Best villains of the last 20 years. (Minor Spoilers)

[matt_zimmer]

For Chris, who asked.

1. Scorpius (Farscape): Not only the best of the last twenty years, but would probably rank VERY highly on a list of best villains of all time. His S&M bondage fetish look, his scarily soft and creepy voice, Wayne Pygram's performance and the fact that all of the evil things he does may ultimately be for some greater good that our heroes don't know about, Scorpius is one of the best baddies of all time. Best moment: Condemning John Crichton "to live" on the operating table, with his true love dead and the speech center of his brain gone.

2. Angelus (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel): A no-brainer for number two. One of the best things about Angelus is his dark sense of humor. Also great is the fact that he inhabits the body of a character you care deeply about. Best moments: Snapping Jenny Calender's neck and leaving her in Giles' bed to discover.

3. Severus Snape (Harry Potter): For a good chunk of the series you aren't sure if he's a good guy or a bad guy and his ambiguous nature and anti-hero status makes him a natural antagonist. Easily the most glamorous villain in Harry Potter and put Draco Malfoy to shame. Best moment: Four words: The Lightning Struck Tower.

4. The Joker (DCAU Version): Yes, I know the Joker isn't technically a villain from the last twenty years but Mark Hamill's take is so delightfully twisted that he makes the character seem new again. Best moment: The Return Of The Joker flashback.

5. Lord Voldemort (Harry Potter): He would rank higher but his status as Big Bad in the Potterverse is mostly based on reputation and the fear he inspires in others rather than actual scariness. Best moment: his ressurrection in Goblet Of Fire.

6. David Xanatos (Gargoyles): So successful, a TV trope was named after him. He's such a great villain because he rarely loses and even when the Gargoyles believe they've defeated him they've actually only turned out to have strengthened his hand. Best moment: Breaking the Pack out of prison, not to destroy the Gargoyles as the audience originally thought, but to secure Fox's release for good behavior.

7. Gul Dukat (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine): Easily the most delusional villain on the list and that makes him one of the most dangerous. The fact that he sees himself as some great savior only makes his treachery and genocidal tendencies all the more bone-chilling. Best moment: signing a secret pact with the Dominion and joining them as a bunch of ships exit the wormhole.

8. Spike (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel): Definitely the funniest person on the list, Spike throws out punches and great quips. Best moment: faking disability to team up with Buffy to fight Angelus.

9. Owen Burnett (Gargoyles): I can't tell you WHY Owen is so awesome without spoiling Gargoyles best secret twist. Best moment: THAT moment in The Gathering. You know which one I'm talking about.

10. Mr. Burns (The Simpsons): Everyone's favorite lovable sociopath. Best moment: blotting out the sun in Who Shot Mr. Burns.

11. Vandal Savage (Justice League): Arguably the best DCAU villain of all time, the Joker JUST nudges him out of the top spot. Dwayne McDuffie reimagines him as a fun Bondian super-villain. Best moment: ticking off his evil plans for a railgun on his fingers to Queen Audrey who he married and then bedded the previous day.

12. The Mayor (Buffy The Vampire Slayer): Cheerfully psychotic and strangely lovable, the Mayor is the best non-vampire villain in the Buffyverse. Best moment: His to-do list includes "photo op with boy scouts, become invincible, meeting with PTA, haircut".

13. The Weeping Angels (Doctor Who): The best original villains of the new show, they are truly frightening classic Who-style baddies. Best moment: the entire Sally Sparrow in the mansion segment of Blink.

14. The Lord Of The Locusts/The Hooded One (Bone): You can't really have one without the other. This is probably the most underrated comic book villain of all time. Best moment: the moment on Old Man's Cave where it's revealed exactly WHY the Hooded One has been seeking "The One Who Bears The Star" as well as Phoney Bone's reaction.

15. Lex Luthor (Justice League Unlimited): Arguably no character in the DCAU (with the possible exception of Bruce Wayne) has gone through a more rollercoaster character arc. From evil business tycoon in Superman: The Animated Series, to mad scientist in Justice League, to reformed politicial/presidential candidate turned Secret Society leader in JLU, Lex is probably the second most important character in the Timmverse after Batman. Best moment: To quote Superman: "Brainiac!"

16. The Reavers (Firefly): How scary are the Reavers? Even Jayne is terrified of them. Best moment: The Climax of Serenity where River Tam single-handedly fights them off.

17. Bishop (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003): The dude is awesome. Period. Only Turtle villain who could conceivably beat the Shredder. Best moment: His first smackdown with the Turtles where he defeats them using only his bare hands.

18. Slade (Teen Titans): Ron Perlman kickin' butt in the name of Ron Perlman. Best moment: Teaming up with Robin after he's betrayed by Trigon.

19. MacBeth (Gargoyles): Best anti-hero on the show. Best moment: take your pick from ALL of City Of Stone.

20. Baxter Stockman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003): Where was this awesome, snarky, buttkicker on the old show? Best moment: refusing the go down and repeatedly rising from the dead in Return To New York.

Comments

[90scartoonman.livejournal.com]

Very impressive list (although don't let Joker know you think Spike is the funniest). I think I may've preferred you to leave off any characters who were created before that 20 year period (and not just the comic book characters, MacBeth has been around for hundreds of years), but since you're just taking them in the context of the series, it's fine. Interesting how Xanatos is so far ahead of Luthor. I see them kind of tied, but I'd give it to Xanatos because he looks better in red and silver armor than Lex in green and purple.

