History Main / EvilMentor

The Evil Mentor will lead them down the path to the DarkSide. This can involve teaching the character BlackMagic, a DangerousForbiddenTechnique, how to use a DeadlyUpgrade (while downplaying the costs), advanced PsychicPowers like MindRape or {{Brainwash|ed}}ing, and generally introduce them to abilities or substances that are [[ThisIsYourBrainOnEvil painfully addictive]] and make PsychoSerum seem safe to use by comparison.

* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': [[BigBad Tomura Shigaraki]]'s "Sensei" is All For One, [[BigGood All Might]]'s ArchEnemy, who essentially took him off the streets after the death of his family (which Shigarki's [[MakeThemRot Quirk]] caused, [[WildMassGuessing at least according]] to [[UnreliableNarrator All For One]]), and raised him to be his successor after his and All Might's FinalBattle left him crippled. This is later revealed to be because [[spoiler: Shigaraki is actually Tenko Shimura, the grandson of Nana Shimura, All Might's beloved mentor. All For One thought it would be entertaining to see All Might's reaction to that]]. This is presented as a direct {{Foil}} to [[TheHero Deku]]'s more traditional [[MentorArchetype student/teacher relationship]] with All Might.

* ''VideoGame/Persona5'' gives us art instructor Ichiryuusai Madarame, who is famous for his works of art. What the public is less aware of is that none of the art is truly his, but is stolen from his students, which includes his adopted son Yusuke Kitagawa. [[spoiler:Even less known is how Yusuke was adopted; Madarame was in the best position to save Yusuke's dying mother but chose not to, instead taking the boy in for the sake of exploiting his talents.]] Needless to say, [[ThisIsUnforgivable Yusuke is furious]] when the truth about Madarame becomes known.

* Voldemort to Harry in the ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' fanfic ''Fanfic/AnAuntsLove''. Well, Bleys did say that Voldemort had to give him something twice, because of Voldemort's taking of his parents and his blood. This could be the way it happens.

* Played with in ''Fanfic/WhatAboutWitchQueen''. General Berg is EvilMentor to Kai, trying to buy him for his case, although he's more of WellIntentionedExtremist than outright evil and he's sorry for having to drag Kai into this entire mess. He's also hinted to honestly like Kai.
* Lama Nawang in ''Fanfic/FairVote''.

* The ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'' has Celestia's {{Fallen A|ngel}}licorn brother [[SatanicArchetype Morning Star]] having taught Discord how to be an effective ManipulativeBastard. Though, naturally, Discord was already evil before he ever started learning from Morning Star. [[spoiler:Discord becomes this to Diamond Tiara later on, simultaneously breaking her mind to raise her into his new TheDragon.]]

* In ''Fanfic/HopeForTheHeartless'', it's revealed that the lessons that set [[WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron the Horned King]] to become the [[TheDreaded feared walord]] he's known as were originally learned centuries ago from [[AscendedExtra Arawn]], the [[NamesToRunAwayFrom/{{Nouns}} Death]] [[NamesToRunAwayFrom/{{Titles}} Lord]] of [[Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain Annuvin]] (whose spirit is [[SealedEvilInACan trapped]] inside [[ArtifactOfDoom the Black Cauldron]]).
* In the ''Literature/TheHungerGames''/''Series/{{Angel}}'' crossover "[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10718717/1/Demon-s-Games Demon's Games]]", Alma Coin takes on this role for Gale during the rebellion, encouraging his more ruthless tendencies and desire for revenge against the Capitol so that he'll help her get rid of Angel, Coin convincing Gale that Angel's too kind to properly punish the Capitol residents for their past actions while claiming she'll deal with them as appropriate when really she just wants to be the one in charge.
* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'': The first Horned Reaper, a demon, teaches Ami how to be a keeper.
** ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperOfLoveAndJustice'': A RecursiveFanfiction of the above, which has this trope in common.
* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/705578/1/Genma-s-Journal Genma’s Journal]] '' has the cast of Manga/RanmaOneHalf learn that Genma was ObfuscatingStupidity to conceal his motives to turn Ranma into TheUnfettered WorldsBestWarrior.
* Tom Riddle really wants to mentor Rigel in ''Fanfic/TheRigelBlackChronicles'', in order to elevate him as a symbol of pureblood superiority, but has been misreading Rigel's character (notably, the fact that "Rigel" is really half-blood Harriett Potter in disguise) and so his efforts to reach out have fallen flat. Still, Riddle is known for being persistent in getting what he wants.
* In the ''Literature/WarriorCats'' fanfiction ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13688255/3/A-Lion-s-Strength A Lion's Strength]]'', one of the deciding factors in whether Tigerclaw should be exiled or not is that his apprentice -- once a lively, happy kit -- is always withdrawn and visibly terrified around him. It's not proof that he murdered Redtail, but circumstantially it lends a lot of credence to Ravenpaw's accusations.
* In ''Fanfic/ThisBites'', [[spoiler:Sir Crocodile offers Vivi the tutelage of improving her Logia abilities to fight in the New World during the two years time skip, [[INeedYouStronger knowing that the Straw Hat Pirates' chaos will always leave him new opportunities]]. While enraged at the destruction Crocodile had brought before, Vivi accepts knowing those skills he will teach her are too invaluable to ignore. But she makes it clear that when she is strong enough, [[IllKillYou she will kill him for everything he had done to her country]]]].
* ''Fanfic/AMothToAFlame'': The Core acts as this to Marcy, essentially the Palpatine to her Anakin Skywalker. [[TheCorrupter They encourage her to have a darker mentality]] that consists of ItsAllAboutMe, NeverMyFault, EntitledToHaveYou, ThatManIsDead and finally AGodAmI, turning her into a devout follower who is utterly dedicated to the MindHive.
* ''Fanfic/AllForLuz'': [[Characters/AllForLuzAllForOne All For One]] acts as a SpiritAdvisor version of this to Luz, the inheritor of his Quirk. He teaches how to use her powers while subtly trying corrupt her into a colder, darker, and more brutal version of herself to make her a more ideal SuperiorSuccessor.

