fannish5: Supervillain potentials!

[selenak]

Name five characters who would make good supervillains (actual current supervillains excluded).

I'm assuming this also means no reformed supervillains, which excludes the likes of Emma Frost and no we-don't-know-yet-whether-they-are characters, either (this excludes you, Mark Milton). So, let's see:

1) Laura Roslin (Battlestar Galactica). Is already scary as hell as a ruthless sort of good person in a very morally grey world. Would completely take over the universe if she went dark side and didn't care about the body count any longer. Would also make everyone raising objections to her rule look like the bad guys, no matter how right they are.

2) Elizabeth Swann (Pirates of the Caribean). Mind you, if you read some posts, you'd think she's there already... Anyway: Elizabeth would not take over the universe, or even the Americas, but she'd be the most feared Pirate King there ever was (as opposed to "just" being one of the most respected), and of course she'd frame someone else to hang for her once the time of the pirates does come to an end.

3) Peter Petrelli (Heroes). I'm with yahtzee63 on that one. (See also: sparky77's "6e" universe.) Few things are more dangerous than emotionally unstable idealists going crazy, and this one isn't just unkillable but also equipped with all sorts of powers. Mind you, I can't see even Evil!Peter being the kind of supervillain who is after ruling the planet, because Peter might be crazy already, but he's genuinenly not interested in leading. But he'd be perfectly capable of being a supervillain who destroys the planet in a gigantic emotional temper tantrum. And/or subjugates on someone else's behest.

4) Delenn (Babylon 5). Back to the schemer/ruling the universe type of supervillain. Delenn already came close to wiping out humanity and managed to make anyone bringing that up afterwards look like a big meanie. Not to mention that even as a good guy, she's convinced of being chosen and manages to become President of an interstellar Alliance directly after her husband, whom she manoeuvred in that position to begin with, had the job. (Hillary can only dream of being so efficient!) Take away her sense of guilt and occasional qualms, and all would love her and despair. (Well, I'm not sure about the "despair"part. I see Evil!Delenn ruling the galaxy with Neroon and Lennier as concubines...)

5) Octavian, aka Augustus (history, actually, but I'm thinking specifically of the Rome version, as opposed to, say, the I, Claudius one). He'd be incredibly efficient at ruling any given country/world/galaxy, depending on which time frame you'd put him in, would destroy any opposition, but he'd also be the most joyless supervillain around. (Again, not true for other versions of Augustus; one might argue with Graves' father-knows-best interpretation, but his Augustus did know how to enjoy himself.) You could count on him avoiding all the Evil Overlord mistakes, but I'm sure his Trusted Lieutenants would secretly think that maybe a "death is too good for my enemies" rant once in a while or perhaps a chuckle or two would make the man less frighteningly efficient and more relatable to...

Comments

[wee-warrior.livejournal.com]

I was wondering why you included 5) here for a second, since I was under the impression that Rome's Octavian already is a kind of supervillain (and I only know the S1 version). But he's probably not meant to be seen as such, no matter my interpretation. :)

But he'd be perfectly capable of being a supervillain who destroys the planet in a gigantic emotional temper tantrum. And/or subjugates on someone else's behest.

I guess that's why Adam wanted him so desperately as a lieutenant.

Actually, the scariest thought about Peter as a supervillain for me would be that he would have Nathan on his side - if Nathan had given up telling him not to be a supervillain, that is.

Contemplating any of the ladies as supervillains is a task too scary to undertake... they would all be awfully efficient.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Rome doesn't have supervillains as such - I mean, clearly folk like Erastes Fulmen (the Aventine mafia boss) are bad guys our two fictional characters are supposed to defeat, but those are minor villains at best, and in the political storylines, everyone except for poor old Brutus and to some degree Cicero is presented as equally ruthless and lacking morals. So no, I don't think we're supposed to see Octavian as one in the context of his own show.

Peter: well, in Sparky's 6e universe, he's being an enforcer for Nathan as supreme leader, and that is scary indeed.

The ladies: brrrr, I know. Nobody would have a chance against them!

[sizequeen.livejournal.com]

Now the question is, taking Peter out of the equation due to his powers, which one would win in a battle royale?

I say Laura would defeat Augustus due to his mommy issues. Elizabeth would underestimate both Delenn and Laura since neither ar fighters. Then Delenn and Laura would ally against Elizabeth and eliminate her.

Finally, we have Laura vs. Delenn: Clash of the Titans. This is a hard one. Laura is the ultimate pragmatist, while Delenn is sometime carried away by rage and pride. Delenn is groomed to power, and 9 times out 10 has moral weight on her side. In the end, evryone loves Delenn. Laura, a former Sec. of Education snatched power in the fcae of a military crisis and a 12-planet armageddon. She was imprisoned, on the run, and returned in triumph just in time to make the Adama her bitch, regain her presidency, kidnap a baby, try to steal an election, lead a rebellion, and railroad Baltar to be executed by a kangaroo court.

Judgement: Laura over Delenn. Roslin is the badass of badasses.

[nolivingman.livejournal.com]

I can't agree; I think rage can take pragmatism, because Delenn would be willing to do anything if she thought that prophecy said she should. Neroon was *right* about her being scary.

And I will counter your list with: Delenn started a war to destroy an entire race, destabilized a government that had existed for 1000 years, set up the government she wanted in the aftermath, and manipulated a pretty-but-not-terribly-bright man into ruling the universe by her side.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I'm with nolivingman re: Delenn, but I will say the result would be a stalemate, and there wouldn't be much left of the universe. Shadows versus Vorlons, pffff.

[lawrence520.livejournal.com]

I find it entertaining that not only would your three female supervillains be terribly efficient, but they would all three be able to cast any opposition as the bad guys (or at least, in Elizabeth's case, find a convenient scapegoat, opposition or not). Again, terribly efficient!

Although I have to admit, I'm not certain I'd be able to tell if Laura Roslin went dark side. I mean, what would Roslin not do now, if she thought it was necessary?

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Good question. Hm, I think Dark Side! Laura would simply have killed the damm baby, instead of going to the bother of letting it be raised by Maya under her supervision. Also, Baltar wouldn't have been able to make her look away for the first and only time when he point blank asked her whether she was okay with the suicide bombings and the fact they kill such a lot of human beings along with Cylons.

[leyenn.livejournal.com]

Duude. I utterly thought Susan Ivanova for this, and now I want to read some supervillain!Delenn. Because you're so right, she's so qualified already.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

So, who would you place your money on in a queen of the galaxy showdown, Delenn or Laura Roslin? We've already decided they'd be the finalists. *points to comments above*

[leyenn.livejournal.com]

It could just be my biases (biasii?) showing, but my money would totally be on evil!Delenn. And if she had Susan at her side? CAPITULATE NOW, BIATCHES.