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3%%
4[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/villainous_widows_peak_2.png]]
5[[caption-width-right:350:L - R, top to bottom: [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} The Joker]], [[Series/DoctorWho the Master]], [[Franchise/DragonBall Vegeta]], and [[Franchise/{{Tekken}} Kazuya Mishima]].]]
6
7In real life, the widow's peak (a distinct point in the hairline in the center of the forehead) is a result of a lower-than-usual position of the intersection of the bilateral periorbital fields of hair-growth suppression on the forehead and is a dominant inherited trait. The term widow's peak is from an old wives' tale saying that hair growing to a point on the forehead is an omen of early widowhood.
8
9For some reason, in fiction, it seems like it's also an omen of becoming the villain (or, at least, becoming one big badass). Maybe because it makes one's hairline look like AngryEyebrows or HornsOfVillainy.
10
11Actually, in some villains this may be because of weird pattern balding, where the hairline recedes on either side of the center just a bit, as a sign of the [[TheChainsOfCommanding stress of their job]].
12
13Often seen on a ClassicalMovieVampire. Can overlap with ForeheadOfDoom. See also BaldOfEvil, where there's no hair left up top.
14
15----
16!!Examples
17[[foldercontrol]]
18
19[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
20* Higuchi in ''Manga/DeathNote'' has this kind of hairstyle. He's also a CorruptCorporateExecutive [[spoiler:using the Death Note to kill business rivals.]]
21** Ryuk has it too. Hilariously, his English voice actor is also Creator/BrianDrummond, the original voice actor of the aforementioned [[Manga/DragonBall Vegeta]]. At least one Website/YouTube channel has referred to him as "Vegeta on Meth".
22* ''Manga/DragonBall'':
23** Dracula Man, or [[DubNameChange Fangs]], Baba's ClassicalMovieVampire [[QuirkyMinibossSquad henchman]]. He may or may not really be evil, but he is an antagonist and far from pleasant.
24** Raditz, Goku's evil brother whose arrival kicks off the ''Z'' era.
25** Vegeta, the BigBad of the Saiyan saga. Notably, he still has it after his HeelFaceTurn.
26* Sorbet, from ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind''.
27* Baron Ashura from ''Anime/MazingerZ'' is TheDragon of the BigBad and he/she has this hairstyle. It is not obvious from first because he/she always wears a cowl, but if you pay attention, you can notice indeed he has one.
28* Monkey D Dragon from ''Manga/OnePiece''. Subverted in that, while the [[TheGovernment World Government]] certainly considers him villainous, the story itself portrays him as an AntiHero.
29* Giovanni, the infamous leader of Team Rocket, in ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries''.
30%%* Ryo Narushima from ''Manga/{{Shamo}}''.
31[[/folder]]
32
33[[folder:Comic Books]]
34* ''ComicBook/DoctorStrange''
35** Doctor Strange had one when first introduced (as a good-but-unnerving "master of black magic" who was meant to seem vaguely demonic). He still has it, but it's milder now that he's an unambiguous hero.
36** His foe Nightmare sports the classic type.
37* Ming the Merciless in ''ComicStrip/FlashGordon'' may or may not have had one, but the metal skullcaps he wore were clearly evocative of that shape.
38%%* ComicBook/GhostRider foe Lilith is a pretty extreme case.
39%%* ComicBook/TheJoker, DependingOnTheArtist.
40%%* ComicBook/TheRiddler is more often than not depicted as having one.
41* ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'''s ComicBook/BlackAdam, though he's often more of an AntiHero.
42%%* ComicBook/{{Sinestro}}.
43* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'':
44** ComicBook/NormanOsborn has one. His son Harry used to have an identical hairstyle, but these days he's shaved bald and has a beard, in order to remain as distant from Norman as possible after the American Son debacle during ''Comicbook/DarkReign''.
45** ComicBook/ThePunisher had a very pronounced widow's peak when he debuted as an antagonist towards Spider-Man. He gradually lost it as he changed from an anti-villain to the more familiar and ruthless anti-hero he's known as these days.
46* The ComicBook/SubMariner sports a beautiful one. Whether Namor is villainous or not depends on the continuity.
47* Raven actually ''[[ArtEvolution grew]]'' one over the course of the ''New ComicBook/TeenTitans'', eventually inspiring a plot concerning her father Trigon.
48* ''ComicBook/TheTombOfDracula'': Dracula, of course.
