Line #16 SugarWiki/GushingAboutVillainsYouLike


1	Villains are a lot of many different things.
2
3	You have the antagonists who are [[SympathyForTheDevil sympathetic]] and potentially [[JerkassWoobie even]] [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds woobies.]] You have the antagonists who [[WellIntentionedExtremist most likely meant well, but unfortunately became villains because of their good intentions.]] You have the antagonists who have their [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes loved ones]] and [[EvenEvilHasStandards standards,]] yet are still a force to be reckoned with. And then there are the antagonists that are [[CompleteMonster absolutely heinous and irredeemable, with nothing remotely pleasant about them.]]
4
5	And yet, despite the fact that we're supposed to be rooting for the good guys instead, we still absolutely ''[[LoveToHate love]]'' the bad guys, for whatever reason.
6
7	Maybe they have some [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic kickass theme music.]] Maybe they're so [[NightmareFuel terrifying and powerful,]] you can't help but be intrigued by them. Or heck, maybe the protagonists just aren't interesting enough to warrant much of your attention, so you're [[RootingForTheEmpire rooting for the much more entertaining villains.]]
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9	Whatever the reason, this page was created for the sole purpose of gushing about the baddies you love to hate!
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11	Related to SugarWiki/GushingAboutCharactersYouLike, SugarWiki/GushingAboutShowsYouLike, etc.
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13	'''NOTE:''' Please do '''NOT''' bash other people for liking a villain who may not be your cup of tea, for whatever reason! This page is for gushing and ''not'' starting [[FlameWar flame wars!]] Also, please remember to put examples in alphabetical order of the name of the work to avoid duplicates and confusion.
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15	There might be '''unmarked spoilers''' on this page, as well. So, just be mindful of that.
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17	----
18	[[foldercontrol]]
19
20	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
21	* Even though there are many cool ''Franchise/DragonBall'', special mention goes to Goku Black form ''Anime/DragonBallSuper''. From his calm and cool demeanor, his faux-polite mannerisms, his unique and cool powers and the way he is smug about it, and his speech about how he is going to eradicate humanity for justice or how superior he is to all the mortals. As much of a colossal bastard as he is, the way he acts easily makes him one of the coolest villains in the entire Dragon Ball franchise. Sadly his [[Manga/DragonBallSuper manga incarnation]] isn't really as received as his anime counterpart.
22	** On the topic of Dragon Ball Super and Goku Black, special mention also (and I guess by proxy, as well) goes to Zamasu. Unlike most villains who start off strong like Frieza or Buu, or starts of average then works his way up like Cell, Zamasu has a [[WorldsStrongestMan Sword]] and [[CompleteImmortality shield]] dynamic with Goku Black. Aside from being the first villain to achieve in outright killing Goku (or at least an alternate version of Goku) ''and'' the first (canon) villain to achieve immortality, his [[SmugSnake haughty personality]], [[EvilIsHammy almost Shakespearean mannerisms]] and [[ContrastingSequelAntagonist rather divergent]] [[KnightTemplar motive]], Zamasu treads the line of [[KnightOfCerebus truly chilling villain]] and NarmCharm.
23	** Among all the villains of ''Dragon Ball'', there are no other characters that can match the uniqueness and characterization than the revamped Broly from ''Anime/DragonBallSuperBroly''. In contrast to his non-canon counterpart who is essentially a giant fucking baby due to hating Kakarot for crying for three hours, this Broly is a tragic multi-dimensional character to the point that when he is about to lose, rather than cheering for his defeat, you cried and plead with the movie to not kill him.
24	* In a similar vein to above, Kira Yoshikage from ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable''. He is cool and collected, but incredibly twisted in the brilliantly written way that Horihiko Araki writes his villains. He manages to turn down the stakes of the series while keeping the back half of the show tense, fun, and enjoyable. And while he isn't nearly as hammy as DIO, he has plenty of both SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment\|s}} and SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome. Not mentioning the amazing final fight against him, [[spoiler: beginning with him on top of the world and ending in him getting done the dirtiest of all of the main Jojo villains, even more so than Kars.]] You'll never look at the Mona Lisa the same way again.
25	* Johan Liebert of ''Manga/{{Monster}}'' fame is frequently cited as one of - if not ''the'' best - anime/manga villain ever, and for ''very'' good reason! He puts up such a convincing act to make people believe that he's really very kind, compassionate and gentle, when in reality he's a... well, just look at the title of the manga. Throughout the story, he manipulates people into either killing themselves or committing crimes for him; which include setting a highly occupied library aflame as well as killing several people which happens to include his own twin sister's adoptive parents. He's also ''frighteningly'' intelligent as he figures out that a detective was lying about killing a criminal drunk when in reality he was sober before either convincing him to commit suicide or shoving him off a tall building. Not to mention that he also plays kindly with children... which just so happens to include convincing them to play a "game" in which they throw themselves off the roofs of tall buildings, and "if at first they don't succeed, try again". And in one of the most despicable acts he's ever done (and that's ''really'' saying something), he tells a young orphan boy to go to a red light district in order to find his mother and that if he doesn't find her, it means that nobody loves him and he's not wanted. There, the boy sees some truly awful things and almost ''commits suicide'' in response to all of this! After all of this, some of you might be wondering if he UsedToBeASweetKid with some kind of FreudianExcuse, right? '''WRONG!''' He also was an EnfanteTerrible that murdered several sets of adoptive and foster parents with his sister none the wiser until he was caught in the act and convinced her to ''shoot him in the head'' which she ''does!'' And he also convinced fifty adults and children to ''slaughter'' each other, all the while he [[https://pm1.narvii.com/6182/7449c1bc24d647d6184d2ac1a19e2681d5d10331_hq.jpg calmly observes the massacre.]] So yeah, there are ''several'' reasons he's often cited as the greatest anime/manga villain ever!
26	[[/folder]]
27
28	[[folder:Comics]]
29	* The Rogues (longtime ''Flash'' adversaries) are some of the coolest antagonists in comics. When written at their best, they are complex, even sympathetic bad guys. These days, they're encroaching on AntiVillain territory, especially with the recent ''Rogues' Rebellion'' miniseries.
30	* ComicBook/LexLuthor not only puts up with someone biologically superior to his race in every way, but has in many cases guided the rest of villains, has an awesome suit ([[SharpDressedMan business]] and PowerArmor), and an unbreakable will. He's probably one of the most powerful earth level villains there is.
31	* ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} is another great one. A God hellbent on destroying all free will, with Omega Beams and pretty much all Kryptonian powers. He's also got a planet of people who fear and worship him.
32	* ComicBook/TheJoker. Is there any more that really needs to be said here?
