Villains
What Makes a Great Supervillain?
Design villains with motive, method, style, and a rivalry that tests the hero.
A strong supervillain believes their plan makes sense. The conflict becomes richer when the hero can understand the motive without accepting the method.
Give the villain a method
Ice, mirrors, masks, clocks, signals, and artifacts are more than aesthetics. They shape the scenes the villain creates and the choices the hero must make.
Build the rivalry
- What does the villain expose in the hero?
- What does the hero refuse to become?
- What would make the final battle emotionally specific?