Psycho for Hire: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

{{quote|'''River:''' You like to hurt folk.

'''Early:''' It's part of the job.

 

A hired agent who is in it [[For the Evulz|for the sadism]]. They may have other motivations, like money or power, but these are incidental to the sheer joy they get from torturing and murdering people. Hey, at least they love their job.

 

The [[Blood Knight]] also enjoys himself without much purpose, but he just loves the fight. The [[Combat Sadomasochist]] also enjoys hurting others, but differs in that they ''also enjoy being hurt.'' The [[Sociopathic Soldier]] can be extremely similar to this trope, but is retained by a single employer, usually his nation's armed forces.

 

Contrast the more realistic [[Serial Killer]], who doesn't flaunt it, and the less realistic [[Heroic Comedic Sociopath]] who hangs around heroes and whose sadistic games are treated as wacky hijinx for the sake of comedy. As various examples of the latter may testify, it is all too possible for a character to sit on the fence. If two Psychos For Hire are paired together, they might be [[Those Two Bad Guys]]. If the Psycho For Hire is not for hire, he's doing it [[For the Evulz]]. The all but canonical alignment for these type of characters are [[Neutral Evil]]; [[Chaotic Evil]] characters of this type are usually Types 2 through 4, but others usually go [[Serial Killer|freelance]]; and [[Lawful Evil]] is typically more [[Professional Killer|professional]]. Compare [[Terrorists Without a Cause]].

 

{{examples}}

* Alan Gabriel from ''[[The Big O]]''.

* Barry The Chopper and The Slicer from ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist (manga)|Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' are a pair of [[Serial Killer]]s who were offered a chance at life in exchange for guarding Laboratory 5. Barry in particular makes it very clear that he only accepted the offer for the chance to start cutting people up again.

** And Elder Toguro. [[Complete Monster|Sadism doesn't even begin to describe him]].

* Perhaps one of the crowning examples is Gauron from ''[[Full Metal Panic!]]!'', who actually had to be restrained from killing the pilot on an airplane he was hijacking, even when none of the other terrorists ''could fly the plane''. He's been shown to also [[Trigger Happy|shoot and kill]] his employers when they say things that irritate him. Furthermore, while utilizing a Lambda Driver seems to drive another terrorist into a [[Ax Crazy|kind of delusional psychosis]], Gauron doesn't seem at all changed by his experiences with it, suggesting he's ''already'' that crazy. Add in his {{spoiler|intentionally brutal execution and gruesome display of Sousuke's comrades}} just to [[In Love with Your Carnage|attempt to "wake up" the perfect killing machine he remembers Sousuke being]], and the psychosis is rather clear. However, his sheer ''personality'' while doing this (such as utilizing his infamous "bang" finger pose to trigger his AS's Lambda Driver) have had some people torn between whether he's in [[Moral Event Horizon]] territory or an utter [[Badass]].

*** It's an example of [[Adaptation Distillation]]. In the original novel he was a nondescript goon who didn't even had a name, and was known only by his Amalgam codename—Mr. Kalium. The whole psycho thing was invented by the animation team.

* ''[[Baccano!]]'' has both the very talkative Ladd Russo, who is technically an assassin even though his killings on the train are strictly pro-bono (and in self-defense!), and Claire Stanfield (aka Vino), who is infamous for leaving unrecognizable remains.

* The [[Chainsaw Good|chainsaw]] Living Weapon Giriko from ''[[Soul Eater]]''. While he ''does'' have { {{spoiler|or at least did have}}) the motivation of protecting Arachne, he has no problem fighting for the hell of it given the opportunity, and doing so violently and with obvious enjoyment. Example being in chapter 75 when he encounters Maka. He also joined Noah apparently for want of something to do when found by {{spoiler|Justin Law}}.

* Episodes 20-21 of ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex]]'' has a cyborg "cleaner" working for corrupt government officials who relishes opportunities to cover up his crimes by slaughtering any witnesses, even his own men if it feels necessary/he feels like it.

* Hunter J from ''[[Pokémon (anime)|Pokémon]]''. She's an utterly ruthless poacher-for-hire willing to sick an army of henchmen and pokemon comparable to those of the Elite Four on small children if they get inbetween her and a valuable pokemon. She will only relent in her merciless attacks if she captures her prey or if her employer cancels the job.

 

== Comic Books ==

* Cheshire from [[The DCU]]. It doesn't get much more psychotic than [[Moral Event Horizon|nuking a small country]] just to prove to the world that you're not bluffing—and ''[[Evil Laugh|laughing]]'' while it burns.

