Line #53 Main/CardCarryingVillain


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6	%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
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12	%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16629315780.18985300
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15	[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/2f7c6497_da3b_4747_bd55_c1185137d0c0.jpeg]]]]
16	[[caption-width-right:350:[[VisualPun Actual villain business card not required]].]]
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18	%% Caption selected per above IP thread. Please do not replace or remove without discussion in the Caption Repair thread:
19	%% https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1404492079030138900
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21	->''"I am sick, deranged, sadistic, and insane. And you know what? I enjoy every second of it."''
22	-->-- '''Dr. Edgar Malbarn''', ''Literature/ArmageddonForce''
23
24	"Appealing to my better nature? I'm a villain! Here is MyCard! [[StevenUlyssesPerhero Eve L. Duehr]]: AcademyOfEvil graduate, [[TakeOverTheWorld Aspiring]] [[EvilOverlord Tyrant]], [[KickTheDog Kicker of Kittens]], and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Spontaneous Singer of]] ''[[Series/BarneyAndFriends Barney songs]]''. I crossed the MoralEventHorizon while [[EnfantTerrible still in grade school]] and have [[EvilFeelsGood never once looked back]]. And you think you can [[KirkSummation talk me out of my evil deeds]]? I shall laugh at your feeble attempts to stop me like so, [[EvilLaugh mwhahahahahahahahahaa]]!"
25
26	Villains like this may be greedy, violent, [[LaughablyEvil comical]], etc. but most importantly, they are [[ObviouslyEvil Evil]]. It's in the job description. They refer to ''themselves'' as Evil, with a capital "E". Stretch it out to "Eeeeeevil" for emphasis. (They may even pronounce the "I" with emphasized shortness. Ee-vill. Like the froo-it of the dev-ill.) Terminal cases even require their minions to call them "[[TheMagnificent Your Evilness]]". In fact, calling them evil, vile, ruthless, or any generally negative epithet will [[InsultBackfire backfire]] and be received by these villainous types [[ArsonMurderAndAdmiration as the kindest of compliments.]]
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28	The Card-Carrying Villain demands [[VillainCred to be respected and feared and on top of the heap over everyone else]] because EvilIsCool and GoodIsDumb.
29
30	Thus, they are expected to KickTheDog and never PetTheDog. [[EvilCannotStandCuteness They will shun anything saccharine]], and if they acted differently, [[SlaveToPR they'd lose their Evil ranking]]. Especially ironic if the reason they [[FaceHeelTurn fell]] was because they wanted freedom from constraints on their actions. Whatever action they as a good guy wanted to do is considered "bad", so they have to do other bad things as well now. After a while, they usually forget about [[MotiveDecay whatever goal it was that turned them Evil]] in the first place. So...in a very odd way, they're very much TheFettered; since their actions are bound by the expectation of Evil.
31
32	The "Card-Carrying" in the trope name is an expression that comes from the identification cards often given to registered members of an organization or professional society, and is not meant to be taken literally; it just means they're proudly committed to the role. If the villains carry an ''actual'' membership card, they may be part of a WeirdTradeUnion, but that would be a different trope. (Do we dare even ask what would happen if the Villains' Union [[StrikeEpisode goes on strike]]?) Or if they have a LiteralMetaphor, that might be MyCard.
33
34	There are, in general, three spheres of Card-Carrying Villainy. A lot of villains combine one or more, though:
35	# ''[[DespotismJustifiesTheMeans Control]]'' — the Villain wants to rule; be it a gang, [[TakeOverTheCity a city]], a state, the country, [[TakeOverTheWorld the world]], or a similar goal, and have everyone else below them obey their every whim. Sometimes goes so far as thinking of themselves as being of a [[MasterRace superior race]], a [[UltimateLifeform perfect being]], or [[AGodAmI even a god]], and therefore entitled to it.
36	# ''[[TheCorrupter Corruption]]'' — the Villain wants to [[TheCorrupter turn other people Evil]], and often ToCreateAPlaygroundForEvil. Give in to TheDarkSide!
37	# '' Destruction'' — the Villain wants to destroy and kill [[ForTheEvulz for its own sake]]. [[OmnicidalManiac Taken to the extreme]], the first and second spheres may recognize that this includes ''them'' as well, so this often results in EvilVersusOblivion or EvilerThanThou if the villain teams up with the heroes so they can TakeOverTheWorld at a later date. (You can't take over the world if it's [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt not there!]])
38
39	A BlackCloak, a low-ranking TerribleTrio, an IneffectualSympatheticVillain, or someone who's succumbed to TheDarkSide is usually most likely to identify themselves this way.
40
41	A subversion is for these folks to ''not'' actually be cruel, greedy, or unnecessarily violent, but [[PunchClockVillain just doing their jobs]]. A NobleDemon is a Card-Carrying Villain who walks the talk, but has a tendency to hold back or even help from time to time.
42
43	While the trope can result in an [[LaughablyEvil entertaining villain]], they can also be cheesy or shallow. 80s kid's shows made a lot of these, where the villain referred to themselves as evil. Writers apparently believed that the children watching [[ViewersAreMorons wouldn't be able to define the bad guy]] unless he was blowing up cities or poisoning lakes ForTheEvulz. It also reveals a condescending belief that children are unable to understand that evil people usually [[ObliviouslyEvil don't consider themselves evil]]. Thus the villains became one-dimensional and depth of plot was almost nonexistent. Such villains are often derisively referred to as "Mustache-Twirling Villains". In serious works that are aimed at older audiences and/or use GreyAndGrayMorality for their other villains, a Card-Carrying Villain has a good chance of ending up as a BaseBreakingCharacter or even TheScrappy.
44
45	In comedy situations/shows, this fate is usually averted, as it's a humorous thing (and thus right in place). It can also be used with a darker twist — showing a person so BeyondRedemption, so beyond what we call usual morality, that he is literally impossible to argue and reason with. This trope is also difficult (but not impossible) to pull off convincingly in a more serious, dramatic work or just live action in general. Most people in RealLife simply aren't that evil or conceited enough (or stupid enough) to proclaim themselves as such in any way. Not overtly, at least.
46
47	[[Administrivia/TropesAreTools On the other hand]], there are still dramatic situations where characters ARE that evil even in serious situations — certain kinds of world-destroyers, the excessively vengeful, and full-on psychopaths. It is easier to pull this seriously with a villain who acts like this in private but pretends to be something else in public, but even if not, it can work if the character is a total psycho. Demonic entities also have full access to this trope. In the final stage, you have a villain who insists on justifying their actions because "it's what villains are ''supposed to do''"; see ContractualGenreBlindness. In dramatic situations, the hero may try to induce a HeelFaceTurn and tell them they have a choice. They choose to keep being evil.
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49	The SmugSnake is one of the more likely villainous types to openly revel in their harmful actions, which tends to highlight the fact that they are not nearly as intelligent as their [[SmallNameBigEgo inflated ego]] leads them to believe they are.
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51	Card-Carrying Villains are particularly likely to commit atrocities [[ForTheEvulz out of a sincere desire to cause harm]]. Expect them to have [[DarkIsEvil relations with the dark]] and/or have [[BadPowersBadPeople evil powers]]. Also expect plenty of [[EvilIsPetty petty behavior]]. When it goes to their head, they might even start to develop a DevilComplex.
