Which of Puzo's three Mafia bosses was the most evil?
Which was the most realistic?
Which was your favorite?
In some respects are they all the same character? All are portrayed as uncommonly wise patriarchs who spoil their children. All are obsessed with becoming legitimate. Each of them pull strings on events to take place years in the future, in some cases after their own demise.

Comparisons

Don Vito Corleone
He initially refuses to get involved in drugs and gives the cover reason that it would hurt his business but the real reason as he tells Tom is that he thinks drugs are an infamia. Although he's described as extremely scary in certain situations Puzo also describes him as having charity and that a lack of ruthlessness is his only flaw as crime overlord. He refuses to be the one to murder his son-in-law to avenge his son's murder even though everyone knows that act is coming.

Don Domenico Clericuzio
I don't think this boss is particularly well written. He's something of a cipher. Maybe it's just been too long since I've read the book. In any event he is more ruthless than Vito Corleone, somewhat scarily so. When faced with the same exact situation as Corleone, (revenge requiring the murder of a son-in-law) Clericuzio does not hesitate to order the act. In fact he tells his nephew and sons that if need be Clericuzio's own daughter may be killed. That's beyond any other protagonist Puzo wrote, i think.

Don Raymonde Aprile
When we meet Aprile he is already retired and has kept his children away from the life. However he seems very much to be like Don Corleone in that he is both fascinated by his children, especially his daughter- and at the same time somewhat irritated by their naivete. However he also is more ruthless than Don Corleone, not hesitating to kill anyone who remotely threatens his interests. And his punishment extends to the families of those who offend him, not out of a bloodlust but out of complete and total pragmatism. He is described as lacking any sense of mercy whatsoever. He actually murders a journalist and the journalist's entire family because of what Aprile evidently saw as an intrusive or disrespectful story. That doesn't seem realistic at all for an American boss though it fits the character perfectly.

Thoughts?