History Main / DarkMessiah

** Frieza is an example of a Dark Messiah who becomes one entirely by incident. He cares nothing for anyone in the universe but himself, and really is nothing more than a SpoiledBrat at his core, but [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority his sheer power leads most of his followers to see him as a necessary evil]], the iron-fisted tyrant that keeps their empire together. For his part, Frieza doesn't consider his soldiers an army so much as a rabble of convenient underlings to protect or dispose of as he sees fit (though he does get fond of certain underlings, such as Zarbon and Ginyu).

* The Doom Slayer becomes this in ''VideoGame/DoomEternal'', albeit not intentionally. In an Earth that is invaded by demons, you will find propaganda broadcasts telling the world not to lose hope because you're out there, and a series of logs you find follows a scientist studying your history who winds up nearly worshipping you. And what do you do to earn this devotion? Rip and tear, until it is done.

* The Doom Slayer becomes this in ''VideoGame/DoomEternal'', albeit not intentionally. In an Earth that is invaded by demons, you will find propaganda broadcasts telling the world not to lose hope because you're out there, and a series of logs you find follows a scientist studying your history who winds up nearly worshipping you. And what do you do to earn this devotion? [[KillEmAll Rip and tear, until it is done.]]

* Davros in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' story "Genesis of the Daleks" has used his extensive charisma to gain unquestioned following from his own Kaled people and even many of the enemy Thals and wants to save them by transforming them into a form better evolved to deal with the coming apocalypse and become the dominant life form in the universe at large. Shame that this is achieved by turning them into tentacled blobs in pepperpot-shaped tanks that murder everything out of racial hatred.

** ''Series/TheWalkingDead'': Negan probably sees himself as the new messiah and definitely acts like it. He claims to be doing everything for the greater good, in order to save what's left of humanity. He even acts personally offended whenever somebody fights or questions his motive. His methods, on the other hand, leave much to be desired.

* Licht from ''Manga/BlackClover'' is the charismatic leader of the Eye of the Midnight Sun, a group of rogue mages loyal to him, making them believe that he will reincarnate them into their true forms and establish a new kingdom. He thinks of himself as the one chosen to resurrect his fallen race, and genuinely believes that he'll cleanse the corrupt Clover Kingdom of its sins by killing all humans.

* The Claw from ''Anime/GunXSword'', where people he has meet practically worship him like a god and are willing to do anything he asks or to make him happy. This including killing anyone that gets in the way of his dream.

* Aric of Dacia, also known as ComicBook/XOManowar is an AntiHero example. He finds out he is the messianic figure of an evil alien race known as the Vine after bonding with their worshiped deity, the symbiotic armor Shanhara. However, due to having previously enduring enslavement and torture from the Vine, he vows revenge against and is determined to destroy them. While initially regarding him as a sacrilegious abomination, the Vine come to realize he is their chosen one after all and begin to revere him as such. [[spoiler:He ultimately fulfills his purpose as MessianicArchetype when he saves the Vine from the [[GreaterScopeVillain Torment]], the alien race that used to oppress ''them''.]]

* Joseph Balsamo aka [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade Cagliostro]] in the 1949 film ''Black Magic'' staring Creator/OrsonWelles. He uses his talent as a Hypnotist to make himself seem like a UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} type Healer but is in fact motivated by greed and revenge. He then plans to use his [[DoubleStandardRapeSciFi Mind Controlled]] {{Doppelganger}} of UsefulNotes/MarieAntoinette he's in love in an EvilPlan to become ruler of the world by starting UsefulNotes/TheFrenchRevolution. At first, he doesn't actually believe his divine claims, but then he losses it and goes full-on AGodAmI. He's a MagnificentBastard and the plan would have worked [[spoiler: if not for the interference of Anton Mesmer, who first helped him discover his gift]].

* ''Film/RogueOne'' and its tie in material with other Star Wars properties build up Saw Gerrera to be this. Contrasted with the more morally upright Rebel Alliance, Gerrera and his partisans are willing to use more destructive tactics and are considered terrorists. But Gerrera firmly believes his efforts are helping to fight the Empire and this is further explored in WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels.

* Luke Castellan, the champion of Kronos and main antagonist of ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'', fits the role rather well. Motivated by [[RageAgainstTheHeavens anger at the Olympian gods]] for the way they treat their children, Luke accepted the lordship of the Titan [[BigBad Kronos]] to destroy Olympus and usher in a new age. He recruited half-bloods to his side in order to release Kronos from his prison and overthrow the gods. Luke promised disillusioned half-bloods that they would have a priviliged place in the new Age of the Titans.

** "''Yet one shall be born to face the Shadow, born once more as he was born before, and shall be born again, time without end. The Dragon shall be Reborn, and there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth at his rebirth. In sackcloth and ashes shall he clothe the people, and he shall break the world again by his coming, tearing apart all ties that bind. Like the unfettered dawn shall he bind us, and burn us, yet shall the Dragon Reborn confront the Shadow at the Last Battle, and his blood shall give us the Light. Let tears flow, O ye people of the world. Weep for your salvation.''" Initially, the Dark Messiah in question, [[spoiler: Rand Al'Thor]], struggles heavily with the ''unthinkable'' notion of women being harmed. But as the books progress, he becomes increasingly disturbed, and the prophecies' promise of a world-shattering salvation seem to become increasingly more likely. Regardless of what actually happens, the Prophecies have certainly promised a Dark Messiah rather than a Messiah.

* In ''Series/CobraKai'' John Kreese fancies comes off as such, being a ''deeply'' disturbed individual who cruel, brutal, stone-hearted, and thoroughly obsessed with forcing his philosophy of social Darwinism and mercilessness on his students, and is ''very'' good at manipulating everyone around him to ensure he is in a position to do so. [[spoiler:By the end of Season 2 he has successfully managed to seize control of Cobra Kai and secure the UndyingLoyalty of most of Johnny's students save for Miguel, Aisha, and (possibly) Bert, telling Johnny that he'll appreciate it someday.]]

