Miles Gloriosus: Difference between revisions

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* Die Fledermaus from ''[[The Tick (animation)]]'', who looks and talks the part of superhero but is the first to flee when danger is afoot. In fact, he doesn't just flee, he sometimes ''faints''!

* 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.

** 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.

{{quote|'''Sentinel:''' What ''is'' that thing?

'''Optimus:''' Oh that's right, you've never seen one up close. It's called: a Decepticon.}}

'''Optimus:''' Oh that's right, you've never seen one up close. It's called a Decepticon.}}

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* The cartoon ''[[Classic Disney Shorts|Mickey's Rival]]'' introduces the character of Mortimer Mouse: romantic rival, shiny new car owner, taller than Mickey ever hopes to be... and an obnoxious braggart. Mortimer tries to impress Minnie by waving a red picnic blanket in a bull's face. ''Oh,'' how courageous he is, taunting a slobbering, snorting brute... while there's a fence in between them. The fence of course is actually open, and Mortimer only needs two seconds upon realizing this to not only haul ass out of there, but to throw the offending red blanket on top of the girl he was trying to impress. What a guy.

** And, unlike Optimus Prime, he's kept his fear of organics from when they abused both of them.

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* The cartoon ''[[Classic Disney Shorts|Mickey's Rival]]'' introduces the character of Mortimer Mouse: romantic rival, shiny new car owner, taller than Mickey ever hopes to be...and an obnoxious braggart. Mortimer tries to impress Minnie by waving a red picnic blanket in a bull's face. ''Oh,'' how courageous he is, taunting a slobbering, snorting brute...while there's a fence in between them. The fence of course is actually open, and Mortimer only needs two seconds upon realizing this to not only haul ass out of there, but to throw the offending red blanket on top of the girl he was trying to impress. What a guy.

* [[Looney Tunes|Daffy Duck]] starts out as one of these in ''Draftee Daffy'', right up until the moment when he gets a phone call informing him that "the little man from the draft board" is on the way to see him.

* Captain Hero of ''[[Drawn Together]]'' is a superhero whose [[Catch Phrase]] is "Save yourselves!"

* Gaston in ''[[Beauty and the Beast]]'' could probably fit this. He is thought of very highly in the village for his various accomplishments (which are not really explained beyond hunting, being good-looking, spitting, eating 60 eggs, stomping around in boots, and decorating with antlers) and is brave enough to hunt down the Beast only when he has a mob in front of him. When he's held over a cliff, he starts crying and begging to be saved.

* Gaston in ''[[Beauty and the Beast]]'' could probably fit this. He is thought of very highly in the village for his various accomplishments (which are not really explained beyond hunting, being good-looking, spitting, eating 60 eggs, stomping around in boots, and decorating with antlers) and is brave enough to hunt down the Beast only when he has a mob in front of him. When he's held over a cliff, he starts crying and begging to be saved, and "thanks" Beast for sparing him by stabbing him in the back.

{{quote|'''Gaston''': Let me go! Please! I'll do anything! Anything!}}

** And in his last major dick move, he then thanks Beast for sparing him by stabbing him in the back.

* The ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' episode "Boast Busters" introduces Trixie, a traveling magician-type unicorn, whose show involves boasting of her magic superiority and using tricks to show up anyone who dares call her out. She also claims to have vanquished an Ursa Major, so when two young unicorns who buy into her stories are told not to believe it unless they see it, they go out and bring one to town, eager to see their new hero in action. Trixie, naturally, freaks out at the sight of a giant bear monster, and is forced to admit she just said she defeated one to look better. Once the bear {{spoiler|(actually an Ursa Minor)}} is defeated by Twilight Sparkle, however, she's all "You may have vanquished an Ursa, but you will never have the amazing, showstopping ability of [[The Magnificent|the Great and Powerful]] [[Third Person Person|Trixie]]!"

* 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]]'' ~~was~~ a ~~one-shot character~~ who at first ~~seemed~~ like an exaggerated [[Expy]] of [[Superman]] and a hero who might even replace the girls. ~~But as it later turned out, while~~ he ~~did~~ have quite a few [[Stock Super Powers]] (like flight, super strength, heat vision, and super-breath) ~~he was~~ not only 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.}}

* 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.}}