Back in August of 2024, I talked about creating compelling characters, something important to all authors. But I didn’t address details about—arguably—the most compelling characters of all: villains. In many ways, they are the champions of literature, and they may attract me to a book or series as much as its heroes or heroines.
The Power of a Compelling Villain
In literature, a well-crafted villain is often as memorable as the hero, sometimes more so. Think about Iago from Othello or Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter series. These great villains captivate readers with their complexity, motivations, and how they impact the story. Convincing villains like these do more than create conflict: they challenge the hero, reveal deeper truths about human nature, and drive the narrative forward.
What’s important is to understand that villains aren’t solely evil. The best villains are multi-dimensional, with their own desires, motivations, and vulnerabilities. This is what makes them so compelling.
Give Them Strong and Believable Motivations
The mark of a convincing villain is a clear and compelling motivation. And it’s no fun if the villain in your novel is a stereotypical bad guy. Instead, a villain’s actions should stem from strong personal desires, experiences, or values that the villain believes are not only right, but perhaps noble. This is true even if they may appear twisted or immoral to the rest of us.
For villain—just like the rest of us—their past is shaped by their experience and worldview. Did they become cruel or inhuman because of a personal tragedy, betrayal, or perceived injustice? Further, every strong villain has a clear objective. Whether they seek power, revenge, or a warped sense of justice, how they act should align with their goals. For example, in Take Hart, the drug kingpin known as Cobra is drawn to eliminate fighting between drug gangs by creating a new more orderly drug dealing business. But he chooses to do this by overwhelming violence, while also being furious when an innocent kid is killed during a drive-by. Since when are drug traffickers so concerned about innocents when their products kill millions every year? The logic seems warped to me, but it was one feature of Cobra that I thought was compelling.
Develop Villains with Depth and Complexity
To avoid creating clichéd or cartoonish characters, we need to give these characters depth and relatable qualities. Even the most diabolical antagonist should have some likeable traits, making them more believable—and sometimes disturbingly sympathetic. Remember Killmonger from The Black Panther? As a young child Eric saw his father killed by the Black Panther (T-Challah’s father). This helped me understand how Killmonger could have acted so ruthlessly in the film.
We also create interesting and compelling villains when we show their vulnerabilities. Give them virtues or redeeming qualities:
A layered villain might demonstrate charisma, loyalty, or even a twisted sense of honor. Their weaknesses are more compelling because they make them appear more human. Whether it’s an addiction, a fear of betrayal, or a hidden guilt, these vulnerabilities make them more relatable and their downfall all the more satisfying. In Breaking Bad, Walter White’s descent into villainy is driven by pride and a need for control, making his eventual downfall both tragic and believable. Villains that tug at our souls often show unexpected qualities, such as moments of tenderness, humor, or regret.
A great villain should be a genuine threat to the protagonist. The stronger and more intelligent the antagonist, the more formidable the conflict. Weak or underdeveloped villains make the hero look weak as well. Without the tension and high stakes presented by a worthy villain, our stories can fall flat. Compelling villains hold power, whether they attained it through wealth, social status, influence over others, or simply by taking it.
The Power of Personal Connections
Villains may also be more compelling when they have a personal connection with the hero. These personal connections make the stakes more meaningful. A great example of this? Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back where learning that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father adds depth and emotional weight to their battle. (Note: Mark Hamill has shared that only a few people knew of this relationship before filming. This reveal reportedly astonished many members of the cast.)
Some villains find redemption—as Darth Vader did—while others double down on their darkness. Both paths can add richness to their character. Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series, for instance, is initially portrayed as a villain, only to be revealed as a complex, tragic figure with noble intentions.
Make Them Memorable
Compelling villains do far more than obstruct the hero—they become a driving force behind the story’s conflict, themes, and emotional resonance. By giving them believable motivations, depth, and complexity, we create antagonists that linger in the reader’s mind long after the final page.
In the end, the most effective villains are not just symbols of evil—they must be fully realized characters who help elevate the story and give it texture. Whether they inspire fear, fascination, or a glimmer of sympathy, a well-crafted villain makes our storytelling unforgettable.
