History Main / OverarchingVillain

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* DemotedToDragon: When a past BigBad returns as TheDragon to a new villain.

* TheHeavy: The villain that moves the plot forward and gets the most focused, even if they are not the BigBad.

* GreaterScopeVilain: A threat/villainous presence that's more dangerous, affects more people, or is more significant than the story's current BigBad in the setting as a whole, but isn't causing the conflict of the immediate story.

[[WMG:[[center:[[AC:This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1642844014068865400 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.]]]]]]
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->''"You bested me in many worlds, child, but I always return."''
-->-- '''The Lich''' to '''Finn''', ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'', "[[Recap/AdventureTimeS9E13Whispers Whispers]]"

As ArcVillain is to StoryArc, Overarching Villain is to MythArc. This is a villain who sticks around for the entire series or at least the majority of it, overlapping any story arcs. Because of that, they usually have a big role in the MythArc. The villain doesn't have to stick around for the ''whole'' series, but they must be around for a significant portion of it.

Sometimes, an Overarching Villain will be behind an ArcVillain or MonsterOfTheWeek if that villain is working for/[[UnwittingPawn being manipulated by]] them. This can result in the story being HijackedByGanon if the Overarching Villain has been introduced previously.

Not to be confused with BigBad. The BigBad is the villain who directly causes the bad things that the heroes are in conflict with. This is merely a villain who has a role for the entire series or at least a significant portion. While the Overarching Villain is often the BigBad of an entire MythArc, they could simply be a frequently recurring villain.

May overlap with ArchEnemy, the hero's most personal and recurring enemy. Compare/contrast ArcVillain, a villain who is around for a single story arc. Contrast MonsterOfTheWeek, a villain who is around for one episode. If the Overarching Villain is only indirectly involved, but is a greater threat than the current BigBad, then they are a GreaterScopeVillain (again, not all Myth Villains are GSV).

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!!Examples:

[[index]]
* OverarchingVillain/AnimeAndManga
* OverarchingVillain/ComicBooks
* [[OverarchingVillain/LiveActionFilms Films — Live-Action]]
* OverarchingVillain/{{Literature}}
* OverarchingVillain/LiveActionTV
* OverarchingVillain/VideoGames
* OverarchingVillain/WesternAnimation
[[/index]]

[[foldercontrol]]


