anime : He's NOT a Magnificent Bastard?
villain : He's NOT a Magnificent Bastard?
He's NOT a Magnificent Bastard?
I've covered what a Complete Monster truly is, which villains I think of as Complete Monsters, which villains who've been labeled as such are NOT Complete Monsters, and why Complete Monster is the worst, most mishandled trope ever on TV Tropes. But there's another trope which used to hold that honor, and that trope is Magnificent Bastard. Now to me, it's easy to understand what a Magnificent Bastard is. Seeing as the name of this title is made up of a compliment ("magnificent") and an insult ("bastard"), it's used to define antagonists whom you love to hate and hate to love: one whom the audience and characters are against, but have a grudging admiration and respect for at the same time. However, for most Tropers, the definition was really unclear. So these foolish people kept on adding the label to A: their favorite villains, B: any cool and badass villain, C: any smart and competent villain, or D: any character who was like totally awesome. It was mess, much like Complete Monster is now. Magnificent Bastard was a definitive good trope: a trope that fans viewed as a badge of honor for the characters and series that they were fans of. Which cheapened it a great deal. A Magnificent Bastard should not be just any awesome villain, any smart, competent, manipulative Chessmaster, or especially any great character period. This type of character is supposed to be a mix of several competent antagonist tropes but with a special style, flare and charisma about him/her that makes him/her worthy of a "magnificent" label. It's not a headscratcher!
The official TV Tropes definition is this: If there was ever a character that deserved to be called “Magnificent”, that character is the Magnificent Bastard. The Magnificent Bastard is what happens when you combine the Chessmaster, the Trickster, and the Manipulative Bastard (a bit of Large Ham is optional): bold, charismatic, independent, and audacious. Capturing the audience with his charisma, incredible intellect, mastery of manipulation, and boldness of action, this character is a show-stealer, demanding your reverence at every turn. The term "Magnificent Bastard" was first used by General Patton in reference to Erwin Rommel in the film "Patton", upon realizing that he was facing a man who literally wrote the book on deceptive warfare. It acquired its current meaning courtesy of Lionel Luthor of "Smallville", who was given this nickname by the fanbase.
So what makes a character a Magnificent Bastard? Let's break it down:
- He is brilliant and utterly devious, to an almost breathtaking, mind-boggling degree. Call it genius, call it virtual omniscience, but he always seems to know what everyone else is planning at any given moment, and exactly how to arrange the game so he wins.
- He is a smooth operator. He always knows exactly what to say to position you where he wants you, always has a backup strategy and rarely loses his cool. Even if on the remote chance something happens that wasn't in his plans, you'd never know it.
- He has a goal, he's not going to stop until he's completed it. To that end he will do almost anything. He'll move heaven and hell, and we want to see him do it! Despite his choice of tactics, he is rarely pointlessly cruel, and has reason for everything he does.
- He is charismatic, often charming, his personality like a physical force. People tend to like him, sometimes even when they know he isn't on their side, and even those who hate his guts have to admit respect. Even when at his darkest, he has traits which one can't help but admire. This goes for characters in-universe and audience members out of it.
A key difference that separates the Magnificent Bastard from other character tropes like the mere Manipulative Bastard or The Chessmaster is the Bastard's willingness to step onto the playing field in person. The risks are obvious, but the strategic advantages are numerous.
While usually an antagonist, especially if he's the Big Bad, the Magnificent Bastard can be aligned on either side of a conflict. Hell, he's so amazing he tends to forgo the idea of good and evil all together, instead following his own agenda, choosing to aid whichever side will further his own goals. However, it's true that his penchant for manipulation at the expense of others means it's common for him to be a Villain, Villain Protagonist, or at least an Anti Hero, but heroic examples exist. Either way, he's almost always in charge of whatever organization he's involved with, or might as well be.
Aside from all the various aspects which come together to define the Magnificent Bastard, compare and contrast the Smug Snake, who may once have been a Magnificent Bastard in the making but fell short due to his own arrogance. When a villainous Magnificent Bastard becomes so over the top that he is no longer believable, then he becomes a Villain Sue. Also compare the Guile Hero, who uses cleverness, trickery and manipulation but lacks the flair and depth of-planning to elevate him to Magnificent Bastard status. Despite the term, he is not likely to be a Bastard Bastard, thanks to that person's inherent daddy issues, but there's nothing preventing him either.
Bonus points if at one point he or she (more commonly he) offers the enemy a Xanatos Gambit choice, and gives a Psychotic Smirk or Slasher Smile.
