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| 2 | %% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=17037130410.72939000 |
| 3 | %% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread. |
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| 5 | [[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/EvilGenius2 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1000007210.jpg]]]] |
| 6 | %% |
| 7 | ->'''Spinnerette:''' Dr. Universe, wait! At least tell me something! You were a respected scientist, your work on the Cherenkovkirby Reactor was going to benefit all of mankind! Why would you turn into a supervillain? ''WHY?!''\ |
| 8 | '''Dr. Universe:''' I read an Creator/AynRand novel. |
| 9 | -->-- ''Webcomic/{{Spinnerette}}'' |
| 10 | |
| 11 | An Evil Genius is a villainous archetype that adds generous helpings of {{Intelligence|Tropes}} to a base of misdeeds and objectionable morals. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | Pretty straightforward, right? Well, this fellow's plans are probably not so much; because the Evil Genius is likely to be the brains behind the EvilPlan. Wanna build a WaveMotionGun? Ship nukes to a country? Resurrect/repair the LostSuperWeapon? Get a PoweredArmor? Don't know how to use a MacGuffin? The Evil Genius is your answer. You can bet they are [[TheStrategist a planner of some sort]], [[BringingInTheExpert a specialist in a particular field, a fixer of some variety]], [[MasterOfAll or a combination of the above]]. No matter what, this villain's forte is their intellect. Therefore making them the ScienceHero's EvilCounterpart. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | It must be noted this doesn't always translate into political savviness, business acumen, or leadership abilities; which rely more on street smarts, social skills, or charisma. Their chances of being {{Badass Bookworm}}s are likewise fairly low but not entirely rare. Anyway, when the Evil Genius's more developed trait is intelligence, it's not rare for them to realize being TheCreon is a lot [[KlingonPromotion more secure and less stressful than being the top dog]]. Which also makes them a manifestation of BrainsVersusBrawn. |
| 16 | |
| 17 | If they are the BigBad, then it's usually a case of WeakBossStrongUnderlings or NonActionBigBad. And, if they do reunite other traits to complement their intelligence, then you have a [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]], a ManipulativeBastard, or a DiabolicalMastermind. On the other side of the coin, when much lower in the hierarchy, their effectiveness decreases accordingly. If in a team, either a BigBadDuumvirate or a QuirkyMinibossSquad, they fit the role of TheSmartGuy. |
| 18 | |
| 19 | The Evil Genius's personality and physical description can make them overlap with any trope on the IntelligenceTropes index. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | Sub-tropes of Evil Genius include: |
| 22 | [[index]] |
| 23 | * EmperorScientist |
| 24 | * EvilNerd |
| 25 | * MadScientist |
| 26 | * MakerOfMonsters |
| 27 | * MasterComputer |
| 28 | * MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate |
| 29 | [[/index]] |
| 30 | |
| 31 | Not to be confused with the DiabolicalMastermind simulation game ''VideoGame/EvilGenius'', nor [[Literature/EvilGeniusTrilogy the books]] by Catherine Jinks, which involve an AcademyOfEvil aimed at creating Evil Geniuses, or the Creator/{{Netflix}} series about one of the most infamous bank heists in history. |
| 32 | |
| 33 | ---- |
| 34 | !!Examples: |
| 35 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 36 | |
| 37 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 38 | * Johan Liebert from ''Manga/{{Monster}}''. He's extremely smart, intellectual, and a sociopathic SerialKiller. |
| 39 | * ''Manga/OnePiece'' makes occasional mention of the World Government's top scientist, Dr. Vegapunk. He is one of the most speculated-upon characters in the manga. Apparently, he's an OmnidisciplinaryScientist, having created a cyborg with Devil fruit powers (Kuma), multiple copies of said cyborg armed with laser weaponry (the Pacifista), catalogued all known devil fruits, revolutionized the power of the sea as uses of Seastone, and figured out a way for inanimate objects to "eat" Devil fruits. For all this, events around the TimeSkip have alluded to Vegapunk being morally ambiguous, and truly any statement of him being "evil" before then was an assumption. During the TimeSkip, Franky, having burned off all of his skin, rebuilds his body using Vegapunk's technology. |
| 40 | ** Once Vegapunk is [[UnseenNoMore finally]] revealed, he actually turns out to be quite benevolent, being a friendly old man who just wants to make the world a better place through the power of science. However, Vegapunk also created 6 "Satellite" versions of himself--ArtificialHumans who are based on an aspect of his own personality. One of these Satellites is Lilith "The Evil" who was based on Vegapunk's "evil" side. However, Lilith is more the LoveableRogue type than an actual evil person. [[spoiler:The cannot be said for [[GeniusSlob York "The Greedy"]]--the personification of Vegapunk's greedy side and the mastermind behind all the strange events at Egghead]]. |
| 41 | ** To a lesser extent, [[PsychoForHire Gecko Moria's]] right hand man Dr Hogback, a surgeon of legendary skill who assisted Moria in creating a [[ZombieApocalypse zombie army]]. |
| 42 | ** Vegapunk's rival, Ceasar Clown, is stated by all parties except his underlings as being evil [[spoiler: and then, only because he shifted the blame for his own atrocities onto Vegapunk]], and was arrested by the world government for sabotaging the science team's human experimentation. His arc shows [[BadBoss that]] [[ManipulativeBastard his reputation]] [[AxCrazy is]] [[LaughablyEvil fully]] [[WouldHurtAChild deserved]] |
| 43 | * Uno of ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'', who is known as the second brain of [[BigBad Jail Scaglietti]] and acts as MissionControl for the [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Numbers]]. Jail himself easily qualifies as BigBad variation. |
| 44 | * John Smith (no, that's ''not'' an alias) from ''Anime/MyOtome'', with a dash of MadScientist thrown in. |
| 45 | * Kichikujima: Satoru plays this role being the smartest of his siblings his mother Mariko Glassias also could count too. |
| 46 | * Solf J. Kimblee from ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''. On top of being a standout in a WorldOfBadass, he's as sharp and devious as they come with photographic memory to boot. |
| 47 | * Shader in ''Manga/ChronoCrusade'' serves as the Sinner's main techie. Aion, the BigBad, has elements as this as well, considering he's a bit of [[TheChessmaster a chessmaster]]. |
| 48 | * Herr Doktor in ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'' is the evil genius for Millennium. |
| 49 | * Hakase in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' probably would have played this part in Chao's evil army if not for the fact that Chao was ''also'' an Evil Genius of an even higher degree. Still, this was essentially her role in that she was the one overseeing the ritual to remove the world's WeirdnessCensor, not actually taking part in the battle |
| 50 | * ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' has Orochimaru with Sasori for the Akatsuki. After [[spoiler:Pain's death]] Tobi the BigBad takes the role, until Kabuto joins and is this for Tobi's Akatsuki army. |
| 51 | ** Whether either of them actually [[AntiVillain qualifies as]] [[GrayAndGrayMorality evil]] is up for debate. |
| 52 | * Professor Nanba ([[AccidentalMisnaming or is it Kimba?]]) is the Evil Genius who gives [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Butch and Cassidy]] orders in ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries''. |
| 53 | * Kururu from ''Manga/SgtFrog'' lives and breathes Evil Genius, though [[TokenEvilTeammate he's technically with]] [[VillainProtagonist the good guys]]. |
| 54 | * Sosuke Aizen from ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' combines this with BigBad (as well as ManipulativeBastard, MagnificentBastard, TheChessmaster, etc). |
| 55 | ** Also in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', R&D Head and 12th Company Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi is the Evil Genius [[TokenEvilTeammate for the entire Soul Society]] along with being the MadScientist. His Arrancar counterpart, SmugSnake 8th Espada Sayzel Apporro Granz is more or less the same, but with the addition of {{Squick}}y sexual imagery and SissyVillain to the list. And then there's the AntiVillain 1st Espada Coyote Stark, who's a BrilliantButLazy AwesomenessByAnalysis type. |
| 56 | * Koshiro Kokujo of ''Anime/DuelMasters'' was this, or so he said. |
| 57 | --> '''Kokujo''': I know everything!\ |
| 58 | '''Shobu''': How's that?\ |
| 59 | '''Kokujo''': Because I'm an evil genius! |
| 60 | * The Doctor from ''Manga/BlackCat'' is an EvilutionaryBiologist and psychopath who serves as [[BigBad Creed's]] go to guy for technology and weapons, while doing double duty as a villainous example of TheMedic. |
| 61 | * Hoji from ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' is [[BigBad Shishio's]] [[TheStrategist Strategist]], logistician, and all around PsychoSupporter. |
| 62 | * [[TheDragon Cassius]] from ''Manga/KimbaTheWhiteLion'' tends to make the {{Evil Plan}}s for his boss [[EvilOverlord Claw]]. |
| 63 | * In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'', Nicol also took on this role to the {{Antivillain}}ous Le Creuset team, relying on stealth, caution and an InvisibilityCloak. It only made him more of an outcast on a team of guys who wouldn't know subtle if it bit them in the ass. One could argue that BigBad Rau Le Creuset also plays this role. |
| 64 | ** Amongst the Earth Forces high command, [[ObstructiveBureaucrat General Staff officer]] [[GeneralRipper Captain William Sutherland]] did double-duty as TheDragon and Evil Genius, serving as Muruta Azrael's NumberTwo ''and'' TheStrategist. Every morally reprehensible plan you see the Earth Forces execute? This guy's idea. |
| 65 | * As the OnlySaneMan among a group of AxeCrazy {{Tykebomb}}s, Sting Oakley fullfills this role for ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny'''s [[SuperSoldier Extended]], since he's the only one with any common sense. He leads the group in [[TheDragon Neo's]] absence, does his best to keep [[TheBrute Auel]] and Stella out of trouble, and is [[KnowWhenToFoldEm the one who usually has to call retreat]]. The ZAFT team lacked a specific Evil Genius; fortunately, BigBad Gilbert Durandal was able to handle both positions. |
| 66 | * In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'', [[AxeCrazy Chief Engineer]] [[MadScientist Tsubarov]] was this to the Romefeller Foundation. A brilliant technician, he invented the remote-controlled Mobile Dolls whose useage consumes much of the subsequent plot; he's also one of the few men at the OZ base who realises that using the captive Gundam pilots as test subjects might be a bad idea. Curiously, he had a personality that one would more typically associate with TheBrute being a thuggish {{Jerkass}} and SmugSnake who loathed pacifism, had NoIndoorVoice, dealt with problems by applying as much brute force as possible, and went out in the midst of a truly epic VillainousBreakdown, ranting about how he was invincible. |
