History YMMV / FuManchu

* FairForItsDay: As racist as the original books are, the character is notable for being depicted as a brilliant, sophisticated, and even at times honorable MagnificentBastard who could easily outwit the "good guys". Given that most propaganda at the time depicted other ethnic groups as brain dead savages and lunatics who would rape and pillage the lands if given the chance, Fu Manchu was, if not necessarily ''progressive'', certainly ahead of the competition. [[EvolvingTrope The brilliant but conniving Asian villain is these days its own offensive stereotype]], but this doesn't entirely delete the significance of one of the first intelligent Asian characters written by a Western author.

** Fu Manchu wants to kill Hitler and Mussoloni in ''The Drums of Fu Manchu'' (or at least their CaptainErsatz doppelgangers). He's wrong to do this. Apparently.

* DracoInLeatherPants: Much of this is due to ValuesDissonance. Even with the original books basically being racist screeds -- or perhaps even ''because'' of it -- Fu Manchu really comes off as [[EvilIsCool cooler]], more [[EvenEvilHasStandards honorable]], and more interesting than the "[[DesignatedHero heroes]]," especially considering [[NotSoDifferent most of his plans aren't that much worse than what real-life white imperialists got up to at the time]].

** Fu Manchu wants to kill Hitler, Mussoloni, and Franco in ''The Drums of Fu Manchu'' (or at least their CaptainErsatz doppelgangers). He's wrong to do this. Apparently.

* FairForItsDay: As racist as the original books are, the character is notable for being depicted as a brilliant, sophisticated, and even at times honorable MagnificentBastard who could easily outwit the "good guys". Given that most propaganda at the time depicted other ethnic groups as brain dead savages and lunatics who would rape and pillage the lands if given the chance, it could almost be called progressive in comparison. ''Almost''. Of course, [[EvolvingTrope now the brilliant but conniving Asian is its own offensive stereotype]], but this doesn't entirely delete the significance of one of the first intelligent Asian characters.

* DracoInLeatherPants: Much of this is due to ValuesDissonance. Even with the original books basically being racist screeds -- or perhaps even ''because'' of it -- Fu Manchu really comes off as [[EvilIsCool cooler]], more [[EvenEvilHasStandards honorable]], and more interesting than the "[[DesignatedHero heroes]]," especially considering [[NotSoDifferent most of his plans are comparable to real-life white imperialists of the time]].

* MagnificentBastard: Literature/FuManchu himself is the single most compelling character in the Sax Rohmer novels. Despite his villainy, Fu is charismatic, bold, educated and with a vision for the future to see his [[VisionaryVillain nation restored to greatness]]. Ruler of the [[TheSyndicate Si-Fan syndicate]], Fu returns time and again with brilliant schemes that are only ever matched by his enemy Sir Dennis Nayland Smith through sheer tenacity, as even Nayland Smith admits Fu is his intellectual superior by far. Fu schemes to conquer the world and subvert entire nations, but he is not without a code of honor. At times, Fu has even arranged for the downfall of fascist and communist leaders, and will always keep his word, as well as sending Nayland Smith a gift for his enemy's wedding. A brilliant archcriminal and one of the first supervillains of literature, Fu Manchu repeatedly demonstrates his superiority, with little being able to do anything but delay him in his schemes.

* FairForItsDay: As racist as the original books are, the character is notable for being depicted as a brilliant, sophisticated, and even at times honorable MagnificentBastard who could easily outwit the "good guys". Given that most propaganda at the time depicted other ethnic groups as brain dead savages and lunatics who would rape and pillage the lands if given the chance, it could almost be called progressive in comparison. ''Almost''.

* DracoInLeatherPants / RootingForTheEmpire: Much of this is due to ValuesDissonance. Even with the original books basically being racist screeds -- or perhaps even ''because'' of it -- Fu Manchu really comes off as [[EvilIsCool cooler]], more [[EvenEvilHasStandards honorable]], and more interesting than the "[[DesignatedHero heroes]]," especially considering [[NotSoDifferent most of his plans are comparable to real-life white imperialists of the time]].

* MagnificentBastard: Literature/FuManchu himself is the single most compelling character in the Sax Rohmer novels. Despite his villainy, Fu is charismatic, bold, educated and with a vision for the future to see his [[VisionaryVillain nation restored to greatness]]. Ruler of the [[TheSyndicate Si-Fan syndicate]], Fu returns time and again with brilliant schemes that are only ever matched by his enemy Sir Dennis Nayland Smith through sheer tenacity, as even Nayland Smith admits fu is his intellectual superior by far. Fu schemes to coquer the world and subvert entire nations, b ut he is not without a code of honor. At times, Fu has even arranged for the downfall of fascist and communist leaders, and will always keep his word, as well as sending Nayland Smith a gift for his enemy's wedding. A brilliant archcriminal and one of the first supervillains of literature, Fu Manchu repeatedly demonstrates his superiority, with little being able to do anything but delay him in his schemes.

* MagnificentBastard: Fu is a charismatic and brilliant chessmaster who almost always gets away with some benefit even if the heroes stopped his scheme of the week.

* FairForItsDay: As racist as the original books are, the character is notable for being depicted as a brilliant, sophisticated, and even at times honorable ManipulativeBastard who could easily outwit the "good guys". Given that most propaganda at the time depicted other ethnic groups as brain dead savages and lunatics who would rape and pillage the lands if given the chance, it could almost be called progressive in comparison. ''Almost''.

* MagnificentBastard: He's charismatic and brilliant chessmaster who almost always gets away with some benefit even if the heroes stopped his scheme of the week.

* EvilIsCool

* UnfortunateImplications[=/=]ValuesDissonance: The same ones as YellowPeril: negative racial stereotyping and general links with racism.

* DracoInLeatherPants / RootingForTheEmpire: Much of this is due to ValuesDissonance. Even with the original books basically being racist screeds -- or perhaps even ''because'' of it -- Fu Manchu really comes off as [[EvilIsCool cooler]], more [[EvenEvilHasStandards honorable]], and more interesting than the "[[DesignatedHero heroes]]," especially considering [[NotSoDifferent most of his plans are comparable to white imperialists of the time]].

* UnfortunateImplications: The same ones as YellowPeril: negative racial stereotyping and general links with racism.

* DracoInLeatherPants / RootingForTheEmpire: Much of this is due to ValuesDissonance. Even with the original books basically being racist screeds -- or perhaps even ''because'' of it -- Fu Manchu really comes off as much [[EvilIsCool cooler]], [[EvenEvilHasStandards honorable]], and more interesting than the "[[DesignatedHero heroes]]," especially considering [[NotSoDifferent most of his plans are comparable to white imperialists of the time]].

* DracoInLeatherPants: Even with the original books basically being racist screeds -- or perhaps even ''because'' of it -- Fu Manchu really comes off as much [[EvilIsCool cooler]], [[EvenEvilHasStandards honorable]], and more interesting than the "[[DesignatedHero heroes]]," especially considering [[NotSoDifferent most of his plans are comparable to white imperialists of the time]].

* UnfortunateImplications: The same ones as YellowPeril: negative racial stereotyping and general links with racism. A shame since the character is an interesting and dynamic one.

* UnfortuneImplications: The same ones as YellowPeril: negative racial stereotyping and general links with racism. A shame since the character is an interesting and dynamic one.