History SoYouWantTo / WriteAMagnificentBastard

* Hazama/Terumi Yuki is in some way directly connected to almost every single bad thing that has happened in the BlazBlue universe, and yet, for all his [[{{Bleach}} Aizen]] leveled schemes, manipulations and gambits, his most impressive feat so far might very well be sneaking in on the MagnificentBastard list. See, while he is all the Necessary Tropes associated with a Magnificent Bastard, and quite a few of the Supplementary Tropes, he also ranks up highly on the Tropes to Avoid or Be Careful With. To sum him up, he is an AxCrazy, [[NietzscheWannabe Nihilistic]], [[CompleteMonster Monster]] {{Troll}} who does [[MoralEventHorizon unspeakable things]] to the MoralEventHorizon, and while he hasn't PHYSICALLY raped anyone, you could say that [[MindRape Mind Raping]] people he comes across at random is a hobby of his... Hazama/Terumi Yuki might actually be a case of a Magnificent Bastard, who ISN'T a Magnificent Bastard, and yet still has it work out in the end.

** This troper would like to protest this because, by that same logic, it's impossible for the audience to connect with any of the freaky-looking aliens which make up two thirds of the cast.

* {{Badass}}: This is a key trope that can help to establish the Magnificent part of Magnificent Bastard firmly in the audience’s mind. Yes he’s a brilliant manipulator. Yes he can plan things out months in advance and still alter plans on the go. But when the chips are down, the Magnificent Bastard is his own best chess piece. This is particularly important in sci-fi, fantasy, or shonen anime storylines, where at some point it’s virtually guaranteed that this character, whether villainous or anti-heroic, will get into a fight with some fairly powerful adversaries. Even if he’s only a CorruptCorporateExecutive type, giving this character some major combat training can, and does raise his status in the audience’s eyes. Also note that "badass" does not necessarily mean "fighter": even a NonActionGuy can earn massive audience approval by simply [[TheStoic staying cool under fire]] and [[AwesomenessByAnalysis calmly outsmarting enemies way beyond his own weight class]].

** Which brings us to... [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Rape]]: BigNo!!! While we’re on the subject of costing yourself audience sympathy, this is the big one. It’s a line that no character can cross without ending up in Complete Monster territory. Any character who commits this crime, will automatically be ''hated'' by every sane member of the audience. No matter how dark your story is, you can’t do this and still be writing a Magnificent Bastard. The buck stops here. Besides, between his [[ManipulativeBastard manipulation skills]], [[ChickMagnet natural appeal]], and [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys "bad" reputation]], a ''real'' MagnificentBastard should have no trouble bedding any woman ([[HoYay or man]]) he wants, without doing something as unclassy as forcing himself on them. And that's assuming, of course, that he's even [[{{Asexual}} interested in the first place]].

One of the nice things about this character type, of course, is that he doesn’t have to be the Big Bad. He can be TheDragon, the leader of the QuirkyMiniBossSquad, or an outsider with his own agenda. He can even be an AntiHero, who assists the main cast for his own reasons. A warning (see Treat With Caution below): using this guy as your main character is not recommended, at least not on a first try. What makes a Magnificent Bastard scary is that he never appears to lose his cool, or even be defeat-able before the end. What makes them cool is their ability to counterbalance their evil with sheer audacity. Main characters are different. We’re with them when they succeed, and when they fail. We want to see them struggle, and we want to like them. A Magnificent Bastard who fails a lot, is no longer a Magnificent Bastard. He’s just a JerkAss AntiHero with too many Kick The Dog moments, and will probably receive little empathy from viewers. On the other end of the scale, a hero who never fails…well there’s a name for that: it’s MarySue. That’s not to say it’s undoable, but its hard to get right.

* Potential subversions: Typically this character (when villainous) is the BigBad or TheDragon. Why not make him appear to be TheBrute, using simple, straight-forward, unsubtle tactics against the heroes as a distraction while his real plans come to fruition? Better yet, maybe he’s relying on these kinds of tactics because they actually ''work'' against the untrained (and currently insignificant) heroes. Then, when they [[TookALevelInBadass Take A Few Levels In Badass]] he reveals what he's really capable of. Or hey, how about a female Bastard, preferrably one who doesn't overlap with BrokenBird, FemmeFatale, or TheVamp? Far too many female villains derive all of their popularity from either a sympathetic backstory or a good dose of EvilIsSexy. Why not create a DarkActionGirl who is popular for the same reason as the male examples on this list: because she's [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]], [[{{Trickster}} tricky]], [[TheChessmaster plans ahead]], and is [[LargeHam a lot of fun to watch]]? And oh yeah, is immune to the [[HighHeelFaceTurn hero's wiles]]?

* Megatron, in ''BeastWars'': You might wonder what he’s doing here. After all, he never, ever wins. We’ll let the his page entry speak for itself: “He's a user and abuser of his followers, a gloating sadist who enumerates the ways he's beaten his enemies as he's standing over them in his moment of triumph, a master manipulator who is only served by his underlings' treachery... and yet he carries off scheme after scheme with audacity, panache, and an almost vaudevillian flair. Nor does he work in small potatoes; his schemes include [[spoiler: two bids to rewrite history]] as well as [[spoiler: consuming his namesake's spark]] to add to his own personal power. Magnificent. Bastard. [[VerbalTic Yesss]].” Megatron is that rare kind of villain, who never wins, but always manages to remain threatening to the heroes. It’s clear from the beginning that he is easily the smartest member of the cast, and is only kept back by the incompetence or [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder treachery]] of his henchmen. He combines the best attributes of the Large Ham, the Manipulative Bastard and the Chessmaster, remaining one of the most competent and impressive villains to ever come out of a childrens' program, and a good example of how to make this character type work for a younger audience. Heck, he somehow made a rollerblading Tyrannosaurus look ominous, instead of silly, a feat in and of itself. In the sequel he manages to take things even further, [[AGodAmI essentially becoming god]].

* David Xanatos, in ''{{Gargoyles}}'': Full stop. This is the man the XanatosGambit is named for. Throughout the entire show he remains one step ahead of the main cast, outsmarting them at every turn, and controlling his events so that no matter what they do, it turns out in his favour. He manages to get away with it most of the time, all without ever feeling like a VillainSue.
* Treize Khushraneda in ''GundamWing'': There are plenty of Gundam antagonists that approach this territory, but [[CulturedBadass Treize]] is perhaps the one that is most agreed upon, as well as the most archetypal. A [[ColonelBadass superb military commander]] who quickly and easily manipulates the entire world into a war in order to [[spoiler:demonstrate just how bad warfare is]], his plan involves [[spoiler:getting every last warlord, including himself, killed]]. His appearances are rare in-show, but Treize never lost his cool or his edge, whether conducting a military coup, tricking the heroes into doing his dirty work, or [[spoiler:[[GoOutWithASmile Going Out With A Smile]] following a truly Badass, [[CurbStompBattle one-sided battle]] which he lost on purpose]]. For militaristic magnificence and regal flair, look no farther than Treize.

