Battle Butler: Difference between revisions

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[[Not to Be Confused With]] [[Hayate the Combat Butler (Manga)|Hayate the Combat Butler]], although the eponymous character [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|is definitely an example]].

== Anime and Manga ==

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* Haku from ''[[Naruto (Manga)|Naruto]]'', who sees himself as little more than a tool for [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast|The Demon Zabuza]]. Although Haku is far gentler than his boss and doesn't really like fighting, he's still willing to do anything for him, no matter how drastic, to the extent where he {{spoiler|[[Taking the Bullet|sacrifices himself by taking an attack right through the chest from Kakashi]] in order to protect Zabuza}}.

* Roger Smith's manservant Norman in ''[[The Big O (Anime)|The Big O]]''. In addition to making soup and cleaning the house, he's quite handy with a machine gun and drives a motorcycle with a rocket launcher in the side car. To stress how badass Norman is, one need only look to the Christmas episode. Roger, mid-fight, asks Norman to get his dry-cleaning. Norman accomplishes this by taking his motorcycle and ''driving it through the building without slowing down''. Not only did he grab the laundry, he got a date on the way out.

* Walter C. [[Spell My Name With an S|Dolnez/Dornez]] from ''[[Hellsing (Manga)|Hellsing]]'' is a rather literal example. Not only is he incredibly badass and able to kill armies of vampires with his [[Razor Floss]] since he was 14 years-old, but his devotion to Integra and the British crown is unquestioned. {{spoiler|Until his still questioned [[Face Heel Turn]], making him some kind of [[Blood Knight]] or so.}}.

* Walter C. [[Spell My Name With an "S"|Dolnez/Dornez]] from ''[[Hellsing (Manga)|Hellsing]]'' is a rather literal example. Not only is he incredibly badass and able to kill armies of vampires with his [[Razor Floss]] since he was 14 years-old, but his devotion to Integra and the British crown is unquestioned. {{spoiler|Until his still questioned [[Face Heel Turn]], making him some kind of [[Blood Knight]] or so.}}.

* Vanilla Ice in ''[[Jo ~~Jos~~ Bizarre Adventure (Manga)|Jo Jos Bizarre Adventure]]''. He's ''so'' faithful to Dio that when Dio asks him to slice off his own head, he proceeds to do so with no hesitation. He got better.

* Vanilla Ice in ''[[Jo Jo's Bizarre Adventure (Manga)|Jo Jos Bizarre Adventure]]''. He's ''so'' faithful to Dio that when Dio asks him to slice off his own head, he proceeds to do so with no hesitation. He got better.

* Space Butler from ''[[Excel Saga (Anime)|Excel Saga]]'', who serves the Puchuus mainly because he cannot resist their illusory cuteness.

* Tachibana, from ''[[Mahoraba (Anime)|Mahoraba]]'', is instantly recognizable as a member of this trope. She also qualifies as a [[Ninja Maid]] due to her ability to suddenly materialize in rooms, though.

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* ''[[Black Lagoon]]''

** Ginji could count, serving Yukio completely, faithfully and frighteningly.

** Ginji? ''[[Badass|How]]'' ''[[Perfect Play AI|about]]'' ''[[One Man Army|Roberta?]]'' A literal [[Made of Iron|Maid Of Iron]] who will never retreat and never stop hunting you until she makes one hundred percent sure you're ''dead.'' Oh yeah, and [[More Dakka|the small army's worth]] [[No Kill Like Overkill|of firearms and explosives]] she carries with her at all times is probably worth a mention too. Don't screw around with the Lovelace family.

** Ginji? ''[[Badass|How]]'' ''[[Perfect Play AI|about]]'' ''[[One-Man Army|Roberta?]]'' A literal [[Made of Iron|Maid Of Iron]] who will never retreat and never stop hunting you until she makes one hundred percent sure you're ''dead.'' Oh yeah, and [[More Dakka|the small army's worth]] [[No Kill Like Overkill|of firearms and explosives]] she carries with her at all times is probably worth a mention too. Don't screw around with the Lovelace family.

* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima (Manga)|Mahou Sensei Negima]]''

** Setsuna to Konoka, and Chachamaru to Evangeline.

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* Big Blue from the ''[[Monster Rancher (Anime)|Monster Rancher]]'' anime. Big Blue is fiercely loyal to Pixie, protects her without a second thought, and near the end of the series he {{spoiler|fuses his own life force ([[Heroic Sacrifice|sacrificing himself]]) with hers to prevent her from becoming a lost disk.}}

* Watari acts primarily as L's butler and sidekick in ''[[Death Note (Manga)|Death Note]]'' but is quite skilled with firearms (sniper rifle) for his age. {{spoiler|He's also revealed to have raised L from very early childhood, which probably explains his personal devotion.}}

* The Dark Lovers from ''[[Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch (Manga)|Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch]]''; as their name implies, they represent different types of false love, and are all obsessed with their Master, Gackto ([[Spell My Name With an S|Gakuto]] if you prefer the [[Scanlation|scanlations]], Gaito in the anime). {{spoiler|Of course, ''he'' turns out to have just as intense loyalty to Sara with the exact same reason, which is the whole reason he wanted to destroy the world in the first place.}}

* The Dark Lovers from ''[[Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch (Manga)|Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch]]''; as their name implies, they represent different types of false love, and are all obsessed with their Master, Gackto ([[Spell My Name With an "S"|Gakuto]] if you prefer the [[Scanlation|scanlations]], Gaito in the anime). {{spoiler|Of course, ''he'' turns out to have just as intense loyalty to Sara with the exact same reason, which is the whole reason he wanted to destroy the world in the first place.}}

* Sayoko Shinozaki from ''[[Code Geass (Anime)|Code Geass]]'', though her case is something of a subversion. Though she exhibits an understandable protective streak towards Nunnally, she aids the terrorist Zero without realizing that he's actually Nunnally's [[Knight Templar Big Brother|older brother]] Lelouch. In addition, she has yet to exhibit it, but the writing staff has repeatedly hinted that she may turn out to be as impressive a fighter as the beyond-human Suzaku. And all this due to her [[Ensemble Darkhorse|runaway popularity with the audience]].

** Stopped being an [[Informed Ability]] in episodes 12 and 13 of the second season, where the notion that she was a [[Ninja Maid|ninja]] went from [[Fanon]] to [[Canon]].

* ''[[Ranma ~~One Half~~ (Manga)|Ranma One Half]]''

* ''[[Ranma ½ (Manga)|Ranma One Half]]''

** [[Canon Foreigner]] Sasuke Sarugakure is the Kunō Family's devoted, albeit grossly inept, ninja butler in the anime. He was conceived as a filler character, who was given most arcs involving [[Stalker With a Crush|Gosunkugi]]. All of them except the [[Mind Control|magic paper dolls]], if memory serves. However, he became his own unique character pretty quickly.

** The very first filler in the anime also has an elderly, childless rich couple try to adopt P-chan/Ryoga, and when Ranma (reluctantly) tries to retrieve him, the three butlers/servants chasing him promptly pull off their bowties and reveal martial artist weapons, much to Ranma's shock. The [[Ranma Abridged|abridged series]] lampshades this trope.

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* Both Kirishima Shinobu and Hosaka Mitsuru of ''[[Goshuushou-sama Ninomiya-kun]]'' are Battle Butlers to their [[Ojou|ojou-sama]] Houjou Reika. Both demonstrate extreme devoutness, top-notch martial skills, and protective behavior towards Reika.

* From ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (Visual Novel)|Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni Kai]]'' we have Kasai. {{spoiler|With his occasionally [[Yandere]] client Shion and Doctor Irie, he breaks into a hospital filled with secret conspirators. He then gets to show off his skills with a shotgun including smacking some guy in the face with one after interrogating him. He is later shown shooting out the tires of a van with a sniper rifle}}

* Wynnfield from ''[[Demonbane (Visual Novel)|Demonbane]]''. He doesn't look like much, but his fight scene features him ''[[Good Old Fisticuffs|boxing]]'' a ''[[Dual Wielding|four-armed]]'' [[Samurai]].

* Wynnfield from ''[[Demonbane (Visual Novel)|Demonbane]]''. He doesn't look like much, but his fight scene features him ''[[Good Old Fisticuffs|boxing]]'' a ''[[Dual-Wielding|four-armed]]'' [[Samurai]].

