Supervillain

A supervillain is a variant of the villain character type common, often found in comic books and action and science fiction films. Supervillains often have colorful names, costumes, and/or other eccentricities, and most concoct complex and ambitious schemes to accumulate vast power and suppress their adversaries.

Related Topics:
Villain - Character - Comic books - Action - Science fiction - Film

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Supervillains are often used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes. Their extraordinary brainpower and/or superhuman abilities make them viable antagonists for even the most gifted heroes.

Related Topics:
Foils - Superhero - Hero - Antagonist

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By most definitions, the first supervillain was Professor Moriarty, the arch enemy of Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective Sherlock Holmes, introduced in 1891. Although Moriarty was the original criminal mastermind, Sax Rohmer's Dr. Fu Manchu, introduced in 1913, can be credited for popularizing many of the typical characteristics of the modern supervillain, including his sadistic personality, his desire for world domination, and his use of sinister lairs and themed crimes and henchmen. Rohmer's work would later play a strong influence on the writings of Ian Fleming, whose James Bond novels and films have further popularized the image of the supervillain in popular culture.

Related Topics:
Professor Moriarty - Arthur Conan Doyle - Sherlock Holmes - 1891 - Sax Rohmer - Fu Manchu - 1913 - World domination - Ian Fleming - James Bond

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The first supervillain who wore a bizarre costume was The Lightning, from the 1938 film Fighting Devil Dogs, which preceded the first superhero, Superman.

Related Topics:
The Lightning - 1938 - Film - Fighting Devil Dogs - Superman

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Many supervillains are inspired by typical characteristics of real world dictators, mobsters, and terrorists.

Related Topics:
Dictator - Mobsters - Terrorists

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