Line #14 Main/AntiVillain


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10
11	->''"Vlad was one of those old-time bad guys with honor and morals, which made him almost one of the good guys. None of us was a saint."''
12	-->-- '''Max''', ''VideoGame/MaxPayne1''
13
14	An Anti-Villain is the opposite of an AntiHero — a character with heroic goals, personality traits, and/or virtues who is ultimately the villain. Their desired ends are mostly good, but their means of getting there range from evil to undesirable. Alternatively, their goals may be selfish or have long-term consequences they don't care about, but they're good people who might even team up with the hero if their goals don't conflict.
15
16	They often reach a kind of critical mass that makes them more good than normal villains but not quite heroes, blurring the line between hero and villain the same way an AntiHero does, but coming from the opposite direction.
17
18	Anti-Villain is an attempt to lighten up a villain as opposed to an AntiHero, which has a tendency to darken the hero. Side by side, it can become very hard to tell them apart. The only reason some would even be considered evil at all is when they're the DesignatedVillain. Despite this humanizing {{character\|Development}}ization, they are rarely less dangerous. For instance, heroes wouldn't know what to expect if [[AffablyEvil their enemy shows caring]] and then [[ClearMyName attacks their reputation]], without giving them an excuse to [[ThouShaltNotKill rationalize]] killing them.
19
20	Most of them are probably well aware that what they're doing is "evil", unlike the blinded KnightTemplar, but strive to maintain a façade of [[SlaveToPR good PR]], often by engaging in PragmaticVillainy. They'll see it as a viable [[IDidWhatIHadToDo means]] to a (possibly) good end.
21
22	In terms of personality, anti-villains are [[AffablyEvil kind-hearted]] and can be [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes caring]] and [[CodeOfHonor honorable]] in nature, even towards their enemies, but it can be possible for them to treat their own allies with rudeness, which by its own accord, is a very unusual trait to possess. Moreover, compared to regular villains that are just simply evil, anti-villains are often neutral -- depending on the writers of said characters. Those that are part of the neutral alignments however, aren't exactly benevolent, but they aren't malevolent either, but there also do exist anti-villains that are outright evil in nature, though they still maintain all of the attributes that anti-villains usually have in common. They can also be capable of a HeelFaceTurn much more easily than normal villains thanks to their personalities.
23
24	It may also be possible to turn a normal villain into an Anti-Villain over time by detailing their StartOfDarkness, giving them a CynicismCatalyst, a MoralityPet, multiple PetTheDog episodes, or otherwise [[RetCon retconning]] them into [[HeelFaceTurn submission]]. A FreudianExcuse may explain their actions, but almost never changes them into an Anti-Villain if there is nothing good about their present motivations.
25
26	Compare and contrast this trope with its antithesis, the AntiHero. A character who is a WildCard or a HeelFaceRevolvingDoor can be capable of being both an Anti-Hero and an Anti-Villain depending on whether or not they are acting for or against the protagonist at the time. They are often the sympathetic party of a SympatheticVillainDespicableVillain duo.
27
28	These characters fall under "villians we sympathize with" on the SlidingScaleOfCharacterAppreciation.
29
30	'''Important''': A CompleteMonster can never qualify as an Anti-Villain, because their causes are never noble (even if they claim otherwise) and are not meant to be sympathetic in any way, whereas you are supposed to relate to, if not sympathize with, an Anti-Villain despite otherwise not approving their methods. it is possible for a character that formerly qualified as an Anti-Villain to be a Complete Monster, however, if they remove all their redeemable or sympathetic characteristics.
31
32	Also not to be confused with HeroAntagonist in which the Anti-Villain is outright good.
33	----
34	!!Sub-tropes and related tropes
35	Character types particularly prone to anti-villainy (though many have their share of flat-out villains, and heroes too) include:
36	[[index]]
37	* AffablyEvil: A villain who is genuinely polite and friendly in spite of being evil.
38	* AmbiguouslyEvil: A mysterious character who is hard to classify good or evil based on their actions.
39	* BeingEvilSucks: A life of doing bad things has given them nothing but misery.