| 67 | * The ''original'' Evil Genius in a ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' series was actually [[MagnificentBitch Princess Kycilia Zabi.]] She's one of the Principality of Zeon's better strategists and admirals, is in charge of Newtype research and the new mobile suits and mobile armours that come with it, ''and'' on top of it she's a LadyOfWar who's not afraid of getting her hands dirty if she has to. |
| 68 | * Alister/Amalda was this to Dartz's group of henchmen in ''Anime/YuGiOh''. Nesbitt plays this role to the Big 5, being their tech guy and weapons expert; oddly enough, he's perhaps their poorest duelist. |
| 69 | * ''Manga/Eyeshield21'': JerkJock Clifford D. Louis is TheStrategist and Evil Genius of the American Pentagram, in addition to being a member of the BigBadDuumvirate alongside Mr. Don. Youichi Hiruma and Reiji Marco could also be considered evil geniuses, with the former being an {{Antihero}}ic GuileHero and the latter his EvilCounterpart and the BigBad of the Kantou Regionals Arc. |
| 70 | * ''Manga/FairyTail'' gives a few examples. |
| 71 | ** Fried Justine pulls double duty, being both this and TheDragon. |
| 72 | ** Brain, leader of Oracion Seis, is a full blown MadScientist who is also the BigBad of his arc. [[spoiler: Only he's not really the BigBad, that's his SuperpoweredEvilSide, Zero.]] |
| 73 | ** Byro from the Edolas arc fights using potions and other chemicals, and has also created Edolas's equivalent of a WaveMotionGun. |
| 74 | ** Samuel from the Zentopia arc cements his status as this with AwesomenessByAnalysis. |
| 75 | ** Seilah of Tatarus is in charge of the technology that gives her guildmates ResurrectiveImmortality. |
| 76 | * The Phantom Troupe in ''Manga/HunterXHunter'' have Shalnark, the one guy in the team who's adept with computers, both how they work and how they're used. If the Phantom Troupe encounters a problem with computers or computerized technology such as video game systems, they turn to Shalnark, who, if he can't offer a solution or explanation immediately, will attempt some HollywoodHacking to get the information they need. Fittingly, the superpowers unique to him derive entirely from his [[SupernaturalPhone cell phone]] that he created along with his personal wireless network. |
| 77 | * The ''Anime/TimeBokan'' series has Grocky and all of his assorted [[{{Expy}} expies]] (including the much more famous [[Anime/{{Yatterman}} Boyacky]]), each of whom served as the technological expert of their respective TerribleTrio and who designed all of the mecha of the week they used. |
| 78 | [[/folder]] |
| 79 | |
| 80 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 81 | * In ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' comics, Lex Luthor was originally this trope with shades of BigBad. ComicBook/PostCrisis the roles were inverted: Luthor was a BigBad with shades of Evil Genius. He also has some other more conventional Evil Geniuses on his payroll, e.g. Dr. Teng, Sydney Happersen, Dabney Donovan, and occasionally the Toyman. Brainiac Also fits this as well being a 12th level intellect. |
| 82 | ** The Intergang mob had Dabney Donovan himself as their Evil Genius. |
| 83 | ** The Cyborg Superman builds all of the technology used by the [[Franchise/GreenLantern Sinestro Corps]], including the Manhunter robots who recharge yellow rings and the space station they used as a base. |
| 84 | ** Phantom Zone criminal Kru-El was a cousin of Superman's father Jor-El, and regarded as being Jor-El's intellectual equal. However, he turned his technological genius towards creating forbidden weaponry, becoming an ArmsDealer for the Kryptonian underworld. He would escape from the Phantom Zone multiple times to plague Superman as a continuation of his feud against Jor-El. |
| 85 | * [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]] a.k.a. SHAZAM's arch-enemy Dr. [[EmbarrassingFirstName Thaddeus]] [[EmbarrassingMiddleName Bodog]] Sivana is another early example - a few months earlier than Luthor, in fact. He's perhaps the most brilliant scientist and engineer in the whole DC multiverse, and thinks that makes him the Rightful Ruler of the Universe. When he's in a team, he finds himself in this role. |
| 86 | * ComicBook/CaptainAmerica foe ComicBook/RedSkull is often depicted this way. |
| 87 | * ComicBook/SpiderMan has described ComicBook/DoctorOctopus as one, and seeing as Ock is a brilliant engineer and inventor, he fits, although unlike most, whenever he's part of a group, he's usually the one in charge. [[Characters/MarvelComicsNormanOsborn Norman Osborn]] also counts. |
| 88 | * Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles baddie Baxter Stockman can be viewed as a kind-of failed evil genius in most versions. |
| 89 | * Darth Maladi from ''ComicBook/StarWarsLegacy'' is both a [[MadScientist Sith alchemist]] and the head of Sith Intelligence. She's generally portrayed as one of the most cunning Sith characters in the comic, but seems to enjoy her schemes and experiments more [[ForTheEvulz for their own sake]] than from the hope of doing anything constructive with them. |
| 90 | ** Also Vul Isen as he is believed to be a scientist. He never accepts anything without a proof. |
| 91 | * In ''ComicBook/AllFallDown'', IQ is VERY bitter about not being one of these anymore. |
| 92 | %% * In ''ComicBook/UltimateFantasticFour'', there is Rhona Burchill, the Thinker, who is physically deformed but has a genius-level intellect. |
| 93 | * ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' has ComicBook/TheRiddler, who proves to the biggest mental challenge out of his RoguesGallery. Joker also sometimes plays this role depending on the writer. |
| 94 | * ''Franchise/WonderWoman'': |
| 95 | ** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Byrna was a genius MadScientist and RobotMaster who sees human worth only in terms of what she can get/take from them and is the only known character to find a way to subvert the Venus Girdles' imposed happiness in subjugation and spent her time on Reformation Island secretly rebuilding and improving her arsenal. |
| 96 | ** Doctor Cyber was a MadScientist DiabolicalMastermind, and all around evil intellectual set on world domination pre-Crisis. Her threat and intelligence level took a major hit [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1987 Post-Crisis]]. |
| 97 | * Zodon from ''Comicbook/{{PS238}}'' is a five-year old version of this. His metahuman super-intelligence has given him an adult vocabulary (not to mention sense of cynicism), an encyclopedic knowledge of American law and an ability to build a doom laser out of some tinfoil and scaffolding, though on many levels [[NotSoAboveItAll he's still a five-year-old mentally]]. |
| 98 | * [[ComicBook/MickeyMouseComicUniverse The Phantom Blot]] counfounds the law with his mixture of criminal and GadgeteerGenius, committing impossible crimes with unheard-of technology or hatching such a complicated plot it takes most of the story for Mickey Mouse to figure out what the real EvilPlan is and who's behind it. He's also been shown to be proficient in hypnosis, hacking, and even levitation, DependingOnTheWriter. |
| 99 | ** One old story has pits Mickey and Goofy against one of the Blot's minions ([[NotMeThisTime while the Blot himself is in prison]]) who plays the Evil Genius role even harder, manipulating everyone with a convoluted plot involving things like pretending to inject Goofy with a slow-acting poison and hiding in an undetectable submarine. It turns into quite a BattleOfWits between him and Mickey. |
| 100 | * ''ComicBook/DangerGirl'': Kharnov von Kripplor is the chief scientist of the Hammer Empire, an organization formed from the remains of the Nazis. |
| 101 | * Among Darkseid's cronies in ''ComicBook/NewGods'' are Desaad, Mokkari, Simyan, and Dr. Bedlam. While Desaad is the chief one, the middle two run an evil counterpart of Project Cadmus called "the Evil Factory" and Bedlam's speciality is robotic clones called "animates". |
| 102 | * ''{{ComicBook/Spawn}}'' has Curse who made himself into a cyborg and created his minions such as the Sin-Devours. |
| 103 | ** There is also Mammon who is quite smart among hell's lords. |
| 104 | ** From Heaven's angels there are Rapture,Garbielle,and Rapfael. |
| 105 | [[/folder]] |
| 106 | |
| 107 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 108 | * ''Fanfic/GuysBeingDudes'': As in VideoGame/PokemonGo canon, Arlo serves as the brains of the Team GO Rocket trio, being the most book-smart member and knowledgable about Pokemon and technology. |
| 109 | * Izuku Midoriya in ''Fanfic/MastermindStrategistForHire'' operates as the titular Mastermind who sells plans for thefts and murders to anyone who can pay his fee. He has some fighting skill but he learned mostly so he's not helpless if confronted by heroes or doublecrossed. |
| 110 | * ''Fanfic/TheSecretReturnOfAlexMack'': Maggie Walsh is quite possibly the smartest person in history, able to achieve miracles of MadScience, and judging by her recent efforts, she's apparently trying to wipe out humanity. |
| 111 | [[/folder]] |
| 112 | |
| 113 | [[folder:Films -- Animation]] |
| 114 | * ''Franchise/DespicableMe'': Dr. Nefario to the anti-villainous Gru, designing the various gadgets and vehicles used by Gru (and also pulls double-duty as TheDragon). A cameo in ''WesternAnimation/{{Minions}}'' reveals he created Gru's [[WeaponSpecialization weapon of choice]], the FreezeRay. |
| 115 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatMouseDetective'': |
| 116 | ** Hiram Flaversham is of the ReluctantMadScientist variety, as a toymaker kidnapped by Professor Ratigan and forced to build a robotic decoy of the Mouse Queen (an analogue to UsefulNotes/QueenVictoria) to help Ratigan usurp the throne of England because Ratigan has threatened his daughter. |
| 117 | ** Professor Ratigan is of the BigBad variety, as he's the mastermind of a complex scheme to usurp the throne of England via killing and replacing the Mouse Queen and ultimately force everyone in Mousedom to submit to his rule. |
| 118 | * Syndrome, the BigBad of ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1'', designs highly advanced technology and weaponry, including the Omoidroids, to wipe out all Supers. His prowess was even on display as a child, when he shows off his rocket boots to Mr. Incredible. |
| 119 | * Evelyn Deavor, the BigBad of ''WesternAnimation/Incredibles2'', is able to hack into any screen using her Screenslaver puppet, who is actually a hypnotized pizza delivery guy. She also uses hypno-goggles to control anyone of her choice. |
| 120 | * Lord Shen from ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'' doubles as this and the BigBad. In a setting technologically similar to ancient China, Lord Shen not only invents gunpowder and cannon, but [[spoiler: manages to mass-produce them.]] |
| 121 | * Jumba Jookiba from ''Franchise/LiloAndStitch'' likes to [[CardCarryingVillain call himself this]], although the "evil" part is eventually subverted. He was even ''smarter'' as an "evil genius child prodigy!" And ''adorable''. |
| 122 | -->'''Baby Jumba:''' "Haha! Ewil! Ewil!" |
| 123 | * Sir Hiss to Prince John in ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood1973''. He is Prince John's main advisor, and enabled John to take the throne by hypnotizing his elder brother King Richard into going off on a crusade. When he isn't advising Prince John he's counting taxes. |