!!!Please note: A character's being listed here is not an insult or a jab at the show they appeared in. If it was, it would be labelled Epic Fail as on the writing pages. Characters here are those who are generally regarded as Magnificent Bastards, but don't quite meet the archetype, or who alternately may not make the grade, but provide excellent inspiration for what a true Magnificent Bastard might be capable of. Don't add shows or characters at random; this is a How To page, not the MagnificentBastard home page.

* Light Yagami in ''DeathNote'': Light is another attempt at making this guy the main character. He avoids many of Lelouch’s pitfalls, in that he is a straight-up VillainProtagonist, out to take over the world. He still however, demonstrates the inherent difficulty of making the Magnificent Bastard work as the main character. Light is undoubtedly incredibly smart, talented, and able to improvise. However, like Lelouch the plot works in his favour for most of the show, with both his magic notebook, and the presence of its owner, Shinigami Ryuk, giving him an edge the [[HeroAntagonist heroes]] [[GameBreaker cannot easily overcome]]. Moreover, his [[KnightTemplar self-righteousness]], [[AGodAmI God-complex]], [[CompleteMonster utter sociopathy]], infantile [[FreakOut Freak Outs]] ("He got me!"), and tendency to underestimate his opponents, combined with his truly pathetic exit (talk about your VillainousBreakdown) cause at least half the fanbase to see him as just an ''extremely'' high-functioning SmugSnake. Once again though, the character does showcase what a clever, motivated villain is capable of, while heroes like [[HeroicSociopath Mello]], [[CreepyChild Near]] and [[ManipulativeBastard L]] provide shades of what the heroic version of this character might look like. The XanatosSpeedChess between Light and L in particular, is a thing of beauty.

* Potential subversions: Typically this character (when villainous) is the BigBad or TheDragon. Why not make him appear to be TheBrute, using simple, straight-forward, unsubtle tactics against the heroes as a distraction while his real plans come to fruition? Better yet, maybe he’s relying on these kinds of tactics because they actually ''work'' against the untrained (and currently insignificant) heroes. Then, when they [[TookALevelInBadass Take A Few Levels In Badass]] he reveals what he's really capable of. Or hey, how about a female Bastard, preferrably one who doesn't overlap with BrokenBird, FemmeFatale, or TheVamp? Far too many female villains derive all of their popularity from either a sympathetic backstory or a good dose of EvilIsSexy. Why not create a DarkActionGirl who is popular for the same reason as the male examples on this list: because she's [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]], [[{{Trickster}} tricky]], [[TheChessmaster plans ahead]], and is [[LargeHam a lot of fun to watch]]? And oh yeah, immune to the [[HighHeelFaceTurn hero's wiles]]?

One of the nice things about this character type, of course, is that he doesn’t have to be the Big Bad. He can be TheDragon, the leader of the QuirkyMiniBossSquad, or an outsider with his own agenda. He can even be an AntiHero, who assists the main cast for his own reasons. A warning (see Treat With Caution below): using this guy as your main character is not recommended, at least not on a first try. What makes a Magnificent Bastard scary is that he never appears to lose his cool, or even be defeat-able before the end. What makes them cool is their ability to counterbalance their evil with sheer audacity. Main characters are different. We’re with them when they succeed, and when they fail. We want to see them struggle, and we want to like them. A Magnificent Bastard who fails a lot, is no longer a Magnificent Bastard. He’s just a JerkAss hero with too many Kick The Dog moments, and will probably receive little empathy from viewers. On the other end of the scale, a hero who never fails…well there’s a name for that: it’s MarySue. That’s not to say it’s undoable, but its hard to get right.

* Potential subversions: Typically this character (when villainous) is the BigBad or TheDragon. Why not make him appear to be TheBrute, using simple, straight-forward, unsubtle tactics against the heroes as a distraction while his real plans come to fruition. Better yet, maybe he’s relying on these kinds of tactics because they actually ''work'' against the untrained (and currently insignificant) heroes. Then, when they [[TookALevelInBadass Take A Few Levels In Badass]] he reveals what he's really capable of.

* Gendo Ikari in ''NeonGenesisEvangelion'': Gendo’s problem is different from the above two. There’s no doubt that he’s one of these. The problem is that he’s in a show that’s half MindScrew half HighOctaneNightmareFuel, which makes it very hard to tell what he actually did, what he didn’t, or even what the hell is going on half the time. Approach with caution.

* DeadpanSnarker: It isn't essential, but the ability to dish out the snark goes a long way to helping a MagnificentBastard, especially if it can get under the hero's skin and cause them to lose their cool.

* XanatosGambit / XanatosRoulette / XanatosSpeedChess: As mentioned under TheTrickster, a good MagnificentBastard not only ''can'' adapt to new situations, but ''should''. A proficiency with {{Xanatos Gambit}}s - which were [[TropeNamer named for]] [[{{Gargoyles}} David Xanatos]], a perfect example of a Magnificent Bastard - should be a part of every Magnificent Bastard's repertoire. A talent for {{Xanatos Roulette}}s is the hallmark of a [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]] who's evolved into a Magnificent Bastard. And finally, only the most brilliant, cunning, and manipulative Magnificent Bastards can show their skills at XanatosSpeedChess - where the heroes' countermoves are just met with yet another brilliant plan.

** Which brings us to…[[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Rape]]: BigNo!!! While we’re on the subject of costing yourself audience sympathy, this is the big one. It’s a line that no character can cross without ending up in Complete Monster territory. Any character who commits this crime, will automatically be ''hated'' by every sane member of the audience. No matter how dark your story is, you can’t do this and still be writing a Magnificent Bastard. The buck stops here. Besides, between his [[ManipulativeBastard manipulation skills]], [[ChickMagnet natural appeal]], and [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys "bad" reputation]], a ''real'' MagnificentBastard should have no trouble bedding any woman ([[HoYay or man]]) he wants, without doing something as unclassy as forcing himself on them. And that's assuming, of course, that he's even [[{{Asexual}} interested in the first place]].