49* In Creator/AlanMoore's ''ComicBook/TopTen'' story "Deadfellas", in which Hungarian vampires are analogous to [[TheMafia Sicilian mobsters]], the younger vampires laugh at the older "vidow's peak Vlads" for their horror-movie behavior and dress style, much as the RealLife "Mustache Petes" were derided and ousted by younger and less honor-bound mobsters.
50* There are several characters from ''ComicBook/TheTriganEmpire'' who have this, mostly villains.
51* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'':
52** ''[[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Volume 1]]'': Dr. Poison has a rather prominent, if not as pointed as many fictional examples, widows peak on her forehead. She keeps a part down the center of it.
53** ''[[ComicBook/WonderWoman1987 Volume 2]]'': The White Magician, a power obsessed magic user who killed ComicBook/{{Artemis}}, has a widow's peak as a human, after going demonic OneWingedAngel not so much.
54* Franchise/MarvelUniverse villain and Satan-expy Mephisto has one.
55[[/folder]]
56
57[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
58* ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'': Hades' [[FlamingHair flaming hairdo]] manages to be shaped with a distinctively pointy hairline.
59* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'': Although all male lions have the appearance of a widow's peak, Scar has one that complements his dark, evil character.
60* ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989'': Ursula's hairstyle gives this off.
61[[/folder]]
62
63[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
64* Poison Ivy in ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'' has one. Though that's hardly the first warning sign you'll get from looking at her...
65%%* On Poelzig from ''Film/TheBlackCat''.
66* {{Dracula}} is usually portrayed in films and other adaptations as having one. It's since a requisite part of the ClassicalMovieVampire's appearance. Especially so since the Film/HammerHorror versions in which Dracula is played by Creator/ChristopherLee.
67%%* Mephisto from ''Film/GhostRider2007''.
68* ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'': [[Characters/MonsterVerseApexCybernetics Walter Simmons]], the egotistical CorruptCorporateExecutive who creates Mechagodzilla and [[spoiler:engineers Godzilla's entire rampage]] for EngineeredHeroics, sports one of these courtesy of being played by Creator/DemianBichir, and the fact he keeps his hair groomed helps.
69%%* Pik Van Cleef from ''Film/HardTarget''.
70* ''Film/ANewHope'': Grand Moff Tarkin. Well he ''is'' played by Creator/PeterCushing....
71* Sleazy con-man and thief Verbal Kint in ''Film/TheUsualSuspects''.
72%%* Legendre from ''Film/WhiteZombie''.
73* Slugworth in ''Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory'' has one, although we eventually find out that [[spoiler:the guy we thought was Slugworth was really an actor hired by Wonka]].
74[[/folder]]
75
76[[folder:Literature]]
77* ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' does have one in the book, though its given less attention than his other, more strange features.
78* ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'': [[BigBad Baron Harkonnen]] is described as having a prominent widow's peak, though it's outshone by his [[FatBastard prominent girth.]]
79* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
80** Otto von Chriek is not a villain, but he tries to evoke the ClassicalMovieVampire look and therefore has one.
81** The text of the books doesn't mention it, but many illustrations of [[AntiVillain Lord Vetinari]] have this.
82** Dr. Hix, of the Department of Post-Mortem Communications, has one as part of his (slightly) evil image.
83* In Alexander Kazantsev's ''Destruction of Faena'', the eponymous planet is inhabited by the two "races": the "longfaces" (humans who have the widow's peak) and "roundheads" (the rest), with the former generally being major assholes who [[FantasticRacism believe themselves to be the master race]]. Kazantsev was probably satirizing the racism based on the skin color with this one.
84* This is a racial trait in the ''Literature/{{Dragaera}}'' series, in which it is called a "noble's point" and all "Dragaerans" (read [[OurElvesAreDifferent elves]]) have them except for the Teckla, who are still elves, but are the peasant class. Not evil per se, but they have a tendency to be pretty ruthless, especially if you are a Teckla or [[FantasticRacism human]].
85* [[SternTeacher Mrs. Jeepers]] in the ''Literature/BaileySchoolKids'' series is described as having one, and her students suspect that she is a vampire.
86* Oddly enough, Literature/JohnnyTremain's widow's peak is described in-story as a sign of ''wisdom''. Presumably the trope has changed over time.
