The baddies. The mad scientists, the corrupt executives, the evil witches and wizards, the corrupt politicians, the mortal aspects of pure evil, and, more often than not, the people (or otherwise)
that instigate the conflict and the story.
Despite how one is supposed to cheer for the hero to succeed, there has always been a long standing interest in the villains. Some are renowned for their
intelligence and cunning
Evil Plan, others are awe-inspiring with simply how
evil they can be, and yet others are respected because of their determination.
No matter how many times the hero kicks in the door and stops their plans,
they're always back at it
soon enough, with another dark scheme to further their evil goals. On the other hand,
not all villains can achieve that secret admiration.
It is said a hero is only as good as their rivals. Thus, a good story has to have a well-written villain, somebody that earns respect.
After all, what is a hero without a villain to challenge them? This.
Compare
The Index Team.
Tropes
- 0% Approval Rating
- Absolute Xenophobe
- Activist Fundamentalist Antics
- Adaptational Villainy
- The Adjectival Man
- Adorable Evil Minions
- Affably Evil
- African Terrorists
- The Aggressive Drug Dealer
- A God Am I
- A.I. Is a Crapshoot
- Airborne Mook
- Alas, Poor Villain
- Aliens and Monsters
- Aliens Are Bastards
- Alpha Bitch
- Always Chaotic Evil
- Animal Themed Superbeing
- Amoral Attorney
- Antagonist In Mourning
- Antagonistic Offspring
- The Antichrist
- Anti Role Model
- Anti-Villain
- Arch-Enemy
- Archnemesis Dad
- Armies Are Evil
- Arms Dealer
- Arrogant Kung-Fu Guy
- Artifact of Doom
- As Long as There Is Evil
- The Assimilator
- Ax Crazy
- Bad Boss
- The Bad Guys Are Cops
- Bad Guys Play Pool
- The Bad Guy Wins
- Bad Samaritan
- Bad Santa
- Bad Is Good and Good Is Bad
- The Baroness
- Bastard Bastard
- Because I'm Good At It
- Beta Test Baddie
- Better The Devil You Know
- Beware the Silly Ones
- Biblical Bad Guy
- Big Bad
- The Big Bad Shuffle
- The Big Bad Wolf
- Big Red Devil
- Bit Part Badguys
- Black Cloak
- Black Knight
- Black Shirt
- Black Widow
- Blob Monster
- Blondes Are Evil
- Blond Guys Are Evil
- Bodyguard Babes
- Breaking Out the Boss
- Breakout Villain
- The Brute
- The Bully
- The Butcher
- Byronic Hero
- The Caligula
- Card-Carrying Villain
- Carnival of Killers
- Cartoonish Supervillainy
- Cast as a Mask
- Character Alignment:
- The Chessmaster
- Child Eater
- Child Hater
- Childhood Memory Demolition Team
- Chronic Backstabbing Disorder
- Chronic Villainy
- Circus of Fear
- Civilian Villain
- Classic Villain
- Clock King
- Complete Monster
- The Computer Is Your Friend
- The Conqueror
- Conflict Killer
- Contagious A.I.
- Corporate Samurai
- Corrupt Bureaucrat
- Corrupt Corporate Executive
- Corrupt Hick
- Corrupt Politician
- The Corrupter
- The Corruption
- Cosmopolitan Council
- Crazy Jealous Guy
- Create Your Own Villain
- Creepy Child
- Creepy Doll
- Creepy Uncle
- Criminals
- Cruella to Animals
- Cult
- Culture Police
- Daddy's Little Villain
- Dangerous Deserter
- Dark Action Girl
- Dark Chick
- Dark Magical Girl
- Dark Mistress
- Dastardly Whiplash
- Deadly Doctor
- Deceptive Disciple
- Demonic Dummy
- Depraved Bisexual
- Depraved Dwarf
- Depraved Homosexual
- Depraved Kids Show Host
- Designated Villain
- Despotism Justifies the Means
- Devil but No God
- Devil in Plain Sight
- Diabolical Mastermind
- Digitized Hacker
- Dimension Lord
- Disc One Final Boss
- Disproportionate Restitution
- Dirty Communists
- Dirty Cop
- Dirty Coward
- The Dog Was the Mastermind
- The Dragon
