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Visually striking Villains

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TeChameleon Since: Jan, 2001
#1: Sep 21st 2013 at 6:51:04 PM

I was watching Linkara's webshow the other day, and a comment by him made me stop and think. He was reviewing The Culling (Nu52 Teen Titans/Legion of Superheroes crossover), and said that the villain Harvest was (paraphrased) a 'waste of a good character design'. Combined with the fact that I had been watching the (kinda mediocre) 2006 Fantastic Four Cartoon, and utterly loathed the Doctor Doom redesign for it (you can see it here... and that big is plenty. Ugh.), it got me thinking about characters- especially villains- that are really imposing on visuals alone.

Specifically, ones that have presence. MODOK, for example, wouldn't really count, since while he is visually striking, when you get right down to it, he's... kind of silly looking. I'd disqualify Deathstroke and Deadshot as well, mostly because their costumes are just too busy to be really iconic (despite Deadshot being one of my favourite DC villains and my quite liking his look).

Of course, once I started going over my mental list, I realized that a frightening number of them were Kirby creations (Classic Doctor Doom, Darkseid, Galactus, Juggernaut, Classic Loki, Annihilus, Magneto, Red Skull... the list goes on. Kirby was a freaking master of design work).

Others I'd toss onto the list would be Silver Banshee, Black Adam, and Chemo- all surprisingly simple, to the point that they should be kind of forgettable, but somehow they're not.

And to round things out, I'd add Deathbird- she's just dangerous looking.

So what says the Troper hivemind? What are some of the villains out there with the strongest visuals?

ScarletCajun Belligerent Webhead from Lafayette, La. Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
TheEvilDrBolty Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
#3: Sep 21st 2013 at 8:55:22 PM

Among Spider-Man villains, props must go to the Vulture - his design is a pretty good one that incorporates the animal theme well without looking too silly.

Absorbing Man is another one that stands out, even though I've never thought much of him as a villain.

NapoleonDeCheese Since: Oct, 2010
#4: Sep 21st 2013 at 9:01:03 PM

Joker. Combines danger, elegance, mania, silliness and threat perfectly.

Venom. Say whatever you want about the character's handling, but the visual is simple and precise, yet also conveying an ominous air of dread by just being there.

Apocalypse. Manages to be legitimately awesome looking despite Angelina Jolie purple lips and a giant 'A' on the belt buckle.

Red Skull. Nothing says 'inhuman evil' more than a fucking blood red skull for a head.

edited 21st Sep '13 9:03:05 PM by NapoleonDeCheese

BigMadDraco Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#5: Sep 21st 2013 at 9:20:20 PM

Carnage's design is one of the few where the busyness of the design works in it's favor, the seemingly random interspersion of red and black both evokes blood spatter (very good for someone that was a serial killer before gaining powers) and his chaotic nature.

Two Face is always good for the stark contrast of his two sides and the fact that both are well dressed speaks to his high status in the criminal underworld.

I've always like the look of the Lizard, especially designs that keep some element of Kurt Conner's lab coat when he is fully transformed.

DrFurball Since: Jan, 2001
#6: Sep 21st 2013 at 10:41:18 PM

Steve Ditko's take on the Dread Dormammu is great. Typical supervillain outfit, but sitting up top is a silhouetted face obscured by some kinda orange smoke. Mysterious and humanoid. The modern interpretation interprets the smoke as fire and the silhouette as his actual face, neither of which I like as much.

Deadpool's Arch-Enemy T-Ray has a great one, too. Large, muscular, with long orange hair and snow-white skin. As well as a bandage on his nose. Really catches the eye.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
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#7: Sep 22nd 2013 at 6:38:08 AM

[up][up] I second Carnage. Works even better with artists who protray the symbiote with a more "constantly in motion" look. I've always thought that the red and black of his coloration actually moves around sporadically. I also like the way his symbiote is constantly moving with tendrils and bits everywhere. It demonstrates that this isn't just a suit he put on; it's a living organism that will violently defend its host, while also capturing both host and symbiote's chaotic mindstate, and looking incredibly intimidating in the process.

Every ounce of his appearance screams, "I am a psychotic sonuvabitch who will murder you if you come anywhere near me, and will still murder you if you don't, because murder is fun."

edited 22nd Sep '13 6:39:47 AM by TobiasDrake

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crimsonstorm15 shine on from A parallel universe Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
shine on
#8: Sep 22nd 2013 at 1:58:59 PM

i agree with you guys as far as Venom and Carnage goes. Venom is usually portrayed as this huge, hulking black mass, all muscle and teeth. he's like a humanoid predatory animal, like a jaguar. when i see Venom, i see a monster that can rip a man's head off just as easily as breathing.

Carnage is intimidating as well, yet in a different way. in addition to the blood spatter-like pattern of the symbiote itself, i often see Carnage making various weapons and the like out of the symbiote matter. it gives the idea that every last inch of his body is purpose-built to kill as many people as possible in the goriest way as possible.

edited 22nd Sep '13 1:59:35 PM by crimsonstorm15

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resetlocksley Shut up! from Alone in the dark Since: May, 2012 Relationship Status: Only knew I loved her when I let her go
Shut up!
#9: Sep 22nd 2013 at 3:25:44 PM

Darkseid. Not only is he physically imposing, resembling something like a hulking gorilla made of stone, but his face and demeanor give him such an intimidating malevolent presence that makes him all the more terrifying.