* ''[[Baccano (Light Novel)|Baccano]]!'' has three of them, played with varying levels of straightness: Christopher Shouldered is the most simple and straightforward example, serving as Ricard Russo's bodyguard out of [[I Owe You My Life|gratitude for saving his life]]. Chane Laforet is a little more complicated, as she ''was'' an almost [[Love Martyr|disturbingly loyal]] servant of her manipulative father up until her run-in with {{spoiler|Claire Stanfield}}, after which she finds herself fretting the inevitable [[Friend or Idol Decision]]. Ennis is a subversion -- she initially fits all of the characteristics of a typical Battle Butler for [[Big Bad]] Szilard Quates (up to and including wearing suits and serving as his driver), until she gets the opportunity to voice her thoughts: she serves him only because [[You Have Failed Me|he can kill her with a single thought if she doesn't]], and hates him more than anyone else does for the things he makes her do.

* Both Kanon and Ronove from ''[[Umineko no Naku Koro Ni (Visual Novel)|Umineko no Naku Koro Ni]]''.

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* Ephant Mon from the ''[[Star Wars]]'' [[Expanded Universe]]. Despite his lack of criminal ruthlessness or selfishness, he was a loyal servant to Jabba the Hutt, and almost certainly the gangster's only actual friend. Ends up reluctantly leaving Jabba's service after trying (and failing) to get him to release Luke Skywalker.

** There's also the Tac-Spec FIII Footman Droid, who such roles as chef, waiter, chauffeur, putting out the Master's wardrobe for the day with with such tools the ability to make a head-shot from 10 km away, a a high-power railgun in their arm and the strength to drive their fist throught a tank. Of course, they were built in secrect on a "you ask, we sell" basis for nobles and Corrupt Corporate Executive by a front company for an assasin's guild...

* Mack Bolan (''[[The Executioner]]'' series by Don Pendelton) would occasionally run into loyal Mafiosi who fit this description when he tried infiltration instead of his usual [[One Man Army]] approach, which [[What a Senseless Waste of Human Life|didn't make his task any easier]].

* Mack Bolan (''[[The Executioner]]'' series by Don Pendelton) would occasionally run into loyal Mafiosi who fit this description when he tried infiltration instead of his usual [[One-Man Army]] approach, which [[What a Senseless Waste of Human Life|didn't make his task any easier]].

* Of the classic "Rich Idiot with No Day Job" variety, you have [[PG Wodehouse (Creator)|PG Wodehouse]]'s concoction: [[Jeeves and Wooster (Literature)|Jeeves]] -- the valet to end all valets. He doesn't physically manhandle anyone, but he looks after his mental featherweight of an employer, Bertram Wooster. One can only imagine Jeeves does it simply for amusement, and there have been several fan theories on the matter.

** He does get physical on one occasion when Bertie, being pursued by a policeman, ends up literally up a tree. [[Jeeves and Wooster (TV)|The TV series]] included that scene, but inexplicably cut the line "I took the liberty of coshing the officer, sir."

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* Ianto Jones, the snazzily-dressed, occasionally-asskicking (or -tasering) teaboy in ''[[Torchwood (TV)|Torchwood]]''. In "Fragments", {{spoiler|there's a flashback to when he begged Jack for a job at Torchwood, and he explicitly says, "A butler! I could be a butler!"}}

* Lurch from ''[[The Addams Family (TV)|The Addams Family]]''.

* In ''[[Ugly Betty]]'', Marc is Wilhelmina's Battle Butler. Disposing of the Battle Butler when it's convenient was played with when Wilhelmina "traded" Marc for something she needed for her latest scheme, but later gave it up to get Marc back. Being a [[Card Carrying Villain]] and all, Wilhelmina refused to admit that she did this because she missed Marc, but it was still played as a [[Pet the Dog]] moment.

* In ''[[Ugly Betty]]'', Marc is Wilhelmina's Battle Butler. Disposing of the Battle Butler when it's convenient was played with when Wilhelmina "traded" Marc for something she needed for her latest scheme, but later gave it up to get Marc back. Being a [[Card-Carrying Villain]] and all, Wilhelmina refused to admit that she did this because she missed Marc, but it was still played as a [[Pet the Dog]] moment.

* Kato, the chauffeur and sidekick of ''[[The Green Hornet]]''. As played by Bruce Lee, Kato was substantially more impressive in a fight than the Hornet himself, yet remained in the humble role of a servant.

* Aloysius "Nosey" Parker, servant and chauffeur to Lady Penelope from ''[[Thunderbirds]]'', also qualifies, m'Lady.

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* Laurence from ''[[Ratchet and Clank Up Your Arsenal]]'', in a VERY weird way. I mean, Dr. Nefarious is pretty much totally incapable of accomplishing anything when he isn't around, including extermination of all organic life.