52
53	Surprisingly, a Card-Carrying Villain occasionally has one "[[EvilVirtues redeeming]]" quality as far as villains go: [[AtLeastIAdmitIt They're honest.]] They will not hide the fact that they're the villainous scumbag, they will not deceive you that they were worthy of some sympathy by being a misguided WellIntentionedExtremist, [[EvenEvilHasStandards that's just]] [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocritical]]. This may make them more obvious targets for the heroes to gun down, but they will not hide behind sweet talks (unless it's meant to showcase a FauxAffablyEvil personality), and sometimes lies would hurt more than a blatant assault. They are also not self-righteous at all.
54
55	Of course the alternative is true: it can be their single most despicable quality. Even a Well-Intentioned Extremist can [[VillainHasAPoint make a good point]] once in a while despite their immoral deeds. A Card-Carrying Villain on the other hand, is fully aware that they're scum and openly embraces it.
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57	Not to be confused with MyCard, where the villain emphasizes their evilness in this trope, MyCard actually deals with a business card (and is not always for villains). For people who fight using cards, see DeathDealer. Oh, and this is also not to be confused with the villains in ''Franchise/YuGiOh'', as ''everybody'' [[SeriousBusiness seems to carry cards]] in that series.
58
59	Subtrope of ObviouslyEvil. SuperTrope to ChaosIsEvil. DastardlyWhiplash is a specific subtrope from comic melodrama. Many if not most examples of RonTheDeathEater are also this.
60
61	Compare:
62	* TheBarnum: A ConMan who openly and unashamedly takes pride in their sleazy ways.
63	* CardCarryingJerkass: A character with a similar attitude towards [[{{Jerkass}} being mean and nasty to others]], but isn't necessarily ''evil''. The two tropes can often overlap, however.
64	* CompleteMonster: A villain who is pure evil with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. A Card-Carrying Villain can easily be this if their actions are PlayedForDrama and emphasize their love of evil by [[MoralEventHorizon being particularly terrible]].
65	* DrunkOnTheDarkSide: A character gains immense power, usually via BlackMagic, and undergoes a SanitySlippage because they enjoy their newfound powers too much, regardless of morality or lack thereof. If the character wasn't a Card-Carrying Villain before, they are now.
66	* HateSink: A villain who is intended to be hated by the audience. While a lot of Card-Carrying Villains are too goofy to truly hate, making a Hate Sink openly gloat about their evil nature is a good way to invoke disgust from viewers.
67	* NobleDemon: A villain who makes no bones about that fact, but will generally do less [[KickTheDog dog-kicking]].
68
69	Contrast:
70	* AboveGoodAndEvil: When a villain dismisses morality as a meaningless concept.
71	* BeingEvilSucks: When a villain becomes ashamed of their evil actions and leaves the dark side.
72	* IAmAMonster: Where the character laments rather than embraces how bad they are.
73	* KnightTemplar: A villain who views themselves as good. They can still be a Card-Carrying Villain if they [[ThenLetMeBeEvil embrace the evil persona others hold them to]].
74	* MoralMyopia: Where the villain [[{{Hypocrite}} decries the evil acts of others while ignoring or rationalizing their own]].
75	* ObliviouslyEvil: When a villain believes that they aren't doing anything wrong.
76	* PunchClockVillain: Who doesn't take any particular glee in being evil, instead looking at it as just their job.
77
78	Compare and Contrast:
79	* FullyEmbracedFiend: A character who embraces becoming a literal monster, such as a vampire or werewolf. These can be of any alignment, but an evil FullyEmbracedFiend can also be a Card-Carrying Villain.
80	* ThenLetMeBeEvil: A character eventually becomes a villain after [[ConvictedByPublicOpinion being labelled as one]], having lost all hope in changing others' opinion of them. They know they are a villain and embrace the image, but they do so out of bitterness at being misunderstood, not pride.
81
82	The most likely {{Foil}} is the IdealHero, who is equally defined by the role of being an upright good guy.
83
84	See also AlwaysChaoticEvil, BadIsGoodAndGoodIsBad, LawfulStupidChaoticStupid, StupidEvil, VillainBall and EvilerThanThou.
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87	%% Most real life evil people may or may not fall under this trope, given that there's no other way they could declare that they are proud to do god knows how many bad things. Given that this is a villain trope, and not to mention, would be asking for a flame war, this trope is No Real Life Examples, Please. The Rule Of Cautious Editing Judgment should be observed for the same reason.
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90	[[noreallife]]
91	----
92	!!Example subpages:
93
94	[[index]]
95	* CardCarryingVillain/AnimeAndManga
96	* CardCarryingVillain/ComicBooks
97	* CardCarryingVillain/{{Film}}
98	* CardCarryingVillain/{{Literature}}
99	* CardCarryingVillain/LiveActionTV
100	* CardCarryingVillain/VideoGames
101	* CardCarryingVillain/{{Webcomics}}
102	* CardCarryingVillain/WebOriginal
103	* CardCarryingVillain/WesternAnimation
104	[[/index]]
105
106	!!Other examples:
107
108	[[foldercontrol]]
109
110	[[folder:Advertising]]
111	* In [[https://www.ispot.tv/ad/AqCt/etrade-benedict-arnold this commercial]] for E*TRADE, [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution Benedict Arnold]] seems proud of his reputation as the "infamous traitor".
112	[[/folder]]
113
114	[[folder:Asian Animation]]
115	* In ''Animation/BoBoiBoy'', Adu Du, his henchmen, and his family acknowledge that they are evil and take pride in calling themselves evil, as some other villains tend to do as well.
116	[[/folder]]
117
118	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
119	* ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}''
120	** Catbert is the "Evil Director of Human Resources". That's right, he's got the word "evil" in his job title. And he lives up to it with glee:
121	--->'''Dilbert:''' My boss is preventing me from transferring to a great job.\
122	'''Catbert:''' That's outrageous! There shouldn't be any great jobs in this company.
123	** Equally evil example:
124	--->'''Alice:''' How many of your policies are formulated for the sole purpose of gratifying your sadistic tendencies?\
125	'''Catbert:''' All of them. Some are just more noticeable.
126	%%** Phil The Prince of Insufficient Light.
127	* ComicStrip/FlashGordon's enemy Ming the Merciless. [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast With a title like that]], you ''know'' he's a bad guy.
128	[[/folder]]
129
130	[[folder:Fan Works]]
131	* ''Fanfic/AllForLuz'': Unlike [[KnightTemplar Governor Maxwell, Tyler Wittebane and Emperor Belos]], [[Characters/AllForLuzAllForOne All For One]] knows he's an evil bastard and doesn't even bother pretending otherwise to Luz or anyone else.
132	* ''Fanfic/BeyondTomorrow'': Lord Komatsu, the BigBad of the second arc fits this to a T. When his daughter Arina demands to know how he could possibly cause harm to someone as pure as [[OriginalGeneration Hanyuu]], his word-for-word response is:
133	-->"Because I'm evil. Duh."
134	%%* ''Fanfic/TheCalvinverse'': Most villains, really.
135	%%** ''Fanfic/RetroChill'': Evil Calvin is a rather glaring example.%%How?
