History Main / AlasPoorYorick

* For a while ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} wound up carrying around the zombiefied head of himself from another dimension, though being Deadpool it could talk and make wisecracks. [[FanNickname Headpool]] actually proved to be very popular during his appearances.

* [[TheStarscream Starscream]] does this to Megatron in a story in ''ComicBook/TheTransformers 1986'' UK Annual.

-->-- ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}''

* Happens in the ''Manga/InuYasha'' manga, when two little kids hug the severed heads of their parents.
* In ''Manga/PandoraHearts'', Retrace LXXVIII, a flashback to the aftermath of the Tragedy of Sablier shows [[spoiler:Jack]], the sole survivor, holding [[spoiler:Oswald/Glen]]'s head close to his chest [[spoiler:despite the fact that he was the one to kill him]]. It speaks volumes about [[SanitySlippage the state of his mind]] [[LoveMakesYouCrazy at that time]].

* In ''ComicBook/{{Justice}} #12'', Franchise/{{Superman}} does this with [[spoiler:''ComicBook/{{Brainiac}}'''s head]]. Subverted because he isn't sorry at all, and he crushes the metal head angrily.
* ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}:
** In the cover of ''[[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 Supergirl vol 5]] # 47'', Alura -Supergirl's mother- does this with supervillain Reactron's helmet.
** In ''ComicBook/ManyHappyReturns'', Xenon does this with the skull of a Supergirl he has just killed.
* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'': The cover of [[http://www.spiderfan.org/comics/images/spiderman_amazing/347.jpg Amazing Spider-Man #346]]. Venom, holding up a skull covered with shreds of fabric in a familiar pattern.
--> '''Venom:''' Alas, poor Spider-Man - [[GallowsHumor I ]]''[[GallowsHumor killed ]]''[[GallowsHumor him well!]]
** The above is an example of CoversAlwaysLie, naturally. Or else, [[FridgeHorror it wasn't spider-man's head...]]

* [[RetiredMonster The Owl]] does this to a statue wearing Daredevil's mask in ComicBook/DaredevilEndOfDays, and let's say it's not as heartfelt as otherwise expected of this trope.

** Used often, especially in the original manga. First we have the young Fuuma picking up his mother Saya's head and licking the blood (which turns out to be {{Foreshadowing}} of his eventual FaceHeelTurn) and then his little sister Kotori, [[TheOphelia who's gone slightly nuts]] [[BreakTheCutie after being super broken]], carrying around Tokiko's head, and then Kamui holding Kotori's head after she is ''very'' graphically killed ''and'' dismembered afterwards. In the anime adaptation, [[{{Bowdlerise}} all three of these instances were removed]], presumably because it was too graphic for TV. The end of the [[KillEmAll ridiculously depressing]] movie also ended with Kamui holding Fuuma's head, and during a vision he winds up holding Kotori's after she gets [[{{Gorn}} torn apart bloodily]].

** To a "lesser" degree, we have Kamui caressing the bloodied face of Daisuke Saiki's decapitated head after Fuuma murders him. Also removed from the TV series.

** And though he didn't get to hold it, poor Sanosuke witnessed the sight of his adopted father Sagara Souzou's decapitated head being put on display by his killers. This naturally traumatized him.

* In ''Manga/RequiemOfTheRoseKing'' which is based off of ''Theatre/RichardIII'' and ''Theatre/HenryIV'' Richard kisses [[spoiler:his father's decapitated head]] on the lips.

** Happens again in ''Dying of the Light'', but this time it's Darquesse with Skulduggery's skull in the final battle, after killing him. [[spoiler: Turns out it was an illusion, so didn't actually happen.]]

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Dany, Jorah and especially Irri expressed their grief over Rakharo's decapitated head.

* In the ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt'' episode "Top Billing", Jon Lovitz kills his rival for what he thinks is the role of Hamlet in an off production of the play. It turns out he was "up" for the part of [[spoiler: Yorick]] instead. It turns out [[spoiler: the "playhouse" is actually an insane asylum where the patients were putting on the play. The lead didn't like to kiss a plastic skull, and someone kept stealing the one that they had.]] Needless to say, [[spoiler: it doesn't end well for Lovitz's character.]]

* In the remake of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'', Lisa Trevor picks up and cradles her mother's skull [[spoiler: before committing suicide by jumping into a pit]].

** Used often, especially in the original manga. First we have the young Fuuma picking up his mother Saya's head and licking the blood (which turns out to be {{Foreshadowing}} of his eventual FaceHeelTurn) and then his little sister Kotori, [[TheOphelia who's gone slightly nuts]] [[BreakTheCutie after being super broken]], carrying around Tokiko's head, and then Kamui holding Kotori's head after she is ''very'' graphically killed ''and'' dismembered afterwards. In the anime adaptation, [[BowdLerise all three of these instances were removed]], presumably because it was too graphic for TV. The end of the [[KillEmAll ridiculously depressing]] movie also ended with Kamui holding Fuuma's head, and during a vision he winds up holding Kotori's after she gets [[{{Gorn}} torn apart bloodily]].

