Super villains want to destroy the world... What then?

[leaderproxima]

Ok, so ive noticed this with a lot of games, films, books, comics etc... The general idea of it is that there is a main antagonist in each of the stories, this bad guy wants to A)take over the world or B)Destroy the world.
Forgetting about A lets take a look at B. For this im not talking about bad guys with the ability to travel the universe like reapers or freiza im talking Human being bad guys, confined to earth like Rhapthorne from Dragon quest or Cyrus from Pokemon. So these guys wanna destroy the world? All living beings, towns, cities, homes, families, animals and the like are destroyed and non existant? So, then what?
With everything gone and this completely dead world (Or new universe in cyrus' case, which he's alone in) does the bad guy just wanna rule over nothing but himself? They must have some sort of plan for owning something of meaning.

What I'm asking is, why would someone who could not move onto other life forms and who would be stuck on this planet want to kill every other living thing on it? Is it some sort of extreme loner? or do they want to kill themselves along with all the others?

 

[The Night Angel]

They want to do this so that a plucky young upstart of a hero can have a long and entertaining adventure that culminates in saving the planet and stopping an evil genius hell-bent on destruction. The villains just want to give us a plot No reason to hate them for it....

I suppose they just suffer from an extremely over the top form of nihilism. They want to tear everything down for the hell of it, just to upset the established order. Most probably haven't even considered what will happen afterwards, I mean they are usually stark raving mad. And their mothers didn't love them

 

[leaderproxima]

And their mothers didn't love them

I was gonna say, that cant possibly be true for all villians, there are some that could. But then i remembered "Dispicable me" and his mother was like 'Meh' to all of his acheivements

 

[DoPo]

What I'm asking is, why would someone who could not move onto other life forms and who would be stuck on this planet want to kill every other living thing on it? Is it some sort of extreme loner? or do they want to kill themselves along with all the others?

Depends on the work, doesn't it? If it's not explained and it seems that the villain just wants to destroy everything, then I'll go ahead an assume they are just a one dimensional character. Others do have their reasons. Some may be utter nihilists that consider life and the universe meaningless. Others just have some gripe with everything and want to take it out on...everything. Some may act that way due to pacts they've had with pretty much demonic beings or Eldritch abominations. Sometimes the destruction isn't really the goal, just the chaos that would be caused while trying to reach it, is the goal.

Take the big bad from Arcanum, for example. He has very good reasons to want the death of everything.

Spoiler

Throughout the game it is constantly claimed that it was an evil elf mage called Arronax that was sealed away from the world but will now come back to destroy it. Turns out that the legends about Arronax are gross exaggerations and he doesn't want to destroy any worlds. Also, the big bad was only posing as Arronax so he can get a sect of heretical elves on his side to help him escape imprisonment. That guy's name is Kerghan - a very powerful necromancer who pretty much tortured and raped souls to understand how the work. After his banishment, he had a lo-o-ot of time to think. And using his necromancy, he traversed the worlds of the dead until he reached their final resting place. Not really heaven but really close - it is said to be a place of utter peace and serenity. Kerghan became convinced (not without reason) that life bad and souls are actually in pain while in the physical realm. And the guy actually makes sense when he discusses it with you, the worst thing is that he is right in a weird sort of way. He wants to kill every living thing, along with himself, to grant everybody peace and serenity.

Although you can point out flaws in his philosophy and convince him to commit suicide, as he doesn't want to live anyway.

 

[The Night Angel]

And their mothers didn't love them

I was gonna say, that cant possibly be true for all villians, there are some that could. But then i remembered "Dispicable me" and his mother was like 'Meh' to all of his acheivements

Mwuahahaha, yet again the night angel is proven right!! Fear me mortals, one day I shall rise up and take out my frustration at the fact that my mother didn't love me on all of you!!!
OT: it could have been their dad too, in fairness

 

[Auron225]

Its usually either that they're doing it to exact revenge on life as a whole, cause in their eyes - how they have been wronged can only be justified by ending all life...

Or they're just angry and they would literally be yelling if they suceeded "If I die, I'm taking ALL of you with me".

Its usually the former rather than the latter though. Oh wait, there's also the possibility that they're delusional and believe something else will happen. Normally this 'something else' IS them being supreme ruler. Sephiroth and Xehanort come to mind.

 

[Dryk]

A is just as bad. Ruling the world, especially when most people despise you would take a lot of work.

 

[Scarim Coral]

If the villain truely want to destory the world as in every single lifes, than he or she is just too insane to try to find the rational to their actions. Maybe in his or her view he or she will finally achieve "peace".

 

[backinthepresentfuture]

i don't know, i don't care. i just love them for being evil!

 

[Vegosiux]

So why should you destroy the Earth...let's ask Things of Interest. [http://qntm.org/Why]. Yeah, it can really obstruct your view of Venus! Of course, browsing around there also shows just how totally not easy [http://qntm.org/destroy] it is to destroy it.

Just thought I'd leave this here, cause it's a helluva fun read.

 

[Gottesstrafe]

Well, there's Kefka from Final Fantasy VI. Aside from just being a murder happy psychopath who hates everything in the world and goes insane when he absorbs enough magical power to literally become God, he also has a sadistic nihilist streak going for him. By the end of the game he determines for himself that life itself is meaningless and insignificant, and the quickest way to share this revelation with everyone else is to destroy all of existence.

Sometimes people just want to see the world burn.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Because oblivion is preferable. The wheel has been turning in endless battle for countless encounters, and no matter how those fools who follow the light fight, eventually the Great Lord will break free. Better to hasten the end...

...sorry, been rereading the Wheel of Time recently. Incidentally, the other primary motivation there is "destroy the world, because my master will remake it with me in it."

 

[Don Savik]

Most of the time there is no "what next?" because the hero will always win. ALWAYS. Plot armor activated, sword of canon-slaying equipped, FUCKING LEERRRROOOOOYYY JEEENNNNKKKIIIINNNNSSSS and kill the bad guy.

If not, then most of the time the bad guy plans to just start anew with his followers or something. Or possibly enslave the rest of the population.

Also, we have shit like 4chan and /b WHO WOULDNT WANT TO FIREBOMB EVERYTHING!?!?!??

I know I would....

 

[leaderproxima]

So why should you destroy the Earth...let's ask Things of Interest. [http://qntm.org/Why]. Yeah, it can really obstruct your view of Venus! Of course, browsing around there also shows just how totally not easy [http://qntm.org/destroy] it is to destroy it.

Just thought I'd leave this here, cause it's a helluva fun read.

I read the entire article and it was very interesting but i could not stop laughing at the the "Things that WONT destroy earth" section, just for one bit. The last thing that will NOT destroy earth he wrote was Gay marriage XD

 

[leaderproxima]

Incidentally, the other primary motivation there is "destroy the world, because my master will remake it with me in it."

Thats exactly the reason Cyrus from pokemon platinum puts out. When he summons Palkia, Dialga and giratina he wants to make a new universe with no emotion and no strife. Him being the only inhabitant along with the three god pokemon. He has no way of knowing that they will keep him alive anyways.