87* Oberyn Martel of ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' has one, and while not totally unsympathetic is a jerk who will go for anything that moves and is known for fighting with [[PoisonedWeapon poisoned weapons]].
88* Dr. Literature/FuManchu "with a face like Satan" is sometimes represented as having one.
89* In ''[[Literature/RachelGriffin The Unexpected Enlightenment of Rachel Griffin]]'', Dr. Mordeau the Thaumaturgy teacher has one, along with a tendency to wear black and not go out in the sunlight.
90[[/folder]]
91
92[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
93* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
94** Evil Willow, although she also wears one naturally while a good character.
95** Dracula, of course, bears one as well during his apparition.
96* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
97** The oppressive Moroks from [[Recap/DoctorWhoS2E7TheSpaceMuseum "The Space Museum"]] have this as their [[RubberForeheadAliens Rubber Forehead]]. So do the Dominators in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS6E1TheDominators "The Dominators"]].
98** Creator/PhilipMadoc's War Lord, who sits atop a hierarchy of villains as the BigBad in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS6E7TheWarGames The War Games]]", sports one.
99** The Master has one of these in some of their incarnations, most noticeably on Creator/RogerDelgado. They gave Delgado that widow's peak for the role — they thought it looked more sinister than a receding hairline. (They also widened the white streaks in his beard.)
100** Antiheroic example: The Fourth Doctor actually has a very prominent widow's peak in the classic, Dracula shape, though there's an [[QuirkyCurls enormous volume of curly hair that covers it up]], so it's only visible when he scrapes his hair backwards (see [[Recap/DoctorWhoS13E3PyramidsOfMars "Pyramids of Mars"]] and [[Recap/DoctorWhoS13E6TheSeedsOfDoom "The Seeds of Doom"]] for a couple of examples). This fits his CreepyCute personality very well — he likes to appear [[ObfuscatingStupidity silly]] and [[ManChild innocent]] to cover up a [[UnscrupulousHero seriously dark side]].
101** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E4DaleksInManhattan "Daleks in Manhattan"]]: Diagoras, the Daleks' human helper, sports one.
102* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
103** Tywin Lannister has a sharp blond one. Justified because it is actor Creator/CharlesDance's real hair, while the character's counterpart from the ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' books sports a BaldOfEvil after completely shaving his head.
104** The first and third Mountain are slightly balding at the front of their heads, with a slight notch of hair just above the forehead.
105** Qyburn's receding hairline sports one of these, which only becomes more obvious during Seasons 4 and 5. It, combined with his slicked-back hairstyle in the fifth season, occasionally makes him look unsettlingly like Hannibal Lecter.
106* In ''Series/{{Jekyll}}'' Hyde has a minor widow's peak, as opposed to Jackman who has straight hairline.
107%%* Julian from ''Series/KindredTheEmbraced''.
108%%* Eddie Munster from ''Series/TheMunsters''.
109* In the ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' two-parter "In a Mirror Darkly", Mayweather's MirrorUniverse counterpart has a widow's peak.
110* Dr. Chaotica from the ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' holodeck program "Film/TheAdventuresOfCaptainProton". As an {{expy}} of Ming the Merciless, it's required.
111[[/folder]]
112
113[[folder:Music]]
114* Gene Simmons of Music/{{KISS}} has a very prominent one while in make-up.
115* Music/FrankZappa's "Titties & Beer" features the devil as a little guy with a red suit and widow's peak.
116[[/folder]]
117
118%%[[folder:Mythology and Religion]]
119%%* {{Satan}} sometimes has one.
120%%[[/folder]]
121
122[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
123* In ''[[TabletopGame/BattleTech BattleTech’s]]'' Blood of Kerensky novels, Phelan’s captor and later rival among the Clans, Vlad, is described as having one, and is a frequent antagonist to not only Phelan, but the Inner Sphere in general as time goes on.
124* In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', the [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent werefoxes]] (unseen since Second Edition) have this as a shapeshifter's RedRightHand - every one of them in humanoid form is an elven woman with silvery-white hair in a distinct widow's peak. They're also Chaotic Evil.
125[[/folder]]
126
127[[folder:Video Games]]
128* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'': This design of the Joker has an almost-impossible one.
129* The heart-shaped white portion of Bendy's face (at least on the posters and cut-outs) give his impression in ''VideoGame/BendyAndTheInkMachine''. Although he was the star of a cartoon in this design of his, the 3D version of him is the game's BigBad.
