How to Draw a Super Villain

Sketchbooks are a great way to organize multiple drafts of your super villain.

Super villains are the most feared characters in comics, film, television, and books. Their evil knows no limits and their thirst for destruction and power is never quenched. There are many different characteristics to think about when designing and drawing a super villain, but much of what makes them so fearful is their appearance -- from their facial features to the rest of their physique, costume design, right down to the very accessories they carry.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Paper
• Colored pencils

Instructions

1. Consider the look of your super villain by first deciding whether it should be human or alien. If human, decide whether it should be male or female.

2. List the physical attributes of your super villain. Will she be a tall, muscular, menacing character who relies on strength for her intimidation factor, or will he be small, scrawny, and rely more on brains and cunning as his evil attributes? These characteristics will play an important part in telling your super villain's back story.

3. Begin drawing the character by sketching him in a powerful pose. He could be flexing his muscles with a menacing facial expression or holding his favorite weapon aloft.

4. Pay particular attention to the lines you use to sketch the character. Use sharp angles and jagged lines to convey an unfriendly demeanor.

5. Design a costume for your super villain. Think of materials that would be uncomfortable for most people such as metal chains, steel armor, spiked accessories, and perhaps the skins of animals that are regarded as very hard to kill such as bears and tigers.

References

• "How to Draw Comic Book Heroes and Villains"; Christoper Hart; 1995
• "Scared!: How to Draw Fantastic Horror Comic Characters"; Steve Miller; 2004
• "How to Draw and Paint Crazy Cartoon Characters: Create Original Characters with Lots of Personality"; Vincent Woodcock; 2007