33	* ComicBook/{{Thanos}} is my favorite Marvel villain. A god-like alien from the planet Titan who is madly in love with Death and would do anything to impress her. He can outwit nearly anyone save for Reed Richards or Doctor Doom and can easily go toe to toe with any of Earth's mightiest heroes. He is consistently a threat to the Marvel Universe and nearly destroyed it multiple times. He's just an awesome villain.
34	[[/folder]]
35
36	[[folder:Fan Works]]
37	* ''Fanfic/InkopolisChaos'''s Lt. Obsidian. She's a delusional, hypocritical, immoral bitch who'd throw away innumerable innocent lives for the sake of power, control, and disproportionate revenge. That's why she's the best-written villain to conclude the series with.
38	[[/folder]]
39
40	[[folder:Film - Animated]]
41	* Sir Miles Axlerod from ''WesternAnimation/Cars2''. He's such a cleverly-written plot-twist villain that serves as an antithesis to Mater!
42	* Gush about [[Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon Disney Villains]] here:
43	** Chernabog from the "Night on Bald Mountain" sequence of ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}'', for this troper at least, is the perfect personification of evil in the animated medium. He never utters a single line, yet has instilled fear into many tropers and is considered one of Disney's greatest villains. Torturing his own minions for his amusement, summoning the spirits of the dead to dance for him, and being driven back only by the ringing of holy bells and the approaching dawn (And even then, only temporarily), Chernabog was evil itself in its most frightening form.
44	** [[spoiler:Prince Hans]] from ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen\|2013}}''. [[spoiler:His plan was diabolical, his actions were frightening, but the best part was that he not just fooled Anna, but ''all of us'' into thinking he was nice and charming. He puts on such a good charade and appeared so caring and sympathetic to the others that it comes off as a total shock to us the moment he outs himself, even upon repeat viewings. ''That'' was good villainy.]]
45	** Although most people gush over [[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty Maleficent]], in this troper's opinion, the Evil Queen from ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'', is and always will be ''the'' best Disney Villain of all time. She always manages to terrify the audience, whether in her dark, [[ColdHam Coldly Hammy]] form as the Queen, or in her AxCrazy, LaughingMad form as the Witch. She pretty much set the standards for every Disney villain (including Maleficent), and possibly villains in general, to follow. Her movie was released all the way back in 1937 and she ''still'' leaves a huge impact on anyone who watches the movie. That, my friends, is evil done right.
46	** Hello? [[WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron The Horned King]] anyone? He's so demonic and may very well be spawn from Hell itself, trying to destroy all of mankind!
47	** Claude Frollo of ''WesternAnimation/{{The Hunchback of Notre Dame\|Disney}}''. Man, this guy was twisted and terrifying; one of Disney's darkest villains, and absolutely awesome for it.
48	* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'': Lord Shen. He has a sympathetic, tragic backstory that could've been avoided if he had not acted in haste. In the present day, he's cold and depraved.
49	* It's a shame that ''WesternAnimation/PenguinsOfMadagascar'' [[BoxOfficeBomb didn't do so well in the box office]], because Dave is easily one of Dreamworks' best villains. He's just so funny and [[EvilIsHammy hammy]], it's impossible not to like him. Despite his insanity, he manages to be an extremely clever villain who spectacularly subverts PaperThinDisguise. It certainly helps his case that he has an ''[[TearJerker extremely]]'' tragic backstory. And besides, octopuses are just plain awesome!
50	* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'': Lotso. He's so dastardly, and cruel. Once sympathetic, but now cold and hard as steel.
51	[[/folder]]
52
53	[[folder:Film - Live Action]]
54	* Any villain from the ''Franchise/StarWars'' movies. They are epic, ruthless, cruel, and yet so effective. And let's not forget the fact that they have both Creator/ChristopherLee and Creator/JamesEarlJones.
55	* [[Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet Freddy Krueger]] is most DEFINETLY one of the best horror villains out there! His monstrous, amusing, smart and DeadpanSnarker personality REALLY works well! I also like his glove! It's too bad he had to go through VillainDecay though...
56	* [[Film/JeepersCreepers THE CREEPER!!!]] Omigosh, where do I START with this guy?! He has an awesome truck, awesome humor, awesome wings, awesome attitude... he practically OOZES awesomeness!!!
57	* Jason Voorhees from ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'' is also rather awesome, namely for his sympathetic backstory.
58	** Jason may be the star of the series, but his mother, Mrs. Pamela Voorhees deserves as much credit. Unlike many other slashers at the time, she isn't some implacable monster or psychotic sadist, she's a sad woman seeking justice for her son and dealing with grief the only way she knows how. And yet, she's so convincingly deranged, wickedly clever, and downright vengeful it genuinely is unnerving when she lets the MaskOfSanity slip. Pamela may have died long before her son made his name, but her love for Jason is the ''real'' heart of this ridiculous franchise. And in my opinion, it makes for one of the most disturbing, complex, and tragic horror villains ever.
59	* The [[Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1990 Shredder]]!!! A classic example of LoveMakesYouEvil. And he ''utterly dominates'' our heroes in the final fight. His on-screen presence is very threatening, helped very much by his theme song - [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic Shredder's Suite]].
60	* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
61	** ComicBook/{{Loki}} from ''Film/{{Thor}}''. There's a good reason everyone says he has more fangirls than the hero, and not only that, but he is one of the best manipulative villains of all time, and his [[spoiler:twist ending in the second Thor movie left everyone waiting, wondering, and soon to be theorizing more than the Reichenbach Fall]].
62	** ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' adds a wonderful secondary villain in The Grandmaster. The hedonistic, literally colorful ruler of a trash planet is what AffablyEvil is all about (they're not slaves, they're "prisoners with jobs"!), and a reminder to BewareTheSillyOnes.
63	* Dark Helmet from ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}''. He's prone to BreakingTheFourthWall and being the ButtMonkey, and is played by Creator/RickMoranis. How can you get better than that?
64	* Hans Gruber from ''Film/DieHard''. A charming, cultured, charismatic, intelligent, impeccably-dressed GentlemanThief who puts on a front of being a terrorist as a front for the ultimate heist.
65	* Rev. Harry Powell from ''Film/TheNightOfTheHunter'' is one of the most terrifying villains in cinema, a seemingly wholesome and charming preacher who is really the embodiment of a wolf in sheep's clothing - a misogynistic serial killer.
66	[[/folder]]
67
68	[[folder:Literature]]
69	* Theon Greyjoy from ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''. Betrays his oldest friend, murders two innocent kids when said friend's brothers escape... But to be fair, he grew up in a gilded cage, being disrespected by everyone around him and just wanted his dad to like him. [[spoiler: Then he meets [[AxCrazy Ramsay]] [[TortureTechnician Bolton]] and all is forgiven.]]
