The Most Ruthless Heroes Across Pop Culture

Originally published on March 14, 2024. This article analyzes 10 of the most ruthless and violent heroes across pop culture mediums, including television, movies, comics, anime, and more.

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When we think of heroes, we think of shining, stalwart, selfless people. They protect because their ultimate goals are peace and prosperity. Most heroes also follow a certain code of ethics that they consider unbreakable. But then there are the heroes who decide to bend — or fully snap in half — those traditional moral principles. Not all people with super powers can be trusted all the time. Some heroes keep it real and others keep it bloody.

Check out our list of 10 of the most ruthless heroes — and antiheroes — from across movies, television, and more. Then, keep reading below to see why these characters made the cut.

• Omni-Man
• Yasha Nydoorin
• Eric Draven
• The Punisher
• Homelander
• Maki Zen’in
• Red Sonja
• Red Hood
• Anakin Skywalker
• Yennefer of Vengerberg

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Omni-Man

• From: Invincible
• Played by: J.K. Simmons and Talon Warburton

Omni-Man is an alien who operates as a super hero on Earth. He pretends to be charming and compassionate — the ideal hero archetype. In reality, Nolan Grayson is completely amoral. He happily slaughters innocents in order to fulfill the wishes of his alien empire. Seeing other races as weak and inferior, he squashes them like bugs.

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Yasha Nydoorin

• From: Critical Role — The Mighty Nein
• Played by: Ashley Johnson

She would like to rage! Yasha Nydoorin is generally soft spoken. In battle, however, she is totally brutal. She’ll plow through and cut down her adversaries without a moment’s hesitation. The Mighty Nein are lucky to have her in their adventuring party.

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Eric Draven

• From: The Crow
• Played by: Brandon Lee

Eric Draven was brutally murdered after watching a group of Devil’s Night enthusiasts assault his fiancée. A year later, Eric comes back from the dead to exact vengeance as The Crow. The Crow has nothing left to lose, so he shows no mercy. Because his kills are personal and emotional, they’re also particularly violent.

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The Punisher

• From: Marvel
• Played by: Dolph Lundgren, Thomas Jane, Ray Stevenson, and Jon Bernthal

There is a war raging within Frank Castle’s mind, and he’s bringing it to the streets of Hell’s Kitchen. Ruthless and merciless in his path towards vengeance, The Punisher has no qualms killing to rid the world of those he considers the true villains. Do you think he’s a good guy, bad guy, or something in between?

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Homelander

• From: The Boys
• Played by: Antony Starr

Although this list isn’t ranked, Homelander might be the worst of them. The Boys‘ biggest villain is also that fictional world’s greatest hero. A leader, captain, father, and the paragon of American patriotism, Homelander is worshipped by millions of adoring fans. He’s also a murderer, a bigot, and a genocidal maniac. And those prejudiced actions aren’t always behind the scenes.

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Maki Zen’in

• From: Jujutsu Kaisen
• Played by: Mikako Komatsu (Japanese VA) and Allegra Clark (English VA)

Maki Zen’in was born without any cursed energy. Still, she trains using cursed weapons. But she is the shame of her clan, who also devalue women to an extraordinary degree. After the Culling Game, Maki survives a brutal attack, and then absorbs her twin sister’s powers. With that surge of strength and final determination, Maki wipes out the Zen’in Clan … completely. And the Jujutsu world is better for it.

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Red Sonja

• From: Dynamite
• Played by: Brigitte Nielsen, Misty Lee, Charlotte Vandermeersch, and Matilda Lutz

Red Sonja is a queen. She has to defend her throne — and make some aggressive expansions. So of course she needs the capacity to raze entire enemy civilizations and kingdoms to the ground. Red Sonja does this effectively and with no small amount of carnage.

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Red Hood

• From: DC
• Played by: Curran Walters, Jensen Ackles, Troy Baker, and more

Once one of the obedient Robins, Red Hood has changed into a killer. We can’t blame Jason. After all, being beaten to death by The Joker will definitely shift your perspective on things. Now the traumatized troublemaker does things a little bit differently than Batman. He’s willing to break Batman’s one rule, and he won’t let his adoptive father stand in his way.

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Anakin Skywalker

• From: Star Wars™
• Played by: Hayden Christensen (live action) and Matt Lanter (The Clone Wars)

Even before he became Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker garnered a reputation for getting things done the hard way. Anakin’s inability to control his anger led to a few botched missions with the clone troopers. Because he’s so skilled with his Lightsaber, he’s also chopped many an enemy to bits. And we all know about the incident with the Sand People — a rescue gone horribly wrong due to Anakin’s rage.

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Yennefer of Vengerberg

• From: The Witcher
• Played by: Anya Chalotra (live action) and Denise Gough (video game)

Yennefer of Vengerberg is a protector of the realm. But she’s also willing to do (almost) anything to further her own power and agenda. Disabled from birth, she scrapes and fights for respect within magical circles. When she claims that strength, it is at a terrible cost. With fire and fury, Yennefer seeks to reclaim her bodily autonomy while also protecting those she loves.

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Who do you think are the most ruthless heroes? Did we miss your favorite? Share your picks at side.show/geekgroup or in the Sideshow Social Network, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!