** Daenerys and Drogo's unborn son Rhaego, is prophesied to be the "Stallion Who Mounts The World," (in which 'Mounts' doesn't mean 'ride' but 'fuck') the ''khal'' of ''khals'' who will unite the Dothraki and lead them to dominion over the entire world. Whilst the Dothraki naturally see him as TheMessiah, as the Dothraki are seen by every other culture in Essos and Westeros as the most bloodthirsty, brutal, savage, and barbaric people in the world -- and not without due reason! -- he more than fits this. This is lampshaded by Mirri Maz Duur, who subtly implies that her real reason for "helping" Khal Drogo was not to punish him for massacring her village, but to try and ScrewDestiny, ensuring Rhaego is stillborn and can never fulfill his destiny.
** Daenerys herself may be either this or TheMessiah, the series hasn't really come clean either way and it may even be a matter of perspective. ''She'' sees herself as the rightful queen returning to reclaim a throne that belongs to her... but, on the other hand, she intends to do so by burning her way across Westeros with three fire-breathing dragons ''and'' after having fulfilled her stillborn son's destiny by unleashing the Dothraki upon Westeros. [[spoiler:She finally makes the transition into Dark Messiah by the end of the series, burning King's Landing to the ground and killing hundreds of thousands of innocents in the process. With the city in her control, she declares that she will continue her "liberation" campaign towards beyond Westeros itself and "freeing" everyone in her path.]]

* Nicolas Kerensky, of ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' fame, eventually came to believe that violence was an immutable trait in humanity that could not be eliminated, but could be ''harnessed''. To this end, he created [[ProudWarriorRace The Clans]]; a society based off MightMakesRight, HonorBeforeReason, and [[TheSocialDarwinist eugenics]] in order to isolate the damage caused by warfare to those who actually fought it. To achieve this, he took absolute power, and when one of the Clans had issues with his ways of running things, he wiped them out and eliminated all records of their existence.

* ''VideoGame/EXTRAPOWERAttackOfDarkforce'': Michael may be a MadScientist with AGodAmI tendencies. But after witnessing the Dark Strike Cannon obliterate a huge chunk of Tokyo centered on Shinjuku, he truly believes that he is called to become a god unto the world and deliver to it salvation. The only problem is, this benevolent savior's modus operandi is to develop biological mobile weapons platforms in the shape of giant angel statues that wreck devestating havoc with their lasers blasts to cleanse the world's impure.

** Once the Occuria's true motives are revealed, it becomes clear that the position of the Dynast-King is actually this, instead of a straight messiah. The Dynast-Kings are given the means to mine [[FantasticNuke deifacted nethicites]], which they may use to subjugate anyone opposed to their message by violence. Although it's unknown whether Raithwall actively used the stones, he did manage to singlehandedly unite Ivalice's warring factions. At the very least, the Occuria want Ashe to use them to destroy Archadia, thus avenging her family and putting herself to the top of a new world order.

** Jul 'Mdama leads a Covenant remnant which seeks the ascendancy of the Sangheili... and the annihilation of all humans.

** A [[AntiHero Renegade]] Shepard can fit this trope as well, due to the ruthless nature which he/she exhibits. Subverted with Saren, who at first seems to be one of these, [[spoiler:but it turns out that he was being [[BrainwashedAndCrazy controlled by Sovereign]]]].

*** ''VideoGame/Persona5 [[UpdatedRerelease Royal]]'' had [[spoiler:[[WellIntentionedExtremist Takuto Maruki]]]], who becomes one after [[spoiler:the completion of his [[RelationshipValues Confidant]] and the fall of [[BigBad Yaldabaoth]]]]. This results in a LotusEaterMachine where everyone is given what he thinks they need to be happy, and any dissention is dealt with a brutal MindRape that is meant to convice the victim that they need to accept his perfect world to escape the pain.

* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': After Gamzee [[spoiler: goes [[AxCrazy sober]]]], he starts believing that [[spoiler: he is both of the Mirthful Messiahs worshiped by his {{Juggalo}} religion.]] Which is somewhat true, considering that he's a descendant of [[spoiler: the Grand Highblood]]. As such, it is now his glorious duty to [[spoiler: [[FantasticRacism subjugate all the lowbloods]] and paint murals with their blood]]. As it turns out, he isn't [[spoiler: the Mirthful Messiahs, and never believed he was. Said Messiahs do exist however, and he eventually started serving them]].

** Lord Xykon and even Redcloak's brother Right-Eye believe Redcloak is full of it and call out his Dark Messiah routine, but for different reasons. For Xykon, it's because he figures Redcloak uses it as an excuse and hide behind his actions instead of being ''truly'' evil (though EvilCannotComprehendGood should be noted since Xykon does stuff ForTheEvulz.) Right-Eye meanwhile calls out Redcloak for the hypocrisy in trying to be their peoples' savior but working with a psychopath like Xykon (who slaughters their people for the fun), the fact that Redcloak seemed to never grow past being the angry teen he was when put on the Crimson Mantle, and that he doesn't know what the Goblin people want. The real reason Redcloak is so committed to the Plan is that quitting now would mean that the deaths of all the goblins that occurred in the name of the Plan (many of whom were killed by Xykon for fun) [[spoiler: including Right-Eye whom ''Redcloak'' murdered to protect ''Xykon'']] would have been for nothing. Xykon himself lampshades this in a [[BreakThemByTalking speech that successfully cows Redcloak into being his lackey for a long while.]] This contrasts against Righteye, who after a talk with Eugene Greenhilt (Roy's father), abandons his quest for vengeance and actually establishes a village for humans and goblins to live peacefully while aging normally. It worked for a while... until Xykon showed up and Redcloak chose sides.

** Shin is a straight example, in fact [[TokenMotivationalNemesis the very villain that started off the series by giving Kenshiro his infamous seven scars on his chest and stealing his fiancee]]. His men were fanatically devoted to him, and he took the title of "King" as he went out on a brutal conquest of territories, and using the wealth his army looted to build the city "Southern Cross" with a golden pyramid as its stronghold. However, his motivation for doing all of this to earn the love of the object of his affection, Yuria -- Kenshiro's fiancee. Raoh is basically [[{{Expy}} Shin]] [[UpToEleven on a grander scale]]. Interestingly, Of the Nanto Roku Sei Ken ("Six Sacred Southern Star Fists"), six masters of the Nanto styles whose destiny and style is shaped by the stars of the South Dipper constellation, Shin's corresponds to "The Star of ''Martyrdom''".