70	* Lord Foul the Despiser from ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfThomasCovenant''. A {{Chessmaster}} par excellence, this guy was a direct rival to ''God'' in the world he inhabits, and because he is imprisoned within the Arch of Time, he literally cannot be killed without destroying all of creation. In the first trilogy, he had already destroyed The Land once by forcing its greatest mage into a DespairEventHorizon and convincing him to cast a FantasticNuke spell on the entire continent. And that was all just in the background story. Throughout the series proper he manipulates everyone into doing exactly what he wants, even when they are aware that he's doing it. His machinations are so subtle that avoiding any of his obvious traps means you'll only step into a worse, less obvious trap. He is flawed, though, and those flaws are the only reason he gets brought down every time. And he has style. Lord Foul is truly a WorthyOpponent for heroes anywhere.
71	* Sol of ''Literature/WarriorCats'' is an amazing villain. He's always cool and composed, and is very snarky. He also has delightfully satisfying plans, and is mysterious enough to merit any number of crazy guesses. He's one of the most unique, and interesting antagonists in the series, and that's saying something.
72	* Every single major villain of ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' is an absolute gem, but the best one is, without a doubt, the VillainProtagonist, Skitter... always doing the wrong things for the right reasons. She goes from being a bullied schoolgirl to a minor villain to a [[TheDreaded complete nightmare,]] [[FromNobodyToNightmare being mentioned in the same breath as the most prominent heroes and villains in the world.]]
73	* [[Literature/{{Misery}} Annie Wilkes from Misery]]: Some Creator/StephenKing villains are incredibly memorable, but Anne Marie Wilkes, the deranged BattleaxeNurse taking in her favorite author who coincidentally crashed in a snow storm near her house, is one of the best. She puts Paul Sheldon, the author she takes in, through psychological torment and physical torture all because her favorite book character died in his latest novel. Said torture involves cutting off Paul's thumb, chopping his foot off, and throwing him into the rat-infested basement. She also isn't a two-dimensional villain like King sometimes puts in his writing. She's well-written and sympathetic at times. She exemplifies addiction and the worst of fandom all at once. She is truly a terrifying, brutal, and complex villain.
74	[[/folder]]
75
76	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
77	* Lucille Bluth from ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment''! EvilMatriarch, RichBitch and {{Chessmaster}} extraordinaire. She's a criminal mastermind who single-handedly decides and controls the fate of her entire family, as well as [[spoiler:running the family business]] solely through manipulation, embezzlement and fraud. And she pulls it all off without even her children noticing for years, all while being piss-ass drunk.
78	--> '''Michael''': And what do you need with one of Mom’s furs?\
79	'''Lindsay''': I’m... cold.\
80	'''Lucille''': ''So am I.'' No.
81	* Gus Fring from ''Series/BreakingBad''. Confident, manipulative, and chillingly professional, Gus stands out even in a show filled to the brim with fantastic villains.
82	* Servalan from ''Series/BlakesSeven''. Scheming, ambitious, devious, ruthless, manipulative and utterly '''fabulous'''.
83	* Given that it coined the term "BigBad", ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' had its fair share of brilliant baddies:
84	** The Master. The ultimate ancient vampire with just the right mixture of campiness and menace, with a design that invokes the original onscreen vampire, [[Film/{{Nosferatu}} Count Orlok]].
85	** Angelus. The most personal threat Buffy ever faced - her vampire boyfriend's psychotic alter-ego. He spent decades wreaking havoc across Europe, committing all kinds of atrocities. He's a cruel, sadistic monster with a nasty sense of humour who gets his kicks from being horrible.
86	** Mayor Richard Wilkins III. He's like a fifties sitcom dad if he were a supervillain. His cheery facade is really a front for a ruthless and greedy man who seeks immortality. Yet his father/daughter relationship with Faith gives him something of a redeeming quality.
87	** Glory. A hell god with unlimited strength, killer good looks, the emotional maturity of a teenager and an ego the size of the Hellmouth. Powerful, vain and so damn entertaining.
88	* ''Series/DoctorWho:''
89	** Missy, the [[GenderBender female incarnation]] of the Master who first premiered in Series 8, has got to be one of the best incarnations of them to date! Cruel, silly, evil, funny, manipulative, charming and just overall ''incredibly'' well-acted by Creator/MichelleGomez, this "Queen of Evil" has it all!
90	*** You got it! From "Say something nice" to "Did I mention: Bananas!?", she knows just the right thing to say before killing you. Long story short: she’s freakin' awesome.
91	** Her {{Mook}}, Seb, was also a lot of fun. Even though he only appeared for three episodes, he was [[AffablyEvil quite charming]] in his own weird kind of way. He had plenty of funny moments, including his death, and I enjoyed how [[DeadpanSnarker snarky]] he was.
92	** '''[[Recap/DoctorWhoS13E3PyramidsOfMars Sutekh!]]''' Everything about this guy just ''oozes'' evil and sheer, unrelenting power; especially with that [[SoftSpokenSadist voice that whispers instead of shouts]] provided by Gabriel Woolf! He wants to [[OmnicidalManiac destroy all life]] simply because he's afraid of something "challenging him". And yet, despite how insecure that might make him sound in himself, the fact that he's '''more''' than capable of wiping out ''everything'' in the universe '''single-handedly''' certainly makes up for it! His appearances in both the AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho [[note]]In the Bernice Summerfield and Fourth Doctor Adventures series [[/note]] audios and the Franchise/FactionParadox audios by Magic Bullet Productions also do an ''incredible'' job of expanding on his character and backstory while not [[VillainDecay dumbing him down.]] And that's not always an easy feat! Although, it certainly helps that Gabriel Woolf continued to play him in those audios. All of this combined makes for a very interesting and compelling villain!
93	** The War Master incarnation played by Creator/DerekJacobi is by-and-large my favorite incarnation of the character. While his appearance in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E11Utopia Utopia]] might've been a one-off, [[AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho Big Finish]] fleshed him out into an amazing VillainProtagonist. Sure, the "Machiavellian schemer" is tried-and-true for villains but this incarnation demonstrates why it's stood the test of time. This version isn't just smart and cunning but [[PragmaticVillain he's the most Pragmatic of all the Masters]]; remaining focused without too many of the Master's usual flaws/neuroses that serve to hinder them, which is what makes watching him so engaging. But the best thing about the character for me personally is his reversal of EvilMeScaresMe. The character's fear of [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre having positive qualities]] makes an excellent parallel to the War Doctor's fear of having devolved into a monster. Derek Jacobi's delivery only enhances this more and effortlessly portrays the Master simultaneously at his most human and at his worst. And that's what makes this character work without being a DracoInLeatherPants: He's able to fake his morals; tap-dance along the MoralEventHorizon until the right time to strike and when he does, it's so satisfying. And he's well-aware of this....which is what makes him one of the universe's biggest threats. Any madman can rub their hands in glee while holding the button to a destructive super-weapon. But it takes a special sort of evil to worm their way into the hearts of great people, corrupt heroic stories from within and transform victory into true tragedy while re-writing the script from the sidelines. And that madman is The War Master.
