The "I had a crappy childhood and therefore I will take revenge against the world" villain

[pianocello]

I've seen this kind of main villain appear in shows like Fushigi Yugi and Higurashi~When They Cry. This villain will perpetuate all kinds of despicable evil against people they barely know and then at some point we'll see some flashback showing their crappy childhood to justify their hatred against everything.
I'm making a listing of such villains. Any others? Which ones do you find the most memorable?

[Prede]

How about Hänsel and Gretel from Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage ? Of course "crappy childhood" doesn't even begin to describe how horrible and disturbingly awful their childhood is/was.

[a fist of JUSTICE!!]

Does Lelouch count?

[Ty]

In fairness to Higurashi the person in question truly was messed up, and they also did a very good job of portraying that vividly. In most shows it does not come off as an effectively believable plot device though.

[mato45]

Does Lelouch count?
I may be biased but I don't think so, his hatred is more focused than "the world".

[Sensuifu]

Suitengu of Speed Grapher

[Prede]

Suitengu of Speed Grapher

Oh I agree. This character fits that perfectly. He should be used as the example.

[DiRF]

Would Lucy/Nyuu from Elfen Lied count?

...also, Shinji from Eva... it's amazing that he didn't become a villain...

[Torriate]

How about Hänsel and Gretel from Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage ? Of course "crappy childhood" doesn't even begin to describe how horrible and disturbingly awful their childhood is/was.

+100 Those twins story was truly horrific and not for the faint of heart.

[russ869]

Both Kaiba and Marik from Yuugiou fit that description exactly. Also, Vegeta in Dragonball and pretty much any other villain who later turned good guy.

Personally, I think this stereotype is a cop-out for series that like to sort of bring the villains around to become good guys. The best kinds of villain are the kind who aren't half-assed; they're committed to evil. (...like Rurouni Kenshin's Makoto Shishio, for example)

[Blackthornhiei]

Would Char count?

Sure, only hated the Zabis at first, but would also take out whomever was unlucky to get in the way. He did joins the good guys a few years later. But a couple of years after that he tried to drop something quite heavy on Earth.

[mato45]

Would Char count?
But a couple of years after that he tried to drop something quite heavy on Earth.
I am honestly confused as to where Tomino got the idea that Char's Counterattack was a good idea.. At the very least I wish there was an english release of some of the manga that cover his life in between Zeta and Char's Counterattack because without background info (maybe even with it) Char's actions seem rather random and it comes as a rather disappointing end to a rivalry...

[Mr. Nail Bat]

Does the antagonist from Giant Robo count?

THE NIGHT! THE BEAUTIFUL NIGHT!

[EyeOfPain]

I think that was more "revenge" than "crappy childhood".

From Eureka seveN, Dewey Novak would certainly count, in my opinion. And it certainly didn't feel like a cop out to me.

[pianocello]

I think that was more "revenge" than "crappy childhood".

From Eureka seveN, Dewey Novak would certainly count, in my opinion. And it certainly didn't feel like a cop out to me.
I'm scratching my head to remember but I can't seem to recall Dewey having a truly crappy childhood - at least not at the level of those other characters that have been named.

[Fencedude]

I think that was more "revenge" than "crappy childhood".

From Eureka seveN, Dewey Novak would certainly count, in my opinion. And it certainly didn't feel like a cop out to me.
I'm scratching my head to remember but I can't seem to recall Dewey having a truly crappy childhood - at least not at the level of those other characters that have been named.

You're joking right?

That being said, at about the time they got around to explaining that part E7's plot started to fall to pieces, so I can't really fault you too much for forgetting.

(also Dewey was a terrible villain)

[EyeOfPain]

Well, it has been a while since I watched all of E7, so my memory's probably a bit skewed. He did kinda bring it on himself, though.

[mato45]

Yeah Dewey gave himself a crappy childhood.

[Helschadenfreude]

Someone from a certain vampires series that just ended it's manga serialization. Rape is such a terrible thing you know, enough to go rampaging on a head a pike spree...

[Buckeye]

The first guy that comes to mind that fits this mold would be Gaara since he was battered, tortured, you name it. He was living his childhood as a man being hunted. When he grew up, he was out for revenge. But for him it all ended once he fought Naruto and ever since, he is a much different guy.

[Njr Scrawl]

Tetsuo in Akira!

Nelvana in Sailor Moon Super S.

Diva in Blood+

[russ869]

Hitokiri Batousai is not a villain, per se. But he was spurred by a horrific childhood to take revenge against the government.

[a fist of JUSTICE!!]

Does Lelouch count?
I may be biased but I don't think so, his hatred is more focused than "the world".
Only slightly, since his hatred is focused on an entire country.

[BigPants]

Suitengu of Speed Grapher

I also came to post this.

I also think he is one of the greatest villains ever.

[mato45]

Does Lelouch count?
I may be biased but I don't think so, his hatred is more focused than "the world".
Only slightly, since his hatred is focused on an entire country.
The country is corrupt and part of the problem is how his father is running it. So his hatred of Brittania is really only an extension of his hatred for his father, as he doesn't seem to hate the people themselves...

[2old2care]

Dilandau, only he doesn't realize it during much of Escaflowne.