The Protagonist of each story is a descendant of a Disney Hero/Heroine
That would be one of the reasons the villain of each book targets them specifically. They want revenge against those who defeated them and go after someone in their bloodline.- The strongest implication of this is in Second Star to the Fright since Barrie’s last name is Darling. He could easily be a grandchild of either of Wendy’s younger brothers, John and Michael.
- Alternatively, the protagonist could be the reincarnation of a Disney hero/heroine.
Each novel has a separate Alternate Continuity
- Given that Ursula was an iconic Disney villain who died at the end of her debut film, Part of Your Nightmare seems to take place in a world where Disney pop culture media doesn't exist the way it does in our world. That probably means there was not as big an animated feature film revolution, let alone animated musicals. If it did, Shelly would have known ahead of time why dealing with the Sea Witch would be a bad idea.
- This also means Peter Pan doesn't exist as a Western icon because J.M. Barrie never wrote the play, which also revolutionized stage special effects with fly rigs. Instead, Captain Hook and Peter are real.
- While pop culture based on Disney would not have existed there, however, according to "Fiends on the Other Side", we know that the Dr. Facilier of that story ISN'T the one from the movie, but instead... an impersonator of him, meaning that Dr. Facilier DID exist way back then, and became so much of an influence to be called as an urban legend as "The Shadow Man". (That, or maybe the events of the movie DID happen, but no one would have filmed it so it would have been lost in the wind.
Future Villain speculation
- Other Disney villains could include...
- The Evil Queen with an Aesop about beauty and/or vanity.
- Jafar with another "be careful what you wish for" Aesop.
- Madam Mim with an Aesop about life in another's shoes, to tie in with her shapeshifting magic.
- Maleficent with an Aesop about holding a petty grudge.
- Confirmed; at least the Maleficent part.
- The Horned King with an Aesop about grief and/or wanting to bring something lost back.
- Scar with an Aesop about loyalty and power, or cats.
- Confirmed; at least the part about Scar.
- Syndrome with an Aesop about forgiveness or toxic fandom.
- AUTO with an Aesop about not being a control freak.
- Randall Boggs with an Aesop about courage.
- Mother Gothel with an Aesop about accepting mortality.
- Ernesto de la Cruz with an Aesop about ambition/fame or plagiarism.
- Peg Leg Pete with an Aesop about creativity, healthy eating, or good family relationships.
- Lady Tremaine with an Aesop about jealousy or family.
- Gaston with an Aesop about toxic masculinity.
- Prince John with an Aesop about greed.
- Governor Ratcliffe with an Aesop about racism.
- The Queen of Hearts with an Aesop about not being a rageaholic or mental health.
- The Coachman with an Aesop about the importance of staying in school.
- Kaa with an Aesop about trust.
- King Candy/Turbo with an Aesop about not being a glory hound.
- Oogie Boogie with an Aesop about gambling and/or cheating.
- Yzma with an Aesop about dabbling in the dark arts or crazy scientific experiments.
- Alternatively, her Aesop could be related to positions of power or how we treat our friends (aka, a "popularity Aesop").
- Shan Yu with an Aesop about war or honor.
- Evelyn Deavor, with an Aesop about scapegoating.
- Davy Jones with an Aesop about letting go.
- Judge Claude Frollo with an Aesop about religion or (like Ratcliffe above) racism.
- Either Sid Philips or Lotso with an Aesop about stealing stuff or not taking proper care of your things.
- The Big Bad Wolf with an Aesop about diligence.
- The Headless Horseman with an Aesop about not pursuing relationships for selfish or shallow reasons.
- King Magnifico with an Aesop about dabbling in the dark arts (like Yzma above).
- Yokai/Proffesor Callahan with an Aesop about online safety or technology.
There is a Greater-Scope Villain that all the victims from past books will team up to defeat to restore their lives to the way they were.
- Most likely either Chernabog, or Bill Cipher.
- Or someone will defeat this villain on behalf of the victims.
The world may not be quite as screwed as it seems by the end of Liar, Liar Head on Fire.
- Hades' and Zeus' existence means Hercules does too, as Hades makes an offhand reference to him when making his deal with Hector. So, things may play out like they did in the movie with Herc defeating Hades and the Titans.
Guesses for other titles
- If they do one about Yzma, it will be called Snuff Out the Light.
- If they do one about Kaa, it will be called Trust In Me or The Scare Necessities.
- If they do one about Scar, it will be called Be Prepared.
- Jossed.
- The book centering on Jafar will be called Arabian Frights or Fiend Like Me.
- If they do one about Frollo, it will be called As Above, So Below.
- If they do one about Lotso, it will be called You Got A Fiend In Me.
- The book centering on The Evil Queen will be called Who's The Fear-est One Of All?
- The book centering on Gaston will be called No One Haunts Like Gaston.
- If they do one about The Big Bad Wolf, it will be called Who's Afraid?
- If they do one about Prince John, it will be called BOO-De-Lally or The Phantom King Of England.
- If any of the Muppet villains get one, it would be called The Muggers, the Screamers, & Me.
- If they do one about Madam Medusa, it will be called Someone's Coming For You.
- If they do one about Percival C. McLeach, it will be called Six Feet Down Under.
- If they do one about Shan Yu, it will be called Horror To Us All.
- If they do one about Madam Mim, it will be called Most Be-Frightening Thing.
- If they do one about Chernabog, it will be called "Fright on Bald Mountain".
We could get another book or two with a happier ending
So far only Second Star To the Fright has a more Bittersweet Ending than the many Downer Endings that the books have given us. But that doesn't mean that all of them will have the Disney villains win. Maybe we could get one or two more stories where the protagonist manages to defeat or escape from the Disney villain, but of course with some bittersweet catch.- Perhaps some of the more lighthearted villains like Pete could get their stories to have a happy ending?
