Writing Who is the character you use as the gold standard in narrating the main antagonist in your fiction?
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Tabula_Rasa
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Sorry I have not read the spoiler, but I don't understand the question...
What do you mean by gold standard?
Eldoria
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The gold standard here means the best antagonist character reference (in mainstream fiction) that the authors admire and use as inspiration in designing the main antagonist characters in their fiction.
L1aei
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Mads Mikkelsen? Honestly it's his resting bitch face and tone of voice that I like in his characters. He's polite, even when being violently brutal. Like, you know, there is this absolutely unnerving calm about him, such as with a storm, but unlike that natural disaster his menace feels deliberate and controlled. In a strange way, he's danger wrapped in etiquette and an incredibly awesome blueprint for when I compare any antagonists I write.
Tabula_Rasa
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I don't really know if it answers but I don't use gold standards rather I just have normal people that are in situations....
but they are those that WANTS to be a type of person that they could not truly be.
Like a manipulative youth, that low key wants to be person like Light Yagami (Death note)
or a CEO that wants to be a person like Scar from the lion king.
An evil scientist that want to be powerful and clever walking deus Ex machina like Doctor who
or a thief that wants to be good but keeps committing more and more atrocity like reverse forrest gump
but they are those that WANTS to be a type of person that they could not truly be.
Like a manipulative youth, that low key wants to be person like Light Yagami (Death note)
or a CEO that wants to be a person like Scar from the lion king.
An evil scientist that want to be powerful and clever walking deus Ex machina like Doctor who
or a thief that wants to be good but keeps committing more and more atrocity like reverse forrest gump
Nyctoria
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Do you think it’s fair that I should have to live with all this agony? Why should you get to laugh while I am forced to cry? Why do you get to taste the best life has to offer while all I do is choke on its leftovers? Answer me this! Why do all of you get the pizza while I get the crust?!
MFontana
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Very good choice, El. As far as antagonists go, Nagato/Pain was the best that series had to offer.Who is the character you use as the gold standard in narrating the main antagonist in your fiction?
I can't personally narrow it down to just one, because it will vary based on the villain in the story, so here's the breakdown.
Asharthrinax-- My main inspiration is Dominaria's most ancient evil. Nicol Bolas. With a splash of inspiration from Smaug in the Hobbit. But mostly Bolas.
King Grothmar-- King of the Orks. Major inspiration for him has been the recurring Ork badguy in my TTRPG campaigns, but if I were to have to list a specific character that inspired him, it would be King Obould Many-Arrows from R.A. Salvatore's The Orc King in the Legend of Drizzt series.
"The Jester of Chaos" (His name is presently being withheld because of spoilers) -- This one's easy. My primary inspiration for him was a unique blending of none other than Kefka Palazzo and Heath Ledger's Joker from The Dark Knight, and his appearance is a quiet homage to Kefka, my favorite Final Fantasy Villain.
"The Jester of Chaos" (His name is presently being withheld because of spoilers) -- This one's easy. My primary inspiration for him was a unique blending of none other than Kefka Palazzo and Heath Ledger's Joker from The Dark Knight, and his appearance is a quiet homage to Kefka, my favorite Final Fantasy Villain.
Darius Khan-- Self-proclaimed King of the Pirates; as my major inspiration for this series was Tenchi Muyo, there are a lot of allusions and references to that series, with this villain being one among many. In this case, the primary inspiration character for him was none other than Kagato from Tenchi Muyo.
What it really comes down to, is the type of villain in question, and these are just a few that I've used for the stories I'm posting here.
As for a universal application... there simply isn't one.
Playerkartik
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The Joker
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Lexi Sindel. Peak performer in psychological dominance. A masterclass on absolute authority.
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I don’t have any at the moment.Who is the character you use as the gold standard in narrating the main antagonist in your fiction?
laccoff_mawning
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Currently, I got two I can think of for different antagonists. The main inspiration from them is found in their visuals rather than character. One is The Kingpin, the other is Hobgen from Dota Underlords.