* Referenced in the lyrics to "Jack's Lament" in ''WesternAnimation/{{The Nightmare Before Christmas}}'' - "And since I am dead/I can take off my head/to recite Shakespearean quotations..."

* the Irish legend cycle reinforces the historical truth that the head was regarded as sacred in Celtic society. A victorious warrior would collect the heads of those he killed as trophies, to be displayed in a prominent place in the hall; the legends recount several examples of great chiefs and warriors who would talk to the heads of vanquished foes, reliving old battles, treating them almost as living allies, asking their advice in times of trial.

** One multiplayer gametype has you playing Oddball... with somebody's skull. In ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'', there's even an achievement called "Alas, Poor Yorick", which you get by using the skull as a weapon to kill three people.

* One of the most heart-rending moments in ''Manga/BattleAngelAlita'' especially as the guy was still alive (being a {{cyborg}}) had always been nervous and never wanting to fight, just wanted to get home to his family and was sobbing and begging forgiveness as he went.

* In the manga ''VideoGame/CorpseParty Musume'', the main character's little sister and the resident WholesomeCrossdresser (an athletic boy who happened to look, dress and act like a girl) are left in an abandoned nurse's office while the others try to escape. Then, one of the evil spirits (in the form of a tentacle-monster-esque ''thing'') attacks. The crossdresser, [[HeroicSacrifice trying to save the little sister, deliberately goads the monster into attacking her to give her time to escape]]. The scene then thankfully cuts away from the implied [[spoiler:anal tentacle rape]] to the main character and LoveInterest returning [[TearJerker to find his little sister suffering from shock, cradling the severed head and crying]].

* When Music/LudwigVanBeethoven and Music/FranzSchubert were exhumed, so they could be moved to be buried together at the ''Zentralfriedhof'' in UsefulNotes/Vienna, Music/AntonBruckner was there and reverently held both of their skulls in his hands.

* In ''Manga/AkatsukiNoYona'', Shin-ah is possessed by the ghost of one of his predecessors as the Blue Dragon Warrior, and learns about how this ancient dragon was trapped in the underground burial chamber of the Blue Dragon with a group of bandits and died alone, fighting them off. Once the ghost releases him, as Shin-ah is about to leave the catacombs, he lifts a skull off the ground and rests their foreheads together, wishing for him to rest well. He lays the skull back down on the ground, right next to the mask the ghost was wearing when he died.

* Parodied in a bizarre scene from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry 4'', where Agnus is doing a monologue to a human skull for no apparent reason. He's trying to [[HamToHamCombat theatrically one-up]] Dante.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Three of the Webcomic/{{Boneheads]] use [[LosingYourHead their own skulls]] to quote Shakespeare on a stage. Though they quote "to be or not to be" rather than "alas, poor Yorick".

* Played for laughs in ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''. Orbot quotes it almost verbatim in the aftermath of the [[NamesToRunAwayFrom Deadly Six]] revolt, all while holding Cubot's severed head. Cubot, being a robot, responds accordingly.

* One of the most heart-rending moments in ''Manga/{{Gunnm}}'' especially as the guy was still alive (being a {{cyborg}}) had always been nervous and never wanting to fight, just wanted to get home to his family and was sobbing and begging forgiveness as he went.

Subtrope of [[ShoutOut/ToShakespeare Shout Out: To Shakespeare]], and tends to be confused with the slightly more known "to be or not to be". If the character starts ''talking'' to the skull, can be a SurrogateSoliloquy.

--> '''Venom:''' Alas, poor Spider-Man - [[GallowsHumor I ]]''[[GallowsHumor killed]]''[[GallowsHumor him well!]]

--> '''The Owl:''' Alas, Horatio! I knew him well! He was a fellow of infinite jest! Where is your mocking now? Your laughter at death? Your condescending attitude? ''Your [[SymbolSwearing $#%&ing]] billy club?

->''"[[TropeNamer Alas, poor Yorick!]] I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! my gorge rims at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now? your gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one now, to mock your own grinning? quite chap-fallen? Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must come; make her laugh at that."''

->''"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! my gorge rims at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now? your gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one now, to mock your own grinning? quite chap-fallen? Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must come; make her laugh at that."''

* Happens in the fourth chapter of ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2'' when Owari holds Nidai's head in her arms. The {{Squick}} factor is lessened by the fact that it's a [[{{Cyborg}} robot head]], however.