[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/TheCaptainGoodkingSaga'' has Sanies, who started out as the BigBad of its first story before becoming the {{Deuteragonist}} in its prequel before being DemotedToDragon in the sequel.
** His master, [[TheTrickster Sacanas]], also fulfils this role to an extent. His petrified corpse has a brief cameo appearance in the first story before he is made the VillainProtagonist in the prequel before coming BackFromTheDead as the BigBad of the sequel.
* ''Webcomic/KirbyAdventure'' has Talzo and his gang, popping in every few segments to menace the [[AdventureGuild Kirby Adventure Squad]].
* ''Fanfic/MyBravePonyStarfleetMagic'': [[GenericDoomsdayVillain Titan]] serves as the fic's most prominent and recurring threat; being the BigBad of Season 1, ''Starfleet Magic: The Movie'', ''Human in United Equestria'', and Season 10.
* The ''Series/{{Victorious}}'' fanfic series ''Fanfic/TheWolfInMe'' has Livia. While she dies at the end of the first story, she continues to affect the heroes' lives. A vampire she imprisoned attacks Jade and Tori’s kids in one story. Her daughter is the villain for the rest of the series, trying to get revenge for her death. Margo's revealed to have been previously working for her. The only story she doesn’t have any impact in is “Double Trouble”, and even then, she's mentioned by Jade.
%%* ''Machinima/CouriersMindRiseOfNewVegas'': The Legion seems to be playing this role so far.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* The ''WesternAnimation/AllDogsGoToHeaven'' series has Carface Carruthers. He serves as the main antagonist of the first film, gets DemotedToDragon in the [[WesternAnimation/AllDogsGoToHeaven2 sequel]] and becomes the [[VileVillainLaughableLackey Laughable Lackey to Red's Vile Villain]], serves as a recurring antagonist in the TV Series, and becomes the protagonist of the Christmas Special and Series finale where he undergoes a redemption arc.
* The WesternAnimation/DCAnimatedMovieUniverse has ComicBook/{{Darkseid}}. He serves as the main antagonist of ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueWar''. He is also the GreaterScopeVillain for ''WesternAnimation/TheDeathOfSuperman'' and ''WesternAnimation/ReignOfTheSupermen'' as the creator of Doomsday and Cyborg Superman. He is also the main villain for the DCAMU's GrandFinale, ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDarkApokolipsWar''.
* Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon:
** ''Franchise/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians'': [[CruellaToAnimals Cruella de Vil]] is by far the most prominent villain in the franchise, appearing across multiple films and television series.
** Franchise/{{Aladdin}}: [[EvilSorcerer Jafar]] is the BigBad of the first two films, and his former ally from the second film, Abis Mal, becomes a recurring villain in ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries''. [[spoiler:Despite being killed in the second film]], Jafar returns in the Aladdin crossover episode of ''WesternAnimation/HerculesTheAnimatedSeries'', [[VillainTeamUp teaming up with Hades]] to kill one another's ArchEnemy by pitting them against one another.
** ''Franchise/{{Cinderella}}'': [[WickedStepmother Lady Tremaine]] is is BigBad of the first and third films, as well as the third story of the second film.
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'': [[EverybodyHatesHades Hades]] is the BigBad of both the original film and [[WesternAnimation/HerculesTheAnimatedSeries the animated series]].
** ''Franchise/TheJungleBook'': [[CatsAreMean Shere Khan]] is the BigBad of both the original film and the sequel.
** ''Franchise/LiloAndStitch'': [[EvilGenius Doctor Jacques von Hämsterviel]] is the main antagonist of the franchise. He is the GreaterScopeVillain of the first movie, the BigBad of ''Lilo & Stitch: The Series'', its films, and the ''Stitch!'' anime's first two seasons, and is DemotedToDragon in the third season of the anime.
** ''Franchise/TheLionKing'': [[EvilUncle Scar]] is easily the most important villain of the entire franchise, since each antagonist of posthumous material was affiliated with him.
** ''Franchise/TheLittleMermaid'': [[WickedWitch Ursula]] was a recurring villain in the prequel animated series, the BigBad of the original film, and a posthumous GreaterScopeVillain in the sequel.
** ''Franchise/PeterPan'': [[{{Pirate}} Captain Hook]] is the BigBad of the original film, ''Return to Never Land'', and ''Jake and the Never Land Pirates''.
* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'' has [[ReptilesAreAbhorrent Randall Boggs]]. He is TheHeavy of the original film, and he appears in the prequel film ''WesternAnimation/MonstersUniversity'' [[spoiler:as the [[EvilFormerFriend best friend and roomate to Mike]] before he makes his FaceHeelTurn and joins Roar Omega Roar, forcing Mike to team up with Sulley.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rio}}'' has [[FeatheredFiend Nigel]]. He is the DragonInChief to [[EvilPoacher Marcel]] in the first film, and one of the two members of a BigBadEnsemble in the sequel.
* ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'': The [[FairyDevilmother Fairy Godmother]] and her son [[PrinceCharmless Prince Charming]] are responsible for much of the series' conflict through their machinations to ensure the latter becomes the King of Far Far Away. They are retroactively the [[GreaterScopeVillain Greater-Scope Villains of the first film]], as the Fairy Godmother intended to have her son "rescue" Fiona fron the Dragon's Keep and marry her to [[MotherMakesYouKing put him on the throne]] and reign as queen mother. The film's actual BigBad, [[EvilOverlord Lord Farquaad]], was a SpannerInTheWorks for them. In the second film, the Fairy Godmother is the BigBad, with Charming as her [[TheDragon Dragon]]. In the third film, Charming [[DragonAscendant becomes]] the new BigBad, with the Fairy Godmother as a posthumous GreaterScopeVillain.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSwanPrincess'': Every film involving [[EldritchAbomination the Forbidden Arts]] is part of a grander storyline, involving his endgame to bring doom to the world. Every villain he involves, Sir Rothbart, Sir Clavius, Zelda, and Mangler were all {{Unwitting Pawn}}s to his grander scheme.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Multiple Media]]
* The [[MegaCorp Weyland-Yutani Corporation]] is the collective non-Xenomorph antagonistic group of the ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' franchise. They are connected to many of the conflicts and tragedies in the franchise. Antagonists such as [[Film/{{Alien}} Ash]], [[Film/{{Aliens}} Carter Burke]], Karl Bishop Weyland, and [[VideoGame/AlienIsolation APOLLO]] are all affiliated with the Weyland-Yutani Corporation.
* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' has [[BigBad Makuta Teridax]], whose role in [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu forcing the Great Spirit Mata Nui into a deep sleep]] drives the main arc of waking the Great Spirit up/saving him from dying. Even when he's not confronting the heroes directly he acts as the GreaterScopeVillain as his minions, {{Unwitting Pawn}}s, or co-conspirators in the [[BrotherhoodOfEvil Brotherhood of Makuta]] do his dirty work. The only two times he wasn't the ManBehindTheMan to the {{Arc Villain}}s were in the Mahri Nui arc, where they were actually old enemies he thought to be long-dead and was [[EnemyMine working with the heroes to stop them]], and in the Bara Magna arc, [[spoiler:as he [[TheBadGuyWins had already won]] and Mata Nui was on a different planet solving the problems of the locals in an attempt to find a method of fighting back against him]].
* ''Franchise/TheDarkCrystal'' has [[EvilChancellor skekSil the Chamberlain]], who is TheHeavy of both ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance'' and [[Film/TheDarkCrystal the 1982 film]], despite the position of BigBad being held by [=skekSo=] in ''Age of Resistance'', and [=skekUng=] in the film. In ''Age of Resistance'', his scheming drives a lot of the plot, and he''s also revealed to be the one who first gave the Scientist the idea to use the Crystal of Truth to drain Gelflings of their essence and use it to give the Skeksis immortality, and is shown to be the one who came up with the idea for the creation of the Garthim, making him retroactively responsible for the Gelflings' near extinction. In the 1982 film, skekSil's actions towards Jen and Kira make him more of a personal and proactive antagonist than [=skekUng=] since he's not confined in the castle.
* ''Franchise/EvilDead'':
** The Evil Force is the BigBad of the film series.
** Ruby Knowby is the retroactive GreaterScopeVillain of the film series, and the BigBad of Seasons 1 and 3 of ''Series/AshVsEvilDead''.
* ''Franchise/GIJoe'' has the Cobra Commander, who serves as the BigBad, or at least a major villain, in most iterations of the series.
* ''Franchise/JurassicPark'''s ''Jurassic World'' sub-franchise has [[EvilutionaryBiologist Doctor Henry Wu]]. While [[SmugSnake Vic Hoskins]] and [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Eli Mills]] are the main human antagonists of ''Film/JurassicWorld'' and ''Film/JurassicWorldFallenKingdom'', respectively, their plans would never have gotten off the ground without Wu’s work behind the scenes in each film. The ''Indominus rex'' and the ''Indoraptor'' are also his creations as part of his ongoing agenda. [[spoiler: He conspires with Vic Hoskins to make the ''Indominus rex'' an unstoppable killing machine, whose rampage causes the 2015 Isla Nublar incident. Said incident formed the main conflict of the first ''Jurassic World'' film and triggered the main conflict of ''WesternAnimation/JurassicWorldCampCretaceous'', as it led to the campers being stranded on Isla Nublar after they were left behind during the evacuation.]] [[spoiler: Dr. Wu would personally serve as the ArcVillain of the last couple of episodes of Season 3 in ''Camp Cretaceous''.]] He is set to return in ''Jurassic World: Dominion''.
** ''Camp Cretaceous'' also has Mantah Corp, a rival company to Masrani Global, in this role. [[GreaterScopeVillain They mostly appear in the background]], being the ones that told Sammy Gutierrez to spy on Masrani Global and sent drones on the island. They take center stage in Season 4, though, where it's revealed that their leader is [[spoiler: Daniel Kon, who is the father of Kenji, another one of the campers.]]
* ''Franchise/TheKarateKid'':
** [[SenseiForScoundrels John Kreese]] is the most recurring BigBad of the franchise.
** [[ManipulativeBastard Terry Silver]] is the unseen GreaterScopeVillain of the first film through his financing of Cobra Kai, before stepping up as the main antagonist of the third film. His misconduct during the 1985 All-Valley Tournament results in Cobra Kai receiving a lifetime ban from the All-Valley Tournament, which becomes a plot point in Season 1 of ''Series/CobraKai'' as Johnny Lawrence, now the sensei of a new Cobra Kai, wishes to enter Cobra Kai into the 2018 Tournament, and has to make an appeal to get the ban overturned before they can participate. Silver's backstory is explored through Season 3's flashbacks, and he reappears in Season 4 as part of a BigBadDuumvirate with Kreese [[spoiler: until Silver overthrows him at the end of the season.]]
* ''ComicBook/SinCity'':
** [[CorruptPolitician Senator Roark]]'s obsession with securing power and crafting a legacy have led him to do much damage to Sin City, such as covering up Junior's tracks in ''That Yellow Bastard'', and refusing to acknowledge his illegitimate son, Johnny, make him a very personal foe to many characters. He serves as the BigBad in ''The Long Bad Night'' and ''Nancy's Last Dance''.
** [[TheDon Herr Wallenquist]] also counts. He has had a hand in many of the story arcs. He was Maxwell Lord's main business partner in ''A Dame To Kill For'', sent Manute to retrieve Jackie Boy's head and take over Old Town in ''Big Fat Kill'', and was the Colonel's boss in ''Hell and Back'', just to name a few.
* ''Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos'': [[HumanoidAbomination The Slender Man]] himself, also known as the Operator or the Administrator, is the central villain of the franchise. In ''WebVideo/MarbleHornets'', the Operator is the prime antagonist of the series, although [[spoiler:Alex]] is often treated as [[TheHeavy the greater immediate threat]]. In ''WebVideo/EverymanHYBRID'', the Slender Man is part of a BigBadEnsemble with HABIT, although the former treats the latter like a [[BigBadWannabe minor annoyance]]. In ''WebVideo/TribeTwelve'', the Administrator is at the root of the Asher-Maxwell conflict of the series. The Slender Man is also the BigBad of the video games ''VideoGame/{{Slender}}'' and ''VideoGame/SlenderTheArrival''.
* ''Franchise/StarWars'': [[TheChessmaster Palpatine]] / [[EvilSorcerer Darth Sidious]] serves as the overall villain for the [[spoiler: Skywalker Saga]] period in the franchise's history, from his rise to power in the years leading up to the Clone Wars to [[spoiler: to his final defeat during the Battle of Exogol]]. However, since Palpatine spends most most of the franchise as either TheManBehindTheMan or an OrcusOnHisThrone, several of his pawns, such as Dooku, Tarkin, and Vader, serve as smaller-scale [[OverarchingVillain Overarching Villains]] for different eras of ''Star Wars'' history.
