History Main / EvilHero

You might be thinking, "What. Are. You. Talking. About?", "How does that even make sense?", or "You are not right." Which is very reasonable. It does sound like an oxymoron doesn't it? Everybody knows what [[TheHero a hero]] is, and everybody loves a hero. In fact, a hero, by definition, is a good guy, the one who saves the innocent from the forces of evil, showing children of all ages what a hero does for them, encouraging them to not live in fear, to one day stand up tall and become the next hero everybody looks up to for protection. All of that is nothing an evil villain would do, right?

[[folder:Anime]]

-->-Robin, to Commander Uehara, TeenTitansTroubleInTokyo (borrowed from Wikiquote)

* The main protagonist of ''TheCrowSalvation'', Alex, was framed for the murder of his girlfriend, and executed for it, by her true killers: a group of [[RabidCop cops]] who apparently rape and murder for kicks on a regular basis.

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Caim from ''VideoGame/{{Drakengard}}'' is one. He's heroically fighting to save his CosmicKeystone sister and defend his country from an evil empire, but he's only doing so because he's a [[AxCrazy bloodthirsty psychopath]] who loves killing as many people as he can on the battlefield.

* Another KarmaHoudini example is [[BattleAxeNurse Nurse Ratched]] from ''OneFlewOverTheCuckoosNest'', who psychologically tortures patients at a mental hospital, who are in no way dangerous, to the point of preventing any opportunity to watch a baseball game, and becoming annoyed when they find a slight way around that, and driving one of her patience to [[DrivenToSuicide suicide]]; all while looking like a normal nurse doing her job in [[VillainInPlainSight public eyes]].

-->-Robin, to Commander Uehara, {{Teen Titans Trouble in Tokyo}} (borrowed from Wikiquote)

This is what happens when {{Designated Hero}} [[XMeetsY meets]] {{Villain with Good Publicity}}: a definite bad guy works as a [[PrisonRape cop]] or [[UnfortunateImplications even]] a so called [[PyroManiac "firefighter"]], and, despite their [[DevilinPlainSight actions]], whether due to ignorance on {{The Government}}'s [[NiceJobBreakingItHero part]], or the fact that they simply didn't get fired or resign yet, or haven't been [[KarmaHoudini caught yet]], still qualify as such. In short, a bad guy with a "good guy" job.

An extreme example of {{Fake Ultimate Hero}}.

May or may not overlap with {{Pragmatic Villainy}} or {{Noble Demon}}, as they might actually do their job [[PettheDog accordingly]] every now and then, but the reasons for them are less likely because {{Even Evil Has Standards}}, and more to just maintain the facade.

Compare {{Designated Hero}}, {{Villain with Good Publicity}}, {{Fake Ultimate Hero}}

Contrast {{Jerkass Facade}}.

[[folder: Anime]]
* ''Manga/{{One Piece}}'': Many of the Marines [[hottip:*: like Onigumo or "Axe-Hand" Morgan]] in the Navy, would, in real life, not be considered good role models for sea lovers and young naval cadets, to say the least, even if their job is to arrest pirates; they sometimes act [[NotSoDifferent no better]] than [[NotSoAboveItAll pirates]]. The same goes for those who run the superprison Impel Down. But to really but it into perspective, take a look at Admiral Akainu, who's a {{Blood Knight}} in a sailor's cap with no regard for anybody's life, including [[WouldHurtAChild Coby's]]; then there's the fact that, after a vicious dual with another marine, he is now FLEET ADMIRAL, the [[LargeAndInCharge "alpha marine"]], which WILL spell [[InferredHolocaust disaster]] for [[OmnicidalManiac Luffy, his crew, and whatever "good pirates" there are in the world]].

*** But don't worry folks, there are definitely some right-minded and generally good marines out there, like [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure Sengoku]], and [[PapaBear Monkey D. Garp]][[hottip:*: and even [[WorthyOpponent Smoker]].
* A variant occurs in the ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'' episode, where the name possibly [[TropeNamer originates]]: when Judei/Jaden became {{Drunk on the Darkside}}, the evil that affected him also affected his deck, turning his 'Elemental Heroes' into, literally, "Evil Heroes", basically the same Elemental Heroes, now with [[EvilCounterpart darker and deadlier appearances and powers]].

