Who are some of your favorite fictional villains?

[Jeff]

Hello!

So! Villains!

Who are some of your favorite fictional villains in books, and why?

I'll start: Darth Bane, from the Star Wars "Path of Destruction" series. Darth Bane isn't a character with a long, interesting character arc; he's a villain who thinks through his circumstances according to his knowledge at the time, and seeks resolutions and solutions. That's a core part of any villain's path, and we don't see it often enough, if you ask me.

[Tabitha]

I must admit I'm fond of Marvel's Loki - though not quite so villainous in recent comics, they still have their moments. Plus, the stories often have wonderful 'Then Let Me be Evil' vibes, which is one of my absolute favorite tropes! Loki: Agent of Asgard, Vol. 1: Trust Me is a cool start to their redemption.

The Evil Queen was written magnificently in Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen! The added background story was perfect.

And Dr. Horrible from Dr. Horrible and Other Horrible Stories. Hammy and fun and angsty, all in one!

[Jeff]

Tabitha wrote: "I must admit I'm fond of Marvel's Loki - though not quite so villainous in recent comics, they still have their moments. Plus, the stories often have wonderful 'Then Let Me be Evil' vibes, which is..."

Good GRIEF! Not only do I want to read all of these things, but I can't believe I haven't formally heard of the "Then Let Me Be Evil" trope before. (I've known it was a trope, but it's been so long since I gave it a good think, I hadn't even googled it lately.)