Line #56 EvilIsCool/Literature


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5	%% Zero-Context Examples are not allowed, and have been commented-out.
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8	%% Please add context before uncommenting or adding an example. Potholes to other tropes do not count as context.
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17	* ''Literature/AnnoDracula'':
18	** {{Dracula}}'s return in ''Johnny Alucard''. He saunters in and takes back his title of King of Vampires by effortlessly crushing his rivals, laughs off an assassination attempt, gets his entire entourage back and does it all while dressed in a stylish suit.
19	** Princess Christina Light is a [[TheVamp seductive]], [[TheChessmaster intelligent]] vampire with cool light-based powers who manages to both outpower and outsmart her foes. She even comes close to gaining godhood.
20	* In ''[[Literature/TheZombieKnight The Zombie Knight Saga]]'':
21	** One of the most renowned bad guys is [[TheDragon Gohvis]], aka [[RedBaron The Monster of the East]], aka [[TheDreaded The Black Scourge]]. One of the feats he is known for is [[PersonOfMassDestruction punching a volcano and making it erupt]].
22	** PlayedWith: When he hears about this, the [[ExtraOreDinary protagonist]] of the story remarks about how awesome it is, to which his [[DontFearTheReaper companion]] responds:
23	--->'''Garovel''': ‘...You did hear the part about genocide and him being a member of Abolish, right?’\
24	'''Hector''': ‘Oh, yeah... F--k, man, why couldn’t he be a good guy?’
25	* This has notoriously been the biggest problem with Creator/JohnMilton's ''Literature/ParadiseLost.'' Satan is, in fact, so much more interesting to read about than God or Christ (except when the latter [[KungFuJesus gets into His chariot]]) that Creator/WilliamBlake thought Milton was "of the Devil's party without knowing it." The immense MisaimedFandom hasn't helped. Even though what looked like it was going to be an awesome battle scene over Earth turned into Satan running away after realizing that ''he's not cool anymore'', which the sneering angels already knew, and the rest of the story after that shows him being humiliated worse until he wins with Eve. From there the narrative loses interest in him, for the most part. He's still falling the whole time. But who gets past the first couple of books, anyway?
26	* ''Claudius the God'' is the story of Emperor Claudius, portrayed as a decent and honorable man thrust unwillingly into a position of ultimate power. ''Series/IClaudius'' chronicles the reigns of Augustus (and his wife [[MagnificentBastard Livia]]), [[DirtyOldMan Tiberius]], and [[TheCaligula Caligula]]. Guess which one is the most fun read? In case you need a hint: one chapter of ''Claudius the God'' is devoted to the protagonist's [[SeasonalRot visit to the doctor.]]
27	* Averted In-Universe in ''Literature/ProtectorOfTheSmall'', quite deliberately. Kel is disappointed that [[EvilGenius Blayce]] is ''not'' some grand wizard, and instead, just a short and ugly wimp. [[TheBrute His muscle]] isn't too impressive either.
28	* ''Literature/HarounAndTheSeaOfStories'' averts and references this. The villains are the enemies of all stories - therefore, they despise anything that looks interesting or impressive. The BigBad, Katham-Shud, even turns into a dramatic EldritchAbomination OneWingedAngel form for all of a second just to contrast this trope to his weaselly, unimpressive self.
29	* Creator/StephenKing reportedly hates this idea, and his later works try to send the message that "evil is pathetic". This is probably why the villains from his ''Franchise/TheDarkTower'' series suffered ''severe'' VillainDecay in [[Literature/TheWindThroughTheKeyhole the last book]].
30	%% * [[Literature/InterviewWithTheVampire Lestat]].
31	* ''Literature/GoodOmens'':
32	** The (extremely fangirled) [[WhiteHairBlackHeart white haired]] Pollution is VERY MUCH Evil Is Cool. And hot.
33	** All of the Four Horsepersons of the Apocalypse fall under this trope, as the parts featuring one or all of them are easily the coolest and most awesome parts of the book.
34	** The Demon Crowley tries to invoke it as well, with his CoolShades, expensive black CoolCar, fashionable apartment, an attitude ' so laid back you could put a carpet on it' and [[TheChainOfHarm modernized approach to spreading sin]]. However, it's clear that he's not nearly as [[NobleDemon evil]] or as [[BrokenAce cool]] as he likes to act.
