Lesson Four
The Fall
Whatever game you're playing, it won't work. You can't defeat me.
- Hela, Thor: Ragnarok
Now, hear me out. We are not saying you will fail, just that there are a lot of traps and cliches that villains fall into that makes it easier for superheroes to defeat them. Treat this lesson more as a guide on what not to do, so that you will be successful in your quest of world domination.
Media's propaganda of superheroes about a conflict between good and evil where the hero finally defeats the villain, the victory of the light is not always solely on the shoulders of the hero. Sometimes villains, when they work on their evil schemes, miss some flaws, which result in a loophole that makes the said plan not going like what it was intended to be or the hero being given better advantage.
Aside flaws of evil plans, other forms of mistakes that a villain done that causes severe disadvantages in the conflict between good and evil are counted below and it would do you good to avoid them for as long as it is necessary to succeed in your evil plan.
Trusting a Particular Minion Too Much. As we learned from the previous lesson, good help is hard to find. Once you do find it, it is hard to let go of it. You might have a minion that you trust like family, but there is a possibility that they fail to see the positives of said union. They become traitors, either they are a spy from the hero's side or a power hungry character that worse than you. You already have enough competition in the form of good, you do not need it from your own side as well. Severus Snape, that name says it all. Lord Voldemort trusted and believed that Severus was fully loyal to him and that he would help him win in the war. Voldemort made a terrible mistake in putting his trust in this man as Snape had been feeding information to Dumbledore the whole time and gave the good guys the information they needed to find Voldemort's weaknesses. Do you know where Voldemort is now? Dead.
Choosing Horrible Minions. On another hand from the previous point, choosing incompetent and horrible followers can also be your downfall. One such example is, once again, Lord Voldemort. Death Eaters were not the smartest of wizards and witches. While they had magical talents, they still lost to a bunch of children and a small number of adult wizards. Besides some of them being totally thick, he has some followers that were there for the wrong reasons. Malfoys turned their back on the Dark Lord the moment they had an open chance. It is followers like these that will get you killed. Make sure that while your followers are expendable, they are loyal to you, which you usually can get with money. Or the promise of it. Just make sure your henchmen do not know you do not intend to pay them before you kill them. They will turn on you out of spite.
Do Not Enjoy the Hero's Suffering Too Much (No Matter How Good It Feels). The more sadistic villains may see the hero's suffering as fun, even so far to ruin their innocence for greater pleasure, but the said pleasure often results in the villain lowering their guards, unaware that torments that they done instead made the hero become more dangerous, particularly if the said torment strengthened whatever resolve that they had. This also pertains to overall pointless cruelty and hurting the hero's loved ones. If you wish to still be cruel, make sure that you act cruelly in order to further your goals, not just because the mood takes you. That way you will still be evil, but it will feel like part of the narrative rather than an unpleasant detour. People love to rally behind a martyr and if you torture a hero a little too much, they will very likely become one.
Armed a Captured Hostage. Some villains who held a hostage may later proved either too arrogant or simply an idiot who does not know how to ensure their said hostage from becoming a threat as bad as heroes who tried to rescue them. These villains have either experimented on the said hostage by gave them unnatural powers, locked them near their weapons and/or gadgets box or put an armed weapon near them that can be used. What piece of advice could I give to you to prevent this occurrence? Just...Do not. Do not put your hostages anywhere else but in a windowless, vent-less solitary room without any objects, even a chair or a bed. Zero stuff, zero chance of escape.
Overestimate Goodness. Some villains may have done horrible things or are evil so much that they see various forms of goodness (such as love and friendship) as useless. They think that should not taken seriously, which turns out to be their downfall as the hero managed to triumph over them due to strengthened support from the said hero's loved ones and friends. That does not mean that you need to fall in love or have a wide group of friends. Just do not discount what they mean to the hero. Put yourself in the hero's shoes and you will perhaps better understand how they might defeat you and thus take necessary precautions to prevent it.
Arrogance. You defeated the hero, everyone trembles before you, you are a threat of unnatural proportions, you are unstoppable! No matter how badly you have beaten your opponent do not taunt them too much. Especially do not hold the one thingamabob upon which everything hinges in their face. They will take it, break it, or otherwise foul up your plans somehow. Remember, you are a villain, most of your existence has been as an outcast getting laughed at by normal people. You need to remain in charge for them to kneel at your feet.
NO MONOLOGUING! Seriously, this is the most common trap that villains fall into. You should put it in bold and underline it at least twice. You could explain the entire scheme to the one person who can stop you, pad it out with some extra biographic and geographic detail for good measure. Exposition is kryptonite to the evil genius. Take, for example, Syndrome from The Incredibles. He tells Mr. Incredible his plans and motivation, so almost everything apart from his tragic backstory. Then he tells him that too. Not smart. Since he failed. Sure, Syndrome at least catches himself giving too much away, but by then the damage is done. The lesson here? If you have got an evil plan, do not Instagram about it.
Villain Archetypes Part Four
The PARASITE: The poisonous vine that collaborates for their own comfort. They go along with any atrocity, so long as their own security is assured. They see themselves as a victim who had no choice, and blames others for their crimes. Expect no mercy from them as they will not lift a finger to save anyone but themselves.
The SCHEMER: The lethal plotter that devises the ruin of others. Like a cat with a mouse, they play with lives. Elaborate plans, intricate schemes; nothing pleases them more than to trap the unwary. Watch out for their complex designs as they mean you no good.
The FANATIC: The uncompromising extremist that does wrong in the name of good. They justify their actions by their intent, and merely shrugs their shoulders at collateral damage. Anyone not an ally is an enemy, and therefore, fair game. Give up any hope of showing them the error of their ways since they firmly only they are right.
The MATRIARCH: The motherly oppressor, she smothers her loved ones. She knows what is best and will do all in her power to controls the lives of those who surround her. A classic enabler, she sees no fault with her darlings, unless they do not follow her rules. Do not be lured into her family nest because you will never get out alive.