“ | Why create, when it will only be destroyed? Why cling to life, knowing that you have to die? | „ |
~ Kefka Palazzo. |
“ | Gods don't exist, and Buddhas don't either. Yet these people lived for decades without realizing it. Once they die, it's all just gonna return to nothing. They won't feel anything. And then they rot into the ground. As long as you live on this Earth, that's your eternal fate. They just can't accept that simple fact. It must be so hard being stupid. I want to make these sorrowful people happy. I want to help them. That's the reason I was born, after all. | „ |
~ Doma. |
“ | Every decision we make is meaningless. Because somewhere, on a parallel Earth, we have already made the opposite choice. We're nothing. Less than nothing. | „ |
~ Owlman. |
Nihilists are characters who believe that the existence of life has no purpose, value, or meaning, their own included. Nihilists do not believe in moralities and all rules and/or codes they follow are superficial or for practical reasons. They usually do not have specific long–term goals, will sink to all levels of depravity to further their arbitrary objectives, and are often sociopaths and/or suicidal. They can overlap with Social Darwinists and Harbingers for Rebirth as well through shared beliefs in bringing about the "end times" and leaving others or themselves to pick up pieces left behind by the messes they have created.
Most nihilists wish to destroy everything in existence or at least whatever is possible for them to destroy. What makes them some of the most dangerous and unpredictable villains is that they have nothing to lose, not even their very lives. At the highest point, they are cataclysmic due to a desire of literally erasing everything as they see fit. Like many powerful and far-reaching villains, they might just be able to make their twisted dreams into reality. However, it is important to note that not ALL nihilists will act like this, but mostly the more sinister or destructive ones will.
Some redeemed nihilists decide to appreciate life more and stop being nihilistic after their redemption (although they might not too).
Examples include Vincent, Jobu Tupaki, Kefka Palazzo, Rick Sanchez, Mephiles the Dark, Chaos, Isaac Ray Peram Westcott, Count Bleck, The Lich, Davy Jones, John Doe, Agent Smith, Magus, The End, Thanos, Obito Uchiha, Johan Liebert, Masayuki Kaneki, AM, Micah Bell, Darth Nihilus, Vaas Montenegro, The Joker, Xehanort, Ulquiorra Cifer, Psycho Mantis and Michael Myers.
They are the polar opposite of Anti-Nihilists.
Notes[]
- If a villain seems nihilistic, but at the same time overvalues their own existence, (e.g. The Ink Demon, Bill Cipher, Dimentio, Mahito, Evolt, Dr. Robotnik, Cigarette-Smoking Man, Henry Evans, Sal, Muzan Kibutsuji, Pitch Black, Horde Prime, All For One, Dan Mandel, Clay Puppington, Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear, Frowning Friends, Flowey, Art the Clown and The Governor), they do not qualify. Those should go under these categories; Cowards who started off showing nihilistic sides but start panicking or running away from his/her downfall in the climax, Hypocrites if they expressed nihilistic traits and views when they in reality do not believe that, Egotists who seem nihilistic but it is because they cannot get what they desire and are complaining rather than be nihilistic, and/or Misanthropes who show nihilistic views but only because deep down they harbor a great hatred for humanity or their species of origin. The appropriate and/or correct term is "Absurdists."
- Not all nihilists are destructive or Chaotic Evil in nature. Some may be Neutral Evil if they have some goal that would benefit them (e.g. Goro Akechi, Sephiroth, Anton Chigurh, Harry Lime, Frank Underwood, Decagrammaton, Lex Luthor (DC League of Super-Pets), and Zeref Dragneel), while others can be Lawful Evil if they still oppress others with their own standard (e.g. Zod (DC Extended Universe), Bane, Solf J. Kimblee, Dark Enchantress Cookie, Professor Robotnik, Darkseid (DC Animated Universe), Darth Vader, and Akihiko Kayaba). In fact, they may also be Chaotic Neutral (Kratos and Zaheer) or, in rare cases, even Lawful Neutral (Namor (MCU)).
- If a villain only shows gleefulness during their death and/or are defiant to the end (e.g. Badger, Billy Grey, Raul Menendez, Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Reboot), and Pong Krell), they also do not qualify. A villain is only nihilistic if they express a point of view or show by their actions that they do not value life nor themselves.
- Not all nihilists qualify as Pure Evil because some of them may be played for sympathy (e.g. Joker (2019), Monika, Lucy, Shiroko Sunaookami (Bad Future), Gyutaro, Sweeney Todd, Baldur (God of War), Tomura Shigaraki, Carrie White, Jeff the Killer, Merlina, Yuno Gasai, Saori Joumae, Andrew Detmer, Ticci Toby, Starlight Glimmer, Aggie Prenderghast and Baron Zemo). They can only qualify as Pure Evil if their nihilism doesn't interfere with their villainy.
See Also[]
- Nihilism at Wikipedia.
- Nihilist on the Heroes Wiki
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