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twistedtummies2 · 3 months ago

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Top 15 Evil Wizards

Last month, for my string of Halloween-themed lists, I discussed the concept of the Wicked Witch: evil female practitioners of magic, both glamorous and grotesque. Today, I thought it would be a good idea to go over the opposite trope of villainy: evil MALE practitioners of magic, or as I like to call them, the Evil Wizards. I often feel that wizards have a better reputation than witches in general, to be honest. When you ask someone to name a famous wizard character, or have someone dress up in a wizard’s costume, or just look up the word “wizard” online, I think you’re more likely to find examples such as Gandalf, Merlin, and Harry Potter. With witches, the stereotype of the word seems far more negative by default. However, the concept of the Evil Wizard is about as old as that of a witch: for many years, wizards were considered just as bad as witches, and the idea of a powerful male figure using arcane abilities to lord over others is just as compelling as that of a female enchantress using a mixture of witchcraft and wiles to seduce and command. As a result, the Evil Wizard, while perhaps not as famous automatically as that of any Wicked Witch, is just as common an option in the annals of villainy. Now, in the previous list, I classified a “witch” as a female magic user. For this list, that’s basically the same rule being applied: I am classifying a “wizard” as a character who uses magic and is male. This is important to note, because there are a LOT of different words used for characters like this: dark mage or magician, warlock, sorcerer, etc. Whatever you call them, they all are rotten rascals who use sorcery and spellcraft to commit their terrible acts. With that said, let’s waste no more time: here are My Top 15 Favorite Evil Wizards!

15. Felix Faust, from DC.

Starting off the countdown, we have one of my personal favorite, more underrated DC supervillains. I’m going to confess right away that I haven’t read very many comics featuring this character (as I’ve said in the past, despite being a huge fan of comic book characters, the actual number of comics I’ve read is very small). However, based on the few I have read with him, as well as his appearances in other media, I’ve always had a soft spot for this malevolent, mad mystic. Felix Faust is a longtime enemy of the Justice League, although he’s also menaced characters like Doctor Fate, Constantine, and a few other characters. There’s nothing too complicated about Faust’s villainy, by all accounts: he’s a typical evil sorcerer, corrupt to the core, who seeks power, knowledge, and occasionally eternal youth through his wily schemes. Of course, not every villain NEEDS a complicated or tragic past to be interesting, and I would venture to say Felix Faust is an example of such a character: he’s not very complex, but he IS a lot of fun to see in action. My personal favorite interpretation of him was the one that appeared in the DCAU, where he was voiced by Freddy Kruger (and future Scarecrow and Riddler) himself, Robert Englund. The major story he appeared in, “Paradise Lost,” is one of my favorites from “Justice League.” I’m also fond of the version that appeared in the movie “Justice League Dark,” voiced by Enric Colantoni; in this film, Faust plays a sort of small-but-important role, and his sequence was probably my favorite part of the story. I should say that I was very disappointed with the one portrayed by Mark Margolis in the TV show “Constantine.” Margolis is a fine actor, but the way the character was written, visualized, and generally portrayed really didn’t live up to my expectations. Here’s hoping we’ll get a better live-action take on the character in the future.

14. Kamek, from Mario Bros.

While one of the least threatening of the dark wizards to appear on this countdown, Kamek is certainly one of the most persistent. The court magician of the mighty Bowser, this Magikoopa mastermind is essentially the secondary antagonist of the entire Mario Bros. universe, effectively acting as the Koopa King’s second-in-command. He is also the de-facto arch-enemy of Mario’s faithful ally, the ever-adorable (and ever-gluttonous) Yoshi. Kamek is utterly devoted to his liege, as it’s indicated he more or less raised Bowser from an early age, and acted more or less as a surrogate father to him. Interestingly, Bowser does seem to reciprocate this relationship, as he is at least mildly nicer to Kamek than he is to most of his other minions. The leader of the Magikoopas remains steadfastly loyal to his old charge, frequently seeming worried for Bowser’s safety and doing everything he can to serve his master. Kamek is not only a mighty sorcerer - much more powerful than he might at first appear - but also a gifted scientist and inventor; interestingly, this seems to be a common theme with multiple characters on this list - where they not only use magic, but also science to get what they want. I’m not sure why this is, but it’s interesting that even in the innocent sweetness of the Mushroom Kingdom, this can still be the case.

