If you want to talk about video game villains—all-star, major league villains—then you have to talk about Handsome Jack. The CEO of Hyperion and de facto dictator of Pandora, Handsome Jack has charisma to spare. Whenever Jack taunts you and your fellow Vault Hunters in Borderlands 2, you feel the need to laugh with him and throttle him, usually at the same time.
Despite his nefarious ways, however, there’s a small but vocal group of fans that support Jack, and see him as a misunderstood hero. With Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! out now, we figured there was no better time to revisit this issue. Handsome Jack: Despotic Ruler or Benevolent Space King? You decide.