136	* ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeries'': Dr. Brainstorm is a HarmlessVillain who gleefully follows several cliche MadScientist tropes.
137	* ''Fanfic/CodePrime'':
138	** When C.C. calls Megatron "[[YouMonster a monster, a demon, and the Devil incarnate]]" after she witnesses his [[spoiler:Dark Geass]], Megatron simply asks her if she is only realizing this ''now''.
139	** Knight of Ten Luciano Bradley happily tells Cliffjumper that he joined the Britannian military so he can take people's lives, to which Cliffjumper says that at least Luciano is among the few Britannians who freely admit to being a murderous psychopath.
140	* ''Fanfic/CrownsOfTheKingdom'' has all the Disney villains, who frequently bicker with each other because of it.
141	* ''Fanfic/DanganronpaKommSusserTod'': Sasuke Akechi openly wears his title as the Ultimate Kidnapper on his sleeve, repeatedly antagonizes everyone else, and sees nothing wrong with publicly boasting about his crimes.
142	* ''Fanfic/DaughtersOfTheWickedWitch'': Fairy Tristan openly admits to being a terrible person, cheerfully agreeing with Mordred's assertion that she's a monster. In fact, she proudly claims to be the ''greatest'' monster.
143	* ''Fanfic/ADiplomaticVisit'': The fourth story, ''The Diplomat's Life'', features [[spoiler:Rabia, once he showed his true colors to Stygian, in this role. He's ''extremely'' upfront about being evil and wanting to plunge the world into eternal darkness so his people can freely wreak havoc.]]
144	* ''Fanfic/FateHaremAntics'':
145	** Avenger constantly says she is a witch who wants to see the world burn.
146	** Gunner constantly says she is a demon and a tyrant.
147	* ''Webcomic/FeralnetteAU'': [[ManipulativeBitch Lila]] is perfectly happy to team up with Hawkmoth in hopes of breaking Marinette's spirit, all because Marinette stood up to her and tried calling her out on her BlatantLies. The amount of pride and glee she takes in her cruelty ultimately bites her ''hard'' when [[spoiler:she's hit by Lady Clarity's power, exposing her [[BeneathTheMask inner self]] in the form of a phantom. Said phantom cheerfully brags about helping 'Hawkie' to everyone present, revealing her true nature]].
148	* ''Fanfic/GuysBeingDudes'': 2 out of 3 members of the Team GO Rocket trio regularly refer to themselves as "evil", say they got into the business to crush people's dreams, and that sort of thing.
149	* ''Harry Potter and the Evil Summer Vacation'': The villains and villain wannabes have a magazine called ''Evil Monthly''. Hermione mentions having read an article in it about the conference Harry had mistakenly attended that summer and when he asked her what she was doing with it, she replies [[TakeThat "I'm sure you know that both my parents are dentists."]]
150	* ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'': Justified. Satan Girl is Kara Zor-El's duplicate, her dark side's embodiment. Evil, unfettered desires and impulses is literally everything she is made of, so it's perfectly reasonable for her delighting in doing evil things or killing and destroying just because she can.
151	* ''Blog/AskErnstStavroBlofeld''[='=]s Blofeld calls himself "a soulless murderous monster" without a trace of irony.
152	* ''Fanfic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality''[='=]s Voldemort is one, which is {{Justified}} because Voldemort was actually a purposefully over-the-top alias Tom Riddle created as a disposable first draft of his future EvilOverlord persona. [[GoneHorriblyRight He overestimated Wizarding Britain's defences by far and almost took over the world as Voldemort by accident before he cut back on his attacks.]]
153	* ''Fanfic/JimmysVisitWithDrFranklin'': Ebon, After Jimmy rightfully calls Ebon a monster he replies with "I know".
154	* ''WebAnimation/JoJosBizarreAdventureOneCartoonistsDream'': At one point, DIO calls himself "bottomless evil personified."%%Then there's [[LegionOfDoom the villains' epilogue]]...%%Which is an example how?
155	* ''Fanfic/KnowledgeIsPower'':
156	** The Weasleys and Dumbledore, whose motivations are shallow at best and completely unexplored at worst.
157	** Voldemort and the Death Eaters take this to a ludicrous extreme by actually ScoringPoints based on how many captives they torture.
158	* ''Fanfic/LegolasByLaura'' features orcs who refer to themselves as "us all the bad guys".
159	* ''Fanfic/LimpetAU'': Even after everything, Vader still sees himself as an evil Sith Lord, and at one point mentions his intentions to take down the Jedi and the New Republic and re-establish the Empire if ever the opportunity arises. At least, so he claims. While trying to deny the fact that he is, in fact, spoiling his grandchildren and -- to his own disgust -- gone soft.
160	* ''Fanfic/TheLionKingAdventures'': When Nala tells Timon and Pumbaa that they are evil, Timon replies "Who cares? Evil makes the world go round".
161	* ''[[https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/a-magician-in-gotham-dc-self-insert.982177/#post-80695096 A Magician in Gotham]]'': A literal and figurative example. When [[MadScientist Hugo Strange]] finds a tarot card, specifically the Devil, in his pocket, he looks at it, says "Yes, I suppose I am," and puts it back in his pocket.
162	* ''Fanfic/MassEffectHumanRevolution'': Jules Leng almost gleefully admits to rape when Adam confronts him.
163	* ''Fanfic/MyBravePonyStarfleetMagic'': Titan introduces himself as [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Emperor of Chaos and Nightmares]], but most of the time does nothing besides [[OrcusOnHisThrone gloat on his throne]].
164	* ''Fanfic/TheNewAdventuresOfInvaderZim'':
165	** [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Norlock]] openly identifies as evil.
166	** [[AlwaysChaoticEvil Irkens]], with the possible exception of Skoodge, all seem to have an overtly villainous mindset.
167	* ''Fanfic/OjamajoDoremiRiseOfTheShadows'': All of the villains know they're evil and revel in it. Special mention goes to ''Evil'' Rin, if her name is anything to go by...
168	* ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'':
169	** [[spoiler:Diamond Tiara]] becomes a dead serious and depressing example after [[spoiler:being DrivenToMadness and turned into a [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Nightmare]] by Discord.]] The serious part comes from the fact she [[spoiler:is convinced she was ''made'' to be a monster that causes misery and pain, and that's ''all'' she can ever hope to be, [[DespairEventHorizon so she doesn't anymore.]]]]
170	** Discord is another example. He outright calls himself a 'sadistic hedonist' and has no delusions about the fact he's an evil monster, but in his case, the reason he's this trope is it's easier to justify his actions if he's completely evil and cannot be anything else. IE, he shouldn't feel bad for his misdeeds because he can't be anything else, so why should he? It's shown that the idea he might have any good in him and is thus redeemable ''[[HopeIsScary scares him to death]]'' to the point [[spoiler:being reminded of his SplitPersonality Dissy, who was a genuinely good person and loved their mother Shady]] is almost certain to trigger a FreakOut.
171	** There is also Chrysalis, who at one point states that she's "much worse than a devil". Decidedly ''not'' played for laughs: Chrysalis is this trope because she's a {{Sociopath}} and SocialDarwinist who genuinely believes her sociopathy is completely ''natural''. [[spoiler:This backfires when the Elements [[VillainousBSOD give her a heart]] and she becomes capable of ''caring'' about how awful her actions were.]]