* Death: Let’s face it, this character, whether hero or villain, is probably going to die (otherwise you’ve got a KarmaHoudini on your hands, and that screams Villain Sue). If so, some possibilities are a DeathEqualsRedemption plotline following a last minute HeelFaceTurn (for villainous Bastards) or a TakingTheBullet moment for the anti-hero. However the Magnificent Bastard dies, he should do so with grace and.or style. Having him GoOutWithASmile is a good idea, as is ItHasBeenAnHonour, and/or a successful TakingYouWithMe. Heck even just a plain old, GracefulLoser moment can show just how far above other characters your Bastard really was.

* Speaking of opposites, how about partnering this guy up with someone? Like a genuine CompleteMonster. This would be a nice way of showing how great your character is in comparison to others, and would provide a lot of potential for black humour. You know the scene: the monster is in the village, torturing nuns, the bastard waits on the sidelines, rolling his eyes in disgust and saying “could you hurry up? We do have a schedule you know.”
* Potential subversions: Typically this character (if villainous) is the Big Bad or the Dragon. Why not make him appear to be TheBrute, using straight forward, unsubtle tactics against the heroes as a distraction while his real plans come to fruition. Better yet, maybe he’s relying on these kinds of tactics because they work against the untrained heroes; when they [[TookALevelInBadass take a level in badass]] he reveals just how smart he really is.

-Note: Please don’t put a character here because you like him, or because he happens to be on the Magnificent Bastard trope page. The purpose of this section is to provide inspiration to would-be writers of this character type. Only put a character here if a) they are more or less universally agreed upon, and b)-the show itself is considered very good. Also, please refrain from entering {{Complete Monster}}s (such as [[TheDarkKnightTrilogy the Joker]] and [[{{Monster}} Johan]]) as well. It just gets confusing.

* LexLuthor, in many, but not all, versions of {{Superman}}: Like father like son. Lex has been one of these in most of his incarnations since the eighties, remaining the one man who even Superman cannot imprison. His comic book and {{DCAU}} versions are probably the best examples of this (the ''{{Smallville}}'' one is a little too whiny and unimpressive to successfully escape Manipulative Bastard territory), with the DCAU version running the full gamut from Big Bad to AntiVillain, ultimately saving the world at the very end. His team-ups with the Joker also provide an excellent demonstration of the difference between this character, and an EvillyAffable CompleteMonster. DCAU Darkseid is also rather magnificent on occasion.

* Treize Khushraneda in GundamWing: There are plenty of Gundam antagonists that approach this territory, but [[CulturedBadass Treize]] is perhaps the one that is most agreed upon, as well as the most archetypal. A [[ColonelBadass superb military commander]] who manipulates the entire world into a war in order to demonstrate just how bad warfare is, his plan involves getting every last warlord killed, including [[spoiler: himself]]. His appearances are rare in show, but Treize never loses his cool, or his edge, whether its conducting a military coup, or getting the heroes to do his dirty work, [[GoOutWithASmile Going Out With A Smile]] following a truly Badass, one-sided battle which [[spoiler: he allows himself to lose]]. For militaristic magnificence, look no farther than Colonel Treize.

* ''InsideMan'': "My name is Dalton Russell. Pay strict attention to what I say because I choose my words carefully and I never repeat myself. I've told you my name: that's the Who. The Where could most readily be described as a prison cell. But there's a vast difference between being stuck in a tiny cell and being in prison. The What is easy: recently I planned and set in motion events to execute the perfect bank robbery. That's also the When. As for the Why: beyond the obvious financial motivation, it's exceedingly simple... because I can. Which leaves us only with the How; and therein, [[ShoutoutToShakespeare as the Bard would tell us]], [[{{Hamlet}} lies the rub]]." So opens the film ''Inside Man''. This movie is what happens when a Magnificent Bastard (CliveOwen), a Manipulative Bastard (JodieFoster), and a very [[GuileHero bright cop]] (DenzelWashington) go head to head. Manipulation abounds, and nothing is what it seems. Russel, the Clive Owen character is a truly great example of a [[DiabolicalMastermind criminal]] Bastard.

* David Xanatos, in {{Gargoyles}}: Full stop. This is the man the XanatosGambit is named for. Throughout the entire show he remains one step ahead of the main cast, outsmarting them at every turn, and controlling his events so that no matter what they do, it turns out in his favour. He manages to get away with it most of the time, all without ever feeling like a VillainSue.

* Megatron, in BeastWars: You might wonder what he’s doing here. After all, he never, ever wins. We’ll let the his page entry speak for itself: “He's a user and abuser of his followers, a gloating sadist who enumerates the ways he's beaten his enemies as he's standing over them in his moment of triumph, a master manipulator who is only served by his underlings' treachery... and yet he carries off scheme after scheme with audacity, panache, and an almost vaudevillian flair. Nor does he work in small potatoes; his schemes include [[spoiler: two bids to rewrite history]] as well as [[spoiler: consuming his namesake's spark]] to add to his own personal power. Magnificent. Bastard. [[VerbalTic Yesss]].” Megatron is that rare kind of villain, who never wins, but always manages to remain threatening to the heroes. It’s clear from the beginning that he is easily the smartest member of the cast, and is only kept back by the incompetence or [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder treachery]] of his henchmen. He combines the best attributes of the Large Ham, the Manipulative Bastard and the Chessmaster, remaining one of the most competent and impressive villains to ever come out of a childrens' program, and a good example of how to make this character type work for a younger audience. Heck, he somehow made a rollerblading Tyrannosaurus look ominous, instead of silly, a feat in and of itself. In the sequel he manages to take things even further, [[AGodAmI essentially becoming god]].

* The Master, in all incarnations of DoctorWho: Suave, [[DressedToKill well-dressed]] foil for the Doctor? Check. AffablyEvil villain who once [[RefugeInAudacity held half the universe for ransom]] and [[spoiler: turned the entire Earth's population [[MesACrowd into clones of himself]] - mainly just to make a cheap pun]]? Check. Constantly coming up with bigger and more outlandish plans and despite the universe's best efforts, [[JokerImmunity beating death more often than the Joker]]? Check. The Master has style, wit, and intelligence (though yes, he [[VillainDecay doesn't]] [[IdiotBall always]] [[HoistByHisOwnPetard use it]]), and has been one of the epitomes of the Magnificent Bastard for over forty years. Whether he was played by [[FriendlyEnemy Roger Delgado]], [[NightmareFuel Peter Pratt]], [[TheOtherDarrin Geoffrey Beevers]], [[GrandTheftMe Anthony Ainley]], [[TomatoInTheMirror Derek Jacobi]], or [[ChaoticEvil John Simm]], he continues to be an iconic part of the Whoniverse.