** [[FallenHero Darth Vader]] is the most prominent villain in the Canon, although he is always subservient to Palpatine, the true BigBad. After the rise of the Galactic Empire, Vader is the most visible face of the Empire, given Palpatine's willingness to stand back in the shadows. Vader is TheHeavy of the Original Trilogy, and the Prequel Trilogy and ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars The Clone Wars]]'' explore [[StartOfDarkness how he became a villain in the first place]]. He is also the PredecessorVillain to Kylo Ren, who is TheHeavy of the Sequel Trilogy. Vader is a major reccurring villain in the Imperial Era of the [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Expanded Universe]]. In ''Film/RogueOne'', Vader orders Krennic to ensure that the Death Star project has not been compromised, and shows up at the end of the film and attempts to recover the Death Star Plans, killing any Rebel in his path. In ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels Rebels]]'', Vader is the GreaterScopeVillain to the Grand Inquisitor in Season 1, and he becomes the BigBad of Season 2 following the Grand Inquisitor's defeat in the Season 1 finale. In ''[[VideoGame/StarWarsJediFallenOrder Jedi: Fallen Order]]'', he is the superior of the game's [[TheHeavy main villain]], the Second Sister, and he appears as a HopelessBossFight following the latter's defeat. Vader is also a prominent figure across multiple books and comics, including as the VillainProtagonist of [[ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader three]] [[ComicBook/DarthVaderDarkLordOfTheSith comic]] [[ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader2020 series]].
** [[AgentProvocateur Count Dooku]], the leader of the Separatist Alliance, is one of the most consistent threats faced by the heroes during the Clone Wars Era, despite still being TheDragon to [[BigBad Darth Sidious]]. He serves as TheHeavy in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' and the majority of ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars''. In ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', Dooku is [[spoiler:the StarterVillain, who gets KilledOffForReal in the opening act of the film, with his lieutenant, General Grievous, serving as the public leader of the Separatists, and the main target of the heroes for the rest of the first half of the film]]
** [[DarthVaderClone Darth Maul]], later just Maul, is another major recurring villain from roughly 32 BBY to [[spoiler: his death in]] 2 BBY. He was TheDragon to Darth Sidious in ''ComicBook/DarthMaul'' and ''Film/ThePhantomMenace''. Following his apparent demise, Sidious replaced him with Count Dooku, and following Maul's reemergence during the Clone Wars, Maul becomes a [[BigBadEnsemble separate antagonist]] from Sidious and his supporters. Maul serves as a major antagonist in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' once he returns "[[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS4E21Brothers Brothers]]", with his quest for revenge on Obi-Wan, evolution into a crime lord, and conquest of Mandalore throughout late Season 4 and Season 5 providing major elements of the series' MythArc. He is the VillainProtagonist of ''ComicBook/DarthMaulSonOfDathomir'', and returns as the de facto main antagonist of season 7 of ''The Clone Wars'', being the GreaterScopeVillain to the Pyke Syndicate and the target of the alliance between Ahsoka and Bo-Katan. [[spoiler: He is the GreaterScopeVillain of ''Film/{{Solo}}'', as the crime boss that Dryden Vos — and later, Qi'ra — answers to.]] In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', his agenda to corrupt Ezra into his apprentice makes him a personal enemy for the ''Ghost'' crew, independent of the Empire. In [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS2E19TwilightOfTheApprentice Twilight of]] [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS2E20TwilightOfTheApprenticePartII the Apprentice]] he attempts to take control of the Sith temple on Malachor, planning to turn it into a weapon against the Emperor while Ahsoka confronts Vader. Throughout the third season he forces Ezra to help him find the location of his old nemesis Obi-Wan Kenobi, [[spoiler: before dying the episode before the two-part season finale.]]
** [[AntagonisticGovernor Grand Moff Tarkin]] for the pre-Battle of Yavin Imperial Era has , who serves as one of the main antagonists in the chronological timespan between ''Revenge of the Sith'' and ''A New Hope:''. In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheBadBatch'', [[spoiler: he has Crosshair's inhibitor chip amplified to ensure his total compliance, and has the rest of Clone Force 99 branded as traitors when they refuse to harm civilians]]. In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', Almost all of the Imperial forces, from the Grand Inquisitor to Thrawn, ultimately answer to Tarkin. Tarkin himself, however, only gets actively involved in the last few episodes of the first season, and is perfectly willing to leave the actual fighting of the rebels to Vader and Thrawn for the remainder of the series. In ''Film/RogueOne'', Tarkin is more of a GreaterScopeVillain than a BigBad, though he does seize control of the Death Star from [[SmallNameBigEgo Krennic]], [[spoiler:and he uses the Death Star to blow up Scarif, along with Cassian, Jyn, and Krennic]]. In ''Film/ANewHope'', Tarkin is the outright BigBad, as he holds supreme authority over the Death Star and gives orders to [[DragonInChief Darth Vader]] and poses the biggest threat to the Rebels as a result of being in command.
** [[BadassNormal Boba Fett]] is a recurring figure throughout multiple eras of the franchise. During the Prequel Trilogy Era, he is the KidSidekick to his father, [[TheDragon Jango Fett]], for ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'', and a recurring character for ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', which includes serving as an ArcVillain for the second season finale, where it's his quest for revenge that sets the bounty hunters against Mace Windu. During the Original Trilogy Era, he is TheDragon to Darth Vader for ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', and to Jabba the Hutt for ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''. During the New Republic Era, he forms an EnemyMine with [[Characters/StarWarsTheMandalorianCharacterSheet Din Djarin]] in Season 2 of ''Series/TheMandalorian'' to [[spoiler: rescue Grogu]], but afterwards he takes control of the remnants of Jabba's criminal network after [[TheStarscream killing]] [[DragonAscendant Bib Fortuna]]. ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett'' focuses on his aspirations to become Tatooine's top crime lord.
** [[CaptainNemoCopy Marchion Ro]] is a major source of conflict in the ''[[Franchise/StarWarsTheHighRepublic The High Republic]]'' sub-franchise.
* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' had the Dark Side -- which is more of an abstract cosmic force that can't be dealt with directly -- and the Sith, the ArchEnemy of the Jedi and the BigBad of almost every major conflict over a 5000-year period of galactic history, building evil empires and instigating wars directly and indirectly. There have been various iterations of the Sith Order and they fight themselves as much as the Jedi, but they operate as part of the same overarching tradition and are considered such a threat that simply being a Sith is considered grounds for arrest and possible summary ''execution'' if resistance is met.