13. Gargamel, from The Smurfs.

The crotchety old Gargamel is the Dick Dastardly of evil wizards. (Very accurately so, in fact, since both were originally voiced by the same person in the days of Hanna-Barbera.) A bungling fool who isn’t quite as smart as he thinks he is, and whose buffoonery ultimately overshadows any threat he could reasonably provide, at least on most occasions. However, while he may not be the most feared Evil Wizard on this list, he’s certainly an iconic and entertaining character, and is just as well-known and beloved as the Smurfs themselves. Gargamel’s motives for his constant attacks on the Smurfs and their village constantly change: sometimes he wants to cook and eat them, sometimes he wants to use them to fuel his magic or try to create gold, and sometimes he just flat out wants to kill them because he finds them highly annoying. I think the reason Gargamel has remained so iconic is because he’s a perfect nemesis for these characters: they are “cute” little people who have to use their wits and wiles, largely, to outwit him. He is a savage, creaky old creep who has a lot of magic, and is clearly bigger and stronger than his arch-rivals, but thankfully his arrogance and ignorance are always his downfall.

12. Ganondorf, from The Legend of Zelda.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: why is Ganondorf, one of the most famous video game villains of all time, ranked so low on the countdown? Well, the answer is very simple: I’m not a huge fan of the Legend of Zelda franchise. It’s not that I dislike the series, mind you; it’s just one of several major gaming franchises that I’m aware of, but I never really got into or know a ton about. HOWEVER, for a completely unrelated project I won’t go into here, I recently did a sort of deep-dive into all the different versions of Ganondorf throughout the games. As a result, while I may not know a ton about other characters and elements of this franchise, I have learned quite a bit about dear, diabolical Ganon. A mighty Gerudo warrior, raised by witches and with the power to transform into a demonic beast, among other magical abilities, Ganon is the dark shadow whose devilish power hangs over the entire series. While other antagonists have come and gone, Ganon remains the most iconic and revered. Some incarnations make him more sympathetic, while others make him more thoroughly wicked, but he is never once depicted as incompetent or blundering: he is always treated as a serious menace, whose mere presence is to be feared. My personal favorite incarnations of the character come from the games “Ocarina of Time,” “Wind Waker,” and the most recent rendition, “Tears of the Kingdom.”

11. Jareth the Goblin King, from Labyrinth.

I debated for a bit whether or not Jareth should really count, for reasons I won’t go into here. After a bit of back and forth, I decided to include him, but to keep him out of the top ten. Hopefully this is a fair assessment, because Jareth is definitely worthy of a lot of praise. Played to perfection by the late, great David Bowie, this Goblin King is one of the more fascinating villains to come out of any fantasy movie ever made. While undeniably the antagonist, Jareth’s morality and motives are shrouded in ambiguity: despite being the main character, Sarah’s, enemy, and plotting to turn her baby brother into one of his goblin minions, Jareth isn’t depicted as a purely nasty character. Instead, he is a seductive tempter, who claims to be in love with the young lady. Also, even though he does plot to turn her brother, Toby, into a goblin, there are no indications he actually plans to HARM the child, truly. As far as his magic powers go, the exact limits of Jareth’s abilities are unclear, but he seems to be able to appear and disappear anytime and anywhere he wants, has various enchanted objects at his disposal, can shapeshift into an owl, and even his castle has areas themed around the works of MC Escher, which Jareth can stalk through effortlessly. As one of the most iconic fantasy villains put to the screen, and with a fair bit of strange power at his disposal, I think it’s fair to give Jareth SOME recognition here. He’s more than earned it.

10. Baron Mordo, from Marvel.

While DC has its fair share of evil wizard characters, if there is a singular iconic wizard supervillain in comics, I’d wager it’s this guy from the other team. Baron Mordo is the arch-nemesis of Dr. Strange, and one of the most powerful villains in the Marvel universe. In the comics, Mordo is the son of a very, VERY dysfunctional family line. He learned magic at an early age, and went to the Ancient One seeking a chance for more power. The Ancient One, hoping they could turn Mordo away from the path of darkness, and deciding it was best to keep an eye on him, begrudgingly allowed him to be their student. At first, things went well, but over time, Mordo grew resentful of his Master - especially when Stephen Strange was taken on as the Ancient One’s successor - and his lust for power and many bitter feelings ultimately led to him becoming a servant of the Lord of Chaos, Dormammu. Since then, he has been a constant thorn in the side of Strange, as well as other heroes in the Marvel universe, such as Spider-Man and Iron Man. He has many of Strange’s powers, but it is also willing to use abilities Strange would never tap into, making pacts with demons and summoning them onto Earth to help him in his many schemes. For non-comic readers, Mordo has shown up many times in animated programs and video games based on Marvel’s many properties. For live-action, the MCU recently gave us a very different version of the character, with a more sympathetic backstory and relationship with Strange…but that’s another story for another time.

