Villains that steal the show

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The D

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Someone did a sidekick that steal the show topic before, so this is a follow up, this time it is the villains turn. So what villains steal the show, and are as memorable or even memorable than the hero of the show? It could for a variety of reasons, either comic relief villains that just so funny, compelling backstory that grabs you, or just be a serious evil badass.

Here is my list in no particular order, just as they come into my head.

Xanatos (Gargoyles) - the billionare who is a master minipulating, but also sometimes as a code of honor, but other times can be ruthless.

The Joker (Batman: TAS) - actully the Joker in any form steals the show. Batman can be a bore sometimes, compared to the Joker who is much more fun. But Batman: TAS is him at his best in the animated form at least.

Team Rocket (Pokemon) - they can be good for a few laughs, and is more of Ash and company for years not having much of a personalities for years starting with Johto and ending with D / P. Sometimes you can't help but root for them because of their underdog personna.

Drakken and Shego (Kim Possible) - Drakken can be so hillarous sometimes, and Shego is his mussle with some sash of her own. What is not to love.

Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender) - I always found his story more interesting than Aang and friends. Especially in season 2, I was a little more interesting in the Zuko / Iroh fugitive plot than the main plot at the time, but slowly he becomes less of a villain and that role was filled in beautiful by...

Azula (Avatar: The Last Airbender) - granted she is kind of an evil Mary Sue, until season 3 when we saw the chinks in her armor. But I loved her wicked evilness and some of her villaness one liners like the ocean has already made its mind while I haven't. Honorable mention to one more character that stole the show though not a villain, Toph.

Denzel Crocker (Fairly Odd Parents) - crazy buffon character, I loved what a loser he was in life, my favorite episode is the one with Norm which empatise what a loser he was. Fairy God Parents.

Johan (Monster) - last but not least, I put him last for a reason he is just awesome. Not real funny unless you have a sick sense of humor, he is just a psycho killer with some depth to him. He also had some charm he could put people under his spell to the point that his hencmen boarderline fell in love with him. Now that is power.
 
Dr. Doofenshmirtz (sp?) from Phineas and Ferb. Honestly, his "evil" plans are what makes the show for me.

"Perry the Platypus!"
"Curse you, Perry the Platypus!"
"Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated!"
 
How could you forget Slade from Teen Titans?

That guy was WIN after WIN after WIN. Ron Perlman did an amazing job with this guy. Every time he speaks you get chills down your spine, especially in season 2 and 4 episodes.
 
I know alot of the awesome villains that steal the show:

Boris & Natasha/Fearless Leader/Mr. Big/Snidely Whiplash(The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show/Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties) - They were the best funniest old classic villains that stole the show for their funny villainous schemes/plans.

The Joker(The Adventures of Batman/The New Scooby-Doo Movies/The New Adventures of Batman/The Super Powers Team:Galactic Guardians/Batman:The Animated Series/Superman:The Animated Series/Batman Beyond/Static Shock/Justice League/The Batman/Robot Chicken/Batman:The Brave And the Bold/Batman:Under the Red Hood) - He's great/funny for a homicidal/psychopathic killer which he had many great moments especially his great lines, being like Bane, a vampire, teaming up with Batman, Emperor Joker, his musical number, a protagonist, and his own epic opening, sweet:D!!!!!He may be overused, but I enjoy every good scene he's in.

Taurus Bulba/Megavolt/Bushroot/Steelbeak/Tuskernini/Ammonia Pine/Negaduck/The Liquidator/Quackerjack/Moliarty/Splatter Phoneix(Darkwing Duck) - They were awesome/interesting supervillains along with their crazy evil plans while clashing with Darkwing Duck.

Mandark/Olga Astronomonoff(Lalavava)/Yani the Janitor/the paperboy ninjas(Dexter's Laboratory) - They were great/funny villains which the evil boy genius and his creepy sister's rivalries with Dexter/Dee Dee were funny along with a silly school janitor's grudge against Dexter and those paperboy ninjas are SO CUTE!!!!!