-Please note: a character's being listed here is not an insult or a jab at the show they appeared in. If it was, it would be labelled Epic Fail as on the writing pages. Characters here are those who are generally regarded as Magnificent Bastards, but don't quite meet the archetype, or who alternately may not make the grade, but provide excellent inspiration for what a true Magnificent Bastard might be capable of. Don't add shows or characters at random; this is a How To page, not the MagnificentBastard home page.

* Lelouch Lamperouge/vi Britannia of CodeGeass: There are many, many fans of this show who will hold Lelouch up as the ultimate example of what the heroic version of this should look like. To a degree, they’re right. Lelouch is doubtlessly intended to be the heroic version of this, and outsmarts most of the cast with commendable brilliance. Unfortunately, he also demonstrates many of the problems with making this guy the hero. His relentless [[KickTheDog dog-kicking]], temporary [[FreakOut freak outs]] and {{Heroic BSOD}}s, combined with his childish personality can, and ''do'', cost him a lot of audience sympathy, with some regarding him as just a Jerkass AntiHero. His ability to hypnotize people, and the fact that they turned his Large Ham tendencies [[TurnedUpToEleven up to eleven]] in a serious show does not help. That said, the show can and does remain a good source of inspiration, with the XanatosSpeedChess between Lelouch and his brother Schneizel being intricate and fascinating to watch. The show should be taken with a grain of salt, but not ignored altogether.

* Light Yagami in DeathNote: Light is another attempt at making this guy the main character. He avoids many of Lelouch’s pitfalls, in that he is a straight-up VillainProtagonist, out to take over the world. He still however, demonstrates the inherent difficulty of making the Magnificent Bastard work as the main character. Light is undoubtedly incredibly smart, talented, and able to improvise. However, like Lelouch the plot works in his favour for most of the show, with both his magic notebook, and the presence of its owner, Shinigami Ryuk, giving him an edge the [[HeroAntagonist heroes]] [[GameBreaker cannot easily overcome]]. Moreover, his [[KnightTemplar self-righteousness]], [[AGodAmI God-complex]], [[CompleteMonster utter sociopathy]], infantile [[FreakOut Freak Outs]] ("He got me!"), and tendency to underestimate his opponents, combined with his truly pathetic exit (talk about your VillainousBreakdown) cause at least half the fanbase to see him as just an ''extremely'' high-functioning SmugSnake. Once again though, the character does showcase what a clever, motivated villain is capable of, while heroes like [[HeroicSociopath Mello]], [[CreepyChild Near]] and [[ManipulativeBastard L]] provide shades of what the heroic version of this character might look like. The XanatosSpeedChess between Light and L in particular, is a thing of beauty.

* Gendo Ikari in NeonGenesisEvangelion: Gendo’s problem is different from the above two. There’s no doubt that he’s one of these. The problem is that he’s in a show that’s at least half MindScrew, which makes it very hard to tell what he actually did, and what he didn’t, or even what the hell is going on half the time. Approach with caution.

* Scorpius in {{Farscape}} while it is indisputable that he managed to manipulate and orchestrate almost every event he found himself in during the course of the series in a cool, and almost suave manner, he [[BizarreAlienBiology looked a little too freaky]] to truly be a MagnificentBastard.
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* Romance: More than any villain (save perhaps the NobleDemon), the Magnificent Bastard is likely to possess some genuine human qualities, of which the capacity for love is one of them. It can make an interesting subplot, and help to humanise the character. The classic [[VillainousCrush villain/villainess-falls-]][[DatingCatwoman for-hero/heroine]] thing can be a lot of fun. So too though, can [[UnholyMatrimony setting them up with another villain]]. Imagine what the marriage of Magnificent Bastard and a [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bitch]] could produce. Or, if you want to go for opposites attracting, how about a Magnificent Bastard Big Bad and his BloodKnight HeroKiller Dragon (because who says those roles can’t be female?), or even a DarkChick EvilGenius MotherlyScientist? There’s a lot of possibilities.

* MarySue: The one thing you probably want to avoid more than anything else is making your Magnificent Bastard ''too'' magnificent. Yes, this character is typically built up as a "perfect villain", but more than anything a Magnificent Bastard is human, which means they have flaws. A character whose plans always succeed, who always correctly predicts how everyone will react, and who [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomps]] everyone they fight will quickly become [[TheScrappy an object of fan hatred]], and drive the story into OnlyTheAuthorCanSaveThemNow territory.

** Just be careful to avoid {{ThirtyXanatosPileup}}s, which even the most careful of planners can fall victim to.

* Romance: More than any villain (save perhaps the NobleDemon), the Magnificent Bastard is likely to possess some genuine human qualities, of which the capacity for love is one of them. It can make an interesting subplot, and help to humanise the character. The classic [[VillainousCrush villain/villainess-falls-]][[DatingCatwoman for-hero/heroine]] thing can be a lot of fun. So too though, can [[UnholyMatrimony setting them up with another villain]]. Imagine what the marriage of Magnificent Bastard and a [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bitch]] could produce. Or, if you want to go for opposites attracting, how about a Magnificent Bastard Big Bad and his BloodKnight HeroKiller Dragon (because who says those roles can’t be female?), or even a MotherlyScientist? There’s a lot of possibilities.

* MoralEventHorizon: This is linked to the above. There are lines that the Magnificent Bastard should not cross. To be effective, he must always remain at least somewhat sympathetic to audience. After crossing this line, all sympathy vanishes. The Magnificent Bastard should of course do terrible things. That’s part of the job. But they should never be so terrible that he or she loses their audience appeal. If this happens, it’s a decent sign that you’re doing something wrong. Unless of course, you want the character to lose sympathy as the story goes along (which is a perfectly legitimate plot idea). If so, this is how you do it.

* Romance: More than any villain (save perhaps the NobleDemon), the Magnificent Bastard is likely to possess some genuine human qualities, of which the capacity for love is one of them. It can make an interesting subplot, and help to humanise the character. The classic [[VillainousCrush villain/villainess-falls-]][[DatingCatwoman for-hero/heroine]] thing can be a lot of fun. So too though, can [[UnholyMatrimony setting them up with another villain]]. Imagine what the marriage of Magnificent Bastard and a ManipulativeBastard could produce. Or, if you want to go for opposites attracting, how about a Magnificent Bastard Big Bad and his BloodKnight HeroKiller Dragon (because who says those roles can’t be female?)? There’s a lot of possibilities.

* LargeHam: It says optional, but the truly magnificent have at least a small dose of this in them somewhere. The Magnificent Bastard has to be a magnetic character, drawing both other characters and the audience to him. There is something almost Shakespearian about this character, a sense of the grandiose, of the larger than life, and this trope can help to bring that out. Note that he doesn’t always need to be going over the top, but a few FeedMe moments can definitely be helpful if carried off right, showing just how impressive the character is. All villains are ultimately, on some level failures, but the Magnificent Bastard is a failure on a grand scale, the kind of person you simply cannot look away from.