172	** Hydia and her clan from G1 exist in this universe and still have this trope, but it's played a bit more seriously this time around due the series knack for AdaptationalBadass, though not to the point of total CerebusRetcon. However, one dead serious example in their family is [[spoiler:Lilith, the First Witch, who presumably ''inspired'' their entire worldview]] because she's [[spoiler:MadeOfEvil by this point and has enough might to destroy the entire world if she had the chance. In fact, her evil is so black that her power being sucked into the Alicorn Amulet is what corrupted it into the ArtifactOfDoom it is now.]]
173	* ''Fanfic/QueenOfAllOni'': Jade, after her FaceHeelTurn, openly identifies as being evil, as does practically every other villainous character.
174	* ''Fanfic/RomansEmpire'' is a story about organized crime, so most of the main characters won't deny that they're not good people. However, two examples stand out.
175	** [[VillainProtagonist Roman Torchwick]] is proud to be a mobster and even states his aspirations to become the top mob boss in Vale. He doesn't even hide the fact that he's a bad guy. In fact, he'll be proud of it.
176	** [[TheDon Violet Kincaid]], Roman's mentor, is a shamelessly cruel woman. She's a subtler example than Roman, but it's clear that she is proud of her villainy and never even tries to paint herself as victim or a good guy.
177	* ''Fanfic/TeamLVDR'': Indus is a dark example. He's a faunus trafficker, and he enjoys every second of it.
178	* ''[[http://bigelow34.proboards.com/board/164/territory-wars-24-7 Territory Wars]]'' has Wrestling/GailKim come into Wrestling/RingOfHonor to "save" it but later announces her real plan [[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs to oppress everyone who works for it as a dictator]] after [[VillainTeamUp hiring the International Home Wrecking Crew and Anti-Diva Army to help her in this task]] (though her "minions" are merely {{punch clock villain}}s). Wrestling/{{Madusa}} also becomes one, with shades of TheSocialDarwinist. [[Wrestling/KatarinaWaters Winter]], who usually does have this [[TheGimmick gimmick]], [[CrackFic instead]] is a {{well intentioned extremist}} who truly does want to save the company, though still isn't a {{face}}. Wrestling/{{Kane}} is a face despite possibly [[TokenEvilTeammate playing it the straightest]].
179	* ''Fanfic/HTFTheStranger'', a ''WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends'' fanfic, has the MadScientist BigBad scam innocent people into [[FateWorseThanDeath trapping them in a virtual reality where he has total control, forcing them to die over and over]]. He openly admits to the protagonist that he is SickAndWrong, but all he wanted was to [[GodhoodSeeker fulfill his dream of playing God]], and he doesn't believe he brought any harm to his captives since their memories are frequently reset.
180	%%* ''Fanfic/TwilightSparklesAwesomeAdventure'': Queen Celestia.
181	* ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/series/2170677 The Zero Context Series]]'': The Brotherhood's top brass are card-carriers by and large, being antagonists for antagonism's sake.
182	** The organization's leader-by-proxy, Missy Coco, sees nothing wrong with blasting sailor fuku-adorned people just for kicks. When Callista was contemplating what to do with Bahija for stalking her, Missy advocated straight-up killing her. Her outlook is justified, given that she's a clone of Callista's darker traits with little in the way of morality to balance it out.
183	** Bahija herself is a former intergalactic warlord named Acutus, who is entirely unapologetic for committing mass murder in the name of conquest, being a complete nymphomaniac, and forcing people to serve her against their will. It is implied that at the height of her power there were few lines she wasn't willing to cross. When called out on her behavior, she just smiles and daydreams about Callista.
184	[[/folder]]
185
186	[[folder:Music]]
187	* [[Music/BlueOysterCult "I'm makin' a career of evil..."]]
188	* Danish metal band Evil only released one EP, but half the tracks on there fit this trope perfectly: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fOy3n-MHAI their namesake track]] and[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNtQ4k96Vjc "Son of the Bitch."]]
189	* George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone" is a song sung from the point of view of someone who ''really'' likes being bad. (And is often played in movies when actual Card-Carrying Villains appear.)
190	* Creator/DenisLeary's song "Asshole" describes someone who delights in making other people miserable, and proudly proclaims himself to be the "world's biggest asshole". He does such things as driving really slowly in the ultra-fast lane, and intentionally parking in spots for handicapped people when said people need the parking spots.
191	* The Diamond Head song "Am I Evil?". The answer is, unsurprisingly, "Yes I am!".
192	* Music/{{Eminem}}'s Slim Shady character uses "Evil" as one of his pseudonyms, often brags about how twisted and perverted he is, claims he's here to [[AntiRoleModel corrupt your kids]], declares himself a criminal, and describes himself like this:
193	-->You can't miss me: I'm white, blonde-haired, and my nose is pointy.\
194	I'm the bad guy who makes fun of people that die\
195	in plane crashes and laughs, as long as it ain't happenin' to him
196	* The narrator of Music/TheFurnacesOfPalingenesia is fully aware how [[ChaosIsEvil chaotic]] and [[InsaneTrollLogic insane]] the fascist regime [[MouthOfSauron he works for]] is.
197	--> You will be made to deny the dissonance and conflict that is at the heart of the experience of our World. You shall join the chorus of praise that flows from the absolute perfection we have created by the sole power of our will. We shall bleed you white, but you will think that it is an act of unconditional love.
198	* ''Music/{{Gloryhammer}}'''s albums feature the recurring villain Zargothrax, [[TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard Bane of Cowdenbeath, Scourge of Auchtermuchty, Arch-foe of the Questlords of Inverness, Master of Nightmares, Keeper of the Celestial Flame of Abernathy, Wielder of the Vorpal Laserblaster of Pittenweem, Wizard-King, Chaos Incarnate, Binary Thaumaturge]]. While he's never referred to by all these titles in the same song, he does hold them all by the end of the fourth album.
199	* Quasi-subversion: the ''Something Wicked'' two-part ConceptAlbum by Music/IcedEarth deals with the AncientConspiracy of the Setian race. The Setians are {{AntiVillain}}s with a detailed StartOfDarkness and a reasonable motivation for wanting to destroy mankind...but they still, consistently and repeatedly, refer to themselves as "Wicked".
200	* Many songs from the point of view of a serial killer. For example, "The Ripper" by Music/JudasPriest.
201	* Music/{{Voltaire}}'s song "When You're Evil" is a song about a guy who admits how much he loves being evil...or possibly actually ''is'' evil itself, as the speaker/singer says "The Devil tips his hat to me."
202	* Music/{{NWA}}'s MC Ren.
203	%%context, anyone? I don't know the source material.
204	* The narrators of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1kbH1QEmkU "Mr. Bad Example"]] by Music/WarrenZevon and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fELrliuqZvM "The Future"]] by Music/LeonardCohen.
205	* Uncle Ernie from Music/TheWho's ''Music/{{Tommy}}'': "I'm your wicked Uncle Ernie..."
206	** Same with Cousin Kevin: "I'm the school bully/The classroom cheat/The nastiest play-friend you ever could meet..."
