Miles Gloriosus: Difference between revisions

 

== Literature ==

** Interestingly, Lockhart was one of the very few characters based off real people. The real person, according to [[J. K. Rowling]], was "even more objectionable than his fictional counterpart" and is probably going around claiming that he was the inspiration for [[Eccentric Mentor|Albus Dumbledore]].

* Let's not forget Fflewddur Fflam, from [[Lloyd Alexander]]'s ''The Book of Three''! Slightly mocked in that he suffers a consequence every time he lies or tells an exaggeration (namely, a string on his lute breaks). This consequence is used to highlight the fact that he [[Took a Level in Badass]] at the end of the story, when he claims to have fought in the last battle with unbelievable bravery and skill, and turns out to be ''telling the truth''.

 

== Professional Wrestling ==

** Sheamus is really just the latest in a long, ''long'' line of [[Professional Wrestling]] [[heel]]s who have acted this way - going all the way back to the original gimmicky [[Heel]], [[Gorgeous George]], who would spray himself with disinfecting perfume so that his opponents couldn't get germs on him. Fact is, no matter how legitimately [[Badass]] they might be as a [[Face]] or a [[Wild Card]], guys like [[Triple H]], [[Randy Orton]], and even [[Kane (wrestling)|Kane]] will be remarkably prone to turning to jelly when they are [[heel]]s. (Kane acting this way is particularly odd, since he survived being ''[[Man On Fire|lit on fire]]'' and so theoretically shouldn't be afraid of anything!) Ironically, one of the few times this trope was averted was when one of them feuded with [[The Undertaker]]: it was Luther Reigns, engaging in a brief feud with 'Taker early in 2005 (this was just before 'Taker's monumental feud with Orton, which was one of the most memorable of that year). Reigns claimed that he wasn't at all afraid of Undertaker, since he had already "spent five years in darkness," which was in reference to his prison term, during which he almost died when his throat was slit. Reigns went on to lose his match with 'Taker, but he never acted like a coward and gave as good as he got.

 

* Tiger from [[Skunk Fu!]] '''did''' fight Dragon (the [[Big Bad]], ''not'' [[The Dragon]]), but becomes this trope after the fact. However, when angered, he is known to [[Unstoppable Rage|fight ferociously]].

* Captain K'nuckles from ''[[The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack]]'' claims to be a great adventurer, but truth be told, he's more of a glorified bum.

* Slugslinger from ''[[Transformers]]'' is a mild subversion in that he ''is'' the incredibly brave and talented gunman that he constantly claims to be, and a dutiful soldier who never backs down from a fight. Except it's all a lie; Slugslinger's confidence and ability are wholly reliant on his gun Caliburst, and when the ammo dries up, his true cowardice is revealed.

** In ''[[Transformers Animated]]'', Sentinel Prime is one of these. While being Optimus Prime's equal, he considers himself superior, and is constantly bragging about how ''he'' should be fighting Decepticons while Optimus should be repairing Space Bridges. Then Starscream falls out of the sky, and Sentinel goes straight into Coward Mode. And unlike Optimus Prime, he's kept his fear of organics from when they abused the pair.

* Lucius from ''[[Jimmy Two-Shoes]]''. In one episode when he believed a moon beast might threaten Miseryville, he rode up into space to defeat it. The moment he came across resistance he freaked out and was defeated.

* Major Man from ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]'' episode "Major Competition", who at first seems like an exaggerated [[Expy]] of [[Superman]] and a hero who might even replace the girls. While he does have quite a few [[Stock Super Powers]] (like flight, super strength, heat vision, and super-breath), not only is he a Miles Gloriosus, but an [[Attention Whore]] and [[Dirty Coward]] who was purposely arranging for crimes and disasters to happen so he could fly in to stop them; he couldn't handle a "real" one if his life depended on it, and it wasn't hard for the Girls to expose him as the fraud he was when the newest giant monster came into town. {{spoiler|The monster was, in fact, a friend of theirs doing them a favor.}}

 

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[[Category:Stock Characters]]

[[Category:These Tropes Love to Brag]]