“ | Unicron: Your bargaining posture is highly dubious.... but very well.... I will provide you with a new body and new troops to command. Megatron: And?! Unicron: AND NOTHING!!! You belong to me now! Megatron: I BELONG TO NOBODY!! Unicron: Perhaps I misjudged you. Proceed.... on your way to oblivion. Megatron: AAAAH!! NO, NO!! I accept your terms! I ACCEPT!! Unicron: Excellent! |
„ |
~ Unicron asserting his power over Megatron before reformatting him into Galvatron. |
In works of fictions starring many villains, there can be either a main antagonist for each story arc or a Big Bad standing at the top of the hierarchy. In the latter case, however, one (or sometimes more than one) villain even more powerful and influential than the Big Bad himself can be introduced: the aptly-named Bigger Bad, also known as a Greater Scope Villain or Overarching Antagonist. Exceptions aside, the Bigger Bad ultimately has a smaller role than the Big Bad in focus.
However, the Bigger Bad is pretty much the main reason for the circumstances in the story that usually wouldn't be (naturally) possible to occur (pollution, artifact of doom, evil ancient group to which the Big Bad used to belong/is acting as a leader, etc). They can also be the main supply of power for the Big Bad, and sometimes the very motivation for said Big Bad to act villainously. Should the story ultimately end up putting more focus on the Bigger Bad, it may over-cede the current antagonist as the Big Bad. This type of villain often serves as an unseen character or is revealed at the very end of the story.
HIGHLY IMPORTANT: a Bigger Bad can logically ONLY appear in stories with a Big Bad. A Big Bad CANNOT be a Bigger Bad at the same time, unless there is a spin-off series in which one of his servants serves as the Big Bad. Examples of Big Bads who are also Bigger Bads in spin-offs include Emperor Palpatine, Gihren Zabi, Alien Empera, Ozai, and the Great Leader of Shocker.
For a clear understanding of what a Bigger Bad is, here are some notable Bigger Bads:
- Morgoth from the Middle-earth legendarium.
- Dark Specter from the Power Rangers franchise.
- Alien Rayblood from the Ultraman franchise.
- Kaguya Ōtsutsuki from the Naruto franchise.
- All For One from the My Hero Academia manga and anime series.
- Deus Ex Machina from the Matrix franchise.
- Oswell E. Spencer from the Resident Evil series.
- Demise from The Legend Of Zelda franchise.
- Unicron from the Transformers franchise.
- Kronika and the One Being from the Mortal Kombat series.
- Crimson King from the Stephen King multiverse.
- Bansai Ichiyanagi from the Ace Attorney franchise.
- Tenjuro Banno from the Kamen Rider Drive series.
- Dekim Barton from Mobile Suit Gundam Wing.
- Salazar Slytherin from the Harry Potter franchise.
- Chaos of the Sailor Moon manga and anime series.
- Horde Prime from the Masters of the Universe franchise.
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All For One -
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki -
Silas (The Vampire Diaries) -
Herrscher of the End -
Emperor Palpatine -
Pandora (Re:Zero) -
Azathoth -
Black Zetsu
All items (899)
- Abraxas (Marvel)
- Absolute Hades God N Ma
- Acnologia
- Adolf Hitler (Hunters)
- Adolf Hitler (Marvel)
- Adolf Hitler (Wolfenstein)
- Aerys II Targaryen
- Aesir
- Agent Orange (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- Ajunta Pall
- Aki
- Al Capone (Tintin)
- Alan Rikkin
- Alan Wilson
- Aldrin Klordane
- Alexa Christine Carlisle
- Alexander Luthor, Sr.
- Alexei Volkoff
- Alien Empera
- Alien God
- Alien Rayblood
- All For One
- Alucard (Rosario+Vampire)
- Amagi Kureshima
- Amalthus
- Amaru
- Amberfuce
- Americon Initiative
- Amon (StarCraft)
- Amshel Goldsmith
- Anankos
- Anathar
- Anathos
- Ancient Master Org
- Ancient Spirits of Evil
- Angela Baker (real)
- Anti-Fairy Council
- Anti-Monitor
- Anti-Monitor (Arrowverse)
- Anubis (The Mummy)
- Apex
- Apocalymon
- Apocalypse (Marvel)
- Apocalypse (X-Men Movies)
- Apophis (Kane Chronicles)
- Apothicon
- Aquilo
- Arcadius
- Ariels
- Arioch
- Arlo Sabian
- Armageddon (Chaos!)