Rarely a Complete Monster, because audiences are likely to find it harder to admire such a character, but some bastards are so magnificent that they can get around this. Being a Smug Snake is a common trait of bastards trying to be magnificent.
With all that said, let me look through fiction to see whom I consider to be Magnificent Bastards:
* - Indicates bastards whose magnificence might be arguable or vary, but still have enough style and ingenuity to be solid contenders.
Disney Animated: Maleficent, Shere Khan, Professor Ratigan*, Ursula*, Jafar*, Scar*, Hades*,
Mr. Whitmore*, Long John Silver, Mother Gothel, King Candy/Turbo*, Prince Hans*, and Chernabog*
Disney Spin-off: The Evil Manta, Mozenrath*, Zira*, Renard Dumont, and the Phantom Blot*
Disney Live: Mr. Dark, Kalabar II, Royal Pain, Ramsley, Jack Sparrow, and Hector Barbossa
Pixar: Henry J Waternoose, Anton Ego*, and Lotso Huggin' Bear*
Lord Of The Rings: Sauron, Glaurung, and Smaug (Film Version)
Star Wars: Darth Sidious/Sheev Palpatine, Count Dooku, Hondo Ohnaka, Darth Maul*, Barriss Offee, Darth Vader*, Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin*, the Grand Inquisitor*, and Lando Calrissian*
EU: Grand Admiral Thrawn, Boba Fett, Prince Xizor, Tyler Zann, Kreia, Nom Anor, HK-50 and GO-TO
Kingdom Hearts: Xehanort, Maleficent, Hades, Axel, and Marluxia*
Harry Potter: Tom Marvolo Riddle, Barty Crouch Jr., Severus Snape, and Albus Dumbledore
Chronicles Of Narnia: King Miraz and Lord Sopespian (Film Version)
Pokemon: Giovanni, Ein, Cyrus, Green, Prof. Sebastian, BW TR*, Colress*, Dusknoir, and Darkrai*
New Pokemon: Oda Nobunaga, Akeichi Mistuhide*, Lysandre*, Malva*, and Lusamine
Avatar: Princess Azula, Long Feng, Amon/Noatak, Varrick & Zhu Li, and Kuvira
Batman: The Joker, the Penguin*, the Riddler*, Ras Al Ghul, Talia Al Ghul*, Bane, Catwoman, Hush*, Poison Ivy *(sometimes), Professor Hugo Strange, Anarky, Owlman, Derek Powers and Paxton Powers*
DragonBall: King Piccolo, Vegeta, Cell, Paragus*, Super Buu*, Zamasu/Goku Black, and Demigra
Super Mario: Dimentio and Bowser?!*
The Legend Of Zelda: Ganondorf, Yuga, Princess Hilda, and Lana
Spider-Man: Norman Osborn/The Green Goblin (sometimes), Roderick Kingsley/The Hobgoblin,
Doctor Octopus, The Kingpin, and Tombstone "The Big Man"
Gargoyles: David Xanatos, Fox, Thailog, Owen Burnett/Puck*, and John Castaway*
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Yami Bakura, Maximilian Pegasus, Dartz*, Amnael*, Sartorius Kumar*, Rex Goodwin,
Z-One, Vector, Leo Akaba, Declan Akaba, Dennis Mackfield, and Jean-Michael Roget*
Digimon: Devimon, Myotismon, Diabolomon, Yukio Oikawa, Daemon, Catsuramon, Mephistomon, Lucemon*, Murmuskmon, AxeKnightmon, Quartzmon*, the Rival Xros Hunters*, and Milleniummon
Superman: Lionel Luthor, Lex Luthor (sometimes), Brainiac, General Zod, the Prankster, and Darkseid
Final Fantasy: Garland, The Emperor, Kefka, Sephiroth, Rufus Shinra, Kuja*, Vayne Solidor, and Cid
Sonic The Hedgehog: Dr. Finitevus*, Mammoth Mogul*, Ixis Naugus*, and Dr. Robotnik* (sometimes)
Where Is Carmen Sandiego?: Carmen Sandiego and Dr. Maelstrom
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Gendo Ikari and Kaworu Nagisa/Tabris*
Darkwing Duck: Taurus Bulba
Death Note: Light Yagami* and L?*
Gravity Falls: Bill Cipher and Preston Northwest*
Teen Titans: Slade (Season 4), Red X, and The Brain*
The Powerpuff Girls: Mojo Jojo, Him*, and Gnomey
Jim Henson: Jareth the Goblin King and Long John Silver
Slayers: Rezo*, Xellos, Hellmaster Phibrizzo*, Jillas, and Valgaav*
Haruhi Suzumiya: Haruhi *(sometimes) and Ryoko Asakura and Sasaki?*
Yu Yu Hakusho: Suzaku, Sakyo, Yoko Kurama, Younger Toguro, and Shinobu/Minoru Sensui
One Piece: Sir Crocodile, Rob Lucci, Trafalgar Law, Admiral Johnathan, Donquixote Doflamingo, Marshall D. Teach/Blackbeard, and Buggy the Clown*
Sailor Moon: Kunzite, Dr. Tomoe, and Sailor Galaxia
Attack On Titan: Commander Erwin Smith
Black Butler: Claude, Lau, Hannah, and Ciel
Black Lagoon: Balalaika, Chang, and Rock and Eda & Revy?
