This has made me realize that I only have three characters- wait no four, that are villains.
Villain 1: Demon, doesn’t really have a form itself but possesses a bird guy. Pure evil. (From my pirate story)
Villain 2: Betelgeuse, red star guy. He eats kids so I have to say pure evil. (From Star Hunters)
Villain 3: Demon Flame (That’s just what people call him. His real name is Kenneth), also a demon but a very different kind from #1. Demons aren’t the same thing in this story. I would say he’s morally grey, because he does lots of bad things (namely property damage) but there are somewhat sympathetic reasons behind him doing them. Not good reasons, but it would take paragraphs to explain lol. (From Fuego de Sombra)
Villain 4: Castillo Blanca. Human on a power trip. Her whole thing is seeking power and control, and she doesn’t have any good reason for doing so. But Imma go with Evil, but so cool/attractive that I wish they weren’t. Because she slayyys. (From Fuego de Sombra 2 yeah I’m writing a sequel instead of working on my comic)
I answered "none of the above," but my answer is actually "all of the above."
My villains are all over the spectrum. I have villains who genuinely believe they're doing the right thing, and villains who are unapologetically evil. I have villains driven by tragic backstories, and villains who are just following orders. Some of them are genuinely pleasant people in the right circumstances, but some of them would rather die than make friends.
All types of villains have their place, and I enjoy writing all of them. I don't really have a preference for any specific one, because they're all great in their own way.
I picked morally gray but honestly I think I write such different antagonists that I could pick one to fit each box most of the time if they are an antagonist I see them as irredeemable but sometimes they’re not actually evil and sort of just a jerk but honestly a jerk is still a person and they could learn to change.
But then I also write truly awful characters too who are not just grumpy pieces of crusty toasts but rather a real threat. I guess it depends on which character/story I’m writing! And I like to read characters that are well written (to me I I guess that’s subjective) but no matter what category they fit under.
Sometimes a story has a grouchy person that works as the antagonist because they’re the obstacle in the plot, but that character isn’t like a demonic entity you know? But then an antagonist could actually be repulsive lol some stories don’t have a tangible antagonist either, it can be their environment or the main character that’s a detriment to themselves. I think they can all be interesting to read.
I like villains that don't know they are villains. That is how it works in the real world. Hitler, Stalin, etc thought they were doing good for their country and people. They never saw themselves as the badguy. Unless you are doing a comedic story ( "I am a villain because I am") or supernatural (a demon is evil because it's a demon), having a character know they are evil just doesn't make sense.
I like when they are an antagonist and sometimes they are justified in their feelings.
Like if the MC is an asshole and the antagonist takes it personally. Or setting up a morally grey situation where both characters have flaws and perks.
I also like when the antagonist then sort of becomes an ally to the MC but not really a friend. I know that's a bit of an anime trope, but I like the idea that someone can change and evolve over time.
Tho, I also find the parallel villain to be interesting. Where the villain has the same motivations and goals as the hero, yet it's their actions which define them. Think of something like Simba and Scar, they both want to be king. The actions of the film sort of has Simba reevaluate what being a king even means.
I accidentally clicked on 'pure evil'...but after some deliberation, I think that's the choice I would've gone with anyway. ^^; Most of my recent villains can be described in that way: Callous, uncaring about their victims' suffering, if not explicitly enjoying it.
I think the difference is that most of them aren't really 'campy' about it in the way that you'd expect from those kinds of villains; normally they're pretty quiet and friendly in demeanor.
And that's actually why they're pure evil: it's damn near impossible to try to redeem them or make them your friends, because they already ARE your friends. They already like you; they're already 'nice' to you...they just don't care about making you suffer. Enjoying your company while hurting you and manipulating you is their version of 'friendship'.
I think I've only tried to 'redeem' one villain like that recently: in essence, he falls madly in love with the one side character who's willing to tolerate him, and decides to let his evil plans fail and settle down for a while. ^^; It's just barely the beginning of a redemption, but that's as far as I've ever gotten with that kind of villain...
Scarborough you’re an absolute creep but that’s why you’re great
The poor girls
Mrs. Evans is just a meanie pants
Boohoo your husband is dead
Jane… Jane is a very fun villain
She just wants Ernest as her boyfriend lol and she solves her problems by setting them on fire
Alright hmm
The Curtis siblings hmmm
Claire just wants to be recognized for her inventions and thinks she’s the brightest of the siblings she’s an interesting case
Keith, also an inventor has youngest child syndrome
Anton well… oh Anton. I don’t know what to tell you but you are the devil
I want his thoughts to be complex and intertwined with each other. (It's like he knows and understand everything, But the expected outcome he understand he should take is despised by him, allowing him to forge a way that will obliterate the relations of him with the society he lives in....)
BTW, here is the link to my story, If you don't mind.
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