History Main / ALighterShadeOfBlack

* The Parker novels by Richard Stark sometimes uses this. Parker, is a VillainProtagonist, is about as an amoral thief. However, he is pragmatic. He would kill to get what he wants, but he would not do it if it was unnecessary because he knows that the police put more effort in hunting murderers than thieves. Some books like The Sour Lemon Score or Deadly Edge, put him against complete psychos who rape and kill on a whim.

* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Despite both President Snow and Alma Coin being power hungry villains who want to control Panem and irredeemable bastards, Snow is portrayed as a slightly better person than Coin due to the fact that [[IGaveMyWord he always keeps his promise]] and [[VillainsNeverLie he will never lie]] to Katniss as opposed to Coin who is willing to lie and cheat in order to hold power. [[spoiler: This clue led Katniss to realize that it was ''Coin'', not President Snow, who was responsible for Prim's death and the bombing of the Capitol's children.]]

* In ''Series/{{Justified}}'', Boyd Crowder transitions from {{antivillain}} to outright villain as the series progresses. For all his machinations and bloodshed, however, he has sympathetic moments. Boyd is comparatively less evil than other series antagonists, such as Robert Quarles (an [[FunctionalAddict Oxycontin-addicted]] {{serial killer}} and sexual predator). Nicky Augustine (a [[TheSociopath sociopathic]] [[TheStarscream starscream]] with a {{jerkass}} streak), and the Detroit Mob (a crime syndicate brimming with starscreams that [[ColdBloodedTorture tortures its enemies]]).

If they shoot way over the line, the character in question may end up doing a HeelFaceTurn.

* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Despite both President Snow and Alma Coin being power hungry villains who want to control Panem and irredeemable bastards, Snow is portrayed as a slightly better person than Coin due to the fact that he [[IGaveMyWord he always keeps his promise]] and [[VillainsNeverLie he will never lie]] to Katniss as opposed to Coin who is willing to lie and cheat in order to hold power. [[spoiler: This clue led Katniss to realize that it was ''Coin'', not President Snow, who was responsible for Prim's death and the bombing of the Capitol's children.]]

This can be done in many ways. Give your villain the SympatheticPOV. Have them PetTheDog, be a NobleDemon or invoke EvenEvilHasStandards. Perhaps they're simply a smaller threat to the world. Maybe their goals are, or used to be, [[AntiVillain somewhat sympathetic]]. Maybe they have many EvilVirtues. Or, when compared to the opposition, their cause still seems a little more "right" or their character "pure" than that of the enemy. Sometimes, Bob just needs to be stopped at any cost, and Alice happens to have that goal in mind, if only for selfish reasons. Since we want them to win, this may lead to a villainous version of RightMakesMight and PureIsNotGood.

** ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'': CJ and every criminal organization he associates with (Grove Street Families, the Varrios Los Aztecas, and the Triads) are NeighborhoodFriendlyGangsters who oppose the drug trade and work to stop the sale of cocaine all across the state. The BigBad, [[DirtyCop Tenpenny]], has not only been largely been giving the coke-dealers more power for his own benefit, but he's deeply corrupt and is set to kill everyone who could possibly expose his crimes. Including his own partners.

* In ''Series/Justified'', Boyd Crowder transitions from {{antivillain}} to outright villain as the series progresses. For all his machinations and bloodshed, however, he has sympathetic moments. Boyd is comparatively less evil than other series antagonists, such as Robert Quarles (an [[FunctionalAddict Oxycontin-addicted]] {{serial killer}} and sexual predator). Nicky Augustine (a [[TheSociopath sociopathic]] [[TheStarscream starscream]] with a {{jerkass}} streak), and the Detroit Mob (a crime syndicate brimming with starscreams that [[ColdBloodedTorture tortures its enemies]]).

* This is the case in the first ''{{Disgaea}}'' game (Laharl the wannabe EvilOverlord vs. an OmnicidalManiac). The second and fourth have more heroic protagonists while the third is mixed (Mao wants to slay his father, the Overlord, for trivial reasons and the rest of the cast have more heroic goals [[spoiler:plus the real villain already made Mao do it and surpressed his memories)]]

* This is what ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' has instead of Good versus Evil, and is presumably what fans of the Lighter Black factions (Tau, Eldar, the Imperium) see in playing on the side of such horrible people; they're fighting against the very incarnations of death (Necrons), savagery (Orks), consumption (Tyranids) and, well, Chaos.

