Asupervillain,supervillainess orsupercriminal is a variant of thevillainousstock character who possessessuperpowers. The character type is sometimes found incomic books and is often the primary adversary of asuperhero in the same story.
Supervillains are often used asfoils to present a daunting challenge to a superhero. In instances where the supervillain does not have superhuman, mystical, or alien powers, the supervillain may possess a genius intellect or a skill set that allows them to draft complex schemes or commit crimes in a way normal humans cannot. Other traits may includemegalomania and possession of considerable resources to further their aims. Many supervillains share some typical characteristics of real-worlddictators,gangsters,mad scientists,trophy hunters,warlords, corruptbusinesspeople,serial killers, andterrorists, often having an aspiration ofworld domination.[1]
TheJoker,Lex Luthor,Doctor Doom,Magneto,Brainiac,Deathstroke, theGreen Goblin,Loki, theReverse-Flash,Sinestro,Ultron,Thanos, andDarkseid are some notable male comic book supervillains that have beenadapted in film and television.[2][3] Some notable female supervillains areCatwoman,Harley Quinn,Poison Ivy,Mystique,Hela,Viper, and theCheetah.[4][5]
Just like superheroes, supervillains are sometimes members of groups, such as theInjustice League, theSinister Six, theLegion of Doom, theBrotherhood of Mutants, theSuicide Squad, and theMasters of Evil.
In the documentaryA Study in Sherlock, writersSteven Moffat andMark Gatiss said they regardedProfessor James Moriarty as a supervillain because he possesses genius-level intelligence and powers of observation and deduction, setting him above ordinary people to the point where only he can pose a credible threat toSherlock Holmes.
One of the earliest examples is John Devil, created byPaul Féval, père, in 1862,[6] followed by the Machiavellian Colonel Bozzo-Corona, leader of the criminal organizationLes Habits Noirs, also by Féval, in 1863.[7]
Another example of a pioneering villain is Zigomar, a character created by Léon Sazie in 1909 for theLe Matin newspaper. Zigomar is a masked criminal wearing a red hood, leader of the "Gang of Z," who terrorized Paris with his ingenious crimes. The character's success was so great thatVictorin Jasset directed three films based on his adventures between 1911 and 1913:Zigomar, roi des voleurs,Zigomar contre Nick Carter andZigomar, peau d'anguille.[8]
In 1911,Fantômas emerged, created byMarcel Allain andPierre Souvestre. A master of disguise and crime, Fantômas became an iconic figure in French popular culture. FilmmakerLouis Feuillade further solidified his fame by directing five silent serials starring the character:Fantômas (1913),Juve contre Fantômas (1913),Le Mort Qui Tue (1913),Fantômas contre Fantômas (1914), andLe Faux Magistrat (1914). After the success of the firstFantômas serial, Feuillade had been criticized for glorifying outlaws, his next serial for Gaumont,Judex, starred this time a positive hero, a mysterious avenger conceived as an honest version of Fantômas.Judex was himself featured in various adaptations, sequels and remakes. The originalJudex serial was released in the United States and appears to have been an inspiration for the American pulp characterThe Shadow, who was himself an inspiration forBatman.[9][10]
Fu Manchu is an archetypal evil criminal genius and mad scientist created by English authorSax Rohmer in 1913. TheFu Manchu moustache became integral to stereotypical cinematic and television depictions of Chinese villains. Between 1965 and 1969Christopher Lee played Fu Manchu five times in film, and in 1973 the characterfirst appeared in Marvel Comics.[11]
TheJames Bond arch-villainErnst Stavro Blofeld (whose scenes often show him sitting on an armchair stroking his cat, his face unseen) has influenced supervillaintropes in popular cinema, includingparodies likeDr. Claw and M.A.D. Cat from theInspector Gadget animated series,Dr. Evil andMr. Bigglesworth from theAustin Powers film series, orDr. Blowhole from the animated TV seriesThe Penguins of Madagascar.
The overarching villain ofStar Wars, EmperorPalpatine, leads the tyrannicalGalactic Empire, and was inspired by real-world tyrannical leaders.[12][13]
The best way to set up a super-villain is to take the biggest villain you've got and make him afraid of the super-villain. The Emperor is even more powerful thanVader. He's the classicdevil character ...
The people give their democracy to a dictator, whether it'sJulius Caesar orNapoleon orAdolf Hitler.
The dictionary definition ofsupervillain at Wiktionary
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