Bleach: Sosuke Aizen (SS Saga), Mayuri*, and Yhwach
Naruto: Kabuto, Itachi Uchiha*, and Madara Uchiha*
Case Closed: Ano Kata, Gin/Melkior, Dr. Narumi/Seiji, and Phantom Thief Kaito Kid
Code Geass: Lelouch, Schniezel, Cornelia, Emperor Charles, Empress Marianne, and C.C
Full Metal Alchemist: Zolf Kimbley, Father, Wrath, Roy Mustang, and General Grumman
Future Diary: Yuno Gasei, MurMur, Keigo Kurusu, Tsubaki Kasugano, Minene Uryu, and Aru Akise*
Ouran Highs School Host Club: Kyouya, Tamaki, Benibara and the Zuka Club, and the Twins
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Dio Brando, Kars, Funny Valentine, and Joseph Joestar
Pandora Hearts: Vincent Nightray, Xerxes Break, Rufus Barma, Oz, and Jack
Psycho Pass: Shogo Makishima
Romeo X Juliet: Lord Montague
Rurouni Kenshin: Makoto Shishio
Record Of Lodoss War: Witch Karla
Revolutionary Girl Utena: Akio Ohtori
Rave Master: Pumpkin Dohryu*
The Sacred Seven: Dr. Kenmi
Tenchi Muyo: Kagato
Monster: Johan Liebert
Ergo Proxy: Proxy One
Eureka 7: Dewey Novak
Eyeshield 21: Yoichi Hiruma
Fist Of The North Star: Shin and Han
Gankutsuou: Edmond Dantes/Count Of Monte Cristo
Gundam: Char Aznable, Kycilla Zabi, Paptimus Scirocco, Haman Khan, Tassilo Vago, Master Asia, Wong Yun Fat, Major Ulube, Trieze Kushedera, Rau Le Creuset, Aeolia Schenberg, Regene Regetta, Ribbons Almark *(not!), Gilbert Durandal*, Lacus Clyne* (somewhat), Flit Asuno* ,and some various others
Bakugan: Mag Mel
Berserk: Sir Griffith*
Dinosaur King: Seth
Duel Masters: Kokujo
Fairy Tail: Future Rogue
Hajime No Ippo: Miguel Zail
Outlaw Star: Ron MacDougal
Magica Madoka: Kyuubey
Mon Colle Knights: Redda
20th Century Boys: Friend
Ranma 1/2: Nabiki Tendo*
Toradora: Ami Kawashima*
Blood -C: Fumito Nanahara
Durarara: Izaya Orihara
FLCL: Haruko Haruhara*
Fruits Basket: Shigure
Fushigi Yuugi: Nakago*
Elfen Lied: Chief Kakuzawa
Heat Guy J: Lorenzo Leonelli
Hellsing: The Major
Inu-Yasha: Naraku*
Mai_me: Nagi Homura*
Scry-Ed: Martin Jigmarl
Soul Eater: Medusa Gorgon
Star Driver: Kanako Watanabe
Speed Grapher: Chouji Suitengu
St. Seiya: Saga, Shaka, and Radam
Akame ga Kill: Seryu and Esdeath
Divergence Eve: Jean-Luc Leblanc
Date A Live: Sir Isaac Ray Westcott
Kill la Kill: Satsuki, Ragyo*, and Nui
Kimi Ni Todake: Ume Kurumizawa*
Fate Stay Night Zero: Kirei Kotomine
Macross Frontier: Dr. Grace O'Connor
Higurashi: Miyo Takano, Shion Sonozaki, and Nomura
Mahaou Sensei Negima: Dynamis and Haruna Satome
Katekyo Hitman Reborn: Byakuran and Daemon Spade
Penguindrum: Masako Natsume and Sanetoshi Watase
Rosario To Vampire: Hokuto and King Miyabi/Alucard
Trigun: Legato Bluesummers and Millions Knives (manga)
Tommorows Nadja: Rosemary Applefield and Duke Preminger*
Umineko: Bernkastel, Beatrice, Black Battler, and Lambdadelta
Vinland Saga: Askeladd Olafson
Yami No Matsuei: Dr. Muraki *(not!)
