Comments on: Three qualities of interesting villains http://www.superheronation.com/2008/10/22/writing-tip-of-the-day-make-sure-your-villains-dont-wilt-in-the-spotlight/ How to write a superhero book, comic book or superhero novel and get it published Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:25:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: B. McKenzie http://www.superheronation.com/2008/10/22/writing-tip-of-the-day-make-sure-your-villains-dont-wilt-in-the-spotlight/comment-page-1/#comment-200381 B. McKenzie Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:10:13 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=1262#comment-200381 "In his eyes I want him to think it’ll make things even more exciting in the future." As a reader/prospective editor, one major concern I'd have here is that this makes it obvious that he will NEVER actually stop the heroes because, if he ever had the chance, he'd think it was more interesting to keep the game going. This means that the heroes have essentially no chance of failing and makes the ending a foregone conclusion. <br /> Some alternatives that come to mind: --He inflicts some fate he sees as worse than death on the heroes. (For example, some supervillains might see stealing somebody's superpowers as worse than death). --The heroes escape through their own means. It's more impressive and dramatic than having the villain let them go. --The villain releases the heroes with some villainous and rational goal in mind. <br /> If the villain just lets them go because it's convenient to the plot or because the author wants/needs the heroes to win, I would personally lean towards declining the manuscript. “In his eyes I want him to think it’ll make things even more exciting in the future.” As a reader/prospective editor, one major concern I’d have here is that this makes it obvious that he will NEVER actually stop the heroes because, if he ever had the chance, he’d think it was more interesting to keep the game going. This means that the heroes have essentially no chance of failing and makes the ending a foregone conclusion.

Some alternatives that come to mind:
–He inflicts some fate he sees as worse than death on the heroes. (For example, some supervillains might see stealing somebody’s superpowers as worse than death).
–The heroes escape through their own means. It’s more impressive and dramatic than having the villain let them go.
–The villain releases the heroes with some villainous and rational goal in mind.

If the villain just lets them go because it’s convenient to the plot or because the author wants/needs the heroes to win, I would personally lean towards declining the manuscript.

]]> By: Comicbookguy117 http://www.superheronation.com/2008/10/22/writing-tip-of-the-day-make-sure-your-villains-dont-wilt-in-the-spotlight/comment-page-1/#comment-200331 Comicbookguy117 Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:58:26 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=1262#comment-200331 If I may be honest. I never understand that mentality for a villain. If they can kill the heroes, than do it and be done with it. But to just let them go seems disappointing somehow. There are exceptions of course, such as honorable villains, a deal being struck or perhaps a foretold battle. But in a normal superhero/supervillain fight, it should take an aweful lot of convincing for that to happen. If it can happen at all. I don't mean to offend and maybe I am speaking out of turn, being that I have no idea about the personality of Mave. Maybe he's the kind of psychotic hunter that enjoys the chase more than the kill, you know? I'm just saying if this situation happens, there should be a worthwhile reason. If I may be honest. I never understand that mentality for a villain. If they can kill the heroes, than do it and be done with it. But to just let them go seems disappointing somehow. There are exceptions of course, such as honorable villains, a deal being struck or perhaps a foretold battle. But in a normal superhero/supervillain fight, it should take an aweful lot of convincing for that to happen. If it can happen at all. I don’t mean to offend and maybe I am speaking out of turn, being that I have no idea about the personality of Mave. Maybe he’s the kind of psychotic hunter that enjoys the chase more than the kill, you know? I’m just saying if this situation happens, there should be a worthwhile reason.

]]> By: Marquis http://www.superheronation.com/2008/10/22/writing-tip-of-the-day-make-sure-your-villains-dont-wilt-in-the-spotlight/comment-page-1/#comment-200310 Marquis Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:34:05 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=1262#comment-200310 Would Mave be a good antagonist? I want him to be a psycho but I want him to be dangerously clever. For example in my story I want him to let Christian,Remy,and maybe Rue to escape from the junkyard even though he could have easily dispatched them all. In his eyes I want him to think it'll make things even more exciting in the future. Would Mave be a good antagonist? I want him to be a psycho but I want him to be dangerously clever. For example in my story I want him to let Christian,Remy,and maybe Rue to escape from the junkyard even though he could have easily dispatched them all. In his eyes I want him to think it’ll make things even more exciting in the future.

