Berserk Button/Comic Books: Difference between revisions
Adding example
m (update links) |
(Adding example) |
||
| (26 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{trope}}
When a nice, normal character suddenly goes into a rage, you've hit his [[Berserk Button]].
* Even [[Superman]] has his berserk button, often accompanied by a [[Red Eyes, Take Warning]], best exemplified in ''[[Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?]]'':
{{quote|
'''Superman:''' ''(in shock)'' L-Lana? (enraged) '''YOU HURT ''LANA''?!'''
''(hits Lightning Lord with a strong burst of heat vision)''
'''Lightning Lord:''' AAAAA! He burned me! He ''burned'' me!
'''Saturn Queen:''' ''[[Oh Crap|(scared)]]'' His mind... He isn't bluffing... He's prepared to ''kill''! }}
{{quote|
'''Superman:''' Burn. }}
:* [[Da Editor|Perry White]]: '''[[Memetic Mutation|"DON'T CALL ME 'CHIEF'!"]]'''
* ''[[Gotham Central]]'' reveals what might actually be Two-Face's only Berserk Button. Most things he does, even his most heinous of crimes, are only done after he flips his trusty coin. It is not personal, just the law of averages, chaos and chance. Except for one thing: Do not look at [[The Question|Renee Montoya]]. Seriously. No, I'm completely serious, do not even '''''look''''' at her, Two-Face will blow off your damn head for '''''glancing''''' at her. He will take out his gun and ''shove it down your throat''...and then he will tell Renee about how he has prepared her steak dinner (He's wacky like that). But seriously, ''don't look at her.''
** However, it's probably true that Harvey Dent had one other 'Berserk Button', which got hit with the acid and prompting his turn to Two-Face to begin with. Whether that berserk button was his commitment to justice, latent schizophrenia or just an investment in his own good looks depends on the interpretation.
Line 35 ⟶ 34:
** Also Captain Haddock if you take away his whisky.
* [[Incredible Hulk|The Hulk]] is generally a [[The Berserker|Berserker]] anyway, but anything or anyone that reminds him of his father is definitely in for a world of hurt.
** Endangering his children is a big one; he told Steve Rogers(who wasn't Captain America at the time) that he'd kill him if Steve killed his son Hiro-Kala, who was trying to crash a Mars-sized planet into Earth at the time. Messing with his dead wives is an even bigger mistake; Skaar's(his other son) jeers about destroying Caiera's spirit were enough to get him to try and kill him. But the most common one is simple: [[Do Not Call Me "Paul"|don't call him Bruce if you want to live.]]
*** At this point it's come to the point where it applies to any of his close friends or family. A villain beating up a depowered She-Hulk and Rick Jones sent the Hulk back to a Worldbreaker Hulk level of anger. When said villain attacked Red She-Hulk, his wife, it enraged the Hulk to the point where he ''killed him by smashing his head''. If he wasn't at Worldbreaker-level before, he certainly was then.
* Apollo and The Midnighter, members of ''[[The Authority]]'', are upstanding heroes (possibly [[Anti-Hero]] in the latter case, but still...) dedicated to making a better world and raising their adopted daughter Jenny, and they're openly homosexual, not to mention having a very stable and loving relationship. Anyone who calls them 'poofters', though, is in for a great heaping of suffering.
Line 42 ⟶ 41:
* In ''[[The Punisher]]'' story arc "The Slavers," the brutal treatment that the title slavers put their captives through hits every one of Frank Castle's Berserk Buttons regarding the mistreatment of women and children in general, and triggers a rage so deep within him that he goes to savage lengths so extreme that even he himself is surprised.
** And let's not forget what happened when some jackass mob dude, [[Ax Crazy|Nicky Cavella]], aka. Mr. [[Too Dumb to Live]], dug up the remains of Frank's murdered family and urinated on them on them, successfully [[Incredibly Lame Pun|pissing]] the Punisher off. [[Unstoppable Rage]] doesn't even ''begin'' to describe Frank's response. Lampshaded by a customer in a diner (that Frank is also at, unknown to him) who sees the news report:
{{quote|
** In "The Long Dark Night," Barracuda {{spoiler|kidnaps the daughter Frank had with O'Brien.}} Frank proceeds to {{spoiler|clip a car battery to Barracuda's testicles and shock him for an ''hour straight.''}}
*** Actually, that's what happened when he got the upper hand on him. When Frank first realizes that he {{spoiler|has a daughter and that Barracuda is going to torture her to death}}, he blacks out. Frank has to piece the subsequent events back together by examining his injuries while in the hospital. Barracuda didn't come out much better.
Line 50 ⟶ 49:
* An [[Archie Comics]] story titled "By Hook or Crook" has Jughead visiting the Chocolate Shoppe when a pair of burglars are robbing it. He initially cowers alongside Pop Tate when the robbers take the money, a painting, and the silverware; but when they're about to take all the hamburger meat in Pop's freezer, that's when he starts throwing punches and taking them down.