- Artorius Collbrande
- Ryūya Asami
- Ashtar
- Asmodeus (D&D)
- Astram Schiller
- Atlee
- Auditors of Reality
- August Cartwright
- Aurora Unit 313
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- Avatar of Evil
- Ayanami
- AZ
- Azathoth
- Azazel (Tekken)
- Azura
- Ballas (Warframe)
- Ballos
- Bansai Ichiyanagi
- Barbatos (DC)
- Barrot
- Barton Foundation
- Bed of Chaos
- Beerus
- Behemecoatyl
- Behemoth (SteamWorld)
- Beliar
- Beyonders
- Bhunivelze
- Bibibibi
- Bibidi
- Big Venus
- Wolfgang von Strucker (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- Billiam Milliam
- Billie (Supernatural)
- Bio Hunter Silva
- Black Book Club
- Black Fairy
- Black Hat (Villainous)
- Black Hole (Pretty Cure All Stars)
- Black Knight (Generator Rex)
- Black Leclère
- Black Lord
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- Black Zetsu
- Blight (Forever Evil)
- Blinky
- Blood Tribe
- Blutarch Mann
- Bombinating Beast
- Boram Darkwill
- Lord Boreal
- Bosquito
- Bradford Buzzard
- Brainiac (Red Son)
- Brainiac (Scribblenauts)
- Brajira of the Messiah
- Brother Moons
- Bruce Macchabée
- Cahu
- Cain Knightlord
- Calasmos
- Caleb Warrens
- Caligula (The Trials of Apollo)
- Captain Flint
- Captain Hatch
- Captain Kabuki
- Captain Turner
- Carl Ingram
- Cat Painting
- Category A
- Center for Chaos Containment
- Chairman Platinum
- Chancellor Fredinand
- Chaos (Castlevania)
- Chaos (Sailor Moon)
- Chaos (Sonic the Comic)
- Chaos Gods (Warhammer)
- Charles Goodwin
- Charon Industries
- Chernobog (mythology)
- Chief Blank
- Chimera Ant Queen
- Chiros
- Chthon
- Cjopaze
- Commander Tartar
- Compeyson
- Control Brains
- Corey Comstock
- Cosma
- Coyolxāuhqui
- Crayak
- Creation King
- Creator Devius
- Crimson King
- CRM (The Walking Dead)
- Crown
- Cruel Veterinarian
- Cruella De Vil (Disney)
- Cthaeh
- Cult of the Outsider
- Cutler Toe
- Cxaxukluth
- D-Reaper
- D-Stroy
- Daemon
- Dagon (Ben 10)
- Dahak (Hercules and Xena)
- Dahaka
- Dahlia (The Originals)
- Dahlia Hawthorne
- Dai Satan
- Daijinryuu
- Damballa
- Dame Primus
- Dark Angels
- Dark Danny
- Dark Dragon (ADJL)
- Dark Entities
- Dark Lord (Ragnarok)
- Dark Maker (Hero Factory)
- Dark Makers
- Dark Nebula
- Dark Oak
- Dark Ones (Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go!)
- Dark Presence (Alan Wake)
- Dark Specter
- Dark Star (Mario)
- Darkness Devil
- Darknite
- Darkrai (Pokémon Mystery Dungeon)
- Darkseid (DC Animated Universe)
- Darkseid (Harley Quinn TV Series)
- Darkseid (Smallville)
- Darkside Society Organization
- Darth Bane
- Darth Jadus
- Darth Nihilus
- Darth Plagueis
- Darth Vengean
- David (Divergent)
- David Jehoahaz Abraham
- Davros
- Dawn Sinclair-Barbara
- Death (Harry Potter)