The Ultimate Rogues' Gallery
In a fascinating discussion that has captivated Guardian readers, the question of who deserves the title of most evil villain in fiction has sparked passionate debate. Excluding monsters and real historical figures, readers have nominated an extraordinary range of purely imaginary human antagonists from literature, film, television, and mythology.
Shakespearean Schemers and Political Plotters
The debate revealed several strong contenders from classical literature. Iago from Shakespeare's Othello emerged as a particularly chilling example, with reader Nigel Hoyle describing his "motiveless malignity" and calling him "a true sociopath, an ice-blooded monster." Meanwhile, Richard III received mention for his deliberate cruelty, particularly in his manipulation of Lady Anne Neville.
Political villains also featured prominently, with Francis Urquhart from House of Cards drawing attention for his urbane exterior masking absolute ruthlessness. Reader bricklayersoption noted his "bloodstream hovering around absolute zero" and his relish for destroying opponents' lives and careers.
Modern Monsters and Cinematic Scoundrels
Contemporary fiction offered numerous disturbing examples. Judge Holden from Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian was described by Asa Williams as "enormous, mystic, all-knowing and all-encompassing," with violence being "a skin he wears." From film, Captain Vidal from Pan's Labyrinth was highlighted as "stone-cold evil" by SpaceWater, while Pinkie Brown from Brighton Rock was nominated as "the very personification of evil."
Science fiction contributed its share of villains, with Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars receiving multiple mentions for overthrowing democracy and destroying entire planets. DarthSaddius praised his "excellent evil laugh" and noted he "orchestrates a war while being in charge of both sides in the conflict."
Surprising Nominations and Childhood Fears
Some nominations revealed how childhood villains leave lasting impressions. The Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mr Noseybonk from Jigsaw were both mentioned as figures of genuine nightmare fuel. Meanwhile, Eric Cartman from South Park was declared "without doubt, the most evil character in fiction" by WindyM.
The discussion also included more nuanced villains like Victor Frankenstein, whom Jay W described as motivated by "ego and lust for power," creating "without a single thought to the consequences of his actions."
From the chilling intimacy of Livia Soprano manipulating her son to the brutal theatre of Gabbar Singh from Sholay, readers demonstrated that evil in fiction takes many forms, each terrifying in their own way. The consensus suggests that the most effective villains are those who feel recognisably human while committing acts that defy comprehension.