** A more well-known example from the same comics would be Moose on ''anyone'' (usually Reggie) who tries to flirt with his girl Midge.
* In ''[[Knights of the Dinner Table]]'', no-one should ever touch Bob's dice, as Nitro, an ex-Marine, discovered to his everlasting humiliation.
** Don't make sexist remarks to Sara (though she usually just grabs the offender by the collar and gives them a chance to recant).
Line 56 ⟶ 54:
** BA has an unfortunate habit of hitting Brian, Dave, and Bob's Berserk Buttons by teaching their characters a harsh lesson. They don't like that. Retribution, usually at the claws of BA's fifty-pound tomcat Colonel Prowler, frequently follows.
* [[Transmetropolitan|Spider Jerusalem]] is pretty much [[Hair-Trigger Temper|an entire switchboard of Berserk Buttons looking for an operator]], but ''god help you'' if he finds out that you've abused your authority and hurt someone defenseless.
* In the ''[[Disney Ducks Comic Universe]]'', Scrooge McDuck doesn't like it when people disrespect his dead mother. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090413043838/http://disneycomics.free.fr/Ducks/Rosa/klondike/20.html Not] [https://web.archive.org/web/20090412031613/http://disneycomics.free.fr/Ducks/Rosa/klondike/21.html one] [https://web.archive.org/web/20090412031633/http://disneycomics.free.fr/Ducks/Rosa/klondike/22.html bit]. He's also not too fond of people who try to take his [https://web.archive.org/web/20080107010715/http://disneycomics.free.fr/Ducks/Barks/1953/klondike/14.html gold] or his [https://web.archive.org/web/20090413090255/http://disneycomics.free.fr/Ducks/Rosa/copper/11.html land].
** Donald Duck may not have the steadiest relationship with his nephews, but if anyone other than him hurts them....beserk fury seems to run in the McDuck bloodline.
* As for [[Batman]], don't ever kill an ally or close friend of his -- if you do you'd better hope he keeps his [[Thou Shalt Not Kill|no killing rule]]. Batman's done this twice with [[The Joker]]; first when the Joker killed Jason Todd, and second when Batman thought the Joker killed his childhood friend Thomas Elliot (of course since the Joker's the trope namer for [[Joker Immunity]], he survived both attacks).
** He also has a ''very'' dim view of bad things happening to children, as the Sewer King [[Papa Wolf|found out the hard way]].
{{quote|
{{quote|
{{quote|
* Don't call ''[[Barb Wire]]'' "babe."
* Hunter Rose and Argent were essentially ''each other's'' Berserk Buttons in ''[[Grendel]]''. Virtually everything and anything either one said or did to the other would set him off.
Line 80 ⟶ 78:
*** Mind you, he has killed innocents himself. He has a [[Blue and Orange Morality]] and he even hanged out with Bullseye back in the Kelly run. But that said, killing children is something he won't overlook.
* In the ''[[X Wing Series]]'' comics, Tycho Celchu of Alderaan does not take kindly to hearing the [[Planet of Hats|planet's stereotype]], pacifism, extended into "[http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/9187/swrstro221.jpg cowardice]," or [http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/7245/blz18.jpg being told] that as an Alderaanian he can't be a warrior. Or people who [http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/3926/blz19dn1.jpg say Endor never happened].
{{quote|
* Whenever anyone hurts [[Teen Titans (Comic Book)|Raven]], Beast Boy goes ape-shit!
** Possibly as [[Animorphism|a literal ape]].
* Hulkling from ''[[Young Avengers]]'' is the the sweetest, most congenial [[Gentle Giant]] imaginable. Unless you threaten his boyfriend. In which case all bets are off.
** To say nothing of said boyfriend, Wiccan, who is not only {{spoiler|the son of the Scarlet Witch, one of the most powerful mutants in the universe--and appears to have inherited her capabilities}} but a very gifted witch in his own right. At one point, he put ''everyone in Times Square into a magic coma'' simply because Teddy was being held hostage.
* Under no circumstances should you insinuate that [[Spider Woman]] is a Skrull. Last time the [[Dark Avengers]] did that, she lost her composure and started beating down almost everyone who got near her (and apparently that included Ares), at least until Sentry stopped and calmed her down.
** Also, trying to ask about the identity of her son's father will likely get food dumped on your head, as Tony Stark found out. Whatever reason she has to keep it a secret, she is keeping it.
** The recent ''New Avengers'' issue added one more for [[Spider Woman]]: Subject her into mind control or anything like that and she'll gladly put her hand inside your mouth and BLAST it from the inside. In fact, this pissed her off so much that if it wasn't for [[Spider-Man]] stopping her, she would've killed her mind controller.