35	%% * ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'': Although you wouldn't know it from reading the actual book, where he is hideous, disgusting, and creepy, Dracula is essentially responsible for the entire western world's vampire obsession.
36	* ''Literature/HarryPotter'': Lord Voldemort is one of the most powerful and cunning characters in the series ''and'' has a kickass army of Dark wizards and various sinister creatures at his disposal.
37	** Barty Crouch Jr, as well. Thanks to how [[TheChessmaster intelligent]] and [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]] he is, up to the point where he actually [[TheBadGuyWins succeeds in bringing Voldemort back to full power]], it's no surprise that Barty Crouch Jr. is hit with this.
38	%% * Dante's ''Literature/TheDivineComedy'' is split up into three poems, detailing the narrator's journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. Guess which one is the best known. Similarly, while everyone knows about the SevenDeadlySins, not too many people are familiar with [[GoodCounterpart the Seven Cardinal Virtues]] (Humility, Generosity, Chastity, Meekness, Temperance, Brotherly Love, and Diligence).
39	* In the ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'', Murtagh does a FaceHeelTurn and get his strength boosted to many times his original level by being taught "secret magic" by Galbatorix. He is considered an EnsembleDarkHorse by many, especially in comparison to Eragon.
40	* Among the ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' fandom, many of the villains in the series range from HateSink types to just plain old scrappies, but some do earn their stripes:
41	** Cluny the Scourge, the OG BigBad. Unlike most that came after, Cluny is both a cunning strategist and a vicious warrior who's not afraid to get his paws dirty, giving Matthias one heck of a climactic duel. He also remains a credible threat all the way through and remains the only one to have conquered Redwall in any way, shape or form, showing that his fearsome reputation is well-earned.
42	** General Ironbeak from ''Mattimeo'' is the fiercest fighter in all the northlands, and [[CleverCrows also incredibly clever]]. To the point that of all Redwall villains, he’s come the closest to capturing the abbey. Wayne Best’s performance for him in the TV series is particularly memorable.
43	** Plugg Firetail, often agreed to be one of the few redeemable characters from the widely-loathed ''Triss'', stands apart from the ineffectual BigBad Princess Kurda as a charismatic and cool-looking fox who also holds the unique distinction of being one of the very few BenevolentBoss-types in the series. [[spoiler:Makes it doubly painful he's killed off in an anticlimactic manner, with even his own crew mourning him.]]
44	** Ferahgo the Assassin, BigBad of ''Salamandastron'', is one of the most effective, brilliant, and stylish villains in the entire series, effortlessly evading his treacherous minions' attempts to kill him after he's been horribly burned alive and killing them without ever breaking his stride. [[spoiler:His death counts, too; Ferahgo faces down a ''Bloodwrath-afflicted Badger Lord barrelling straight towards him'' and manages to slay him in a MutualKill in the story's climax.]]
45	** Zwilt the Shade from ''The Sable Quean'', is one of the most fondly remembered villains of the series' later run for being a cool, cunning sable who also manages to put up a legitimate fight in comparison to the legion of villains in the series who serve as an AntiClimaxBoss (or suffer DeathByFallingOver -- [[spoiler:including the titular Sable Quean herself, who tries and falls on her own poisoned dagger.)]]
46	** Slagar the Cruel qualifies more under LoveToHate in the book version of ''Mattimeo''--he's one of the most cunning villains in the series, but that still leaves him a high-functioning SmugSnake at best--but the animated TV series has him voiced by ''Tim Curry'', injecting the character with his natural charisma and making for one hell of a memorable villain for the second season.
47	%% ** Rasconza, the scene-stealing [[TheStarscream Starscream]] in ''Pearls of Lutra'', ''especially'' when compared to the foppish and hilariously inept Ublaz Mad Eyes.