| 124 | * In ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'', Kingpin serves as the BigBad, but the genius behind the collider is [[spoiler:Doctor [[GenderFlip Olivia]] Octavius, aka. Doctor Octopus,]] who remains an unrepentant villain throughout the film. |
| 125 | [[/folder]] |
| 126 | |
| 127 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 128 | * ''Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse'': |
| 129 | ** ''Film/ManOfSteel'': Jax-Ur is a Kryptonian scientist employed by General Zod whose assignments include locating the Codex (Krypton's genetic potential) and operating the World Engine, the HostileTerraforming machine Zod intends to use to make Earth into a new Krypton. |
| 130 | ** ''Film/WonderWoman2017'': Dr. Isabel Maru/Dr. Poison is a scientist who engineers biological weapons on behalf of [[TheHeavy General Erich Ludendorff]]. |
| 131 | * ''Franchise/DieHard'': |
| 132 | ** Theo and Hans Gruber are different types of Evil Genius in ''Film/DieHard''. [[BigBad Hans]] is TheChessmaster, masterminding a complex and effective scheme. Theo is TheCracker, who hacks Nakatomi, locks down the building with computers, keeps tabs on LAPD and FBI movements, and drills into the vault. However, he doesn't have the skills to take out the last lock to the vault (an electromagnetic seal)... [[BatmanGambit which is where Hans comes in]]. |
| 133 | ** Thompson is Colonel Stuart's computer expert in [[Film/DieHard2 the second film]], monitoring the skies and [[spoiler:engineering the crash of Windsor 114]]. |
| 134 | ** For the [[Film/LiveFreeOrDieHard fourth film]], there are also two. [[BigBad Thomas Gabriel]] is a schemer, and designed the programs the rest of the hackers use. He also has a lead hacker known as Trey, who serves as an EvilCounterpart to [[TheSmartGuy Matt Farrell]]. |
| 135 | * ''Film/DollarsTrilogy'': |
| 136 | ** In ''Film/AFistfulOfDollars'', Ramon Rojo is a non-stereotypical example. In a family of archetypal Mexican {{bandito}}s, Ramon is TheStrategist, concocting the plan to steal the gold from under the Mexican army's nose, and orchestrating the eventual massacre of the rival Baxter family. He's also the only one to see through Joe, and keeps a wary eye on him throughout the film, eventually deducing that he is the traitor in their ranks. |
| 137 | ** In ''Film/ForAFewDollarsMore'', El Indio is a similar case. Groggy is another example as he's given technology-based assignments like taking out the telegraph lines to El Paso and, [[IronicName despite his name]], figures out that [[spoiler:Indio plans to screw over the entire gang to keep the money for himself]]. |
| 138 | * James [=McCullen=] and the Doctor in ''Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra''. [[spoiler: At the end of the film, the Doctor becomes the BigBad, Cobra Commander, and turns [=McCullen=] into Destro.]] |
| 139 | * ''Film/TheHungerGames'': The unnamed male tribute from District 3 to the the Career Tributes' group, as he figures out how to reactivate the mines from each Tribute’s pad. |
| 140 | * A very frequent minion type in the ''Film/JamesBond'' series. |
| 141 | ** ''Film/DrNo'': Dr. No and his right-hand man, geologist Professor Dent. Dr. No himself is a gifted scientific genius who runs his own nuclear laboratory and has developed ways to electronically jam rocket launches from Cape Canaveral. |
| 142 | ** ''Film/FromRussiaWithLove'': Kronsteen is a literal [[TheChessmaster chessmaster]] who acts as TheStrategist for SPECTRE and whose duty is to create plans for various operations. While Rosa Klebb is effectively the main antagonist, it's Kronsteen who helped devise the plan and ensure all the pieces were in place. |
| 143 | ** ''Film/{{Goldfinger}}'': Ling to Goldfinger, being a nuclear scientist who represents Goldfinger's RedChina backers. |
| 144 | ** ''Film/{{Thunderball}}'': Kutze to Largo, as a nuclear physicist brought in by Largo to work his nuclear bombs. |
| 145 | ** Osato (''Film/YouOnlyLiveTwice'') and later Metz (''Film/DiamondsAreForever'') to Blofeld. The former is a CorruptCorporateExecutive supplying Blofeld's operations, while Metz is a scientist building a laser satellite for Blofeld [[WellIntentionedExtremist in the hopes of forcing world peace]]. |
| 146 | ** ''Film/LiveAndLetDie'': Baron Samedi to Dr. Kananga/Mr. Big as the voodoo cult director on Kananga's island of San Monique. Samedi [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane may or may not]] be an EvilSorcerer, with TheStinger suggesting that [[spoiler:Bond may have tangled with the real Baron Samedi.]] |
| 147 | ** ''Film/TheManWithTheGoldenGun'': Hai Fat to Scaramanga |
| 148 | ** ''Film/AViewToAKill'': Mortner to Zorin |
| 149 | ** ''Film/LicenceToKill'': Krest to Sanchez |
| 150 | ** ''Film/GoldenEye'': Boris to Trevelyan |
| 151 | ** ''Film/TomorrowNeverDies'': Gupta to Carver |
| 152 | ** ''Film/TheWorldIsNotEnough'': Arkov to Renard |
| 153 | ** ''Film/DieAnotherDay'': Popov to Graves |
| 154 | ** ''Film/{{Spectre}}'': [[spoiler:Max Denbeigh]] to Franz Oberhauser/Blofeld, as [[spoiler:the man sent to infiltrate [=MI6=] and implement SPECTRE's Nine Eyes security system to take over the world]]. |
| 155 | ** There are occasional subversions: Whitaker, Khan, Kananga, Drax, Kristatos, and Le Chiffre were all the "main brains" in their operations as well as the leaders while Stromberg has both of his killed early in the film to cover his tracks. |
| 156 | * ''Film/MarsAttacks'': The Martians know at least ten times more science than we do but that doesn't mean they're civilized i.e. using science to create shrink rays, laser guns, robotic hands that can detach and kill people, [[HumongousMecha giant robots]], and defense shields strong enough to deflect even nukes. They are also incredibly skilled in medical technology, able to swap human and dog heads. |
| 157 | * ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'': |
| 158 | ** ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'': Dr. Arnim Zola developed weapons powered by the Tesseract for HYDRA far beyond the U.S.A.'s foremost scientists (like Howard Stark) could create. [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier The second film]] reveals that [[spoiler:he rebuilt HYDRA as a large-scale GovernmentConspiracy inside SHIELD and created the Winter Soldier]]. |
| 159 | ** ''Film/TheAvengers2012'': Dr. Erik Selvig to Loki as he finds a way to create a Tesseract-powered portal allowing the Chitauri to invade Earth, albeit being BrainwashedAndCrazy. |
| 160 | ** ''Film/IronMan3'': [[spoiler:Dr. Maya Hansen]] for Aldrich Killian. She is reponsible for creating Extremis, the SuperSerum that is used by Killian's mooks. |
| 161 | ** ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'': [[BigBad Helmut Zemo]] is not only a Chessmaster, he is also a skilled cracker who decrypted HYDRA's files and built an EMP bomb. |
| 162 | ** ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'': Phineas Mason for Adrian Toomes[=/=]Vulture; he Macgyvers ImportedAlienPhlebotinum into gadgets that are either used or sold by Toomes' gang and serves as MissionControl whenever Toomes goes on a heist to steal more leftover phlebotinum. |
| 163 | ** ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' and ''Film/AvengersEndgame'': Ebony Maw is an EvilSorcerer and [[MindOverMatter telekinetic]] who [[HammyHerald extols Thanos' agenda of halving the universe's population to save the other half]]. In ''Endgame'' he [[spoiler:reverse-engineers Pym particles so Thanos' forces can follow the Avengers and do battle with them and fulfill Thanos' plan.]] |
| 164 | * Franchise/MonsterVerse: |
| 165 | ** ''[[Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019 Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]'': Dr. Emma Russell appears to be a ReluctantMadScientist, forced to co-operate with the [[Characters/MonsterVerseEcoTerrorists eco-terrorists]] against her will in using her invention to set Ghidorah and other {{Kaiju}} loose on the world. [[spoiler:In actuality, she's acting entirely of her own free will because she believes she's saving humanity in the long haul]]. |
| 166 | ** ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'': Ren Serizawa, the AntagonisticOffspring of the late Dr. Serizawa, is the CorruptCorporateExecutive[='s=] [[TheDragon Dragon]] and he's [[Characters/MonsterVerseApexCybernetics Apex Cybernetics]]' chief technology officer; responsible for developing the Mechagodzilla technology for their MugglePower agenda to kill Godzilla and then kill or enslave all the other Titans. Interestingly for this trope, the {{novelization}} portrays him as being something of a GodhoodSeeker regarding his plans for Mechagodzilla (which he is also the pilot of). |
| 167 | * ''Film/MysteryMen'''s [[BigBad Casanova Frankenstein]] is an evil Disco genius. Even his archnemesis asks him for help with his quips. He wears a set of golden finger cuffs that carry sonic rays and hyper-lasers, and a pair of slippers that emit poison gas. And that's just what his enemy knows he's ''wearing'' while he just sits around in his dressing gown. |
| 168 | * Pete from ''[[Film/{{Neighbors2014}} Neighbors]]''. |
| 169 | * Marcus Valorium, the BigBad in ''Film/OnceUponASpy'', is a scientific genius who has constructed a functioning ShrinkRay that he uses in scheme to take over the world. He is also an EvilBrit and an EvilCripple. |
| 170 | * ''Film/PanicRoom'': Burnham constructed safe rooms for a living and as such is recruited by [[BigBad Junior]] to break into a Manhattan brownstone with such a room to retrieve Junior's grandfather's money. This irony is not lost on Burnham. As the film progresses, it becomes clear that Burnham could have pulled off the heist by himself since Junior [[StupidCrooks is an idiot]] (the reason why there's conflict between them and Meg Altman is that he screwed up the timing of the move-in) and Raoul is [[AxCrazy a murderous psychopath]]. |
| 171 | * In ''Film/ThePinkPantherStrikesAgain'', Professor Fassbender is a total subversion. [[TokenGoodTeammate A full-blown good guy]] [[KidnappedScientist who was kidnapped]] along with his daughter Margo by henchmen of [[BigBad former Chief Inspector Dreyfus]], he was forced to build a doomsday machine and be part of Dreyfus' criminal organization against his will [[IHaveYourWife when Dreyfus used the professor's daughter as leverage.]] He still hated having to work for a madman bent on world domination. [[spoiler: And probably things didn't get better after Dreyfus' defeat as he might have had to face charges for crimes committed against his will (like the destruction of the United Nations building), especially with Dreyfus himself too destroyed to be arrested [[CanonDiscontinuity (assuming the events of the later sequels never happened, including Dreyfus']] UnexplainedRecovery).]] |
| 172 | * ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides'', has Quartermaster, a zombie who can always predict a future, and he is the one who guides [[BigBad Blackbeard]] to the Fountain of Youth. |
| 173 | * ''Film/SherlockHolmes2009'': |
| 174 | ** The first film has Luke Reardon, a [[EvilRedhead ginger]] [[DepravedDwarf midget]] whose experiments make Lord Blackwood's magic tricks possible. [[spoiler:Professor Moriarty]] accurately describes Reardon as the key to Blackwood's plans. |
| 175 | ** Dr. Hoffmanstahl from ''Film/SherlockHolmesAGameOfShadows'' is a doctor employed by Professor Moriarty (another example of this trope) to create disguises for assassins on Moriarty's payroll. He is [[spoiler:disposed of when no longer of use]]. |
