True Evil

[The Sum of Awe]

So I had a villain concept for a superhero world I've been constructing (more of a personal, fun fantasy rather than something I look forward to publishing); and I couldn't decide which villain would be a better antithesis of the main hero:

Which would you consider more evil: The villain who works to take down authority and leave it at that (pretty much an anarchist in the strong sense) or the villain who works to take down authority and become the new authority?

Basically: Which is worse - total dictatorship or extreme-sense anarchy?

I basically made the two be strong allies up working together, who are both fully aware that, after they succeed in their task, they will become strong enemies. I'll decide later if I want to give examples of their doings and where their goals show (it's easier to example considering that the way I put battles is a lot of small battles circulating around certain goals at a certain time that will lead to the final, ultimate goal of the villain, and lead to the final, biggest battle between the superhero and the villain).

 

[4consideration]

I think the worse one is the one that takes down authority in order to become the new authority.

 

[Willamena]

The hero works to take down authority.

Authority itself is the villain.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

You say the anarchist will "leave it at that". Would that mean they would go back into hibernation until another government would be fully formed, or would they seek to at all times destroy even the roots of a growing government?

An ever-vigilant anarchist would be more evil to me.

 

[Amechania]

Maybe you should flesh out your villain a little more, supply us with his motivations and justifications, before we comment?

 

[The Sum of Awe]

You say the anarchist will "leave it at that". Would that mean they would go back into hibernation until another government would be fully formed, or would they seek to at all times destroy even the roots of a growing government?

An ever-vigilant anarchist would be more evil to me.

Probably destroy any signs of huge governance coming upon him personally or a large quantity of people.

 

[Quintessence]

You say the anarchist will "leave it at that". Would that mean they would go back into hibernation until another government would be fully formed, or would they seek to at all times destroy even the roots of a growing government?

An ever-vigilant anarchist would be more evil to me.

That's what I was thinking. In that fashion, you end up with an endless destructive cycle instead of the creation of a reasonably stable status quo.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Probably destroy any signs of huge governance coming upon him personally or a large quantity of people.

Ah. Then the totalitarian.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

The hero who works to take down authority.

Authority itself is the villain.

And an anti-hero exist to keep the balance.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Maybe you should flesh out your villain a little more, supply us with his motivations and justifications, before we comment?

I wasn't sure if I'd get enough comments to do so; usually extensive details leads to less replies.

So to simplify: It'd be similar (but at the same time not exactly) like Tyler Durden vs (umm... I can't think of anyone specifically; name a villain from anywhere that wants to take down the world by first crumbling authority currently in place?)

Really though; there are a few other villains that wouldn't mind taking over the world that end up conflicting with the guy who wants to dominate the planet with his own rules, but this guy is more dedicated to it.

Spoiler: Axeno - Anarchist Villain

Motivations: 1. Went from millionaire to prison to bankrupt due to a legal issue with his career. 2. Lost his wife because he didn't have health insurance, nor did she, nor did they have the money to hospitalize her, and they were refused any loans. 3. Joined a mafia as a part time hitman but he was upset by the strict authority and left, killing his mob boss and other mobsters attempting to stop him. This led to him empty and a huge criminal living off breadcrumbs, and eventually just got sick of it and turned into a terrorist.

Examples: Robbed the richest bank in his county. Started fire to a National Park and succeeded in damaging most of it. Attempted to take down the city police force by holding police hostage after they were sent in to a crime scene (actually a trap). Continued as a hitman for pay, and many times succeeded in covering up the homicide as being done by largely rich politicians. Attempted to leak a deadly virus in an international airport.

Spoiler: Duke of the Absolution 'Duke' - Authoritarian

Motivations: 1. Envisions of a "better" world. 2. Having been in the military giving him his demanding personality. 3. Disagreeing with modern political policies. 4. A number of unsettling things happened to him because of the way things are in both culture and law. 5. Finding chances to make his move.

Examples: Made the law enforce some parts of his system by cause and effect (haven't decided what yet). Killed many people who did things in another way in which he suggested. Constructed a mafia-like group around the principles of his ideal society. Expanded area and number of recruits by force. On many occasions has killed g-men, FBI agents, police, etc. in order to loosen authority and fill in those gaps he created with his own methods.

His system is very demanding, however it is 'perfect' with its heavy security; forcing ill people to stay isolated until a day after recovery. Making himself to be the only absolute authority however have a hierarchy below him. Making books, movies, plays, inventions, etc. go past him before making their way into society. Heavy military force. Etc. Pretty much fascist.

 

[kashmir]

If the superhero has the qualities of superman or any of the avengers, that would kick so much *****.

I say, never mind the prisons, sicko's, murderers etc should just be flung into outer space to land on Mars, where scientists can finally have "life" to look for and it could be like a new form of treasure hunt, using Rover

 

[The Sum of Awe]

If the superhero has the qualities of superman or any of the avengers, that would kick so much *****.

I say, never mind the prisons, sicko's, murderers etc should just be flung into outer space to land on Mars, where scientists can finally have "life" to look for and it could be like a new form of treasure hunt, using Rover

I have a couple of inactive heroes who are mainly just unlicensed police, and a major hero who features the ability of super durability and slight echolocation.

Mars? Probably not. An underwater, illegal, sea rehabilitation center? More than likely.

 

[LuisDantas]

Which would you consider more evil: The villain who works to take down authority and leave it at that (pretty much an anarchist in the strong sense) or the villain who works to take down authority and become the new authority?

The second one.

 

[kashmir]

I have a couple of inactive heroes who are mainly just unlicensed police, and a major hero who features the ability of super durability and slight echolocation.

Mars? Probably not. An underwater, illegal, sea rehabilitation center? More than likely.

just noticed your AVI
Is that the one dude from the movie where he was tracking down his money?
Forget his name and the movie title.

Not sure how to take your comment though.
If its true or not, that is.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

just noticed your AVI
Is that the one dude from the movie where he was tracking down his money?
Forget his name and the movie title.

Actually just changed it. Anton from No Country For Old Men.

Not sure how to take your comment though.
If its true or not, that is.

Are we talking real life? Then no, as far as I know at least.

 

[Jainarayan]

I think the worse one is the one that takes down authority in order to become the new authority.

As bad, if not more tragic is the one who wants to do good but becomes corrupted with the power. "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely" - John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, 1st Baron Acton.

Or, showing even more poignantly that I have no life and need to put away the dvds... from The Fellowship of the Ring , Galadriel going thermonuclear: "In place of a Dark Lord you would have a Queen. Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn, treacherous as the sea, stronger than the foundations of the Earth. All shall love me and despair."

 

[Kilgore Trout]

The True Evil is the evil that doesn't know it's evil, and that acts out of a fanatical sense of idealism.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

The second one.

So nihilism is better?

 

[The Sum of Awe]

So nihilism is better?

Nihilism vs antagonism - that would be very good descriptions for the characters.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

The True Evil is the evil that doesn't know it's evil, and that acts out of a fanatical sense of idealism.

In that case, wouldn't all actions would be evil unless they were actually intended to be evil? I think I might have misunderstood.