Fear is a superpower.
crimsonstorm15 shine on from A parallel universe Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
NapoleonDeCheese Since: Oct, 2010
#11: Sep 22nd 2013 at 3:48:49 PM

[up]Doom is displeased at your mockery of the miniskirt.

crimsonstorm15 shine on from A parallel universe Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
shine on
#12: Sep 22nd 2013 at 3:58:30 PM

no really, it's a compliment. that's because both Doom and Darkseid have something to draw the eye away from the miniskirt. Doom has his eye-grabbing metal face plate, and Darkseid has being freaking huge.

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
Canid117 Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Hello, I love you
#13: Sep 22nd 2013 at 7:46:13 PM

Also I think its part of a tunic.

"War without fire is like sausages without mustard." - Jean Juvénal des Ursins
TheEvilDrBolty Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
#14: Sep 22nd 2013 at 8:04:58 PM

For designs that have aged surprisingly well - I think that Kang the Conqueror has come to look better with time. Instead of looking like a high-tech Zeerust relic, he now looks like somebody from an entirely different culture. I think that that ultimately works better for a time-traveler than the tricked-out Powered Armor that a hyper-advanced supervillain usually wears.

edited 22nd Sep '13 8:05:31 PM by TheEvilDrBolty

SKJAM Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Baby don't hurt me!
#15: Sep 22nd 2013 at 9:41:37 PM

As a visually distinctive group, I like the Fatal Five. Tharok (half-man, half-robot), Mano (face nothing but darkness inside his helmet because he can't breathe normal air), The Punisher, (bald with axe), Emerald Empress (and her enormous flying eye) and Validus (Exposed brain where his eyes ought to be, crackling with lightning.)

RedM Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: You can be my wingman any time
#16: Sep 25th 2013 at 7:22:07 PM

Seconding Carnage and Dr. Doom. So great. And when you think about it, Doom's design shouldn't work - he looks like a robot in a green cloak/miniskirt - but it all works so well.

You gotta like Loki's design. Big horns, gold and green suit, more thin and lanky in contrast to Thor's bulk. I like Electro's costume too. It's a bit corny, with the big lightning bolt mask, but nothing says, "I'm a supervillain and I'm here to steal all your shiz!" like that.

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TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
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#17: Sep 26th 2013 at 9:05:05 AM

Doom looks like a throwback from the Dark Ages. A Black Knight sort of figure, all faceless steel and cloth. The juxtaposition against the modern world gives him an alien sort of feel to him; like a man not from your world and, more importantly, a man from a time when war and conquest were the course du jour and torture was a national pastime. Visually, Doom is the Dark Ages themselves, here to conquer your weak, soft-bellied Modern World.

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RedM Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: You can be my wingman any time
#18: Sep 27th 2013 at 12:16:55 AM

Just going off of "visually striking," the Green Goblin definitely qualifies. Not the Willem Dafoe Power Ranger, the real costume.

The very best, like no one ever was. Check out my Spider-Man fanfic here! [1]
Sunchet Since: Oct, 2010
#19: Sep 28th 2013 at 7:55:08 AM

Hey, MODOK can be awesome.

Shredder - really its propably his best asset.

Scarecrow - memorable and really creepy when properly drawn

Thanos - Darkseid knockoff, lost of blue and gold, visible codepiece and yet look awesome

Zemo - nice king feel from all that fur and crown

Shocker - again propably main reason anybody remembers him

Monarch - speaking of Atop of 4th Wall characters..

Mystique - Anybody noticed that female villains are barely ever "visually striking"? They usually just chicks with revealing outfits so they usually lack masks, deformities etc.

Black Mask - There subtle differences from Skull (f.e. he often drawn without pupils) that give him unique coolnes.

Gentleman Ghost - invisible dude in classy suit. Cant think of many more memorable looks.

Anarky - One awesome V For Vendetta reference

Bane - one of few cool looking 90s Batman villains

And for something more obscure Enerjak from Archie's Sonic The Hedgehog comics. Dr Finitevus looks pretty cool too.

edited 28th Sep '13 7:58:54 AM by Sunchet

BigMadDraco Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#20: Sep 28th 2013 at 8:12:24 AM

On Mystique, a big part of is the blue skin and red hair. Also, the skull belt.

Sunchet Since: Oct, 2010
#21: Sep 28th 2013 at 9:55:41 AM

[up]Not to mention forehead skull.

NapoleonDeCheese Since: Oct, 2010
#22: Sep 28th 2013 at 8:12:33 PM

With Black Mask, I'd like for someone to find a middle point between the old Guy in a Literal Black Mask with Gangster Hat and Skull Guy in pimping suit. I'm thinking of someone with an evidently burnt mask grifted onto his otherwise skull face. Don't ask me how that's supposed to work, I just think it'd look cool!

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