Now, we’ve seen villains with a sense of humor in comics (Joker), cartoons (Hades), and comedies (Dark Helmet). You can obviously have a villain with a sense of humor that is goofy, sarcastic, or twisted. They can still be effective too depending on the genre. Not all comedic villains are bumbling idiots that would fail even if the heroes hadn’t gotten involved. I always got that sense that He-Man didn’t really have to work hard to thwart Skeletor at times. Don’t even get me started on Cobra Commander in the cartoon.
Effectiveness is a major challenge if you’re writing a villain that is funny. Looking that three examples, you can see what some of the choices are:
- Dark Helmet– From Spaceballs, Dark Helmet is powerful, but he’s rather accident prone and a goof. You lose a lot of effectiveness with him because funny stuff happens to him without his intent. This works in a comedy, but outside of a comedy, it makes for a weak main villain. A secondary villain could get away with it, but the main villain does need have some semblance of control.
- Hades– Cunning and in control of the situation, this type of villain is like an evil Grouch Marx. Many times this is the egotistical planner that is manipulating everyone around him or her. The humor comes from his wit and sarcasm, which is difficult to write. Not everyone has this ability, so you really need to get feedback on this kind of villain or watch sarcastic comments. This type of humor can improve the character’s effectiveness because it is a sign of intelligence.
- Joker– While Joker can be a catch-all at times, he is a twisted humor character. Victims with his smile, crazy traps, wild laugh, and murderous plots that you laugh at for some bizarre reason. It’s a delicate balance between crazy and effective here. Go too far and you have a raving psychotic that is merely disturbing. Don’t go far enough and you have a mildly humorous villain that seems to be phoning it in.
Personally, I like humorous villains that are effective. The goofy villain is great in comedies, but only comedies for me. A series story should have a seriously dangerous villain, but you can give them a sense of humor. Most people have that in some form and villains are people too. Unless they’re robots, aliens, animals, ghosts, zombies, possessed farm equipment, haunted house, lawyers, shparkly vampires, politicians, or a bio-engineered disease.
Legends of Windemere 
Pingback: What Do You Look for in a Humorous Villain? |Catching up with Legends of Windemere | Hey Sweetheart, Get Me Rewrite!
Pingback: What Do You Look for in a Humorous Villain? |Catching up with Legends of Windemere | Hey Sweetheart, Get Me Rewrite!
I would look for a crazy-stupid with a sadistic side. A mix b/w/ Dark Helmet and Hades!
He would recruit or have minions that he bosses around, and if he doesn’t get the intended effect,
he blames the minions or recruits. He would then set them on fire, and have one (not on fire) go after something he threw into the pool of darkness. Then, turn around and say, that was fun! Start laughing, and ask(after putting fire out), “How many of you liked that?” Answer : “I, Dark Hades.”. …. He would look around and say, “I knew it I’m surrounded by I-holes!”
Amanda S.
LikeLike
That’s definitely an interesting villain. Killing minions out of frustration is a tradition.
LikeLike
okay, what else do you think, about ANYthing else I write??
LikeLike
Unless they’re lawyers… That made me laugh!
I like a villain that is a mix of the sarcastic/effective villain and the catch all/crazy villain. The wit has an edge to it and you’re not entirely sure what will happen if you push it too far. I like that kind of uncertainty (in things other than comedies).
LikeLike
Oooh. Love the unpredictable villain like that. Trying to think of a good example. Keep thinking of Wesley Snipes from Demolition Man. Really I just want to watch Demolition Man.
LikeLike
That’s another one (movie I mean). I haven’t seen it but I enjoy Wesley Snipes. Alan Rickman also plays that kind of villain, I think. he has an edge of sarcastic humor, but he can be a real creep, too.
LikeLike
Christopher Walken. 🙂
LikeLike
Yes!! 🙂
LikeLike
I can enjoy a humorous villain every now and then. Hades is a very good example. My idea of a ‘humorous’ villain is closer to Archibald Cunningham from Rob Roy who, while brilliant, cruel, and the very definition of wicked villainous taste, had a snappy wit and very foppish facade.
LikeLike
I d0n’t remember the title of the movie, but it stars Arnold Schwazzeneger… it has HERO in the title.
LikeLike
Last Action Hero?
LikeLike
yes! But then, I think the movie is really a comedy.
LikeLike
I think so too.
LikeLike
Pingback: Lesson 9: You have to have faith | Writing = Passion
Pingback: Revisit: What Do You Look For In A Funny Villain? | Legends of Windemere