Invader Zim/Gaz/Tak(Invader ZIM) - He's awesome/funny for a silly world-conquering Irken who never gives up on conquering Earth which he's more better than that annoying jerk Dib.Dib's cool evil demonic sister Gaz and Zim's female Irken rival Tak stole the show for their epic ruthless moments.

The Monarch/Dr. Girlfriend/Baron Underbheit/Molotov/Professor Impossible/The Pirate Captain/The Phantom Limb/Watch and Ward/David Bowie(The Sovereign)/Henry Killinger/Sergeant Hatred/General Treister/D-19/Monstroso(The Venture Brothers) - Awesome/funny supervillains with their best show-stealing moments ever along with Phantom Limb's epic Revenge Society group as well.

Aku(Samurai Jack) - Awesome evil/sadistic shape-changing demon lord with a nice design with world domination and alot of minions to destroy Samurai Jack who's both funny/serious at the sametime.

Firelord Ozai/Prince Zuko/Admiral Zhao/Princess Azula/Jet/Long Feng/Combustion Man(Avatar:The Last Airbender) - They were all fantastic villains with their awesome bending powers which Prince Zuko's epic anti-heroism and Princess Azula's nasty/sadistic actions/psycho breakdown stole the show.

Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz/Suzy/the evil sergeant/Wendy/Big Mitch/Thaddeus,Thor,& Mandy/The Regurgitator/Dennis the Domestic Rabbit/Rodney/Professor Poofenplotz/Khaka Feu Feu(Phineas & Ferb) - He's awesome/hilarious which he steals the show for Perry for his wacky antics/inventions, hahahahaha:D:p.The other villains had their best moments on stealing the show even Suzy bashing on Candace, hahahahaha.

The Ice King/Marceline's father/The Lich King/Ricardio/Penny/The Mermaid Of The River/Tiffany/the cat demon/The Bucket Knight/The Fear Feaster/The Magic Man/Donny/The Whywolves/Sir Slicer/the balding tree witch/Death/Marceline's evil ghost friends:Wendy,Boo-Boo,& Georgie/King Snuggadoodle(Adventure Time With Finn and Jake) - The Ice King was a great/funny villain for his princess-stealing plans and yet I feel sorry for him and the other cool weird/bizarre villains had their pretty cool moments clashing with Finn and Jake as well.

Ran/Ryoko Mendou/Soban/The Spice Girls:Ginger,Pepper,and Sugar/Torajima/CAO-2/Shunmin & Manchinro/Lady Yatsude,Mukade,& Kumade/Count Dracula/The Rose Buds:Kikyo,Asano,Ketsune,& Nakamine/Iron Umbaba & the Franken Brothers/The Drunk Ghost/the alien centaur captain/The Blue Bird/the living personal controller button(Urusei Yatsura) - They were pretty hilarious villains especially with Ran's grudges against Lum, Ryoko's nasty/sick/sadistic nature, and the Spice Girls' weird/silly antics, hahahahaha.

Giovanni/Jessie,James,and Meowth/Butch & Kassidy/Mewtwo/Gary/Damien/Giselle/Sabrina/Dario/The Bridge Biker Gang/Jessibelle/Andreas/Shiro/Prof. Sebastian & Tyson/Prof. Namba/Brago the Poacher/The 3 Invincible Pokemon Brothers/Colonel Hansen/Rico the Hunter/Drew/The PMC:Ken & Mary/Archie/Maxie/Harland/Isabel/Brody/Harley/Attila & Hun/Dr. Yung(The Mirage Master)/The Evil King of Pokelantis/Paul/Hunter J./Cyrus/Sho/Hamilton/Coco/Ursula/Evil Togepi/Trip/Pierce/Professor Zager/Burgendy/the 3 evil Duckletts/Langley(Pokemon/Chronicles) - They're all awesome/interesting nasty villains for their cool tactics/diabolical plans and the new jerk rivals have great moments, but Jessie/James/Meowth are the best comic relief villains that always steal the show for their many crazy plans on always capturing Pikachu along with their cool pokemon mechs as well.