* Lionel Luthor, in {{Smallville}}: The TropeCodifier, and one of the very best, he begins as the BigBad, becomes a major supporting character, and never stops being magnificent. An [[AbusiveParents abusive parent]] who loves his son, a [[CorruptCorporateExecutive crooked businessman]] [[EvenEvilHasStandards who will not cross certain lines]], a [[TheMentor mentor figure]] who will compulsively lie to his charges, Lionel is everything this trope is supposed to be, absolutely dominating every scene he's in. You’re never sure just what to make of him, and that’s the point. Props to John Glover for his superb performance.

* Lex Luthor, in many, but not all, versions of {{Superman}}: Like father like son. Lex has been one of these in most of his incarnations since the eighties, remaining the one man who even Superman cannot imprison. His comic book and DCAU versions are probably the best examples of this (the ''{{Smallville}}'' one is a little too whiny and unimpressive to successfully escape Manipulative Bastard territory), with the DCAU version running the full gamut from Big Bad to AntiVillain, ultimately saving the world at the very end. His team-ups with the Joker also provide an excellent demonstration of the difference between this character, and an EvillyAffable CompleteMonster. DCAU Darkseid is also rather magnificent on occasion.

* InsideMan: "My name is Dalton Russell. Pay strict attention to what I say because I choose my words carefully and I never repeat myself. I've told you my name: that's the Who. The Where could most readily be described as a prison cell. But there's a vast difference between being stuck in a tiny cell and being in prison. The What is easy: recently I planned and set in motion events to execute the perfect bank robbery. That's also the When. As for the Why: beyond the obvious financial motivation, it's exceedingly simple... because I can. Which leaves us only with the How; and therein, [[ShoutoutToShakespeare as the Bard would tell us]], [[{{Hamlet}} lies the rub]]." So opens the film ''Inside Man''. This movie is what happens when a Magnificent Bastard (CliveOwen), a Manipulative Bastard (JodieFoster), and a very [[GuileHero bright cop]] (DenzelWashington) go head to head. Manipulation abounds, and nothing is what it seems. Russel, the Clive Owen character is a truly great example of a [[DiabolicalMastermind criminal]] Bastard.

* LargeHam: It says optional, but the truly magnificent have at least a small dose of this in them somewhere. The Magnificent Bastard has to be a magnetic character, drawing both other characters and the audience to him. There is something almost Shakespearian about this character, a sense of the grandiose, of the larger than life, and this trope can help to bring that out. Note that he doesn’t always need to be going over the top, but a few FeedMe moments can definitely be helpful if carried off right, showing just how impressive the character is. All villains are ultimately, on some level failures, but the Magnificent Bastard is a failure on a grand scale, the kind of person you simply cannot look away from.

* The ChessMaster: the Magnificent Bastard is, first and foremost, a planner. He (or she, but the rest of this article will assume the masculine) has to be able to manipulate events with supreme skill. Characters like [[SuperMan Lex Luthor]] may not be the physical match of the heroes they go up against, but their ability to plan things out beforehand ensures that they obtain victory more often then not.
* The ManipulativeBastard: Because sometimes controlling events just isn’t enough. The Magnificent Bastard needs to be able to manipulate people, by reaching inside them and hitting them where it emotionally hurts. The best Magnificent Bastards have an intuitive grasp of a character’s basic psyche and will use it against them at every opportunity.

* LargeHam: It says optional, but the truly magnificent have at least a small dose of this in them somewhere. The Magnificent Bastard has to be a magnetic character, drawing both other characters and the audience to him. There is something almost Shakespearian about this character, a sense of the grandiose, of the larger than life, and this trope can help to bring that out. Note that he doesn’t always need to be going over the top, but a few FeedMe moments can definitely be helpful if carried off right, showing just how impressive the character is. All villains are ultimately, on some level failures, but the Magnificent Bastard is a failure on a grand scale, the kind of person you simply cannot look away from.

!!Helpful Tropes

* BadAss: This is a key trope that can help to establish the Magnificent part of Magnificent Bastard firmly in the audience’s mind. Yes he’s a brilliant manipulator. Yes he can plan things out months in advance and still alter plans on the go. But when the chips are down, the Magnificent Bastard is his own best chess piece. This is particularly important in sci-fi, fantasy, or shonen anime storylines, where at some point it’s virtually guaranteed that this character, whether villainous or anti-heroic, will get into a fight with some fairly powerful adversaries. Even if he’s only a CorruptCorporateExecutive type, giving this character some major combat training can, and does raise his status in the audience’s eyes. Also note that "badass" does not necessarily mean "fighter": even a NonActionGuy can earn massive audience approval by simply [[TheStoic staying cool under fire]] and [[AwesomenessByAnalysis calmly outsmarting enemies way beyond his own weight class]].

* EvilIsCool/ EvilIsSexy: This can definitely help you earn points with the audience. It can also help your character in univese. Someone who looks like the HunchbackOfNotreDame is going to have trouble getting people to trust him. Someone who looks like BradPitt in black armour on the other hand, will have a much easier time of it.

!!Tropes To Avoid or Be Careful With

* MoralEventHorizon: This is linked to the above. There are lines that the Magnificent Bastard should not cross. To be effective, he must always remain at least somewhat sympathetic to audience. After crossing this line, all sympathy vanishes. The Magnificent Bastard should of course do terrible things. That’s part of the job. But they should never be so terrible that he or she loses their audience appeal. If this happens, it’s a decent sign that you’re doing something wrong. Unless of course, you want the character to lose sympathy as the story goes along (which is a perfectly legitimate plot idea). If so, this is how you do it.

So, now that we’ve looked at some of the tropes you might employ, lets get down to the meat of the matter: story telling. How exactly do you want to use your Magnificent Bastard? A favourite will always be as the BigBad. Even then though, there are questions you need to ask yourself: what kind of Big Bad is he? A Corrupt Corporate Executive, out to make a buck no matter who gets hurt? An EvilOverlord, who’s read the [[EvilOverlordList list]] and is thus far more confident (and competent) than he should be? An army general, who gives Napoleon a run for his money in the brilliancy department? Who is he?

* Lex Luthor, in many, but not all versions of {{Superman}}: Like father like son. Lex has been one of these in most of his incarnations since the eighties, remaining the one man who even Superman cannot imprison. His comic book and DCAU versions are probably the best examples of this (the ''{{Smallville}}'' one is a little too whiny and unimpressive to successfully escape Manipulative Bastard territory), with the DCAU version running the full gamut from Big Bad to AntiVillain, ultimately saving the world at the very end. His team-ups with the Joker also provide an excellent demonstration of the difference between this character, and an EvillyAffable CompleteMonster. DCAU Darkseid is also rather magnificent on occasion.