* Ragdoll of the [[Secret Six
▲* [[Secret Six|Ragdoll]] is hardly a nice guy, but when teamed with killers like Bane and Deadshot, he seems less dangerous and certainly [[Cloudcuckoolander|less focused.]] However, if you threaten Black Alice, he will [[Let's Get Dangerous|kill you]] [[Nightmare Fuel|painfully.]]
** Speaking of the Secret Six, don't bring up Scandal Savage's [[Vandal Savage|dad]] or do anything to remind her of [[Complete Monster|him]]. ''Just don't do it''. You'll be ''very'' lucky to still be in one piece if you make him enter her mind. Actually, that's probably the easiest way to piss Scandal off, given that she is definitely the most [[Ax Crazy]] of the team and has a ridiculously short fuse, not to mention being batshit insane.
** And speaking of Scandal, don't hurt her or even threaten her in front of Bane. Remember what he did to [[Knightfall|good 'ol Bats?]] He'll do that to you. Seriously, don't fuck with Scandal in front of Bane.
** Finally, do not threaten [[Papa Wolf|Catman's]] son. DO. NOT. DO. IT. While the rest of the team will either shoot you, slice you up, cave your head in, or rip you apart if you piss them off, Catman will make it slow. '''''VERY''''' slow. If you're lucky, you'll escape with either [[Eye Scream|part of your face missing]] or four new assholes. You probably won't be lucky, however.
* [[Captain America (comics)|Steve Rogers]] is [[Nice Guy|a wonderful human being]]. He's generous, forgiving, selfless, friendly, kind, and [[Adorkable|actually kind of awkward and dorky]] at times when he's with [[True Companions|his]] [[The Avengers (Comic Book)|family]]. However, he does have a few Berserk Buttons, and God help you if you press them.▼
▲* [[Captain America|Steve Rogers]] is [[Nice Guy|a wonderful human being]]. He's generous, forgiving, selfless, friendly, kind, and [[Adorkable|actually kind of awkward and dorky]] at times when he's with [[True Companions|his]] [[The Avengers (Comic Book)|family]]. However, he does have a few Berserk Buttons, and God help you if you press them.
** [[Those Wacky Nazis|Nazis]] in general. [[Red Skull]] in particular.
** [[Too Dumb to Live|Mocking Bucky's death]]. Oh ''god'', if you'd like your bones to remain unbroken, ''don't do it''.
Line 100 ⟶ 97:
* One of [[Thor]]'s Berserk Buttons is his brother, [[Loki]]. Insulting Asgard is a monumentally stupid idea as well.
** Going after ''any'' of Thor's comrades-in-arms is a bad idea. However, harm [[Blood Brothers|Tony Stark]]<ref>Pre-Civil War</ref> and/or [[Blood Brothers|Steve Rogers]], and you will learn ''exactly'' what it means to piss off a force of nature. In fact, even just telling [[The Avengers (Comic Book)|The Avengers]] that you [[Somebody Else's Problem|stood by and watched]] as Iron Man was kidnapped will send Thor into an [[Unstoppable Rage]] that will require him [[Let Me At Him|being held back]] to keep him from [[Drop the Hammer|bashing your skull in]].<ref>Yes, that ''actually happened''.</ref>
** Anyone harming Loki outside of having to stop him in a fight. Sure, the two have major issues, but they're still brothers, as shown when Loki performs a [[Heroic Sacrifice]] against the Void, Thor's eyes go white with power and he practically obliterates the Void with one massive lightning strike that leaves nothing behind but a massive crater with Robert Reynolds in the middle of it.
*** After the resurrection of Loki as Kid!Loki, Thor has made it clear that anyone who wants to harm his brother has to get through him. Unsurprisingly, no one is particularly willing to try this.
* Don't touch [[Batman|the Mad Hatter's]] hat, or he will turn from a delusional mind control expert who is more likely to brainwash some henchmen to attack you into an [[Ax Crazy]] foaming-at-the-mouth maniac.
* [[Groo the Wanderer]] is not a mendicant. Not even after he finds out what it means.
* In the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (comics)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' comics, Mighty the Armadillo has one. According to this summary on the Sonic Wiki:
{{quote|
* DON'T hurt [[Martian Manhunter|J'onn J'onzz]]. The entire JLA will kick your ass.
{{quote|
* [[Yoko Tsuno]] is a nice girl, if a bit hotheaded. Hurt someone she cares for, or threaten somebody who asks her for help? The [[Action Girl]] knows her Aikido and her weapon handling, and she '''will''' put said knowledge to use. '''''On you.'''''
* In ''[[Ms. Tree]]'', Mike, Jr. has some pretty serious issues relating to homosexuals.
* In the [[Nintendo Power]] comic run of ''[[Star Fox (series)|Star
* Trapping Pakrat of the ''[[Atari Force]]'' second series in a corner causes him to come out of it fighting.
