Adam is one of three leaders, if the silhouette in Volume 1 is anything to go by. The overall leader is the plump silhouette in the middle with the evil smile. However, he was flanked by two other silhouettes, the one on our right (the grinning silhouette's left) being the silhouette that looks like Adam.
(The grinning silhouette's body shape is one we've rarely seen in the show so far - Penny's father and one of the anonymous Vale councillors who chastises Ozpin at the end of Volume 2 have the same body shape, and Port comes close).
God, I'd laugh if Port turned out to be the secret White Fang leader - but, based on body shape alone, I'd have to say the big contender is Penny's father.
I do think the Cowardly Lion will turn out to be the peaceful White Fang leader who was deposed by the current leaders. Either that, or he'll be the leader of Menagerie (and it could even be the same person).
If we view Ozpin as humanity's advocate and Salem as the Grimm's advocate, then the Cowardly Lion may turn out to be the Faunus advocate. Like Ozpin, he's put across a passive image to others, which the more militant White Fang would have viewed as "cowardly". He will, of course, be an ally of Ozpin's.
It's actually possible that, if the villains are good-hearted characters being portrayed as evil (The Beast was redeemable, Adam appears not to be and Cinderella is usually good, but Cinder is evil), then associating Salem with the Wicked Witch of the West might be the wrong move to make.
Yes, certain retellings do make the Wicked Witch of the West the protagonist or misunderstood, or a protagonist-turned-villain (like the Filipino version of Cinderella), but if we're looking for a magical protagonist who can be twisted by this show into a villain, who has a connection with the Wizard that can be exploited to become adversarial, then Princess Ozma (who was the true Queen of Oz) has to be a candidate.
edited 20th Feb '16 6:48:26 AM by Wyldchyld
If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
I seriously doubt the current array of villains are going to turn out to be "good hearted people portrayed as evil" as was the case in Wicked.
The best case scenario for Cinder is something like Doctor Breen wherein she chose to serve Salem in the hopes of proving humanity to be worth subjugating rather than merely exterminating, but that doesn't line up with the things she said in the flashback episode. Not that it necessarily rules that out; context can make a world of difference after all, and her reply to Pyrrha's "do you believe in destiny?" question makes me wonder if she thinks You Can't Fight Fate. That is at the very best Well-Intentioned Extremist territory with a fair amount of ambiguity about whether she's just a power hungry monster looking to save her own skin or legitimately believed capitulation was necessary to prevent humanity's extinction. (Which is to say basically the same ambiguity that exists in Half Life regarding Doctor Breen)
As for Salem herself, well, I have a sneaking suspicion Ozpin is responsible for her being the way she is, and I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out he did some horrible, horrible things in the past, but she, at the very least, wants to tear down human civilization and kill millions of people, apparently out of a desire for revenge. That's not really Anti-Villain territory unless her past involved some sort of corruption and/or loss of self, and if that's the case, she seriously is Grimm Kerrigan. Presumably without the eventual Heel–Face Turn.
Adam seems like he's being set up to be a monster who was made, not born, which is in and of itself tragic, but it doesn't really change the fact that he's a murderous Yandere. As far as the actual leader of the White Fang, it would be interesting for him to turn out to be a much more rational (but equally ruthless) Well-Intentioned Extremist whose agenda is less about "fuck humans", and more about getting the Faunus their own sovereign nation instead of their current status as an (allegedly) oppressed minority.
Speaking of which, assuming we get to see Atlas next season, I'm hoping we get to see some actual oppression that would lead to so many Faunus being radicalized.
Atlas executed/sent the original leader of the white fang off to the Gulags along with several of his (or her) lieutenants, leaving a power vacuum that was filled by more radical elements of the organization.
edited 20th Feb '16 7:20:38 AM by CaptainCapsase
Port turning out to be the main villain would be A) a really rubbish plot twist but also B) really fucking awesome considering his voice actor. He does bad guys well.
The internet is a waste of time, and that's exactly what's right about it-William GibsonStop trying to make Blake look Badass
WE know the Bravado is all A LIE!
Praise be to the absolute QueenYou know, given how both focus on superhuman monster hunters with impossibly cool transforming weapons, I'm surprised there isn't more Bloodborne crossover art like this
.
But seriously, regarding Blake, I still feel her problem is getting goaded into not playing to her strengths. Ninja Kitten needs to start Ninja'ing things.
Don't be ashamed to retreat, Blake, you're not a goddamn front-line fighter! You break out when the going gets tough and flank their asses, hit-and-run tactics! Carry some sticky-bomb, carry out sabotage!
Don't be ashamed to retreat, Blake, you're not a goddamn front-line fighter! You break out when the going gets tough and flank their asses, hit-and-run tactics! Carry some sticky-bomb, carry out sabotage!
I kinda hope they make that a plot point, actually. I think she might associate stealthy and indirect fighting with her terrorist past and is deliberately trying to act like a "proper huntress", which means throwing herself into open battle. Since the whole point of she going to beacon was to become a "noble warrior", I think it make sense.
edited 20th Feb '16 11:02:06 AM by Heatth

I've cried for like a week already and am just getting over it.
GIVE US PYRRHA BACK AND YOU CAN HAVE NEPTUNE!
You can't get it wrong if it's the truth!