* Treize Khushraneda in GundamWing: There are plenty of Gundam villains that approach this territory, but [[CulturedBadass Treize]] is perhaps the one that is most agreed upon, as well as the most archetypal. A [[ColonelBadass superb military commander]] who manipulates the entire world into a war in order to demonstrate just how bad warfare is, his plan involves getting every last warlord killed, including [[spoiler: himself]]. His appearances are rare in show, but Treize never loses his cool, or his edge, whether its conducting a military coup, or getting the heroes to do his dirty work, [[GoOutWithASmile Going Out With A Smile]] following a truly Badass, one-sided battle which [[spoiler: he allows himself to lose]]. For militaristic magnificence, look no farther than Colonel Treize.

* Light Yagami in DeathNote: Light is another attempt at making this guy the main character. He avoids many of Lelouch’s pitfalls, in that he is a straight-up VillainProtagonist, out to take over the world. He still however, demonstrates the inherent difficulty of making the Magnificent Bastard work as the main character. Light is undoubtedly incredibly smart, talented, and able to improvise. However, like Lelouch the plot works in his favour for most of the show, with both his magic notebook, and the presence of its owner, Shinigami Ryuk, giving him an edge the [[HeroAntagonist heroes cannot easily overcome]]. Moreover, his [[KnightTemplar self-righteousness]], [[AGodAmI God-complex]], [[CompleteMonster utter sociopathy]], infantile [[FreakOut Freak Outs]] ("He got me!"), and tendency to underestimate his opponents, combined with his truly pathetic exit (talk about your VillainousBreakdown) cause at least half the fanbase to see him as just an ''extremely'' high-functioning SmugSnake. Once again though, the character does showcase what a clever, motivated villain is capable of, while heroes like [[HeroicSociopath Mello]], [[CreepyChild Near]] and [[ManipulativeBastard L]] provide shades of what the heroic version of this character might look like. The XanatosSpeedChess between Light and L in particular, is a thing of beauty.

* Lelouch Lamperouge/vi Britannia of CodeGeass: There are many, many fans of this show who will hold Lelouch up as the ultimate example of what the heroic version of this should look like. To a degree, they’re right. Lelouch is doubtlessly intended to be the heroic version of this, and outsmarts most of the cast with commendable brilliance. Unfortunately, he also demonstrates many of the problems with making this guy the hero. His relentless [[KickTheDog dog-kicking]], temporary freak outs and {{Heroic BSOD}}s, combined with his childish personality can, and ''do'', cost him a lot of audience sympathy, with some regarding him as just a Jerkass AntiHero. His ability to hypnotize people, and the fact that they turned his Large Ham tendencies [[TurnedUpToEleven up to eleven]] in a serious show does not help. That said, the show can and does remain a good source of inspiration, with the XanatosSpeedChess between Lelouch and his brother Schneizel being intricate and fascinating to watch. The show should be taken with a grain of salt, but not ignored altogether.

* Light Yagami in DeathNote: Light is another attempt at making this guy the main character. He avoids many of Lelouch’s pitfalls, in that he is a straight-up VillainProtagonist, out to take over the world. He still however, demonstrates the inherent difficulty of making the Magnificent Bastard work as the main character. Light is undoubtedly incredibly smart, talented, and able to improvise. However, like Lelouch the plot works in his favour for most of the show, with both his magic notebook, and the presence of its owner, Shinigami Ryuk, giving him an edge the [[HeroAntagonist heroes cannot easily overcome]]. Moreover, his [[KnightTemplar self-righteousness]], [[AGodAmI God-complex]], [[CompleteMonster utter sociopathy]], infantile Freak Outs ("He got me!"), and tendency to underestimate his opponents, combined with his truly pathetic exit (talk about your VillainousBreakdown) cause at least half the fanbase to see him as just an ''extremely'' high-functioning SmugSnake. Once again though, the character does showcase what a clever, motivated villain is capable of, while heroes like [[HeroicSociopath Mello]], [[CreepyChild Near]] and [[ManipulativeBastard L]] provide shades of what the heroic version of this character might look like. The XanatosSpeedChess between Light and L in particular, is a thing of beauty.

** Which brings us to…[[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Rape]]: BigNo!!! While we’re on the subject of costing yourself audience sympathy, this is the big one. It’s a line that no character can cross without ending up in Complete Monster territory. Any character who commits this crime, will automatically be ''hated'' by every sane member of the audience. No matter how dark your story is, you can’t do this and still be writing a Magnificent Bastard. The buck stops here. Besides, between his [[ManipulativeBastard manipulation skills]], [[ChickMagnet natural appeal]], and [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys "bad" reputation]], a ''real'' MagnificentBastard should have no trouble bedding any woman ([[HoYay or man]]) without doing something as unclassy as forcing himself on her.

** Which brings us to…[[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Rape]]: BigNo!!! While we’re on the subject of costing yourself audience sympathy, this is the big one. It’s a line that no character can cross without ending up in Complete Monster territory. Any character who commits this crime, will automatically be ''hated'' by every sane member of the audience. No matter how dark your story is, you can’t do this and still be writing a Magnificent Bastard. The buck stops here.

-Note: Please don’t put a character here because you like him, or because he happens to be on the Magnificent Bastard trope page. The purpose of this section is to provide inspiration to would-be writers of this character type. Only put a character here if a) they are more or less universally agreed upon, and b)-the show itself is considered very good. Also, please refrain from entering CompleteMonsters (such as [[TheDarkKnightTrilogy the Joker]] and [[{{Monster}} Johan]]) as well. It just gets confusing.

You all know the character: he’s the MagnificentBastard. That character you love to hate. The one who baffles the heroes at every turn with his clever schemes, fights them to a draw with his sheer {{Badass}}-ery, and generally speaking makes everyone else in show look like an idiot. He’s awesome. He’s stylish. He’s about as great as villainy can get.

** Which brings us to…Rape: BigNo!!! While we’re on the subject of costing yourself audience sympathy, this is the big one. It’s a line that no character can cross without ending up in Complete Monster territory. Any character who commits this crime, will automatically be ''hated'' by every sane member of the audience. No matter how dark your story is, you can’t do this and still be writing a Magnificent Bastard. The buck stops here.

