How Do You Like Your Villians?

[Painkiller]

OK, the question is simple: Do you prefer your villians to be
Physical threats (ex: Doomsday, Wendigo, Killer Croc, Juggernaut) or Psychological\Mental threats (ex: Lex Luthor, The Joker, Dr.Doom, The Leader) or perhaps in between (ex: Bane, Brainiac, Red Hulk, Hugo Strange, Red Skull). I personally prefer Physical threats, I love a good brawl.

[Supreme Marvel]

I like each one really. Because out of the ones you listed, Doomsday and Brainiac are in my top ten favourites. I understand that Lex is deadly, possible more deadly than the ones I said, I just see flaws in their plans. Like they always need prep. I do like him though.

[cm24]

The ideal for me would be a combination of those two, I mean a villain both physically and mentally powerful but most of the times you either get one or the other.

[deadpoolvironfist]

Feb 27, 2011 7:45:43 GMT -5 @cm24 said:

The ideal for me would be a combination of those two, I mean a villain both physically and mentally powerful but most of the times you either get one or the other.

Agreed.

[Admin]

They need to be a threat of a physical level, but recently I've been leaning towards foes with more of an honor/respect based system, such as Kraven, Silver Samurai, Bane and such. I'm growing away from the ones I liked more as a kid--- aka bloodlusted villains (Bullseye, Sabretooth, etc)

[Dane]

A mix of the two, but honestly I've never admired or been particularly interested in any villain.

[DedmanWalkin]

I, like k4tz, generally like villains with codes whether they be brawlers or thinkers or somewhere in between. Captain Cold is a perfect example as he and his cohorts have specific rules that they abide by and they aren't afraid to enforce them.

That all being said, the Joker is my favorite villain.

[Decoy Elite]

I enjoy villains that have a clear motive, and the more that the motive is actually something usually good that has been twisted to something dark and evil the better.

[Supreme Marvel]

Dane, we know you're evil.

[Strafe Prower]

I like "villains" That have a moral code (No Killing, Rape, etc.), but breaking the law isn't a problem and they enjoy it.

[Crom-Cruach]

I like villains who have interesting motivations, mindsets and personality. Regardless of if they have truly vile traits (rape, murder, etc) or are sympathetic.

As to in a story, I prefer intellectual villains as principal antagonists who can challenge the hero completely because of their wit and guile. Physical ability is then completely secondary.

[Power NeXus]

I don't really like the villians that are psychological/mental threats. I just find it somewhat illogical that a comic book writer of normal human intelligence could write out the plans and schemes of a super-genius, and expect it to be accurate.

[Crom-Cruach]

Feb 27, 2011 17:56:14 GMT -5 Power NeXus said:

I don't really like the villians that are psychological/mental threats. I just find it somewhat illogical that a comic book writer of normal human intelligence could write out the plans and schemes of a super-genius, and expect it to be accurate.

if the story is brilliantly written and presented, then a mental threat is all the more better then a physical one.

And perhaps you underestimate the intelligence of some writers, lol.

[Power NeXus]

Feb 27, 2011 18:01:23 GMT -5 Crom-Cruach said:

Feb 27, 2011 17:56:14 GMT -5 Power NeXus said:

I don't really like the villians that are psychological/mental threats. I just find it somewhat illogical that a comic book writer of normal human intelligence could write out the plans and schemes of a super-genius, and expect it to be accurate.

if the story is brilliantly written and presented, then a mental threat is all the more better then a physical one.

And perhaps you underestimate the intelligence of some writers, lol.

Well if a writer isn't as truly brilliant as someone like Doctor Doom, how does the writer know what plan Doom would come up with in a cetain situation? That's just always been a hangup for me. The best-writting stories come from when the writer really gets into the character's head and knows precisely what he's thinking. But you can't really do that with supergeniuses.

[NexusOfLight]

Well, typically a writer wouldn't even use Doom as a villain if he didn't have enough of a grasp on him to get in his brain. Sure, there are a few exceptions, but for the most part it's worked thus far. Gotta say, I'm with Crom on what type of villain I prefer. I seem to like demons a lot when it comes to this. Mammon from the Spawn series is probably the best example of this for me. The brawling villains seem to be more like fodder to me. Something that shows up to give the hero something to do for a story arc.

[Crom-Cruach]

Feb 27, 2011 18:53:57 GMT -5 Power NeXus said:

Well if a writer isn't as truly brilliant as someone like Doctor Doom, how does the writer know what plan Doom would come up with in a cetain situation? That's just always been a hangup for me. The best-writting stories come from when the writer really gets into the character's head and knows precisely what he's thinking. But you can't really do that with supergeniuses.

I disagree completely, if the plan is brilliant, the story demonstrates great planning ability and when the hero is stumped you understand and agree why he would be in that situation, then the writer has done it's job.

super-genius are still people, they still think like people, superior mental ability just means they can do more with their thought process. Great writers write great intellectuals.

Brutes and physical threats are nice. But they don't have staying power, because once they are overcome physically they have nothing else to bring to the table to challenge the hero. Intellectual villains do however, because their intelligence is what allows them to succeed.

[DedmanWalkin]

Doom is a bad selection anyways as his magic (Both Scientific and Arcane), can be used to technobabble your way through anything. He is a walking talking Plot Device as is everyone else of his ilk.

[Admin]

Says the king of walking and talking plot devices

[ckal]

Physical, or a mix. A purely mental threat is just terrible.

[DedmanWalkin]

Hey, it takes one to know one, right?