94	* Adar from ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'' for the whole humanizing thing he brings for the Orcs and the amazing acting of Creator/JosephMawle. He deeply cares about the Orcs, no matter how AlwaysChaoticEvil they get, and wants to give a home where they don't have any master to enslave them.
95	* ''Series/OnceUponATime'' main villains/antagonists are ''awesome'':
96	** From Season 1:
97	*** Regina may be a [[KickTheDog frequent dog-kicker]], but there's something so touching in her unwavering faith in Daniel and her other father's memory, and in her love for them. She is also a loving, responsible mother, one of the funniest DeadpanSnarker on the show, and her determined but illogical frantic assaults against all obstacles are very inspiring. She also has an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7wNETgv1W8&list=PL36B927B010400F3F&index=3 awesome theme!]] She's the ''evil'' queen, so she definitely counts as a villain. And she simply revels in being such!
98	*** Then there is Mr Gold, the charmingly funny AffablyEvil MagnificentBastard who plays everyone like he would a fiddle. His name is actually Rumplestiltskin, and he does everything he does to find his son, but is also unwilling to compromise his power, the lust for which led him to abandon his son to begin with. And for all his self-loathing, he can't ever quite kick his nasty habits that lead to conflict between him and his loved ones.
99	** From Season 2:
100	*** Captain Hook is the ultimate deconstruction of handsome devil. He is charming, polite, and does everything he does to get revenge after a horrible crime. He is lecherous, disrespectful, suffers from ChronicBackstabbingDisorder, and he subverts WouldNotHitAGirl twice in one episode. And yet through all this there is a definite tragic DeathSeeker vibe to him, as though even he's miserable at how far he's fallen.
101	*** Cora is a nice, beautiful, motherly woman who appears to be in her late fifties, early sixties. She's also a StageMom of hell who kills anyone if it can better her social standing, including children, is ReallySevenHundredYearsOld, and is awfully cynical, but she is fairly sympathetic because she still loves her daughter in some way.
102	** From Season 3:
103	*** So we've got fairy tale villains like [[Literature/SnowWhite The Evil Queen]], Literature/{{Rumpelstiltskin}}, [[Literature/PeterPan Captain Hook]], and [[Literature/AlicesAdventuresInWonderland the Queen of Hearts.]] Who is the worst of the worst? The ultimate in despicable yet awe-inspiring evilness? ''Peter Pan''.
104	* T-bag from ''Series/PrisonBreak''. He's a nasty piece of work: a sociopathic sexual predator and a paedophile. But when you find out his back story, you can't help but feel sorry for that poor little boy. Which makes you hate him more, because you feel sorry for him! Great acting on the part of Robert Knepper.
105	* While many a show can claim to have an intelligent antagonist, few work as well as ''Series/{{Farscape}}'''s Scorpius. No matter what the situation, he either has a plan or is able to come up with one on the fly. He's so good, he managed to convince the protagonists for nearly half a season that he was dead, and all the while he had gotten what he'd been after the previous season anyways. Not to mention the fact that he's a master manipulator, able to convince just about everyone but the Moya crew that he's on their side. He is one of the definitive [[MagnificentBastard Magnificent Bastards]], and one of the most interesting antagonists ever filmed.
106	* The Governor from ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' enjoys holding gladiator style death fights, keeps a host of walker heads in a display case, manipulates those around him, has his own torture chamber, stabs his best friend, mercilessly decapitates a defenceless old man, coldly shoots his deceased surrogate daughter in the head, and completely destroys everything Rick worked so hard to accomplish, simply out of spite. Yet he's also an intelligent, charming and attractive badass, with a cool EyepatchOfPower.
107	* Khan Noonien-Sing is ''the'' quintessential ''Franchise/StarTrek'' villain. Erudite, charming, cultured and sophisticated. He's also a ruthless, determined warlord who'll stop at nothing to achieve his goal. Arguably the most dangerous threat Kirk ever faced.
108	* One of the joys of ''Series/TheWire'' is that the criminals are real people with layers:
109	** Avon Barksdale is a ruthless, bloodthirsty drug lord who values family, honor and loyalty above all else.
110	** Stringer Bell is the sobering Ying to Barksdale's raging Yang - a cold, calculating intellectual with a simple dream of going legit and being a proper businessman. Despite being a backstabbing bastard, he is a genuinely tragic figure - in different circumstances, he could have succeeded, but his criminal nature and naive nature about how life outside of the ghetto works doom him.
111	** Wee-Bey Brice is the main enforcer in Barksdale Crew. A murderer several times over who lets his son live a good life. Plus, he loves his fish.
112	** Marlo Stanfield is a cold, stoic, petty bastard who strives for power and status at any cost. His utter disregard for human life is terrifying.
113	[[/folder]]
114
115	[[folder:Theatre]]
116	* [[Theatre/{{Othello}} Iago.]] The greatest ManipulativeBastard ''ever''. At the start of the play, he is passed over for a promotion (and, like all great villains, he knows his own worth). He responds by manipulating ''every other character in the play'' in order to destroy Othello. And succeeds.
117	[[/folder]]
118
119	[[folder:Video Games]]
120	* Handsome Jack from ''VideoGame/Borderlands2'' provided about 30% of the awesomeness of the game. He's got a number of traits to him. For one, because of the game's brilliant ECHO system which allows the player to talk to [=NPCs=] anytime without disrupting the gameplay, Jack will [[EvilIsPetty randomly phone you up]] to have a conversation about how much you suck, and because of how much of a [[{{Jerkass}} colossal fucking asshole]] he is it's impossible to sit through his rambling without [[CrossesTheLineTwice laughing your ass off while being disgusted at the same time]]. He also a ridiculously competent villain who has a tendency to [[KnightOfCerebus change the atmosphere]], but despite those conflicting qualities they're both written and timed in a way where they're used appropriately at all times without either ultimately overshadowing the other. He's a truly complete villain and a prime example of LoveToHate.