40	* BigBadSlippage: The main villain isn't a villain at the start of the story and becomes one over time; they often have tragic and/or sympathetic motives for turning evil.
41	* ByronicHero: Darker versions of this trope still tend to have sympathetic or admirable qualities and a lot of inner turmoil and conflict.
42	* CryForTheDevil: The villain is depicted sympathetically, even if only for a moment, and the audience pities them.
43	* [[invoked]]ChaoticNeutral: Someone who’s rebellious in nature while a fair balance between Good and Evil.
44	* DarkMagicalGirl: She often has a DarkAndTroubledPast and usually ends up [[HeelFaceTurn switching sides.]]
45	* DesignatedMonkey: The character supposedly deserves the misfortunes they endure, but the audience considers the abuse inflicted on the character to be too unreasonable and excessive.
46	* DesignatedVillain: The narrative says that they are villainous, but there are factors that contradict this.
47	* DrillSergeantNasty: While not always a villain, they can be one. They may only be rough on their troops because they need to prepare them properly for [[WarIsHell the horrors of war.]]
48	* DrivenToMadness: Someone else deliberately drove them insane.
49	* DrivenToVillainy: The villain becomes a villain because of traumatic experiences.
50	* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: A villain is sympathetic because of their care for their parents (usually his mother).
51	* EvenEvilCanBeLoved: A villain is humanized by the fact good characters still care about them and thus is more likely to have sympathetic qualities and/or be redeemable.
52	* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: A villain is sympathetic for their care for their family, friends, etc.
53	* EvenEvilHasStandards: A villain has certain moral lines they won't cross.
54	* EvilVirtues: The villain has strength(s) of character thought to be typical of a hero, and that's what makes the villain more efficient than other villains.
55	* ExBigBad: A villain who continues to feature as a character in a work after being defeated and losing their main antagonist position may lose some of their evil traits, and may even undergo a HeelFaceTurn or become a TokenEvilTeammate in the process.
56	* TheExtremistWasRight: The villain's actions are vindicated later.
57	* FairPlayVillain: They may be a villain but they prefer to keep things fair between them and the heroes rather than tipping things in their own favor
58	* FallenHero: A hero who made a FaceHeelTurn can be an anti-villain if they haven't fully given up their good intentions/traits from their heroic days.
59	* FamilyValuesVillain: A villain who believes in following [[EvenEvilHasStandards standards]] in the form of family values.
60	* ForcedIntoEvil: A character doesn't want to be a villain, but is one only because of being blackmailed or otherwise extorted.
61	* FriendlyEnemy: The villain treats their enemies like old pals.
62	* FriendlyPirate
63	* GentlemanThief (when they're not the hero)
64	* GoodAllAlong
65	* GoodGirlGoneBad: A NiceGirl who becomes a villain (or just a {{Jerkass}}) due to something bad happening to her; they often still have sympathetic qualities.
66	* HarmlessVillain: The villain is not really threatening at all.
67	* HeelFaceTurn: The bad guy switches sides and becomes a good guy.
68	* AHeroToHisHometown: Their own people are happy with what they've done, even if everyone else isn't.
69	* HeWhoFightsMonsters: They started out a good guy but ended up becoming just as bad as what they were fighting against.
70	* HiddenHeartOfGold: The villain is a bit of a nice guy, although they don't want anyone knowing it.
71	* HitmanWithAHeart: A ProfessionalKiller who isn't quite as cold-blooded as they seem.
72	* HonestCorporateExecutive: A high-ranking corporate executive with more benign views.
73	* IgnorantMinion: A {{Mook}} who is out of naivety or slow-wittedness unaware that their boss is evil.
74	* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: The villain is so incompetent that their plans always fail.
75	* InnocentBigot: A bigot who is innocent due to lack of education about bigotry.
76	* InvadingRefugees: These invaders are attacking because they've been forced on the run.
77	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: They may be a jerk, but they have a good heart.
78	* JerkassWoobie: They may be a jerk, but they're also pitiable.
79	* JustifiedCriminal: They only commit crimes for a sympathetic or even morally good reason.
80	* KnightTemplar: A villain who genuinely believes that their actions are good and/or just.
81	* ALighterShadeOfBlack: They're no saint, but there are other villains who are comparatively ''much'' worse.