| 176 | * Hannibal Lecter in ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' is probably the most famous example of this trope. |
| 177 | * ''Franchise/StarWars'': |
| 178 | ** Grand Moff Tarkin from ''Film/ANewHope'' could count, as he has the Death Star, and is a strategist with his own doctrine. |
| 179 | ** And in the prequel trilogy era, Nute Gunray and the Separatist Council fit the role as they are the brain of everything, and later [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness when they are no longer needed,]] they are killed by their [[BadBoss boss]]. |
| 180 | ** Palpatine himself has traits of this, given his abilities as TheChessmaster and ManipulativeBastard. |
| 181 | * Soundwave plays the Evil Genius role in ''Film/TransformersRevengeOfTheFallen'' and ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon'' as an intelligence specialist as well as overseeing a decades-long scheme in the latter movie. |
| 182 | * ''Film/WhiteHouseDown'' has a classical example in Skip Tyler, a computer hacker working for the White Supremacist militia, who spends most of the film in the computer room while listening [[WickedCultured to classical music]]. In the end, [[spoiler:he gets [[HoistByHisOwnPetard killed by one of his own traps]].]] |
| 183 | * ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'' |
| 184 | ** Magneto, with truly amazing schemes. In ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', [[spoiler:he was able to steal a file containing the details of the Sentinels, after reading it over he was somehow able to reprogram them while inserting metal tracks within the bodies.]] |
| 185 | ** Toad from ''Film/XMen1''. He's even seen tampering with Magneto's machine. |
| 186 | ** Psylocke serves this role to En Sabah Nur/Apocalypse in ''Film/XMenApocalypse'', as she brings her former boss Caliban's knowledge of mutants to the table, enabling Apocalypse's recruitment of Horsemen. She's also shown to be the most skilled and resourseful in combat. |
| 187 | [[/folder]] |
| 188 | |
| 189 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 190 | * The ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'' series is full of these, which makes sense, since the protagonist himself is a TeenGenius, and that requires antagonists to match. We have Artemis himself in book 1 (in his status as VillainProtagonist), Opal Koboi in book 2, Jon Spiro in book 3, Opal Koboi ''again'' in book 4, Minerva in book 5, Opal Koboi ''AGAIN'' in book 6. [[spoiler:Turnball Root in book 7, and Opal yet AGAIN in book 8.]] |
| 191 | * ''Literature/ADowryOfBlood'': {{Dracula}} is fascinated with learning more about not just his own vampirism but human intellect. He has, over his long immortal life, carefully sought to learn and improve as much as he can and now is a genuine genius. He intentionally surrounds himself with intellectual minds in a search for more and more knowledge. |
| 192 | * In ''Literature/TheElenium'', by Creator/DavidEddings, Krager is this to [[BigBadWannabe Annias]] and [[DragonInChief Martel]]. Annias [[SinisterMinister himself is this]] to [[GodOfEvil Azash]]. |
| 193 | ** Its sequel, ''Literature/TheTamuli'', gives us [[EvilSorcerer Zalasta]]. |
| 194 | * In Creator/AgathaChristie's story "[[Literature/TheMysteriousMrQuin The Face of Helen]]", the villain is a brilliant chemist who specialized in poison gas during World War I, and attempts to murder the object of his unrequited love with an elaborate death trap involving a glass sphere full of gas and a GlassShatteringSound. |
| 195 | * ''Literature/HarryPotter'': |
| 196 | ** [[BigBad Lord Voldemort]] discovered and implemented the Horcrux system himself to a horrifying degree. Though he does carry the VillainBall occasionally. |
| 197 | ** [[HypercompetentSidekick Barty Crouch Jr.]] is a better example. He replaces a teacher, kills his father, and lures Harry away from potential protectors, and no one realizes until nearly the last moment what he's up to. |
| 198 | * In the ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'', Iskaral Pust's competence is the only reason Shadowthrone keeps him around. His results reinforce this decision: if something needs to be done, Pust will somehow manage to do it, obstacles notwithstanding. He even manages to become [[spoiler:The Magus of High House Shadow]], personally appointed to the task by Shadowthrone himself, by merit alone. |
| 199 | * The main character of ''Literature/PleaseDontTellMyParentsImASupervillain'' is a MadScientist with a keen tactical mind and also a VillainProtagonist. |
| 200 | * Among the villains in Eddings' ''Literature/TheRedemptionOfAlthalus'' we have Argan, a SmugSnake and SinisterMinister who does most of [[BigBad Daeva's]] talking for him, and has a distinctive rivalry with [[TheDragon Ghend]]. |
| 201 | * Professor Moriarty, the ArchEnemy of Literature/SherlockHolmes, is described [[WorthyOpponent by Holmes himself ]] as "a genius, a philosopher, an abstract thinker." Moriarty uses his brilliant mind to run his criminal organization,and, unlike many other evil geniuses, he is clearly [[BigBad the boss]]. |
| 202 | * Tyrion Lannister from ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', an educated, smart, and calculating dwarf sort of qualifies. However, he wasn't really an ally of House Lannister and he was enemies with [[AbusiveParents Tywin]]. He embodies this trope in his own organization, in which he is also the BigBad. He isn't really that evil though. |
| 203 | ** Also, from the group of Brave Companions we have [[MadScientist Qyburn]] and [[SinisterMinister Septon Utt]]. [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Cersei Lannister]] retains Qyburn's services from Book 4 onward. |
| 204 | * The Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse gives us Bevel Lemelisk, chief designer of the Death Star, although the actual designers were superintelligent alien children whose planet was being held hostage. |
| 205 | * ''ComicBook/TransformersTransTech'' Shockwave, master of PlayingWithSyringes, is a self-proclaimed "[[InsistentTerminology morally ambiguous]]" genius. |
| 206 | * Literature/TrappedOnDraconica: Lucia's the one with the magical know-how for the evil beasts and teleportation spells and other magic to power [[EvilOverlord Gothon's]] army. |
| 207 | * Several members of [[QuirkyMinibossSquad the Forsaken]] in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', including [[TheAntichrist Ishamael]] (specializes in philosophy, theology, and metaphysics), [[TheVamp Graendal]] (specializes in personal manipulation) and [[FourStarBadass Demandred]] (specializes in millitary strategy). |
| 208 | * In ''Literature/TheWitcher'', we have Vilgefortz. He is easily the most smart and powerful wizard in the North, and he let it get into his head. |
| 209 | [[/folder]] |
| 210 | |
| 211 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 212 | * ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'': A rather common henchman type for villains. |
| 213 | ** Ian Quinn for the Centipede Group, as the man responsible for creating a number of supervillains with the tech his company gets its hands on. |
| 214 | ** Toshiro Mori, a HYDRA scientist who designed the Splinter bombs synthesized from the Inhumans' obilisk that can turn a man to ash. |
| 215 | ** Wendell Levi is a TechnoWizard broken out of prison by Dr. Calvin Zabo to help get revenge on Agnet Coulson for killing [[DeadlyDoctor Daniel Whitehall]] (Zabo wanted to [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou kill Whitehall himself]]). |
| 216 | ** [[spoiler:Holden Radcliffe]] for Hive as a scientist who is coerced into [[spoiler:creating a method of empowering normal people into Inhumans that Hive can control.]] |
| 217 | * The campy 60's ''Series/Batman1966'' series had ''lots'' of villains who were {{Canon Foreigner}}s but one of the few who was entertaining enough to make return appearances was the Evil Genius Egghead, played by Vincent Price (who often commented publically how much he enjoyed playing the role). |
| 218 | * ''Series/BreakingBad'' is a {{Deconstruction}} of this in a more realistic setting. |
| 219 | * ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer & Series/{{Angel}}'': |
| 220 | ** Pretty much all of the {{Big Bad}}s both the Scoobies and Angel Investigations go up against - though definitely except [[DumbBlond Glory]]. Much straighter variations though are Warren Mears and Angelus. While both are [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bastards]] Warren is a more straight-up MadScientist, while Angelus is TheChessmaster. |
| 221 | ** Toru especially - he builds a device capable of projecting a hologram, a giant Mecha-Dawn, and a device capable of casting a spell worldwide to {{Depower}} the Slayers. |
| 222 | * ''Series/ChouseishinSeries'': |
| 223 | ** ''Series/ChouseishinGransazer'' has Brighton, a seeming Warp Monarch [[AssInAmbassador ambassador]] who uses his job as cover to deceive the Gransazers and covertly work towards his goals, while leaving the muscle to his henchman [[TheBrute Algol]]. |
| 224 | ** ''Series/GenseishinJustiriser'': [[MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate Doctor Zora]] is a Hades Army scientist who personally creates the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Cyber Knights]] in her forces. [[SmugSnake Commander Adorocs]] also thinks of himself as one, believing himself to be a genius strategist. |
| 225 | ** ''Series/ChouseiKantaiSazerX'': Wind Shogun Cyclead is a genius inventor who builds weapons and other devices for the Descal, including the Synthetic Terror Beasts after [[DumbMuscle Blaird]] wastes all their regular {{kaiju}}. He's also [[OnlySaneMan much saner and more reasonable]] than either of his fellow Shoguns. |
| 226 | * ''Series/DoctorWho'': |
| 227 | ** Davros, creator of the Daleks. Though crippled with only one working arm, he created the most dangerous life form the universe has ever seen and set them on a path of [[OmnicidalManiac genocide against all other forms of life in existence]]. His intellect is so great that the Daleks often will refuse to kill him, despite him being an "inferior" creature by their doctrine, simply because his intelligence is too useful to them. Even the Doctor readily admits Davros' genius, and he is not one inclined to praise other's mental capabilities (at least not without stating [[InsufferableGenius how much smarter he is]]). As for why he's doing any of this? If the Daleks win, and all life is wiped out save for them... it would be ''his'' hand that set it all in motion. He would be the one who killed the universe. |
| 228 | -->'''Davros''': That power would set me above the gods! And through the Daleks, I shall have that power! |
| 229 | ** Individual Daleks could also qualify given they're all programmed with SuperIntelligence. It's stated by the Doctor that a single Dalek drone has the brainpower to process "a thousand billion combinations" of numbers in order to hack a control panel. |
| 230 | ** TheMaster is the Doctor's equal when it comes to cunning and knowledge of time and space. But unlike the Doctor, the Master uses his intelligence to devise megalomaniacal plots to take over the universe or [[ForTheEvulz get on the Doctor's nerves]]. |
