Ridicule of villains

OgreWolf

OgreWolf

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Redicule of villains

What effect would it have to redicule a villain, say making a really mean, evil dark demon lord (I know. I'm exagerating). The problem with this demon lord would be his stammering. Who would be terrified of a stammering demon? (I just can't get the picture of that pig from "looney tunes" out of my head). Would this concept be to silly to actually use in a serious story?
Now that I think about it, I think so, but I will post this anyway, never know what ideas you guys have.


BTW: Nothing you could ever say would make me use this concept.
 
Well, I have a couple answers for this.

#1) Every villain has to have a fatal flaw that the hero can use against it at the time of need. It could be a single weak spot (ala shooter villains), or it could be constantly underestimating the strength of the hero, or conversely constantly overestimating his own strength (also seen in video game villains). It could be possible that this villain's ridiculousness could be its fatal flaw, though that would be a little bit obvious.

#2) Every villain has a source of power be it inborn ability, stolen energy, a huge nuclear reactor, a real badass lieutenant and hordes of monsters, or the knowledge that he has a speech impediment and therefore must kill all who know of it. It's a little silly true, but I've seen worse.

Also remember, that not every villain need be frightening in all aspects and not all villains are the same. Some work behind the scenes as manipulators and whatnot. Some stand in the forefront and direct things personally. Each has different strengths and is frightening for different reasons.
 
I agree that not all villains need be frightening. If I were to write about this ridiculous villain, people would not think him a great threat, as obviously a villain should be. This would actually give the villain an advantage, his enemies would not believe him to be a threat.
 
I always wondered...

What I could do with a story whee the villain wasn't really a villain at all, at least in the context we see them. In fantasy novels for instance, the big villain is generally some almighty demon, or lord, or god in some giantt tower that is all but unbeatable. I find this cliche somewhat puzzling as such an unbeatble figure would hardly need vast armies to do his bidding. Why not make a villain, who is far from evil, or psychotic, a villain who the hero could be friends with were the conflict not going. I have seen this countless times in fiction and sci-fi but very little in fantasy. What if rather then wanting to enslave the world for no apparent reason than to just do it he wants to bring order. This is a nice, respectable goal, but perhaps the villain chooses, fast, violent methods that are more speedy then dialogue. That is a villain that could have endless possibilities.
 
I tend to have villains that are not the norm in my work.

Also , I like the heros to be a muddy shade of grey rather than shining white...

I perfer a price to be paid for each action either for good or evil

Then I don't write standard fantasy.

I don't have elves or any of the traditional type of character/animals in my work Save for once, a sort of dragon.....

The human condition is far more interesting.......
 
If it's a dark lord style villian, probably wouldn't be convincing. If it's an average person/leader style villian, then go for it.
 
I think having a humorous aspect to a villan can catch your readers off guard.
Look at Gollum for example he's kind of like "comic-relief" in the story, but you know deep down he has a dark, selfish and evil streak.
There also was a character called the "Mule" in the Foundation series by Asimov. A legendary powerful bad guy with all kinds of mental (i.e. telepathic etc) powers who turned out to be completely different to the character I was picturing in my head.

In short if you establish someone is the fearsome enemy immediately, then any strange "defects" they may have will destroy the awe of the character.
If you use it in reverse and start off with a character who seems a bumbler or fool and then turns out to be a bad-ass, it could work quite well.
 
I am actually going to make one of my "villains" friends with the main character. (I think)

He's the worlds best assassin, and has a sick infatuation with blood, but he's a really nice guy if you just get to know him ;)
 
I think everything depends on how you portray this stammering villian.

For example, he could come across as very menacing. Say he does have this problem - so he hides it. He always speaks very little. He could use one word sentences, or have one of his henchmen speak for him. This forces him to come across as a very blunt, but meticuluos character.

On the other hand you could have him slip up at inopportune moments and present him as comic relief.
 
While he was trying to say a word for instance, "I will g-get you, you des...desp.....desplica....despic...d..des" The good guy could chop his head off? Ok just kidding, but, ya know, that seems like a REALLY good twist. Because he was so powerful, not even his minions would care if he was stammering!
 
Terry Pratchetts leader of the dog's guild(deceased) comes to mind, if you're looking for inspiration try Guards Guards to see what I mean ;)
 
Originally posted by Merancapeman
While he was trying to say a word for instance, "I will g-get you, you des...desp.....desplica....despic...d..des" The good guy could chop his head off? Ok just kidding, but, ya know, that seems like a REALLY good twist. Because he was so powerful, not even his minions would care if he was stammering!
Click to expand...


Sounds like Gareth Gates :eek:
 
Edit: Never mind. Now why can't I seem to delete this?
 
Last edited:
Originally posted by Merancapeman
While he was trying to say a word for instance, "I will g-get you, you des...desp.....desplica....despic...d..des" The good guy could chop his head off? Ok just kidding, but, ya know, that seems like a REALLY good twist. Because he was so powerful, not even his minions would care if he was stammering!
Click to expand...

I like that concept, but we could also give it another twist. Let's say the villian rarely ever speaks, except when he was angry. On of his minions upsets him.

"Y-y-you wil p-p-pay for thi...this..." he stammers.

The minion thinks the studder is funny but his head is hacked off by the villian in mid laugh.

The studder could actually become a symbol of upcoming death. You could use the studder in a way that fills the reader with fear.

OK. That was weird. I hope that made some sense.:rolleyes:
 
Or you could simply have the fact that the 'baddie' used to lisp badly as a kid and so developed a form of mind talk and now he doesn't say a word, it could all be a rumour.
 
yah, i love those comic relief's in a book, but.... yeah, it could ALSO strike fear.... into the readers.........Boy, i sure do love that indiana jones!
 
Originally posted by Chlestron
#1) Every villain has to have a fatal flaw that the hero can use against it at the time of need. It could be a single weak spot (ala shooter villains), or it could be constantly underestimating the strength of the hero, or conversely constantly overestimating his own strength (also seen in video game villains). It could be possible that this villain's ridiculousness could be its fatal flaw, though that would be a little bit obvious.
Click to expand...

I don't know that I agree with that. Why should every villain be incompetent? Why should the hero be given a free shot at the villain, simply because he's the hero? I think that leads to a predictable and rather boring story. It's much more interesting, IMO, to have a competent, intelligent villain who doesn't tie the hero up and explain his plans, or put the hero into a silly death trap that anyone can escape.
 
Originally posted by Fyre
The studder could actually become a symbol of upcoming death. You could use the studder in a way that fills the reader with fear.
Click to expand...

I think that could be cool. Like, it could be used to create dramatic irony (I think is the term). That is something like, the Dark Lord disguises himself as a peasant to get close to the hero, and by his studder the reader recognises who he actually is.
 
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