9. Xehanort, from Kingdom Hearts.

Much like our earlier option of Kamek, Xehanort is a dark mage with an interest in science, and a persistent video game villain to boot. However, that’s about where any similarities end. As the main antagonist of the Kingdom Hearts franchise, Xehanort’s impact on the series thus far cannot be understated: the entire, highly convoluted storyline of the games essentially revolves around this powerful Keyblade Master, and his desire to gain ultimate knowledge. To go into the full breadth of his backstory is next to impossible to do in any succinct format. Suffice it to say, in his mad quest to seek balance and control, Xehanort has taken on many forms, and shown many powers at his disposal. As well as a gifted swordsman, he is a highly adept mage, and even a gifted scientist and inventor. His other personalities are all equally worthy of note: his Heartless (Ansem the Seeker of Darkness), his Nobody (Xemnas), and even younger and older versions of himself, not to mention ones possessing the bodies of other people, all form their own highly bizarre cavalcade of rogues. While he is ultimately responsible for many dastardly deeds, there is a sympathetic side to his character, and his story arc’s ending is treated with a tragic leaning. I’m a huge fan of Kingdom Hearts (even if the lore makes NO frickin’ sense), and so I naturally have a major love for its main villain. Definitely a character worthy of my personal top ten choices.

8. Lord Cob, from Tales From Earthsea.

Based very loosely on the “Earthsea” books, “Tales From Earthsea” is widely regarded as one of the weakest films put out by famed Japanese animated film company, Studio Ghibli. In some ways, I can understand why: it’s clear that the movie is the START of a grand and epic adventure, but with no follow-up to that story, it’s easy to see why people wouldn’t cotton to it as much as something like “Spirited Away” or “Castle in the Sky.” However, I’ve always had a soft spot for this film, and part of the reason why comes from its main villain: the sinister sorcerer, Lord Cob. The tyrannical ruler of Hort Town, Lord Cob is the old nemesis of the Archmage Sparrowhawk. Years ago, Cob attempted to find a way to open “the door between life and death,” and was defeated in battle by Sparrowhawk, who left him for dead in what we can only presume was a sort of purgatory. Somehow, Cob survived and managed to escape, but now has become obsessed with gaining eternal life. When he learns his old rival has come to Hort Town, Cob begins to plot his revenge. Cob is an EXTREMELY creepy customer; for much of the story, he has an androgynous, almost alien appearance, and neither his voice nor his facial features shift much, creating an eerie calm which is shattered by sudden, maniacal outbursts. At the climax of the film, however, Cob’s true form is revealed, as he slowly transforms into a ghoul-like creature, and his “chill” is completely gone, as he seems to mentally regress to total insanity. In the original Japanese release, the character was voiced by Yuko Tanaka, who also voiced the antagonistic Lady Eboshi in an earlier Ghibli movie, “Princess Mononoke.” Tanaka’s work is great, but in my opinion, this is one of several Ghibli films where I personally think the English dub is better. In that version, the character is voiced by Willem Dafoe; his subtle, unnerving, almost whispered monotone is delightfully contrasted by his almost Green-Goblin-esque delivery towards the end, as Cob descends rapidly into madness. Lord Cob is one of the first characters I think of when I think of Evil Wizards, and is a strong contender for my favorite villain from a Studio Ghibli film. As a result, he definitely earns high ranks here.

7. Shang Tsung, from Mortal Kombat.

One of the most iconic villains of the MK fighting game franchise, Shang Tsung is arguably the single most infamous dark mystics to come from the world of gaming. As theatrical as he is brutal, Shang Tsung steals the souls of other warriors to grant himself youth and life, as well as to help power his magic. He is the not-so-loyal servant of the evil emperor, Shao Kahn; I almost gave Shao this placement, but while he IS a skilled magic user in his own right, Shang Tsung is really more of the “traditional” evil wizard character. He is scheming, treasonous, and relies more on his magic than anything else in battle. Like many Mortal Kombat characters, he has been reinvented and redesigned not only throughout the games, but also throughout other media; by far the most popular take on the villain is the one from the 1995 film version of Mortal Kombat, played by Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa. His version of Shang Tsung is widely regarded as the best part of the film, and remains so lauded a portrayal he even returned to provide his voice and likeness in Mortal Kombat 11. It was a very welcome return. The recent MK1 reboot brought back the character, giving him a new backstory and presenting a younger rendition of the villain; it seems his soul-sucking days are far from numbered.