* Most ''[[Sin City]]'' heroes are pretty violent but they lose their cool when people hurt women, children, or friends. One or all of these things happen in almost every story and they end making good use of the ''For Mature Readers Only'' label.
Line 121 ⟶ 118:
** You might not want to threaten [[Huntress]]' students. [http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/1005813.html?#cutid1 This is what happened when someone tried.]
* Vic Volcano from the [[Anthology Comic]] ''[[The Beano]]'' who would go berserk over pretty much anything.
* [[Iron Man|Tony Stark]]'s berserk button is hurting [[The Avengers (Comic Book)|The Avengers]] -- past or present -- but ''especially'' [[Captain America (comics)]]. If he has to outright [[Heroic Sacrifice|kill himself]] to [[Taking You with Me|stop you]] from killing [[Like an Old Married Couple|Steve]], ''he will do it'' without hesitation. The events of Civil War do not make this untrue. Also, if you are [[Abusive Parent|Howard Stark]], do ''not'' imply that Tony was a disappointment to his mother. [[Curb Stomp Battle|A beatdown will swiftly ensue]].
* Don't compare [[Empowered]] to [[Jennifer Lopez|JLo]], or say anything else that might be misunderstood as "you're fat".
** Don't say anything about Sistah Spooky's race. Don't be a beautiful blonde girl. And so on.
Line 130 ⟶ 127:
** Do NOT harm innocents around the Rogues. Especially not if you're part of the team, as Captain Cold will not hesitate to kill you regardless of how loyal you've been to the Rogues.
* Bats in ''[[Mouse Guard]]'' will absolutely ''flip out'' if it's suggested they aren't trustworthy. According to their own version of history, they were rejected by both sides in the war between land animals and birds due to be considered untrustworthy for no better reason than their appearance, and the fact that others continue to distrust them is an ''extreme'' racial sore spot.
* [[Star Wars|Boba Fett]] is the consummate professional: he never makes jobs personal and never allows emotions to enter the mix. Jodo Kast crossed the line by impersonating him and cashing in on his rep, but even then Fett was cold and professional about taking him out. However, when he finally incapacitated the upstart and removed his helmet during the events of ''Boba Fett: Twin Engines of Destruction'', he utterly lost his cool. Why? Because Kast was ''no one.'' He wasn't anyone Fett recognized and he definitely wasn't a Mandalorian--he didn't deserve the armor, he hadn't earned the right to wear it...he just used it because he thought it looked cool. It was a disgusting insult to Fett's heritage, and one of the only times in his adult life where he showed anger.▼
* This dialogue between [[Spider-Man]] and two cops in one story reveals what [[X-Men|The Juggernaut's]] Berserk Button is:
▲* [[Star Wars|Boba Fett]] is the consummate professional: he never makes jobs personal and never allows emotions to enter the mix. Jodo Kast crossed the line by impersonating him and cashing in on his rep, but even then Fett was cold and professional about taking him out. However, when he finally incapacitated the upstart and removed his helmet, he utterly lost his cool. Why? Because Kast was ''no one.'' He wasn't anyone Fett recognized and he definitely wasn't a Mandalorian--he didn't deserve the armor, he hadn't earned the right to wear it...he just used it because he thought it looked cool. It was a disgusting insult to Fett's heritage, and one of the only times in his adult life where he showed anger.
{{quote|'''First cop:''' Spider-Man?? ''You're'' the "big bad guy"?
'''Spidey:''' Uh... You must mean the guy behind me!
'''Second cop:''' Move it, fella, before we run you in!
'''Spidey:''' Okay, but whatever you do, ''don't'' call him stupid!
''(Cops turn around as Spidey webs off.)''
'''First cop:''' Don't call ''who'' stupid?
'''Juggernaut''' ''(from off-panel)'': '''Who you callin' "stupid"?'''
'''Second cop:''' [[This Is Gonna Suck| Oh, cripes]]...}}
* Most [[X-Men]] fans know that [[Storm]]'s [[Weaksauce Weakness]] is [[Claustrophobia]], and a lot of villains know it too. ''But'' any villain who tries to take advantage of this (by say, locking her in a closet or cramped cell) had best make certain the restraints are capable of holding a [[Physical Goddess]] ''and'' have a reliable escape route, because the rage and raw power she has been shown to use on anyone who tries it is comparable to that of [[Dark Phoenix Saga|the Dark Phoenix]], and that is [[Not Hyperbole]].
* ''[[Ghost Rider]]'' villain Lucifer; ''do not'' call him "Mehpisto", got it? "Satan" and "Prince of Darkness" are both okay, but he is ''not'' Mephisto, that is someone else entirely and they are not even distantly related.
{{tropesubpagefooter}}
| |||