What makes villains so interesting? Is it the inner conflict that drives them against the hero? Is it the sympathetic motivations that really give them an appeal? For many fans, it's all of the above. In recent years, interest in the antagonists of shows, movies, and more has skyrocketed as many have realized that it's often as much about the villain as it is about the hero.
But in superhero stories, where good and evil are the primary canons through which the story is told, narratives piloted by the villains can be even more interesting. So which villain's have gone so far as to have gotten their own narrative to tell, their own story to express on the small screen?
10 Loki Steals The Tesseract And Fan's Hearts
Loki
After debuting in 2011's Thor, Tom Hiddleston's portrayal of Loki rapidly garnered attention and praise, quickly bringing the villain into the limelight. After fans began to see more of his character in more Marvel properties, many began to cherish this iteration as much more than just a villain and more as a beloved character.
Furthermore, when the character was given his own title series on Disney+, fans were thrilled to see Loki finally be given a proper spotlight. Hiddleston has remarked on this surprising support of the character, never having expected the reception of the villain to be so warm. With all the vulnerabilities and personality traits that lie under the surface of the character, combined with a phenomenal performance from Hiddleston, it's no wonder Loki is a fan favorite.
9 Homelander Lands On The Scene As "Superhero" Antagonist
The Boys
In recent TV, there has been no antagonist that has been discussed and praised to the level of Anthony Starr's performance of the violently patriotic "superhero" Homelander from Amazon Prime's The Boys. Taking the stage in 2019, Homelander shocked the world as the adaptation of the comic book villain delved much deeper into the psyche and motivations of the character.
Some may argue that Homelander is not the main character of The Boys, but while that could be said, he is definitely the show's leading antagonist. Combined with Starr's captivating performance, fans have been majorly invested in the show due to Homelander, which is a lot like being the show's main character anyway. So who's the real "Starr" here?
8 Fans Get To See The Story Of Gotham City Before Batman Came Onto The Scene
Gotham
2014's ensemble TV series by Warner Bros., Gotham, featured the origin story of various DC Comics heroes and villains such as Police Commissioner Jim Gordon, a young Bruce Wayne, and villains such as The Penguin, The Riddler, and many more. Telling these characters' stories in new and interpretive ways, Gotham served as a stellar introduction to fans about these timeless villains.
While the narrative of the show is focused on more than just the spotlight of the villains, it cannot be ignored that a show that serves the purpose of introducing many of Batman's "Rogues Gallery" villains definitely can be considered a show with villains at the helm.
7 Harley Quinn Works On Her Issues While Keeping Her Villainous Ways
Harley Quinn
Over the years, Harley Quinn has seen a large amount of character development to her name on both the big and small screen. Introduced as a one-off character in 1993, she began by playing the romantic sidekick to The Joker. After public appreciation for the character, she was brought back into the canon as a reoccurring villain.
When Warner Bros. commissioned an animated series called Harley Quinn in 2019, fans all over the world rejoiced and though recent adaptations of the character have painted her more as an anti-hero than an outright villain, Harley Quinn still ain't no hero, but damn it if it isn't her show.
6 Wandavision's Villain Will Soon Cast A Spell On Audiences
Agatha: Coven of Chaos
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Agatha Harkness, one of the original witches of the Salem witch trials, has been granted an upcoming Disney+ spinoff series titled Agatha: Coven of Chaos. Portrayed by Kathryn Hahn in the MCU, the character was majorly introduced in Marvel's 2021 miniseries, WandaVision as the central antagonist.
Coven of Chaos will likely be a series that showcases Agatha building a new coven with all new allies that will attempt to alter reality through Chaos Magic, confirmed by the recent title change from Agatha: House of Harkness. Though there are no further details as of now, the series is set to premiere in 2023 and is guaranteed to be another villain-piloted favorite.
5 Patton Oswalt Lends Vocal Talent To Personal Villain Story
M.O.D.O.K
Hulu's newest take on the popular Marvel villain sees the vocal efforts of Patton Oswalt lend himself to M.O.D.O.K, a floating, robotically created head that is hell-bent on world domination. However, after failing his dream and his company filing for bankruptcy, M.O.D.O.K must face what a midlife crisis looks like in the midst of communing with his family.
M.O.D.O.K is a prime example of the fans' fascination with villains, no matter which villain they are, particularly villains from the world of superheroes. Particularly villains from the world of superheroes that are told in an extremely humorous format, voiced by Patton Oswalt.
4 The Lord Of Hell Solves Crimes
Lucifer
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Originating from the character created by Mike Carey, (and a later adaption by Neil Gaiman), Lucifer Morningstar has become a wildly popular Marvel comic favorite. However, the character did not largely take center stage until 2016's spin-off series, Lucifer, by Tom Kapinos, starring the devilishly handsome Tom Ellis.
When Lucifer decides to abandon his rule over Hell and solve crimes on Earth instead, he learns there are rules to his rule and what he can and cannot do. What makes this character and this show so entertaining is owed to the creative efforts of Gaiman, Kapinos, and Ellis, all of which massively bring Lucifer to life. Fans all over the world have come to adore this iteration of the character and will be talking about him for a long time to come.
3 Omni-Man Expands On Evil-Superman Trope
Invincible
Long-time fans of the popular running comic series, Invincible, were massively excited to learn of Amazon's intent to adapt the material into an animated series. With the extremely positive reception of season 1 on Amazon Prime, one of the aspects of the show that still has many fans talking is the break-out element of the series: Omni-Man.
The popular villain has been heralded as one of the best (next to Homelander) adaptations of the "evil Superman" trope and being voiced by a legend such as J.K Simmons, that isn't exactly surprising. Omni-Man is the type of villain fans just can't get enough of.
2 Batman Villain The Penguin Leads New Solo Spotlight Series From HBO Max
The Penguin
After critical acclaim for 2022's The Batman, Director Matt Reeves commissioned a spin-off series featuring The Penguin, played by Colin Farrell. The series, while still unreleased, is rumored to be an origin story of sorts for the character, bridging his growth into villainy.
The series, scheduled to begin filming in 2023, has not confirmed whether there will be other title characters in the series, but one thing is guaranteed with a director like Reeves at the wheel and Farrell in Penguin's shoes: it is going to be another villain fans love to hate.
1 Classic Fairytale Villains Finally Have Their Say
Once Upon A Time
Much like the entourage featured in a show like Gotham, Once Upon a Time, first debuting in 2011, really made fans ponder what really makes a villain, a villain. While the main character, (definitively Emma) is not any of the villains, the show features such a bursting cast of dynamic villains such as Cruella de Vil, The Evil Queen, and many, many more, it is hard to see the show as more than an origin series for villains at times.
Complete with dazzling performances from all actors involved, particularly the masterful work done by Robert Carlyle who portrays Rumpelstiltskin or Robbie Kay's villainous Peter Pan, Once Upon a Time may as well be a show led by villains because that's genuinely who the fans are here to see.