- Driven to Villainy
- Dystopia Justifies The Means
- Egomaniac Hunter
- Eldritch Abomination
- The Empire
- The Emperor
- Emperor Scientist
- Enemy Mime
- Enemy to All Living Things
- Enemy Within
- Enemy Without
- Enfant Terrible
- Enigmatic Minion
- Eunuchs Are Evil
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones
- Even Evil Has Standards
- Even Mooks Have Loved Ones
- Evil All Along
- Evil Chancellor
- Evil Chef
- Evil Counterpart
- Evil Debt Collector
- Evil Diva
- Evil Duo
- Evil Former Friend
- The Evil Genius
- Evil Gloating
- Eviler than Thou
- Evilutionary Biologist
- Evil Is Cool
- Evil Is Not a Toy
- Evil Is Sexy
- Evil Knockoff
- Evil Laugh
- Evil Matriarch
- Evil Mentor
- Evil Minions
- Evil Old Folks
- Evil Orphan
- Evil Overlord
- Evil Plan
- Evil Poacher
- The Evil Prince
- Evil Sorcerer
- Evil Twin
- Evil Uncle
- Evil Vegetarian
- Evil Versus Evil
- The Extremist Was Right
- Face of an Angel, Mind of a Demon
- Fair Play Villain
- Fallen Hero
- The Family That Slays Together
- Family Values Villain
- Fantasy Forbidding Father
- Fashionable Evil
- Fashion Victim Villain
- The Fatalist
- Fat Bastard
- Fat, Sweaty Southerner in a White Suit
- Faux Affably Evil
- Femme Fatale
- Fetus Terrible
- Feudal Overlord
- The Fighting Narcissist
- Film Felons
- Five-Bad Band
- Four Eyes, Zero Soul
- For the Evulz
- Forgotten Friend New Foe
- Friendly Enemy
- Galactic Conqueror
- The Gambler
- General Failure
- General Ripper
- Generic Doomsday Villain
- Generic Evil Organization Squad
- Giggling Villain
- The Gimmick
- Girl Scouts Are Evil
- Glory Hound
- Glorious Leader
- God Is Evil
- God of Evil
- Gold Fish Poop Gang
- The Government
- The Group
- Graceful Loser
- Greedy Jew (a Dead Horse Trope}
- Hanging Judge
- Hannibal Has a Point
- Hannibal Lecture
- Harmless Villain
- Hate Sink
- Headless Horseman
- The Heartless
- The Heavy
- Heel
- Heel Face Mole
- Helpful Mook
- Heroic Comedic Sociopath
- Heroes Act Villains Hinder
- Hero Killer
- Hero Syndrome
- Heteronormative Crusader
- He Who Fights Monsters
- Hidden Agenda Villain
- Hidden Villain
- Hijacked by Ganon
- Hive Queen
- The Horde
- Hungry Menace
- Illegal Guardian
- I'm a Humanitarian
- Implacable Man
- In Love with Your Carnage
- Incidental Villain
- Ineffectual Sympathetic Villain
- Intellectually Supported Tyranny
- Interim Villain
- Invasion of the Baby Snatchers
- Invincible Villain
- Jack the Ripper
- Jackass Genie
- The Jailer
- Jerk Jock
- Jerkass Has a Point
- Jerkass Woobie
- The Juggernaut
- Just Between You and Me
- Just Like Us
- Just the First Citizen
- Just You and Me and My GUARDS
- Karma Houdini
- Kick the Dog
- Kick Them While They Are Down
- Killer Space Monkey
- Knight of Cerebus
- Knight Templar
- Last Villain Stand
- Laughably Evil
- Legion of Doom
- The Legions of Hell
- Lesbian Vampire
- Les Collaborateurs
- Light Is Not Good
- Living Doll Collector
- Living Motion Detector
- Living Shadow
- Living With The Villain
- Loony Fan
- Love to Hate
- Lower Class Lout
- Mad Artist
- Mad Bomber
- Mad Doctor
- Mad Scientist
- Magnificent Bastard
- Mailer Daemon
- Make My Monster Grow
- Make The Bear Angry Again
- Make Way For The New Villains
- The Man Behind the Man
- Man of Wealth and Taste
- Maniac Monkeys
- Manipulative Bastard
- Master of Illusion
- Master Poisoner
- Master Race
- Meet the New Boss
- Mega Microbes
- Mike Nelson, Destroyer of Worlds
- Misanthrope Supreme
- Mistaken For Granite
- Mister Danger
- The Mole
- Monster Clown
- Monster Sob Story
- Monster Suit
- Moral Event Horizon
- Morally Ambiguous Ducktorate
- Moral Sociopathy
- Murder, Inc.