82	* LovableRogue: (When they’re the villain)
83	* [[invoked]]LawfulEvil: Evil, but otherwise obeys law and honor in [[WellIntentionedExtremist one way]] or [[NobleDemon another]].
84	* MikeNelsonDestroyerOfWorlds: A villain who unintentionally causes problems through their own ignorance and lack of responsibility.
85	* MinionWithAnFInEvil: Has villainous intentions, but fails at it.
86	* MyCountryRightOrWrong: Supports one's nation even if they don't personally agree with their villainous policy.
87	* MyMasterRightOrWrong: Serves a villain out of loyalty.
88	* MysteriousBacker: They might be on the side of good, but they're not very proactive about doing good themselves.
89	* NecessarilyEvil: An anti-villain who chooses to serve as the BigBad in order to prevent a catastrophe or prevent someone worse from taking the role.
90	* NeighbourhoodFriendlyGangsters
91	* NeverHurtAnInnocent: The villain wouldn't dare to hurt those who've done nothing wrong.
92	* NobleDemon: A villain whose principles prevent them from embracing villainy wholeheartedly.
93	* NobleTopEnforcer: TheDragon is noticeably more virtuous than the BigBad they serve.
94	* NominalVillain: A character who advances a villainous cause, but has no villainous motivations.
95	* NonMaliciousMonster: A creature that, while dangerous, cannot be called evil due to its animal-like sapience.
96	* NotEvilJustMisunderstood: It turns out the so-called villain is actually mistakenly believed to be evil.
97	* ObliviouslyEvil: The villain doesn't realize that they're committing evil acts.
98	* PetTheDog: They may be evil, but that kind deed that they did had just revealed that they really do have [[HiddenHeartOfGold a nicer side]] after all.
99	* PokeThePoodle: Someone tries to KickTheDog, but their actions come off as laughable or just a bit annoying rather than truly harmful.
100	* PoliteVillainsRudeHeroes: If the villain is considerably more polite than the heroes in comparison.
101	* PoliticallyCorrectVillain: Evil as they may be, [[EvenEvilHasStandards they won't tolerate discrimination]], [[EqualOpportunityEvil and will gladly work with anyone regardless of how different they look or act]].
102	* PragmaticVillainy: Sees no need to do [[KickTheDog random evil acts]] [[ForTheEvulz for no reason whatsoever]] because that’s “a waste of resources” and “unnecessary to their goal”. They might even do good deeds to achieve their EvilPlan.
103	* PredationIsNatural: Though it bodes ill for its prey, an animal hunting for survival is not inherently evil.
104	* PunchClockVillain: Performs evil just to make a living.
105	* RegretfulTraitor: They betrayed you, yes, but it doesn't mean they haven't any qualms about it.
106	* ReluctantMadScientist: A scientist who was pulled into villainy by bad circumstances, or have his experiments being systematically abused by other parties he doesn't intend to.
107	* TheRival: They really want to beat the hero, but might treat everyone else okay.
108	* SympatheticInspectorAntagonist: The antagonist is a likeably portrayed law-enforcer trying to capture a law-breaker who happens to be the protagonist.
109	* SympatheticMurderer: Their act of homicide has sympathetic circumstances to it, like the [[AssholeVictim victim being someone horrible]] or the act [[AccidentalMurder being accidental]] or the result of a moral dilemma.
110	* SympatheticSlaveOwner: Engages in [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOFEvil slavery]], but isn't too awful about it.
111	* SympathyForTheHero: The villain expresses [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin sympathy or pity for the hero.]]
112	* TokenGoodTeammate: An anti-villain can be a part of a group of straight up villains.
113	* TokenHeroicOrc
114	* TotalitarianUtilitarian: a totalitarian who believes total control over people Will make everything better.
115	* TragicBigot: They hate a particular group of people because a person/people belonging to this group were involved in a past personal tragedy.
116	* TragicMonster: A heroic and/or sympathetic person who was turned into a monster and thus lost their humanity.
117	* TragicVillain: They're aware that their villainous actions are wrong, but believe (rightly or not) that [[IveComeTooFar they have no choice]] but to continue doing them.