121	* [[VideoGame/DeadlyRoomsOfDeath 39th Slayer]]. He hunts you down relentlessly through the ''entire game'' (of [=JtRH=], the second game in the [[VideoGame/DeadlyRoomsOfDeath DROD]] franchise). He's indestructible (and even when the designers slipped and left in a way to kill him, he's right back in the next room!) His weapon of choice is a ''hook'', and he's so deadly with it that even Beethro, OneManArmy smitemaster, runs rather than fight him. And that voice... for anyone who's ever played [=JtRH=], it becomes the voice that haunts their nightmares... ''"Keep running, delver!"''
122	* Spamton from ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'' pretty much took over the whole fandom and became the new Tumblr Sexyman (despite being a short little trash gremlin that would sell your kidneys for three dollars) the day Chapter 2 was released, and for a good reason! He's incredibly [[LaughablyEvil hilarious]] yet [[NightmareFuel terrifying]], is very memorable despite the fact only one encounter with him isn't optional, and has many HiddenDepths, not to mention having a very tragic backstory of a RagsToRiches salesman who was abandoned by all his friends and family, only to [[RichesToRags lose it all]] and be driven into a homeless madman who's dialogue is littered with WordSaladHorror. Oh, not to mention the absolute bangers that are his battle themes, and how he shows himself to be TheChessmaster during the Weird Route who takes advantage of your slaughter across the Cyber City to take over Queen's mansion and become [[AGodAmI a self-described god]]. He becomes even better when he transforms into Spamton NEO, finally giving the fandom the Mettaton NEO fight they've been waiting six years for.
123	* [[TrueFinalBoss Hibachi]] in all the ''VideoGame/DonPachi'' series. It's a giant mechanical bee you fight at the end of each game and can only appear if certain conditions are met, such as beating the game without continues, finding all the bees, or using no bombs. It also has two forms, with the [[OneWingedAngel second form]] being a PintsizedPowerhouse that fires bullets and other projectiles all over the place. Also, in the latest installment, ''[=SaiDaiOuJou=]'', Hina takes the Hibachi mantle, and she's just as tough, especially when you fight her as Inbachi.
124	* How about ''VideoGame/EVOSearchForEden''?
125	** Bird-King. Although he turned me off for the first time when I saw that he was incredibly racist, I realized that made sense of him to call other creatures ''vulgar'' - they are incredibly stupid, unlike him and his race. And what's better is that he's not actually very evil! He seeks to have the Birdmen rule the world... using intelligence, something human race ultimately proved to be powerful. Aside from that, he seeks to go with his race on a Journey to the Universe, as he puts it. The very thought of an avian race going to space made me giggle.[[note]][[{{Franchise/Metroid}} Doesn't that remind you of anything?]][[/note]] Also, I like his [[http://shrines.rpgclassics.com/snes/evo/pics/enemies/boss09.gif design]].
126	** The Yeti Avenger. Man, if E.V.O. Search for Eden was popular, he would become an EnsembleDarkhorse, and for good reason. Although he is a Yeti, he is quite the opposite of his predecessors, the Sir Yeti, who would kill any mammal that tries to challenge him, and Yeti Mother, who is a ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend. He is the ''least'' evil out of the colorful array of villains you face. He lives and protects the Yeti sacred ground and attacks you because you humiliated the Yetis (by killing their leaders, that is). And ''how!'' As has been said in the [[Characters/EVOSearchForEden character page]], he is the Yeti version of [[VideoGame/PunchOut Little Mac]]. He packs a powerful punch and is perfectly capable of uppercutting you. You might even feel sad when fighting him, considering [[TearJerker his sad history.]] He easily combines the sadness of his backstory and the coolness of his fighting, although he might become a ThatOneBoss. He is vengeful, after all.
127	** Cro-Maine. Yes, he's an annoying and grating boss. Yes, [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard he is a cheating bastard.]] But he is even ''less'' evil than Bird-King. He is a caveman[[note]]with an adorable [[http://shrines.rpgclassics.com/snes/evo/pics/enemies/boss15.gif pre-fighting design]][[/note]] who was bullied and abused by the Monkey-Human tribe, who, as we've seen, are rock-throwing jerks. He is a PunchClockVillain who works for the BigBad. Except he wasn't forced into becoming TheDragon by the BigBad. As he mentions himself, the BigBad ''cared'' for him when he was alone. Wow. [[spoiler: Opens up another side to the gargantuan, delusional amoeba we love to hate, doesn't it?]]
128	** And, of course, [[spoiler:Bolbox himself]]. He is a [[spoiler:giant, mutated single-celled organism that came to be this way because he ate the Crystals]]. What makes him different from the other bosses is that he ''is also out for Gaia''. He seems to be the only competitor out there. Unlike the omnicidal Sir Yeti or the gluttonous Bee Monarchs, he isn't very heinous. And he doesn't seem to have been [[spoiler: an amoeba]], either - he has some friends ([[spoiler:the Tyrasaur clan, the Bee Queen and Cro-Maine, the latter being from a Monkey-Human clan, who, as you might remember, live ''in South America'']]), which means he [[spoiler: was a normal animal]] before coming to Eden. He is not really a villain. He is a rival. [[NotSoDifferentRemark He is just like you.]] However, unlike you, he ''doesn't'' kill and eat everything he sees.
129	*** Another possible reason why you and [[spoiler:Bolbox]] are the only competitors actually trying to find Eden is because the other ones died at the path. You are being helped (read: [[NintendoHard constantly revived]]) by Gaia's divine intervention. [[spoiler:Bolbox, who constantly used the Crystals, couldn't have been helped by Gaia and therefore revived.]] In other words, [[spoiler:Bolbox]] went through ''[[NintendoHard the]]'' '''''[[NintendoHard hell]]''''' of evolution you went through '''''AND DIDN'T DIE'''''. He was ''just that badass''.