]]> By: D http://www.superheronation.com/2008/10/22/writing-tip-of-the-day-make-sure-your-villains-dont-wilt-in-the-spotlight/comment-page-1/#comment-140681 D Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:56:08 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=1262#comment-140681 well some of the stories are connected but some are are just stories about everyday superhero stuff for each character i plain to rotate between the heroes for each issue about 45 to 50 pages and 5 to 10 stories per issue every 3 months well some of the stories are connected but some are are just stories about everyday superhero stuff for each character i plain to rotate between the heroes for each issue about 45 to 50 pages and 5 to 10 stories per issue every 3 months

]]> By: invader-myna http://www.superheronation.com/2008/10/22/writing-tip-of-the-day-make-sure-your-villains-dont-wilt-in-the-spotlight/comment-page-1/#comment-140674 invader-myna Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:09:45 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=1262#comment-140674 I don't think you need one villain for each one of your heroes, you'd overload on characters. (I also don't think you need ten heroes--that's a ton, five will suit you much better. And it'll be easier for readers to keep straight, but that's up to you.) Most good villains are competent enough that they can take five heroes, ten heroes, they can take them down easily, and that's why they're such a threat--especially if one character will, at some point, have to go up against that kind of villain alone. I don’t think you need one villain for each one of your heroes, you’d overload on characters. (I also don’t think you need ten heroes–that’s a ton, five will suit you much better. And it’ll be easier for readers to keep straight, but that’s up to you.) Most good villains are competent enough that they can take five heroes, ten heroes, they can take them down easily, and that’s why they’re such a threat–especially if one character will, at some point, have to go up against that kind of villain alone.

]]> By: D http://www.superheronation.com/2008/10/22/writing-tip-of-the-day-make-sure-your-villains-dont-wilt-in-the-spotlight/comment-page-1/#comment-140669 D Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:34:52 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=1262#comment-140669 when i try to create a villain they are either too gimmicky or when i try to make them serious too gruesome i have to create at least fifty villains for the series i'm writing because its an anthology comic book like detective or action comics i have 10 heroes each one of my issues will have five of the heroes in it in five or ten page stories i need villains for each hero and villains that can fight many of my heroes because its all set in the same city when i try to create a villain they are either too gimmicky or when i try to make them serious too gruesome i have to create at least fifty villains for the series i’m writing because its an anthology comic book like detective or action comics i have 10 heroes each one of my issues will have five of the heroes in it in five or ten page stories i need villains for each hero and villains that can fight many of my heroes because its all set in the same city

]]> By: Chihuahua0 http://www.superheronation.com/2008/10/22/writing-tip-of-the-day-make-sure-your-villains-dont-wilt-in-the-spotlight/comment-page-1/#comment-140491 Chihuahua0 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 20:44:46 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=1262#comment-140491 Wow, now I want to dig that "plant-based villian that hates her powers" idea and put her in my general "light superhero" idea (as supposed to Precision, my grittier idea). Now, all I need is a hero and I can create an outline that I may use for my NaNoWriMo. Wow, now I want to dig that “plant-based villian that hates her powers” idea and put her in my general “light superhero” idea (as supposed to Precision, my grittier idea). Now, all I need is a hero and I can create an outline that I may use for my NaNoWriMo.

]]> By: Esther http://www.superheronation.com/2008/10/22/writing-tip-of-the-day-make-sure-your-villains-dont-wilt-in-the-spotlight/comment-page-1/#comment-135606 Esther Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:16:02 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=1262#comment-135606 Uggggh! Hold on a minute... Another typo... Dang it! Sorry, about that. Here it is-again: Hey, it’s me again. I’ve got a dilemma. I’m doing my story as an on going one and I’m submitting it soon to metahumanpress.com. I have already killed off the villain in the previous story but in the sequel to it I’m adding a villian who has connections to the other one, the father who has connections to the main villian in the previous story has died a few years previously, and the son is a playboy-ish type of businessman who owns the tabloid rag that is pretty popular in the town. Now how does main villain #1 connect with this guy? It seems that his powers are derived from a meteor rock experimentation that went out of hand via the playboy’s wealthy daddy. Oh! And the heroine isn’t exactly a metahuman. She’s not even human. Turns out her dad is Ultimate Man not the reformed villain who turns out to be her step dad. Ultimate Man is a sort of Superman-like hero. (read: he’s an alien. A humanoid-looking alien.) Now, her real dad’s powers are kicking in and her co-workers-more specifically- a private Investigator on her Girlfriend’s squad (hired by her GF’s father-mind you) is getting suspicious about her. I want to make both of them a bit coy, suspicious about the heroine in different ways (the playboy guy plays it smarmy and the P.I. confronting the main character on her whereabouts without getting too personal) and of course, make the readers feel like the heroine should investigate them. Uggggh!

