Spektre41: Claude Frollo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (the Disney movie), his constant look of utter disdain, his sweeping movements, Tony Jay's perfect voice, and the "Hellfire" song. Let's just list some stuff he does.
He:
Persecutes, tortures, and burns people alive he thinks are guilty.
Killed an innocent woman and tried to drown her baby because it was deformed, than gave that baby the name "Quasimodo", meaning "half-formed" and keeps him in a bell tower.
He's a holy man of the cloth and yet he sexually harrasses Esmerelda in a church. Followed by him confessing his lust while singing the aforementioned, and disturbing, Hellfire (it's actually very dramatic and serious, unlike the rest of the film) where he basically forces himself into believing that Esmerelda is a satanist, and the only way to save her is if she "becomes his", and if she doesn't? Well, hell awaits.
Traps a family in their house because he found Gypsy merchandise near their house. He then burns the house down.
Imprisons several Gypsies for mass execution, again, because he believes them to be devil worshippers.
And at the end? He's nothing but a psychotic killer, breaking the rules of "sanctuary" in a church in order to kill a Esmerelda. I think the best part is at the end, when Esmerelda is trying to save Quasimodo, and he's about to cut her freakin' head off while chanting. Only for him to fall off the building, in the molten streets of Paris, or my way of interpretation, falling into Hell. His appearance is of worth as well, carrying a psychotic smile amidst his now (unexplainable) zombie-pale skin.
My love for Frollo stems from his utter belief in what he's doing, torture, maiming, burnings, the list goes on. Yet he still has no problem with it, because he justifies it as God's will.
I feel strangely inclined to agree with you. Frollo succeed to make me gawp in utter horror a few times during that movie (the barn-burning scene, especially) and his character is actually something believable. People like this actually existed during the Crusades and Spanish Inquisition (which is the period the movie is set in, I believe). It's all rather disturbing.
For all out evil points, I'd like to shy away from cliches (Lord Vader and Sauron) in favor of a character that nobody has ever heard about.
Arawn, from the Chronicles of Prydain, commanded legions of dragon-bird things that would gleefully eviscerate any and all who stood in their way along with hordes of unstoppable undead warriors lead by a massive, skeletal menace who wore a deer's head complete with antlers for a helmet. The way that some of the series characters are brutally knocked off is an absolutely delightful change of pace, compared to most of the other, more popular series.
If you liked Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia, try the Chronicles of Prydain. Easily my favorite series of all time.
As for movies, Creedy from V for Vendetta. The dude organized mass terrorist attacks against his own country for power, then shamelessly sold out his country's leader figurehead to further his power. Plus, the scene where he dies remains my favorite fight scene in all of cinema.
Spoiler: Click to View
Gaming wise, Sovereign from Mass effect takes the cake. The final few hours of gameplay are singularly the most epic I have experienced in recent memory.
I've rambled on long enough, so I'll suffice to say that my favorite comic villian is a toss-up between the Riddler and the Joker. The Riddler is just so damn clever, and the Joker consistently scares the poo out of me.
Cartoon: Soundwave. That voice has formed the basis for all my major decisions in life. Plus, he comes with a sextet of extra villains (Rumble, Frenzy, Laserbeak, Ravage, Buzzsaw, and Ratbat). And finally, he's not unchrasamatic!
Comic: Bane. He broke the Bat....who can argue with that?!
Anime/Manga: Gary from Pokemon. He's such a dick! Plus, whenever he makes me mad, I just rename my rival in the old games TWAT.
How about Alucard (or Arucard, for you Japanese purists) from Hellsing? He's a vampire, the ULTIMATE vampire a.k.a. the original Dracula, he loves to kill for sport, has a rivalry with the most awesome Irish priest ever, has no problem slaughtering everyone from innocent policemen to zombie Nazis(!) and, best of all, he's the main character. Though it's not the same as with Light from Death Note. We're not made to sympathize with him like with Light. We know what he's doing is wrong and it's ever sweeter as we watch him rip bystanders to bloody shreds.
As a runner-up, I'd say the younger of the Valentine brothers (again from Hellsing). Anyone who kills soldiers while shouting "Up! Up! Down! Down! Left! Right! Left! Right! Death by Konami!" gets my vote (I'm not kidding, watch the second episode of Hellsing Ultimate).
Phase_9: Best comic book villain, Hush from Batman.
I never quite got what made him so great.
Myself it always changes too frequently. At the moment, the riddler or bane from the Knightfall era.
I enjoy Hush because he is a chilling counter-point to Batman, a what-if character. What if Bruce Wayne trained himself to become a criminal to get revenge on a violent and uncaring world rather than fight crime. That is what's interesting. Although I do agree that the Knightfall Riddler is quite compelling, but I always thought Bane was a really stupid Batman villain.