Goosebumps: The Masked Mutant
Hannibal Series: Dr. Hannibal Lecter
Twilight: Aro of the Volturi *(Film version)
Stephen King: Randall Flagg and Leland Gaunt
Star Trek: Khan, Kruge, Chang, Elim Garak, Gul Dukat, Seska, and Q
The Hunger Games: President Snow*, Caesar Flickerman, Plutarch Havensbee, and Foxface*(?)
Game Of Thrones: Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, Lord Varys, Tyrion Lannister, Tywin Lannister,
Roose Bolton, Doran Martell, Wymen Manderly, Oleynna Tyrell, Margaery Tyrell, Alayne Stone,
Mirri Maz Durr, Xaro Xhoan Daxos*, the High Sparrow, and Daenerys Targaryan* (somewhat)
Shakespeare: Iago, Claudius, Richard III, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Octavius/Caesar Augustus, Aaron the Moor, Petruchio, Edmund, Falstaff, Lady Macbeth*, the Three Witches, Titus, and others
Buffy: The Master, Angelus, Spike, Ethan Rayne, Darla, Lindsay McDonald, Lilah Morgan, and Holtz
Once Upon A Time: Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold, Regina Mills*, Cora, Peter Pan, Ingrid, and Hades
Ace Attorney: Manfred Von Karma, Kristoph Gavin, Matt Engrade, Luke Atmey, and Calisto Yew
Assassin's Creed: Robert DeSable and Haytham Kenway
Baldur's Gate: Amelssian, Irencius, Bhaal, and Sarevok
Fire Emblem: Naesela, Lekain, Caellach, and Manfroy
Kirby Series: Meta Knight, Marx, Magolor, and Yin-Yarn
Metal Gear: Revolver Ocelot, Liquid Snake, and Big Boss
Mega Man: Dr. Wily, Spider, Albert & Thomas, and King
Mass Effect: Illusive Man, Monrtih, Aria, and the Sovereign
Blaz Blue: Relius Clover, Yuuki Terumi, and Rachel Alucard
Borderlands: Handsome Jack
Resident Evil: Albert Wesker*
Sly Cooper: Constapple Neyla
Street Fighter: M. Bison
System Shock: SHODAN
Team Fortress: The Spy
.Hack: Ovan
Portal: GLaDOS
Odin Sphere: Ingway
Dead Rising: Tyrone King
God Of War: Zeus and Hera
Kid Icarus: Hades and Dark Pit
Metroid: Ridley and Dark Samus
Jade Empire: Master Li and Sir Roderick
Jak and Daxter: Metal Kor and Count Veger
BioShock: Frank Fontaine and Andrew Ryan
Dragon Quest: Orgodemir and Marcello*
Disgaea: Etna and Seraph Lamington
Devil May Cry: Arkham
Legacy Of Kain: Kain
Brutal Legend: Doviculus
Fatal Fury: Geese Howard
RosenkreuzStillete: Iris
Suokiden: Albert Silverberg
Tales Of Legendia: Maurits
Tales Of The Abyss: Jade Curtiss and Anise Tatlin*
Dangan Ronpa: Junko Enoshima and others*
Grand Theft Auto: Mike Toreno
Super Smash Bros: Master Hand
Valkyria Chronicles: Maximilian
Xenogears: Krelian and Miang
Xenosaga: Albedo and Wilhelm
The World Ends With You: Joshua and Mr. H
Warcraft: Darkuru, Loken, Kil'jaeden, and Deathwing
Watchmen: Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias
X-Men: Magneto, Mystique*, Mr. Sinister, Apocalypse*, Bolivar Trask, and Sebastian Shaw
DC: Lucifer Morningstar, Sinestro, Zoom, Tao, Prometheus, Vril Drox II, Edwin Alva, Amanda Waller, Wade Eiling, Maxwell Lord, John Constantine, Black Manta, Trickster, Satanus, Vandal Savage, etc.
Marvel: Loki, Doctor Doom, Thanos of Titan, Obadiah Stane, the Mandarin, T'Challa/Black Panther, Namor the Submariner, Bruce Banner*, Bomb Queen, Baron Zemo, Romulus, Daken, Deadpool*, etc.
