Heroes aren’t the only ones who can be heart-swooningly good-looking. Gone are the days when villains were pictured as rotten-toothed, stringy-haired fiends with only one trick up their sleeves: committing terrible acts against the hero. Now we have villains with complex backgrounds and will-they-won’t-they moments of change. Whether they are abusive ladies’ men, an unapologetic teen killer, or literal deadly sins, there’s still something about them that makes our hearts want to reach out to theirs and give them the biggest hugs, just to see if their hearts can grow a size. Some villains may not be so villainous, but others may never change. The Bookstr team’s verdict: Let’s see which villains have heart, and which ones are heartlessly hopeless.
Takumi from Nana by Ai Yazawa
A true bastard, Takumi uses Nana (affectionately known as Hachi), treating her more like a toy that he can take off the shelf and entertain whenever he’s bored. Hachi truly adores Takumi and takes him at his word. Nevertheless, he can’t be trusted. Ever! He’s masterful with his words and can make Hachi believe in anything and everything he says, yet he’s just abusive and neglectful. And when she gets pregnant by him, he moves her into his penthouse, where he treats her even worse. In my eyes, Takumi is incredibly hot (as hot as a drawn character can be), but he’s pure, unadulterated garbage.
Verdict: He’s very much a hot but hopeless character. I fear that he cannot be changed. While he shows moments of promise, he still reverts back to his old ways. Maybe somewhere down the line, there’s hope for him, but not right now.
– Quiarah B/Vphan, Editorial
Wrath, Envy, Pride, and Lust from Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
They are the epitome of dangerous allure, each with their own unique brand of hotness and treachery. Wrath exudes a dark, brooding vibe that makes you want to slap or kiss him — maybe both. His sculpted physique, deep voice, and smoldering eyes could melt chocolate, but don’t be fooled! He’s manipulative, secretive, and completely untrustworthy, with betrayal practically etched into his soul. Envy is cold, calculating, and dangerously attractive, with icy green eyes and a wardrobe straight out of a high-end fashion magazine. He’s consumed by jealousy, ruining lives just because he can’t stand to see others happy.
Pride is tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome, with an arrogance that only makes him more appealing. He’s got that regal presence and a wicked smirk that can turn your knees to jelly, but his overwhelming sense of superiority and manipulative ways make him impossible to change. Lust, as expected, is irresistibly seductive, with a raw, primal appeal that’s all about passion. He’s a master of temptation, leading people into risky, pleasurable situations without a care for the consequences.
Verdict for all four: Hot but hopeless. They’re too deeply entrenched in their sins for anyone to change them, unless offered cannolis!
– Freya Clark, Intern
Henry Winter from The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Imagine a nerd that doesn’t know about the Moon landing; that’s Henry Winter for you. He has the emotional intelligence of a cardboard box, speaks multiple languages, and probably could tell what Homer was doing at an exact date and time. He gets high off Ancient Greek. Somehow, he ends up as the unofficial leader of the friend group.
Despite having no idea of what ‘’feelings’’ are, he is well-versed in social etiquette and is a gentleman. He just has one fatal flaw — or maybe two. On a totally casual night of performing Hellenic rituals, he smashes a man’s face in. When his obnoxious best friend with no filter discovers this secret, Henry Winter then murders his best friend with no remorse to cover up another murder. Though he is a tall, good-looking nerd with glasses, I fear there is no redemption for him since he doesn’t regret anything.
Verdict: Hot but hopeless.
– Ceren Almira Koşucu, Social Intern
Suguru Geto from Jujitsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami
If you have ever read the manga or seen the animated show or movie for Jujitsu Kaisen, Geto is introduced first as this horrible, terrible villain who wishes to destroy and harm his friends, and of course, civilians, by using evil curses. He also creates a literal cult. What makes Geto so irresistible is, of course, the long hair and outfit he wears (though he could use some better footwear), and his attitude and sassy/silly personality make him such a loveable character.
Though he is evil, we learn in his backstory that he was initially a good person with a very strict morality of right and wrong and believed that sorcerers should protect as many civilians as possible. He has moments in these times where he still shows some of that good-natured humanity, and his relatability is hard to resist for many fans alike. I absolutely feel if Gojo or any of his other friends supported him more/better, he would no doubt still be a good guy.