** ''The Old Republic'' sub-franchise has the [[EvilOverlord Sith Emperor Vitiate]]. He manipulated the Mandalorians into declaring war against the Galactic Republic, triggering the Mandalorian Wars, which the ''[[ComicBook/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic KOTOR]]'' comics are set during. Vitiate was also responsible for Revan and Malak's fall to the Dark Side, and thus the events of the ''[[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic KOTOR]]'' [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords games]]. The Sith Emperor serves as the BigBad in ''Literature/{{Revan}}'', and is the main antagonist of the overarching plot of the MMORPG ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic''.
** [[DarthVaderClone Lumiya]], the self-proclaimed Dark Lady of the Sith, is one of the most prominent villains in post-''Return of the Jedi'' Legends material. Introduced in the [[ComicBook/StarWarsMarvel1977 Marvel series]] as TheMole for Darth Vader, after the events of ''Return of the Jedi'', she becomes one of the [[BigBad Big Bads]] for the remainder of Marvel series. She was also retconned into being TheManBehindTheMan to [[ComicBook/StarWarsCrimsonEmpire Carnor Jax]]. It is also retroactively revealed that she was engineering Jacen's turn to the Dark Side during the ''Literature/NewJediOrder'' series, via the actions of her ally Vergere. She returns as the BigBad for the first half of ''Literature/LegacyOfTheForce'', where she [[ManipulativeBastard manipulates]] Jacen into falling to the Dark Side and turn him against Luke, eventually leading to the death of Mara Jade as Jacen's hands. Despite being killed by Luke halfway through the book series, she becomes a posthumous GreaterScopeVillain for the second half of the series, through the actions of [[DragonAscendant Jacen]], now known as [[BigBad Darth Caedus]]. She remains a posthumous antagonist in ''Literature/FateOfTheJedi'', as the GFFA begin to crack down on the Jedi as a result of Caedus' actions, and by extension, Lumiya's machinations.
* ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' has the Shredder, leader of the Foot Clan. Ironically starting off as the StarterVillain and [[MonsterOfTheWeek villain of the week]], the Shredder has become the most traditional antagonist of the franchise, and is usually expected to be the BigBad whenever he appears.
* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' has Megatron, the leader of the Decepticons and the ArchEnemy of Optimus Prime, since his first appearance he has been the most traditional and most recurring BigBad of the franchise, even if loses his status as leader, he always takes back the position.
* ''Franchise/TheWitcher'': [[TheEmperor Emperor Emhyr var Emreis]] has a hand in many of the schemes that happen over the course of the books, is behind the chaos that Letho causes in the second video game, and is a VillainOfAnotherStory in the third game.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
* ''Wrestling/{{WWE}}'': Wrestling/VinceMcMahon is one of the most prominent [[BigBad Big Bads]] of the franchise. Since he's the owner of the company, he's arguably responsible (directly or indirectly) for everything that has happened in WWE since he took over the company in 1982. Although he serves as the BigGood on the occasions that he is a Face, he plays the BigBad a lot more often, and sometimes his face turn is just part of his EvilPlan and he's EvilAllAlong (such as him being the Higher Power to the Ministry of Darkness).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Radio]]
* ''Radio/OldHarrysGame'':
** Almost every episode in the early seasons has {{Satan}} attempting to break the Professor in some way. However, after [[spoiler:Satan convinced God to allow the Professor to [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence go to Heaven]]]], he became the NominalHero more often than not.
** Downplayed with Thomas Crimp. He's as evil as can be, and plays an important role in every episode. However, [[VillainOfAnotherStory since he's already dead and in Hell by the time of the series, he's really just a punching bag who never gets the chance to do anything truly evil, not counting the myriad of crimes he committed before we first see him]].
* ''Radio/TheShadow'' has Shiwan Khan, who, out of the many villains the Shadow faced, has appeared the most in his other appearances, including in his 1994 movie.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''Franchise/{{Warhammer}}'': The [[EldritchAbomination Chaos Gods]] Khorne, Tzeentch, Nurgle and Slaanesh are the [[GreaterScopeVillain Greater-Scope Villains]] for both ''TableTopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000''. They rarely pay any attention to mortal affairs, spending the vast majority of their time [[EnemyCivilWar fighting each other]] but the powers that are available to mortals because of their very existence (and the [[TheCorruption corruption]] and [[PowerBornOfMadness madness]] that results from them) are the cause of multiple evil factions in both settings.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* ''WebAnimation/{{Glitchtale}}'' has [[EldritchAbomination HATE]]. HATE is the true main antagonist of the entire series, being spoken of by Agate as a greater power than Fear, implying it will have a role in the eventual prequel series, it compelled both Frisk and Chara to undergo mass murder, Betty is scared witless of it, Sans and Asriel have both been overtaken by it, and if it should manage to gain the upper hand in the present day... Everything will go FromBadToWorse [[spoiler: It does.]]
* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'':
** [[MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate Doctor Leonard Church]] aka [[KnightTemplar the Director]] is the primary villain of the first ten seasons, being the cause behind every atrocity committed by Project Freelancer and every other villain connected in anyway to the Project. However, he's killed at the end of Season 10.
** [[WarForFunAndProfit Malcolm Hargrove]], the CEO of [[EvilInc Charon Industries]], introduced in ''Reconstruction'' is behind everything the Director isn't, and even the Director could only get as far as he could because Hargrove approved Project Freelancer getting their equipment. He is also far more evil than the sympathetic Director. He serves as the BigBad of the ''Chorus Trilogy''.
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' has TheHeavy and the BigBad respectively:
** [[LadyOfBlackMagic Cinder Fall]] is the only major villain in ''RWBY'' to appear in every single volume. She first appears in the first episode to help Roman escape from Ruby, and apears in TheStinger where she is revealed to be Roman's boss. She takes the reins starting from Volume 2 as the series' primary villain, organizing the plan to destroy Beacon Academy. She is revealed to be subservient to Salem, but even then, she confronts the heroes on a far more regular basis then her master, who usually controls things from the background, and is personally responsible for most of their troubles.
** [[TheDreaded Salem]] is the force behind the villainous activity that Team RWBY has been investigating since Volume 1, though the heroes don't start to oppose her until Volume 5. Volumes 1-2 portray Cinder as the villain behind [[StarterVillain Roman's]] activities, but she is carrying out Salem's plan for the destruction of Beacon Academy. Although present in the pilot as the Female Narrator debating with [[BigGood Professor Ozpin]], she is properly introduced at the end of Volume 3. Team RNJR only learns about her existence in Volume 4, with the rest of Team RWBY finding out in Volume 5 when they all learn the SecretWar between Salem and Ozpin has spanned [[ForeverWar thousands of years]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* While ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' has several villains [[BigBadEnsemble acting individually]], the ultimate villains of the entire story are The Felt, with its [[BigBadDuumvirate three leaders]] as the cause for almost everything bad that happens in the story. Among the three of them, [[EldritchAbomination Lord English]] is by far the most dangerous [[spoiler: and is the last to be fully defeated.]]
* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' has [[OurLichesAreDifferent Xykon]]. He's the leader of Team Evil and the reason the Order of the Stick was formed is to take him down. Although he is not the ''only'' BigBad anymore, or even the most powerful, he is the one the story is most concerned with. The SeriesGoal of the main protagonist, Roy Greenhilt, is to defeat Xykon.