I always imagined Joker as the literal opposition to anything the batman stood for. For the direct opposite DC created Prometheus, the direct anti batman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus_(comics)
Well, Joker is the opposite and Prometheus is the anti-Batman, but Hush is if Batman's life went a little differently. He's not the anti-thesis, just a warning to what Bruce Wayne can become if he isn't careful.
Phase_9: Best comic book villain, Hush from Batman.
I never quite got what made him so great.
Myself it always changes too frequently. At the moment, the riddler or bane from the Knightfall era.
I enjoy Hush because he is a chilling counter-point to Batman, a what-if character. What if Bruce Wayne trained himself to become a criminal to get revenge on a violent and uncaring world rather than fight crime. That is what's interesting. Although I do agree that the Knightfall Riddler is quite compelling, but I always thought Bane was a really stupid Batman villain.
I always imagined Joker as the literal opposition to anything the batman stood for. For the direct opposite DC created Prometheus, the direct anti batman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus_(comics)
Well, Joker is the opposite and Prometheus is the anti-Batman, but Hush is if Batman's life went a little differently. He's not the anti-thesis, just a warning to what Bruce Wayne can become if he isn't careful.
Ah, I stand corrected Phase 9. Have a well deserved pat on the back.
So Hush is more a reflection of the Wayne side of the personality gone wrong?
Phase_9: Best comic book villain, Hush from Batman.
I never quite got what made him so great.
Myself it always changes too frequently. At the moment, the riddler or bane from the Knightfall era.
I enjoy Hush because he is a chilling counter-point to Batman, a what-if character. What if Bruce Wayne trained himself to become a criminal to get revenge on a violent and uncaring world rather than fight crime. That is what's interesting. Although I do agree that the Knightfall Riddler is quite compelling, but I always thought Bane was a really stupid Batman villain.
I always imagined Joker as the literal opposition to anything the batman stood for. For the direct opposite DC created Prometheus, the direct anti batman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus_(comics)
Well, Joker is the opposite and Prometheus is the anti-Batman, but Hush is if Batman's life went a little differently. He's not the anti-thesis, just a warning to what Bruce Wayne can become if he isn't careful.
Ah, I stand corrected Phase 9. Have a well deserved pat on the back.
So Hush is more a reflection of the Wayne side of the personality gone wrong?
Very much so. Wayne could easily become embittered towards Gotham, seeing the police as too corrupt (what with his villains escaping prison every two minutes) and the people ungrateful (every time a mass murder shows up, someone feels the need to announce that Batman MUST be the culprit), and use his intellect, fortune, and other skills to revenge himself on the public and the criminals.
Vicious from Cowboy Bebop. Realistic villain who just a cold hearted mobster. He eventually took over the Red Dragons and was as empty as ever whenever he reached the throne.
Although not my favourite I do feel he deserves a honourable mention.
Wesley Gibson - Wanted (comic). Although he is portrayed as the hero he is actually one of the coolest villians around. A few highlights are: he walks into a busy police station and shoots all the cops just because hes bored, raped a A list celebrity and it does not even make it into the papers, shoots his best friend in the head for having sex with his girlfriend, kills his "tutor" by shoving a chair leg through his head. Best bit is these are all just every day events for him and he does it just for fun, no big plan, no remorse. Its really a shame that fucked the movie adaption up sooo damn much. The only thing they did get right was a couple character names.
i always liked those things where you arent really told who the good and bad guys are, and you really have to decide for yourself who the good guy and bad guy are. death note did this for a little while, but they ruined it. that said, my favorite villain would have to be goldfinger from the jamed bond movie goldfinger. he had the famous line "no mr bond i expect you to die". unbeatable. probably helped that the movie was so good. i also like candle jack, he was just pure liquid aweso
A tie between Fuhrer President King Bradley a.k.a. Pride, Gluttony, or Envy from Fullmetal Alchemist
Arsen: Vicious from Cowboy Bebop. Realistic villain who just a cold hearted mobster. He eventually took over the Red Dragons and was as empty as ever whenever he reached the throne.
Archemetis: Original Cartoon series Batman's Joker, the one voiced by Mark Hamil. All, "Hello everybody! Joker's back in town! *joker laugh that very people in the planet can do right* (I'm looking at you currently deceased Heath Ledger!)"
THAT was a good joker, none of this "Y'wanna know how i got these scars?" bullshit...
My favorite is also the Joker, but I really liked the newest representation (Heath Ledger's character). I believe Mr. Ledger's Joker was closer to the Joker from the comics.
He may well have been, and don't get me wrong i liked his represntation as well, but i just hated that they did away with the "Fell in a vat of chemicals" things.
I mean yeah, a guy gets a "smiley" scar on his face and thereafter goes nuts and blows things up? doesn't sound very Joker as i remember him.
