If you’ve ever read any of my fiction work, you may have noticed something — at least thus far. As complex, awful, or manipulative as my main antagonists may be, there is a commonality: They’re all rather good-looking.

“Why!? Why would you do this!?”

Anyone who watches American Horror Story might have a similar complaint. I’ve seen the memes. They go something like, “Dear American Horror Story, if you could stop making murders hot…” What can I say? There’s just something about a handsome sociopath in a position of power. Well, actually, I can say quite a lot, so if you’re willing to go on this strange journey with me, let’s do a deep dive into my past experiences with villains in media.

This toxic fondness goes way back

I’m talking about my childhood in the era of Disney cartoons. It seems I have always been simping for the villain — not just the bad boy — I want to make a distinction. I’m talking Scar from The Lion King. Jafar (why!? Ew!) from Aladdin, Magneto from X-Men. And I am definitely talking about The Joker from Batman: The Animated Series.

Then I grow up, and I’m still at it. I am appreciating Orochimaru from Naruto (another disturbing one), and Gara from the same series (when he was bad). You may be shaking your head while you read this. What’s wrong with her? And are they all cartoons!?

No. It’s live action, it books, it’s everything.

It’s also Heath Ledger’s version of The Joker, Tom Hardy’s Bane, Brandon Lee’s The Crow (not exactly bad but very murdery), Benedict Cumberbatch’s Khan, Number 001 aka Henry Creel in Stranger Things, Cillian Murphy holding Rachel McAdams hostage in Red Eye, James Marsters as Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and David Boreanaz’s Angelous from the same show, Gaspiel Ullieli as a young Hannibal Lecter in Hannibal rising, Alexander Skarsgård as Eric Northman — a very ruthless charismatic vampire from True Blood (Also love Eric in the Sookie Stackhouse Novels). Need I go on?

It’s not really about the actor — it’s the character! Yikes!

In my defense, there is something about villains that many times the good guys seem to lack: They are usually nuanced. They are interesting and intelligent. Often they are strong and take charge. I like someone who knows what they want(and maybe…will do nearly anything in order to get it). So, with all of this in mind, when creating my villain, I thought, “Heck, I may as well make them nice to look at while I’m at it!”

My favorite kind of book boyfriend is the one that seems bad but ends up being more or less morally gray, even good, by the end. They will kill — and probably have killed many — but it’s usually ‘justified’ (not that there is such a thing in real life). They’ll do it for their love interest. Touch her and die trope, anyone?

I absolutely adore Rhys from the ACOTAR books by Sarah J. Maas.

Yet I find it interesting to write someone who is unredeemable as attractive. I like the thought of, ‘if I make them bad enough, will it matter how they look?’ I ponder if people feel the exact same way about them if I made them hideous. Sometimes the villain is so darn charismatic I just can’t help but fall for them. I want my readers to love to hate (and maybe secretly still love) my characters the way I do.

This happened with my very first antagonist in my upcoming debut novel (going into the beta-reading stage). When I first created my antagonist, I didn’t plan to love him the way I did. The further I delved into his psyche of why he was the way he was and what he felt and didn’t feel, the more attached to him I grew. Now he may be my favourite character. I love to hate him! Okay, maybe I just love him. Shame on me.

My husband is the most loving, sweet, kind man on the planet. He knows about my (one might say toxic) obsession with the villain and asked, “Whatever did you see in me?!”

“Well, in my defence, I thought you were a bad boy at the time,” is my teasing response. Which is kind of true. When I first met him, he was goth. But he definitely was/is not evil!

Despite what this article may have led you to believe, I actually do have wisdom and common sense! I know that a murdering sociopath with plans for world domination won’t make me happy! (Say what!?)

The villain-lover in me — it’s a side of myself that entertains and creates the impossible. And a great, nuanced villain makes watching the protagonist’s struggle all the more interesting!

So tell me, are you a villain-lover too? Do you think I’m crazy? Who is your favorite villain and why?

Thank you so, so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed. Your support means the world to me and inspires me to keep going. ♡