* ComicBook/{{Magneto}}. He'll do anything to make the world a better place for mutants, even if it means terrorism or all-out war. He has often been nicknamed by his followers as the "Mutant Messiah", and stands in darker contrast to his friend and counterpart, [[ComicBook/ProfessorX Charles Xavier]]. DependingOnTheWriter, though, as some of his actions have been very heroic. In ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen'' this is taken UpToEleven, as Magneto is written as the leader of a cult or a terrorist organization. The usual anti-hero aspects of mainstream Magneto are removed to reinforce this trope.

* Dr. Jebidiah Christoph aka Jebus of WebAnimation/MadnessCombat is a defecting AAHW scientist who grew disgusted with the things he was made to create and gained severe messianic complex in the process.

* Film/RogueOne and its tie in material with other Star Wars properties build up Saw Gerrera to be this. Contrasted with the more morally upright Rebel Alliance, Gerrera and his partisans are willing to use more destructive tactics and are considered terrorists. But Gerrera firmly believes his efforts are helping to fight the Empire and this is further explored in WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels.

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* ''VideoGame/EXTRAPOWERAttackOfDarkforce'': Michael may be a MadScientist with an AGodAmITendencies. But after witnessing the Dark Strike Cannon obliterate a huge chunk of Tokyo centered on Shinjuku, he truly believes that he is called to become a god unto the world and deliver to it salvation. The only problem is, this benevolent savior's modus operandi is to develop biological mobile weapons platforms in the shape of giant angel statues that wreck devestating havoc with their lasers blasts to cleanse the world's impure.

* Luke Castellan, the champion of Kronos and main antagonist of ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'', fits the role rather well. Motivated by [[RageAgainstTheHeavens anger at the Olympian gods]] for the way they treat their children, Luke accepted the lordship of the Titan [[BigBad Kronos]] to destroy Olympus. He recruited half-bloods to his side in order to release Kronos from his prison and overthrow the gods.

Almost ''always'' operates on {{Ubermensch}} or TotalitarianUtilitarian mentality. May or may not be a MagnificentBastard ByronicHero. Contrast with AllLovingHero, TheRevolutionWillNotBeVilified. Has nothing to do with the video game ''VideoGame/DarkMessiah''. See also ApocalypseMaiden, TheAntiChrist. When put against the AllLovingHero or the MessianicArchetype, that's a DuelingMessiahs dynamic.

* [[spoiler:Adrian Veidt (Ozymandias)]] in ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'' to some extent. He [[spoiler:causes the deaths of millions]] in order to unify the world and prevent the nuclear Armageddon he believes is otherwise inevitable. The comic itself refuses to either obviously support or condemn his actions.

*** Takaya, the [[StrawNihilist Nietzsche Wannabe]] who looks a lot like Jesus (with several {{Fan Nickname}}s because of this), becomes this near the end of the game, becoming an internet cult leader after learning of TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt and attempting to encourage everyone else to embrace [[spoiler:The Avatar of Death coming to destroy them all]].

* ''Series/TheWalkingDead'': Negan probably sees himself as the new messiah and definitely acts like it. He claims to be doing everything for the greater good, in order to save what's left of humanity. He even acts personally offended whenever somebody fights or questions his motive. His methods, on the other hand, leave much to be desired.

* ''VideoGame/Persona3'':
** Takaya, the [[StrawNihilist Nietzsche Wannabe]] who looks a lot like Jesus (with several {{Fan Nickname}}s because of this), becomes this near the end of the game, becoming an internet cult leader after learning of TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt and attempting to encourage everyone else to embrace [[spoiler:The Avatar of Death coming to destroy them all]].
** According to a scene in FES, [[spoiler:Shuji Ikuski saw himself as one of these]].
* ''VideoGame/Persona5 [[UpdatedRerelease Royal]]'': [[spoiler:Takuto Maruki]] becomes one after [[spoiler:the completion of his [[RelationshipValues Confidant]] and the fall of [[BigBad Yaldabaoth]]]]. This results in a LotusEaterMachine where everyone is given what he thinks they need to be happy, and any dissention is dealt with a brutal MindRape that is meant to convice the victim that they need to accept his perfect world to escape the pain.

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* [[WhiteHairBlackHeart Aion]] in ''Manga/ChronoCrusade'' seems to fancy himself as one of these--at least, for his fellow Sinners. He preaches that his dream is "freedom" and it's [[WellIntentionedExtremist his goal to achieve it]], at ''[[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans any]]'' cost. He's willing to (and does) sacrifice his followers and himself if it means his dreams will be realized.

** Shin is a straight example, in fact [[TokenMotivationalNemesis the very villain that started off the series by giving Kenshiro his infamous seven scars on his chest and stealing his fiancee]]. His men were fanatically devoted to him, and he took the title of "King" as he went out on a brutal conquest of territories, and using the wealth his army looted to build the city "Southern Cross" with a golden pyramid as its stronghold. However, his motivation for doing all of this to earn the love of the object of his affection, Yuria - Kenshiro's fiancee. Raoh is basically [[{{Expy}} Shin]] [[UpToEleven on a grander scale]]. Interestingly, Of the Nanto Roku Sei Ken ("Six Sacred Southern Star Fists"), six masters of the Nanto styles whose destiny and style is shaped by the stars of the South Dipper constellation, Shin's corresponds to "The Star of ''Martyrdom''".

* The Claw from ''Anime/GunXSword'', where people he has meet practically worship him like a god and are willing to do anything he asks or to make him happy. This including killing anyone that gets in the way of his dream.

* Former marine "Z" from ''Manga/OnePiece'' used to be an upstanding believer in justice, [[WoobieDestroyerofWorlds but after losing one too many things to pirates]]...

* [[spoiler:King Canute the Great]] in ''Manga/VinlandSaga'' intends to end the Viking Age, by creating strong, centralized leadership over Scandinavia and England so he can 'save' the vikings from their life of violence, getting them to settle down and stop plundering Europe and each other. This, of course, puts him into conflict with other would-be kings of Scandinavia and England, not to mention that [[StartXToStopX he'll need the help of the vikings to get the power and wealth he'll need to create that state]].