* ''Webcomic/{{Pastamonsters}}'':
** [[AxCrazy Jeff the Killer]] is one of the most recurring villain in the series by virtue of being [[VillainProtagonist one of the main characters]]. He serves as the BigBad of the "Proxyland" three-parter and many one-shot episodes. If he isn't the sole BigBad he either apart of a BigBadEnsemble, a BigBadDuumvirate, TheDragon for the BigBad, a VillainProtagonist, a {{Jerkass}}, or at the very least a NominalHero. One thing is certain however he is staying a Proxy whether his friends like him or not.
** Enderman is almost always involved in the conflict in the ''Pastamonsters'' arcs, episodes, and specials. He serves as a supporting antagonist in "Proxyland", the BigBad for the "Chain Mail" two-parter, is part of the BigBadEnsemble in "To Proxy Mountain", is the StarterVillain in "Jeff and the Darkness" arc and the BigBad of many one-shot episodes.
** Zalgo is easily the most powerful and dangerous villain in the series, and he is the entire cause of the story existence. Aside from being Slenderman's father, [[spoiler:he was the one who caused Jeff to go insane, aided in the drowning of BEN, cursed Eyeless Jack, and tortured Hoody to insanity. It's implied he was responsible for the plight of ''all'' the Proxies.]] He is the BigBad of the Zalgo arc [[spoiler:and part of a BigBadEnsemble with Eyeless Jack, Mancala, and Enderman's team in "To Proxy Mountain". Despite being the least proactive out of any of them, it's clear he is the biggest threat out of them.]]
* [[spoiler:Brain]] from ''Webcomic/SamAndFuzzy''. Though only formally introduced in the third arc, a later {{Flashback}} arc revealed he was ultimately (though indirectly) responsible for Fridge and therefore setting the entire Ninja Mafia MythArc into play. [[spoiler:His destruction at the end of "Race to the Bottom" also ends the MythArc.]]
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[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd'':
** LJN published a large chunk of the terrible games he reviews. This carries over to the official game, where the final level is named after LJN and is rainbow-themed.
** [[MadArtist Fred Fucks]] is mentioned by name several times throughout the series. He is the creator of Game Land and FinalBoss of ''VideoGame/TheAngryVideoGameNerdAdventures'', which was made [[YouDontLookLikeYou before his main series appearance]]. He made his first, and so far, only appearence in the series proper during the review of ''Life of Black Tiger'', but returns in video game form in the ''Deluxe'' version of the sequel, which replaces the Nostalgia Critic fights with him and makes him the antagonist, which removes all the movie characters and replaces the FinalBoss with his haywire supercomputer, the Fuckotron 9000.
** {{Satan}} is the BigBad of the ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'' and ''Spawn Games'' episodes, and the boss of “Thy Farts Consumed” in ''VideoGame/TheAngryVideoGameNerdAdventures''. During ''The Final Battle'', Satan's appearance marks the point where the tide of the battle between AVGN and the Nostalgia Critic turns in the latter's favor, with Satan's image flickering in front of the Critic while he attacks AVGN. Satan also has several minor appearances.
* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'':
** Lord Vyce one of the most recurring villains on the show. He is the main villain of three entire arcs, and being the FinalBoss of the Entity's final storyline. Only Mechakara rivals him in this regard.
** Mechakara is perhaps the most enduring and long-lasting villains on the show, beating out Lord Vyce in that regard. He has been defeated and destroyed a great number of times, but always manages to come back. Of the villains in Linkara's initial Rogues Gallery, Mechakara is the only one to still be around in the present-day.
* ''WebVideo/ChadVader'' has Margaret "Maggie" [=McCall=], the main antagonist of Seasons 2-4. She becomes the BigBad after taking over Empire Market at the beginning of Season 2. In the Season 3 finale, Maggie loses her ownership of Empire Market and is demoted to night shift manager. However, she still continues to influence the plot in Season 4, as she acts as an EvilMentor to the new General Manager, Chad Vader, who is JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope.
* ''LetsPlay/DreamSMP'': [[ManipulativeBastard Dream]] for Seasons 1 and 2. He has been pulling strings since the start of L'Manburg, and has been directly or indirectly involved in every major conflict so far, usually on the side of villainy. Whether or not the conflict involves him doesn't matter to him, he will find a way to spin it in his favor. Season 3 gave him a less significant role after being PutOnAPrisonBus, but he still manages to feel like a looming threat, and he returns to prominence after [[spoiler:he gets broken out of prison in the Season 3 finale]].
* ''WebVideo/TheIrateGamer'': [[EvilTwin The Evil Gamer]] is the BigBad of the first three seasons and TheHeavy of the fourth season.
* ''Literature/TheNeverkindSaga'' has two, one for each part. Naturally, [[VillainTeamUp they regularly team up]] in crossover stories.
** ''Literature/TheNeverMythos'': Lucia the Shadow's Consultant, a depraved being who seeks to wipe out all life and personally ruin Eliza Cortly's immortal existence for repeatedly thwarting her.
** ''Literature/TheKindnessOfDevils'': Nyarlathotep of ''Literature/CthulhuMythos'' infamy, who drives entire civilizations to ruin to feed his mindless "father" Azathoth, earning the personal enmity of Hardestadt Delac when he kills his wife during the Black Death.
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** The Evil Force that brings about the Deadites, possesses people and trees and even Ash's severed hand, is the main antagonist of the series. In the third movie it incarnates itself as an undead clone of Ash. In the second film, it is forced to manifest a physical form and becomes a huge head that uses the trees as arms.
** Ruby Knowby is revealed at the end of Season 1 in ''Series/AshVsEvilDead'' to be a Dark One and the author of the ''Necronomicon'', retroactively making her the GreaterScopeVillain during the previous movies. In season 2 the past version of Ruby teams up with Baal to overrun the world with demons, even [[spoiler: killing her present self after the latter's Heel–Face Turn.]] In season 3 the same version of Ruby resurfaces to again enact her nefarious schemes, this time forming an alliance with Kaya, a treacherous member of the Knights of Sumeria.