Hold on a minute… Another typo… Dang it!

Sorry, about that.

Here it is-again:

Hey, it’s me again.

I’ve got a dilemma. I’m doing my story as an
on going one and I’m submitting it soon to metahumanpress.com.
I have already killed off the villain in the previous story but in the sequel to it I’m adding a villian who has connections to the other one, the father who has connections to the main villian in the previous story has died a few years previously, and the son is a playboy-ish type of businessman who owns the tabloid rag that is pretty popular in the town.

Now how does main villain #1 connect with this guy? It seems that his powers are derived from a meteor rock experimentation that went out of hand via the playboy’s wealthy daddy.

Oh! And the heroine isn’t exactly a metahuman. She’s not even human. Turns out her dad is Ultimate Man not the reformed villain who turns out to be her step dad. Ultimate Man is a sort of Superman-like hero. (read: he’s an alien. A humanoid-looking alien.)

Now, her real dad’s powers are kicking in and her co-workers-more specifically- a private Investigator on her Girlfriend’s squad (hired by her GF’s father-mind you) is getting suspicious about her.

I want to make both of them a bit coy, suspicious about the heroine in different ways (the playboy guy plays it smarmy and the P.I. confronting the main character on her whereabouts without getting too personal) and of course, make the readers feel like the heroine should investigate them.

]]> By: Esther http://www.superheronation.com/2008/10/22/writing-tip-of-the-day-make-sure-your-villains-dont-wilt-in-the-spotlight/comment-page-1/#comment-135605 Esther Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:04:34 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=1262#comment-135605 Sorry, re-editing... Found out there were typos. Oops! Here's the edited version: # Estheron 30 Jun 2011 at 10:59 am Hey, it’s me again. I’ve got a dilemma. I’m doing my story as an on going one and I’m submitting it soon to metahumanpress.com. I have already killed off the villain in the previous story but in the sequel to it I’m adding a villian who has connections to the other one, the father who has connections to the main villian in the previous story has died a few years previously, and the son is a playboy-ish type of businessman who owns the tabloid rag that is pretty popular in the town. Now how does main villain #1 connect with this guy? It seems that his powers are derived from a meteor rock experimentation that went out of hand via the playboy's wealthy daddy. Oh! And the heroine isn’t exactly a metahuman. She’s not even human. Turns out her dad is Ultimate Man not the reformed villain who turns out to be her step dad. Ultimate Man is a sort of Superman-like hero. (read: he’s an alien. A humanoid-looking alien.) Now, her real dad’s powers are kicking in and her co-workers-more specifically- a private Investigator on her Girlfriend’s squad (hired by her GF's father-mind you) is getting suspicious about her. I want to make both of them a bit coy, suspicious about the heroine in different ways (the playboy guy plays it smarmy and the P.I. confronting the main character on her whereabouts without getting too personal) and of course, make the readers feel like the heroine should investigate them. Sorry, re-editing… Found out there were typos. Oops!

Here’s the edited version:

# Estheron 30 Jun 2011 at 10:59 am
Hey, it’s me again.

I’ve got a dilemma. I’m doing my story as an
on going one and I’m submitting it soon to metahumanpress.com.
I have already killed off the villain in the previous story but in the sequel to it I’m adding a villian who has connections to the other one, the father who has connections to the main villian in the previous story has died a few years previously, and the son is a playboy-ish type of businessman who owns the tabloid rag that is pretty popular in the town.

Now how does main villain #1 connect with this guy? It seems that his powers are derived from a meteor rock experimentation that went out of hand via the playboy’s wealthy daddy.