* This is what ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' has instead of Good versus Evil, and is presumably what fans of the Lighter Black factions (Tau, Eldar, the Imperium) see in playing on the side of such horrible people; they're fighting against the very incarnations of death, savagery, consumption and, well, Chaos.

** ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'': Michael is a bank robber fresh out of retirement, Franklin is a former small-time [[{{Gangbangers}} Gangbanger]] turned big-time bank robber and assassin, and Trevor is an AxCrazy drug dealing PsychopathicManChild. Despite this, all three of them have redeeming values, [[MoralityPet Morality Pets]], and PetTheDog moments that can instill some sympathy. That's more than can be said about their antagonists: Steven Haines, a corrupt FIB agent who engages in some incredibly irresponsible InterserviceRivalry with the IAA for the sake of his career, and Devin Weston, a CorruptCorporateExecutive with close ties to PrivateMilitaryContractors known for committing human rights violations all over the world.

** ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'': CJ and every criminal organization he associates with (Grove Street Families, the Varrios Los Aztecas, and the Triads) are NeighborhoodFriendlyGangsters who oppose the drug trade and work to stop the sale of cocaine all across the state. The BigBad, [[DirtyCop Tenpenny]], has not only been largely been giving these organizations more power for his own benefit, but he's deeply corrupt and is set to kill everyone who could possibly expose his crimes. Including his own partners.

** ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'': CJ and every criminal organization he associates with (Grove Street Families, Varrios Los Aztecas, and the Triads} are NeighborhoodFriendlyGangsters who oppose the drug trade and work to stop the sale of cocaine all across the state. The BigBad, [[DirtyCop Tenpenny]], has not only been largely been giving these organizations more power for his own benefit, but he's deeply corrupt and is set to kill everyone who could possibly expose his crimes. Including his own partners.

Do not confuse this trope with LesserOfTwoEvils, in which case, there still isn't a side to root for. (These stories usually involve a hero's P.O.V. and he's observing the two villains fighting each other.)

** Also, Charmcaster vs. Adwaitya. [[spoiler :Charmcaster is hardly is a saint, but Adwaitya is way, ''way'' worse: she may have done more damage than he did temporarily (though one could argue wiping out all life in her realm in one go is still more benevolent than Adwaitya's systematic killing over the ages) but is called out on it and becomes TheAtoner afterward; by contrast, Adwaitya was power-mad and unrepentant to the end.]]

** It helps, too, that Johnny is somewhat goofy and likable, mostly to due his CrossesTheLineTwice mannerisms and general [[PsychopathicManChild childish tendencies]], while the Monster Behind the Wall is never fun or wacky at all. Even though Johnny is clearly not forgivable, most of the readers would much rather have him running around.

** It helps, too, that Johnny is somewhat goofy and likable, mostly to do his CrossesTheLineTwice mannerisms and general [[PsychopathicManChild childish tendencies]], while the Monster Behind the Wall is never fun or wacky at all. Even though Johnny is clearly not forgivable, most of the readers would much rather have him running around.

* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'': While the forces of [[LawfulEvil Law]] and [[ChaoticEvil Chaos]] are both [[EvilVersusEvil pretty damn repellent]], sometimes one side just makes a better argument about their ideals, or [[EvenEvilHasStandards has at least a few standards]], and that side is [[DependingOnTheWriter usually]] Chaos. That's right, the side led by ''[[{{Satan}} Lucifer]]''. Fundamentally, Chaos holds [[TheUnfettered free will as an imperative]], unlike Law's [[DespotismJustifiesTheMeans worldview that people should accept whatever fate they're given, however horrible]]. [[VideoGame/StrangeJourney Lucifer himself admits that while he doesn't love humans, he'll never abandon them.]]

* VideoGame/{{Drakengard}}. Among your plucky group of heroes are an {{Ax Crazy}} mute soldier whose sister loves him more than is socially acceptable, a vicious red dragon, a batshit crazy elf who eats children, a blind pedophile, and a child cursed to never grow up. However, they're care bears compared to the Grotesqueries, hideous {{Humanoid Abomination}} who wish to unmake creation through the efforts of their possessed minion Manah, a six year old girl who delights in ruining lives left and right because her mommy never loved her enough.