* Abu Adallah in ''Shooting War'' masterminds [[spoiler: a conspiracy against the US military occupation of Iraq, and dies for his cause. He engineered a nuclear apocalypse in the Middle East and Southeast Asia]].
* The [[EvilutionaryBiologist High Evolutionary]], from Creator/MarvelComics.
* Avengers' foe Korvac during ComicBook/TheKorvacSaga. Despite his claims of wanting to bring order and prosperity to the universe, his eagerness to kill and control others reveals him to be an evil savior-want-to-be.
* ComicBook/{{Magneto}}. He'll do anything to make the world a better place for mutants, even if it means terrorism or all-out war. He has often been nicknamed by his followers as the "Mutant Messiah", and stands in darker contrast to his friend and counterpart, [[ComicBook/ProfessorX Charles Xavier]]. DependingOnTheWriter, though, as some of his actions have been very heroic. In ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen'' this is taken UpToEleven, as Magneto is written as the leader of a cult or a terrorist organization. The usual anti-hero aspects of mainstream Magneto are removed to reinforce this trope.
* Magneto ''himself'' once referred to ComicBook/{{Cyclops}} as this. Though, his many actions ''have'' restored the mutant race that once seemed doomed to dwindle into extinction.

* Cain in ''Film/RoboCop2'' is the leader of a drug cult who treats him as a messiah-type figure who will bring the world peace and prosperity through his designer narcotic, "Nuke", despite his tendency to be rather nasty to his critics and betrayers.
* {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in ''Film/BadBoysII'', when the BigBad has himself painted on a giant mural of his mansion as ''Jesus''.
* In the ''Film/JamesBond'' film ''Film/{{Moonraker}}'', this was suggested with Hugo Drax, given the loyalty of his followers.
* The main villain in ''Film/{{Waterworld}}'' leads a group of pirates onto "Dry Land" in a prophet-like manner, and it involved raiding a settlement and killing everyone in it. It is even {{lampshade|Hanging}}d, given that he was referred to as "The Deacon", which means a minister of sort.

* In ''Film/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'', the Lord Marshall is worshipped by the Necromongers with almost religious reverence. He is the half-dead post-human who has pilgrimaged to the Underverse and returned a holy GalacticConqueror. His rule is absolute and he is destined to lead his people beyond the 'Threshold' to the alternate realm, although he's not immortal; the post is permanent until the Lord Marshal either dies of old age or [[KlingonPromotion is killed by an aspiring commander]], and a new Lord Marshal succeeds him.
* Immortan Joe in ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad'', with an emphasis on the Messiah part. He's the head icon of a brainwashed cult of War Boys in the post-apocalypse who will gladly die for him. Auntie in ''Film/MadMaxBeyondThunderdome'' can also be considered this, as the villainous leader of a wasteland community, although she's a more sympathetic character who engages in PragmaticVillainy.
* Subverted in ''Film/LordOfIllusions''. Nix presents himself as a dark savior to his cultists and they remain slavishly devoted to his revelations even after his death. When he returns he sacrifices them without a second thought for being unworthy of him and denies being their "shepherd".
* In life, Nahalla in ''Film/TheGhostDance'' was a leader of a violent cult offshoot of [[Myth/NativeAmericanMythology Ghost Dance]] religion, which strove to hurt the white overtakers as much as possible.

* President Judd Hammond in ''Film/GabrielOverTheWhiteHouse'' has some ideas about how to solve the problems of the 1930s, problems like TheGreatDepression and the organized crime epidemic. Ideas like taking dictatorial control of the United States, dissolving Congress, establishing a StateSec "Federal Police", conducting drumhead courts martial, and standing mobsters up against walls for summary execution.
* ''Film/FightClub'': [[TheUnfettered Tyler Durden]] collected followers from the titular boxing club, promised them BetterLivingThroughEvil, and used them to [[WesternTerrorists reset society to a freer, more primitive state]]. [[spoiler: Besides that, he [[AteHisGun died for his cause]], in the hopes of creating a legend.]]
-->'''Narrator''': Where would Jesus be if no one had written the gospels? ...You want to be a legend, Tyler, man, I'll make you a legend. I've been here from the beginning. [[HowWeGotHere I remember everything]].
* ''Film/KingsmanTheSecretService'': Valentine, the BigBad attempting to enact a genocide, sees himself as a messiah. He encourages his guests by comparing his plan to Noah's Ark. Claiming that [[NoAntagonist neither Noah, God, nor the animals are the villains]], and that like them, they will all bring in a new age.
* ComicBook/{{Blade}} is somewhat viewed as this by some of the vampires in the ''Film/BladeTrilogy''. While many fear him as their Boogeyman, many see him or the very least his blood (particularly [[ArchEnemy Frost]], [[VampireMonarch Eli Damaskninos]] and even [[TheOlderImmortal Drake]]) as the key to the salvation/future of the vampire race. Frost and his cronies needed his blood along with the 12 pure bloods (only got 11) in order for Frost to ascend as [[PhysicalGod La Magra]] the blood god. Damaskinos needed his blood to perfect the vampire virus so he and his brood may become [[DaywalkingVampire daywalkers]], and Drake himself, already a daywalker commented that Blade would ensure the future of the vampire race (from his final lines, Drake considers Blade to be the first of a new breed of vampire). Frost in one deleted scene even referred to Blade as "their salvation"...
* Thulsa Doom in ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'' styles himself as a prophet that will cleanse the world and manages to rally a massive following to consider himself an EvilOverlord.

%%* Ishmael in ''Literature/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'' is a mild example.