| 231 | ** Lady Cassandra has certain certain traits like this, being a very cunning character despite her ignorance towards past culture being [[PlayedForLaughs Played For Laughs.]] This trait of hers gets past on to Rose after she [[GrandTheftMe possesses her,]] granting her Cassandra's millenia of experience and knowledge, which greatly boosts Rose's already good detective skills allowing her to figure out the secrets of the cat nuns in no time at all in "New Earth" and even keeping up with the Doctor when it comes to computer systems. But Rose gets controlled by Cassandra's malevolent spirit in exchange gaining [[EvilBrit her supremacist traits.]] |
| 232 | * ''Series/GameOfThrones'': |
| 233 | ** Even by the high standards of Westeros' top schemers, Tywin is regarded as TheAce. Littlefinger, Varys and Olenna Tyrell all have high respect for his intelligence and ruthlessness. His son Tyrion even allows that "father has a good mind for strategy". |
| 234 | ** Qyburn for Queen Cersei Lannister. A disgraced Maester, he is skilled in a number of fields, serving as a medic (his first significant action in the series is to treat an amputee), spymaster (Cersei originally appointed him to fill Varys' post as Master of Whisperers), conducting a necromantic experiment to reanimate [[WorldsStrongestMan Ser Gregor Clegane]], brewed poison, and implemented the construction of ballistae on an near-industrial scale. |
| 235 | * ''{{Series/Gotham}}'': Oswald "[[ComicBook/ThePenguin The Penguin]]" Cobblepot has a tendency to outsmart his enemies, as, eventually, does Edward "[[ComicBook/TheRiddler The Riddler]]" Nygma. |
| 236 | ** Jeremiah Valeska, at the age of twenty-one, has already been a highly successful engineer for at least four years, is an expert at making extremely difficult-to-disarm explosives, and is a formidable enough [[TheChessmaster chessmaster]] that he has outsmarted both the Penguin and [[spoiler: the Riddler]] at various points. [[spoiler: Considering [[ComicBook/TheJoker who he's going to become]], this is hardly surprising. Like in the comics, the last episode of the series shows that the only one truly capable of stopping his plans through intelligence, rather than a mixture of intelligence and a generous amount of luck, is Batman.]] |
| 237 | * ''Series/TheFlash2014'' has [[ArchEnemy Eobard Thawne]] and [[EvilLuddite Clifford DeVoe]]. They create the most elaborate and complex plans against Barry and his team, so it's no wonder, that despite their ultimate failure they do deal a lot of damage. |
| 238 | * ''Franchise/KamenRider'': |
| 239 | ** Ryoma Sengoku from ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'' is an amoral scientist and the creator of both the [[TransformationTrinket Sengoku Driver]] and the Genesis Driver. His primary goal is to [[EvilutionaryBiologist bring about a superior lifeform to humanity]] through his inventions and he'll gladly sacrifice human lives ForScience. |
| 240 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderDrive'': The Brain Roidmude naturally fills this role among the Roidmudes, acting as TheStrategist and advisor to Heart. The Medic Roidmude is a much more diabolical version, putting her knowledge to use to reprogram Roidmudes and cull ones she deems to be unfit for the paradise the Roidmudes seek to bring about. |
| 241 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderGhost'' has Igor, top scientist of the Gamma and Adel's right-hand man, as well as the one he appoints to oversee the Demia Project. |
| 242 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderExAid'': [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Kuroto Dan]] is the CEO and chief programmer of Genm Corp, having singlehandedly coded most of Genm Corp's games and their corresponding [[TransformationTrinket Rider Gashats]]. He also wants to trap everyone in [[TheMostDangerousVideoGame Kamen Rider Chronicle]] as a testament to his genius, or as he puts it, his "[[AGodAmI godly talents]]." |
| 243 | ** ''Series/KamenRiderBuild'': Utsumi is this for the StandardEvilOrganizationSquad, although almost all of what he does is reverse engineer the inventions of other scientists for Faust and Namba Industries to exploit. Takumi Katsuragi, the "Devil's Scientist" who founded Faust, is also built up as an evil genius [[spoiler:but he turns out to be more of a WellIntentionedExtremist than anything.]] |
| 244 | * Giller from ''Series/LegendOfTheSeeker'' is both MadScientist and EvilSorcerer; the two most typical archtypes that fall under this trope. |
| 245 | * Depending on whether you see them as {{Antihero}}es or {{Antivillain}}s, Hardison of Series/{{Leverage}} Consulting & Associates is either TheSmartGuy or Evil Genius. His EvilCounterpart, Colin "Chaos" Mason is a non-ambiguous example being an InsufferableGenius and {{Jerkass}} extraordinaire who seems to view committing crimes as a way to stroke his own ego, and constantly betrays his own allies. |
| 246 | * Odd Todd from ''Series/OddSquad'', [[spoiler:Olive's previous partner and an ex-Investigation agent of Odd Squad,]] is very intelligent in the realm of mathematics, being able to figure problems out in his head at a rapidfire pace whereas others have to write it out or work through them verbally in order to solve them, which takes more time. [[spoiler:This is what led to his FaceHeelTurn, as he solved so many cases so fast that he eventually got bored and started creating oddness instead of fixing it.]] He's also a GadgeteerGenius and can create gadgets with ease. All of this is what makes him a dangerous threat to Odd Squad. |
| 247 | * Most incarnations of ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' have one of these among the villains, with responsibilities commonly including mass-producing Mooks and the MonsterOfTheWeek, [[MakeMyMonsterGrow making monsters grow]], and generally being the one who knows the most about the finer points of the magic/technology of the season. |
| 248 | ** In ''Franchise/PowerRangers'', the first and probably the most iconic among fans was Finster from ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', the series' first monster maker. |
| 249 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersTurbo'' has MadScientist Porto and TheHeavy General Havoc. |
| 250 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersInSpace'' has [[BigBad Astronema]] (MookMaker), Psycho Yellow (MadScientist) and Psycho Black (TheStrategist). |
| 251 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy'' has [[MadScientist Kegler]] and [[TheStarscream Deviot]]. |
| 252 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersLightspeedRescue'' has the EvilSorcerer Jinxer. |
| 253 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersMysticForce'' has the EvilSorcerer Imperious and General Itassis. |
| 254 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersOperationOverdrive'' has Ninja Master Kamdor who creates the MonsterOfTheWeek. |
| 255 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersJungleFury'' has Sky Overlord Carnisoar who acts as the BigBad's EvilMentor. |
| 256 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersMegaforce'' has DragonInChief Prince Vrak, EvilSorcerer Bigst and SecretaryOfEvil Metal Alice. |
| 257 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersDinoCharge'' has Wrench the mecanic of the BigBad's ship. |
| 258 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaSteel'' has [[WickedWitch Madame Odius]] and [[MakeMyMonsterGrow Cosmo Royale]]. |
| 259 | ** ''Series/PowerRangersDinoFury'' has EvilSorcerer Slyther, a MasterOfDisguise. |
| 260 | %%** In ''Series/PowerRangersZeo'', Klank is both the Evil Genius and TheDragon. |
| 261 | %%** ''Series/PowerRangersTimeForce'' has Frax, the BigBad's DragonWithAnAgenda. |
| 262 | %%** ''Series/PowerRangersWildForce'' has General Nayzor, the ArchEnemy of the SixthRanger. |
| 263 | %%** ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm'' has General Zurgane, TheDragon and Motodrone, the BadassBiker. |
| 264 | %%** ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'' has [[BigBad Mesogog]], [[TheDragon Zeltrax]] and Elsa. |
| 265 | %%** ''Series/PowerRangersRPM'' has the bulky General Shifter and TheDragon Killobyte. |
| 266 | %%** ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'' has [[ArmsDealer Broodwing]]. |
| 267 | %%** ''Series/PowerRangersSamurai'' and ''Super Samurai'' have Octoroo, the BigBad's most loyal minion. |
| 268 | %%** ''Power Rangers Super Megaforce'' has Levira. |
| 269 | %%** ''Power Rangers Dino Super Charge'' has [[PsychoRangers Doomwing]]. |
| 270 | %%** ''Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel'' has General Tynnamon. |
| 271 | %%** ''Series/PowerRangersBeastMorphers'' has TheDragon Scrozzle[[spoiler: who is also the PostFinalBoss]]. |
| 272 | * ''Series/Revenge2011'': If you go by AlternativeCharacterInterpretation, Mason Treadwell seems to take this role later in the first season, although he isn't fully aware of his role in Emily's scheming. |
| 273 | * ''Series/SevenStarFightingGodGuyferd'': Shion and Minoh are Crown's top researchers in the fields of [[AppliedPhlebotinum Fallah]] and cybernetics respectively, which makes them the ones responsible for creating the [[MonsterOfTheWeek monsters]] and {{mooks}} that fill Crown's ranks. Later on we're introduced to Kuzan, Crown's head scientist regarding their DoomsdayDevice, as well as a MadScientist who joined them simply to prove his research correct, even [[OmnicidalManiac at the expense of human civilization]]. |
| 274 | * ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' had plenty of Evil Geniuses, with Lionel Luthor, Lex Luthor, Brainiac, and Winslow "The Toyman" Schott running around. One interesting example is [[TheBaroness Tess Mercer]], who starts out as a villain but eventually pulls a HeelFaceTurn. She becomes one of two [[TheSmartGuy Smart Guys]] on the heroic side, but still in traditionally [[DarkIsNotEvil evil]] areas, being TheChessmaster, a ManipulativeBastard, and TheCracker to [[OmnidisciplinaryScientist Emil Hamilton]]'s [[TheMedic Medic]] and GadgeteerGenius. |
| 275 | * ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': |
| 276 | ** The skinny-bodied [[Characters/SupernaturalTheFourHorsemen Pestilence]] in particular among the Four HorsemenOfTheApocalypse. Under service to Lucifer, Pestilence heads a demon-run secret project to develop a strain of the [[TheVirus Croatoan virus]] which infects hosts in seconds, so it can be distributed simultaneously across the country hidden inside a new vaccine rollout. |
| 277 | ** Later episodes of Season 7 show he's certainly not the only one they have, but [[Characters/SupernaturalLeviathan Dr. Gaines]] serves this role among the Leviathans before his death. He's synthesized a food additive that is very addictive, and consumption leads to weight gain, and dampens people's emotional responses until they are very apathetic. It is latter refined to avoid the adverse effect of 0.03% of consumers turning into mindless hyper-adrenalized cannibals. |
| 278 | * Each lineup of villains in ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' tends to have at least one Evil Genius among them, like in its american counterpart ''Franchise/PowerRangers''. They may be the scientist who handles the villain group's technology or an EvilSorcerer, or the just the one who devises the [[EvilPlan villains' strategy]] each episode. |
| 279 | ** ''Series/HimitsuSentaiGoranger'' has Volcano Mask General Magman, the Black Cross Army's expert strategist and the third of the BigBad's CoDragons. |
| 280 | ** ''Series/BattleFeverJ'' has Commander Hedder, [[TheDragon second-in-command]] and mystic priest of Egos. |