118	* TrappedInVillainy: Would like to quit villainy, but there is a [[YouHaveFailedMe threat of death]] over failures in evil or attempts to leave.
119	* TroubledAbuser: They commit abuse because [[TheChainOfHarm they themselves were abused.]]
120	* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: The villain wants to TakeOverTheWorld because they genuinely believe they can create a better society.
121	* VillainousFriendship: Having friends proves that they aren't ALL bad.
122	* VillainyFreeVillain: This [[TheAntagonist character]] is portrayed as a {{villain\|S}} but they are not evil at all.
123	* WellIntentionedExtremist: The villain does bad things in order to achieve an admirable goal.
124	* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: A [[TheWoobie very sympathetic and pitiable character]] is DrivenToVillainy.
125	* WorthyOpponent: More often than not, the anti-villain honestly respects the hero's resolve, even though they're normally AffablyEvil to begin with.
126	[[/index]]
127	----
128	!!Example subpages
129	[[index]]
130	* AntiVillain/AnimeAndManga
131	* AntiVillain/ComicBooks
132	* AntiVillain/FanWorks
133	* [[AntiVillain/AnimatedFilms Film — Animation]]
134	* [[AntiVillain/LiveActionFilms Film — Live-Action]]
135	* AntiVillain/{{Literature}}
136	* AntiVillain/LiveActionTV
137	* AntiVillain/{{Music}}
138	* AntiVillain/ProWrestling
139	* AntiVillain/TabletopGames
140	* AntiVillain/{{Theatre}}
141	* AntiVillain/VideoGames
142	* AntiVillain/{{Webcomics}}
143	* AntiVillain/WesternAnimation
144	[[/index]]
145
146	!!Other examples
147
148	[[foldercontrol]]
149
150	[[folder:Manhua]]
151	* ''Manhua/TheExplodingGirl'': Yellow wishes to protect small animals from cruel abusers and people wanting to profit off that abuse, going so far as to spend almost all her free time at a rescue shelter for animals, and using her small apartment as a sanctuary for strays. She also ''gleefully'' murders those same people in cold blood, and tries to kill [[spoiler:Ping after he refuses to join her, and now risks revealing her secret identity.]] Similarly, Yellow relishes in brutalizing her victims long after the Violencia have been driven out, and only the threat of getting caught by police can stop her.
152	* ''Manhua/FightingPrettyFoxgirl'': Despite devouring souls due to their curse, the Four Princes are nice people and a few are not wanting to continue with this fate.
153	[[/folder]]
154
155	[[folder:Manhwa]]
156	* ''Manhwa/TheBreaker'':
157	** Hyuk So Chun and Kangsung, among others. One of the things that sets this series apart is how most enemies are not presented as evil, even if they may seem to be at first. Instead, they're just people, [[PunchClockVillain who sometimes have to do unpleasant things in the course of their work]], and if they act like jerks it's more bravado than actual hatefulness.
158	** Deconstructed in New Waves with a wider variety of villains, which include {{Card Carrying Villain}}s and a couple {{Obviously Evil}} characters.
159	* ''Manhwa/CavalierOfTheAbyss'': Caladbolg, for all he is set up as the big bad, has had [[PetTheDog scenes where he is shown as less villainous than Nex]]. [[spoiler: The fact he has asked at one point for a stop to their conflicts and compromise seriously helps his case, even when he has ultimately selfish ends. ]]
160	* ''Manhwa/PhDPhantasyDegree'':
161	** Gelpa the ninja. Despite being a member of the Madosa Guild, he had helped saved Notra's and Noel's lives [[spoiler:on Chang-Chun's request]].
162	** [[spoiler:Chang-Chun the leader of the Madosa Guild]] is a kind-hearted old man who tries to save Chun-Lang and the others from Madosa's attack when he isn't wearing his power rings.
163	* ''Manhwa/{{Priest}}'': Kinda strange that [[AllLovingHero Nera]] would be on Temozarela's side, eh? It's shown in the story that Temozarela took her in as one of his disciples due to his desire to see where her faith in God and humanity would lead.