130	* From the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series:
131	** Kefka from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' is freaking awesome! Let's count down the ways, shall we? First of all, he's genuinely funny. Some of his [[LargeHam hammy]] and somewhat [[ChewingTheScenery over-the-top]] mannerisms and one-liners can be freaking hilarious! I mean, him shouting "You sound like chapters from a SELF-HELP BOOKLET!!!" in response to the heroes PatrickStewartSpeech is one of his most quotable ''and'' most '''awesome''' lines! Secondly, despite how funny he can be, he's also legitimately scary. I mean, he sets Figaro castle on fire when Edgar refuses to cooperate with him and he poisons Doma when they were ''going to win anyways'' and when some of their '''own men''' were being held prisoner in the castle's walls and for ''what'' reason? So he can hear the [[LovesTheSoundOfScreaming "sweet music of hundreds of voices screaming in unison"!]] And that's not even including him massacring the Espers at Thamasa to ''murdering General Leo'' in the process! And the kicker? ''He actually succeeds in his plan!'' Yes, he is ''actually'' able to become the God of Magic and wreak havoc upon the world, killing untold millions and literally ''reshaping the continents!'' And he rules over this dystopia for an '''entire year''' before the heroes are able to defeat him! And yet, even then, the world is ''still destroyed!'' Sure, the heroes and the remaining population can rebuild, but the ResetButton isn't pushed and as such, millions are still dead and the face of the world is still forever changed! Not to mention the fact that he has the last laugh in that the power of magic as well as magical creatures like the Espers end up disappearing from the world forever as a result of his death! And so, while he isn't everyone's cup of tea [[note]]Some people consider him too one-dimensional or a blatant rip-off of The Joker[[/note]], his general popularity is well-deserved!
132	* There's one video game villain that caught my interest from the get-go and only went up from there. I'm talking about Bedman from the ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'' series. His character design is unique; he's a young, sleeping teenager strapped to a giant, demonic, and mechanical bed capable of dragging people into a nightmarish dream world and obliterating them from there. The damn bed itself is pretty much indestructible. Most of the characters in ''Xrd -Sign-'' are flat-out curbstomped by this dude, showing that he's as powerful as he is a creative character. Oh, and he's quite the MotorMouth who says the most condescending but amusing things. That's quite the villain the people over at Arc System Works have brought to life.
133	* [[spoiler:Hades of VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising!]] What other villain can rip the credits up just when you think the day is saved? Oh, and he can hold witty banter with the protagonist...while the protagonist is running around in his internal organs.
134	** To a lesser Extent, Pyhron and Viridi. The Former is the hammy sun god who is ultimately consumed by the power of the Aurum Brain; while the latter starts out wanting to destroy humanity due to how much we have destroyed the earth. She ultimately does do a heel face turn though.
135	* Out of all the villains in ''VideoGame/HenryStickminSeries'', Dmitri Johannes Petrov, aka The Warden, is my favorite antagonist. The fact that he's the most [[KnightOfCerebus dark]] and [[VilerNewVillain reprehensible]] of the bunch is really great, not to mention his complex position of being a villain [[NominalHero who's technically on the side of the law, but has selfish motivations]].
136	* I've got two words right here; [[Franchise/KingdomHearts Master Xehanort]]. Good ''Lord'', Master Xehanort! He's been everything from (Presumably) TheAce to (Definitely) an OldMaster. His actions have shaped the entire fate of the World (Read; universe) for over the last ten years, permanentely reshaping it. His existence has split into [[TheHeartless several]] [[BetaTestBaddie others]], each one just as threatening and formidable as the last. The greatest bit of it all? Every event, every action taken by himself or his Heartless and/or Nobody is interconnected. It's all one giant plot, and it's ''working''. Xehanort and [[{{WesternAnimation/Gargoyles}} Xanatos]] should be tied for [[XanatosGambit the Tropes]] [[XanatosSpeedChess they live.]]
137	* [[spoiler: Marx]] from ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'' and [[VideoGameRemake Kirby Super Star Ultra]]. [[MonsterClown Clowns are scary.]] [[BatOutOfHell Bats are scary.]] So put them together, and you have a living reservoir of NightmareFuel! (And as if that wasn't enough, [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot he also becomes]] [[spoiler: a zombie.]] He has [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic great battle music]], a cool design (just look at those fantastic crystalline wings!), and a creepy EvilLaugh.
138	** Drawcia is easily the best thing about ''VideoGame/KirbyCanvasCurse''. A [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot living painting of a ghost witch]] with [[BadassCape a cloak that looks like a pair of bat wings]], a terrifyingly psychotic EvilLaugh, an [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic epic]] [[OminousPipeOrgan battle theme]], and we're just scratching the surface. Drawcia rules!
139	** ''VideoGame/KirbysEpicYarn'' gives us another great villain in the form of Yin-Yarn! Not only does he have a BadassCape like Drawcia, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking HE ALSO HAS A]] MUSTACHE!!! No, but seriously, Yin-Yarn is a hilarious, AffablyEvil villain who actually ''[[TheBadGuyWins wins]]'', if only for a little while, but that's more than some of the more serious villains can say. He gets bonus points for [[spoiler: [[OneWingedAngel turning into a]] [[TankGoodness TANK!]]]]
140	* Ghirahim from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword''. He still stays creepy and evil while still being crazy and funny.
141	* Fawful from ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory''. Who else can spawn such quotable lines, like "The Mustard of your doom" or the infamous "I have fury" while still keeping an aura of evilness to him?
142	* [[spoiler:Makoto Kagutsuchi, the CEO of Amaterasu Corporation and the TwistVillain]] of ''VideoGame/MasterDetectiveArchivesRainCode'' is one of the most [[TheChessmaster ridiculously over-the-top]] and [[ManipulativeBastard downright manipulative]] villains I have seen in a MurderMystery game. [[spoiler:And he succeeds because he does it so well, and it's all part of a plot that's [[WellIntentionedExtremist intended to be beneficial to an immortal species that he shows empathy for]], which makes him going so far in his acts even more ludicrous.]]
143	* Can anyone say [[Franchise/MassEffect "Sovereign?"]] It's one of the largest ships in the entire galaxy, and it has firepower to match; of course it just settles for ramming straight into enemy fleets, [[RammingAlwaysWorks WHICH WORKS.]] Even when it is defeated, it takes an ENTIRE FLEET and [[PlayerCharacter Commander Shepard's]] crew to put it down. And even then, it [[TakingYouWithMe brings down multiple Alliance Ships with it.]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEc1OTFaWnI It even has ominous music to go with it.]]
144	* [=GLaDOS=] from ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}''. She may have pulled a stint as a hero for a while, but you can't help but love her hilarious dialogue. Even her evil moments are so despicably evil you can't help but be intrigued.
145	* Disregarding the [[BrokenBase divisive quality]] of the game itself, ''VideoGame/SecretAgentClank'''s version of Klunk. Not only was it surprising to see him become a villain in his own right and conceive an evil plan that actually worked to the point where he [[NearVillainVictory almost won]], his boss fight is quite creative, with him using mechs in form of other characters. Plus, his redesign is cool.
