Question about fictional characters

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

So we're all a bunch of comic book and fantasy and sci-fi nerds here, so I have a question.

If I'm the author of a book, or the director of a movie, and you all are my audience, is it better for the audience for me to make like 1 uber super duper ultimate bad ass character? Or is it better to spread that bad assness across some different characters?

More specifically, I have an idea for a fantasy epic that I have been kicking around in my head for close to 15 years now in different incarnations. I have the one ultimate villian, who just now is starting to go through some major evolution to make him a much more intriguing character. I also have his "2nd in command" type character, who while I won't be going into much detail with this character, I'd like to make him a visual type of bad ass.

Yet, some of his powers and abilities, I think could make my ultimate villian truly epic. So would it be a better move for my story, for the audiences, to make my ultimate villian the biggest, beefiest badass he could be? Or should I spread some of that bad assness out over various characters?

 

[AlteredEgo]

I vote spread the badassery around.

 

[SuperFerret]

Every character in any story should be worthy of the fans that they will inevitably get.

 

[Majic Walrus]

Every character in any story should be worthy of the fans that they will inevitably get.

 

[Manic]

Is your villain smart as well as powerful? Because you don't want a powerful moron for a villain. It's okay for the hero to outsmart the villain, but not at the cost of the villain's intelligence. If you can make a villain who's both strong and clever, and he's not defeated in a profoundly stupid manner, then I say go for it.

 

[E-Man]

Every character has to bring something to the table in literature. You don't want to have throw away characters, because they really don't bring much to the table. In your example, I think you could have both. The protagonist can be the biggest bad ass, but his/her support structure could be bad ass too. If you're going to go with a team book, then you really need to spread it out to keep it from being a solo book with people who get killed.

The villain has to be someone who stands a huge chance to the hero. You gotta be careful not to go overboard though, because if/when the hero wins it doesn't look as legit. Balance it out between the hero and the villain so that you could tell a more epic war. Villains could be bad ass, but a bad ass battle is better IMO.