Comedic Hero: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
Content added Content deleted
VisualWikitext
prefix>Import Bot
(Import from TV Tropes TVT:Main.ComedicHero 2012-07-01, editor history TVTH:Main.ComedicHero, CC-BY-SA 3.0 Unported license)
 
 
(11 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{trope}}
{{trope}}
[[File:inspector_gadget_815.jpg|link=Inspector Gadget|right|[[Telescoping Robot|Tons of gadgets]], milligrams of brain.]]
[[File:inspector gadget 815.jpg|link=Inspector Gadget|frame|[[Telescoping Robot|Tons of gadgets]], milligrams of brain.]]




The [[Comedic Hero]] is a less-than-competent protagonist who nevertheless succeeds despite his best efforts. He might have dumb luck on his side, or a [[Hypercompetent Sidekick]] might be watching his back with or without his knowledge.
The '''Comedic Hero''' is a less-than-competent protagonist who nevertheless succeeds despite his best efforts. He might have dumb luck on his side, or a [[Hypercompetent Sidekick]] might be watching his back with or without his knowledge.


[[The Fool]] is a specific variant of this character type. Might be a [[Crouching Moron Hidden Badass]]. For the superhero version, see [[Super Zeroes]]. For a goof who is more competent than people would like to admit see [[Let's Get Dangerous]]
[[The Fool]] is a specific variant of this character type. Might be a [[Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass]]. For the superhero version, see [[Super Zeroes]]. For a goof who is more competent than people would like to admit see [[Let's Get Dangerous]]
{{examples|Examples}}
{{examples}}


== [[Anime]] ==
== [[Anime]] ==
* Milfeulle Sakuraba of ''[[Galaxy Angel (Anime)|Galaxy Angel]]'', a [[The Ditz|ditz]] of epic proportions, actually survives by the most improbable luck in the universe.
* Milfeulle Sakuraba of ''[[Galaxy Angel (anime)|Galaxy Angel]]'', a [[The Ditz|ditz]] of epic proportions, actually survives by the most improbable luck in the universe.
* The title character from ''[[Bobobo Bobobobo]]'', Bobobo.
* The title character from ''[[Bobobo-Bo Bo-bobo]]'', Bobobo.
** Not so much because of luck, but because [[Cloudcuckoolander|his brand of insanity]] is perfect for dealing with the insanity around him.
** Not so much because of luck, but because [[Cloudcuckoolander|his brand of insanity]] is perfect for dealing with the insanity around him.
* The [[Irresponsible Captain Tylor]]. Maybe.
* The [[Irresponsible Captain Tylor]]. Maybe.
Line 19: Line 19:
** Johnny Thunder, a hopeless twit who has an all-powerful genie at his command and doesn't even know it.
** Johnny Thunder, a hopeless twit who has an all-powerful genie at his command and doesn't even know it.
** Super-Hip, aka Tadwaller Jutefruce, Bob Hope's nerdy nephew who turns into a super-powered mod crooner whenever he gets angry. His battle-cry? "Bleck to Lawrence Welk!"
** Super-Hip, aka Tadwaller Jutefruce, Bob Hope's nerdy nephew who turns into a super-powered mod crooner whenever he gets angry. His battle-cry? "Bleck to Lawrence Welk!"
** [[Angel and The Ape]]: She's a private eye with brains and beauty to spare. He's a comic-book artist who [[Everythings Better With Monkeys|happens to be a talking gorilla]]. [[They Fight Crime]]!
** [[Angel and the Ape]]: She's a private eye with brains and beauty to spare. He's a comic-book artist who [[Everything's Better with Monkeys|happens to be a talking gorilla]]. [[They Fight Crime]]!
** [[Stanley and His Monster]], a little boy who pals around with a demon who was kicked out of Hell for being too darn nice.
** [[Stanley and His Monster]], a little boy who pals around with a demon who was kicked out of Hell for being too darn nice.
* Zayne Carrick, main character of ''[[Star Wars]]: Knights of the Old Republic'' (no, not [[Knights of the Old Republic|that one]], I'm talking about the comic series) started out as this, a walking catastrophe who couldn't even hold onto one lowlife criminal once captured (my apologies to Gryph). However, after the first story-arc, he settled into a more heroic mold, and his proneness to accidental carnage degenerated to an [[Informed Attribute]].
* Zayne Carrick, main character of ''[[Star Wars]]: Knights of the Old Republic'' (no, not [[Knights of the Old Republic|that one]], I'm talking about the comic series) started out as this, a walking catastrophe who couldn't even hold onto one lowlife criminal once captured (my apologies to Gryph). However, after the first story-arc, he settled into a more heroic mold, and his proneness to accidental carnage degenerated to an [[Informed Attribute]].
Line 29: Line 29:


== Literature ==
== Literature ==
* Bertie Wooster, ''[[Jeeves and Wooster (Literature)|Jeeves and Wooster]]''. Hilariously incompetent, "mentally negligible", and the epitome of the [[Upperclass Twit]]--but [[Spoiled Sweet|so ridiculously nice]] that you can't help but root for him.
* Bertie Wooster, ''[[Jeeves and Wooster (novel)|Jeeves and Wooster]]''. Hilariously incompetent, "mentally negligible", and the epitome of the [[Upper Class Twit]]—but [[Spoiled Sweet|so ridiculously nice]] that you can't help but root for him.