[[folder: Film]]
* IN ''Film/{{Avatar}}'', Colonel Miles Quaritch and the miners are, admittedly, doing their job: whatever the CEO of RDA on Pandora orders them to do, which is protecting prospectors from the hostile wildlife and the ''occasionally'' hostile Navi; but, said [[CorruptCorporateExecutive CEO]] couldn't care less about a bunch of 'blue monkeys', only using diplomacy to avoid a political controversy, and is clearly more interested in [[GoldFever his precious Unobtainium]], and the soldiers show a little too much [[FantasticRacsism pleasure]] in [[HumansAreBastards gunning down]] alien wildlife [[hottip:*: with Quaritch hinting [[DefectorFromDecadence personal reasons]] for attacking the [[{{Revenge}} Navi]]
* While Alex from ''Film/AClockworkOrange'' is no angel himself, the fact that {{The Government}} would be willing to use [[MindRape nausea-enducing]] [[ColdBloodedTorture Pavlov related torture]], basically [[MoreThanMindControl stripping]] [[TheEvilsOFFreeWill free will]] from the brain, on '''any''' human being makes you wonder if there are any real heroes left in the future world, as well as give him ''a small'' hug.

* Another {{Karma Houdini}} example is [[BattleaxeNurse Nurse Ratched]] from ''{{One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest}}'', who psychologically tortures patients at a mental hospital, who are in no way dangerous, to the point of preventing any opportunity to watch a baseball game, and becoming annoyed when they find a slight way around that, and driving one of her patience to [[DrivenToSuicide suicide]]; all while looking like a normal nurse doing her job in [[VillainInPlainSight public eyes]].

[[folder: Video Games]]
* Caim from ''VideoGame/{{Drakengard}}'' is one. He's heroically fighting to save his CosmicKeystone sister and defend his country from an evil empire, but he's only doing so because he's a [[AxeCrazy bloodthirsty psychopath]] who loves killing as many people as he can on the battlefield.

* Caim from ''VideoGame/{{Drakengard}}'' is one. He's a [[AxeCrazy bloodthirsty psychopath]] who loves killing as many people as he can on the battlefield, but has been put into a hero role to save his CosmicKeystone sister and defend his country from an evil empire.

* While Alex from ''{{A Clockwork Orange}}'' is no angel himself, the fact that {{The Government}} would be willing to use [[MindRape nausea-enducing]] [[ColdBloodedTorture Pavlov related torture]], basically [[MoreThanMindControl stripping]] [[TheEvilsOFFreeWill free will]] from the brain, on '''any''' human being makes you wonder if there are any real heroes left in the future world, as well as give him ''a small'' hug.

* {{One Piece}}: Many of the Marines [[hottip:*: like Onigumo or "Axe-Hand" Morgan]] in the Navy, would, in real life, not be considered good role models for sea lovers and young naval cadets, to say the least, even if their job is to arrest pirates; they sometimes act [[NotSoDifferent no better]] than [[NotSoAboveItAll pirates]]. The same goes for those who run the superprison Impel Down. But to really but it into perspective, take a look at Admiral Akainu, who's a {{Blood Knight}} in a sailor's cap with no regard for anybody's life, including [[WouldHurtAChild Coby's]]; [[ItGotWorse then there's the fact that]], after a vicious dual with another marine, he is now FLEET ADMIRAL, the [[LargeAndInCharge "alpha marine"]], which WILL spell [[InferredHolocaust disaster]] for [[OmnicidalManiac Luffy, his crew, and whatever "good pirates" there are in the world]].

* [[Film/{{Avatar}} Colonel Miles Quaritch]] and the miners are, admittedly, doing their job: whatever the CEO of RDA on Pandora orders them to do, which is protecting prospectors from the hostile wildlife and the ''occasionally'' hostile Navi; but, said [[CorruptCorporateExecutive CEO]] couldn't care less about a bunch of 'blue monkeys', only using diplomacy to avoid a political controversy, and is clearly more interested in [[GoldFever his precious Unobtainium]], and the soldiers show a little too much [[FantasticRacsism pleasure]] in [[HumansAreBastards gunning down]] alien wildlife [[hottip:*: with Quaritch hinting [[DefectorFromDecadence personal reasons]] for attacking the [[{{Revenge}} Navi]]
* While Alex from {{A Clockwork Orange}} is no angel himself, the fact that {{The Government}} would be willing to use [[MindRape nausea-enducing]] [[ColdBloodedTorture Pavlov related torture]], basically [[MoreThanMindControl stripping]] [[TheEvilsOFFreeWill free will]] from the brain, on '''any''' human being makes you wonder if there are any real heroes left in the future world, as well as give him ''a small'' hug.

* Another {{Karma Houdini}} example is Nurse Ratched from {{One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest}}, who psychologically tortures patients at a mental hospital, who are in no way dangerous, to the point of preventing any opportunity to watch a baseball game, and becoming annoyed when they find a slight way around that, and driving one of her patience to [[DrivenToSuicide suicide]]; all while looking like a normal nurse doing her job in [[VillainInPlainSight public eyes]].

