Murder, Inc.: Difference between revisions

Sometimes, [['''Murder, Inc.]]''' started as an organized crime group that came under new leadership and started indulging in other, darker (and probably less profitable) hobbies, such as the [[Kick the Dog|killing of puppies]]. In that case, they probably go by a modern, [[The Mafia|Mafia]]-esque name. Frequently and regardless of origin, they have a large code of by-laws that makes one wonder how they do anything without six months' advance notice.

Indeed, there's often overlap between [['''Murder, Inc.]]''' and other groups. Often, what makes [['''Murder, Inc.]]''' ''different'' from any other [[The Syndicate|Organized Crime Syndicate]]/terrorist front/SecretPolice is the fact that their strength comes not from their numbers or their training, but their reputation. Most such groups could, in fact, really consist of ten competent people and it wouldn't hinder their operations too much. Or two -- dontwo—don't forget [[Neverwhere|the Old Firm]]. They're feared as the ones that "take people" who are "never seen again." Usually people that [[Deadly Euphemism|"cause problems" that need to be "solved." Capisce?]]

In less contemporary settings -- farsettings—far past or far future -- theyfuture—they are the frequent source of [[Training Fromfrom Hell]] (and, if their membership is large enough, [[The Spartan Way]]).

In some cases, [['''Murder, Inc.]]''' might even be a force that will assist the heroes. But they should never be trusted. It's kind of like trying to beat someone to death with a rattlesnake; deadly, effective, and very, very stupid. However, if a single character [[Defector From Decadence|leaves this group]], they will be your friend forevermore, possibly becoming the [[Sixth Ranger]].

There are more pragmatic evils out there. Why kill people when you could be doing something else? Why, for fun and profit, of course! "[[For the Evulz|For fun]]" usually entails that the group sees murder as an art form of one sort or another (like the [[Blood Knight]] you never see coming). "For profit" usually invokes images of the League of Extraordinary Hitmen (tm). Sometimes, what keeps such a group together is a slavish devotion to their leader, who will serve as [[The Dragon]]. First glance would indicate [['''Murder, Inc.]]''''s leader would be a good [[Man Behind the Man]]. Unfortunately, [[The Reveal]] is usually too foreshadowed to be useful: after all, if every person on the street fears them, it's not surprising when they turn out to be the [[Big Bad]]. One can still play it that way, but don't expect the audience to be surprised.

Please note that [['''Murder, Inc.]]''' isn't always [[Evil, Inc.|evil.]] They don't tend to let [[True Neutral|codes of morality]] get in the way of their [[Only in It For the Money|business model]]. <ref>(Sometimes...)</ref>

** {{spoiler|Wolfwood is one of them, of course. They adopted him around age twelvish and subjected him to horrible experimentation and [[Training Fromfrom Hell]], and he's got subversive goals, but he's very much what they made him.}}

** There was also ''[[The Punisher]]: Assassin's Guild'', featuring another such organization. Oddly enough it had the Punisher ''teaming up'' with the guild.

* ''[[The Assassination Bureau]]'', based on the unfinished novel ''The Assassination Bureau, Ltd.'' by [[Jack London]]. Although the book's version was actually composed of [[The Philosopher|philosophical]] [[Vigilante Man|vigilantes]].

{{quote| '''Dr Cruces:''' No, we do it for the money. And, because we above all must know the value of a human life, we do it for a great deal of money.}}

**:* It is mentioned in one novel that they were inspired by a Klatchian ([[Fantasy Counterpart Culture|read Arabic]]) group identical to the original Assassins. In ''[[Jingo]]'', as Ankh-Morpork goes to war with their homeland, Vetinari notes acidly that the Guild's boast of being so good that the Klatchians send their children there really means that Klatch's assassins know Ankh-Morpork's methods, have refined their ancestral skills, and have a working knowledge of the city's layout.