Verdict: Can be changed.
– Kelly Severson, Video/Graphics Intern
Feyd Rautha from Dune: Part Two
Feyd is a bald, muscled, psychosexual maniac. He’s ruthless, bloodthirsty, and, in my humble opinion, hot as heck. Maybe it’s just Austin Butler’s magic, but something about that character does it for me. He did what needed to be done.
Unfortunately, though, I don’t think I could change him. Sure, he might have a soft side, and he’s not as villainous as his uncle Baron Harkonnen, but I think his thirst for violence will persist. In my imagination, though, I can sway him to use that treachery for good and help the Freemen fight the Harkonnens and the Empire.
Verdict: Hot but hopeless.
– Fiona Hansen, Editorial & Outreach
Pitch Black from The Guardians of Childhood by William Joyce
In the book series, Pitch started out as good by fighting evil and later guarding the prison where the Fearlings were imprisoned in. The Fearlings manipulated Pitch by mimicking the voice of his daughter, and he let them escape. Pitch was soon consumed by the Fearlings and turned dark and full of revenge. His goal was to turn dreams into nightmares and strike fear into everyone. The movie that the book series is based on shows Pitch as attractive, and he is voiced by Jude Law. He is manipulative, but he has a backstory that gives him more depth. In both the books and movie, Pitch will do whatever it takes to strike fear [in others], even manipulating his victims by using their own fears. Pitch is ruthless and is determined to achieve his goal of darkness.
Verdict: Pitch can be changed because of his tragic backstory of how he became a villain. If he can reunite with his daughter, then he can be changed.
– Molly Ireland, Outreach and Editorial Intern
Romeo from My Dark Romeo by Parker S. Huntington
Romeo is a brooding character with an undeniable allure. His striking features — dark, intense eyes, sharp jawline, and a perpetual smirk — make him super hot. Romeo’s treacherous deeds are woven into his complex persona. He’s known for manipulating situations to his advantage, and playing with the emotions of those around him.
His actions often blur the line between right and wrong by making me wonder what he’s truly capable of. Romeo is a character shaped by his dark past, and his negative view of the world makes him resistant to change. He’s more likely to draw others into his world than to be pulled out of it. Trying to change him might get you further into his dangerous web, but being authentic to his feelings and his persona will be helpful in changing him.
Verdict: Can be changed.
– Helen Postnykova, Graphic Design Intern
Loki from The Marvel Cinematic Universe and Comics
Loki, God of Mischief, started out as a character full of angst and insecurity being in Thor’s shadow. To make matters worse, he discovered he wasn’t blood-related to Odin, which drove him further into the darkness. He sent The Destroyer to kill Thor, once faked his own death, left Thor to fight in the arena in Thor: Ragnarök, and many other misdeeds.
However, through all his treachery, he later becomes an ally in the franchise. His overall sophisticated dark aura and charismatic wit were what I found magnetically attractive. Perhaps if there wasn’t such favoritism throughout his childhood and he was told the truth about his origins from the beginning, he wouldn’t have been so misunderstood. All he needed was love, a purpose, and a feeling of belonging.
Verdict: Can be changed.
– Talia Wall, Graphics
Dorian Gray from The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Our precious boy is one of the hottest in gothic literature. He’s gorgeous, fun, playful, and has a wit sharper than a whip crack. As Dorian fans know, Dorian is described as incredibly beautiful by many of the characters in the story. His vanity inevitably leads to his downfall.
While not directly listed as a villain, Dorian’s descent from an innocent young man to a conceited and manipulative character willing to murder someone he once called a friend and leave the body in a locked room definitely qualifies him as a villainous character. All Dorian needed to avoid corruption was to strengthen his bond with the character Basil instead of listening to the corrupt and indifferent Lord Henry. This is confirmed by Dorian saying many times how Basil could have saved him if Dorian was willing to be saved.
Verdict: Could be changed early on. Hopeless toward the end.
– Blaise Senkel, Marketing & PR Intern
There you have it! Here are some of our picks. What are some of yours? Can they be changed, or will they forever be destined to roam their worlds as hopelessly heartless? Let us know your thoughts on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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