* [[{{Avatar}} Colonel Miles Quaritch]] and the miners are, admittedly, doing their job: whatever the CEO of RDA on Pandora orders them to do, which is protecting prospectors from the hostile wildlife and the ''occasionally'' hostile Navi; but, said [[CorruptCorporateExecutive CEO]] couldn't care less about a bunch of 'blue monkeys', only using diplomacy to avoid a political controversy, and is clearly more interested in [[GoldFever his precious Unobtainium]], and the soldiers show a little too much [[FantasticRacsism pleasure]] in [[HumansAreBastards gunning down]] alien wildlife [[hottip:*: with Quaritch hinting [[DefectorFromDecadence personal reasons]] for attacking the [[{{Revenge}} Navi]]

* A variant occurs in the {{Yu-Gi-Oh}} GX episode, where the name possibly [[TropeNamer originates]]: when Judei/Jaden became {{Drunk on the Darkside}}, the evil that affected him also affected his deck, turning his 'Elemental Heroes' into, literally, "Evil Heroes", basically the same Elemental Heroes, now with [[EvilCounterpart darker and deadlier appearances and powers]].

* {{One Piece}}: Many of the Marines [[hottip:*: like Onigumo or "Axe-Hand" Morgan]] in the Navy, would, in real life, not be considered good role models for sea lovers and young naval cadets, to say the least, even if their job is to arrest pirates; they sometimes act [[NotSoDifferent no better]] than [[NotSoAboveItAll pirates]]. The same goes for those who run the superprison Impel Down. But to really but it into perspective, take a look at [[CompleteMonster Admiral Akainu]], who's basically a {{Blood Knight}} in a sailor's cap with no regard for anybody's life, including [[WouldHurtAChild Coby's]]; [[ItGotWorse then there's the fact that]], after a vicious dual with another marine, he is now FLEET ADMIRAL, the [[LargeAndInCharge "alpha marine"]], which WILL spell [[InferredHolocaust disaster]] for [[OmnicidalManiac Luffy, his crew, and whatever "good pirates" there are in the world]].

* The main protagonist of {{The Crow}}:Salvation, Alex, was framed for the murder of his girlfriend, and executed for it, by her true killers: a group of [[RabidCop cops]] who apparently rape and murder for kicks on a regular basis.

* Another {{Karma Houdini}} example is Nurse Ratched from {{One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest}}, who psychologically tortures patients at a mental hospital, who are in no way dangerous, to the point of preventing any opportunity to watch a baseball game, and becoming annoyed when they find a slight way around that, and driving one of her patience to [[DrivenToSuicide suicide]]; all while looking like a normal nurse doing her job in [[VillainInPlainSight public eyes]].

* Another Karma Houdini example is Nurse Ratched from {{One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest}}, who psychologically tortures patients at a mental hospital, who are in no way dangerous, to the point of preventing any opportunity to watch a baseball game, and becoming annoyed when they find a slight way around that, and driving one of her patience to [[DrivenToSuicide suicide]]; all while looking like a normal nurse doing her job in [[VillainInPLainSight public eyes]].

* [[{{Avatar}} Colonel Miles Quaritch]] and the miners are, admittedly, doing their job: whatever the CEO of RDA on Pandora orders them to do, which is protecting prospectors from the hostile wildlife and the ''occasionally'' hostile Navi; but, said [[CorruptCorporateExecutive CEO]] couldn't care less about a bunch of 'blue monkeys', only using diplomacy to avoid a political controversy, and is clearly more interested in [[GoldFever his precious Unobtainium]], and the soldiers show a little too much [[FantasticRascism pleasure]] in [[HumansAreBastards gunning down]] alien wildlife [[hottip:*: with Quaritch hinting [[DefectorFromDecadence personal reasons]] for attacking the [[{{Revenge}} Navi]]

* The main protagonist of {{The Crow}}:Salvation, Alex, was framed for the murder of his girlfriend, and executed for it, by her true killers: a group of [[RabidCops cops]] who apparently rape and murder for kicks on a regular basis.

* A variant occurs in the {{Yu-Gi-Oh!}} GX episode, where the name possibly [[TropeNamer originates]]: when Judei/Jaden became {{Drunk on the Darkside}}, the evil that affected him also affected his deck, turning his 'Elemental Heroes' into, literally, "Evil Heroes", basically the same Elemental Heroes, now with [[EvilCounterpart darker and deadlier appearances and powers]].

* A variant occurs in the {{Yu-Gi-Oh! GX}} episode, where the name possibly [[TropeNamer originates]]: when Judei/Jaden became {{Drunk on the Darkside}}, the evil that affected him also affected his deck, turning his 'Elemental Heroes' into, literally, "Evil Heroes", basically the same Elemental Heroes, now with [[EvilCounterpart darker and deadlier appearances and powers]].