146	* Luca Blight from ''VideoGame/SuikodenII'' is a deliciously ''evil'' bastard. He instigated a war between Highland and the City-State by having a Youth Brigade from his own country '''[[WouldHurtAChild slaughtered]]''' and why? So he can continue to RapePillageAndBurn everything in his path! And he only gets '''worse''' from there! He burns villages to the ground, ignores the villagers pleads for him to spare them, including an incident where he had a woman act like a pig before killing her anyways, sacrifices an entire city's worth of citizens to power a living weapon, and to top it all off when you finally get to kill him, he proclaims himself to be the [[CardCarryingVillain true face of evil]] before he ''finally'' dies. And his boss fight is no slouch either! Three separate parties of elite warriors attack him one party at a time and in-between all of the fights, he's ''riddled'' with arrows and even then, he's ''still'' not done! You have to bring him down in a duel to the death that you can ''still lose!'' And this in turn means that you have to start the battle over from the beginning! And yet, despite all of this, he actually has a genuinely tragic backstory in that his caravan was attacked by some City-State thugs hired by the Mayor of Muse when he was about nine or ten years old and while his [[DirtyCoward cowardly father]] ran away, he had to witness his mother being '''[[HarmfulToMinors raped]]''' in front of him! And yet, despite his horrifically tragic origins, he's still a complete and utter dick to everyone and everything. And this makes for an incredibly evil, sadistic and entertaining villain.
147	* [[TheDragon Wild Dog]], from ''VideoGame/TimeCrisis''. He's probably one of the most [[ImplacableMan indestructible]] villains of all time. He has his battle against the VSSE in every game, and whenever he's defeated, he blows himself up. But that's also a hint that he'll be back right away. He also has a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfZCbaMjIg8 very awesome]] {{Leitmotif}}.
148	* The Stranger from ''VideoGame/TheWalkingDead''. I'm so sorry about stealing your food, Stranger! He wasn't the monster I thought he was going to be, and he really could have been a good parent to Clementine if he wasn't out of his mind.
149	* Albedo from ''{{VideoGame/Xenosaga}}'' is so [[AxCrazy insane]] and [[LargeHam over the top]] in both his words and mannerisms that he can get quite [[NightmareFuel scary.]] The fact that he can regenerate his limbs, that smooth voice of his [[note]] Provided by Creator/CrispinFreeman in the English dub.[[/note]], his E.S named Simeon, and the fact that he has a [[FreudianExcuse surprisingly]] [[TearJerker heartbreaking]] backstory as a result of his [[WhoWantsToLiveForever immortality,]] all come together to create a very memorable, terrifying, and compelling villain!
150	[[/folder]]
151
152	[[folder:Web Comics]]
153	* Holy Crap, Tarquin from ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''. He's a ruthless villain manipulating both his guests and his kids, [[spoiler:Elan and Nale]] in order to try and make [[spoiler:Elan]] become what he believes to be a true hero. [[spoiler:He stabs Elan to attempt to kill Roy. He then proceeds to kill Nale, ''his son'' and a character who had been in the comic for ''Nine Years''.]]
154	[[/folder]]
155
156	[[folder:Western Animation]]
157	* Let's take a minute and talk about some ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'' villains, shall we?
158	** First of all, there's Katz. A badass, intimidating villain with a great {{Leitmotif}}. Easily one of the scariest characters in the show, and in a much more subtle way than, say, [[FanNickname the Blue Thing.]]
159	** He may be far sillier than most of the other characters, but Cajun Fox still manages to be awesome. Not only is he completely hilarious, he too is scary in subtle ways. He also has an awesome voice, courtesy of [[CreatorCameo John Dilworth himself]]. He also has one heck of an ear worm for a {{Leitmotif}} and some pretty CoolShades.
160	** Another epic villain: The Great Fusilli! First of all, he's voiced by Creator/JimCummings, who is no stranger to voicing scary villains. Also, he has some really awesome CreepyCircusMusic as his {{Leitmotif}}. His design is really cool, from his [[HellishPupils reptilian eyes]] to his BadassCape, complete with HighCollarOfDoom. [[spoiler: And he technically [[TheBadGuyWins wins]]]], which not even Katz can say. Speaking of Katz, Fusilli is every bit as sadistic as him, if not more so.
161	** The Stitch Sisters are [[ConjoinedTwins one]] of the creepiest, most underrated characters in the show. ''Everything'' about them is scary. Their bulging eyes, their [[EvilSoundsRaspy raspy voices]], their {{Leitmotif}}, which makes excellent use of [[OminousPipeOrgan an organ]], their EvilLaugh, and the fact that they [[spoiler: stitch people's souls into a magic quilt, where their victims [[AndIMustScream are trapped FOR ETERNITY.]]]] Fun fact: They're voiced by Fran Brill, who also does voices on ''Series/SesameStreet'' of all shows!
162	* Bushroot from ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck''. An amazing villain with amazing powers and an amazing woobie backstory. And he's cool.
163	* Nobody knows sexy better than [[WesternAnimation/GrandmaGotRunOverByAReindeer Cousin Mel]]. Her FieryRedhead status combined with all her recycled villainous tropes, beauty mark, and seductive voice would make the men fall for her even if she didn't have an [[HourglassHottie impossible not-to-lust after body]].
164	* World from the ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'' movie Destination Imagination. [[spoiler: [[IJustWantToHaveFriends Sure he wasn't really evil]].]] But he was an all-around awesome antagonist. He was also cute with a backstory that will break your heart. [[spoiler: EarnYourHappyEnding indeed!]]
165	* Bedlam from ''WesternAnimation/GetEd''. He acts so gentlemanly, but can kick our heroes' asses and is very savvy!
166	* Bill Cipher from ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' is an intriguingly amoral and genuinely ''alien'' bastard. And I love him.
167	** Seconded! I mean, in what show can you find a yellow triangle that [[VoiceOfTheLegion usually]] has an upbeat voice that wears a top hat and bow tie while having spindly arms and legs, and make said triangle a genuinely [[KnightOfCerebus menacing]] and [[NightmareFuel terrifying]] ''threat?!'' I mean ''[[https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.WfVG_OgsAFvW69OB9gDUowHaHa&pid=Api look]]'' at this guy! Most people would ''never'' suspect just by seeing him that he's the villain with vast amounts of [[AgonyBeam physical]] and [[MindRape mental]] powers, a [[DealWithTheDevil master]] [[ManipulativeBastard manipulator,]] has no qualms about [[WouldHurtAChild possessing, hurting, and potentially killing]] ''[[WouldHurtAChild children,]]'' and have such a ''blast'' doing it?! He's just so [[LaughablyEvil delightfully over-the-top]] and [[{{Troll}} enjoys messing around with people]] in general that one almost can't help but laugh, even as he gleefully crosses the MoralEventHorizon! Seriously, he has some of the [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments best one-liners and comedic moments]] from the entire series! So yeah, kudos to Creator/AlexHirsch and the rest of the team that put ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' together for creating such a compelling and hilarious, yet incredibly dangerous villain!