Oh! And the heroine isn’t exactly a metahuman. She’s not even human. Turns out her dad is Ultimate Man not the reformed villain who turns out to be her step dad. Ultimate Man is a sort of Superman-like hero. (read: he’s an alien. A humanoid-looking alien.)

Now, her real dad’s powers are kicking in and her co-workers-more specifically- a private Investigator on her Girlfriend’s squad (hired by her GF’s father-mind you) is getting suspicious about her.
I want to make both of them a bit coy, suspicious about the heroine in different ways (the playboy guy plays it smarmy and the P.I. confronting the main character on her whereabouts without getting too personal) and of course, make the readers feel like the heroine should investigate them.

]]> By: Esther http://www.superheronation.com/2008/10/22/writing-tip-of-the-day-make-sure-your-villains-dont-wilt-in-the-spotlight/comment-page-1/#comment-135604 Esther Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:59:34 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=1262#comment-135604 Hey, it's me again. I've got a dilemma. I'm doing my story as an on going one and I'm submitting it soon to metahumanpress.com. I have already killed off the villain in the previous story but in the sequel to it I'm adding a villian who has connections to the other one, the father who has connections to the main villian in the previous story has died a few years previously, and the son is a playboy-ish type of businessman who owns the tabloid rag that is pretty popular in the town. Now how does main villain #1 connect with this guy? It seems that his powers are derived from a meteor rock experimentation that went out of hand. Oh! And the heroine isn't exactly a metahuman. She's not even human. Turns out her dad is Ultimate Man not the reformed villain who turns out to be her step dad. Ultimate Man is a sort of Superman-like hero. (read: he's an alien. A humanoid-looking alien.) Now, her real dad's powers are kicking in and her co-workers-more specifically- a private Eye on her Girlfriend's squad is getting suspicious about her. I want to make both of them a bit coy, suspicious about the heroine in different ways (the playboy guy plays it smarmy and the P.I. confrpnting the main character on her whereabputs without getting too personal) and of course, make the readers feel like the heroine should investigate them. Hey, it’s me again.

I’ve got a dilemma. I’m doing my story as an
on going one and I’m submitting it soon to metahumanpress.com.

I have already killed off the villain in the previous story but in the sequel to it I’m adding a villian who has connections to the other one, the father who has connections to the main villian in the previous story has died a few years previously, and the son is a playboy-ish type of businessman who owns the tabloid rag that is pretty popular in the town.

Now how does main villain #1 connect with this guy? It seems that his powers are derived from a meteor rock experimentation that went out of hand. Oh! And the heroine isn’t exactly a metahuman. She’s not even human. Turns out her dad is Ultimate Man not the reformed villain who turns out to be her step dad. Ultimate Man is a sort of Superman-like hero. (read: he’s an alien. A humanoid-looking alien.)

Now, her real dad’s powers are kicking in and her co-workers-more specifically- a private Eye on her Girlfriend’s squad is getting suspicious about her.

I want to make both of them a bit coy, suspicious about the heroine in different ways (the playboy guy plays it smarmy and the P.I. confrpnting the main character on her whereabputs without getting too personal) and of course, make the readers feel like the heroine should investigate them.

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2008/10/22/writing-tip-of-the-day-make-sure-your-villains-dont-wilt-in-the-spotlight/comment-page-1/#comment-130048 B. Mac Tue, 31 May 2011 00:29:01 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=1262#comment-130048 "Question is a villain who’s only out to abuse their powers, and kill others with powers that can potentially harm them a bad villain if they have a goal?" If they're ONLY out to abuse their powers (without any higher goal), I feel like they probably would be disappointing as major villains. I think they'd probably be more interesting and dangerous/threatening if they had some sort of goal driving them. <br /> These characters didn't wake up thinking "Hey, today I'm going to abuse my powers!" or "Hey, today I'm gonna be evil!", right? Nobody thinks like that, even irredeemably evil people. So how <i>do</i> they think about it? <br /> PS: Have I linked to <a href=http://www.superheronation.com/2010/08/17/15-interesting-motivations-for-villains-and-heroes/ rel="nofollow">15 Interesting Motivations for Villains and Heroes</a> already? My memory's weakening. “Question is a villain who’s only out to abuse their powers, and kill others with powers that can potentially harm them a bad villain if they have a goal?” If they’re ONLY out to abuse their powers (without any higher goal), I feel like they probably would be disappointing as major villains. I think they’d probably be more interesting and dangerous/threatening if they had some sort of goal driving them.