207	* ''Music/KidsPraise'': Risky Rat's VillainSong cements his status this way: he describes himself as a conman, a spiritual gangster, and he's clearly proud of it!
208	[[/folder]]
209	[[folder:Mythology and Religion]]
210	* {{Satan}} is often depicted in this manner. In the Bible at least, he comes off more like a KnightTemplar. Orthodox Christianity states that it is because he envies and hates them, trying to paint them in the worst light vis-a-vis God.
211	* In Zurvanism, a heretical branch of Usefulnotes/{{Zoroastrianism}}, this is what [[TheAntiGod Ahriman]] has to say after being born:
212	-->"It is not that I cannot create anything good, but that I will not."
213	** He pretty much chose to be evil by default, '' out of the blue''.
214	[[/folder]]
215
216	[[folder:Pinball]]
217	* In ''Pinball/PopeyeSavesTheEarth'', Bluto is a proud and unrepentant planet-destroying polluter.
218	* As in the source material, Dr. Evil from ''Pinball/AustinPowers'' plays this straight.
219	[[/folder]]
220
221	[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
222	* [[Wrestling/RicFlair Ric "The Dirtiest Player in The Game" Flair]]. There was really no difference between [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor his heel and face personas]]: he'd low-blow and cheap shot heel and face alike and tell you beforehand he would.
223	* [[Wrestling/ScottHall Razor Ramon]] - "Say hello to the bad guy" as a play on the [[Film/{{Scarface 1983}} Tony Montana]] line.
224	* Wrestling/TheUndertaker, when giving his MotiveRant upon one of his heel turns, said, "And I know that some of you are wondering how it is that I can join forces with such an evil, despicable, maniacal individual [as Wrestling/PaulBearer]...well, if that isn't reason enough all by itself then I don't guess I can explain it to you folks any better!" He would go around calling himself The Lord of Darkness and saying things like, "Embrace the purity of evil," leading to the official debut of the Wrestling/MinistryOfDarkness (UT, Paul, Wrestling/{{The A\|PA}}colytes), with Dennis Knight being "sacrificed" and renamed Mideon, on the January 11, 1999 ''Raw.''
225	* Wrestling/EddieGuerrero (along with nephew Wrestling/{{Chavo\| Guerrero Jr}} as a TagTeam) was pushed as a heel in 2003 as someone who would always "lie, cheat and steal" his way to victory. It backfired, as fans grew to ''like'' the fact that Eddie was honest about his dishonesty (and because it made him look smarter than his foes).
226	* Tasha Simone at points has given "The Darker Side Of Evil" as her hometown.
227	* Wrestling/{{Kane}} makes no effort to hide the fact that he's evil. It's in his intro video.
228	* Kaientai (Wrestling/TAKAMichinoku and SHO Funaki). Whilst [[HongKongDub clearly speaking Japanese but being dubbed into English over the mic with no regard to what he was actually saying]], Michinoku would make an amusing speech that always ended with "[[PunctuatedForEmphasis We. Are. EEEEEVVVVILLL]]" and Funaki would make a long speech that was translated "[[LargeHam INNNDEEEEEEEEED]]". Of course, they were huge {{face}}s and didn't favour cheap tactics.
229	* Wrestling/WilliamRegal actually has the word "Villain" written on his tights. More to the point; ''Villain'' is the name of his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILWzrItgn70 Ring Entrance Music.]]
230	* Crazy Rudy and Bandido, starting in WWC. The name of their tag team was "[[GratuitousEnglish Bad Guys]]" even.
231	* Team PMA, made up of Malia Hosaka, Syren and their referee, Evil Zebra. Hosaka also proved EEEEEVVVVILLL enough to briefly join TAKA Michinoku and Funaki.
232	* Wrestling/ProWrestlingZero1 had, among others, the Real Evil Makers, REM.
233	* Wrestling/{{Chikara}}'s resident super villain, Wrestling/UltramantisBlack. He used to be a good guy but that got tiring.
234	* Wrestling/CMPunk will never deny how much of a jackass he is, or can be, to the point that he was extremely proud to be the recipient of "Dick Move of the Year" for [[ItMakesSenseInContext singing "Happy Birthday"]] to Wrestling/{{Rey Mysterio\|Jr}}'s daughter.
235	* To bring Suffering, Chaos, Ugliness and Mayhem to Wrestling/RingOfHonor. Such was the mission of S.C.U.M.
236	* April Hunter would like to inform you "her" {{tag team}} of Taylor Made and Wrestling/AllysinKay, Made In Sin, is not a play on their names but what they are! They embody the {{seven deadly\| sins}}, and will teach you the eighth.
237	* More along the lines of card carrying {{jerk ass}}, but El Rudo De Los Rudos Axel Cruz fits otherwise, even though he's [[NiceIsNotGood surprisingly friendly]].
238	* Act Yasukawa of Wrestling/WorldWonderRingSTARDOM self identifies as "Evil Actress Soul".
239	* The [[TeensAreMonsters monstrous teens]] of UCW Zero, Team Bad
240	* Wrestling/{{E\|C3}}than Carter The Third in [[Wrestling/ImpactWrestling TNA]] openly admits to being a bad guy, because as he says, bad guys win in real life.
241	* In 2015, Takaaki Watanbe changed his name to King of Darkness Wrestling/{{EVIL\|Wrestler}}.
242	* "The Villain" Wrestling/MartyScurll of Wrestling/{{Progress Wrestling}}, you've got to be one of these for that to be your nickname.
243	* Wrestling/TaelerHendrix as her ROH career went on. She released a video for the fans explaining how good vs evil was the greatest story ever told, how it must never come to an end, and how she would be doing everything she could to let them see good fail as many times as possible, encouraging them all to embrace their inner villains.
244	* In Wrestling/AllJapanWomensProWrestling, Wrestling/DumpMatsumoto's faction was named the "Atrocious Alliance". They were the most over heels in the history of the promotion, mainly because they were [[JapaneseDelinquents the kind of bullies]] the target audience of schoolgirls were likely to have to deal with in real life.
245	* [[Wrestling/{{MJF}} Maxwell Jacob Friedman]] calls himself the Salt of the Earth.
246	[[/folder]]
247
248	[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
249	* ''Series/KingdomAdventure'': [[VileVillainLaughableLackey Dagger]] routinely refers to Zordock as "Your Evilness", and Zordock doesn't mind that title: if he ''did'', Zordock would've certainly used his AgonyBeam magic on Dagger for calling him that!
250	* ''Series/SpittingImage'''s song "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CqdrbWVg_M I've Never Met A Nice South African]]" -- written during UsefulNotes/TheApartheidEra -- features a chorus of {{Amoral Afrikaner}}s who [[VillainSong gleefully boast about how rotten they are]]. When they bring up [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breyten_Breytenbach Breyten Breytenbach]], who was imprisoned for opposing apartheid and who spent the rest of his time in UsefulNotes/{{Paris}} until apartheid ended, they concede: "Yes, ''he's'' quite a nice South African/ And he's hardly ever killed anyone/ And he's not smelly at all!/ That's why we put him in prison."
251	* ''Series/TalesOfTheTinkerdee'': Taminella refers to herself as "The Witchiest Witch of them all!" and seems proud to have no scruples.