* Minor ''[[Savage Dragon]]'' and ''Deadly Duo'' enemy Fusion puts an unusual emphasis on the "for hire" part. "You guys are ''pathetic''. I'd put you out of your misery, but hey -- I do this for a ''living''. I start ''killing'' guys for ''nothin''' and word gets around, you know?"

* Colonel Lychee from ''[[Les Innommables]]''.

* Deathstroke from DC Comics, [[Depending on the Writer]].

 

 

== Film ==

* Frank Nitti as portrayed in ''[[The Untouchables]]''.

* ''[[Road to Perdition]]'' has Maguire, a disgusting hitman and crime scene photographer with a fascination over death. He's hired by Frank Nitti to kill the main characters.

* Mr. Blonde from ''[[Reservoir Dogs]]'' is described as having gone berserk during the robbery, and the other robbers take him to task for being a "psychopath" instead of a "professional." The "ear" scene is one of the most sadistically twisted scenes in film history. He even managed to disturb his own actor, thanks to an [[I Have a Family|ad-lib]] by his victim.

* In ''[[Kill Bill]]'', Gogo Yubari and pretty much everyone in the original Deadly Viper Assassination Squad are sadistic bastards for hire, including The Bride herself...

** Played with, though. The only person in the movie who isn't profoundly emotionally effected by the killing that opens the film is Elle Driver, and her comeuppance is ''spectacularly'' ugly even by Tarantino standards.

* Various [[The Dragon|Dragons]] in [[James Bond (film)|James Bond]] movies.

** Red Grant from ''[[From Russia with Love]]''.

*** Much more in the Book though

* ''[[The Guns of Navarone]]''. "Butcher" Brown (AKA "[[The Butcher]] of Barcelona"), in the [[Backstory]] of the mission. Though it's more "to order" than "for hire", what with him being in the military.

* Bennett from ''[[Commando (film)|Commando]]'':

:'''BENNETT:''' They offered me a hundred grand. You want to know something? When I found out I could get [[Foe Yay|my hands on you]], I said I'd do it for nothing. }}

* Simon Phoenix from ''[[Demolition Man]]'', although he is released and controlled rather than hired. He is prevented from killing the big bad by mental tampering {{spoiler|but since it's too specific he can order his newly released pals to do it, which he does not because the Big Bad says he's a pyscho but because the big bad is "an evil Mr. Rogers.".}}.

* Leroy from ''[[Mystery Team]]'' has shades of this.

* Isaacs (Tom Hollander) in ''[[Hanna]]''.

 

== Literature ==

* This may be a somewhat lacking example, but Remo Williams from [[The Destroyer]], while taking missions from the government, usually kills his enemies by goring their faces until it has the consistency of spaghetti in smashed jello and constantly rips arms and legs off. His mentor also isn't quite pleasant.

** No, not really. Remo isn't in it for sadism. He kills largely for patriotic reasons and even then considers giving up his job every other book. Some their antagonists, like T.B Donleavy from Sweet Dreams, would qualify.

* Fenrir Greyback, a minor villain from the later ''[[Harry Potter]]'' books, has the added bonus of being [[Our Werewolves Are Different|a werewolf]]. While completely [[The Heartless|inhuman]], the Dementors also fit this pretty well, only working for the Ministry of Magic because of the opportunities it gives them to feed off peoples' misery, inevitably joining the forces of evil when they offer more opportunity to cause harm.

* Messrs. Croup and Vandemar from [[Neil Gaiman]]'s ''[[Neverwhere]]''. They, in turn, hire Mr. Ross to do a spot of work for them, and later Mr. Varney.

* Roger from the ''[[Lord of the Flies]]''. He ends up {{spoiler|becoming the Hangman of Jack's tribe, killing Piggy, torturing any dissenters, forcing the rest of Ralph's tribe to join, and preparing a stick on which to mount Ralph's head}}.

* Johnny "Dread" Wulgaru from the novel ''[[Otherland]]''.

* Harley and Olaf from ''[[Anita Blake]]''. Harley was a maniac, and Olaf would disassemble his female targets and eat them.

* Luca Brasi from ''[[The Godfather]]''. He murdered the mother of his child and his own child. He also chops Capone gunmen into little pieces with an axe. He's described as being the only man who can make his boss, Vito Corleone, a little nervous. Which only serves to make his death all the more terrifying.

** Al Neri is also this to Michael, once he takes over the family.

* ''Sisterhood'' series by [[Fern Michaels]]: By the book ''Fast Track'', the Vigilantes have become this. It's debatable whether or not the author intended them to be put into this trope, but they fulfill most, if not all, the requirements of this trope!