-->-Robin, to Commander Uehara, {{Teen Titans Trouble in Tokyo}}

This is what happens when {{Designated Hero}} [[XMeetsY meets]] {{Villain with Good Publicity}}: a definite bad guy works as a [[PrisonRape cop]] or [[UnfortunateImplications even]] a so called [[PyroManiac "firefighter"]], and, despite their [[DevilinPlainSight actions]], whether due to ignorance on {{The Government}}'s [[NiceJobBreakingItHero part]], or the fact that they simply didn't get fired or resigned yet, or haven't been [[KarmaHoudini caught yet]], still qualify as such.

* While Alex from {{A Clockwork Orange}} is no angel himself, the fact that {{The Government}} would

*** But don't worry folks, there are definitely some right-minded and generally good marines out there, like [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure Sengoku]], and [[PapaBear Monkey D. Garp]][[hottip:*: and even [[WorthyOpponent Smoker]]]].

* {{One Piece}}: Many of the Marines [[PotHole like Onigumo or "Axe-Hand" Morgan]] in the Navy, would, in real life, not be considered good role models for sea lovers and young naval cadets, to say the least, even if their job is to arrest pirates; they sometimes act [[NotSoDifferent no better]] than [[NotSoAboveItAll pirates]]. The same goes for those who run the superprison Impel Down. But to really but it into perspective, take a look at [[CompleteMonster Admiral Akainu]], who's basically a {{Blood Knight}} in a sailor's cap with no regard for anybody's life, including [[WouldHurtAChild Coby's]]; [[ItGotWorse then there's the fact that]], after a vicious dual with another marine, he is now FLEET ADMIRAL, the [[LargeAndInCharge "alpha marine"]], which WILL spell [[InferredHolocaust disaster]] for [[OmnicidalManiac Luffy, his crew, and whatever "good pirates" there are in the world]].

*** But don't worry folks, there are definitely some right-minded and generally good marines out there, like [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure Sengoku]], and [[PapaBear Monkey D. Garp]] [[PotHole and even [[WorthyOpponent Smoker]]]].

{{One Piece}}: Many of the Marines [[PotHole like Onigumo or "Axe-Hand" Morgan]] in the Navy, would, in real life, not be considered good role models for sea lovers and young naval cadets, to say the least, even if their job is to arrest pirates; they sometimes act [[NotSoDifferent no better]] than [[NotSoAboveItAll pirates]]. The same goes for those who run the superprison Impel Down. But to really but it into perspective, take a look at [[CompleteMonster Admiral Akainu]], who's basically a {{Blood Knight}} in a sailor's cap with no regard for anybody's life, including [[WouldHurtAChild Coby's]]; [[ItGotWorse then there's the fact that]], after a vicious dual with another marine, he is now FLEET ADMIRAL, the "alpha marine", which will spell [InferredHolocaust disaster]]

"I know what it means to be a hero, Commander. And trust me - you are no hero"
-Robin, to Commander Uehara, {{Teen Titans Trouble in Tokyo}}->

This is what happens when {{Designated Hero}} [[XMeetsY meets]] {{Villain with Good Publicity}}: a definite bad guy works as a [[PrisonRape cop]] or [[UnfortunateImplications even]] a so called[[PyroManiac "firefighter"]], and, despite their [[DevilinPlainSight actions]], whether due to ignorance on {{The Government}}'s [[NiceJobBreakingItHero part]], or the fact that they simply didn't get fired or resigned yet, or haven't been [[KarmaHoudini caught yet]], still qualify as such.

[[folder: Anime]] One Piece

[[center:"I know what it means to be a hero, Commander. And trust me - you are no hero"
-Robin, to Commander Uehara, {{Teen Titans Trouble in Tokyo}}]]

This is what happens when {{Designated Hero}} [[XMeetsY meets]] {{Villain with Good Publicity}}: the bad guy works as a [[PrisonRape cop]] or [[UnfortunateImplications even]] a so called[[PyroManiac "firefighter"]], and, despite their [[DevilinPlainSight actions]], whether due to ignorance on {{The Government}}'s [[NiceJobBreakingItHero part]], or the fact that they simply didn't get fired or resigned yet, or haven't been [[KarmaHoudini caught yet]], still qualify as such.

"I know what it means to be a hero, Commander. And trust me - you are no hero"
-Robin, to Commander Uehara, {{Teen Titans Trouble in Tokyo}}

But... [[CorruptCorporateExecutive as]] [[MadScientist we]] have seen before, that is not always the case.