130%%* Look no further than ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'''s [[OmnicidalManiac Yuuki Terumi]].
131%%* Magus from ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger''.
132%%* Lodonya from ''VideoGame/DragonValor''.
133* ''VideoGame/DoubleDragon'': Machine Gun Willy in the first two arcade games.
134* G-Man of the ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' series has one, though the character so enigmatic that it's hard to even know whether or not he's really evil or not.
135%%* Savinkov from ''VideoGame/{{KGB}}''.
136%%* Axel[[spoiler:/Lea]] from the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series.
137* Bass from the ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' is never seen without his helmet, but the way the helmet covers his face gives the impression of a widow's peak.
138* Maxie of ''VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire'' fame has this, though he's more a WellIntentionedExtremist than anything else. There's also Lawrence III, from the second movie.
139%%* Maximilian from ''VideoGame/{{Rochard}}''.
140* Hikawa of ''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne]]'' has a very impressive one.
141* [[spoiler:Revan]] in ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' has a widow's peak underneath his mask.
142* Kazuya Mishima of the ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'' series sports one, as well as the appropriately malevolent demeanor. As does his son Jin Kazama.
143* Mordack, the primary villain of ''VideoGame/KingsQuestVAbsenceMakesTheHeartGoYonder'', has one.
144[[/folder]]
145
146[[folder:Webcomics]]
147%%* Serafine Savoy from ''Webcomic/{{Lackadaisy}}''.
148* ''Webcomic/{{Snowflame}}'' has this in the front, and a party in the back. Depending on who you ask, he's also a MysticalWhiteHair.
149[[/folder]]
150
151[[folder:Web Original]]
152* Stolas from ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'' is a high-ranking Demon Prince whose design is heavily inspired by [[OminousOwl Barn-Owls]], complete with a Heart-Shaped facial disc that causes his darker plumage to plunge into a prominent widow's peak. His daughter, Octavia, also has one, though it's downplayed due to her being less of a villain and more of a [[TroubledTeen justifiably-sour teenager]], in addition to her bangs and beanie cap obscuring her widow's peak most of the time.
153* A short {{Creepypasta}} titled ''Literature/MereanaMordegardGlesgorv'', is the story a strange video that is of a mysterious man staring at the camera with a red filter. At one point he smiles deviously while sporting a widow's peak. The video was haunted and whoever viewed it [[EyeScream ripped their eyes out]].
154[[/folder]]
155
156[[folder:Western Animation]]
157* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', all three members of the Fire Nation royal family have widow's peaks, though none of them very pronounced. [[spoiler:Zuko becomes a subversion in Season 3.]]
158* A young Dr. Wily had one in the ''WesternAnimation/MegaManRubySpears'' cartoon.
159* Though not as pronounced as other examples, Vlad Masters of ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' clearly has one, furthering his vampire-like appearance.
160* {{Averted|Trope}} with Aqualad from ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'', who has a regular-sized widow's peak, but is a hero. {{Subverted|Trope}} in season 2 when [[spoiler:Aqualad undergoes a FaceHeelTurn and works for Black Manta, but it turns out he was a FakeDefector infiltrating [[LegionOfDoom the Light]]]].
161* Opaline’s mane is like this in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyMakeYourMark''
162%%* The Duelist from ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats2011''.
163* ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'': Averted by Terence the Tractor, who while he has a widow's peak or at least the appearance of one, is nothing but level-headed and helpful.
164* On ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold,'' Black Adam seems to have [[http://braveandbold.wikia.com/wiki/Black_Adam nothing BUT a widow's peak]].
165[[/folder]]
166
167[[folder:Real Life]]
168* Notably [[PlayingWithATrope employed]] in the RealLife deliberately shaven ''sakayaki'' tonsure of historical {{Samurai}}, supposedly developed along with the topknot (''chonmage'') to allow a better fit when wearing a helmet. Younger Samurai were obliged only to shave and shape their immediate hairline into a highly defined widow's-peak, but older Samurai would extend the tonsure [[ForeheadOfDoom well past]] the crown, while retaining the widow's peak for as long as age-induced baldness would allow, sometimes growing their topknots into shapes that could be folded back over the tonsure, improbably making this style overlap a bald look and a comb-over. This fashion was gradually adopted by the wider Japanese culture in latter periods, but is now only seen, like topknots themselves, on sumo wrestlers.
169[[/folder]]

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