** His son, GodEmperor [[Literature/GodEmperorOfDune Leto II]], saw it as well, but [[Literature/ChildrenOfDune realised]] that he ''couldn't'' avoid it. He knew (hooray for prescience!) how future generations would see him, and was prepared to pay the moral price. Justified, in that failure to follow through would have meant the extinction of humankind. Maybe, following a path generally blinds one to other alternative paths
* Lord Asriel in ''Literature/HisDarkMaterials.'' Though his plans include, in the short term, separating an innocent child from his soul to rip the universe apart (environment be damned) and he is portrayed to have a very haphazard respect for human life, ultimately, he's trying to allow everyone to live in freedom of thought and government, by destroying the angel who claims himself as God. Even the heroes don't ''like'' him that much.
* Referenced by name in Creator/JohnCWright's ''Literature/WarOfTheDreaming'': [[FallenHero Azrael]] [[EvilSorcerer de Gray]] intends to be one of these, using [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans treachery and force]] to create a human kingdom. Unfortunately for him, he misses the fact that there's a straight-up Messiah around already.
* Nyarlatothep in Creator/HPLovecraft's work often appears as a messianic figure, gathering large amounts of followers by various demonstrations of power, and seemingly working for the good of mankind. In reality, his goal is no less than TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt. May be more of [[TheAntichrist an Anti-Christ]] without the connection to Christianity, though.

* ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'':
** "''Yet one shall be born to face the Shadow, born once more as he was born before, and shall be born again, time without end. The Dragon shall be Reborn, and there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth at his rebirth. In sackcloth and ashes shall he clothe the people, and he shall break the world again by his coming, tearing apart all ties that bind. Like the unfettered dawn shall he bind us, and burn us, yet shall the Dragon Reborn confront the Shadow at the Last Battle, and his blood shall give us the Light. Let tears flow, O ye people of the world. Weep for your salvation.''" Initially, the Dark Messiah in question, [[spoiler: Rand Al'Thor]], struggles heavily with the ''unthinkable'' notion of women being harmed. But as the books progress, he becomes increasingly disturbed, and the prophecies' promise of a world-shattering salvation seem to become increasingly more likely. Regardless of what actually happens, the Prophecies have certainly promised a Dark Messiah rather than a Messiah.
** Many of the Dragons seem to be this. Lews Therin Telamon was seen as this because the Dark One made Lews Therin go crazy after saving the world by sealing the Dark One away, but the ensuing insanity amongst the male half of the magical population lead to the Breaking of the World.
** Masema would be a good example, except that he's the (self-proclaimed) "Prophet of the Lord Dragon", not the Dragon himself. He and his ragtag army of [[AxCrazy Ax Crazies]] go around randomly slaughtering whole villages for not serving Rand devoutly enough. Rand keeps telling him to stop, but...
** In the last book [[FourStarBadass Demandred]] sets himself up as one of these [[spoiler: as Bao the Wyld, a prophesied figure for the Sharans also called the Dragonslayer. It's unclear if he really ''is'' Bao the Wyld or simply hijacked the prophecy, but the former is indicated to be more likely]].
* Jagang of the later ''Literature/SwordOfTruth'' books claims he's been chosen by the Creator to create a paradise where all the needy are taken care of, while everyone works for others' benefit. He can inflict mental torture on those who can use magic and whisper into the minds of those who can't. He's also a rapist and generally terrible human being and the leader of a horde of fellow ones. He even has his own false prophet guy who sets up the religion of evil and has a scheme so they can practically live forever, luckily [[spoiler: they both get killed and all their followers send to another dimension.]] Most critics of the series would also view Richard Rahl, the "hero" as one of these too. He executes people without trial, coerces countries into submitting to his rule, massacres civilians, uses torture on prisoners, and in general won't accept anything except people completely signing up to his side. [[SarcasmMode All in the name of liberty]], [[{{Hypocrite}} don't you know]].
* ''Literature/SecondApocalypse'': Anasurimbor Kellhus quickly establishes himself as a messianic figure in order to rally the kingdoms of humanity against the BigBad. The problem is that he's a manipulative sociopath who is so completely devoid of empathy or compassion that he could as easily be a villain as a hero.
* Ras the Destroyer in ''Literature/InvisibleMan'' is almost a deconstruction of this type--he thinks he's going to be the leader of a revolution against white power, but in truth, he's a ridiculous figure who's easily manipulated by the PowersThatBe.
* Agent Ben-Canaan in ''Exodus'' is a little like this. Though he is not vicious as such, he is cunning and can be ruthless when put to it. On the other hand, he really isn't "dark" enough to quite fit this.
* Melisandre from ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' is a female example, and is Stannis Baratheon's SinisterMinister. She genuinely believes that Stannis is Azor Ahai come again, and preaches a message of peace and tolerance, uniting in the name of Rh'llor, the Lord of Light. Unfortunately, Melisandre is a KnightTemplar, Stannis Baratheon is [[LawfulNeutral completely unyielding]], and worshipping Rh'llor involves blood magic and burning people alive. Since she's in [[CrapsackWorld Westeros]], however, her faction is [[BlackAndGrayMorality not much worse than most others]].
* ''Literature/MistbornTheOriginalTrilogy''
** Kelsier is like this right down to dying for the cause in the well-substantiated hope that his death will enrage the masses enough to make them rise against their oppressors.
** [[EvilOverlord The Lord Ruler]] is a Dark Messiah made good. [[spoiler: Turns out, he actually did save the world from an OmnicidalManiac about a thousand years ago, but turned it into a hellish totalitarian theocracy in the process.]]
* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' has the Sith'ari, a Sith counterpart to the Jedi Chosen One. While the title was first used by the ancient Sith king Adas, it came to mean "perfect being", a prophesized being that would be free of limits, that would lead the sith and destroy them, that would raise the sith from death and make them stronger than before. The ancient Sith sorceress Sorzus Syn believed it to be her, as did Darth Sidious. Darth Plagueis didn't believe in it but thought the description applied nicely to him. Sidious, Syn, and Plagueis were all wrong, however, as the true Sith'ari was Darth Bane, who destroyed the Sith empire known as the Brotherhood of Darkness (which had been rendered nearly inefficient by the constant infighting of its countless members) and replaced it with the Rule of Two (the unbroken MasterApprenticeChain which ultimately culminated in Palpatine's rise to power).
* Immanuel Jeremiah Branch of Creator/MikeResnick's ''The Branch'' is a strange variation of this. He is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament but is completely self-serving and evil.
%%* ''Literature/TheStand'': Randall Flagg.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' gives us [[BlackCloak Cowl]], who, while presented as fairly antagonistic, repeatedly claims to be working for the greater good. Having a [[SecretCircleOfSecrets secret society]] that seems to include members of [[LegionOfDoom every single organization]] in the supernatural world, including a few renegades from the [[FallenAngel Denarians]] and an [[EldritchAbomination Outsider]], doesn't improve his image. On the other hand, the man got a car flipped over on him and he ''tossed it aside,'' and allowed the guy who flipped it over on him to live, so...
* [[ManipulativeBitch Senna]] from ''Literature/{{Everworld}}'' could probably qualify for this trope--not only does she have a serious case of AGodAmI (or rather, "the gods are idiots so I'm taking over"), but she manipulates [[spoiler:a group of gun nuts from the Old World to form a cult around her]] to accomplish her ends.
* In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' (by the same author as ''Everworld'' above), Visser One also [[InvokedTrope invokes]] the MessianicArchetype in order to found The Sharing, which was originally more like a cult than anything. She acquired a special male host to better fit her role as Dark Messiah and eventually had him killed, knowing that humans would tear down a leader but lionize a martyr.