6. Rumpelstiltskin, from Once Upon a Time.

In the original fairy-tale classic, it’s not really clear what the mysterious Rumpelstiltskin really is. He’s typically cited to be an imp; a sort of minor demon. In “Once Upon a Time,” however, things are a bit different. In this universe - which reimagines various Disney properties and fairy-tale stories - Rumpelstiltskin is the main antagonist of the show. While not always directly villainous, for much of the series he is not to be trusted, and his past is certainly a checkered history indeed. Rumple - also called “Mr. Gold” - is the newest in a line of evil sorcerers known by the title of “The Dark One.” He is a Mephistophelean figure, who typically makes deals with others, offering either his own magic or the power of various items he’s collected in exchange for some dangerous bargain. Rumpelstiltskin is greedy, sadistic, manipulative, and at least halfway to crazy-town in the fantasy scenes taking place in the past. By the time we reach the modern “real” world of Storybrook, Rumple is still…well…most of those things, but he’s managed to tone down his nuttiness, becoming more of a suave, slick plotter who works behind the scenes. Robert Carlyle plays the character masterfully, separating the two different versions from different timelines with great aplomb, while also making it clear he’s still the same dark figure. Like most of the major antagonists in the show, Rumple isn’t a totally awful monster (his relationship with Belle is arguably his greatest saving grace), but making a deal with him, or crossing him and his power, may well be one’s last mistake.

5. Skeletor, from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.

The skull-faced nemesis of He-Man, Skeletor - formerly Keldor - is certainly one of the beefiest dark magicians to appear on this countdown. However, while Skeletor certainly has the brawn to go up against his mighty adversary, it’s really his magic (and his incredible wit and snark) that makes him a worthy opponent to the Hero of Eternia. While Skeletor is often very funny, in just about every incarnation, he isn’t necessarily a bungler; it’s usually the buffoonery of his henchmen that leads to his plans for conquest and destruction being thwarted. For most people, the definitive Skeletor is the one played by Alan Oppenheimer in the original Filmation cartoon series. Later versions have taken a more serious stab at the villainous bone-head, such as the 2002 series (voiced by Brian Dobson), the 2021 series (voiced by Benjamin Diskin), and the series “Revelation” (voiced by Mark Hamill). While the appalling 1987 live-action feature was…well…appalling, Frank Langella’s zealous portrayal of the villain apparently was one of his favorite roles. For fans in years since, his version seems to be one folks either love or hate. Regardless of which version of the character is your favorite, it’s clear that the devilish appeal of this sorcerous overlord is far from dead.

4. Emperor Palpatine, from Star Wars.

I debated whether or not to include Palpatine - or any of the Sith, really - on this countdown. The Star Wars franchise sort of blurs the line between science and magic, with its space fantasy sense of storytelling; the Jedi and the Sith alike are sort of a conglomeration of medieval and martial-arts-esque trope with a sci-fi motif. Ultimately, I felt that being a “space wizard” still counted…and to be honest, Palpatine has so many of the typical tropes found in other evil wizards, in particular, it felt wrong NOT to include him. Wears a long, black hooded cloak? Check. Cackling laugh? Check. Over-the-top demeanor? Check. Appreciates technology and uses the “dark side” of some strange power? Check. This is not even considering the fact the ways he uses the Force would ostensibly be considered magic in virtually any other franchise, without question: seemingly psychic and telekinetic abilities, for instance, as well as those infamous lightning fingers. Bottom line, if he looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and seeks UUUUUUNLIMITED POOOOOWWWWEEEEERRRRR!!!! like an Evil Wizard? I think he’s an Evil Wizard.

