Throughout The Simpsons, Charles Montgomery Burns has remained one of Springfield's most fearsome villains. His lust for money has resulted in misdeeds that range from hilarious to downright disturbing. For those working at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant like Homer, no one wants to get on Mr. Burns' bad side. Although it's often because they don't want to lose their job or hear the dreaded phrase, "Release the hounds," there may be a more sinister reason why Mr. Burns is so feared.
In Season 24, Episode 16, "Dark Knight Court," Mr. Burns looks at the band kids performing at an Easter celebration and remarks, "Look at those delightful children, Smithers. All those healthy organs ripe for the harvesting." Mr. Burns begins salivating, and Smithers has to hold him back before he seemingly does something terrible. The Simpsons' writers were likely making an organ harvesting joke given the running gag that Mr. Burns is said to be over a century old. Still, it doesn't make the scene any less unnerving. It may even imply that Mr. Burns is a cannibal or a deranged serial killer straight out of a horror movie. After all, the "Dark Knight Court" episode isn't the first time the millionaire has displayed bloodlust.
Mr. Burns' evil doings date back to his childhood. In Season 7, Episode 17, "Homer the Smithers," audiences learn that Burns despised his mother because of an affair she had with President William Taft and tried to pull the plug on her. Although she survives, the hatred festered for more than five decades. The storyline received some closure in "The Mansion Family," when Burns reveals his mother passed away and that the cause of death was "...got in my way." It might be speculation, but the evidence seems to prove Mr. Burns is guilty of murder.
Although the circumstances of Mr. Burns' mother's death may be convoluted, his attempt on Bart and Abe's lives is undeniable. "Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish,'" reveals Grandpa Abe Simpson to be a part of the same World War II army unit as Burns. During their service, Burns convinced his fellow Flying Hellfish to steal paintings from a German castle with the agreement that the last surviving member would inherit the painting.
Much like SpongeBob SquarePants' Mr. Krabs, greed got the better of Mr. Burns. To become the last surviving member, Burns tries to have Abe assassinated. When that doesn't work, he takes matters into his own hands, which also puts Bart in danger; however, this isn't Bart's first near-death run-in with Burns. In an early episode of The Simpsons, "Bart Gets Hit by a Car," Burns slams his car into a skateboarding Bart. Although it was an accident, Mr. Burns' lack of remorse is so disturbing even his loyal assistant Smither's can't help but be horrified.
In the segment, "Survival of the Fattest," Mr. Burns hunts Springfield's men in a spoof of Richard Connell's short story The Most Dangerous Game. Despite being part of "Treehouse of Horror XVI" and, therefore, noncanonical, Mr. Burns' history of murderous behavior makes his actions in "Survival of the Fattest" not far from the realm of possibility.
Created by Matt Groening, The Simpsons stars Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Harry Shearer, Julie Kavner, Yeardley Smith and Hank Azaria. New episodes air Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.