252	* [[Creator/JeffDunham Achmed the Dead Terrorist]] boasts about being a suicide bomber and wanting to kill people. ("[[IllKillYou I KEEL YOU!]]") The problem is that he's not good at it; in fact, he's dead because he botched his one and only attempt. He now just comes across as an LaughablyEvil HarmlessVillain.
253	[[/folder]]
254
255	[[folder:Radio]]
256	* The ironically named Mr. Gently Benevolent in the [[Creator/CharlesDickens Dickens]] parody ''Radio/BleakExpectations''; "Every day, I take two evil pills and some naughtiness supplements". Also, the less ironically named Hardthrashers and their cousins, the Sternbeaters, Whackwallops, and Grimpunches.
257	* Lord Darkness in ''Radio/ElvenQuest'', an aspiring EvilOverlord who openly champions the Forces of Evil against the Forces of Good.
258	* Slocum in ''Radio/RidersRadioTheater'' even has his own song "Someone's got to do it" that explains he's evil because ''somebody'' has to be, and he loves his job.
259	* ''Radio/ThatGoshDarnHippieShow'': As opposed to [[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS3E73ItsAGoodLife the character he’s parodying]], who seems mostly oblivious to how his actions affects other people, Anthony is all too aware of the terror he induces in others and just enjoys being evil for the sake of it.
260	[[/folder]]
261
262	[[folder:Rides]]
263	* In their VillainSong the ''Ride/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' devote at least four sentences in the lyrics into characteristing themselves as rascals, scoundrels, villans, knavesdevils, black sheep, really bad eggs, blighters, and ne'er-do-well cads. The rest of the song is devoted to their misdeeds.
264	[[/folder]]
265
266	[[folder:Roleplay]]
267	* ''Roleplay/DawnOfANewAgeOldportBlues'':
268	** While Simon is a moody but morally decent young man, his alter ego- the Dark Dragon- revels in being as openly, bombastically villainous as he can manage.
269	** Daigo, as a result of being told all his life that he was 'evil' and 'wicked', has come to [[AppropriatedAppellation embrace the terms]], and created his gang of outcasts specifically because he thought that society had given them no other option besides being evil.
270	* Multiple organization and individuals in ''Roleplay/DiscordPlaysStellaris'' don't bother justifying their nefarious actions with any kind of ideology and admit to being [[DespotismJustifiesTheMeans only out for power.]] The most prominent examples are Chancellor Ela Maxima, who confessed to having enjoyed organizing coups and the Evil Corp, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin which name tells you everything you need to know.]]
271	[[/folder]]
272
273	[[folder:Sports]]
274	* Thoroughly embraced by Floyd Mayweather Jr., who actively and gleefully seizes the black hat in the build-up to any of his big fights.
275	* During the 80s, the Miami Hurricanes reveled in being the college football team America cheered against.
276	[[/folder]]
277
278	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
279	* "Evil" is one end of one of the two [[CharacterAlignment alignment]] axes in the [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons AD&D]] ruleset. Most Evil characters recognize this. Not to mention how they are ''penalized'' if they ''don't'' act evil.
280	** 3rd Edition ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' tossed out the penalties, but there are still races that are simply [[AlwaysChaoticEvil unable to act otherwise]].
281	** 4th Edition tossed out the second dimension of alignment. The law-chaos scale determining another portion of one's mindset is gone, so now alignment is simply determining just ''how'' good or evil you are.
282	** 5th Edition [[DownplayedTrope downplays]] this. There is no spell to determine what someone's alignment is (the spell ''detect evil and good'' still exists, but it detects creatures based on their type rather than their alignment), and there's no particular penalty for acting contrary to your alignment, only any formal moral codes you might have. Evil people are generally implied to be very selfish rather than reveling in being evil in the Backgrounds as well. The AlwaysChaoticEvil races are also said to have members who buck the trend and are usually given explanations for their behavior (aboleths, for example, are all actually the same LawfulEvil creatures who oppressed the world in TheDarkTimes-they reform in the Plane of Water if killed). However, there are occasional slip-ups. For instance, the Talisman of Ultimate Evil grant in-game powers if your alignment's eeeeeevil. Theoretically, this would mean anyone that uses the talisman should instantly suffer a HeelRealization, rather than become a CardCarryingVillain...[[FridgeLogic but how does an]] InUniverse [[FridgeLogic piece of jewelry measure your evil-ness? If there is an evil to be measured, where does that mean for]] [[CardCarryingVillain Card Carrying Villains]]?
283	*** [[FridgeBrilliance Perhaps the reason it's called that]] is because once you realize it works for you, that means you're evil. [[IgnoredEpiphany You chose to keep on being so]] in full knowledge you are objectively a terrible person. [[EvilFeelsGood You just don't care.]]
284	** 2nd Edition's concept of alignment was often deeply stupid (for example, it was outright stated that a TrueNeutral character torn between a Good hero and a puppy-kicking Evil villain should [[StupidNeutral choose randomly]]). However, it did specify that Detect Evil detects evil ''intentions'', someone actually intending to do you harm, rather than [[VillainsOutShopping an evil person going about their daily life]].
285	** It is worth noting that in many settings some entities are MadeOfEvil and are thus obviously aware of their evil status. A Devil or Demon is not evil because of personal morality or decisions they have made, but because that's just what they are. There are some instances of them becoming "good", but they're generally ''still'' considered evil for all mechanical purposes.
286	* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' gives us the Infernal Exalted; while they aren't AlwaysChaoticEvil, the cards are stacked against them. For one thing, if they go against the will of their [[TheLegionsOfHell Yozi]] masters, they accrue Torment, which can backlash and affect mortals in nasty ways. The only way to bleed off torment is to engage in Acts of Villainy -- stick your foes in death traps, force an innocent into an arranged marriage, monologue at your archnemesis, etc. This is what happens when the guy behind the plan is ''the cosmic embodiment of douchebaggery''. Mind you, it's doesn't say ''who'' you have to perform some of those Acts of Villainy on...
287	** Also a subversion in that any given Infernal's [[EvilPlan dastardly evil scheme]] could be "make creation into a utopia" and their [[PokeThePoodle Acts of Villainy]] [[GoodFeelsGood don't even have to be evil]]. All that matters is that they ''act'' like a CardCarryingVillain.
288	** And then there's the whole reason they're like that -- the Ebon Dragon had an active hand in their creation. Each of the Primordials represents a principle of Creation, and the Ebon Dragon once represented betrayal. Every thing he does is based around screwing someone over, even if it screws him as well.
289	* The Devil-Tiger Dharma of ''TabletopGame/KindredOfTheEast'' combines card-carrying villainy with punch-clock villainy. The path to enlightenment the Devil-Tigers walk expects them to be magnificent devils, both in the wickedness they perform and the punishments they deliver to sinners - even devils have their place in existence, after all, and that place is the punishment of evil. The Devil-Tigers throw themselves into the role wholeheartedly, devoting themselves to its pursuit.
290	* Volrath from ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' was just absurdly over-the-top in how eeeeeevil he was. ''"I once had a race killed just to listen to the rattling of their dried bones as I waded through them."'' To be fair, he was R&D's first real attempt at creating a BigBad, and, as it turned out, he was TheDragon to someone just as evil but with no bloody time or inclination for theatrics.