| 281 | ** ''Series/DenshiSentaiDenziman'' and ''Series/TaiyouSentaiSunVulcan'' both have Queen Hedrian. She's the one who plans the majority of evil schemes in both shows and is also an EvilSorcerer who demonstrates a variety of magical abilities. After she joins [[RobotRepublic Black Magma]] she seemingly picks up knowledge of robotics as well. |
| 282 | ** ''Series/DaiSentaiGoggleFive'' has Doctor Iguana and Doctor Zazoriya at first, who design the Deathdark's HumongousMecha. After Fuhrer Taboo got tired of their bumbling, he had them replaced by Grand Marshall Deathmark. Interestingly, since Deathmark is also the chief [[TheStrategist Evil Plan formulator]] of the Deathdark, he's also ranked higher than the ostensible Dragon, General Deathgiller. |
| 283 | ** ''Series/KagakuSentaiDynaman'' has General Kar, lead scientist and genetics expert of the Jashinka Empire. Similarly to Deathmark, he outranks the Empire's prince and Dragon Megiddo in both the FantasticCasteSystem and BigBad Aton's respect. |
| 284 | ** ''Series/ChoudenshiBioman'' has the BigBad, Doctor Man, who quite literally built the Neo Empire Gear's KillerRobot force. |
| 285 | ** ''Series/DengekiSentaiChangeman'' has Navigator Gator, although his role amounts to little other than piloting the Gozmard. |
| 286 | ** ''Series/ChoushinseiFlashman'' has Great Doctor Lie Köpflen. Similar to Deathmark and Kar up there, he's actually the NumberTwo of his organization, as he's the one who genetically engineered all of the other Mess generals, including TheDragon Leh Wanda. |
| 287 | ** ''Series/HikariSentaiMaskman'': Anagmas is a different sort than most, being the head librarian and mystic of [[TheEmpire Underground Empire Tube]]. Despite being a goofy looking bat-like creature, he's actually one of the more dangerous members of Tube since his schemes have a higher chance of succeeding, and he's one of the few minions [[BadBoss Emperor Zeba]] actually seems to respect, to the point he eventually promotes Anagmas to be the official NumberTwo of Tube over [[TheDragon Igam]] and [[TheBrute Baraba]]. |
| 288 | ** ''Series/ChoujuuSentaiLiveman'': The Armed Brain Army Volt are an entire organization of these, being an [[AcademyOfEvil evil genius training academy]] where each of their executives is competing to be the biggest genius in Volt. Although of the Volt's entire lineup, [[TheHeavy Kemp]] and Mazenda are the ones who end up obtaining the highest [=IQs=] [[spoiler:Which makes them suitable candidates for [[BigBad Bias]]'s true plans...]] |
| 289 | ** ''Series/KousokuSentaiTurboranger'' has Doctor Lehda, a Boma scientist and mystic. Like many previous examples, he also serves as their NumberTwo, serving as the leader of the four generals and [[spoiler:being the ClimaxBoss whose death ends the show's first arc]]. |
| 290 | ** ''Series/ChikyuuSentaiFiveman'' has Galactic Scientist Doldora, the weapons designer of Zone. |
| 291 | ** ''Series/ChoujinSentaiJetman'' has Tran, a telepathic genius and very CreepyChild. |
| 292 | ** ''Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger'' has Pleprechaun, who is responsible for molding the {{Mooks}} and monsters the Bandora Gang uses. |
| 293 | ** ''Series/GoseiSentaiDairanger'': The Gorma Tribe didn't really have a designated evil genius, though several {{arc villain}} did demonstrate mystical abilities. Lieutenant Colonel Shadam may be this overall however since [[spoiler:he was manipulating everything in the series to make himself the Gorma's new ruler.]] |
| 294 | ** ''Series/NinjaSentaiKakuranger'' has Professor Yugami, a scientist working with the Youkai. |
| 295 | ** ''Series/ChourikiSentaiOhranger'' has [[TheJeeves Acha]], a butler to the Baranoia imperial family who enlarges their monsters. |
| 296 | ** ''Series/GekisouSentaiCarranger'' has two: MadScientist Grotch and TheStrategist Ritchihiker. |
| 297 | ** ''Series/DenjiSentaiMegaranger'' has Doctor Hinelar. Although like many older examples up there, he was ranked higher than the Dragon due to being Nezirejia's [[TheHeavy invasion commander]]. |
| 298 | ** ''Series/SeijuuSentaiGingaman'' has [[EvilMentor Barreled Scholar Burcrates]] and [[MadScientist Darkness Merchant Biznella]]. Spectral Empress Iliess was a different sort, as the Balban's EvilSorceress. |
| 299 | ** ''[[Series/KyukyuSentaiGoGoV Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive]]'' has [[EvilSorcerer Spell Master]] [[TheJeeves Pierre]], whose main role is to [[MakeMyMonsterGrow enlarge the monsters]]. |
| 300 | ** ''Series/MiraiSentaiTimeranger'' has Gien, who builds the [[MechaMooks Zenitts]] for Don Dolnero's operations. |
| 301 | ** ''Series/HyakujuuSentaiGaoranger'' has Highness Duke Org Ura, an exceptionally brilliant [[TheChessmaster chessmaster]] who manipulated everyone into fulfilling his plan involving the Thousand-Year Evil. |
| 302 | ** ''Series/NinpuuSentaiHurricaneger'' has Third Spear, Manmaruba, a psychic insect capable of seeing into the future, whose predictions make him one of Tau Zant's most useful minions. Fifth Spear, Sargain is a secondary one and fills this role when he's not acting as TheDragon or TheBrute, given how he's the engineer who designed Jakanja's Karakuri system, builds their mecha and handles most of the other technology they use. |
| 303 | ** ''Series/BakuryuuSentaiAbaranger'' has Creative Apostle Mikela and Visionary Apostle Voffa, the Evolian [[MakerOfMonsters monster makers]]. |
| 304 | ** ''Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger'' has Agent Abrella, the merchant who builds and sells the MechaMooks, giant robots and other weaponry that the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Alienizers]] all make use of. |
| 305 | ** ''Series/MahouSentaiMagiranger'' has Dark Magic Priest Meemy. Wise Goddess Sphinx was this among the Infershia Pantheon. |
| 306 | ** ''Series/GoGoSentaiBoukenger'': Most players in the BigBadEnsemble are this to some degree. Gajah is a priest who works with ancient technology, Ryuuwon creates his minions through a combination of machinery and alchemy, and Gekkou is a wise bird versed in mystical ninja arts. The exceptions to this are the Questers Gai and Rei, who instead of inventing their own technology just bullied Gajah into giving them his. |
| 307 | ** ''Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger'' has Sky Fist Kata, whose martial arts style relies mostly on illusion-casting. Long also becomes this after he appears, acting as Rio's main advisor and the one guiding him to seek greater power [[spoiler:although he harbors [[TheManInFrontOfTheMan ulterior motives]].]] |
| 308 | ** ''Series/EngineSentaiGoOnger'' has TheStrategist Hiramechimedes. Kitaneidas also tries his hand at this whenever he's acting as a MadScientist. |
| 309 | ** ''Series/SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'' had Shitari of the Bones, the Gedoshu sage who views humans as fodder for his research projects. |
| 310 | ** ''Series/TensouSentaiGoseiger'': Buredoran is this to the Warstar and Yuumajuu factions, serving as their tactician and [[MookMaker provider of Bibi Bugs]]. Robogorg is also this in the Matrintis Empire, being an EmperorScientist who built most of the robots in his empire, including [[TheDragon Metal Alice]]. |
| 311 | ** ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'' has Development Technical Officer Insarn, the leading scientist of the Zangyack Empire and the one responsible for their newer technology, including the [[MakeMyMonsterGrow enlargement ray]]. |
| 312 | ** ''Series/TokumeiSentaiGoBusters'' has Enter, who plans operations for the Vaglass and creates the Metaloids. |
| 313 | ** ''Series/ZyudenSentaiKyoryuger'' has Funfilled Spy Luckyuro, the Deboth Army's main [[MakeMyMonsterGrow monster enlarger]]. Resentful Knight Endolf is a different sort, as a bona fide ManipulativeBastard. |
| 314 | ** ''Series/ResshaSentaiToqger'' has General Schwartz, a gifted military commander and strategist ''and'' very much a GeniusBruiser. |
| 315 | ** ''Series/ShurikenSentaiNinninger'' has Makasage Tsugoromi, TheStrategist of the Kibaoni Army Corps. |
| 316 | ** ''Series/DoubutsuSentaiZyuohger'' has Quval, who prefers psychological tactics in contrast to the brutish ones his fellow Team Leader Azald likes to employ. |
| 317 | ** ''Series/UchuSentaiKyuranger'' has [[MadScientist Doctor Anton]]. |
| 318 | ** ''Series/KaitouSentaiLupinrangerVSKeisatsuSentaiPatranger'' has Goche Re Medou, the medic of the Ganglers whose role is to enlarge defeated Ganglers. |
| 319 | ** ''Series/KishiryuSentaiRyusoulger'' has Wiserue, the magician and strategist of the Druidon Tribe. |
| 320 | ** ''Series/MashinSentaiKiramager'' has [[MadArtist Dark Magician Carantula]], who designs the "Evil Masks" used to empower [[MonsterOfTheWeek Jamenshi]] and [[{{Kaiju}} Jamen Beasts]]. |
| 321 | %%** ''Series/KikaiSentaiZenkaiger'' has Mecanical Officer Ijirude [[spoiler:who is the ClimaxBoss]]. |
| 322 | * ''Franchise/UltraSeries'' has a few. |
| 323 | ** Alien Mefilas, first seen in the original ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' series. He's one of the few monsters in the series to prefer cunning over physical strength, as he dislikes fighting and would rather take over Earth through manipulation instead. |
| 324 | ** Alien Nackle from ''Series/ReturnOfUltraman'' is one of the franchise's most vicious and underhanded. His whole plan was to emotionally break Goh by targeting his loved ones. |
| 325 | ** Yapool, a recurring enemy of the Ultra first seen in ''Series/UltramanAce'', is an ethereal entity who creates monsters through his command of arcane sciences and sorcery. He's also a skilled strategist and manipulator who devises some pretty intricate plans to defeat the Ultras. And he can do things like revive past monsters too. |
| 326 | * Elizabeth from ''Series/WickedScience'' becomes a genius and she uses her new intelligence as a way to try to get money, fame and Toby's affections. The evil part is that she has little morals when it comes to use her inventions, including using a teleporter to sneak in Toby's laboratory so her goon can destroy/steal/sabotage whatever Toby is creating in the episode, or trapping him in a GroundhogDayLoop so he accepts the new universe in which he's trapped, where they are a couple and his friends hate him. |
| 327 | [[/folder]] |
| 328 | |
| 329 | [[folder:Mythology]] |
| 330 | * Shakuni, EvilUncle of EvilPrince Duryodhana in the ''Literature/{{Mahabharata}}''. |
| 331 | [[/folder]] |
| 332 | |
| 333 | [[folder:Professional Wrestling]] |
| 334 | * Manager turned wrestler turned manager "PrettyBoy" Wrestling/BobbyHeenan, while perhaps not thinking of himself as "evil", is {{insufferable|genius}} on anything he believes to be correct and almost completely immoral. In Wrestling/{{WCW}} it turned out he didn't approve of the Wrestling/{{new World order}} though but true to the trope, was the only one to suggest Wrestling/HulkHogan ''might'' be a part of it, though he had been critical of Hogan since the Wrestling/{{A|mericanWrestlingAssociation}}WA. Another irony is that Heenan had to drop out of school as a child due to a lack of money got his first managerial role after carrying wrestler bags to support his family. His loud mouth "Brain" persona may have been a front. |
| 335 | * Lightning Hernandez was described as "an evil genius" on the Dominican Republic television program "International Wrestling" and was implied to be [[EvilIsOneBigHappyFamily directing all the bad wrestlers and managers]](but then, Jack Veneno was implied to be behind all the ''[[{{Face}} tecnicos]]''. |