** [[SenseiForScoundrels John Kreese]], under whom the Cobra Kai dojo becomes a band of bullies. He is the BigBad of ''Film/TheKarateKid1984'', as the leader of the Cobra Kai dojo, with his student [[JerkJock Johnny Lawrence]] serving as the film's [[TheHeavy Heavy]]. He is the StarterVillain of ''Film/TheKarateKidPartII''. In ''Film/TheKarateKidPartIII'', Kreese is part of a BigBadDuumvirate with his friend, Terry Silver. In ''Series/CobraKai'', Kreese is the GreaterScopeVillain of Season 1, since Johnny unwittingly channels Kreese's teachings when he accidentally corrupts his own students into the same type of bullies he used to be. In Season 2 of ''Cobra Kai'', Kreese returns as the BigBad, where he's responsible for encouraging the aggression of the Cobra Kai kids, primarily Hawk and Tory, leading to a school brawl that allows him to seize control of the dojo from Johnny. [[spoiler: He further corrupts Robby into joining Cobra Kai and convinces Terry Silver to fall back into his old habits, although this comes back to bite him at the end of Season 4, when Silver gets him arrested to take control himself.]]
** [[ManipulativeBastard Terry Silver]], John Kreese's war buddy, also counts. He was the one who gave his old war buddy Kreese the resources to open up Cobra Kai in the first place, making him the unseen GreaterScopeVillain of the first film, before stepping up as the main antagonist of the third film, [[ToxicFriendInfluence convincing Kreese to continue his vendetta against Miyagi and Daniel]] (had it not been for Silver, Kreese would have completely given up Cobra Kai for good) with ambitions to further expand Cobra Kai into a chain of [[ThugDojo Thug Dojos]]. His misconduct during the 1985 All-Valley Tournament results in Cobra Kai receiving a lifetime ban from the All-Valley Tournament, which becomes a plot point in Season 1 of ''Series/CobraKai'' as Johnny Lawrence, now the sensei of a new Cobra Kai, wishes to enter Cobra Kai into the 2018 Tournament, and has to make an appeal to get the ban overturned before they can participate. Silver's backstory is explored through Season 3's flashbacks, and he reappears in Season 4 as part of a BigBadDuumvirate with Kreese [[spoiler: until Silver completely usurps control of the dojo in the season finale.]]