* Zandramas and Harakan both try to set themselves up as these in ''[[Literature/TheBelgariad The Malloreon]]''.
* In ''Literature/TheGreatTreeOfAvalon,'' a prophecy mentions two figures: a messianic Heir of Merlin, who will save Avalon, and the Child of the Dark Prophecy, who will try to destroy it. However, a lesser-known prophecy implies the latter would be "like a brother" to the Heir of Merlin, and thus might not be as evil as he seems. Sure enough two adopted brothers, Tamwyn and Scree, seem to be the two figures, though it's not clear which is which. Eventually it turns out that [[spoiler:Tamwyn is ''both'']].
* The Polish ''Literature/TheInquisitorCycle'' series by Jacek Piekara turns ''Jesus Christ'' into this trope. In an AlternateHistory timeline, Jesus came down from his cross, became a warlord who slaughtered every Jew in Judea, and brutally conquered the Roman Empire, becoming known as "The Butcher of Nazareth".

* In ''Series/CobraKai'' John Kreese fancies comes off as such, being a ''deeply'' disturbed individual who cruel, brutal, stone-hearted, and thoroughly obsessed with forcing his philosophy of social Darwinism and mercilessness on his students, and is ''very'' good at manipulating everyone around him to ensure he is in a position to do so. [[spoiler:By the end of Season 2 he has successfully managed to seize control of Cobra Kai and secure the UndyingLoyalty of most of Johnny's students save for Miguel, Aisha, and (possibly) Bert, telling Johnny that he'll appreciate it someday.]]
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** Daenerys and Drogo's unborn son Rhaego, is prophesied to be the "Stallion Who Mounts The World," (in which 'Mounts' doesn't mean 'ride' but 'fuck') the ''khal'' of ''khals'' who will unite the Dothraki and lead them to dominion over the entire world. Whilst the Dothraki naturally see him as TheMessiah, as the Dothraki are seen by every other culture in Essos and Westeros as the most bloodthirsty, brutal, savage, and barbaric people in the world -- and not without due reason! -- he more than fits this. This is lampshaded by Mirri Maz Duur, who subtly implies that her real reason for "helping" Khal Drogo was not to punish him for massacring her village, but to try and ScrewDestiny, ensuring Rhaego is stillborn and can never fulfill his destiny.
** Daenerys herself may be either this or TheMessiah, the series hasn't really come clean either way and it may even be a matter of perspective. ''She'' sees herself as the rightful queen returning to reclaim a throne that belongs to her... but, on the other hand, she intends to do so by burning her way across Westeros with three fire-breathing dragons ''and'' after having fulfilled her stillborn son's destiny by unleashing the Dothraki upon Westeros. [[spoiler:She finally makes the transition into Dark Messiah by the end of the series, burning King's Landing to the ground and killing hundreds of thousands of innocents in the process. With the city in her control, she declares that she will continue her "liberation" campaign towards beyond Westeros itself and "freeing" everyone in her path.]]
* ''Series/{{Heroes}}'':
** Adam Monroe. Thirty years before the events of the series, he gathered twelve unique individuals to follow him, termed them his 'disciples', and attempted to save the world. Does this story sound just a little bit [[Literature/TheBible familiar]]?
** One of those disciples, Daniel Linderman, also qualifies. A self-proclaimed "humanitarian", his stated goal in life is to "heal the world"...which he plans to start by blowing up most of New York. He also comes with a set of HealingHands that can make the blind see and the lame walk, just in case you missed it otherwise.
** And Volume Five introduced Samuel Sullivan, the leader of a very {{Cult}}-like carnival who is TheAntiChrist: he claims to be gathering together the "specials" of the world in order to lead them to a "promised land" where they can be free of FantasticRacism, but in reality, he wants them because he becomes more and more powerful when he surrounds himself with more "specials", and he's hoping to boost his powers to god-like levels. (Which, incidentally, could easily lead to a Class 6 or possibly even Class X ApocalypseHow.)

* Gul Dukat was this for a bit in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' when he led a cult to the Pah Wraiths. Kai Winn exemplified this trope.
* ''Series/StargateSG1'':
** The Ori and their Priors, who use [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve belief]] from billions of worshipers on thousands of planets to fuel their powers. The best example, though, is Adria: The Ori's ObstructiveCodeOfConduct (or rather, the equally powerful Ancients' ObstructiveCodeOfConduct, which they also enforce on their Ori cousins) prevents them from directly attacking the masses (except in their own galaxy, where anything goes), so their knowledge and a considerable amount of power was placed in Vala's asexually-conceived daughter, who [[PlotRelevantAgeUp rapidly grew]] into a beautiful, charismatic, and very deadly adult to lead the attack. [[spoiler: She eventually had to AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence to survive poisoning...and, as such, now falls under the ObstructiveCodeOfConduct that bound her bosses. Oops. Worked out well enough for Adria, though, since her bosses died in the interim, meaning that Ascension gave her ''all'' of their previously shared godlike powers.]]
** A more mundane example pops up early in the first season, where the leader of another SG team ends up being revered as a god by the locals and goes on a power trip. He was implied to already be a little mentally unstable before, and the adulation and plight of the local population, coupled with spending a little too much time in the high-UV radiation of the planet's star, pushed him over the edge into thinking he was a god and trying to lead his people to self-destructive salvation.