* Lenny from the ''[[Shadow Hearts]]'' series. He used to be a member of the [[Terrible Trio]] in ''Covenant'', but in ''From The New World'', he serves as Johnny's buttler after, while tired and thirsty in the streets, being given water by Johnny many years ago. With just a phone call, he can punch an energy bomb from his fist at the enemy. From halfway across the world. {{spoiler|Mainly because he has a contract with a demon called Godhand.}}

* In ''[[Blaz Blue]]'', Rachel Alucard's butler Valkenhyn R. Hellsing brews a mean cup of tea and is always deferential to "Madame Rachel" -- and he's a werewolf. Oh, and he was also one of the Six Heroes who [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu|kicked the Black Beast's ass a century ago]].

* In ''[[Blaz Blue]]'', Rachel Alucard's butler Valkenhyn R. Hellsing brews a mean cup of tea and is always deferential to "Madame Rachel" -- and he's a werewolf. Oh, and he was also one of the Six Heroes who [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?|kicked the Black Beast's ass a century ago]].

* The Ebony and Ivory butlers of Count Lee in ''Sword of Mana'', who are actually werewolves.

* In ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', you can [http://www.wowhead.com/item=65923 get three Battle Butlers of your own].

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== Web Comics ==

* Thaddeus, Hazel Green's lovestruck majordomo in ''[[College Roomies From Hell|College Roomies From @#!*% !!!]]''

* Fighter from ''[[~~Eight~~ Bit Theater (Webcomic)|8-Bit Theater]]'' acts something like this for Black Mage, seeing himself as a devoted protector of his best friend, though Black Mage still [[Butt Monkey|suffers horrendously due to the universe hating him]] as stated by [[Word of God]]. However, if his other teammates openly consider killing Black Mage within earshot, he [http://www.nuklearpower.com/2007/12/11/episode-930-turnabout/ will not-so subtly hint] at killing them himself.

* Fighter from ''[[8-Bit Theater (Webcomic)|8-Bit Theater]]'' acts something like this for Black Mage, seeing himself as a devoted protector of his best friend, though Black Mage still [[Butt Monkey|suffers horrendously due to the universe hating him]] as stated by [[Word of God]]. However, if his other teammates openly consider killing Black Mage within earshot, he [http://www.nuklearpower.com/2007/12/11/episode-930-turnabout/ will not-so subtly hint] at killing them himself.

* ''[[Girl Genius (Webcomic)|Girl Genius]]''. A list to date:

** Ardsley Wooster? Gil's manservant {{spoiler|and pretty much the Verse's [[James Bond]] analogue}}

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** ...In fact, just about ''everyone'' who works for Klaus in a non-military capacity seems to be some version of this trope.

* Geeves, valet to the royal family in the webcomic [[Lin T]], is pretty handy with a quarterstaff.

* [[White Haired Pretty Boy|Argent]] takes this role for [[Big Bad|Khrima]] in [[Adventurers (Webcomic)|Adventurers]].

* [[White-Haired Pretty Boy|Argent]] takes this role for [[Big Bad|Khrima]] in [[Adventurers (Webcomic)|Adventurers]].

* [[Dr. Nonami]]: Robutler, a ''robotic'' battle butler.

* Gin from [[Minion]]. Kinda comes with the territory of being minion for a [[Hired Guns|dark-witch-for-hire]].

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** And don't forget that her impossibly short skirt made her very appealing. So she's tough AND sexy!

* Owen Burnett and Preston Vogel from ''[[Gargoyles (Animation)|Gargoyles]]''. In a subversion, Owen was revealed to be {{spoiler|the powerful fey Puck, who created the Owen persona as a deliberate dig at Vogel.}} Demona briefly hired her own female Battle Butler, which promptly derailed as both secretly had their own opposing agendas. In the ''Slave Labor'' comics of Gargoyles, Thailog has Shari as his battle butler. Subverted in that she actually out ranks him in the Illuminati and she has been known to lie to Thailog from time to time.

* Maven, the administrative assistant of Selina Kyle/Catwoman from ''[[Batman ~~the~~ Animated Series (Animation)|Batman the Animated Series]]''.

* Maven, the administrative assistant of Selina Kyle/Catwoman from ''[[Batman: The Animated Series (Animation)|Batman the Animated Series]]''.

** Baby Dahl also had a Battle Butler/Nanny in her first appearance.

** The Clown Prince of Crime has Harley Quinn.