President Evil: Difference between revisions

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The villain's leaderly reputation varies between [[Villain with Good Publicity]] and [[0% Approval Rating]]. Sometimes, the heroes go into the country and foment [[La Résistance|a rebellion]] to get the villain kicked out; naturally, this often leads to someone ''even worse'' stepping up (as with [[Hitler's Time Travel Exemption Act]]) and an [[Enemy Mine]] storyline to [[Reset Button|restore the status quo]]. Or, the "oppressed masses" are actually [[Gullible Lemmings]] who ''like'' their leader, and might not be oppressed at all!
 
Similar to the [[Evil Overlord]], but with an international scope. See also [[The Caligula]], which is this trope turned [[Up to Eleven]], ''sans'' the Democracy. [[Our Presidents Are Different|A Different sort of President.]] Not to be confused with [[The Grim Adventures of Billy and& Mandy|Hoss Delgado]]'s appearance in the fictional [[Show Within a Show|video game within a show]] ''President Evil,'' or with the actual video game series ''[[Resident Evil]]''.
 
Almost always overlaps with [[Corrupt Politician]] or [[Sleazy Politician]]. In terms of the ranks of [[Authority Tropes]], the tropes that are equal are [[God Save Us From the Queen]], [[The Woman Wearing the Queenly Mask]], and [[The High Queen]]. The next steps down are [[The Evil Prince]], [[Prince Charming]], [[Prince Charmless]], [[Warrior Prince]], [[The White Prince]], [[The Wise Prince]], and all [[Princess Tropes]]. The next step up is [[The Emperor]].
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** It's actually more of a multi-arc crossover—he remains president for several years, and becomes more involved in the rest of the DC continuity (for example, framing [[Batman|Bruce Wayne]] for murder in a lengthy arc in ''that'' comic). Surprisingly, though, he's not any more evil than usual; he's no more corrupt or power mad than when he was a regular [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]]. The only time he really snaps is a relatively short arc where he tries to frame Superman for a Kryptonite comet heading to Earth, and then loses it—this is what gets him impeached. Going on a killing spree with your old Apokoliptian powersuit will do that.
** [[Walkyverse|Shortpacked]] has a [http://www.shortpacked.com/toynewsi/sp-tni229.png great deal of fun] with this one from time to time.
* Dr. Doom, archenemy of the ''[[Fantastic Four (Comic Book)|Fantastic Four]]'', is probably the best-known, ruling Latveria, an archetypical [[Ruritania]]. He's been deposed a couple times, but always manages to get back in. A big reason for this is, not only was the monarch he replaced a far worse despot, but it seems to be the case with anyone who successfully overthrows him; every time it happens, the citizens of Latveria are glad to have him back.
** And, of course, in the 2099 series of comics, Doctor Doom literally became President Evil when he managed to become President of the United States. Though in that series, he was basically the HERO compared to the soulless evil corporations he was fighting.
*** And he was succeeded by a President who was ''worse'' than the corporations. For added irony, this drug-addicted psychopath claimed to be [[Captain America (comics)|Steve Rogers]].
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== Literature ==
* In ''[[Harry Potter]] and Thethe Deathly Hallows (novel)|Harry Potter and the [[Deathly Hallows]]'' Voldemort manages to {{spoiler|take control over the Ministry of Magic and all of wizarding England by placing Imperius Curses over some officials, murdering others, and placing Death Eaters and sympathizers of his cause in positions of power}}. This allows him to (without much resistance, thanks to the previous Ministers) {{spoiler|enact what would end up as a pureblood regime.}} However, Voldemort never seems interested in becoming Minister of Magic himself.
** There were several attempts at justification in-story, mostly of the "Direct Parallels To Nazi Germany" variety. Voldemort and his most infamous Death Eaters {{spoiler|stayed in the shadows, so mostly semi-legit followers/not-necessarily-enemies like Umbridge were the public face of the DE government; the general wizarding public were lied to as to what was really being done to half-bloods and muggle-borns, and those that did suspect the truth were either too scared to act (remembering Voldemort at his height, 20 years earlier) or were otherwise neutralized (like they attempted to do with the Weasleys).}}
* In the ''[[Left Behind]]'' series, Nicolae Carpathia starts out as the president of Romania, and moves on to become Secretary-General of the UN (later called the Supreme Potentate of the Global Community). He's [[the Antichrist]].
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* The [[Big Bad]]s of ''[[Fallout]] 2'' and ''[[Fallout]] 3'' are President Evils, focused on cleansing the post-apocalyptic world of any dangerous mutants. Given that, under their standards, the vast majority of the irradiated planet's surface-dwelling population would qualify as a dangerous mutant, including most of the good guys, this is obviously not a fun plan. Subverted by President Tandi and Kimball of the NCR, though Kimball is a jingoistic imperialist.
* Andrew Ryan of ''[[BioShock (series)]]'' is the president/founder/king of Rapture.
* From ''[[Final Fantasy]]'':
* Subverted with [[Final Fantasy VIII]], Vinzer Deling, president of the (mostly portrayed as) antagonistic Galbadian nation is made out to be the Big bad when the plot kicks off, only to be killed very early on by his [[The Dragon|Dragon, Edea]].
** President Shinra in all versions of ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]''. A cruel, egotistical, narcissistic, and greedy man who gained his power and retains it through bribery, he is willing to drain the very planet of life energy simply for profit. The destruction of Sector 7 and the mass-murder of its inhabitants in order to eliminate Avalanche was his idea. {{spoiler|He eventually [[Asshole Victim|gets what he deserves]] courtesy of [[Big Bad|Sepiroth]].}}
** Subverted with [[Final Fantasy VIII]], Vinzer Deling, president of the (mostly portrayed as) antagonistic Galbadian nation is made out to be the Big bad when the plot kicks off, only to be killed very early on by his [[The Dragon|Dragon, Edea]].
* Karasov in [[Republic the Revolution]]. He rules [[Ruritania|Novastrana]] with an iron fist, siphons money from the national stock exchange, uses his political and military power to imprison and/or murder his enemies, is above the law and he damn well knows it. {{spoiler|Until the [[Rebel Leader|man whose parents he arrested]] ten years ago comes back to [[La Résistance|lead a revolt]].}}
 
 
== Web Comics ==
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** Debateable, as its possible Canada really had become an evil nation even worse than Nazi Germany in this alternate future.
* In the novel ''[[A Girl Who Brought Down the World]]'', Christopher Winnifred Vega <ref>a [[Captain Ersatz]] of [[Sonichu|Christian Weston Chandler]]</ref> is made President of the US thanks to a massive conspiracy. In due time, he ravages the entire world in an attempt to bring in a girl he had fallen in love with years ago who had no interest in him.
* In ''[[SCP Foundation]]'' lore, Dr. Bright acted as President of the United States by posing as [[George W. Bush]] after the latter was killed in a hunting accident; this was primarily done to foil the schemes of [https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-4444 SCP-4444], an interdimensional being who had taken possession of Al Gore. While this was obviously done out of necessity (much like anything the Foundation does), it resulted in [[Noodle Incident| (for unspecified reasons)]] Bright being forbidden from ''ever'' running for public office (or installing himself as ''any'' sort of Head of State) again, as that is now on the [[Long List]] of things he is not allowed to do.
 
 
== Western Animation ==