- Murderous Mannequin
- Multiversal Conqueror
- Mysterious Mercenary Pursuer
- My Country, Right Or Wrong
- My Master, Right Or Wrong
- Mysterious Backer
- A Nazi by Any Other Name
- Nazi Grandpa
- Near Villain Victory
- Nebulous Criminal Conspiracy
- Nebulous Evil Organisation
- Necessarily Evil
- Necromantic
- Nietzsche Wannabe
- No Antagonist
- Noble Demon
- Noble Top Enforcer
- No One Sees the Boss
- Non-Action Big Bad
- No One Respects The Spanish Inquisition
- No Song for the Wicked
- Not Evil, Just Misunderstood
- Nothing Can Stop Us Now
- Not Me This Time
- Not So Harmless
- Obviously Evil
- Omnicidal Maniac
- One Bad Mother
- One-Winged Angel
- Opposing Sports Team
- Orderlies Are Creeps
- Out Damned Spot
- Outside Context Villain
- Paid Harem
- Path of Inspiration
- Peek-a-Bogeyman
- The Peeping Tom
- Pelagian Villain
- People Puppets
- Perky Female Minion
- Perverse Puppet
- Piggybacking On Hitler
- Pirate
- A Pirate 400 Years Too Late
- Plaguemaster
- Planet Eater
- Plot Irrelevant Villain
- Poisonous Captive
- Poisonous Friend
- Poisonous Person
- Poke the Poodle
- Polite Villains Rude Heroes
- Politically Incorrect Villain
- Predecessor Villain
- President Evil
- Psycho Ex-Girlfriend
- Psycho Lesbian
- Psycho Prototype
- Psychopathic Manchild
- Psycho Psychologist
- Punch Clock Villain
- The Punishment
- A Pupil of Mine Until He Turned to Evil
- Put Them All Out Of Their Misery
- The Quisling
- Raising The Steaks
- Red Scare
- Regularly Scheduled Evil
- Reliable Traitor
- Religion of Evil
- Regent for Life
- The Remnant
- Renegade Russian
- Replacement Mooks
- The Renfield
- Reptiles Are Abhorrent
- Right-Hand Cat
- Right Wing Militia Fanatic
- Rival Turned Evil
- Rogue Agent
- Rogues Gallery
- Rogues Gallery Showcase
- Rogues Gallery Transplant
- Rogue Protagonist
- Rule of Two
- Ruthless Modern Pirates
- Sadist Teacher
- Scary Amoral Religion
- Scary Dogmatic Aliens
- Schoolyard Bully All Grown Up
- Sealed Army in a Can
- Sealed Evil in a Can
- Secret Circle of Secrets
- Secret Police
- Self-Made Orphan
- Serial Killer
- Shady Real Estate Agent
- Siblings in Crime
- Silent Antagonist
- A Sinister Clue
- Sinister Minister
- Sinister Shades
- Sissy Villain
- Sixth Ranger Traitor
- Sky Pirate
- Slave Mooks
- Sliding Scale of Antagonist Vileness
- Sliding Scale of Anti-Villains
- Sliding Scale of Villain Effectiveness
- Sliding Scale of Villain Threat
- Smug Snake
- Smug Super
- The Social Darwinist
- The Sociopath
- Sociopathic Hero
- This Index Is a Bitch
- Softspoken Sadist
- Sorcerous Overlord
- Sorting Algorithm of Evil
- Space Pirates
- Stalker with a Crush
- Standard Evil Empire Hierarchy
- The Starscream
- Starter Villain
- Stompy Mooks
- Straight Edge Evil
- Straw Hypocrite
- Stronger Sibling
- Submarine Pirates
- Sudden Sequel Heel Syndrome
- Super Persistent Predator
- Super Villain
- Suspiciously Idle Officers
- The Swarm
- Swiper, No Swiping!
- Taking You with Me
- Taxidermy Is Creepy
- Teens Are Monsters
- Terrible Trio
- Then Let Me Be Evil
- They Look Just Like Everyone Else
- This Cannot Be!
- Those Two Bad Guys
- Those Wacky Nazis
- Token Motivational Nemesis
- Tom The Dark Lord
- Too Powerful to Live
- Torture Technician
- Tragic Villain
- Treacherous Advisor
- Trigger Happy
- Tykebomb
- The Remnant
- Übermensch
- Unhand Them, Villain!
- Unholy Matrimony
- Used to Be a Sweet Kid
- The Usual Adversaries
- The Vamp
- Vampire Vannabe
- Verbal Backpedaling*
Not
strictly a villain trope, but often overlaps with
Evil Gloating
- Very Punchable Man
- Vile Villain, Saccharine Show
- Villain Antagonist
- Villain Ball Magnet
- Villains Blend In Better
- Villain Corner
- Villain Decay
- Villainous Friendship
- Villain Protagonist
- Villain Song
- Villain Sue
- Villain Takes An Interest
- Villain Team Up
- Villain with Good Publicity
- Villainous Breakdown
- Villainous BSOD
- Villainous Cheekbones
- Villainous Crossdresser
- Villainous Crush
- Villainous Glutton
- Villainous Harlequin
- Villainous Incest
- Villainous Valour
- Villainous Widows Peak
- Villain Opening Scene
- Villains Act, Heroes React
- Villains Out Shopping
- Villains Want Mercy
- Villainy-Free Villain
- The Virus
- Visionary Villain
- We Are Everywhere
- We Have Reserves
- Welcome To Evil Mart
- Well-Intentioned Extremist
- Western Terrorists
- With Great Power Comes Great Insanity
- What Measure Is a Mook?
- Who's Laughing Now?
- Wicked Cultured
- Wicked Stepmother
- Wicked Witch
- Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds
- The Worm that Walks
- Worthy Opponent
- Yellow Peril
- You Have Failed Me
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness
- Young Conqueror