* ''Fanfic/AllForLuz'': All For One acts as a SpiritAdvisor version of this to Luz, the inheritor of his Quirk. He teaches how to use her powers while subtly trying corrupt her into a colder, darker, and more brutal version of herself to make her a more ideal SuperiorSuccessor.

* ''VideoGame/Persona5'' gives us art instructor Ichiryuusai Madarame, who is famous for his works of art. What the public is less aware of is that none of the art is truly his, but is stolen from his students, which includes his adopted son Yusuke Kitagawa. [[spoiler:Even less known is how Yusuke was adopted; Madarame was in the best position to save Yusuke's dying mother but chose not to, instead taking the boy in for the sake of exploiting his talents.]] Needless to say, [[ThisIsUnforgivable Yusuke is fucking pissed]] when the truth about Madarame becomes known.

* ''ComicBook/JewGangster'' The mobster Monk Shapiro is this to Reuben Kaplan, teaching him the ways of the gangster life, along with ancillary skills such as driving (and stealing) cars.

* ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}} does this as a hobby. He once acted as an Evil Mentor to Terra, before he realized too late that she was [[EvilerThanThou even more evil than him]]. He also tried to turn ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} evil in the "Renegade" storyline, but Nightwing turned that around by acting as a ''Good'' Mentor to Slade's daughter Rose which led to her HeelFaceTurn. He also founded an EvilCounterpart to the ComicBook/TeenTitans ''twice''. Slade in general has a disturbing interest in corrupting the next generation of superbeings.

* ComicBook/DoctorStrange once had to learn dark magic from Kaluu, the rival of his original mentor known as the Ancient One, in order to combat the demon Shuma-Gorath. Deconstruction of the trope soon followed -- Kaluu may have been ruthless or pragmatic, but he still did far more good than harm.

** In ''Comicbook/RedHoodTheLostDays'', ComicBook/TaliaAlGhul searches these out to teach Jason how to use a gun, and how to effectively maim and kill in a fight. Jason requested Talia be one to him but she's really using the training time to stall as she has no desire to see Jason or Bruce die.

%%* ''Comicbook/TheBoys'': It's beginning to look as if [[spoiler: Billy Butcher]] might be this to the boys, although given the CrapsackWorld that the work is set in, it might be more of a ''Necessarily'' Evil Mentor.%%Examples aren't recent. Is he or not? How?

** In ''[[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders Outsiders]]'', while fighting Arsenal, he once mentioned that after he killed Roy he would take Lian and raise her to be an assassin.
* Comicbook/DoctorStrange once had to learn dark magic from Kaluu, the rival of his original mentor known as the Ancient One, in order to combat the demon Shuma-Gorath. Deconstruction of the trope soon followed -- Kaluu may have been ruthless or pragmatic, but he still did far more good than harm.

* ''ComicBook/RedRobin'': Following Bruce's "death" when Tim is on his own Comicbook/RasAlGhul tried to step in as a mentor figure for Tim, and did for a little while but ''both'' of them had ulterior motives and Tim blew up multiple League of Assassins bases while ruing their computer network on his way out the door. He is concerned he may have slipped a little too close to breaking Batman's golden rule while working with Ra's but he doesn't plan on doing so again.

* ''Manhua/TheCelestialZone'': Xue Wu runs across one of these near the end of the series. Given that his insane competitiveness has been pushing him down the slippery slope, and that a villain recently gave him the [[IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim If You Kill Me You Will Be Just Like Me]] speech right before he kebabed her, it doesn't end well.

