1. Pretty much what everyone else said. Their ambitions have negative reprecussions on decent society.
2. The best, most truly evil villains aren't cackling madly as they stir up trouble for the poor heroes (*cough* Disney) they're more apathetic, especially to their own loses. What I love most is when a villain is seriously torn. He's actually rather fond of puppies, but stomping them is the only way he can accomplish what he needs to. I'm also especially fond of the larger-than-life villains of anime who find the hero to be an annoying pest barely worth dealing with or an interesting challenge to their might
3. see above
4. The worst thing is a villian who actually realizes he is a villain. No one chooses to be evil. I'm not terribly fond of villains who just want to take over the world, or more absurdly - destroy it - without reason. Underdeveloped henchmen are, by far, the most offensive villains.
5. Stupid henchmen are non-threatening. For some villians this means they can manipulate them more easily. For some writers this means avoiding developing the power struggle between multiple strong and ambitious characters with potentially differing aims. I always appreciate some good intrigue among the adversaries over the stereotypical throng of thugs around one supposedly competent master. Henchmen are also generally used for roadblocks and filler - to stretch the story out before getting to the big bad boss.
6. I always like those characters that fall in the middle. As a teenager I was a big Weis/Hickman fan - I loved Raistlin. Jowy Atreides of Suikoden was a perfect example of "I don't want to do these bad things, but what's it matter if I kill a few to save the many?" As far as nutbars, I love Sephiroth. (can you tell I play too many video games) Even nutbars need some explaination - and he had good reason for going mad and was entirely believable. The whole evil cast of Xenogears - definitely the best convoluted story I've seen in game form, especially the villains and their politicking. The best example of pure evil I have encountered is Bleach's Mayuri Kurotsuchi - the mad scientist captain. Absolutely, blood-chillingly heartless, to the point that it amazed me the creators had the guts to put him on the screen. It seriously made me want to go throw a lot more development into the villains of my current story.
7. Voldemort - and I am a big Harry Potter fan, but Voldemort was so unimpressive, weak, and stereotypical - complete with dimwit henchmen. I have to agree with disliking anything Disney - they always seem contrived.
On a side note, duke flieg, just based on your crits and comments, I am seriously dying to read whatever it is you've got.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2008-04-10 04:10 pm (UTC)2. The best, most truly evil villains aren't cackling madly as they stir up trouble for the poor heroes (*cough* Disney) they're more apathetic, especially to their own loses. What I love most is when a villain is seriously torn. He's actually rather fond of puppies, but stomping them is the only way he can accomplish what he needs to. I'm also especially fond of the larger-than-life villains of anime who find the hero to be an annoying pest barely worth dealing with or an interesting challenge to their might
3. see above
4. The worst thing is a villian who actually realizes he is a villain. No one chooses to be evil. I'm not terribly fond of villains who just want to take over the world, or more absurdly - destroy it - without reason. Underdeveloped henchmen are, by far, the most offensive villains.
5. Stupid henchmen are non-threatening. For some villians this means they can manipulate them more easily. For some writers this means avoiding developing the power struggle between multiple strong and ambitious characters with potentially differing aims. I always appreciate some good intrigue among the adversaries over the stereotypical throng of thugs around one supposedly competent master. Henchmen are also generally used for roadblocks and filler - to stretch the story out before getting to the big bad boss.
6. I always like those characters that fall in the middle. As a teenager I was a big Weis/Hickman fan - I loved Raistlin. Jowy Atreides of Suikoden was a perfect example of "I don't want to do these bad things, but what's it matter if I kill a few to save the many?" As far as nutbars, I love Sephiroth. (can you tell I play too many video games) Even nutbars need some explaination - and he had good reason for going mad and was entirely believable. The whole evil cast of Xenogears - definitely the best convoluted story I've seen in game form, especially the villains and their politicking. The best example of pure evil I have encountered is Bleach's Mayuri Kurotsuchi - the mad scientist captain. Absolutely, blood-chillingly heartless, to the point that it amazed me the creators had the guts to put him on the screen. It seriously made me want to go throw a lot more development into the villains of my current story.
7. Voldemort - and I am a big Harry Potter fan, but Voldemort was so unimpressive, weak, and stereotypical - complete with dimwit henchmen.
I have to agree with disliking anything Disney - they always seem contrived.
On a side note, duke flieg, just based on your crits and comments, I am seriously dying to read whatever it is you've got.