164	[[/folder]]
165
166	[[folder:Toys]]
167	* In almost all ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1''-based continuities, Thundercracker is usually the most sympathetic of the Seekers. In the original cartoon, he was still villainous, but wasn't as stupid and cruel as Skywarp or as narcissistic and grasping as Starscream. In the recent ''ComicBook/TheTransformersAllHailMegatron'' comic event, he shows disgust at the experiments that created the Swarm, [[spoiler:and saves UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity from being nuked by another Decepticon because [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy the way of the Decepticons is not slaughter, but battle]]]]. In ''[[VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron War For Cybertron]]'', whereas Skywarp's in-game dialogue is [[HoldYourHippogriffs fuelthirsty]] and Starscream's is all vainglory, he expresses curiosity and wonders at the unusual environs of Cybertron's underworld (apt, as his [[AnAdventurerIsYou class]] for the mission is Scientist). In almost all "character profile" productions, he's usually described as being a reluctant follower who's still around mainly because he believes in the original ideals or because he's already gone so far.
168	* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'':
169	** Krika, a NobleDemon who's only on the side of evil because he feels resigned to it, and even then, he's a staunch critic of [[BigBad Teridax]], openly questioning the validity of [[TheChessmaster his enormous evil plan]]. He even gives Toa Gali a chance to leave instead of fighting.
170	** Vezon, overlapping with IneffectualSympatheticVillain. He's basically an EvilOverlord persona without any of the things that allow either the "evil" or the "overlord" part to work, being too [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} insane]] to handle any of his powers or [[GeniusDitz tactical genius]] effectively, and at one point he gets [[BoxedCrook roped into working for the Order of Mata Nui]] to combat the Brotherhood of Makuta, taking advantage of how for better and for worse, he's [[FearlessFool fearless]] (and, if required, [[ButtMonkey expendable]]). It's lampshaded when he disguises himself for a moment as a "Toa (Hero) of Anarchy".
171	[[/folder]]
172
173	[[folder:Web Animation]]
174	* ''WebAnimation/AnAdventureOfSheepAndChicken'' has the hiker, who’s only trying to eat Chicken because he’s starving. He later makes a HeelFaceTurn and helps save Chicken’s friend, Sheep.
175	* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'': ''Revelation'' has [[spoiler: Agent Washington]], who is only after the Blood Gulch crew to take Epsilon back to the Chairman so he doesn't have to rot away in prison. Adding to this, the only reason he has to get Epsilon in the first place is because Caboose didn't turn Epsilon in like [[spoiler: Wash]] told him to.
176	* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' has Hazel Rainart. His murderous hatred of Ozpin aside, he is the least antagonistic of Salem's enforcers. He abhors unnecessary violence, as seen with his anger at Adam's murder of Sienna Khan, and his reluctance to fight Ren and Nora. He doesn't take pleasure in attacking Oscar and Nora, instead seeing them as unfortunate causalities as a result of Ozpin. He's willing to [[spoiler:take the blame]] for the failure at Haven rather than [[SpeakIllOfTheDead blame Cinder]] or let Salem go for Emerald and Mercury, and [[spoiler:begins to keep an eye out for them]] after returning from the mission. Outside of his anger towards Ozpin, Hazel's a fairly decent guy.
177	* [=DemonKing=] from ''WebAnimation/{{TOME}}'' really just needs the money to go back to school, okay? [[spoiler: An even better example from ''{{TOME}}'', though, lies in Kizuna, who turns out to be this by the end of Episode 15. She just doesn't want anyone to be hurt anymore... and it leads her to try and almost kill SOFDTI.]]
178	[[/folder]]
179	[[folder:Web Original]]
180	* Acktreal Domma from ''AudioPlay/AlienAbductionRolePlay''. She is a genuinely kind, loving soul who cares for her crewmates and human test subjects, yet both are put in serious danger because of her increasingly deteriorating mental state, possibly due to something in the hormones or genetics of the humans she comes into contact with.