These characters didn’t wake up thinking “Hey, today I’m going to abuse my powers!” or “Hey, today I’m gonna be evil!”, right? Nobody thinks like that, even irredeemably evil people. So how do they think about it?

PS: Have I linked to 15 Interesting Motivations for Villains and Heroes already? My memory’s weakening.

]]> By: Fresh http://www.superheronation.com/2008/10/22/writing-tip-of-the-day-make-sure-your-villains-dont-wilt-in-the-spotlight/comment-page-1/#comment-130039 Fresh Mon, 30 May 2011 22:35:32 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=1262#comment-130039 Question is a villain who's only out to abuse their powers, and kill others with powers that can potentially harm them a bad villain if they have a goal? Wipe out people who can potentially wipe them out so they can continue enjoying their lives? If so what kind of goals can you give a villain like that? Question is a villain who’s only out to abuse their powers, and kill others with powers that can potentially harm them a bad villain if they have a goal?

Wipe out people who can potentially wipe them out so they can continue enjoying their lives? If so what kind of goals can you give a villain like that?

]]> By: EvilpixieA http://www.superheronation.com/2008/10/22/writing-tip-of-the-day-make-sure-your-villains-dont-wilt-in-the-spotlight/comment-page-1/#comment-127553 EvilpixieA Tue, 17 May 2011 04:50:11 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=1262#comment-127553 Villains! My favorite part of... so much! I am a firm believer that a villain effectively makes the story. You can have the greatest superhero known to man, the greatest world and a head full of ideas... but if you don't have a villain that can match that hero and even knock him down a couple of peg then you're in trouble. My suggestion: get inside your villains head. Become the villain. Understand their reasons, motives and deeper flaws and layers of perception. Why? Because every character is a reflection of the author and/or how the author perceives things and it will make for a better character. But that's just my opinion. I adore: The Joker, Magneto, Dr. Doom, Venom, Riddler, Poison Ivy (and a whole bunch more of the Batman rouge's gallery come to think of it). Villains! My favorite part of… so much! I am a firm believer that a villain effectively makes the story. You can have the greatest superhero known to man, the greatest world and a head full of ideas… but if you don’t have a villain that can match that hero and even knock him down a couple of peg then you’re in trouble.

My suggestion: get inside your villains head. Become the villain. Understand their reasons, motives and deeper flaws and layers of perception. Why? Because every character is a reflection of the author and/or how the author perceives things and it will make for a better character. But that’s just my opinion.

I adore:
The Joker, Magneto, Dr. Doom, Venom, Riddler, Poison Ivy (and a whole bunch more of the Batman rouge’s gallery come to think of it).

]]> By: Klutz http://www.superheronation.com/2008/10/22/writing-tip-of-the-day-make-sure-your-villains-dont-wilt-in-the-spotlight/comment-page-1/#comment-127470 Klutz Mon, 16 May 2011 19:37:29 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=1262#comment-127470 I had never heard of this Soy-Phone character before. Thanks for telling me. I guess my character needs to be edited a lot more. Thanks for the constrictive criticism. What if I remove the whole 'blackness' thing and give him the power to absorb a person's powers but only about 50% percent of its strength. He can absorb two people's powers at one time and combine them if needed. I had never heard of this Soy-Phone character before. Thanks for telling me. I guess my character needs to be edited a lot more. Thanks for the constrictive criticism. What if I remove the whole ‘blackness’ thing and give him the power to absorb a person’s powers but only about 50% percent of its strength. He can absorb two people’s powers at one time and combine them if needed.

]]> By: Ragged Boy http://www.superheronation.com/2008/10/22/writing-tip-of-the-day-make-sure-your-villains-dont-wilt-in-the-spotlight/comment-page-1/#comment-127200 Ragged Boy Sun, 15 May 2011 02:09:00 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=1262#comment-127200 Oh, I don't think it sounds that much like Soifon's two-hit-kill claw. It sounds more like Rogue with 'blackness' instead of gross veins. Oh, I don’t think it sounds that much like Soifon’s two-hit-kill claw. It sounds more like Rogue with ‘blackness’ instead of gross veins.

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