 

* Chris Flannerly of ''[[Underbelly]]'' was certifiably off his rocker. He aims to be the biggest killer in Australia. He takes credit for the killing of horse race robber Ray Chuck before earning his reputation by going on a killing spree for the highest bidder. He eventually takes out contracts for racing identity George Freeman, before it is realised the hitman is too dangerous to live. Experts say the real life Flannerly was either accurately portrayed or a lot worse.

** 'The Runner' and 'The Driver' (their names could not be given due to the concurrent court case), whose claim to fame was to kill Jason Moran in front of their kids, would also qualify. Specifically when The Runner thinks his wife is having an affair he first tracks down who he thinks she is with, only for the teenager to not only be taken into protection by the police but is the wrong man, after trashing his house he beats and rapes his wife.

** [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer|Spike]] himself was introduced as a Psycho For Hire - the [[Badass Longcoat]] from out of town who maimed for fun and just dropped by to kill the hero and torture her boyfriend to death. However, it took less than an episode for him to decide he'd have more fun if he took charge.

** Then there was Faith, who acted in this way for a time after killing a random human.

** Actually Jem'Hader are slave soldiers, and seem to be treated tragically by the show rather then focusing on psychopathy. Presumably the Founders programmed them to like causing pain, but they are also often treated as if not quite as honorable opponents in the Klingon or Romulan sense, at least as dedicated soldiers who take pride in their valor and discipline.

* Elle Bishop from ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]''.

* In ''[[Spartacus: Blood and Sand|Spartacus: Vengeance]]'' Ashur enlists ''several'' of these, after finally showing Roman soldiers are no match for gladiators. Most notably is [[The Brute|The Egyptian]] who manages to nearly kill Crixus, and later Oenamaus, with nothing but a pair of knives.

** Unfortunately, as they're ultimately, well, [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|psychos for hire]], {{spoiler|when Glaber offers them money and land in exchange for betraying Ashur, they all do so instantly.}}

 

== Tabletop Games ==

** The Dark Eldar also sometimes can actually be up for hire. They kill/enslave/unspeakable act your enemy, get paid, then horrify you.

** Pretty much all Chaos [[Super Soldier|Space Marines]] actually. In every edition [[It Got Worse|they only get crazier]].

*** The Kroot are actually a subversion in that they are one of the least evil races in the Galaxy.

* Szuriel, the [[Horsemen of the Apocalypse|Horseman of War]] in ''[[Pathfinder]]'' is what happens when a being of near divine status adopts the mentality of a typical Psycho for Hire. Szuriel hires out her daemons as mercenaries to mortals, demon lords, archdevils, and anyone else who is willing to pay. These campaigns inevitably result in war crimes, genocide, and the eventual betrayal and destruction of both sides, because Szuriel doesn't care about causes or contracts—only violence and the theft of souls.

 

== Video Games ==

** In the second game, Horny was [[Ascended Extra|ascended]] into a unique [[The Juggernaut|Juggernaut]] who could only be brought into play by [[Summon Magic]] after gathering all four pieces of a Talisman and he only stayed as long as you had mana to burn on him or until you dismissed him.

* Curtis Blackburn in ''[[Killer7]]'', dear God...

* Phillip Clyde in ''[[Army of Two]]'' fits this perfectly, with the addition of the main characters [[Genre Savvy|taking it in stride.]] His batshittery is best summed up, if not with his use of {{spoiler|grenades and a ''stinger'' while on a plane,}} then with a dialog example:

{{quote|'''Clyde:''' I'm gonna kill you, cut you open, and go to an aerobics class wearing your intestines for leg warmers!

* Goh Hinogami from the ''[[Virtua Fighter]]'' series is a creepy-looking assassin hired and trained by the J6 corporation to kill as many fighters as he can. He takes great pleasure in his job, using his judo abilities to snap his opponents' limbs, and even resorts to [[Kick Them While They Are Down|kicking and taunting them after they've been defeated]].

* ''[[Disaster: Day of Crisis]]''... Evans. Wait, what? This guy seems cool and collected at first, but he rather enjoys fighting Ray, and eventually shows his true side as a man who gets a huge thrill out of the natural disasters that are occurring. The game itself notes that he is a mixture of a cool head and madness. Though, there is the literal psycho for hire, if only I could remember his name...

* Zagi from ''[[Tales of Vesperia]]'' starts off as this, until his sole motivation becomes fighting Yuri.

* Bulleta/B.B. Hood of ''[[Darkstalkers]]''. A bit literal on the "for hire" part. In addition to being a sadistic, deranged sociopath, she's a [[Bounty Hunter]]—the [[All There in the Manual|fluff]] specifically identifies her as a "Darkhunter," a type of bounty hunter specializing in capturing or killing monsters. She ended up summoned to the Majigen because she was considered to qualify as a "monster" by Jedah, despite being completely human... and instantly decided to kill everyone else. Even more unsettling is her innocent demeanor and resemblance to [[Little Dead Riding Hood|Little Red Riding Hood]].