291	** They subsequently created a new variant for casual play called Archenemy, a one-vs.-many game where, by dint of being the BigBad of the game, the outnumbered player gets a number of benefits, including use of a "scheme" deck, a set of cards (that actually have the type Scheme) maintained separately from the library that give special benefits (usually for free) once per turn. (The idea is that the Archenemy is such a threat that other Planeswalkers have put aside differences and banded together to stop him.) The kicker is that each Scheme has a grandiose title (usually accompanying an equally devastating effect), often degenerating into card-carrying villainy, and some darkly appropriate flavor text. For example, Behold The Power Of Destruction destroys all nonland permanents target player controls. The flavor text?
292	--->''I'd call that a successful first test. Golem! Rearm the [[DoomyDoomsOfDoom Doom Citadel]]!''
293	* Certain Imperators (and possibly their associated Powers) in ''TabletopGame/{{Nobilis}}'' will be like this, with Devils and Magisters of the Dark being the most obviously villain looking and acting (although Third Edition made this a bit more complicated; Devils are motivated by compassion for all things, especially ugly and corrupt things that have nobody else to love them, and are affected by that depth of affection, and Magisters of the Dark champion absolute freedom, especially the freedom to act against your best interests and destroy yourself). Of all Imperators though, the clearest example is Lord Entropy, the Darkest Lord, who wants to be feared by everybody and hates love to the extent that he made a law against it just to have something he could punish everybody for.
294	* Chaos and the Dark Eldar in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' take delight in being on the extreme wrong side of the MoralEventHorizon. Considering the latter group ''lives'' off of {{Squick}} taken to the point of nightmarish, this is perhaps understandable. A quote from the nearest thing they have to a leader: "Death is my meat, terror my wine."
295	[[/folder]]
296
297	[[folder:Theatre]]
298	* Jonathon from ''Theatre/ArsenicAndOldLace''. His "similarity" to Creator/BorisKarloff (constantly played for laughs as in Broadway production he was played by Boris Karloff) marks him as ObviouslyEvil. He even [[spoiler: attempts to kill his own brother]] just so he can top his aunts' {{Mercy Kill}}s.
299	* Mordred of ''Theatre/{{Camelot}}'' is so ObviouslyEvil he might as well have a Dick Dastardly mustache. Not only is he openly proud of being the bastard (in more ways than one) son of Arthur and Morgana, he actually has a VillainSong where he outright rejects all of the virtues Arthur lives by. To be fair, Lancelot isn't always the most sympathetic character, so having the villain wear a "Hello my name is Asshole" badge may be [[JustifiedTrope called for.]]
300	* Played with, even subverted, in ''Theatre/CesareIlCreatoreCheHaDistrutto'' -- in the prologue, [[UsefulNotes/PopeAlexanderVI Rodrigo Borgia]] hears the way people talk about him ("He walks around the Vatican like he owns the place! That unrefined jerk from Spain is making the church rot!" and replies that he doesn't care what people say, he'll do whatever it takes to become pope. He then says that his children must work for his advancement, and gives an EvilLaugh, after which his son Cesare, the protagonist, says "My father is a monster". However, after that, we don't see Rodrigo doing anything monstrous, besides the same political scheming as everyone else, and loving his illegitimate children too much -- he wants to grow his own power so that he can pass it on to Cesare, [[ParentalLoveSong he says]]. The play counteracts the family's general HistoricalVillainUpgrade, as [[UsefulNotes/PopeJuliusII his rival]] is the one sending assassins after the 16-year-old Cesare and getting his classmates killed.
301	* ''Theatre/DoctorFaustus'' insists that he's evil beyond redemption.
302	* Mr. Lethe from ''Theatre/JasperInDeadland'' takes utmost pride in being an awful person, and has seeded the living world with his drugs for years.
303	* ''Theatre/NerdyPrudesMustDie'': Max is completely open about and comfortable with the fact that he's a JerkJock who lives to torment other students, and spends his introductory song relishing in his status as TheDreaded of Hatchetfield High.
304	-->''I roar, and you cry!''\
305	''I'm the reason you run and hide!''
306	* ''Theatre/NoExit'': Ines, unlike the other two {{Villain Protagonist}}s, is well-aware of and open about the fact that she is an evil person who deserves to be damned.
307	* Captain Hook in ''Theatre/{{Peter Pan\|1904}}'' and subsequent productions is proud of being, in his own words the sleaziest sleaze of the seven seas.
308	* In ''Theatre/PokemonLive'', the entirety of Team Rocket is devoted to world conquest in the name of evil, including Giovanni, who boasts of his evilness in a villain song.
309	* In ''Theatre/SonicLiveInSydney'', Robotnik is proud of being big, bad, and mean, as detailed in his villain song.
310	* [[spoiler:Junior]] in ''Theatre/{{Starship}}'' is a third generation villain and proud of it, even having a line in his VillainSong claiming that he's "evil and bad to the bone!" His rampage against the bugs is entirely ForTheEvulz.
311	* Many Creator/WilliamShakespeare villains were motivated simply by wanting to be a villain:
312	** Most famously, ''Theatre/RichardIII'', who notes "I am determined to prove a villain." To be sure, the root meaning of "villain" is "villein, serf" -- and just as "noble" or "gentleman" became a term of praise, so it became an insult, starting with meaning unchivalrous and crude. In Shakespeare's time, it still carried some of the connotations. So it could be interpreted as, "If everyone thinks I'm just a common thug, by golly [[ThenLetMeBeEvil I'll show them how scary a thug I can be]]". Interpret that thought how you will. (Creator/CSLewis discusses the term at length in ''Studies In Words''.)
313	** Lady ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'' is at one point in the play shown praying for demons to remove any capacity to do good from her body.
314	** Don John in ''Theatre/MuchAdoAboutNothing'', counseled to act nice to remain in the Prince's good books, retorts that he's always believed in being true to your nature. Since his nature is that of a villain, he's going to go ahead and ''be'' one, rather than pretend not to be -- even if it's counter to his best interests.
315	*** And, of course, in case you have any doubts about that true nature, he's also a [[ValuesDissonance bastard]]. Being born out of wedlock makes you inherently a jerk.
316	*** The Elizabethans would have regarded an illegitimate-born person as a stereotypical villain. But in this case it's also [[JustifiedTrope justified]]. Don John is jealous because he will never have the status and wealth of his brother Don Pedro - because unlike his brother, Don John was born outside of wedlock.
317	** Iago continually changes his reasoning for his actions in ''Theatre/{{Othello}}''. Originally, it was out of jealousy because he was passed over for promotion; however, he eventually abandons not only this justification, but ''all'' possible rationalizations. He is identified simply as a "Villaine" in the list of characters in the first folio, and Creator/SamuelTaylorColeridge famously noted his "motiveless malignity". Iago himself, when questioned on his motivation, simply refuses to explain anything...though there are those who [[EpilepticTrees attribute his actions]] to [[HoYay less incomprehensible motives]].
318	*** Or there's the possibility that he's simply jealous of ''anyone'' who has anything good that he doesn't and fucks with Cassio, Desdemona, and Othello accordingly.