== [[Live Action TV]] ==
== [[Live Action TV]] ==
* Maxwell Smart, ''[[Get Smart (TV)|Get Smart]]''
* Maxwell Smart, ''[[Get Smart]]''
* Chespirito's ''[[El Chapulin Colorado]]''
* Chespirito's ''[[El Chapulin Colorado]]''
* ''The Greatest American Hero''
* ''The Greatest American Hero''
* [[NBC]]'s ''Captain Nice'', and [[CBS]]'s ''Mr. Terrific'', two very short-run (half season) series which tried to ride the "camp superhero" wave started by the Adam West ''[[Batman (TV)|Batman]]'' series.
* [[NBC]]'s ''Captain Nice'', and [[CBS]]'s ''Mr. Terrific'', two very short-run (half season) series which tried to ride the "camp superhero" wave started by the Adam West ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' series.


== [[Western Animation]] ==
== [[Western Animation]] ==
Line 44: Line 44:
* Peter Griffin from ''[[Family Guy]]''.
* Peter Griffin from ''[[Family Guy]]''.
* ''[[George of the Jungle]]''
* ''[[George of the Jungle]]''
* ''[[The Tick]]''
* ''[[The Tick (animation)]]''
* [[Daffy Duck]], primarily in certain [[Chuck Jones]] cartoons: "[[Duck Dodgers in The Twenty Fourth And A Half Century|Duck Dodgers in the 24th 1/2 Century]]," "[[The Scarlet Pumpernickel]]," "[[Robin Hood]] Daffy," ''etc''.
* [[Daffy Duck]], primarily in certain [[Chuck Jones]] cartoons: "[[Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century|Duck Dodgers in the 24th 1/2 Century]]," "[[The Scarlet Pumpernickel]]," "[[Robin Hood]] Daffy," ''etc''.
* Coop of ''[[Megas XLR]]''
* Coop of ''[[Megas XLR]]''
* Fry of [[Futurama]]
* Fry of [[Futurama]]
Line 51: Line 51:


== [[Video Games]] ==
== [[Video Games]] ==
* Dirk the Daring of ''[[Dragons Lair]]''
* Dirk the Daring of ''[[Dragon's Lair]]''


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Comedic Hero]]
[[Category:Comedic Hero]]
[[Category:Trope]]
[[Category:Archetypal Character]]
[[Category:Characters As Device]]
[[Category:Stock Characters]]

Latest revision as of 05:52, 2 January 2017

Tons of gadgets, milligrams of brain.


The Comedic Hero is a less-than-competent protagonist who nevertheless succeeds despite his best efforts. He might have dumb luck on his side, or a Hypercompetent Sidekick might be watching his back with or without his knowledge.

The Fool is a specific variant of this character type. Might be a Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass. For the superhero version, see Super Zeroes. For a goof who is more competent than people would like to admit see Let's Get Dangerous

Examples of Comedic Hero include:


Anime

Comic Books

  • Numerous from the Golden and Silver Ages of comics, including but not limited to:
    • The original Red Tornado, a hefty housewife who crossdresses as a superhero with a cooking pot over her head and beats up gangsters.
    • Johnny Thunder, a hopeless twit who has an all-powerful genie at his command and doesn't even know it.
    • Super-Hip, aka Tadwaller Jutefruce, Bob Hope's nerdy nephew who turns into a super-powered mod crooner whenever he gets angry. His battle-cry? "Bleck to Lawrence Welk!"
    • Angel and the Ape: She's a private eye with brains and beauty to spare. He's a comic-book artist who happens to be a talking gorilla. They Fight Crime!
    • Stanley and His Monster, a little boy who pals around with a demon who was kicked out of Hell for being too darn nice.
  • Zayne Carrick, main character of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (no, not that one, I'm talking about the comic series) started out as this, a walking catastrophe who couldn't even hold onto one lowlife criminal once captured (my apologies to Gryph). However, after the first story-arc, he settled into a more heroic mold, and his proneness to accidental carnage degenerated to an Informed Attribute.
    • He also becomes smarter (he outsmarts and derails the plans of a mad scientist, a corrupt corporate executive, and a deranged Sith wannabe), and when he fights his former teachers he actually does fairly well (when he fights Raana Tey they're pretty evenly matched for most of the fight).
  • Bananaman of The Dandy

Film

Literature

Live Action TV

  • Maxwell Smart, Get Smart
  • Chespirito's El Chapulin Colorado
  • The Greatest American Hero
  • NBC's Captain Nice, and CBS's Mr. Terrific, two very short-run (half season) series which tried to ride the "camp superhero" wave started by the Adam West Batman series.

Western Animation

Video Games

Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Comedic_Hero?oldid=1451970"