Dolores Umbridge is definitely up there. She’s evil but not kill babies evil. She’s institutional evil the evil that exists because of bureaucracy and sycophancy.
There’s Joker for the pure psychopathy. But there’s also guys like Hannibal Lector, Norman Bates from Psycho, or Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. They’re all so very human which makes them terrifying.
Maybe you want to go corruption there’s that Denzel Washington character from Training Day. That one Frost Lich guy from that one video game I forget the name.
What about the one guy from full metal alchemist that combined his dog and his daughter? Or the final villain of the series? Griff from Berserk? Aizen from Bleach? That clown guy from Hunterxhunter? Agent Smith? Anton Chigurh from Bo Country for Old Men? Darth Vader? Freddy Kregur? Jason Voorhes? Micheal Myers? Hans Landa? Kai Winn from DS9? Dukat? Glados? Sepiroth? Handsome Jack? Vas from far cry? Ganondorf? Pyramid Head silent hill? Wesker Resident evil?
My point is there are a lot of good villains but what qualifications does the gold standard need to have longevity, acts of evil?, impact?, or notability?
There’s Joker for the pure psychopathy. But there’s also guys like Hannibal Lector, Norman Bates from Psycho, or Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. They’re all so very human which makes them terrifying.
Maybe you want to go corruption there’s that Denzel Washington character from Training Day. That one Frost Lich guy from that one video game I forget the name.
What about the one guy from full metal alchemist that combined his dog and his daughter? Or the final villain of the series? Griff from Berserk? Aizen from Bleach? That clown guy from Hunterxhunter? Agent Smith? Anton Chigurh from Bo Country for Old Men? Darth Vader? Freddy Kregur? Jason Voorhes? Micheal Myers? Hans Landa? Kai Winn from DS9? Dukat? Glados? Sepiroth? Handsome Jack? Vas from far cry? Ganondorf? Pyramid Head silent hill? Wesker Resident evil?
My point is there are a lot of good villains but what qualifications does the gold standard need to have longevity, acts of evil?, impact?, or notability?
Eldoria
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There are no objective qualifications... only subjective standards based on the author's preferences. Every author has their favorite antagonist references.
CharlesEBrown
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Any villain voiced by James Earl Jones - Darth Vader, the guy from Conan, a few others. Those deep, somehow friendly yet menacing tones in his voice... just perfect for villains (and great for any other role).
TinaMigarlo
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Who is the character you use as the gold standard in narrating the main antagonist in your fiction?
sorry, this was for protagonist voice. my bad. may pygmies eat my flesh.
Fairemont
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This guy is pretty darn solid.
MC-Stories
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Bakugo- My Hero Academia
Bass-Mega Man
Shenlong-Bloody Roar
Iori Yagami- King Of Fighters
Why? Because there is no greater foe than one who thinks that they are better than everyone else!
(shudders in fear)
Bass-Mega Man
Shenlong-Bloody Roar
Iori Yagami- King Of Fighters
Why? Because there is no greater foe than one who thinks that they are better than everyone else!
(shudders in fear)
Dawnathon
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Yoshikage Kira from Jojo's is a solid pick for me. He is not justifiable at all. Nobody says "maybe hes actually the good guy when u thnk abt it...." unless they're cracking wise. But the story also goes into a surprising amount of depth into his very thought processes and how much he's willing to do when put into a desperate situation. You get a very solid look into his character and his priorities, how he handles himself when he's the gloating victor or when he's the sniveling loser. It's really fascinating character writing. You got some of it with past villains, but Kira really feels like where it's fleshed out the most.
Besides, like I said, not justified at all. You can do some really interesting deep dives into someone without them having to be the good guy all along or anything else. It's like a less theatric, more drawn out version of a Disney villain song. You know it's done well when you simultaneously want them to lose, while also at the edge of your seat any time they're suddenly put on the defensive.
Besides, like I said, not justified at all. You can do some really interesting deep dives into someone without them having to be the good guy all along or anything else. It's like a less theatric, more drawn out version of a Disney villain song. You know it's done well when you simultaneously want them to lose, while also at the edge of your seat any time they're suddenly put on the defensive.