History Main / VillainEpisode

* From Fanfic/AvengersInfiniteWars:

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', via the anthology format, had entire story arcs focusing on minor villain characters. One involves Asajj Ventress' and her betrayal by Count Dooku, and her trying to take revenge and later rebuilding her life as a Night Sister and, later, a bounty hunter. Savage Oppress also has his arc where he locates an exiled and mutilated [[Film/ThePhantomMenace Darth Maul]] and their story bridges together a couple of other arcs involving pirates, bounty hunters, crime syndicates (like the Hutts) and [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Deathwatch]]. In most Jedi only appeared in supporting roles or not at all.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' episode "Through Imperial Eyes" mainly focuses on Agent Kallus being helped by [[TheHero Ezra]] (who has planted himself in Imperial custody and later disguises himself as an Imperial officer) in [[spoiler:deflecting suspicion that Kallus is TheMole, having had a HeelFaceTurn at the beginning of the season]], while Grand Admiral Thrawn, Governor Pryce, and Colonel Yularen (as well as Lieutenant Lyste) try to figure out who the spy is.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|2003}}'' has three episodes:

* In ''[[WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012 Ultimate Spider-Man]]'', "Me Time" ends up being this for Doctor Octopus. The episode focuses on Doctor Octopus trying to capture Spider-Man himself [[spoiler:lest he be played off by Osborn]], showing him ''winning'' the fight between Spider-Man, as well as [[spoiler:implying that his EvilCripple condition has taken a toll on his appearance, hygiene, and sanity]]. Before this episode, Doctor Octopus was scarcely seen except in scenes which are in his lab.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/WhereOnEarthIsCarmenSandiego'' ChristmasEpisode "Just Like Old Times" Carmen 'kidnaps' The Chief. He suffers memory loss due to a virus and still thinks Carmen is an [=ACME=] agent. She uses this to her advantage and gets him to help with her thievery. In a twist on the usual formula, Ivy and Zach give out clues to Carmen about Christmas-related things to steal.

* ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil2013'': September 2013 was when the event debuted and was also Villains Month, in which all the heroic ongoing series were replaced with one-shot issues featuring various villains. While many were about [[OriginsIssue the origins of]] [[StartOfDarkness the villains]] ([[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid Darkseid]], [[ComicBook/LightsOut Relic]], etc.), some were tie-ins to ''Forever Evil'' ([[ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} Black Manta]]), and some were [[TakeAThirdOption both]] ([[ComicBook/SuicideSquad Deadshot, Harley Quinn]]).

** ''Generation 1'':

** ''[[WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime Prime]]'' had "Crossfire", "Patch", and "Thirst".

* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'': ''Sonic Universe]]'' managed to pull three villain arcs in a row, for a full year's worth of issues.

** During Creator/MarkWaid's run there was an issue focusing on the [[Characters/MarvelComicsRedSkull Red Skull]] ... which was subjected to such ExecutiveMeddling that [[http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/01/18/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-86/ Waid had his name removed from it.]] (Essentially, Waid's attempt to get into the head of a Nazi was stymied by a ruling that a) the Skull was a CardCarryingVillain, and b) despite this, he [[ButNotTooEvil couldn't actually be racist]].)

* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'':
** One issue had a fairly brief sub-story in which [[Characters/SupermanLexLuthor Lex Luthor]] thought-balloons about what to get his little nephew Val for his birthday. His {{Mooks}} speculate about what scheme he's working on as Lex demands not to be disturbed in his laboratory, figuring he's coming up with a way to defeat Superman or {{take over the world}}. Lex then dodges police as he surreptitiously delivers his invention to Val's doorstep, and is caught and led away to jail immediately afterwards. Val opens the mysterious package to discover someone has given him a Superman cape that even stretches like the real one. Val is thrilled, but at the end says, [[spoiler:"Too bad it isn't a ''Batman cape''. He's my REAL hero."]]
** There's also ''ComicBook/LexLuthorManOfSteel'', which goes into Luthor's motivations for opposing the [[HumanoidAliens unknowable alien]] whose [[PhysicalGod effortless superpowers]] make a [[HumansAreSpecial mockery of mankind's efforts]]. Subverts the 'makes them sympathetic' aspect, however, in that while we've gotten a glimpse into how Luthor thinks and what would seem to be a more sympathetic approach to his worldview, it's still made pretty clear that he's evil, and all the worse for it because he's deluded himself into believing he's righteous.
** Creator/PaulCornell made Lex Luthor the main character of ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' for the duration of ''ComicBook/TheBlackRing'' story arc.
** "[[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 Second Born: The Secret Origin of Superwoman]]" describes the events of ''ComicBook/WhoIsSuperwoman'' from the perspective of the eponymous villain.
** The second chapter of ''ComicBook/TheUnknownSupergirl'' introduces [[BigBad Lesla-Lar]], narrates the events of the first chapter since her point of view, and goes into her motivations to mess up with [[Characters/SupergirlTheCharacter Kara]].
* A "Faces of Evil" FifthWeekEvent from DC consisted of villain spotlight issues of many of their major titles. An earlier FifthWeekEvent was "New Year's Evil".

