12/05/2025
Who Is The Better Villain? 🦹
A well written villain has deep motivations, three-dimensional personality, relatability and sympathy, unique presence and charisma, and is tied to the hero’s arc. They are central to crafting memorable and emotionally charged stories.
The Joker acts as Batman’s nemesis, using philosophy to prove that anyone can fall into madness with the wrong circumstances. Magneto has a well developed back story that blurs the line between villain and anti-hero, drawing readers in and creating debates.
Here’s how you can use these principles to write better villains of your own 👇
❌ Don’t make them evil “just because”
Wants to conquer the world with no deeper motive
✅Do create believable and rooted motivations
Magneto’s childhood trauma motivates his militant protectionism
❌Don’t neglect character depth
Cardboard “thug” villains with no goals or personality
✅Do reveal relatable human traits or vulnerabilities
The Joker’s desire for validation from Batman hints at his need for meaning
❌Don’t reveal everything too soon
Avoid “info-dumps” of their tragic past in one scene
✅Do entwine the villain’s arc with the hero’s
Lex Luthor sees Superman as a threat to human achievement
❌Don’t let them overshadow the hero
A villain who steals the focus without challenging the hero’s growth can derail the narrative
✅Do make your villain proactive, not reactive
The Joker sets plans in motion that challenge Batman’s ethic
❌Don’t ignore consequences
Have the villain face setbacks, doubts, or failures, especially morally complicated ones
✅Do drip-feed their backstory for intrigue
Gradual Magneto backstory reveals increased audience investment
Follow for more insider tips on creating villains readers actually love to hate!