* Jerme of ''[[Fire Emblem]]''. Dear God, Jerme.

{{quote|'''Jerme''': Such beautiful skin. If I cut you into lovely red ribbons with this, would the pieces be as soft and lovely as silk?}}

* Montross from ''[[Star Wars]]: Bounty Hunter'' is introduced as Jango Fett's [[The Rival|Rival]], and manages to make Fett look like a hero by comparison. Jango brings in targets dead or alive, depending on what pays more. Montross brings ''everyone'' in dead.

* In ''[[The Elder Scrolls]]'' series, the Dark Brotherhood is [[Exclusively Evil|a death cult filled with thrillkillers]] who traditionally accept a fee for their murders. In ''Daggerfall'', ''Oblivion'', and ''Skyrim'', the player gets many opportunities to be the Psycho for Hire.

* Emile in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', blatantly pointed out with the skull carved into his visor. He pretty much doesn't care about anything but killing Covenant. Frankly, though, it's a wonder the rest of the SPARTAN-IIIs aren't like this, what with being war orphans trained as killing machines from, in some cases, the age of ''four'' (and the rest weren't much older).

* Thugs-4-Less in ''[[Ratchet and Clank Going Commando]]''.

 

* Captain DuPree in ''[[Girl Genius]]''. Not even the iron-fisted Baron Wulfenbach can really keep her under control, [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050209 though...]

{{quote|'''Baron Wulfenbach:''' DuPree. When I say the words "Alive and unharmed" - do '''any''' neurons actually '''fire''' in that brain of yours?

** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070718 Also...]

{{quote|'''Gilgamesh:''' Your orders are simple - kill anyone who enters [this room], except for Doctor Sun and myself.

* Ysengrin in ''[[Gunnerkrigg Court]]'' is described by the characters as being "on the brink of insanity." He demonstrates this via a [[Slasher Smile]] and [[Minor Injury Overreaction]]: his own boss has to smash him unconscious against a wall to calm him down.

* Ed from ''[[Megatokyo]]''

* Demons in ''[[Blip]]''. While Lucifer himself is [[Affably Evil]], the [[Chibi]] devils he employs are mindlessly destructive.

* Skoll of [[Cry Havoc]], while well payed for her services as a mercenary, seems to be mainly motivated by a psychotic glee in killing people.

 

== Web Original ==

** "I wouldn't say I'm mean. I just get paid to do mean things." "Yeah, but you enjoy it." "Well, I think it's important to like what you do."

* Several people in the ''[[Global Guardians PBEM Universe]]'' are this. Krait, Glory, Crosshair, Gravestone, Whiteout, Demise, Polaris, and the members of both the Furies and the Iron Legion all qualify.

 

== Western Animation ==

{{quote|'''Lockdown''': ''"If my first act as a bounty hunter was betraying my ''sacred sensei'' then everything I've done since has been easy."''}}

** [[Transformers Prime]] brings us Airachnid. In a nutshell, mix together Lockdown, Rampage, and Tarantulas and put them into the body of a spider-helicopter fembot.

* Hobgoblin's ''[[Spider-Man: The Animated Series|Spider-Man the Animated Series]]'' incarnation. Norman Osborn hires him to assassinate Wilson Fisk / Kingpin, wanting to end their 'partnership'. When that fails, Hobgoblin switches sides and kidnaps Harry Osborn for Kingpin, only to pull a [[The Starscream|Starscream]] and take over Crime Central. Fisk and Osborn are forced to rely on Spidey to deal with him - and that's just in his first two episodes.

* The siblings Jackal and Hyena from ''[[Gargoyles]]'' are examples. They're sometimes-teammate Wolf is a borderline example, as he takes the same kind of jobs because he enjoys them, but is more of a [[Blood Knight|vicious brute]] than an outright lunatic. Anton Sevarius is a variation, as a [[Mad Scientist]] for hire who isn't a ''physical'' threat- but his [[Evilutionary Biologist|creations]] are.

'''Zim:''' Worse... or better? }}

** As well as...

'''Tallest Red:''' You blew '''UP''' all the other Invaders! }}

** [[Evil Teacher|Crocker, too.]]

* Arguably Allan from ''[[Tintin]]''. He even hooks up with Rastapopoulos later on.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Madness Tropes]]

[[Category:Hired Guns]]

[[Category:Violence Tropes]]

[[Category:Villains]]

[[Category:In Harm's Way]]