48	%% * Although determining who is "evil" in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' can get quite difficult, there are some characters who simply exude cool. [[EvilOverlord Tywin Lannister]], especially when he puts on his [[BlingOfWar golden lion battle armour]], his [[AntiHero son Jaime]], the [[WeirdTradeUnion Faceless Men]], the [[AlwaysChaoticEvil White Walkers]], [[CainAndAbel both Cleganes]], [[MagnificentBastard Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish]], [[TheChessmaster Varys "the Spider"]], [[BadassBookworm Prince Rhaegar Targaryen]], [[NeverMessWithGranny Olenna "Queen of Thorns" Tyrell]], [[NobleTopEnforcer Kevan Lannister]], [[SoftSpokenSadist Roose Bolton]], and [[EmpoweredBadassNormal Euron "Crow's Eye" Greyjoy]].
49	%% * Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium:
50	%% ** Smaug from ''Literature/TheHobbit''. It helps that he's a badass dragon.
51	%% ** Sauron and Saruman from ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', plus the Nazgûl.
52	%% * Literature/{{Discworld}} has some examples, including [[Literature/WitchesAbroad Lady Lilith]], [[Literature/{{Hogfather}} Mr. Teatime]], [[Literature/NightWatchDiscworld Carcer Dun]] and [[MurderInc the entire Assassins' Guild]].
53	* ''Literature/TheFirstDwarfKing'':
54	** The Osthan are some of the most obvious examples in the book. They're [[EvilIsBigger 8'2" musclebound]] men [[EvilWearsBlack dressed in black]], wield [[{{BFS}} gigantic claymores]] and [[{{BFG}} assault rifles]], and are ImmuneToBullets.
55	** Trang Barok is made of this. He's a [[FatBastard fat]] MagnificentBastard who can match wits with the best of them; he teaches his armies to avoid HollywoodTactics, and his NervesOfSteel, coupled with his [[CantKillYouStillNeedYou usefulness]] enable him to [[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu mock demons to their faces]].
56	** Pathruushkè is pretty cool. He's an [[LeanAndMean emaciated]] black-skinned demon [[PurpleIsPowerful who wears a purple robe]] and wields a MagicStaff that has voices coming from it.
57	%%** Say what you will about the [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demons]] and the [[TheClan Bloody Talons]]...there is no denying that they are ''awesome''.
58	* ''Literature/TreasureIsland'': Long John Silver is one of the most iconic villains in literature and is well-known for his [[LovableRogue charisma]] and [[AffablyEvil amiable personality]]. A good deal of the book hypes up how cool, intelligent, and badass Silver is, even in comparison to the heroes we’re allegedly supposed to be rooting for, and he [[KarmaHoudini gets away with everything at the end]]. It's been speculated that Robert Louis Stevenson may have deliberately invoked this both with Silver and Blind Pew, as he himself was a physically frail man, so he may have had some inspiration to create villains who were a threat in spite of their impairments.
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60	* One of the most memorable characters in military science fiction ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'' is the honorable Nazi officer Captain Halsing, who is well-groomed, handsome, polite and generally AffablyEvil, as well as a sort of [[CulturedBadass existentialist amateur philosopher]] in a way that both defies Nazi stereotypes and plays them straight. He is also an elite light infantry operator, probably the story's single most competent and [[{{Determinator}} determined]] fighter, and further the only villain who gets to [[VillainHasAPoint argue somewhat effectively]] against the main characters' libertarian beliefs and (sort of) get away with it. He fights for a totalitarian fascist regime, and is totally unapologetic about it, but the guy himself is way cool.
61	%% * A lot of the villains in ''Literature/WarriorCats'' have large followings due to their cool looks and villainous personalities. Mapleshade, Tigerstar, and Scourge are the main examples.
62	* [[BigBad Bobby Cross]] of ''Literature/GhostRoads'', despite being an irredeemable and thoroughly evil villain is extremely [[FauxAffablyEvil charismatic]] and [[TheCharmer charming]]. Bobby oozes style with much gusto and for an added bonus, Bobby has a classic and cool car that he drives around in for his plans.
63	* ''Literature/InCryptid'': A decent number of villains are able to achieve this by virtue of being badass but special mention goes to:
64	** [[spoiler:Cooper]], from ''Pocket Apocalypse'', due to being AffablyEvil, TheChessmaster as well as being an AwesomeAussie [[spoiler:werewolf]] and putting up a pretty good fight against Alex.