One of the nice things about this character type, of course, is that he doesn’t have to be the Big Bad. He can be TheDragon, the leader of the QuirkyMiniBossSquad, or an outsider with his own agenda. He can even be an AntiHero, who assists the main cast for his own reasons. A warning (see Treat With Caution below): using this guy as your main character is not recommended, at least not on a first try. What makes a Magnificent Bastard scary is that he never appears to lose his cool, or even be defeat-able before the end. What makes them cool is their ability to counterbalance their evil with sheer audacity. Main characters are different. We’re with them when they succeed, and when they fail. We want to see them struggle, and we want to like them. A Magnificent Bastard who fails a lot, is no longer a Magnificent Bastard. He’s just a JerkAss hero with too many Kick The Dog moments, and will probably receive little empathy from viewers. On the other end of the scale, a hero who never fails…well there’s a name for that: it’s Mary-Sue. That’s not to say it’s undoable, but its hard to get right.

* Speaking of opposites, how about partnering this guy up with someone? Like a genuine Complete Monster. This would be a nice way of showing how great your character is in comparison to others, and would provide a lot of potential for black humour. You know the scene: the monster is in the village, torturing nuns, the bastard waits on the sidelines, rolling his eyes in disgust and saying “could you hurry up? We do have a schedule you know.”

* Lionel Luthor, in {{Smallville}}: The TropeCodifier, and one of the very best, he begins as the Big Bad, becomes a major supporting character, and never stops being magnificent. An abusive parent who loves his son, a crooked businessman who will not cross certain lines, a mentor figure who will compulsively lie to his charges, Lionel is everything this trope is supposed to be, absolutely dominating every scene he's in. You’re never sure just what to make of him, and that’s the point. Props to John Glover for his superb performance.

* Treize Khushraneda in GundamWing: There are plenty of Gundam villains that approach this territory, but Treize is perhaps the one that is most agreed upon, as well as the most archetypal. A superb military commander who manipulates the entire world into a war in order to demonstrate just how bad warfare is, his plan involves getting every last warlord killed, including [[spoiler: himself]]. His appearances are rare in show, but Treize never loses his cool, or his edge, whether its conducting a military coup, or getting the heroes to do his dirty work, Going Out With A Smile following a truly Badass, one-sided battle which [[spoiler: he allows himself to lose]]. For militaristic magnificence, look no farther than Colonel Treize.

* InsideMan: "My name is Dalton Russell. Pay strict attention to what I say because I choose my words carefully and I never repeat myself. I've told you my name: that's the Who. The Where could most readily be described as a prison cell. But there's a vast difference between being stuck in a tiny cell and being in prison. The What is easy: recently I planned and set in motion events to execute the perfect bank robbery. That's also the When. As for the Why: beyond the obvious financial motivation, it's exceedingly simple... because I can. Which leaves us only with the How; and therein, [[ShoutoutToShakespeare as the Bard would tell us]], [[{{Hamlet}} lies the rub]]." So opens the film ''Inside Man''. This movie is what happens when a Magnificent Bastard (CliveOwen), a Manipulative Bastard (JodieFoster), and a very bright cop (DenzelWashington) go head to head. Manipulation abounds, and nothing is what it seems. Russel, the Clive Owen character is a truly great example of a criminal Bastard.

* David Xanatos, in {{Gargoyles}}: Full stop. This is the man the XanatosGambit is named for. Throughout the entire show he remains one step ahead of the main cast, outsmarting them at every turn, and controlling his events so that no matter what they do, it turns out in his favour. He manages to get away with it most of the time, all without ever feeling like a Villain Sue.

* Megatron, in BeastWars: You might wonder what he’s doing here. After all, he never, ever wins. We’ll let the his page entry speak for itself: “He's a user and abuser of his followers, a gloating sadist who enumerates the ways he's beaten his enemies as he's standing over them in his moment of triumph, a master manipulator who is only served by his underlings' treachery... and yet he carries off scheme after scheme with audacity, panache, and an almost vaudevillian flair. Nor does he work in small potatoes; his schemes include [[spoiler: two bids to rewrite history]] as well as [[spoiler: consuming his namesake's spark]] to add to his own personal power. Magnificent. Bastard. [[VerbalTic Yesss]].” Megatron is that rare kind of villain, who never wins, but always manages to remain threatening to the heroes. It’s clear from the beginning that he is easily the smartest member of the cast, and is only kept back by the incompetence or [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder treachery]] of his henchmen. He combines the best attributes of the Large Ham, the Manipulative Bastard and the Chessmaster, remaining one of the most competent and impressive villains to ever come out of a children’s program, and a good example of how to make this character type work for a younger audience. Heck, he somehow made a rollerblading Tyrannosaurus look ominous, instead of silly, a feat in and of itself, In the sequel he manages to take things even further, [[AGodAmI essentially becoming god]].

* BadAss: This is a key trope that can help to establish the Magnificent part of Magnificent Bastard firmly in the audience’s mind. Yes he’s a brilliant manipulator. Yes he can plan things out months in advance and still alter plans on the go. But when the chips are down, the Magnificent Bastard is his own best chess piece. This is particularly important in sci-fi, fantasy, or shonen anime storylines, where at some point it’s virtually guaranteed that this character, whether villainous or anti-heroic, will get into a fight with some fairly powerful adversaries. Even if he’s only a CorruptCorporateExecutive type, giving this character some major combat training can, and does raise his status in the audience’s eyes. And since it’s them that you’re trying to impress…well, you can figure it out.

* Romance: More than any villain (save perhaps the NobleDemon), the Magnificent Bastard is likely to possess some genuine human qualities, of which the capacity for love is one of them. It can make an interesting subplot, and help to humanise the character. The classic villain/villainess-falls-for-hero/heroine thing can be a lot of fun. So too though, can setting them up with another villain. Imagine what the marriage of Magnificent Bastard and a ManipulativeBastard could produce. Or, if you want to go for opposites attracting, how about a Magnificent Bastard Big Bad and his BloodKnight HeroKiller Dragon (because who says those roles can’t be female?)? There’s a lot of possibilities.

* Light Yagami in DeathNote: Light is another attempt at making this guy the main character. He avoids many of Lelouch’s pitfalls, in that he is a straight-up VillainProtagonist, out to take over the world. He still however, demonstrates the inherent difficulty of making the Magnificent Bastard work as the main character. Light is undoubtedly incredibly smart, talented, and able to improvise. However, like Lelouch the plot works in his favour for most of the show, with both his magic notebook, and the presence of its owner, Shinigami Ryuk, giving him an edge the [[HeroAntagonist heroes cannot easily overcome]]. Moreover, his [[KnightTemplar self-righteousness]], [[AGodAmI God-complex]], [[CompleteMonster utter sociopathy]], infantile Freak Outs (“He got me!), and tendency to underestimate his opponents, combined with his truly pathetic exit (talk about your Villainous Breakdown) cause at least half the fanbase to see him as just an ''extremely'' high-functioning SmugSnake. Once again though, the character does showcase what a clever, motivated villain is capable of, while heroes like [[HeroicSociopath Mello]], [[CreepyChild Near]] and [[ManipulativeBastard L]] provide shades of what the heroic version of this character might look like. The XanatosSpeedChess between Light and L in particular, is a thing of beauty.

