If you were born any time in the past 90 years or so, there's a pretty good chance you've been frightened, unsettled, menaced or just generally made uncomfortable by one or more of the villains in a Disney animated film.

Understandably, it's the protagonists of Disney films --- particularly the princesses --- who get a lot of attention from fan artists, but as it's October, the wickedest month, we here at ComicsAlliance are taking the time to shine a spotlight on villains, those characters who make it their mission to throw obstacles in the way of fresh-faced (and occasionally hunchbacked, wooden. or passed-out) heroes.

Some Disney villains are absolutely terrifying, even to adults: Ursula from The Little Mermaid and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty spring to mind, especially with their terrible transformations. Others fall into the category of dastardly, scheming scoundrels: Gaston from Beauty and the Beast fits that mold perfectly. Still others play more of a comic relief role, like Robin Hood's Prince John, who just can't keep his crown on straight.

And then there's Cruella DeVil, whose name says it all. If she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will.

Whatever the role, these characters have become icons in much the same way as Disney's celebrated heroes, and some really amazing artists have taken the time to try to capture their devilish personalities in stunning, sometimes frightening, and always eye-catching works of art. Here's just a handful of some of the gorgeous fan art we managed to come across in our scouring of the web.

 

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