King Dedede & Escargoon/Customer Service(Salesguy)/Nightmare/Amon/the Pengy leader/Dr. Moro/Crowmon/Fang(Kirby:Right Back At Ya) - They were awesome villains, but King Dedede & Escargoon stole the show for their best funny moments for causing trouble for the Cappies and sending monsters to destroy Kirby, but he does a soft side though like Team Rocket:Jessie/James/Meowth.

Buggy/Arlong/King Wapol/Sir Crocodile/Hina/Donquixote Doflamingo/Fleet Admiral Sengoku/Blackbeard/Eneru/Captain Foxy/Rob Lucci/Spandam & Spandine/Admiral Akainu/Gecko Moria/Duvall/The Celestial Dragons/Admiral Kizaru/Sentoumaru/Vice Warden Hannyabal/Chief Warden Magellan/Chief Guard Shiryu/Captain Bluejam/The King of Goa Kingdom/The Caribou Brothers/Captain Van der Decken IX/Hammond/Hyouzou/Captain Hody Jones/Captain Van der Decken(One Piece) - They're all awesome villains which they all have their awesome best evil villainous moments when they clash with our heroes along with Buggy/Sir Crocodile/Rob Lucci/Duvall's epic anti-hero moments, hating Spandam/The Celestial Dragons' disgusting actions, and Blackbeard/Admiral Akainu's nasty ruthless scenes in the Marineford arc too.

Sousuke Aizen/Gin/Kaname/Ryuken/Oshima/Shrieker/The Grand Fisher/Genryusai/Byakuya/Kenpachi/Mayuri/Soi Fon/Hollow Ichigo/Baishin(Blade)/Jin Kariya/Maki Ichinose/Ulquiorra/Grimmjow/the cloning Arrancar/Patros/Barragan/Starrk/Dordonii/Shusuke Amagai/Makoto Kibune/Gyokaku Kumoi/Hanza/the purplehaired Arrancar chick/Kouga & Muramasa/the Sword Fiends & Kirikaze/Shuren/Michel/Kageroza Inaba(Bleach) - All of them were pretty awesome villains which they have their best evil moments battling Ichigo and his friends, but Sousuke Aizen's megalomanical/calculating/diabolical evil plan totally stole the show.

Light Yagami(Kira)/Ryuk/Kiyomi Takada/Misa Amane/Teru Mikami/Hitoshi Demegawa/Kyosuke Higuchi/Reiji Namikawa(Death Note) - Light was the most awesome/horrible/sadistic villain who corrupts the world with evil power and I hated him for killing off my favorite awesome characters, but I'm glad he got his butt kicked in the season 2 finale, YEESS!!!!!Ryuk was hilarious for his apple-craving addictions.The other villains were awesome as well for their villainous moments like serving Light/Kira, but they'll be missed along with my hot Misa, except for Hitoshi Demegawa who needed to die like Light!!!!!

Naga/King Zenoheld/Prince Hydron/Spectra Phantom/Professor Clay/Emperor Barodius/Mag Mel/Dylan/Masquerade/Hal-G/Klaus/Mylene/Shadow/Gus/Ren/Kazarina/Gill/Nurzak/Sid/Jesse/Zenet/Anubias/Sellon/Ben/Jimmy/Chris/Soon(Bakugan:Battle Brawlers/New Vestroia/Gundalian Invasion/Mechtanium Surge) - They're all awesome dangerous/threatening villains for their best evilest villainous moments along with Masquerade/Spectra/Professor Clay/Ren/Nurzak/Ben's epic anti-hero moments and Sellon/Dylan's cool super creepy true Neathian/data forms!!!!!!

