Predecessor Villain: Difference between revisions

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** During the War of Wrath, Morgoth created the stronger winged dragons, and the worst among them was Ancalagon the Black, possibly the mightiest dragon who ever lived. To give an example of how powerful he was, Gandalf claimed “not even” Ancalagon’s breath could harm the One Ring, implying that Ancalagon’s destructive power was second only to Sauron. His entry into the War of Wrath nearly turned the tide in Morgoth’s favor, and seeing as his enemies in that conflict were [[Council of Angels|the Valar]] themselves, it should give you an idea of how deadly he was. His eventual death is what sealed Morgoth’s fate, ensuring his final defeat.

** While Shelob was little more than a [[Giant Spider]], she was spawned from a godlike entity called Ungoliant, an [[Villainous Glutton|embodiment of gluttony and greed]]. Not even the Valar knew where she came from, but most believed she was spawned by the Darkness itself, making her an offspring of [[Pure Evil]]. So powerful that she captured and nearly devoured Morgoth (back when he was still called Melkor), she only failed when the balrogs came to their master’s rescue, but even then, not even the aforementioned Gothmog could slay her, and it was after this battle that [[Monster Progenitor|she spawned many offspring]], including Shelob and the evil spiders of Mirkwood. It is not known how (or even whether) she met her end, but many believe she became so greedy, she eventually devoured herself.

** A more lighthearted example was King Golfimble, mentioned in ''[[The Hobbit (novel)|The Hobbit]]''. An orc chieftain who invaded the Shire in an event called the Battle of the Green Fields, and according to local Shire folklore, he was slain when Bilbo's great-great-granduncle [[Hometown Hero| Bandobras "Bullroarer" Took]] stuck the villain's head clean off with a wooden club. The unfortunate orc's head sailed a hundred yards through the air and fell down a rabbit-hole; which is how the battle was won and [[Just-So Story| the game of golf invented in the same instant.]]

** A more lighthearted example was King Golfimble, mentioned in ''[[The Hobbit (novel)|The Hobbit]]''. An orc chieftain who invaded the Shire in an event called the Battle of the Green Fields, and according to local Shire folklore, he was slain when Bilbo's great-great-granduncle [[Hometown Hero| Bandobras "Bullroarer" Took]] stuck the villain's head clean off with a wooden club. The unfortunate orc's head sailed a hundred yards through the air and fell down a rabbit-hole; which is how the battle was won and [[Just-So Story|the game of golf invented in the same instant.]]

** Also mentioned in ''The Hobbit'', Azog, the orc lord who slew Thrór, Thorin's grandfather. While a version of this character did appear in the movie, it was due to being [[Spared By Adaptation]]. In the original stories, Azog led the assault on Moria that would lead to the dwarves abandoning it, leading to Thorin and his companions falling on hard times. He and his not only killed Thrór, they mutilated his body and kept his head for a trophy, Azog also killing Náin before finally being slain himself by Náin's son Dáin. Unfortunately, Azog's own son Bolg sought revenge and led the orc legions in the terrible Battle of the Five Armies.

** Also mentioned in ''The Hobbit'', Azog, the orc lord who slew Thrór, Thorin's grandfather. While a version of this character did appear in the movie, it was due to being [[Spared By Adaptation]]. In the original stories, Azog led the assault on Moria that would lead to the dwarves abandoning it, leading to Thorin and his companions falling on hard times. He and his men not only killed Thrór, they mutilated his body and kept his head for a trophy, Azog also killing Náin before finally being slain himself by Náin's son Dáin. Unfortunately, Azog's own son Bolg sought revenge and led the orc legions in the terrible Battle of the Five Armies.

* In ''[[Harry Potter]]'', Salazar Slytherin and Gellert Grindelwald were both predecessors to [[Big Bad|Lord Voldemort]], but neither were nearly as bad as him. Slytherin (a friend of [[Big Good|Gryffindor]]) is implied to have undergone [[Historical Villain Upgrade]] in-universe; Grindelwald was imprisoned and refused to help Voldemort when Voldemort called on him (Voldemort ultimately got what he wanted anyway, but Grindelwald still didn't help him). Not to mention that it's likely he threw the decisive duel with Dumbledore.

* From the ''Dragon Crown War'' series, the actions of a [[Sorcerous Overlord]] named Kirun play a large role in shaping the settings' history, but the [[Big Bad]] is his ex-[[Bastard Understudy]], Chytrine.