** [[CaptainNemoCopy Marchion Ro]] for the ''[[Franchise/StarWarsTheHighRepublic The High Republic]]'' sub-franchise. He quickly cemented himself as the greatest active threat to the Galaxy, after having [[Literature/StarWarsLightoftheJedi secretly orchestrated the Great Disaster, murdered his father's supposed killer, manipulated the Nihil into declaring them their overall leader following the death of one of their own]], allied himself with the series' other major villains, [[BotanicalAbomination the Drengir]], [[Literature/StarWarsTheRisingStorm publicly attacked the High Republic on Valo and sucessfully unleashed]] [[EldritchAbomination the Great Leveller]] on the Jedi.

** [[BadassNormal Boba Fett]] is a recurring figure throughout multiple eras of the franchise. During the Prequel Trilogy Era, he is the KidSidekick to his father, [[TheDragon Jango Fett]], for ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'', and a recurring character for ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', which includes serving as an ArcVillain for the second season finale, where it's his quest for revenge that sets the bounty hunters against Mace Windu. During the Original Trilogy Era, he is TheDragon to Darth Vader for ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', and to Jabba the Hutt for ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''. During the New Republic Era, he forms an EnemyMine with [[Characters/StarWarsTheMandalorianCharacterSheet Din Djarin]] in Season 2 of ''Series/TheMandalorian'' to [[spoiler: rescue Grogu]], but afterwards he takes control of the remnants of Jabba's criminal network after [[TheStarscream killing]] [[DragonAscendant Bib Fortuna]], and ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett'' focusing on his aspirations to become Tatooine's top crime lord.