The Joker i've come to know and love is a trickster, yes he blew shit up but at the same time he liked to joke people around, he was also genuinely derranged his plans weren't all that complicated. Also what's Heath Ledger's Jokers obsession with Knifes? beyond the fact he has that scar? I would've gave my left arm for some Joker Gas in the Dark Knight...
he actually did use said gas at the start of the film. Also, you how was he not deranged? He robbed banks for the fun of it. I also like Apocalypse from X-men, as well as Magneto. Dracula from the castlevania series. If he were a D&D character, he would have an army of inevitables on him for how many times he has returned from death.
My favorite cartoon villain... well, I've always adored Maleficent. She is by far the most memorable character in the bland, watered-down version of Sleeping Beauty that Disney made (not that they could have shown the real version to kids...), and apparently I'm not alone, since there's a reason they made her the head of the Disney villain cabal in Kingdom Hearts.
Comic book villain... well, if we can count the The Dark Knight version of the Joker he takes the exploding cake, but if we can't count movie versions as comic villains it's a bit tougher (although I like this version too). However, if webcomics are eligible (especially ones that actually made it into print), I think I might pick Redcloak, from Order of the Stick. He's just awesome, he's tragic and sympathetic while also managing to be a treacherous, Machivellian badass.
As for an anime villain... well, there's Eimi Ohba, from Comic Party, but my vote goes to Lady Eboshi, from Princess Mononoke.
RL: Stalin... Only he could massacre millions and still have millions more cry at his grave.
Comics: Kingpin. Anime: hmmm... Light Yagami was good until the last episode (the whole sniveling on the floor and yelling "Kill them! I am your God! Do something!") Game: Well, they all seem to fail one way or another. Only the Jack of Blades from Fable 1 had no "Oh noes Im teh killed, *sniff*sniff* mommy I'm dying" moment.
EDIT: He wasn't in cartoon/comic/anime, sorry favorite cartoon/comic/anime villian is the xenomorphs from the Dark Horse Aliens comics. scared the crap out of me.
Archemetis: Original Cartoon series Batman's Joker, the one voiced by Mark Hamil. All, "Hello everybody! Joker's back in town! *joker laugh that very people in the planet can do right* (I'm looking at you currently deceased Heath Ledger!)"
THAT was a good joker, none of this "Y'wanna know how i got these scars?" bullshit...
My favorite is also the Joker, but I really liked the newest representation (Heath Ledger's character). I believe Mr. Ledger's Joker was closer to the Joker from the comics.
He may well have been, and don't get me wrong i liked his represntation as well, but i just hated that they did away with the "Fell in a vat of chemicals" things.
I mean yeah, a guy gets a "smiley" scar on his face and thereafter goes nuts and blows things up? doesn't sound very Joker as i remember him.
The Joker i've come to know and love is a trickster, yes he blew shit up but at the same time he liked to joke people around, he was also genuinely derranged his plans weren't all that complicated. Also what's Heath Ledger's Jokers obsession with Knifes? beyond the fact he has that scar? I would've gave my left arm for some Joker Gas in the Dark Knight...
he actually did use said gas at the start of the film. Also, you how was he not deranged? He robbed banks for the fun of it. I also like Apocalypse from X-men, as well as Magneto. Dracula from the castlevania series. If he were a D&D character, he would have an army of inevitables on him for how many times he has returned from death.
You mean the smoke grenade? that was, as far as was made apparent, an ordinary smoke grenade. Also, did he or did he not have a plan behind robbing the mob banks? Which was: "Fuck off the mob lords" He was far TOO calculated for being the Joker. Everything he did in the film may well have been for his own amusment and giggles, just like everyother joker plot, but it just seemed so driven by conspiracy and was lacking in genuine insanity.
I feel strangely inclined to agree with you. Frollo succeed to make me gawp in utter horror a few times during that movie (the barn-burning scene, especially) and his character is actually something believable. People like this actually existed during the Crusades and Spanish Inquisition (which is the period the movie is set in, I believe). It's all rather disturbing.
For all out evil points, I'd like to shy away from cliches (Lord Vader and Sauron) in favor of a character that nobody has ever heard about.
Arawn, from the Chronicles of Prydain, commanded legions of dragon-bird things that would gleefully eviscerate any and all who stood in their way along with hordes of unstoppable undead warriors lead by a massive, skeletal menace who wore a deer's head complete with antlers for a helmet. The way that some of the series characters are brutally knocked off is an absolutely delightful change of pace, compared to most of the other, more popular series.
If you liked Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia, try the Chronicles of Prydain. Easily my favorite series of all time.
As for movies, Creedy from V for Vendetta. The dude organized mass terrorist attacks against his own country for power, then shamelessly sold out his country's leader figurehead to further his power. Plus, the scene where he dies remains my favorite fight scene in all of cinema.
Spoiler: Click to View
Gaming wise, Sovereign from Mass effect takes the cake. The final few hours of gameplay are singularly the most epic I have experienced in recent memory.
I've rambled on long enough, so I'll suffice to say that my favorite comic villian is a toss-up between the Riddler and the Joker. The Riddler is just so damn clever, and the Joker consistently scares the poo out of me.