* ''[[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics Sonic Universe]]'' managed to pull three villain arcs in a row, for a full year's worth of issues.

* September 2013 was when ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil2013'' debuted and was also Villains Month, in which all the heroic ongoing series were replaced with one-shot issues featuring various villains. While many were about [[OriginsIssue the origins of]] [[StartOfDarkness the villains]] ([[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid Darkseid]], [[ComicBook/LightsOut Relic]], etc.), some were tie-ins to ''Forever Evil'' ([[ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} Black Manta]]), and some were [[TakeAThirdOption both]] ([[ComicBook/SuicideSquad Deadshot, Harley Quinn]]).
* Issue #30 of ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'', titled "Phase Two", is almost completely told from the perspective of the [[AlienInvasion Evronians]] and [[AiIsACrapshoot Two]].
* ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFiendshipIsMagic'' is a five issue mini-series all about various ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' villains and their origins. ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendsForever'' #16 focuses on Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon trying to outdo the Cutie Mark Crusaders. While not nearly as bad as some of the examples on the list, at that point the two had been nothing but antagonistic throughout the franchise.
* Nominally, the ''JLA'' one-shot in Creator/TangentComics was one of these, the Justice League of America being a government agency dedicated to neutralizing superhumans by any means necessary. In practice, the issue is mostly about the heroes the JLA targets (namely Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, the Green Lantern, and the original Atom) fighting them off and forming an alliance; little is learned about the JLA's history, inner workings, or individual motivations.

* Issue 39 of ''ComicBook/TransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'' leaves the two protagonist groups (the Lost Light crew and the Scavengers), and instead focuses on the main villains, the Decepticon Justice Division. The issue gives a peek into their everyday lives, shows how they've come to [[TrueCompanions consider each other family]], and explains why they do what they do.
* A notable story in ''ComicBook/TheBatmanAdventures'' is told from the perspective of the Joker. Specifically it starts immediately ''after'' a typical Batman story, showing how he has to make his way back to his hideout after getting punched off a blimp to his supposed doom [[JokerImmunity for the hundredth time]]. ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'' is another notable "spotlight story" for the Joker, showing his point-of-view on his conflict with Batman, MultipleChoicePast, and motivations.
* ''ComicBook/Trinity2016'' #7 stars Lex Luthor, [[Characters/BatmanRasAlGhul Ra's Al-Ghul]] and [[Characters/WonderWomanVillains Circe]], complete with their own versions of the narrative captions Characters/{{Superman|TheCharacter}}, Characters/{{Batman|TheCharacter}} and Characters/{{Wonder Woman|TheCharacter}} usually provide.
* ''ComicBook/XMenBlack'' is a miniseries showing average days for various ComicBook/XMen villains. Some, like Magneto and Mojo, are shown to have [[HiddenDepths more sympathetic sides to them]]. Others, like Mystique and Apocalypse, just come off as even ''more'' evil. Either way, the X-Men play little role and when they do appear, it’s usually at the last minute to interrupt whatever situation the villains are involved in.
* Franchise/StarWars:

* ''ComicBook/JusticeLeague2018'' has occasional issues focusing on the activities of the LegionOfDoom, complete with [[HostileShowTakeover appropriate cover art]]. So far, these issues consist of #5, #8, #13, and #18.
* ''ComicBook/BatmanBlackAndWhite'': "The Riddle" is about the Riddler breaking into a private collection of memorabilia to steal a valuable document containing the answer to a famous unsolved riddle, with Batman only showing up on the second-last page.
* ''ComicBook/JSAClassified'': While the rest of the book focuses on the ComicBook/{{JSA}}, the "Honor Among Thieves" arc is all about the Injustice Society, and how the core members will risk their lives and livelihoods to save one of their own even when there is nothing else in it for them.
* ''ComicBook/{{Chlorophylle}}'': The "Zizanion le Terrible" album has the eponymous villain hog all the screen time.
* ''Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine'':
** In the magazine's early days as ''Doctor Who Weekly/Monthly'', it had a series of backup strips spotlighting supporting characters from the TV series. While some backups featured the show's monsters as [[MonsterOfTheWeek monsters of the week]], others cast them as protagonists of their own adventures.
** Much later, long after the backups had ended, DWM did a one-shot strip in issue #311, "Character Assassin", about the Doctor's archenemy the Master venturing into the Land of Fiction from "The Mind Robber".
* ''ComicBook/TheWalkingDead'' issue 46 covers the same timeframe as the last couple of issues, showing the leadup to the WhamShot at the end of issue 45 from the perspective of the Governor and his underlings.
* ''ComicBook/PlanetOfTheApesUrsus'': A miniseries covering both the origins of KillerGorilla General Ursus and his P.O.V. during the events of the first two [[Film/PlanetOfTheApes1968 Apes]] [[Film/BeneathThePlanetOfTheApes films]].

* ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'':
** There was a famous issue during Creator/JohnByrne's run that centered on [[Characters/MarvelComicsDoctorDoom Doctor Doom]] and did not feature a single member of the titular team.
** Creator/MarkWaid's run on the book also included an issue in the same manner, which served as a prelude to an entire arc featuring Doom.
* Issue 4 of ''ComicBook/JohnnyTheHomicidalManiac'' ended with Johnny successfully dying at last. The next issue was all about two of his prisoners trying to escape the TortureCellar, with Johnny himself only appearing in a few panels at the very end.
* This is a recurring staple of ''ComicBook/AstroCity'':

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
** One issue had a fairly brief sub-story in which [[Characters/SupermanLexLuthor Lex Luthor]] thought-balloons about what to get his little nephew Val for his birthday. His {{Mooks}} speculate about what scheme he's working on as Lex demands not to be disturbed in his laboratory, figuring he's coming up with a way to defeat Superman or {{take over the world}}. Lex then dodges police as he surreptitiously delivers his invention to Val's doorstep, and is caught and led away to jail immediately afterwards. Val opens the mysterious package to discover someone has given him a Superman cape that even stretches like the real one. Val is thrilled, but at the end says, [[spoiler:"Too bad it isn't a ''Batman cape''. He's my REAL hero."]]
** There's also ''ComicBook/LexLuthorManOfSteel'', which goes into Luthor's motivations for opposing the [[HumanoidAliens unknowable alien]] whose [[PhysicalGod effortless superpowers]] make a [[HumansAreSpecial mockery of mankind's efforts]]. Subverts the 'makes them sympathetic' aspect, however, in that while we've gotten a glimpse into how Luthor thinks and what would seem to be a more sympathetic approach to his worldview, it's still made pretty clear that he's evil, and all the worse for it because he's deluded himself into believing he's righteous.
** Creator/PaulCornell made Lex Luthor the main character of ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' for the duration of ''ComicBook/TheBlackRing'' story arc.
** "[[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 Second Born: The Secret Origin of Superwoman]]" describes the events of ''ComicBook/WhoIsSuperwoman'' from the perspective of the eponymous villain.
** The second chapter of ''ComicBook/TheUnknownSupergirl'' introduces [[BigBad Lesla-Lar]], narrates the events of the first chapter since her point of view, and goes into her motivations to mess up with [[Characters/SupergirlTheCharacter Kara]].
* Several issues of ''ComicBook/AvengersTheInitiative'' during the ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion'' crossover event are told from the perspective of Crusader, secretly an advance scout for a Skrull invasion. Key word there -- ''a'' Skrull invasion. The particular Skrull invasion featured in ''Secret Invasion'' was a surprise to even Crusader himself.

* A "Faces of Evil" FifthWeekEvent from DC consisted of villain spotlight issues of many of their major titles. An earlier FifthWeekEvent was "New Year's Evil".
* Creator/GeoffJohns' run on ''Franchise/TheFlash'' featured periodic issues spotlighting one of the {{Rogues|Gallery}}.
* ''[[ComicBook/Robin1993 Robin]] #85'' focuses entirely on [[Characters/BatmanTheJoker The Joker]], who gives a warped-but-mostly-accurate rundown of his history with all three Robins so far.
* An issue of Franchise/GreenLantern, intended to be a prelude to ''ComicBook/BlackestNight'', shows us what William Hand's childhood was like and how he eventually became the supervillain Black Hand. The main books in the ''Comicbook/BlackestNight'' saga focused on Black Hand's thoughts on each of the emotional spectrum corps at the end of each book in a feature called The Book of Black.
* Comicbook/DarkReign was basically one long villain episode for Marvel. The ComicBook/DarkAvengers concept was specifically revisited in ''Comicbook/NewAvengers #18'', which centered around ComicBook/NormanOsborn assembling a new incarnation of the group and forging bonds with HYDRA, A.I.M., and the Hand. Not a single hero -- much less an actual member of the Avengers -- appeared in the issue.
* Marvel put out a series of one shots celebrating Comicbook/CaptainAmerica's 70th anniversary. Each one-shot starring one of Cap's allies. However two of these one-shots star two of Cap's villains. One has Crossbones as the protagonist and the other has [[FriendlyEnemy Batroc the Leaper]].

* September 2013 was when ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil2013'' debuted and was also Villains Month, in which all the heroic ongoing series were replaced with one-shot issues featuring various villains. While many were about [[OriginsIssue the origins of]] [[StartOfDarkness the villains]] ([[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid Darkseid]], [[ComicBook/LightsOut Relic]], etc.), some were tie-ins to ''Forever Evil'' ([[ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} Black Manta]]), and some were [[TakeAThirdOption both]] ([[Comicbook/SuicideSquad Deadshot, Harley Quinn]]).

* ''ComicBook/XMenBlack'' is a miniseries showing average days for various Franchise/XMen villains. Some, like Magneto and Mojo, are shown to have [[HiddenDepths more sympathetic sides to them]]. Others, like Mystique and Apocalypse, just come off as even ''more'' evil. Either way, the X-Men play little role and when they do appear, it’s usually at the last minute to interrupt whatever situation the villains are involved in.

* ''Comicbook/TheWalkingDead'' issue 46 covers the same timeframe as the last couple of issues, showing the leadup to the WhamShot at the end of issue 45 from the perspective of the Governor and his underlings.