill for what he wants]].