** Alastair to Dean. When Dean was in Hell he tortured Dean for decades until he broke completely, and then taught him the arts of torture so his student could apply his teachings on the new arrivals. Plays up the avuncular thing kind of the way Azazel used to. Thankfully no signs of StockholmSyndrome, at least not that survived his resurrection.

* The episode "The Doctor In Sin" of ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' has an Evil Mentor who is an interesting inversion of the StealthMentor. Dr. Henry Killinger acts as a life coach to Dr. Venture, revitalizing his company, his life, and his soul. Mystic Dr. Orpheus is convinced from the start that he is pure evil, but [[TheCassandra no one else is too worried]], and all of Killinger's advice is effective. Dr. Venture realizes with a shock only at the very end that Killinger has been grooming him to be a supervillain, archrival of his own [[CainAndAbel brother]]. He decides not to go through with it, and Killinger leaves graciously.
-->'''Dr. Venture''': He thinks I'm a... Brock, am I a... bad person?\\
'''Brock''': What the hell just happened?\\
'''Dr. Venture''': Am I, Brock?!\\
'''Brock''': [[NonAnswer Ehhh...]]

** The storyline "The Fall of Deadworld" set in an AlternateUniverse features the gruff Judge Fairfax as its protagonist, who just wants to ride out the ensuing apocalypse. It turns out that in Law School he was the favorite protegé of none other than [[OmnicidalManiac Judge Death]], the monster who is destroying that world. Death still wants Fairfax back in his inner circle as his fourth lieutenant.

%%* It's beginning to look as if [[spoiler: Billy Butcher]] might be this to Comicbook/TheBoys, although given the CrapsackWorld that the work is set in, it might be more of a ''Necessarily'' Evil Mentor.%%Examples aren't recent. Is he or not? How?

* ''ComicBook/TheDeadBoyDetectives'' 2004 miniseries: Marquez teaches the boys some tricks on using their ghostly powers for investigation...in order to aid them in his agenda of killing Hob and stealing his immortality.

** In ''Outsiders'', while fighting Arsenal, he once mentioned that after he killed Roy he would take Lian and raise her to be an assassin.
* ''Franchise/TheDCU'' villain Prometheus gives this a brief shot when he takes in a young sociopath named Chad Graham. He intends Chad to be his Robin, but the kid turns out to be a huge disappointment. Eventually he [[KillItWithFire sets him on fire]] for his trouble.
* ComicBook/DoctorOctopus was this to Carolyn Trainer (aka Lady Octopus) and Stunner, who was also his lover. (Both were likely the only allies he had who were truly had loyalty to him, and even ''he'' questioned what he had done to earn it.)

* Many different versions of ComicBook/TheJoker have done this, corrupting everyone from ComicBook/HarleyQuinn to [[WesternAnimation/TheBatman different versions of Clayface]] to [[WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker Tim Drake]] to [[ComicBook/TheKillingJoke Jim Gordon.]]

* Although ComicBook/LadyShiva is generally more of a Neutral Mentor, she can fall into this at times. For example, when Batman went to her for training as part of his post-{{ComicBook/Bane}} recovery, she "trained" Batman by disguising herself as him and murdering an OldMaster. Those pissed-off students out for revenge? That's the training!

* In ''Comicbook/RedHoodTheLostDays'', ComicBook/TaliaAlGhul searches these out to teach Jason how to use a gun, and how to effectively maim and kill in a fight. Jason requested Talia be one to him but she's really using the training time to stall as she has no desire to see Jason or Bruce die.

* The Scarecrow has tried this a couple of times, encouraging young victims of bullying toward bloody revenge. He's had various degrees of success -- one of his "students" prevented him from stabbing Franchise/{{Batman}} but kept and used a can of his fear gas.
** The ''Heart of Hush'' storyline revealed that twenty years ago Scarecrow played this to a young Tommy Elliot -- better known as [[ManipulativeBastard Hush]].
* In ''ComicBook/{{Spawn}}'', The Clown/Violator was a demon tasked with training the Hellspawn Al Simmons and making sure that he fulfilled his purpose.

* The ComicBook/{{Taskmaster}} is a Marvel villain who does this ''professionally''. Occasionally working for the ComicBook/RedSkull, he hires himself out to train mercenaries and super-villains; while some of his students have become successful super-villains -- or even heroes, more or less -- in their own right (examples include Crossbones and Cutthroat (also henchmen of the Skull), U.S. Agent, Hauptmann Deutschland, Diamondback, Spymaster, the original Spider-Woman, and Agent X) most of the time he just trains thugs to be low-rent henchmen and cannon fodder. (When working for the ComicBook/RedSkull, he can often cross the line to TreacherousAdvisor at times, in one case sending the more disappointing ones to be "sparring partners" for his boss, which was a death sentence. On his own, he's more by-the-book, in case one hiring other super-villains to form formal academies, like the time Anaconda worked for him as a calisthenics instructor.)
* ''ComicBook/{{Wanted}}'': The entire Fraternity serve as this to Wesley, but Solomon Seltzer and the Fox in particular. Their goal is to make him a powerful and feared {{supervillain}} like his father, but in a subversion, they ''do'' have his best interests at heart. [[spoiler:Wesley's father is a more distant version, as he doesn't reveal himself until the end to complete his son's training.]]

* ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}'s mentor Trickshot, the man who taught him archery in the first place, was this at first. He trained young Clint to be a great marksman -- so he could have an accomplice watching his back when he committed crimes. After being forced to shoot his own brother, Clint backed out of their arrangement, causing Trickshot to promise he'll live to regret that decision. [[spoiler:When they meet again in the present day, Trickshot gradually becomes Hawkeye's ally if not necessarily his friend.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Katara meets Hama, a waterbender from their South Pole tribe, who uses her waterbending to take control of other peoples' bodies by "bending" the water inside their blood, and uses this power on innocent people in the Fire Nation town where she lives in revenge for her tribe being imprisoned by the [[TheEmpire Fire Nation]]. Katara is horrified and refuses to learn, but in the end must resort to using it on the Evil Mentor in order to save Sokka and Aang. Before being sent away, Hama "congratulates" her for using it and [[EvilLaugh laughs]]. Katara was understandably upset, feeling that the technique can only be used for evil. She does end up using bloodbending again in the middle of a RoaringRampageOfRevenge for her dead mother, indirectly showing how close she is to JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope thanks to Hama.

** Korra herself is instructed briefly by her [[EvilUncle uncle]] Unalaq, who gives her some spiritual training and, like with Hama and Katara, a new waterbending technique, that infuses water with [[LightEmUp light]]. [[spoiler: This bites him ''severely'' in the ass at the season finale when Korra uses this very same technique to purify Unavaatu]]. Later on, she is forced to go to [[spoiler:Zaheer]] for help against the Season 4 BigBad Kuvira, who plays with this trope; he is evil, and he is a mentor, but his advice in this situation is purely beneficial to Korra.
** Bolin had three of these. The first two are Shady Shin and Varrick, neither of whom manage to do anything to corrupt him other than causing him to stretch his morals with less-than-legal tools of the trade. He also becomes one of Kuvira's lieutenants in the fourth book and unwittingly does a lot of morally grey enforcement in her campaign to reunite the Earth Kingdom. Eventually, he cottons on and helps overthrow her.

* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': [[BigBad Tomura Shigaraki]]'s "Sensei" is All For One, [[BigGood All Might]]'s ArchEnemy, who essentially took him off the streets after the death of his family (which Shigarki's [[MakeThemRot Quirk]] caused, [[WildMassGuessing at least according]] to [[UnreliableNarrator All For One]]), and raised him to be his successor after his and All Might's FinalBattle left him crippled. This is later revealed to be because [[spoiler: Shigaraiki is actually Tenko Shimura, the grandson of Nana Shimura, All Might's beloved mentor. All For One thought it would be entertaining to see All Might's reaction to that]]. This is presented as a direct {{Foil}} to [[TheHero Deku]]'s more traditional [[MentorArchetype student/teacher relationship]] with All Might.

* ''VideoGame/SkullGirls'': [[DeadlyDoctor Valentine]] has a more adversarial version of this with [[LivingWeapon Painwheel]], at least in the former's story mode. She "created" Painwheel in the first place, and wants to see the girl-turned-monster become strong enough to [[spoiler:kill the [[BigBad Skullgirl]]]]. Even if Valentine has to [[spoiler:become a Skullgirl]] to do so. This relationship is best summed up in her dialogue whenever Painwheel beats her: "Atta girl".

** The world's greatest assassin, Tai Pai Pai, and his brother, the Crane Hermit, were Tenshinhan and Chiaotzu's teachers before they defected.

*** Tobi had his own evil mentor: [[spoiler:Madara Uchiha]].
** Shimura Danzou did a version of this, too, though he tended more towards [[TheSvengali Svengali]] territory. With the MoreThanMindControl conditioning and what he did to Uchiha Itachi and all.

* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'': Makoto Shishio, towards Soujirou Seta. He was kinder towards Soujirou [[AbusiveParents than his abusive stepsiblings]] [[TheUnfavorite ever were to him]].

* ''Fanfic/AllForLuz'': All For One acts as a SpiritAdvisor version of this to Luz, the inheritor of his Quirk. He teaches how to use her powers while subtly trying corrupt her into a colder, darker, and more brutal of herself to make her more ideal SuperiorSuccessor.