319	*** Then again, in the play he says it is "thought abroad that twixt my sheets/He's done my office," when referring to Othello. In other words, it's rumored Othello and Emilia are themselves making the beast with two backs.
320	*** The "Othello/Emilia" interpretation is certainly the motive most commonly cited, though as stated above, it's not the ''only'' reason he gives, it's just the first. If you don't count his general racist hatred towards Othello prior to that. Really no matter which way you look at it, Iago's motive could be any of the potential four explicitly stated in the play or something completely different...but the most likely is [[ForTheEvulz nothing at all,]] which ultimately makes him have the bizarre combination of playing this trope straight, [[AvertedTrope averting it]], [[SubvertedTrope subverting it]], or [[ZigzaggedTrope zigzagging it]] ''simultaneously''.
321	** Aaron in ''Theatre/TitusAndronicus'' states outright that all he wants to do with his life is to be evil; the only reason he aids the play's antagonist instead of working against her is because it gives him a chance to do very evil, uncouth things. His last line in the play is:
322	--->'''Aaron:''' If one good deed in all my life I did, \
323	I do repent it from my very soul.
324	*** [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation Modern interpretations]], including Julie Taymor's [[ThisIsYourPremiseOnDrugs memorable version]], sometimes have his actions as [[FreudianExcuse payback for the way he is treated]], and add a PetTheDog moment or two.
325	[[/folder]]
326
327	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
328	* ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}:''
329	** The series' BigBad Monokuma/[[spoiler:Junko Enoshima]] specifically spreads despair and hosts the killing games ''aware'' that despair itself is a bad thing. [[spoiler:Junko's {{Motive Rant}}s during the final trial of the first and second game confirm as much that she knows what she's doing is bad, and she [[TheHedonist yearns for the satisfaction]] of despair ''precisely'' for how unpredictable it is.]]
330	** ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'': Downplayed with Celestia Ludenberg. Gambling is illegal in Japan, so attending Hope's Peak as the Ultimate Gambler means declaring herself a criminal. And while gambling probably one of the ''least'' severe crimes that Hope's Peak students regularly get away with (Fuyuhiko's part of the Yakuza, Nagito bombed the school, Mondo leads an outlaw biker gang etc.), Celestia likes to lean into the 'criminal underworld' angle of gambling in Japan by calling herself the Queen of Liars and priding herself on her ruthlessness and deception.
331	** ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'': Gundham Tanaka, the Ultimate Animal Breeder, is a {{Chuunibyou}} to the extreme, [[LargeHam loudly proclaiming]] himself to be an evil warlock who will one day use his peerless dark sorcery to conquer the world, and insisting that his four adorable hamsters [[DeathbringerTheAdorable are actually his terrifying evil minions]]. [[spoiler:Underneath it all, though, he's actually a nice guy. While he does commit murder, he does it for selfless reasons (everybody was trapped in a funhouse with no food until a murder occurred), and while he does try to avoid getting caught (and would have very likely done so if not for a SpannerInTheWorks), he admits his guilt pretty much the moment suspicion falls on him. His victim was also his consenting opponent in a DuelToTheDeath, who recognized that he just wanted to save everyone from starvation and shared that desire, making it more of a SuicidePact than an actual murder]].
332	** ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony'': Kokichi Oma, the Ultimate Supreme Leader (or so he claims), claims to be the boss of a NebulousEvilOrganization with sights set on world domination (essentially the Bond movie villain to Gundham's fantasy anime villain). However, he's a self-admitted ConsummateLiar and a massive {{Troll}} who screws with everybody pretty much 24/7, so everyone assumes this is just another one of his lies. [[spoiler: Unlike Gundham, he actually is as depraved as he claims, [[{{Sadist}} getting pleasure from his classmates' suffering]] and had orchestrated, directly or indirectly, most of the deaths in the killing game. Despite this, he is shown to dislike being forced to participate in the game and controlled by the mastermind, which leads to him blackmailing another student into murdering him. He masterminded his own death with the goal of making it [[PerfectCrime so utterly unsolvable that not even]] ''[[PerfectCrime Monokuma]]'' [[PerfectCrime would be able to figure it out]], hoping that this would cause him to end the killing game prematurely. However, his status as a nefarious criminal organisation's leader is more of an exaggeration. He ''is'' the boss of an organization of sorts, but it's just him and his ten {{Mooks}} who go around in clown masks committing nonviolent petty crimes and pulling harmless pranks [[ItAmusedMe for the lulz]], and have [[ThouShaltNotKill an explicit rule against killing]]. His actions in the game put what exactly he considers "harmless pranks" under question, though, especially considering that he pretends to ''rape'' Shuichi as a joke in his Love Hotel scene]].
333	[[/folder]]
334
335	[[folder:Web Animation]]
336	* ''WebAnimation/{{Grej}}'': Darwinist has no problem with people calling him evil, and doesn't do much to hide it, even admitting to being the "Evilest motherfucker you'll ever meet"...
337	* Carl from ''WebAnimation/LlamasWithHats''. He admits to being a "dangerous sociopath with a long history of violence". When his roommate Paul tells him that his meat dragon looks terrifying, he responds with "Thank you".
338	-->'''Paul''': All you do is kill people, Carl!\
339	'''Carl''': [[InsultBackfire That's like saying all Mozart did was write songs.]]
340	* ''WebAnimation/TheMostEpicStoryEverToldInAllOfHumanHistory'': Ridiculously Epic refers to himself as “evil” several times during “Ten Steps to Saving the World that Totally Won’t Work”, and has “evil” written across his skateboard during “The Most Epically Inspirational Sports Movie Ever”.
341	* Mercury in ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', unlike the rest of the villains, is not personally invested in Salem's plans and has fun trying to crush the protagonists emotionally. When Emerald asks why he joined Salem, his response is that 'it was meant to be'. However, [[spoiler:Tyrian deconstructs this, stating because Mercury grew up badly abused, he is now too afraid to walk away from his life of pain and violence]].
342	* The ''WebAnimation/RWBYChibi'' version of Cinder Fall is a complete 180 of her normal counterpart, using EvilLaughter, enjoying the idea of killing kittens and using copious amounts of MostDefinitelyNotAVillain. The Chibi version of Roman Torchwick is similarly proud of his villainous ways, and boasts about his [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain skills]] as a criminal to Neo on various occasions.
343	* ''WebAnimation/TerribleWritingAdvice'': JP portrays himself as one. In "Traditional vs. Self-Publishing", when Inner Critic tries to explain to him what justified text alignment is, JP [[ComicallyMissingThePoint confuses it with the alignment system from]] ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and replies "Well, I'm really somewhere between ChaoticNeutral and NeutralEvil on the alignment chart".
344	* The Auditor from ''WebAnimation/MadnessCombat'' seems to be fully aware of his role as the BigBad, as his chat handle is [=BIGBADAUD999=].
345	* In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teNODnJTVHw this]] ''Platform/GoAnimate'' video, after Boris gives WesternAnimation/{{Caillou}} white torture, he calls him a psychopath. [[InsultBackfire Boris agrees]], and goes on to admit to being a serial killer, a child abuser, and a criminal mastermind.
346	[[/folder]]

Context Main / CardCarryingVillain