Adventure Time: Marceline, Marshall Lee, and The Lich*,
The Boondocks: Ed Wuncler Sr.*
Captain Planet: Looten Plunder*
Danny Phantom: Vlad Masters
Grim And Evil: Eris and Mandy*
Hot Wheels BF5: Captain Kalus
Invader ZIM: TAK and ZIM *(sometimes)
Jonny Quest: Doctor Zin*
Jimmy Two-Shoes: Heloise
Motorcity: Abraham Kane
Archer: Lana Kane*(Once)
Belphegor: Belphegor
Code Lyoko: XANA
Cyber Chase: Ledge
Dan VS: Impostor Dan
Dilbert: Dogbert*
MiB: Agent Alpha
Reboot: Megabyte
Samurai Jack: Aku*
SWAT Kats: Ulysses C. Feral*
TRON Uprising: General Tessler
The Secret Saturdays: VV Argost
Star Vs The Forces Of Evil: Toffee
Scooby Doo: Ben Ravencroft, Professor Pericles, and MI Fred Jones*(somewhat)
Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go: Skeleton King and Dr. Mizono
Transformers: Megatron ("Beast Wars" and "Animated" versions) and Shockwave
Thundercats: Mumm-Ra* and Rataro
G.I. Joe: Cobra Commander* (sometimes)
Huntik: Secrets and Seekers: Rassimov
Jackie Chan Adventures: Valmont
Xiaolin Showdown: Chase Young
The Venture Bros: Monstroso and Dr. Henry Killinger and the Monarch!?
Ben 10: Zs'kayr, Aggregor*, Princess Attea, and Proctor Servantis
Generator Rex: Van Kleiss* and Black Knight and Caezar?
Dragons Of Berk: Alvin the Treacherous* and Viggo Grimborn
Kung Fu Panda: Lord Shen, Tong Fo*, Heilang, and Master Junjie
Shrek: The Fairy Godmother*, Rumpelstiltskin*, and the Pied Piper
My Little Pony: Discord, Chrysalis, Tirek*, Adagio, and Celestia*(somewhat)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ch'rell/The Shredder* and Agent Bishop
Total Drama: Chris Mclean*(TDI), Heather, Alejandro Buerometo, and Mal
W.I.T.C.H: Nerissa*, Prince Phobos*(sometimes), Shagon, and Will Vandom*(somewhat)
Non-Disney Animation: Rothbart*, Hexxus*, Eris, Mok Swagger*, Chichack, Gru*, Dag, Don Lino, Pitch*, Skipper, Dr. Blowhole, Soto, Captain Gutt, Carface*, Belladonna, Jenner, Warren T Rat, etc.
Literature: Count Dracula, James Moriarty, Artemis Fowl, Senna Wales, Morgan LeFey, Odysseus, Dr. Fu Manchu, Long John Silver, Fagin, Valmont and Metruiel, Saint Dane, Kronos, Lord Vetinari, etc.
Live TV: JR Ewing, Jim Moriarty, Dexter Morgan, Alfred Bester, Londo Moralli, Morden, Sheridan, Morgan Pendragon, the Master, John Hart, Azrael, Don Draper, Alex Russo, Sylar, Mr. Linderman, Noah Bennett, Nathan Petrelli, Angela Petrelli, Ben Linus, Sherry Palmer, King Silas, Adelle Dewit, Lord Ba'al, Gaius Baltar, Cain, Crowley, Ryan O'Ryley, Percy, Arnold Rothstein, Gustavo Fring, etc.
Film: Addison De Witt, Matai Shang, Graham Marshall, Tony Wendice, Harry Lime, Bill Cutting, Daniel Plainview, Bill, Hans Gruber, Simon Gruber, Bill Daggett, Norman Stansfield, Agent Smith, Merovingian, Jackie Brown, Dalton Russel, Rotti Largo, Hayley Stark, Gordon Gekko, Mr. White, FrankNFurter, Hans Landa, Ian Howe, John Shields, Andy Dufrene, Vito Corleone, Peyton Flanders, Jason Bourne, Calvin Candie, the Man With No Name, Sweeney Todd, Mike Wilson, Sarone, Herod, James Hook, Freddy Krueger, Catherine Tramell, Lord Summerisle, Keyzer Soze, Vincent Price, etc.
There are actually alot more examples in TV, Film and Literature, but I don't need to list all. For any other villains I missed, it's worth remembering to run them through the Magnificent Bastard criteria test. If more than one criteria isn't met, then the villain is not this trope. But these guys that I have listed here I feel most definitely are, so now here's a tribute to some of fictions' greatest bastards:
finally this list end He's NOT a Magnificent Bastard?
best anime villain list He's NOT a Magnificent Bastard? , if you have someone in anime that interesting and unique please add some in the comment.
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