| 336 | * When Wrestling/SamoaJoe was Wrestling/RingOfHonor's [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/roh/roh-h.html World Champion]] he was always preceded by "The Evil Genius" when his music hit. This was a bit of a misnomer though, as Joe won the belt ''well'' after his HeelFaceTurn had set in, and even when Joe was hired by Wrestling/ChristopherDaniels's evil PowerStable The Prophecy and a part of Steve Corino's money grubbing Group Joe was the TokenGoodTeammate because he followed the {{code|ofhonour}}. On the other hand, Daniels and Corino themselves qualified well for this trope, as they often employed shady code defying strategies to win matches well after their own face turns. |
| 337 | * In the remnants of the Wrestling/NationalWrestlingAlliance, "The Mastermind" Dave [=DuPont=] is an {{expy}} of Heenan, shifting between wrestler and manager. |
| 338 | * In what would sadly be his final match, on the November 11th (taped November 8th), 2005 ''Wrestling/{{WWESmackDown}}'', Wrestling/EddieGuerrero defeated [[Wrestling/KenAnderson Mr. Kennedy]] by disqualification with his "chair fake" routine.[[note]]Referee Charles Robinson was knocked down, so Eddie rolled out to the floor and grabbed a chair and threw it to Kennedy and lied down to make it look like Kennedy had hit him with the chair even though he hadn't. The referee saw Kennedy holding the chair and disqualified him.[[/note]] |
| 339 | -->'''Wrestling/{{Tazz}}''': "Mr. Kennedy just found out that [[RedBaron Latino Heat]] is an evil genius." |
| 340 | [[/folder]] |
| 341 | |
| 342 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 343 | * In ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'', Yawgmoth is this and the BigBad, but in New Phyrexia, with its five-color theme, Jin-Gitaxis, the blue praetor, takes this role. |
| 344 | * ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' has Fabius Bile, former Apothecary of the Emperor's Children. Unlike most examples, he's very much imposing, being seven feet tall and wearing PowerArmor, makes the TrainingFromHell and surgical procedures to make Chaos SpaceMarines even more restrictive, and has even declared that the four gods of Chaos have [[EvilerThanThou nothing left to offer him]]. |
| 345 | [[/folder]] |
| 346 | |
| 347 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 348 | %%* [[MadScientist Professor Hojo]] in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' is this to President Shinra. |
| 349 | * ''VideoGame/WildArms1'' has the MadScientist demon Alhazad. ''VideoGame/WildArms4'' has part-scientist, part-strategist Augst. |
| 350 | * Albert [[TheStrategist Silverberg]] of ''VideoGame/SuikodenIII''. |
| 351 | * In ''Franchise/FireEmblem'', it's not uncommon to have an EvilSorcerer or HighPriest of the ReligionOfEvil act as the Evil Genius. Often this character is also the BigBad or TheDragon and/or the EvilChancellor. |
| 352 | ** [[spoiler:Izuka]] in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn''. |
| 353 | * ''VideoGame/NintendoWars'': |
| 354 | ** In ''Advance Wars Black Hole Rising'' and ''Dual Strike'', PerkyGoth Lash provides the bad guys with all of their advanced technology. |
| 355 | ** Caulder/Dr Stolos in ''Days of Ruin'', who eventually becomes the BigBad. |
| 356 | * ''Franchise/BlazBlue'': |
| 357 | ** Hazama/Terumi Yuuki. The most dangerous thing about his genius, however, isn't his trancendental knowledge of alchemy, which allowed him to create the titular [[ArtifactOfDoom Blaz Blue]], the [[{{Orochi}} Black Beast]], [[EldritchAbomination Arakune]] and some other unpleasant things, but rather his tactical genius, which, so far, has allowed him to [[DefeatingTheUndefeatable outmaneuver an omniscient supercomputer with three minds]] (although he got help from the guy below). |
| 358 | ** There must also be a mention of Relius Clover, a brilliant researcher who sought only perfection and has performed horrendous experiments and {{plan}}s, as shown during his EX Story where he played Sector Seven and Kokonoe for chumps. Though he had less time to shine than Hazama it could be said that Relius is an even purer example of this trope: We learn that much of Hazama's apparent genius comes from his ability to [[RippleProofMemory remember previous timeloops]] and he loses this edge once the loops stop, while Relius' defining characteristics are his [[MadScientist intellectual brilliance]], [[ForScience scientific curiosity]], and [[TheSociopath lack of concern for the fallout]]. |
| 359 | * In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'', Vexen, a stereotypical MadScientist fits for this role. Then, in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' we have Luxord, a strategic gambler. [[spoiler:However, neither are truely evil, and Vexen even becomes a secret ally of Sora in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'']]. |
| 360 | ** In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI'', [[WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}} Jafar]] definitely owned this role. |
| 361 | * Galak Fyyar from ''VideoGame/JediOutcast''. |
| 362 | * In ''VideoGame/EpicMickey'', WesternAnimation/TheMadDoctor appears to be TheDragon for the [[BlobMonster Shadow Blot]]. Later however, it is revealed that the Shadow Blot himself is TheDragon for the real Shadow Blot (the other Blot revealed to be just a disconnected part). This moves our MadScientist, to the position of this trope. |
| 363 | * Agnus fills this position for [[SinisterMinister Sanctus]] in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4''. Although one could equally argue that he's TheDragon, as he appears to be the only member of the Order beyond Sanctus who truly understands what's going on, killing him is the last thing that needs to be done before the final confrontation, and the nominal Dragon is a HonorBeforeReason HeroAntagonist. |
| 364 | * The player character in ''VideoGame/EvilGenius'' is the titular evil genius, obviously. There's actually three evil geniuses to choose from in the game: [[SeriesMascot Maximilian Von Klein]], [[TheBaroness Alexis]], and [[YellowPeril Shen Yu]]. All want to TakeOverTheWorld by building their personal SupervillainLair, establishing a criminal network across the globe, and using all the stolen money to fund their DoomsdayDevice. In the sequel, ''VideoGame/EvilGenius2'', Maximillian returns alongside four new evil geniuses: [[TheGeneralissimo Red Ivan]], [[TheSpymaster Emma]], [[MadScientist Zalika]], and [[AnIcePerson Polar]]. |
| 365 | * Murzhor in ''VideoGame/HerosRealm''. He's got a bit of MasterofIllusion to boot. |
| 366 | * Dr. Elvin Atombender from the ''VideoGame/ImpossibleMission'' games is a genius computer programmer and former university professor. Although he has been unstable his whole life, he officially became criminally insane when a power failure caused the deletion of an artificial intelligence program that he had nearly finished. The player must stop him from hacking into the defense networks of the world's superpowers and starting a nuclear holocaust. |
| 367 | * Dr. Vu in the ''VideoGame/SimCity'' and ''VideoGame/TheSims'' series. |
| 368 | * ''VideoGame/LunarTheSilverStar'' has Taben, who creates a mechanical army for the Vile Tribe and Magic Emperor. |
| 369 | * ''VideoGame/{{Strider}}'': |
| 370 | ** Herzog Schlange in ''[[VideoGame/StriderArcade Strider 2]]'' and Professor Schlange in the [[VideoGame/Strider2014 HD ''Strider'' remake]]. Both are (mad) geniuses in charge of building the bizarre mechanical monsters and weapons used by the Grandmaster's army. In the latter's case, he's charged over the Grandmaster's entire research complex, and seems to be only below [[TheDragon Juroung]] in terms of ranks. Though this didn't save him from being [[OffingTheAnnoyance offed]] in the end. |
| 371 | ** The Grandmaster himself has shades of this, though he leans more toward genetic engineering instead of robotics, in his quest to create a new race to which replace "the sons of old gods" and rule Earth as a true God. |
| 372 | * Dr. Kimaira in ''VideoGame/{{Tenchu}}: Wrath of Heaven'', notably because he's a MadScientist who creates ''wooden automatons with hidden machine-guns'' in '''medieval Japan'''. |
| 373 | * Crow from ''VideoGame/{{Nefarious}}'', who doubles as the playable VillainProtagonist. |
| 374 | * Though most of [[NebulousEvilOrganization Umbrella's]] scientists in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'' counted as this, the most developed and well-known of them all was William Birkin. Not only was he one of the few scientists to ''not'' be completely unstable and insane, as he managed to have a (relatively) normal family life with a wife and child, but he was also responsible for creating both the T and G viruses which drove the entire plot up to ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4''. Albert Wesker's also pretty darned intelligent too, though his skills are more of the ChessMaster / MagnificentBastard variety rather than lab work[[note]]He ''did'' work in the laboratory, though what he created (if anything) hasn't been revealed[[/note]]. |
| 375 | * ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIVBlackFlag'' has Julien du Casse playing this role for the [[AncientConspiracy Templars]], serving as the Order's main supplier of weaponry and ammunition. |
| 376 | %% * [[BigBad Dr. Eggman]] from ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog''. |
| 377 | * In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'': Agahnim's knowledge of sorcery is the key to his power and his plan to imprison the Maidens in the Dark World does succeed despite Link's efforts to stop him. |
| 378 | [[/folder]] |
| 379 | |
| 380 | [[folder:Visual Novels]] |
| 381 | * In [=ClockUp's=] ''Euphoria'', [[spoiler:this is what Kanae turns out to be, [[BitchInSheepsClothing among]] [[MadScientist other]] [[BettyAndVeronicaSwitch things.]]]] |
| 382 | [[/folder]] |
| 383 | |
| 384 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 385 | * ''Webcomic/DrNonami'' has Dr. Mechano, an eccentric yet dangerous evil mastermind. |
| 386 | * In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', "Scarf" the [[OurVampiresAreDifferent aberration]] is the smartest and most cunning of the aberration mercenaries and displays his intelligence by avoiding easily countered brute force or pure magic attacks in favour of a magic augmented sneak attack. He's the one who set up the plan to kill Raven. |
| 387 | * ''Webcomic/FollyAndInnovation'' uses this trope [[http://follyandinnovation.com/2010/08/facebook-a-devious-scheme-nah-theres-no-way/ here]] speculating Website/{{Facebook}}'s origins |
| 388 | * ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' is crawling with them. Even some protagonists, on a few occasions. |
| 389 | * ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': General Tarquin is sort of this to his own team of aging adventurers ([[https://twitter.com/richburlew/status/435651746556149760 nicknamed]] "The Vector Legion"). According to [[WordOfGod Word of the Giant]], the other team members see him as the 'ideas guy', who comes up with plans that a group of very powerful evil adventurers [[PragmaticVillainy can all join in on for their mutual benefit without backstabbing each other]]. Tarquin himself thinks this makes him their leader. The others don't, but think he's useful enough not to press the issue. They also have two actual evil geniuses who takes care of all the actual planning and minutiae. |