181	* ''Literature/{{Brennus}}'': The Dark, the original super-villain, qualifies due to being a) a NobleDemon whose organization helps keep the hero-villain conflict from escalating to truly uncontrollable levels, b) being in EnemyMine situations with the heroes more often than he is in conflict with them, and c) a genuinely loving father and BenevolentBoss. At times he comes off more like a full on AntiHero, but remember that he still willingly employs [[ImAHumanitarian cannibals]] and [[SerialRapist Serial Rapists]], and he's the one who gives them their marching orders, and he has no small amount of blood on his own hands.
182	* Most of oWn in ''WebAnimation/CultOfPersonality'' are no less moral than other characters in [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 RED and BLU]], mostly because the mercenaries who joined own have their personalities largely intact despite their changed loyalties.
183	* Vincent Liedecker of ''Literature/TheDescendants'', philanthropist, life saver, and sponsor the [[SuperheroSchool hero team's school]] -- the only one around that doesn't seem to be about brainwashing or supersoldier projects. He sends his thugs to ''protect'' the establishments he takes protection money from, even from threats that he didn't create or provide the weapons for. Er...so he is into protection rackets and the underground economy, and producing {{Magitek}} and cloning horrible monsters that Should Not Be, and then selling them to the highest bidder...
184	* ''WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog'': Dr. Horrible. He claims to be a WellIntentionedExtremist but is really an IneffectualSympatheticVillain who's in the whole evil business because of constant humiliations from JerkJock superheroes like Captain Hammer and unrequited affection for a girl he met at the laundromat. The story follows his transition from AntiVillain to full-blown {{Supervillain}}. In [[http://furyofsolace.com/2009/01/31/hello-world/ "Fury of Solace"]], originally created for the ELE application contest [[note]]he didn't make it onto the DVD despite a fantastic song, probably because [[spoiler:he really isn't evil]][[/note]], his VillainSong details how [[spoiler: he had to kill a young girl's parents (and, implied by extension, become her nemesis) so she'll become a superhero and save the world]]. One of the prequel comics show that [[TwiceShy Penny actually likes him too]].
185	* Despite going criminally insane and burning down a toy factory in a rampaging fit of revenge, Music/DoctorSteel is really a kind-hearted soul who only wants to make the world a better place (for himself...).
186	* ''Podcast/FalloutIsDragons'' has Death, leader of one quarter of the Four Horses Raider Gang. His status as villain is mostly given by his position; in person he's actually quite reasonable, acts as an unofficial mentor to one of the player characters, [[spoiler:and is willing to stop the raids on towns if it will help his gang.]]
187	* In ''Roleplay/TheGamersAlliance'', Kagetsu I deeply cares for his subordinates and loves his wife Marya above anything else. He knows that his plan of destroying the world, killing countless innocents and depowering the gods is an unfortunate but necessary step to create an everlasting utopia but he hesitates when he has to choose whether to sacrifice Marya to make his dream come true. Glaurung shares a vision of a world without borders where no more warfare is necessary, but in order to do so her armies have to crush any opposition.
188	* Some Imperials from ''Roleplay/TheGunganCouncil'', like Akio Kahoshi and Delek Wrentar, usually want to bring peace to a war ridden galaxy and care for their close friends. Yet, their methods to bringing peace usually involve hostile conquests of systems and purging the Jedi.
189	* Dudley Griffin in ''WebVideo/KateModern'' was fighting the Order long before the heroes, and tries desperately to warn Kate away from danger. Nevertheless, with his willingness to attack other good characters and his bad temper, he functions as an antagonist.
190	* Tenshirock from ''Series/{{Noob}}'' is a villain mostly due to most character being gamers while his objective is getting people to stop playing MMORPG. He's otherwise partners in crime with the ManipulativeBastard among the protagonists and FriendlyEnemies with the rest to the point of YouWillBeSpared.
191	* In commentaries, Doug said he wrote WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic and company in ''WebVideo/{{Kickassia}}'' and ''WebVideo/SuburbanKnights'' this way; selfish and doing bad things, but sympathetic and at least in the end knowing what's right. By ''WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee'', Critic's broken enough to just want to be the hero, and succeeds, while everyone else is nicer too.
192	* ''Literature/OnlyVillainsDoThat'': The goddess of evil won't let him be too nice, but neither does Seiji actually want to be evil.
