Board 8 > Most Evil Fictional Character: Pennywise vs. Count Dracula

(+) Yeah! (+)

Got a bunch of errands to run this morning, so once again I've gotta start this a few hours early. Frieza vs. Eobard is still going though!

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Welcome to the 2023 edition of Most Evil Fictional Character, a single-elimination tournament to determine the most evil fictional character of all time!

Here's the bracket:

https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=477621&tclass=

And here's the discussion topic:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/80568652

And here are the rules:

-First and foremost, YOU MUST BOLD YOUR VOTE FOR IT TO COUNT. The reason for this is that these topics encourage a lot of discussion and debate, and it helps me to distinguish a vote from simple discussion if all votes are bolded. So, I state again, ALL VOTES MUST BE BOLDED FOR THEM TO COUNT. I reserve the right to be lenient in early topics if people just aren't getting it, but for the most part, IF YOUR VOTE ISN'T BOLDED, IT WON'T COUNT.

-You must vote for which of the two characters you honestly believe to be the more evil of the two. You can determine this via any method you like, use your own morals and judgement, read all the arguments made to determine your choice, or however you choose to make your pick, but you must only vote for the one you truly believe is the most evil. This isn't a death battle, or a popularity contest. You're voting ONLY for the most evil character out of the two choices presented.

-While on that subject, remember that because this isn't a death battle or a fighting tournament, do your absolute best to consider the two characters as if their power levels were equal (either the weaker character brought up to the level of the strongest, or vice versa, or both if you want to consider both possibilities). Therefore, just because, for example, one of the characters blew up a planet and the other one merely kicked a puppy, doesn't necessarily mean the planet killer is more evil than the puppy kicker. Consider the characters as if they have the exact same capabilities and what they might do in that scenario.

-You can make any arguments, debates, etc. you want in this topic. Discussion is STRONGLY encouraged, a fun debate about which of the two characters is most evil is exactly what these topics are for. Just don't make it personal, no insults or flaming, keep things civil even if you disagree. Also, no vote rallying, if you want to encourage people to vote for your character you need to at least make some semblance of an argument as to why, even if it's just "Character X did (really dastardly thing), I can't believe no one's voting for them!"

-Voting will continue for exactly 24 hours after the post is made. If there's a tie, there will be a new 24 hour topic. This will continue indefinitely until a winner is determined.

-YOU MUST BOLD YOUR VOTE FOR IT TO COUNT.

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The following write-ups will contain untagged SPOILERS for the IT films and novel and Bram Stoker's Dracula.

PENNYWISE

Pennywise the Dancing Clown is the primary antagonist of Stephen King's novel IT.

Pennywise is an ancient, trans-dimensional evil entity who preys upon the children (and sometimes adults) of Derry, Maine, roughly every 27 years, using a variety of powers that include the ability to shapeshift, manipulate reality, and go unnoticed by adults. It is a predator of humans, and prefers children to adults. Most importantly, It desires to consume those it has made terrified of itself. The creature implies that this enhances the flavor. It's preference for children prey may be due to how they taste, but also may be due to the fact that children are easier to scare. It's only goals are to eat and sleep. It will hunt and kill for a year, before entering a 27-year dormancy. It manipulates the awareness and attention of the People in Derry, both to mask its activities and isolate its victims. This enforced apathy and lack of awareness also masks the anomalous murder spikes during its active phase. It manipulates its prey and the town through both mundane and psychic means. In the most grand sense, It uses its power to maintain the prosperity of Derry despite the gruesome murders that regularly occur there, thus securing its food supply. It will manipulate its prey by promising them what they want, but can also determine their psychological fears and utilize them to provoke or cow those it faces. In the guise of Pennywise, it can be disarming, charming and seemingly nice to the kids it hunts, usually to lure them into secluded spots before attacking. It can manipulate weak-willed people, making them indifferent to the horrific events that unfold, or even serve as accomplices. Throughout the novel It, some events are depicted from Pennywise's point of view, describing itself as a "superior" being, with the Turtle as an equal and humans as mere "toys". It's hibernation begins and ends with horrific events, like the mysterious disappearance of Derry Township's 300 settlers in 174043 or the town's later ironworks explosion. It awoke during a great storm that flooded part of the city in 1957, with Bill's younger brother Georgie the first in a line of killings before the Losers Club fight the monster.

vs.

COUNT DRACULA

Count Dracula is the primary antagonist of the novel Dracula.

