--> '''Smithers''': "And when [Mr. Burns] planned to steal our sunlight, he crossed that line between everyday villainy and [[TropeNamer cartoonish supervillany]]."
--> '''[[MadScientist Dr Colossus]]''': Bah! He was a rank amateur compared to... [[ThirdPersonPerson Dr. Colossus!]]
-->-- ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.

So you want to become a {{supervillain}}. Here's a handy guide to accomplishing this, in several easy steps!

* Plot to, and make an attempt to, deprive a population of a basic necessity, such as [[TheSimpsons the sun]], or [[EarthShatteringKaboom the world.]]
* Have your plans foiled at least once by one or more of the following:
** A [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits rag tag group of freedom fighters]].
** a DoAnythingRobot
** [[RecruitTeenagersWithAttitude Teenagers with attitude]].
** A FarmBoy.
** [[YouMeddlingKids Meddling kids]].
** A TalkingAnimal
** Anything remotely succeeding.
* Have a new plot every week for the aforementioned group(s) to foil.
* Have a theme or a gimmick; something as broad as "MadScientist who wants to {{take over the world}}/city/[[PhineasAndFerb Tri-State Area]]" works if pursued with style and variety, but you really want to have [[{{Batman}} a theme - ice and coldness, or riddles, for instance.]]
* Hate [[BadIsGoodAndGoodIsBad Goodness]].
** Note: If the reason you hate good is because it is [[AllergicToGood your]] [[WeaksauceWeakness weakness]], you are already a cartoonish Supervillain, and need go no further on this list.
* Join a political party the writer dislikes.


There is one thing you must ''never, ever do'' to be a true Cartoonish Supervillain:
* [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption Succeed]].

This doesn't mean you have to fail at ''every'' step of your plan, because it's a well known fact that YouCantThwartStageOne. You'll probably get to rob the bank or build the DoomsdayDevice, and you [[VillainExitStageLeft usually get to escape]] when it goes pear-shaped. But beyond that, you're pretty much screwed. Don't forget to shake your fist, [[WeWillMeetAgain swear you'll be back]] and [[NeverRecycleYourSchemes never re-use any of your old plans]]. It's all part of the {{supervillain}} flair.