| 390 | * Elia of ''Webcomic/TrueVillains'' takes over most Evil Genius duties. Just replace technology with magic. |
| 391 | * ''Webcomic/WaywardSons'': Doctor Chu, who very much enjoys performing torturous experiments on live subjects. |
| 392 | * Donald Na from ''Webcomic/WeakHero''. It wasn't just his fighting and leadership skills that landed him as head of the Union, but also his unmatched business savvy that brought order to an otherwise chaotic group ([[ChildProdigy back in middle school, no less]]). |
| 393 | [[/folder]] |
| 394 | |
| 395 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 396 | * ''WebVideo/ArbyNTheChief'': |
| 397 | ** Brian in Season 5, on account of being an OMN Administrator, though he's [[AntiVillain not really evil]] and he's only an antagonist because he's associated with [[BigBad Trent Donnovich]]. |
| 398 | ** Justin "[=SniperDeathAngel00=]" in Season 6 plays this more straight, being the creator of the Fragban hacks used by Chaos Theosis and the Underground Hackers. |
| 399 | ** Season 7 has Colin Hunt, the inventor of the Fragban 2.0 hacks. |
| 400 | * [[PuttingOnTheReich Führer]] [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Katrina Seran]] from v2 of ''Roleplay/OpenBlue'' was a [[TheStrategist strategist]], ChessMaster, and [[TheCaptain ship captain]] who became ruler of her country at the [[ImprobableAge age of 20]], possibly due to her own machinations. |
| 401 | * Belial in ''Literature/TheSalvationWar'' is one of these, and is the one Baldrick who actually inflicts serious damage on the humans. |
| 402 | * Music/DoctorSteel. Naturally. |
| 403 | * In the Literature/WhateleyUniverse, there are lots of MadScientist types. The ones who work for other supervillains tend to be characters like Chessmaster or Nimbus. The two of them nearly destroyed [[SuperheroSchool Whateley Academy]] on Halloween. |
| 404 | * Dr. Spectre from ''Blog/TheTyrannosaurChronicles''. |
| 405 | * Tattletale fills this role in ''Literature/{{Worm}}'', though it should be noted that she's not supersmart, instead her power makes her a master of the SherlockScan, which she uses to great effect in social, combat, and political situations. |
| 406 | * ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Out of [[BigBad Salem's]] associates, Watts appears to be the group's planner and manipulator; his programming expertise allows [[TheHeavy Cinder]] to plant a virus on the CCT computers in Vale that bear the signature "W" that he uses when communicating digitally with others. He admits that Seer Grimm fascinates him, and Salem puts him in charge of replacing [[LittleBitBeastly Tyrian's broken tail]]. Raven calls him a "disgraced Atlesian scientist", a description he objects to because it misses the fact that he's "technically a doctor" as well. [[spoiler:In Volume 7, he confirms he helped write the code for Mantle's security codes and, because Mantle's security is so outdated, he can easily hack the system remotely, ensuring his ability to walk openly on the streets without being electronically detected. A photo on Dr. Polendina's desk also shows a younger Arthur, implying he was part of the program that led to [[RobotGirl Penny's creation]] as well, and he later remotely hacks Penny to plant a virus in her that will force her to follow Ironwood's instructions and then self-terminate once she's carried them out.]] |
| 407 | [[/folder]] |
| 408 | |
| 409 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 410 | * ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has two for the Fire Nation. One is Princess Azula, TheDragon to Fire Lord Ozai, who is one of the greatest strategists in the series as she single-handedly masterminds a plan to take over the Earth Kingdom's capital, dealing the heroes a crushing defeat at the end of Book 2 without causing any war. The other is War Minister Qin, who is responsible for developing whatever military innovations the Fire Nation comes up with, including the Drill and the airships. |
| 411 | * Tarantulas of ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' is this all over the place. |
| 412 | * ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' gives as Bushroot, a member of the Fearsome Five group. |
| 413 | * Mandark from ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory''. |
| 414 | * ''WesternAnimation/ExoSquad'' has a ''race'' of Evil Geniuses called Neo Megas. |
| 415 | * ''WesternAnimation/Invincible2021'': [[Characters/Invincible2021Supervillains D.A. Sinclair]]. His main assets are his intellect and cybernetic skills, which Cecil remarks on [[spoiler:and which lead to Cecil recruiting him to the GDA]]. When it comes to physical combat, he's obviously rather useless and is reliant on his Reanimen. He's also an InsufferableGenius as a civvie and he reserves his manners for his victims when he's about to operate on them. |
| 416 | * In ''WesternAnimation/IronManArmoredAdventures'', there is Rhona Edwin, who was the best student at the Tomorrow Academy before Tony Stark showed up. After becoming convinced that Tony has been cheating, she takes the entire school hostage and forces Tony into a sort of game show from hell to prove his intelligence. |
| 417 | * Heloise on ''WesternAnimation/JimmyTwoShoes'', [[ChaoticNeutral whenever it suits her]] to work for Lucius. |
| 418 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'': Both [[GadgeteerGenius Mr. Cat]] and [[RobotMaster Olaf]] fit this trope. |
| 419 | * In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', both [[GeniusDitz Varrick]] and [[AntagonisticOffspring Baatar Jr.]] (who's also TheDragon and [[DarkMistress Doctor Boyfriend]]) could be considered this for [[TheConqueror Kuvira]]'s army, being {{Mad Scientist}}s; when Varrick [[HeelFaceTurn defects]], Baatar takes the role full-time. Of course, it's more or less clear Baatar is much better than Varrick, a fact the latter is loathe to put up with. |
| 420 | * Wraith in ''WesternAnimation/MightyDucksTheAnimatedSeries'', distinguished for mainly using [[FunctionalMagic magic]] when the BigBad [[MagicVersusScience prefers technology]]. |
| 421 | * Doofenshmirtz from ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb''. A DitzyGenius to be sure, but like the title characters, he's nevertheless smart enough to invent ''anything'' in only a few hours, even to the point of [[BeyondTheImpossible flagrantly defying the laws of physics]]. |
| 422 | * Brain in ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'''... [[DownplayedTrope kinda]]; despite attempting to TakeOverTheWorld every night, he's not really evil. |
| 423 | * ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'': "The Brain of Evil" has a sentient brain that Mordecai and Rigby accidentally release. It hijacks the park and launches it out of the Space Tree. It can only be defeated by beating it a game of chess, but doing so is an incredibly difficult task. He is also extremely arrogant and boastful, doubling as an InsufferableGenius. |
| 424 | * ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' has Rick himself in this trope. He's the smartest man in the multiverse with the chops to prove it. One of the brightest examples of Rick in this trope is during the Season 3 premiere, when he analyses the LotusEaterMachine he's imprisoned in, traps the interrogator in his body and escapes the machine, causes the devastation of both the Council of Ricks ''and'' the Galactic Federation while both were out for his blood, and causes [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Beth's divorce with Jerry]]. |
| 425 | ** Evil Morty as well. [[spoiler: He outsmarted our Rick at least twice with Rick having no clue how, and breaks out of the part of TheMultiverse ''specifically designed'' to keep Rick as the smartest person in the universe, meaning he outsmarted a literal universe of the smartest people in the multiverse.]] |
| 426 | * As per usual, Doctor Octopus is a super villain who is also a brilliant engineer and inventor. He goes the extra mile by having "Evil Genius" printed on the side of his coffee mug in ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan''. Although he is subordinate to no one. |
| 427 | * Alistair Smythe works as an evil genius for the Kingpin in ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries''. |
| 428 | * ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': [[Characters/StarVsTheForcesOfEvilToffee Toffee's]] extremely smart and intellectual among the monsters, having knowledge about the royal family and magic, and plans strategies that are very effective. Seems to also be a GeniusBruiser since he used to be a general. |
| 429 | * Dr. Stinger from ''WesternAnimation/SuperDuperSumos'' is an interesting example because, while none of the other villains show him any respect at all, he's really the only one on the villains' side who ever actually ''does'' anything. |
| 430 | * Two examples from ''WesternAnimation/{{Teen Titans|2003}}'': |
| 431 | ** Gizmo is the resident GadgeteerGenius of [[QuirkyMinibossSquad the HIVE Five]], though his utter lack of people skills keeps him from rising any higher. |
| 432 | ** [[BrainInAJar The Brain]] pulls double duty as Evil Genius ''and'' BigBad of the Brotherhood of Evil. |
| 433 | * ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'': [[Characters/TotalDramaDuncan Duncan's]] the master of building complex things with ease. Even [[{{Jerkass}} Heather]] complimented him for being one. |
| 434 | * The Decepticons in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' mainly have three: Soundwave (CommunicationsOfficer and [[BigBrotherIsWatching surveillance expert]]), Knock Out (medic who moonlights as a MadScientist) and Shockwave (chief science officer, inventor, [[TheSpock logic-minded intellectual]] and [[EvilutionaryBiologist cloning expert]]). |
| 435 | * ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'' has [[HypercompetentSidekick Commander Peepers]], whose head for science and strategy makes him the brains behind Lord Hater's evil empire. There's also [[KnightOfCerebus Lord Dominator]], who according to the writers is [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter even smarter than Peepers]]. |
| 436 | * Several villains from ''WesternAnimation/WordGirl''. |
| 437 | ** Dr. Two-Brains will invent all sorts of ray guns and other gadgets to achieve his single-minded goal of eating [[TrademarkFavoriteFood cheese]]. |
| 438 | ** Tobey is a [[ChildProdigy ten-to-twelve years old]] GadgeteerGenius and RobotMaster who regularly sends his homemade giant robots to attack the city, usually either because he's angry about something or so he can spend time with [=WordGirl=], whom he has a VillainousCrush on. |
| 439 | ** Victoria Best is an AlphaBitch ExtracurricularEnthusiast who strives to be, well, the best at anything and everything, including academics. |
| 440 | * ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'': Though he doesn't fit all of the character tropes, Jack Spicer (himself a self-proclaimed Evil Genius, with emphasis on ''self-proclaimed'') calls Chase Young "the greatest Evil Genius in the world" and there's no denying that it's true. As for Jack himself - there's no denying that he ''is'' a genius, it's just whether or not he's actually, you know, ''evil''. |
| 441 | [[/folder]] |
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