Greatest Villians

[ubiquitous_cat]

The Guardian on Saturday had a list of 10 of the best villians

http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2285431,00.html

or for those who don't like links, behind the cut;


10 of the best villains

Comments

[queenortart]

Fu Manchu - he really is a bit of a cad.

[queenortart]

Oh and The Master

[ubiquitous_cat]

Ah, the Master definitely.

[mr_malk]

I'm tempted to add Harry Flashman. It's easy to see him just as an amusing rogue, but I am always struck by how truly foul a blemish on humanity he truly is. Not an evil genius, but his grasping cowardice and amoral opportunism were responsible for the death of many who were more deserving than him.

Oh, Baron Harkonnen from Dune of course (and arguably Paul "Muad D'ib" Atreides. He might have been the Hero in Dune, but he then sent the Fremen on a Jihad that killed millions).

I'm sure there's one I'm thinking of on the edge of my mind, but I can't quite bring him into focus.

[ubiquitous_cat]

Hmmm, I've never seen Flashman as a villain, mostly due to his incompetence but he does get an awful lot of people killed.

[mr_malk]

Yes, partly because we usually see things from his point of view in the narrative, but he's a bit like Falstaff; if you take away the bluster and wit, he is a wretched and despicable creature. He probably doesn't deserve to be listed as an ultimate villain, but his general corrosiveness is often as damaging as if he were!

[sasori]

I'd have to add the Joker. There are many reimaginings, so obviously not all appearances are top, but his appearances in Killing Joke and The Dark Night Returns are two that come to mind.

[ubiquitous_cat]

Oh yes, he's a nice little psycho is the joker.