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Villains often make the best heroes; a truism that often rings the loudest in televison. TV shows have produced a variety of colorful and dangerous antagonists over the years, many of whom have grown more popular than the heroes they fought on screen. The recent invasion of comic book television shows have only exacerbated that trend, blending the two episodic storytelling media for truly compelling looks at villains we can't help but hate. Below, we take look at five of the most dangerous and popular supervillains to appear on television. Sometimes, it's good to be bad.
Sylar from Heroes
While Heroes might not be a direct adaptation of a comic book, it did produce one of television’s greatest supervillains in Sylar. Played by Zachary Quinto, Sylar was a sociopath with the ability to intuitively gain the abilities of people with special abilities…provided he directly examined their brains. Sylar was the perfect villain for the show. Creepy, intimidating, unpredictable but simultaneously charismatic, viewers tuned in weekly to see what the villain would do next. Sylar racked up a body count of at least fifty victims over the course of Heroes’ four seasons, many of whom lost the top of the skulls in addition to their lives. Heroesfinale saw Sylar renounce his evil ways after saving a friend, but it’s likely that next fall’s Heroes Reborn series will address his ultimate fate.
Deathstroke from Arrow
During his time on Lian Yu, Oliver Queen met and befriended Slade Wilson, an Australian soldier tracking a group of mercenaries on the island. Oliver and Slade quickly bonded and Slade trained Oliver how to fight and survive on the harsh and unforgiving island. While fans of Arrow hoped that the Oliver and Slade’s bromance would last forever, Wilson appeared in the present day during the show’s second season, having gone insane from exposure to a regenerative Japanese drug. As Deathstroke, Slade brutally took everything away from Oliver, robbing him of his wealth, attacking his family and forcing him into hiding. After Slade killed Oliver’s mother and led a drug-enhanced army of prison inmates into the city, Oliver fought back, taking back Starling City with the help of the League of Assassins. Deathstroke’s not gone for good, however; Oliver imprisoned Slade on Lian Yu, leading to a cameo appearance last year.
Harley Quinn from Batman: The Animated Series
One of the most iconic characters from Batman's best televised depiction, Harley Quinn first appeared as a sidekick of the Joker. But her secondary status didn't last long. Creator Paul Dini quickly turned what was intended as a minor villain into the breakout character of the show. Simultaneously goofy and dangerous, Harley gained an immense fanbase and migrated from the television show to the comics, where she became a mainstay character for DC. Not only is Harley now the star of one of the bestselling monthly comics in comic stores, she’ll also make her first major live action appearance as one of the stars of next fall’s Suicide Squad.
Trickster from Flash...and The Flash
While the 1990’s Flash television show only lasted one season, Mark Hamill’s Trickster was one of the show’s best known performances. Hamill’s Trickster was delusional and psychopathic and took on a colorful supervillain persona hoping to gain the Flash’s attention. Although the Trickster used goofy pranks and toys to fight the Flash, he had a dangerous side as well. In his first appearance, a private investigator noted that he had committed several mass murders prior to arriving in Central City. Hamill reprised his role as the Trickster for several other DC television shows, including CW’s new version of The Flash. Hamill’s Trickster has grown more dangerous with age and in his most recent appearance orchestrated an elaborate escape attempt from prison with the help of his newly discovered son.
Wilson Fisk/Kingpin from Daredevil
Vincent D’Onafrio portrayed a true to the comics version of the Kingpin in Netflix’s Daredevil series, where he established himself as the mastermind behind a sinister plot to take over Hell’s Kitchen. While the D’Onafrio’s Kingpin character was ruthless and brutal, he also had a soft side as he hesitantly pursued the art dealer Vanessa throughout the first season of the show. Viewers not only empathized with the Kingpin’s love story, they also appreciated his seemingly noble conviction, even though his methods were less than desirable. Who could forget when the Kingpin killed a Russian mobster in a fit of rage, smashing his head to pulp using the door of his car? Even though Daredevil took the Kingpin down at the end of last season, Netflix is sure to bring him back next season to make Matt Murdoch’s life a living hell.
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