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<<|SoYouWantTo/SeeTheIndex|>>

* Lelouch Lamperouge/vi Britannia of CodeGeass: There are many, many fans of this show who will hold Lelouch up as the ultimate example of what the heroic version of this should look like. To a degree, they’re right. Lelouch is doubtlessly intended to be the heroic version of this, and outsmarts most of the cast with commendable brilliance. Unfortunately, he also demonstrates many of the problems with making this guy the hero. His relentless dog-kicking, temporary freak outs and {{Heroic BSOD}}s, combined with his childish personality can, and ''do'', cost him a lot of audience sympathy, with some regarding him as just a Jerkass anti-hero. His ability to hypnotize people, and the fact that they turned his Large Ham tendencies [[TurnedUpToEleven up to eleven]] in a serious show does not help. That said, the show can and does remain a good source of inspiration, with the XanatosSpeedChess between Lelouch and his brother Schneizel being intricate and fascinating to watch. The show should be taken with a grain of salt, but not ignored altogether.

-Note: Please don’t put a character here because you like him, or because he happens to be on the Magnificent Bastard trope page. The purpose of this section is to provide inspiration to would-be writers of this character type. Only put a character here if a) they are more or less universally agreed upon, and b)-the show itself is considered very good. Also, please refrain from entering Complete Monsters (I’m looking at you, [[TheDarkKnightTrilogy Joker]]. You too [[{{Monster}} Johan]].) as well. It just gets confusing.

* Lex Luthor, in many, but not all versions of {{Superman}}: Like father like son. Lex has been one of these in most of his incarnations since the eighties, remaining the one man who even Superman cannot imprison. His comic book and DCAU versions are probably the best examples of this (the Smallville one is a little too whiny and unimpressive to successfully escape Manipulative Bastard territory), with the DCAU version running the full gamut from Big Bad to AntiVillain, ultimately saving the world at the very end. His team-ups with the Joker also provide an excellent demonstration of the difference between this character, and an EvillyAffable Complete Monster. DCAU Darkseid is also rather magnificent on occasion.

* Treize Khushraneda in GundamWing: There are plenty of Gundam villains that approach this territory, but Treize is perhaps the one that is most agreed upon, as well as the most archetypical. A superb military commander who manipulates the entire world into a war in order to demonstrate just how bad warfare is, his plan involves getting every last warlord killed, including [[spoiler: himself]]. His appearances are rare in show, but Treize never loses his cool, or his edge, whether its conducting a military coup, or getting the heroes to do his dirty work, Going Out With A Smile following a truly Badass, one-sided battle which [[spoiler: he allows himself to lose]]. For militaristic magnificence, look no farther than Colonel Treize.

* Megatron, in BeastWars: You might wonder what he’s doing here. After all, he never, ever wins. We’ll let the his page entry speak for itself: “He's a user and abuser of his followers, a gloating sadist who enumerates the ways he's beaten his enemies as he's standing over them in his moment of triumph, a master manipulator who is only served by his underlings' treachery... and yet he carries off scheme after scheme with audacity, panache, and an almost vaudevillian flair. Nor does he work in small potatoes; his schemes include [[spoiler: two bids to rewrite history]] as well as [[spoiler: consuming his namesake's spark]] to add to his own personal power. Magnificent. Bastard. [[VerbalTic Yesss]].” Megatron is that rare kind of villain, who never wins, but always manages to remain threatening to the heroes. It’s clear from the beginning that he is easily the smartest member of the cast, and is only kept back by the incompetence or [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder treachery]] of his henchmen. He combines the best attributes of the Large Ham, the Manipulative Bastard and the Chessmaster, remaining one of the most competent and impressive villains to ever come out of a children’s program, and a good example of how to make this character type work for a younger audience. Heck, he somehow made a rollerblading Tyrannosaurus look ominous, instead of silly, a feat in and of itself, In the sequel he manages to take things even further, [[AGodAmI essentially becoming god]]. [[DeathNote Light Yagami]] eat your heart out.

* Lelouch Lamperouge/vi Britannia of CodeGeass: There are many, many fans of this show who will hold Lelouch up as the ultimate example of what the heroic version of this should look like. To a degree, they’re right. Lelouch is doubtlessly intended to be the heroic version of this, and outsmarts most of the cast with commendable brilliance. Unfortunately, he also demonstrates many of the problems with making this guy the hero. His relentless dog-kicking, temporary freak outs and {{Heroic BSOD}}s, combined with his [[FashionVictimVillain ridiculous wardrobe]] and childish personality can, and ''do'', cost him a lot of audience sympathy, with some regarding him as just a Jerkass anti-hero. His ability to hypnotise people, and the fact that they turned his Large Ham tendencies [[TurnedUpToEleven up to eleven]] in a serious show does not help. That said, the show can and does remain a good source of inspiration, with the XanatosSpeedChess between Lelouch and his brother Schneizel being intricate and fascinating to watch. The show should be taken with a grain of salt, but not ignored altogether.

* Light Yagami in DeathNote: Light is another attempt at making this guy the main character. He avoids many of Lelouch’s pitfalls, in that he is a straight-up VillainProtagonist, out to take over the world. He still however, demonstrates the inherent difficulty of making the Magnificent Bastard work as the main character. Light is undoubtedly incredibly smart, talented, and able to improvise. However, like Lelouch the plot works in his favour for most of the show, with both his magic notebook, and the presence of its owner, Shinigami Ryuk, giving him an edge the [[HeroAntagonist heroes cannot easily overcome]]. Moreover, his [[KnightTemplar self-righteousness]], [[AGodAmI God-complex]], [[CompleteMonster utter sociopathy]], infantile Freak Outs (“He got me!), and tendency to underestimate his opponents, combined with his truly pathetic exit (talk about your Villainous Breakdown) cause at least half the fanbase to see him as just an ''extremely'' high-functioning SmugSnake. Once again though, the character does showcase what an clever, motivated villain is capable of, while heroes like [[HeroicSociopath Mello]], [[CreepyChild Near]] and [[ManipulativeBastard L]] provide shades of what the heroic version of this character might look like. The XanatosSpeedChess between Light and L in particular, is a thing of beauty.