I know the difference between right and wrong, I just don't care.
Black Mage is evil. No qualifiers here, he is evil. Totally and completely evil, and he doesn't mind that at all. It makes him happy to be evil.
The only thing that keeps him from being the main villain in the comic is the fact that the universe works actively against him. The main weapon is, of course, Fighter, who considers Black Mage his best friend, and BM can't kill him because of his armor.
The rest was handled by, well, everyone. Watching Black Mage react with frustration to every other person is entertaining, but it's also the one way to keep BM from focusing on his evil quest to, um, well. . .
Look, WHAT he wants for his evil is kind of odd. Mostly it's about chaos and destruction, but he doesn't seem to want to rule. Well, he doesn't MIND that, for a short time he was in charge of the party and seemed to enjoy it, but it's not his goal. He has no problem doing a "good" deed, if he it will personally benefit him.
Being evil, for evil's sake seems all he really wants. Betray his party members? Sure. Oh wait, the other side plans to kill him too? Screw that guy, let's get him Fighter. He's fluid with his betrayal and willing to do it at the drop of a hat.
He's not above love, I should note. There is a point where he leaves a letter for White Mage that states how much he cares. She ALMOST feels sorry for him, right up until she finds out his most powerful spell is in fact weaponized love. This is a spell that caused a global extinction event.
He is evil, and he's pretty smart, to a point. He often calls out the other characters (especially Red Mage) for his stupid ideas (which again, work half the time, the universe works against Black Mage again). His intelligence does not match his cleverness, as he doesn't have much. His best insult DID kill someone, but that's because it was awful, not because it was effective.
Of course he also goes on to conquer Hell (he was overthrown shortly there after), commit so many atrocities that his confrontation at the Temple of Ordeals is met with himself (which he promptly extra horrifies then stabs in the back), and eventually turns against the entire party and has a dramatic show down where he almost wins. Right until Sarda appears, the same kid whose parents, foster parents and orphanage Black Mage killed.
Ultimately Black Mage gets exactly what he deserves. He's depowered and left to wander the world with the one person he hates more than anyone else, his best friend Fighter. No better way to end his career.
That all said, he is memorable. It's really hard to look at that iconic sprite and not think about his rampage through the Dwarf Kingdom or his attempt to turn a spell called "make Black Mage turn inside out" on Sarda, only for Black Mage to be turned inside out as a result. He's the example of comedic evil character, so much so that I think most other comics try and fail, to copy it.
But I that's another story, one I will finish next time. Until then.
Black Mage is evil. No qualifiers here, he is evil. Totally and completely evil, and he doesn't mind that at all. It makes him happy to be evil.
The only thing that keeps him from being the main villain in the comic is the fact that the universe works actively against him. The main weapon is, of course, Fighter, who considers Black Mage his best friend, and BM can't kill him because of his armor.
The rest was handled by, well, everyone. Watching Black Mage react with frustration to every other person is entertaining, but it's also the one way to keep BM from focusing on his evil quest to, um, well. . .
Look, WHAT he wants for his evil is kind of odd. Mostly it's about chaos and destruction, but he doesn't seem to want to rule. Well, he doesn't MIND that, for a short time he was in charge of the party and seemed to enjoy it, but it's not his goal. He has no problem doing a "good" deed, if he it will personally benefit him.
Being evil, for evil's sake seems all he really wants. Betray his party members? Sure. Oh wait, the other side plans to kill him too? Screw that guy, let's get him Fighter. He's fluid with his betrayal and willing to do it at the drop of a hat.
He's not above love, I should note. There is a point where he leaves a letter for White Mage that states how much he cares. She ALMOST feels sorry for him, right up until she finds out his most powerful spell is in fact weaponized love. This is a spell that caused a global extinction event.
He is evil, and he's pretty smart, to a point. He often calls out the other characters (especially Red Mage) for his stupid ideas (which again, work half the time, the universe works against Black Mage again). His intelligence does not match his cleverness, as he doesn't have much. His best insult DID kill someone, but that's because it was awful, not because it was effective.
Of course he also goes on to conquer Hell (he was overthrown shortly there after), commit so many atrocities that his confrontation at the Temple of Ordeals is met with himself (which he promptly extra horrifies then stabs in the back), and eventually turns against the entire party and has a dramatic show down where he almost wins. Right until Sarda appears, the same kid whose parents, foster parents and orphanage Black Mage killed.
Ultimately Black Mage gets exactly what he deserves. He's depowered and left to wander the world with the one person he hates more than anyone else, his best friend Fighter. No better way to end his career.
That all said, he is memorable. It's really hard to look at that iconic sprite and not think about his rampage through the Dwarf Kingdom or his attempt to turn a spell called "make Black Mage turn inside out" on Sarda, only for Black Mage to be turned inside out as a result. He's the example of comedic evil character, so much so that I think most other comics try and fail, to copy it.
But I that's another story, one I will finish next time. Until then.