193	* The Gear Group during the Keep the Flag Flying arc in ''Roleplay/OurAvatarsWereInARoomTogetherTheContinuation'', if only because they're slightly sympathetic in their motives, which is to get revenge on the humans that experimented on them.
194	* In ''Literature/APracticalGuideToEvil'', this is Catherine's explicit aim, and part of Black Knight's plan seems to be to create such a role for Evil Names. [[spoiler: Likewise, Thief also fills this role, joining Catherine because she'd be better joining her.]]
195	* ''Website/{{Springhole}}''
196	** {{Deconstructed\|trope}} in ''No, Thanos Was Not Justified''. Syera argues that regardless of his intentions, what Thanos did during ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' was pointlessly cruel and wouldn't even be effective in the long run. In addition, there were alternatives that wouldn't have traumatized half the universe.
197	** [[{{Reconstruction}} Reconstructed]] in ''How To Write Sympathetic Antagonists Without Endorsing Or Excusing Their Actions, & Without Making Your Protagonists Seem Heartless''. Syera advises making the heroes acknoweledge how awful the villain's tragic backstory or that they do have good intentions while also pointing out [[FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse neither gives them free reign to hurt others]].
198	* In ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest'', the closest things to villains ''per se'' are those who choose to play the game. While sometimes these people are downright evil or [[AxCrazy simply terrifyingly insane]], there are killers who actually aren't very bad people, often given a sympathetic reason for playing the game such as trying to protect a loved one or because they've given up all hope of escape and see it as the only way to survive ([[JustifiedTrope and as far as they know, it is]]). Examples of this include Bobby Jacks, [[strike:Lenny Priestly]] (not... anymore), Bryan Calvert, to an extent, and, arguably, Jacob Starr.
199	* There are plenty in the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse''. Dr. Diabolik is responsible for the deaths of thousands, all in his campaign to improve the human race. Brigand is a wanted supervillain who is actually trying to track down the monsters who corrupted his father. Jobe Wilkins is a HeroicComedicSociopath who thinks nothing of testing serums on unwilling criminals if it provides a new cure for dysentery.
200	** Even some of the more antagonistic characters have shades of AntiVillain. The MCO, for example, is filled with a number of people who genuinely do believe that they're protecting humanity, even if it has its share of genuinely mutophobic... let's say 'jerkfaces'. [[spoiler: The Syndicate, probably the closest thing to a 'League of Supervillains' that the Whateley Universe has, is actively involved in trying to prevent worse things from happening... like Dr. Palm's, or the Bastard's, goals succeeding.]]
201	* ''Literature/{{Worm}}'':
202	** The main characters are a group of supervillains called the Undersiders, whom on some level have at least a little anti-villain flavoring (with the possible exception of [[TokenEvilTeammate Regent]]). Taylor becomes a supervillain because she couldn't betray her friends in addition to {{Jerkass}} superheroes, and constantly tries to minimize the harm her actions do and keep innocents from getting hurt. Tattletale [[spoiler:becomes Taylor's friend to stop her from committing suicide by villain or whatever fresh horror just arrived in Brockton Bay]]. Brian became a {{Punch Clock Villain}} to take care of his little sister Aisha. Bitch is a antisocial thug who due to a harsh, abusive upbringing doesn't trust any other humans anymore, but genuinely loves dogs and provides funds for the shelter she starts running for them. They also serve as ALighterShadeOfBlack, being a thieves' gang who find themselves pitted against threats like white supremacists, criminal masterminds trying to take control of the city, and wandering bands of [[HeroKiller hero killers]], and do a better job of fighting them than the heroes.
203	** Arguably, the leaders of Cauldron. They're utterly ruthless, but everything they do is directed toward the goal of saving as much of the human race as possible from [[spoiler:Scion's inevitable FaceHeelTurn into a nigh-omnipotent OmnicidalManiac]]. Also, they know for certain that their means are necessary to achieve that end because of Contessa's power, which is basically CombatClairvoyance turned up to the level of a StoryBreakerPower -- it doesn't just let her see a path to victory in a single fight, she can project the path to victory in a decades-long global conflict affecting hundreds of parallel Earths.
204	[[/folder]]

Context Main / AntiVillain