168	* The Boogeyman and Jack o-Lantern from ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy''. The first was [[HarmlessVillain hilarious]] yet totally [[LoveToHate despicable]] and the second was one of the funniest yet frightening characters with a personality that makes his episode one of the most exciting to watch.
169	** The Brain Eating Meteor. He's an oldie, from when the show was still under Grim & Evil, but damn if he ain't amazing. {{Music/Voltaire}} provides an amazing song for the character, and he works well as a parody of [[Theatre/LittleShopOfHorrors Audrey II]].
170	* Canaletto from ''WesternAnimation/ObanStarRacers'' is very underrated, and yet one of the most brilliant, formidable, [[CreepyAwesome and downright ''terrifying'']] villains I've seen in any cartoon. He manipulated the events of the ''entire series'' from a bird cage over thousands of years, he's chillingly charismatic for an OmnicidalManiac, and he's powerful enough to curb-stomp the resident space wizard. Oh and dear god, his ''voice''. Everything he says oozes confidence and malice. What's more, he damn near won were it not for one HeroicSacrifice. Hats off to you, you vile, evil space bird.
171	* Dr. Doofenshmirtz from ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb''. He's "evil" (so he says), but not as good at it as he is comical.
172	** Seconded-Inator. The creators of ''P&F'' [[https://twitter.com/danpovenmire/status/364445313882275841 have stated]] that they had no intention of making a SadistShow, and no character is ever a complete idiot or a jerk. As crazy as the characters get, they're all grounded in reality and you can feel for them, and Doofenshmirtz might just be the show's best example. He suffered one of the most horribly abusive [[HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood if tragicomic]] childhoods in the history of fiction, between all the lawn gnomes, ocelots, kickballs, and baking soda volcanoes. He's an incredible inventor, but his skills never got the chance to flourish that the two title characters have. (In fact, it's likely that without the other's support and fraternal love, Doof is what Phineas or Ferb may have become.) So he turns to the only outlet he has left, his -inators, to get back at the world that hurt him, or at least [[PokeThePoodle try to]]. He recognizes his limits, which is why [[PragmaticVillainy he limits himself to the more manageable goal]] of taking over the Tristate Area. And notably, [[EvenEvilHasStandards he clearly has standards]], and whenever confronted with ''real'' evil, such as Rodney's plan to move the earth into a new ice age, Rodrigo's goal of destroying the Tristate Area, or ComicBook/RedSkull's, well, being [[StupidJetpackHitler the Red Skull]], he works willingly with Perry to set things right. He's always honest and honorable, "playing by the rules" of how evil is supposed to be done, and his OddFriendship with his ArchEnemy becomes one of the most touching aspects of the show.
173	** We can't gush about Doofenshmirtz without also acknowledging Vanessa. Their father-daughter relationship is one of the show's best in a show powered by strong character relationships. When we first meet Vanessa, she's very much the stereotypical BrattyTeenageDaughter, griping about her embarrassing and evil father, with a Candace-like determination to prove to her mother that Heinz is a bad parent and a bad person. Yet he has faith in their bond, and is desperate to do right by her in a way his own parents never did for him. He spent a decade hunting for a discontinued doll she wanted, sends creeps her harass her to different dimensions, and regularly [[PapaWolf risks life and limb]] when she's in serious danger. Gradually, they meet each other halfway. He realizes that his baby girl is growing up, and supports her as she does, and she realizes that there's good in her dad, more than he gives himself credit for, [[spoiler:to the point where she manages to persuade him to give up evil in the GrandFinale.]]
174	* Both villains from ''{{WesternAnimation/Wakfu}}''.
175	** Nox in Season 1. He can slow down time and teleport, he made robots that can suck out the life force out of pretty much anything, and damn he is a jerk to the Universe. His actions are [[spoiler:[[VillainHasAPoint pretty much justified:]] he collects [[LifeEnergy wakfu]] so that he may travel back in time to save his family from ''dying''. Not only he'd save them, but all his deeds would be undone.]] [[spoiler:Unfortunately, he only managed to travel back 20 minutes in time, instead of the intended 200 years. Cue the breakdown, and what looks [[SelfDisposingVillain suspiciously like a suicide.]]]]
176	** Qilby in Season 2. He has an arm and a scythe made out of wakfu, he has a spaceship, he has portals, and he captures ''two'' dragons.[[note]]Yes, okay, they were hatchlings.[[/note]] Not to mention he perfectly faked a wise man before, and [[spoiler:he betrayed the people he's supposed to be leading]]. Now tell me he isn't awesome.
177	* Peridot from WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse! Despite the fact that she's shown no redeeming qualities thus far, the fandom idolizes her as an adorkable computer nerd--and for good reason. She's got some great one-liners and a super unique design.
178	* The Grand Inquisitor from ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' is one of the most memorable and charismatic characters on the show. His [[EarlyBirdCameo Early Bird Cameos]] give us quick tastes of the power he wields, and provide us a sense that he is someone [[TheDreaded to be feared]]. Then he makes his first appearance in ''Rise of the Old Masters'' -- and it is awesome. In the span of a few seconds, the heroes go from dominating the battlefield to [[RunOrDie running for their lives]]. For the rest of the season, they engage in quick skirmishes with him, until finally, in the Season One finale, they make a final stand against him, and defeat him. Really, the only complaint about the character is that he's ''underutilized'', in much the same way as Darth Maul before him.
179	** Grand Admiral Thrawn. Unlike other major ''Star Wars'' villains, he doesn't need to use the Force to be a threat. He's unflappable, tactically and strategically brilliant, and utterly ruthless in getting things done. He could've actually destroyed the Rebellion if he hadn't been both SurroundedByIdiots and blindsided by factors that [[DidntSeeThatComing he couldn't have known about]]. And now ''Series/{{Ahsoka}}'' shows that even being ''pulled into another galaxy'' can't stop him from causing trouble. He truly is the Heir to the Empire.
180	* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': Toffee. The villain has been in very few episodes, but he has made such a great impact on the series, is cold and calculating, and incredibly intimidating.
181	* Zaheer from ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra''. Not only is he the best villain of the series and the rest of the Avatar-verse, but he is seriously a contender for best villain of the 21st Century. That's how good he is! He's intelligent, philosophical, and calm for most of the time he appears in the series. He genuinely cares about his subordinates and believes that what he is doing is right. Finally, he serves as the perfect antithesis to the air nation, the White Lotus, and the avatar.
182	[[/folder]]
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Context SugarWiki / GushingAboutVillainsYouLike