**:* It is also mentioned in ''[[Night Watch (Discworld)|Night Watch]]'' that the Assassin's Guild ''does'' have a political opinion and, as they see it, will act for the good of the city if the Patrician's misrule is causing too much suffering. They never act on their own behalf, but are just there when needed.

**:* This is further explored in ''[[Discworld/Thud|Thud!]]!'', in which it's revealed that the Assassin's Guild does not take contracts on people whose death they feel would be disadvantageous to the stability of Ankh-Mopork (in Vimes' words, "would not only spoil the game but toss the board out the window"). To date, this list contains the current patrician, Vetinari, and the commander of the city watch, Vimes. Both men have proven to be very assassination-resistant anyway: A [[Noodle Incident]] is referred to about the last assassin sent after Vimes before the ban; apparently Vimes overpowered him and had him put on a boat headed for [[Land Down Under|XXXX]].

*:* Another of the Guild's duties is to maintain its monopoly on the trade. DemarcationViolating demarcation being the greatest and most foolhardy of Morporkian crimes (with the possible exception of [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|street miming]]), freelancers lucky enough to be caught by the Watch are considered to be getting off easy.

* Also from [[Discworld]], and a probable reference to the page quote, The New Firm; Mr. Pin, the brains, and Mr. Tulip, the muscle (with a bad chemical habit and a deep appreciation for antiquities). Aside from referencing Misters Croup and Vandemar, some of their dialogue also echoes Jules and Vincent of ''[[Pulp Fiction]]''.

* ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' actually features multiple Murders Inc.

** The Sorrowful Men of Qarth will always say "I am so sorry" right before they kill you.

** The Faceless Men of Braavos are [[Warrior Monk|Warrior Monks]]s who worship death as a universal force, with the "Many-Faced God" as its personification. They are the world's most capable assassins, but do not consider themselves to be killers for hire. Instead, the customer is expected to make a "donation" to their temple for the privilege of selecting an individual to receive the blessing of death.

* A humorous novel titled ''Going Public'' (author unknown, sorry) starred three young hitmen who decided to actually offer stock options for their assassination business, 3W Undertakings. (The "W" was because the three had adopted nicknames based on "Willie" -- Willie—Willie the WASP, Willie the [[N-Word Privileges|Wop]], and Willie the Watusi.)

* The Brotherhood of the Hand from ''[[The Death Gate Cycle]]'' is part [[Murder, Inc.]] and part [[Thieves' Guild]]; they are the most powerful criminal organization in their world and have their hands in all sorts of dubious enterprises, but are most well-known for producing highly competent assassins, including [[Anti-Hero]] [[Badass Normal|Hugh]].

* One episode of ''[[Mutant X]]'' featured Blue Bolt, an organization of [[Badass Normal]] assassins with acute hand-to-hand skills and cutting-edge technological weaponry.

* Tarot in ''[[The Cape (2010 TV series)|The Cape]]''.

* In ''[[Dungeons and& Dragons]]'' 3.5 members of the Assassin prestige class are typically supposed to be members of an assassin's guild. This may or may not hold true in a given campaign.

* The main character of ''~[[Assassin's Creed~]]'', Altaïr, is one of the Hashshashin, and the game depicts the Syrian branch; future games would depict successor incarnations of the Assassins as being more politically-motivated (namely opposing Templar schemes to consolidate control over humanity).

* There's a dubious group on your space station in ''[[The Perils of Akumos]]'' that deal in explosives, among other ''less'' legal activity.

* ''[[Dark Souls]]'' has several factions that basically exist to murder other players, Particularly the Darkwraiths and the Forest Hunters.

* The [[Trope Namer]] was [https://web.archive.org/web/20130804170551/http://www.rotten.com/library/crime/organized/murder-inc/ Murder Inc.], an organization run along corporate lines during the heyday of the Italian Mafia, and employing mostly Jewish hitmen. They fell apart along with ''Omerta'' at the end of the prohibition period.