Top 10 Underappreciated Villains from Kids Shows
#10: Ilsa Schicklgrubermeiger “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” (2005-08)
It’s unbelievable how perfectly Caroline Rhea plays this character. Even if you haven't seen “The Suite Life” since you were a kid, Ilsa Schicklgrubermeiger is one of the more memorable guest star characters, even with her limited appearances. She’s a hotel inspector bent on shutting down the Tipton Hotel and putting Mr. Moseby out of a job. Her over-the-top German accent, too-straight posture, and braided buns made her the perfect kids show villain, and her lines were always hilariously terrifying. She’s downright evil and a character we love to hate. We can all agree Ms. Schicklgrubermeiger didn’t get nearly enough screen time!
#9: Toyman “Superman: The Animated Series” (1996-2000)
For those of us petrified of dolls, Toyman is one foe we’d rather forget. There’s just something so freaky about a mask that grins all the time. Add on the murderous motive and you’ve got yourself some ‘super’ nightmare fuel. He was only featured in two episodes of “Superman: The Animated Series”, and, despite how creepy Toyman is, we would have loved to see him in more. Even after his mask was cracked and abandoned in his intro episode, we never actually got a face reveal, which somehow makes his character all the more creepy.
#8: Combustion Man “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08)
“Avatar” is a show with a ton of bad guys, and don’t even get us started on all the villains in “The Legend of Korra”! Given the array to choose from, we think Combustion Man is pretty underrated. Come on, a guy who can shoot explosions with his mind?! That’s gotta be underrated, even if he did get the hype he deserves. This is a power that was explored further in “The Legend of Korra”, but didn't actually make its debut in “ATLA” until the last season. We figure this is only because Combustion Man would’ve been too big of a threat early on!
#7: Tim Scam “Totally Spies!” (2001-)
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Tim Scam is a character who was actually introduced early on in the show. While “Totally Spies!” adopts more of a ‘villain of the week’ format, they do see quite a few recurring baddies, including Tim Scam. He’s a former WOOHP’s weapon technician who was fired for illegal use of the agency’s technology. Tim first appears on the scene as Mac Smit… You know, Tim Scam, only backwards? Even though he did pose a real threat to the girls, we can’t help but question his intellect. Mac Smit… Can we all just collectively facepalm now? Either way, we still hope to see Tim and all his intensity in the renewed season 7 of “Totally Spies!”!
#6: Alana Rivera, Muffy, & Loca “That's So Raven” (2003-07)
Alana is really only around for season 2, but she made such a lasting impact. As far as Disney Channel rivalries go, this is definitely a staple. Alana River and her followers, Loca and Muffy, were always making Raven’s high school life harder than it had to be. They’re definitely bullies, but there are also times when Alana and Raven find out they have more in common than they once thought. Alana actually returns briefly in “Raven’s Home” as the school principal, so we must not be the only ones who thought she deserved more time in the limelight!
#5: Dr. Two-Brains “WordGirl” (2007-15)
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If Dr. Two-Brains reminds you of Ice King from “Adventure Time”, that’s probably for good reason. They share a voice actor, both have white hair and both have incredibly tragic backstories that led them along a descent to madness. Professor Steven Boxleitner was once a good-natured scientist and, surprisingly, friends with the hero of the show, WordGirl. Unfortunately, one of his experiments went south and his mind fused with that of an evil lab rat, Squeaky. Dr. Two-Brains is actually kind of a cool supervillain. He’s on good terms with his henchmen and the remnants of his friendship with WordGirl can often be seen in their interactions.
#4: The Hacker “Cyberchase” (2002-)
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It’s hard to believe a character voiced by the legendary Christopher Lloyd goes so unrecognized, but here we are. The Hacker has every quality we love in a villain: supersized ego, unnatural skin, over-the-top theatrics, and a great evil laugh. Hieronymous Hacker’s goal is always to seize control of a realm called Cyberspace and, though he seems a little incapable, he has managed to infect Motherboard who’s the ruler and protector of Cyberspace. It’s kind of crazy how a cartoon with a twenty year run has such an underappreciated antagonist, but we’re glad new generations are still getting to experience this gem.
#3: Flintheart Glomgold “DuckTales” (1987-90, 2017-21)
Like many of the best villains around, Flintheart Glomgold is a mirror to the hero. He’s everything Scrooge McDuck is, only he has no moral boundaries. Both characters are obsessed with money, but unlike Scrooge, who insists on fairness and integrity, Glomgold is never opposed to cheating. The creators of the 2017 DuckTales reboot must have also felt that this antagonist was underappreciated, because they gave him a whole narrative arc involving amnesia and an identity crisis. We won’t spoil it here, in case you haven’t gotten around to watching it yet, but it’s everything we could have hoped for Scrooge McDuck’s personal nemesis!
#2: Amoeba Boys “The Powerpuff Girls” (1998-05, 2016-19)
With villains like Mojo Jojo, Princess Morbucks, and HIM, there isn’t a lot of room for the Amoeba Boys to shine. A lot of the havoc they cause is purely coincidental, given their general simplemindedness, which is why it’s so easy to undervalue these guys. Still, if you remember the contagion episode in the original series, where they infected the whole town with a virus, then you’ll know the Amoeba Boys are not to be overlooked. (Watching that episode in today’s context is a lot more eerie.) Incidentally, the “Powerpuff” reboot has an episode that sees the Amoeba Boys infecting the internet, which is pretty awesome.
#1: Magica De Spell “DuckTales” (1987-90, 2017-21)
Listen, every one of Scrooge McDuck’s rivals are iconic, but Magica definitely gets the shorter end of the stick in the classic DuckTales. We barely see her after season one, if at all, which is a shame because she’s such a great baddie! Forever after Scrooge’s Number One Dime, Magica De Spell is a powerful sorceress every bit as flamboyant and conniving as you might expect from someone named ‘Magica’. Just like Glomgold, the creators of the DuckTales reboot must have seen her value, because they give her the spotlight she deserves, and she definitely stands out as Scrooge’s most worthy opponent. Come on, using her niece as her own personal puppet? That’s intense, even for her!