I obviously love people like Angelus and Gul Dukat (Mr. Burns too, but to be fair, a villain is only as good as the heroes he fights, and Mr. Burns is weak for so many reasons), but I'm a bit surprised the only Disney villains you have are Gargoyles ones. I would've thought Scar or Frollo would make the list. I may end up doing one, I'm sure Hades and Jafar would be on it.

Here's the question, if the ones on the list who redeemed themselves and turn good(Spike, Xanatos, Owen, Bishop, MacBeth) never made that turn, would you still consider them good villains?

[90scartoonman.livejournal.com]

On second thought about the Disney thing, I can see how you prefer serial, recurring villains rather than those that are done in one in movies.

[mattzimmer.livejournal.com]

I should have included Frollo though. Scar? Not so much.

[mattzimmer.livejournal.com]

Me leaving off Frollo was a boneheaded oversight. I can't believe I forgot him. And Sylar should have at least gotten an honorable mention.

As for the ones who redeemed themselves, yes, I still consider them great villains. How far along are you with Harry Potter? Finish Deathly Hallows soon. We need to dish.

[90scartoonman.livejournal.com]

I figured Scar might be appealing for the same reason Xanatos was, he's calculating, and his plan actually worked. Right, Sylar, great build-up for that guy.

I'm about a third of the way through Half-Blood Prince, should finish it by next weekend. I think I'll go straight to Deathly Hallows, since I'm on tap to read Fragile Things between them, but since that's a collection of short stories, I can spread that out a bit more.

[mattzimmer.livejournal.com]

Scar WISHES he was Xanatos. Not only did Scar's plan ultimately backfire, he was killed because of his own hubris. Xanatos is MUCH more meticulous and careful in his scheming and that's why he's so successful.

Yeah, go straight to Deathly Hallows. We need to talk about it. Soon. I'm getting antsy with pleasure over soon having another friend to discuss Harry Potter with.

[90scartoonman.livejournal.com]

Well, obviously, Xanatos has an amazing success rate not many villains share, but despite the backfired plan, at least Scar was able to rule for a number of years. I think his only mistake was not producing an heir.

[mattzimmer.livejournal.com]

WAS it years though? Do you know how long it takes lions to mature to adulthood? I don't but if they're anything like other animals Simba could have been a young adult in a matter of months.

Also Scar cheesed off the hyenas which was another mistake. Xanatos is so successful because he's content to be a power player behind the scenes and not even let other people know he's in charge. Anyone trying to unrightfully steal a throne is just asking for trouble.

Comparing Scar to Xanatos is like comparing Mongul to Darkseid.

[90scartoonman.livejournal.com]

Ha ha, oh yeah, I forgot Simba's a lion. You may have a point there.

I'm not saying Scar is just as good as Xanatos, but you sort of proved my point. I don't consider Mongul as great a villain as Darkseid, but he's pretty good in his own right, and so is Scar, I'd say.

[mattzimmer.livejournal.com]

Mongul's a sucky villain. He's a good character though. I think those are two different things. I like that he thinks he's the baddest cat in the universe but really isn't. Because of that, he's interesting, but still lame.

[90scartoonman.livejournal.com]

Actually, yeah, you've got a good point. Although he can be quite scary.

[mattzimmer.livejournal.com]

b.t. said in the episode introduction to War World on the Justice League single disc release that there are some villains who THINK they're Darkseid, but are not even in their league in actuality. Mongul THINKS he's Darkseid and it wasn't until he went up against Superman that he got a reality check.

[stinkingbishop.livejournal.com]

No space for Sideshow Bob, Adam Monroe, the 456, or Tom Cruise?

[mattzimmer.livejournal.com]

Sideshow Bob and the 456 are good choices I forgot. Maybe if there's another list next year.

Adam Monroe wasn't on the list because he got punked in his last appearance. Although for some reason I also left off Sylar, Gauis Baltar, Killer Bob and the Cigarette Smoking Man so maybe I just have a bias against franchises that screwed me.

Voldemort was like a boss.

[jasonderoga86]

Yes, Lord Voldemort's resurrection scene in The Goblet of Fire was badass. His lines and the way he delivered them were chilling and he himself looked very unsettling. The scales on the back of his head, the pale-greenish skin - and of course, the snake nose slits - completed the whole dark fantasy feel of the scene.

My favorite line from him will always be:

"I'm going to kill you, Harry Potter. I'm going to destroy you. After tonight, no one will ever again question my power. After tonight, if they speak of you they will only speak of how you...begged...for death. And how I, as a merciful lord...obliged."

Re: Voldemort was like a boss.

[matt_zimmer]

Agreed. Wish Rowling hadn't turned out to be such a shitbag.

Slade!

[jasonderoga86]

Just noticed you listed Slade. As a huge fan of the show, I'll go on the record and say that Ron Perlman's take on the DC mercenary (or in this case, an enigmatic criminal mastermind) was nothing short of darkly suave. He was brutal, but polite about it. He rarely ever raised his voice, always calm and collected. But when pushed too far...that's another story. His role in Season 4 as a hellspawn servant of Trigon was his finest hour, particularly in how he nuked the flaming-axe-wielding gatekeeper in the bowels of what I can only describe as Hell itself (DC has stated that Trigon is pretty much a take on the biblical Devil).

And he did it with class.

"You cannot hope to defeat pure evil".

"Actually...I'm not such a nice guy myself".

BOOM.

Re: Slade!

[matt_zimmer]

Birthmark is my favorite episode of that series due in no small part to Slade and Perlman.