Count Dracula is the titular main antagonist of Bram Stoker's 1897 horror novel Dracula. He is a centuries-old vampire, sorcerer and Transylvanian nobleman, and the ruler of his namesake palace Castle Dracula. In the nineteenth century, Dracula enacts a long contemplated plan to leave his scarcely populated land where everyone knows and fear him, in favor of a populated and striving country in which no one believes in vampires. It is stated that he wants to expand his hunting grounds and breed a coven of vampires, and some speculate that he plans to take over the world. Dracula boards a Russian ship, the Demeter, bringing along 50 crates of Transylvanian soil. During the voyage to Whitby, a coastal town in northern England, he sustains himself on the ship's crew members and throws them at sea. Only the body of the captain is later found, tied up to the ship's helm. After arriving in England, Dracula watches a woman named Lucy under the shape of a bat and later transforms into a wolf in an attempt to break into Lucy's house, violently scaring Lucy's mother who dies of heart failure. He later returns and entices Lucy out of her chamber late at night, draining her blood and killing her. It appears that Lucy is now a vampire herself, and is preying upon children, who call her the "Bloody Maiden". Dracula enters the Asylum, where Mina resides, invited by Renfield, and starts feeding on her. Dracula later kills Renfield, who tried to protect Mina out of gratitude for her kindness, hypnotizes Jonathan to neutralize him and threatens to kill him should Mina resist, before feeding on her and infecting her with vampirism. Dracula is horribly cruel and heartless, only regarding people as prey to feed on and servants to use and trample. He is suave, refined and sophisticated, being able to seamlessly pass for a perfect gentleman, unfailingly polite and considerate, but only when he needs something from someone. When he does not, he is stern and easily irked. He is very proud and haughty, as he fully expects to be shown the respect a man of his condition deserves even under his gentleman faade. He deems the protagonists attempts against him futile, and reacts with scathing spite when thwarted.

PENNYWISE

dracula just wants to suck and (in some depictions) fuck

if this was specifically Castlevania Dracula we might have a match here

Pennywise not only eats kids and traps their souls he has a hell of a fun time doing it

EDIT: Pennywise is also a homophobe, dracula is all love baby!!!

Hmm, it's a bit iffier as this is specifically just novel OG Dracula. It's kind of funny since overall both of them are pretty similar in that they just want to hang in their (relatively) little pad and snack on locals (plus occasionally fuck in Drac's case). I guess you can say Dracula has more aspirations as he also wants to kickstart a coven on top of it and maybe try taking over the world (speculative). Meanwhile, IT just has a fit of snacking and goes back to sleep while also proverbially "tending his farmland" so his food source remains fine and he doesn't need to move like Dracula did.

However, when it comes to how they go after their prey in their local hunting grounds, IT is easily the bigger asshole (as far as I am aware) as he purposely tries to terrify his prey so they taste better while also getting a kick out of it.

Maybe someone more familiar with both literature can elaborate more. Dracula seems more consistently active with bigger plans while IT has the edge in being generally worse when actually up and about. Plus y'know, IT going after children and teens.

Pennywise

Pennywise

I'd figure Dracula of the book is a no contest situation, and although a great antagonist, doesn't make a great oppressive evil when compared to others so far in this tournament.

Pennywise

Dracula can almost be seen as tragic figure. Pennywise just wants to eat kids.

Pennywise

Tend to agree Dracula arguably shouldn't even be in this contest.

Pennywise

Pennywise

howis he only an 8 seed?

Pennywise

He is a being of evil incarnate. Dracula is just a dude with a disease.

Pennywise

fits the "entity of pure evil" trope perfectly

Pennywise

Both are sadistic creatures that need to feed. But I feel like Pennywise is a bit more heinous there than the Count.

Pennywise

Isn't it implied that Derry is extra fucked up specifically because of his influence??

Mwanwhile... and its probably because of pop culture but I honestly low-key feel a little bad for Dracula sometimes.

Dracula is being ridiculously undersold in this topic. It doesnt matter though, since his opponent is Pennywise.

Pennywise

Keep in mind this is OG Dracula, not depictions of him like in Castlevania.

Not that it matters because clown

Pennywise

But both feel more like a hungry animal that is just feeding because it's in their nature. Maybe a little like a feline who occasionally plays with their food. While both are iconic villains, they don't feel like they are making intentionally evil choices, since not killing basically means they'll die.

Well doesn't seem like there've been much argument for Dracula's side so:

Pennywise

Pennywise

TomNook posted...

But both feel more like a hungry animal that is just feeding because it's in their nature. Maybe a little like a feline who occasionally plays with their food. While both are iconic villains, they don't feel like they are making intentionally evil choices, since not killing basically means they'll die.

I think that actually shows more why Pennywise is evil. He doesn't need to manipulate and horrify people and he doesn't need to specifically target childen, he does it because he enjoys it more

Johnbobb posted...

I think that actually shows more why Pennywise is evil. He doesn't need to manipulate and horrify people and he doesn't need to specifically target children, he does it because he enjoys it more

Actually its because fear adds more flavor and makes them taste better. It's also why he goes after kids because their fears are more pure and simple compared to adults

I think "enjoying the taste of children/fear" is a pretty evil driving force personally. It is part of his nature but it is an evil nature

That's fair. Ultimately even if its just a food preference like salting meat and such, he still seems to at least enjoy scaring the shit out of his prey anyway.

Pirateking2000 posted...

It's also why he goes after kids because their fears are more pure and simple compared to adults

This is also another animal kingdom trait, how many predators devour young prey because they are easier targets. It just adds to how animalistic Pennywise feels, rather than evil. IMO.

Psychological torture isn't part of the animal kingdom or strictly necessary for Pennywise's survival, but he clearly loves tormenting children before he eats them. I don't buy the "animal" excuse wholesale for either of these but Dracula is far more sympathetic and has much more "man" to go with his monster while Pennywise is actually just a monster.

Pennywise