* Much as it has its own good {{Messia|nicArchetype}}h in Locke, ''Series/{{Lost}}'' has Ben, almost perfectly a mirror image of Locke in every way [[spoiler: (and understandably pissed that Jacob apparently chose Locke to replace him)]].
* Jasmine from ''Series/{{Angel}}'' attempts to bring peace to the world...by [[spoiler:employing global-scale mind control to disguise her appearance and make demands regarding worshiping her, eating scores of people along the way]]. The existing world conditions and the effectiveness of the actual heroes fit the bill perfectly.

* ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'': Gaius [[PrecisionFStrike Fracking]] [[MagnificentBastard Baltar]]. Other people only really see him as this in later seasons. And they are all quickly dismissed as idiots by everyone else.
* "Evil Jesus" from ''Series/{{Misfits}}''.
%%* ''Series/TensouSentaiGoseiger'': Brajira of The Messiah.

* Davros in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' story "Genesis of the Daleks" has used his extensive charisma to gain unquestioned following from his own Kaled people and even many of the enemy Thals and wants to save them by transforming them into a form better evolved to deal with the coming apocalypse and become the dominant life form in the universe at large. Shame that this is achieved by turning them into tentacled blobs in pepperpot-shaped tanks that murder everything out of racial hatred.

* On ''Series/ZNation'', Murphy [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor constantly flirts with this]], due to his status as TheImmune, his evolving [[HalfHumanHybrid zombie-human hybrid]] nature and subsequent psychic powers, and his generally selfish personality. And then comes the end of Season 2, wherein he learns that the "CDC lab" he and the rest of the cast had spent all series trying to get to is just a cover for the rich elite in Zona to get ahold of the zombie cure for themselves. This causes Murphy to snap, and Season 3 sees him fully embrace this role -- he begins recruiting an army of followers with the promise of safety from the zombie plague and freedom from fear and want, transforming all recruits into zombie-human blends that he can mentally dominate.
* On ''Series/ChannelZero: Candle Cove'', [[TheDragon Frances Booth]] clearly views the Creator of Candle Cove [[spoiler: (Eddie Painter)]] as some sort of savior/deity, since they cured her of her epilepsy with their psychic powers, even going so far as to offer up her own son as a HumanSacrifice in the backstory. In the present, she's working to bring about a second coming by [[spoiler: prepping Eddie's brother, Mike, for a GrandTheftMe]].
* ''Series/TwelveMonkeys'': The Army of the 12 Monkeys view their leader, [[BigBad the Witness]], as a prophet who will lead them to paradise, with just the measly cost of [[TimeCrash destroying reality]] in the process.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'', everyone can be this.
** Canonically, the Scarlet Empress and Chejop Kejak are among the purest examples of this trope: both have killed millions and sacrificed small children because they believed that [[IDidWhatIHadToDo it was the only way to keep Creation from annihilation]]. It's an open question whether there was a better way.
** Also, Abyssal Exalted, fitting in with the whole dark-mirror-of-the-Solars theme. Their signature martial art? Dark Messiah Style.
** And then we have the Malefactor Caste of the Infernals, corrupted Zeniths who serve Cecelyne, the Endless Desert, whose entire gimmick is creating societies based around strict, repressive laws. Her Charm suites allow her servants to create holy lands (by inflicting desolation because deserts are her thing), reap Essence from worshippers more effectively, interact with and feign being an entity of the spirit world, and answer the wishes of their worshipers. The best/worst part? It's implied that her core philosophy-- [[TheSocialDarwinist that all laws are ultimately made to assist the strong in dominating the weak]]-- may, in fact, be ''right''. That's not very reassuring.
* Longinus, the Roman soldier who pierced Christ's side during the crucifixion with TheSpearOfDestiny. He is patron saint of [[CorruptChurch Lancea Sanctum]], one of the covenants from ''TabletopGame/VampireTheRequiem''.
* Nicolas Kerensky, of ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' fame, eventually came to believe that violence was an immutable trait in humanity that could not be eliminated, but could be ''harnessed''. To this end, he created [[ProudWarriorRace The Clans]]; a society based off MightMakesRight, HonorBeforeReason, and [[TheSocialDarwinist eugenics]] in order to isolate the damage caused by warfare to those who actually fought it. To achieve this, he took absolute power, and when one of the Clans had issues with his ways of running things, he wiped them out and eliminated all records of their existence.
* The Empress in ''TabletopGame/StrikeLegion'' deliberately built herself up as one of these, after concluding that fear was not a solid foundation to rule a galactic empire upon. Though a bit of a transparent {{Expy}} of the [[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 God-Emperor of Man]], she is still an active ruler, not ending up as a DarkLordOnLifeSupport like he did, and when the love of her worshippers is insufficient to keep the peace and her fleets can't control the unruly, she can always use her RealityWarper abilities to [[PersonOfMassDestruction destroy star systems]] to keep them in line.
* Asmodeus, the ruler of Hell and greatest of the Archdevils, plays this role in Golarion, the setting of TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}. To wit, his church and personal involvement staved off destruction through civil war in the powerful nation of Cheliax. As a result, his church is the official religion, his priests and inquisitors hunt down heresy and proscribed faiths, and his faith and the government are intertwined. The society runs on predation, with the government openly allowing, regulating, and even owning the trade in slaves, gladiatorial combat, the flesh trade, and so on. Devils secretly move through the society, pulling whatever string their lords demand. But Asmodeus' involvement did stop the country from falling apart, and Cheliax remains a WickedCultured powerhouse rather than an anarchic nation torn asunder. Even better, Cheliax views Hell as its servant, not the other way around. The Hell Knights view Hell's order as a thing to emulate as they try to undo the chaos of Golarion, and look to Asmodeus' vision of rulership for guidance. Surprisingly, they are LawfulNeutral, not LawfulEvil, despite their terrifying appearance and open admiration for Hell.
* The Devils in the third edition of ''TabletopGame/{{Nobilis}}'' fell out of AllLovingHero becoming this perspective - angels in this setting have [[LightIsNotGood standards that are far, far too high]] for what is deserving of love. Lucifer and his ilk objected violently, and now show love to every single thing...to the point where they love things like corruption, disease, and filth ''more'', [[AffablyEvil because those things have no one else]].