65	** Leo Cunningham, from ''Magic for Nothing'' of the Covenant of St. George because of his intelligence and bravery as well as being one of the more [[NobleDemon nobler antagonists]].
66	** The Lowry Cabal, from ''Tricks for Free'', for being a gang of [[EvilSorcerer evil sorcerers]] with a cool range of abilities and powers that prove them, formidable opponents.
67	* ''Literature/{{Angelmaker}}'': [[DiabolicalMastermind Shem Shem Tsiem]] aka the Opium Khan is a sadistic monster but damn if he isn't still a total badass. Shem Shem Tsiem is wickedly intelligent, highly charismatic and to top it all off, he's perfectly fine with fighting toe to toe with someone just on his own.
68	* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': The series has quite a few badass and charismatic villains:
69	** [[TheDon "Gentleman Johnny" Marcone]] is the ruling Mob boss of Chicago who brought Chicago's underworld under his control through sheer determination and intelligent planning. Hes also a BadassNormal whose shown to be able to go toe-to-toe with supernatural foes and is an AffablyEvil NobleDemon on top of that.
70	** [[DarkActionGirl Lara Raith]] is the true leader of the White Court after having usurped her father. She mixes being an intelligent and charismatic foe with genuinely formidable fighting ability to the point of being able to decimate opponents.
71	** [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Mab, Queen of Darkness and Air]] is the ruler of the Winter Court and one of the most powerful beings in the Dresden-verse. Mab is very cunning and intelligent in her plans to the point where she is one of the few foes of Harry to actually outsmart him.
72	** [[TheChessmaster Nicodemus Acherlone]] is one of Harry's most vicious and crafty foes. Nicodemus is also a charismatic SoftSpokenSadist who is also really good at playing the XanatosSpeedChess. He is remorselessly evil but oddly compelling to read about.
73	** [[{{Necromancer}} Cowl]] is Harry's EvilCounterpart and a WickedCultured opponent. Cowl makes his debut by effortlessly flipping away a car that was sent to him and is very cool with all of his sophistication and [[TheChessmaster intelligence]].
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75	* ''Literature/TheVillainsSeries'':
76	** [[VillainProtagonist Victor Vale]] is an expert planner and mastermind who wears cool, black clothes and has an calm, eerily polite demeanor. Victor also has the amazingly terrifying ability to induce pain in his opponents and is a true OneManArmy.
77	** [[KnightTemplar Eli Cardale]] is a religious SerialKiller dedicated to wiping out other people with abilities (EO's) but he also is very charismatic and can snark very well. Eli's power to heal any injury makes him near unstoppable and virtually immortal.
78	* ''Literature/{{Nevermoor}}'': Ezra Squall is a murderous psychopath, but he's incredibly intelligent, is self-aware, has supernatural powers that make him virtually undefeatable in a straight fight, and displays a level of HiddenDepths and [[VillainHasAPoint nuance]] that elevates him above the average CardCarryingVillain. He's also an expert at playing the long game and [[ManipulativeBastard making virtually any situation work for him]]. Many fans LoveToHate him, while others simply love him, but either way, he's easily one of the more popular and most talked-about characters in the books.
79	* The Cenobites from ''Literature/TheHellboundHeart''. The Cenobites are the most famous examples in Barker's oeuvre, being horrible S&M demons who nonetheless come across as WickedCultured and pull an awesome VillainousRescue at the end.
80	* Darth Bane from ''Literature/DarthBane''. His victory is what ultimately leads to the rise of Darth Sidious and the entire Skywalker Saga playing out, so it would already be easy to root for him...but he does so with such style, power, intellect, and brutality that he's surprisingly engaging.
81	* ''Literature/ASongOfIceandFire'' has a few:
82	** A good deal of fans love Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, despite his role in making things worse.
83	** Ramsay Snow is one of the most popular villains of the series due to being completely vile yet also proving to be scarily clever and cunning, even while being sadistically impulsive.
84	** Euron Greyjoy is as evil as one can be even in Westeros. But he also has a very cool design, a sigil reminiscent of Sauron, is incredibly charismatic and intelligent in contrast to most of his family, and has a lot of magic and mystery surrounding him.

Context EvilIsCool / Literature