Johan Liebert/Roberto/Eva/Inspector Zeman/Peter Capek/Christof(Monster) - For an awesome/handsome/sadistic psychopath killer, he's got an empire and many henchmen that love him and he has alot of character development along with being a cross-dressing freak as well, poor Detective Suk almost kissed him, hehehe:p:D.Both Roberto/Eva/Inspector Zeman stole the show as well with both Roberto/Eva torturing poor Dr. Kenzo Tenma throughout the series and yet Eva is the hottest jerkface ever and Inspector Zeman's sick/twisted torture of using nail clippers, poor Wolfgang Grimmer.Peter turning out to be another horrible psychopath killer for his actions like Johan was interesting, but too bad he became a crazy paranoid trainwreck at the end, hahahaha.Christof was pretty creepy/interesting with him being Johan's best disciple and one of the survivors of 511 Kinderheim, and I love that scene with him getting the upper hand on the jerk Eva was great which I applaud both Roberto/Christof on kicking Eva's butt which was very satisfying.

Byaku/The Princess/Kaguro/Shion/Aihi/Gagin/Sakon/Mao/Yomi/Koya(Kekkaishi) - They were pretty awesome scary villains that stole the show for me for their sick villainous actions.The powerful ayakashi villains were cool/powerful while Byaku/Kaguro/Yomi/Koya were the greatest horrible villains for their nasty actions.Mao was the greatest nasty popular brat whose rivalries with Tokine were great, but had no comeuppance sadly.
 
You are right, I knew when they would be some that I wanted to include but I would forget, Slade is one of them.



They are the lead characters of their shows, so by definition they can't steal the show, it was their show to begin with.
 
I'd like to nominate Emperor Zurg from Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. Sure, the good guys and bad guys were equally entertanining in this hilarious show, but ol' Zurg was at the top of the pack. Wayne Knight absolutely killed in the role, and even if the show had not featured such an overall great cast of original villians and heroes, he would have still made the show worth watching. :D
 
Team Rocket (Pokemon) - They were hilarious, I could help but laugh at their antics, and sometimes wanted them to steal Pikachu just to give them a win. Plus, they always got my faovrite Pokemon of the region (Chimecho, Carnivine, Yanmega). And lastly, Wobbuffett was a riot.

Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz (Phineas & Ferb) - He steals the show EVERY episode. I man, his clumsyness, follishness and comedic timing are epic. And his inators. Curse you Perry the Platyus!

Denzel Q. Crocker (Fairly OddParents) - Hilarious. He is basically the funniest character in the episodes he is in. I love his way of talking, doing stuff and comedic timing. And the Crocker Cave. He REALLY knows how to make good use of a teacher salary.

Ice King (Adventure Time) - He is hilarious. And is also pretty miserable, so I usually simpathize iwth him. But he is also very funnily twisted. His role in the second season two-parter was particularly funny.

Verminous Snaptrap (TUFF Puppy) - Some may hate him, but to me he is hilarious and steals every episode. I find his way of speaking funny (Laaaaaaaarry), his over-the-top stupid antics & how he treats Larry.

Sideshow Bob Terwilliger (The Simpsons) - Arguably a "villain", but IMO, a ude who wants to kill a main is like a villian. Anyways, I love how he is really smart & his quirks (like the love for classic operas) and his outlandish schemes.
 
Its an oldie, but Doc Terror from The Centurions immediately comes to mind. You couldn't help but root for the guy when he drops a line like "We will oppose the tyranny of self-appointed peacekeepers". And at his trial, his sentence for all his villainy was to be rehabilitated at an institution until he "conformed" (they have a pretty lenient justice system in the future). And, being as cold-blooded and defiant as he is, he slams his fist on the desk and shouts "I WILL NEVER CONFORM" Usually what makes a villain a villain is that he/she has no principles and will do anything for power and personal gain. But not the Doc. He genuinely believed in his cyborg utopia and was never going to renounce his ideals, for better or worse.

Oh, and Starscream. So villainous that he puts other villains on notice.
 
JFK (Clone High)

He's a conceited, womanizing jerk. By all logic, I should hate the guy...and yet, he was written to be hilarious and strangely charismatic. Also, he's far more appealing than Abe, who, I think, is a real drip.
 
VV Argost: (Secret Saturdays). I'm always a fan of villains with good publicity and he knew how to use it. He had a great voice and an even greater secret.