** Ultimately, [[spoiler:despite Joseph having a good reason not to trust Ethan with the fruit (namely, his unbalanced soul caused it to mutate him into a monster that [[PlayerCharacter the Captain]] had to kill) he ultimately agrees with his son that he is not God's shepherd- the Captain is, because all Joseph did was spread death and destruction in God's name. The broken Joseph asks the Captain for a MercyKill.]]

* [[StrawNihilist Seymour Guado]] from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' is a subversion. He believes that Sin, a giant monster that had been on a destructive rampage for centuries, can never be truly destroyed and the planet should accept death as the only escape from the CrapsackWorld of Spira. As such, he believes that putting the entire populace out of their misery will going to save everyone from pain and sorrow. However, [[BelievingTheirOwnLies he isn't quite as messianic as he thinks he is]] - as proven by how he [[spoiler:massacres the entire [[BeastMan Ronso]] settlement]] and {{smug|Snake}}ly {{giggl|ingVillain}}es [[EvilGloating about it in front of the heroes]] for no reason other than [[ForTheEvulz to piss them off]]. By the end of the game, his SanitySlippage has hit rock bottom: with overblown speeches about how [[AGodAmI he has become an immortal]] [[OmnicidalManiac harbinger of doom]] [[spoiler:that will learn how to control Sin from within]].

** Andrei Ulmeyda is a straighter example. [[spoiler: He's using a fragment of a powerful document, and turns out to not be that bad a guy - infecting himself with all the diseases in the world to become a living vaccine. However, [[ICannotSelfTerminate he doesn't succeed against the Heaven's Smile virus]], and [[ShootTheDog that's when you're called in]]...]]

* {{Implied|Trope}} in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' and ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' with Revan. The Republic was getting hammered by the Mandalorians. The Jedi Council talked a good game about being the Republic's defenders but didn't want to commit to a war because they suspected the Mandalorians were operating on someone else's orders (and were right) and believed the whole thing a trap. Revan didn't much care about what ''may'' have been behind the Mandalorians when Republic worlds were being slaughtered, so Revan left with best friend Malak, they took a bunch of Jedi with them, and they proceeded to fight the Mandalorians by turning their own tactics against them, sometimes abandoning whole worlds to the slaughter so other targets would be too difficult to strike. The second game goes into more detail - Revan used the [[WeHaveReserves Republic's greater numbers]] to an advantage in multiple feints, leading to victory with a ''very'' high body count, and the war was ended with a planet-busting WMD that wiped out hundreds of thousands of both Mandalorians and Republic troops alike. And this is, technically, ''before'' Revan and Malak became Sith.

* Baron Wulfenbach, from ''Webcomic/GirlGenius''. Formerly, the AntiHero [[TheLancer Lancer]] to a pair of traditional messianic types; he was a minor noble who was exiled after an attack by [[BigBad The Other]]. When he returned, he found chaos reigning in Europe. So he conquered everything and became a ruthless dictator to maintain order and peace. [[TheExtremistWasRight And it worked]]. Showcased [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040806 here]].
* ''Webcomic/LastRes0rt'' has Veled, the 'Messiah of the [[ChurchOfHappyology Endless]]', who has gone on to become Ziligo's head of the military, although she comes off as more NecessarilyEvil because of her precarious political situation. And now, we know that [[spoiler: she intends to [[http://www.lastres0rt.com/2014/07/believe-it-or-not-what-else-is-there-secret-bonus-comic/ destroy]] the Endless]].
* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': After Gamzee [[spoiler: goes [[AxCrazy sober]]]], he starts believing that [[spoiler: he is both of the Mirthful Messiahs worshiped by his {{Juggalo}} religion.]] Which is somewhat true, considering that he's a descendant of [[spoiler: the Grand Highblood]]. As such, it is now his glorious duty to [[spoiler: [[FantasticRacism subjugate all the lowbloods]] and paint murals with their blood]]. As it turns out, he isn't [[spoiler: the Mirthful Messiahs, and never believed he was. Said Messiahs do exist however, and he eventually started serving them]].

* Amon from ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' fits this trope. He leads the Equalists, an AntiMagicalFaction that wishes to rid the world of [[ElementalPowers bending]], claiming that benders oppress the non-benders of the world (and he's not entirely wrong). His status as a Dark Messiah stems from how he claims to have been chosen by the spirits to replace the Avatar as the world's savior, believing that the Avatar has failed to balance the world as promised. [[spoiler:Of course, he's lying his ass off about being chosen by the spirits, and even the fact [[BoomerangBigot that he's a non-bender]].]]

* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' arch-villain Judge Death does not usually see himself as this, but he's more than happy to use the various Death Cults to advance his goals, which is more killing. The Mortarian sect in particular elevated him to a GodOfEvil and happily marched towards slaughter before they realized that it was a sham. As Death eloquently points out:
-->'''Judge Death:''' Correct. There's no life after death. If there were, what would be the point of killing you morons?!

** Lorgar, the ''Literature/WordBearers'' Primarch, somewhat ironically fits this mold. He initially thought of himself as the traditional Apostle, with the Emperor as the Messiah, and spread [[CrystalDragonJesus a religion centered around the Emperor]]. The Emperor (having apparently decided he had turned a blind eye to this for too long) punished Lorgar rather abruptly and heavy-handedly... by ordering one of the magnificent cities Lorgar built ''to be evacuated and destroyed, with all the people there. Having decided to turn to...''[[EldritchAbomination other]]'' [[GodOfEvil deities]], Lorgar wrote [[TomeOfEldritchLore the book on Chaos worship]], ultimately starting the Literature/HorusHeresy. Ironically, the holy book on cult surrounding the Emperor, the Lectitio Divinatus, was penned by Lorgar and laid down the entire framework of what would become the Imperium's state church, down to the way of referring to the Emperor in the Divine tense, years before Lorgar's fall into the worship of Chaos.