3. Jafar, from Aladdin.

There are many practitioners of the black arts in the Wonderful World of Disney. Heck, there are many in the Aladdin universe alone, for that matter. However, none are quite so well-known, nor quite so persistent, as Jafar. This Sorcerer of the Sands and ex-Grand Vizier is not only one of the most popular Disney Villains, but also one of the most tenacious: alongside Captain Hook from “Peter Pan,” I think he’s probably the most frequently encountered male villains in the Disney lineup. And yes, I know Jafar becomes a genie at the end of the movie, and in several interpretations he IS a genie, but even before that point he is noteworthy for his evil use of magic. Not to mention, one of his three wishes in the original film is to become the most powerful sorcerer in the world, which gives him abilities almost as phenomenal as those of a genie by default. (Almost.) Whenever I think not only of Evil Wizards, but specifically of the kind of wicked magicians you’ll find in stories like those of the Arabian Nights, Jafar is the character I always think of before all others. I imagine the same goes for others. Also, for anyone wondering, no, I’m not including any characters from my beloved Twisted Wonderland; that universe is a bit more complicated. Sorry, any Jamil fans in the audience. XD

2. Lord Voldemort, from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

It was really hard to choose between my top two choices. Both are from two of the most famous fantasy novel series in the world, and in both cases those books have been translated into two of the biggest and most popular fantasy FILM series in the world. I therefore had to battle out in my head a simple question: when I think of an “Evil Wizard,” which is the one that comes to my head first between them? When I read those words, when I seek imagery matching that archetype, which matches my immediate mental visual first? Voldemort, quite obviously, lost that battle…but second place still ain’t bad for He Who Must Not Be Named. Voldemort really isn’t a complicated villain; he’s essentially a bully, when you get right down to it - a fascistic zealot who believes he and his fellow “Pureblood” dark wizards should have rights and powers that “inferior” wizards, witches, and Muggles alike do not deserve. (This is, hypocritically, despite the fact he is not a "Pureblood" himself.) While he certainly can be manipulative in his own way, he mostly rules through fear and intimidation…and to be fair, when you’re an essentially undead snake-person, accompanied by a pet python, who drinks unicorn blood and has more backup lives than a “Doom” player…yeah, there’s plenty to be intimidated by. (That, and he’s played by Amon Goeth in the movies. That would scare anybody.) There are other dark wizards in the Harry Potter franchise of course - such as the Malofy family, or the face-changing Gellert Grindelwald - but none have been quite as impactful as Lord Voldemort. He is more than welcome in the annals of my Top 3.

1. Saruman the White, from The Lord of the Rings.

As I said, choosing between Saruman and Lord Voldemort was extremely difficult. Ultimately, I felt that Saruman - especially as played by the almighty Sir Christopher Lee in the Peter Jackson films - is more what I personally envision when I think of the phrase “Evil Wizard” than Harry Potter’s arch-enemy. To be fair, as popular as Voldemort is, Saruman’s own infamy likely means I’m not the only one. It’s indicated in the original Tolkien novels (and outright shown in Jackson’s prequel “Hobbit” Trilogy) that, once upon a time, Saruman was a wise and good wizard. The head of his order, he was respected and admired, and seemed to care greatly for nature. While it’s not really clear why or how he turned to the proverbial dark side, somewhere along the line he began to go wrong, and became one of Middle-Earth’s most formidable oppressors, second only to the dark lord, Sauron, himself. Not only is Saruman’s magic great, but his fascination with machines, and his strategic mind and charismatic presence, make him a real threat to the forces of good in his world. In both the original books and the film (the extended editions, anyway), Saruman’s machinations ultimately come around to stab him in the back, as his defeat comes not at the hands of his heroic adversaries, but rather the impulses of one of his abused servants. Presenting to us a stark warning of what happens when one abandons reason in favor of madness, Saruman the White - the fallen sorcerer - is easily My Favorite Evil Wizard.

HONORABLE MENTIONS INCLUDE…

The Horned King, from The Black Cauldron.

I’ve always had a soft spot for this villain, but he really doesn’t show a lot of his power in the grand scheme of the movie, so he loses points.

The Archmage, from Gargoyles.

One of my introductions to this trope, and still a character I think of when I think of the concept.

Lord Blackwood, from Sherlock Holmes (2009).

Since - SPOILER ALERT - it’s revealed all of his magic powers are just parlor tricks, I don’t think he can really count. Still, it felt wise to give him an Honorable Mention, at least.

King Sombra, from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

Not a HUGE fan of MLP, but it felt wrong to leave this guy off the list entirely, regardless.

Zemenar, from The Enchanted Forest Chronicles.

A more obscure character. In this series of fantasy novels, ALL wizards are evil, and Zemenar is their leader. He is defeated when one of the main characters - Kazul the Dragon - swallows him alive. Glorious.

Fire Lord Ozai, from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

I wasn’t entirely sure if this character really counted, mostly because of the way the Avatar universe works. Still, he’s more than worthy of an Honorable Mention.

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