Got Alpha? Villain Edition

Song of the day: Possum Kingdom by The Toadies

To love me is to fear me.

As writers, we know we must give our heroes at least two strengths and one weakness. This is true for our antagonists as well. The antagonist should be a worthy opponent, someone that will cause havoc and possibly ruin the world as the hero and/or heroine know it. It’s when we give our hero AND our villain Alpha qualities that things further become interesting. Often the mercury rises, too.

Villains can be a cunning adversary or an expert swordsman. He may be as elusive as the shifting fog or a superior puppet master. He can possess skills that match or even exceed that of the hero. He may have amazing brawn or scary smarts. But whatever his weakness – greed, lust, pride, gluttony, kryptonite, chocolate – our hero exposes it and uses it to his advantage, ultimately defeating the villain.

Intense!

Add in a hefty dose of Alpha male qualities and the threat generally rises to a mammoth challenge.

Just as with our hero, the bad guy’s confidence, married with his strengths, makes him all but guaranteed a victory. Who will best whom? What small insignificant turn of events tips the scale? It’s anyone’s guess and the battle of good vs. evil, right over wrong, who gets the girl, my daddy can beat up your daddy, is that much more intense. Alpha mano a mano.

You say 'dark side' like it's a bad thing.

To make the scoundrel Alpha, the writer must make being bad enticing, not only to the heroine, but also to the reader. All those little nuances that define a hero as a drool-worthy Alpha can conversely be applied with the same effects on the antagonist. Any traits, action, or dialogue that might be used with a protagonist, employ them on the baddie. An ultimatum delivered in a calm, almost friendly tone. The heroine delivers a blow to his mug and he strikes back with merely a wicked grin. He shows affection to a favored pet during an aggressive interrogation on his foe. Using his knife, he digs a bullet out of his flesh. Set these examples to both the hero and the villain and the writer will see it works either way. The difference, and there is a difference, is weaving Alpha traits, actions or dialogue in with the hero’s or the villain’s own natural tendencies, motivations and goals.

Wow - is it hot in here?

Alpha villains are even more dangerous when good looks and seduction are in play. This is especially bad for the heroine. She is fallible, after all. Good grief, who wouldn’t be weak in the knees when the Alpha villain is using his supreme persuasive powers. He brazenly stands naked in all his sexy glory for the heroine, or anyone else, to see. His eyes burn with desire (or indifference) as he fills up all breathable space. Pulling the heroine onto his lap, he whispers words of temptation along her neck.  His touch is possessive but gentle, rough but sweet, or just down right intoxicating. Hit me again, bartender.

You can conquer my fortress any day, Achilles.

The villain doesn’t have to be appetizing to be Alpha. Depending on the man, his characteristics can make him as unappealing as the author would like. Details, details, details. It is all in the details.

Can you name a villain or antagonist you find delightfully Alpha? Please, share.

My pick is Achilles.

Up next, Alpha females. Boy – this one will be hard.