Agent Bishop: (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003) The turtles cartoons always seem to have problems when it comes to original villains. The ones that tend to replace the big bad tend to be quite boring. Not so with Bishop though he was never suppose to replace Shredder. I always knew we would get a great episode when he shows up and maybe a great fight scene. Taking on six trained ninja at the same time (Hun on the Run) and pretty much holding his own and even winning. He is bad ass.
 
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"But all too soon, the shocks and the serums took their toll, and the boy began to share such secrets with me. Secrets that are mine alone to know... Bruce. It's true, Batsy! I know everything. And kinda like the kid who peeks at his Christmas presents, I must admit, it's sadly anti-climactic. Behind all the sturm and bat-o-rangs, you're just a little boy in a playsuit, crying for mommy and daddy! It'd be funny if it weren't so pathetic... Oh, what the heck, I'll laugh anyway."

Hopefully that quote will be more than enough for me.

I'd also think of one for Don Karnage, but I can't come up with a good quote on the top of my head.
 
Johan Liebert from Monster, of course. In a world of grays, they attempted to make the perfect "black" (or from their point of view, "white") leader in order to lead them. To always be right, to always have the right words to say, and to be the perfect human being. The only problem is that the Nazi definition of 'perfect' is quite a horrendous thing to behold. Johan is the perfect 'black' villain, without even a shade of gray to him and what's fascinating about it, is that he's absolutely a scene stealer every time he appears. Normally, the "evil maniac" villain is quite shallow and boring to watch, but Johan's hand crafted evil is in a league of its own.

johan.thumbnail.jpg
 
A definite second on Monarch, Doofenschmertz, and Ice King.

Someone mentioned V. V. Argost, but I'd like to name another one from the same show: Van Rook. Seemingly nothing but a money-hungry merc, but deep down, he had a heart.
 
Robotnik(Sonic Satam)- Menacing, scary, and most importantly awesome. What I like about this Robotnik is that he is actually menacing, and he never jokes around. Not to mention the voice of the character makes you feel scared(at least depending on who you are of course)

Father(KND)- A dark shadow that is very gentlemen like, but however goes up in flames whenever he's angry. I bet the animators had a fun time working on this character. Plus he's got a cool voice.

Joker- Radical summed up what I was about to say.

Mr. Burns And Sideshow bob(The Simpsons)- Sideshow bob knows revenge, and does it right in a very charismatic way. Nobody mentions Mr.Burns? Then that person is fired!(Just kidding, xD).
 
Since The Joker and Johan have already been mentioned multiple times already, I'm going to name a more obscure villain that definitely stole the show from the heroes:

Helmut J. Lecoque from Dougram

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Lecoque first appears in Dougram as the secretary of Denon Cashim, head of the Earth Federation and father of the series' main character. However, he soon reveals himself as the true villain of Dougram, manipulating both sides of the war for his own personal agenda. One thing I loved about Lecoque, aside from the fact that the show spent quite a lot of time focusing on him and his machinations, was how realistic he seemed to be. Sure, he was an extremely cunning man who knew how to manipulate others, but he wasn't omniscient and actually got caught off guard at certain times in the show. The fact that he always landed on his feet during these moments, only serve to make Lecoque more impressive as a villain in my eyes.
 
I always thought that the first Spongebob episodes with Plankton in them were some of the best. While he might not be the most unique villain, he has a few good gimmicks that worked well in the environment of old Spongebob.
 
Yzma & Kronk ( Emperor's New School/Groove ) I just love those two. They always manage to crack me up and, in their own way, they're kinda likable too :D
 
Team Rocket is so much more vibrant then the good guys that I often thought it would have been a better cartoon if they were the leads.
However, the blandness of the good guys may have contributed to it's long run.

Lets give it to Lupin III for a villain that did get his own show and have it turn out pretty fantastic.
It may have been possible to make a more conventional show built around Inspector Zenigata where Lupin and his crew were but the most popular criminals, but in hindsight, who would want that?
 
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