History Main / EvilOverlooker

[[caption-width:340:Welcome to my world, insect.]]

The Poster for the film "Lion of the Desert", about the life of Libyan anti-colonial rebel Omar Mukhtar, depicts Benito Mussolini glowering over his troops and tanks as they clash with the rebels, with central villain General Rodolfo Graziani in the [[http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/images/cd/large/Lion_of_desert_TADLOW008.jpg foreground.]]
And also with the zombie nazis flick "Horrors of War", which [[http://www.moviesonline.ca/movie-gallery/albums/userpics//poster_HorrorsOfWarPoster061007.jpg does this]] with Adolf Hitler and his zombie hoards.

The Poster for the film "Lion of the Desert", about the life of Libyan anti-colonial rebel Omar Mukhtar, depicts Benito Mussolini glowering over his troops and tanks as they clash with the rebels, with central villain General Rodolfo Graziani in the foreground. http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/images/cd/large/Lion_of_desert_TADLOW008.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/title/36262/Lion%2BOf%2BThe%2BDesert&usg=__oUTILZWlBIXPcj8zqR0ED4WsCTc=&h=298&w=300&sz=37&hl=en&start=0&sig2=JGy8Id8ZfjTrjS5NLtegGw&zoom=1&tbnid=wXd5HalzG5wLhM:&tbnh=170&tbnw=180&ei=MN3fTZC5DoTg0gG3_eSbCg&prev=/search%3Fq%3DLion%2Bof%2Bthe%2BDesert%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1345%26bih%3D528%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=547&vpy=154&dur=1260&hovh=224&hovw=225&tx=108&ty=194&page=1&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0&biw=1345&bih=528
And also with the zombie nazis flick "Horrors of War", which does this with Adolf Hitler and his zombie hoards. http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.moviesonline.ca/movie-gallery/albums/userpics//poster_HorrorsOfWarPoster061007.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.moviesonline.ca/film2388.htm&usg=__4oMLi2XwyVr6bYEBq9XIWEW-YmI=&h=711&w=500&sz=108&hl=en&start=0&sig2=MuiKTl12bOG-IeWhJAIveg&zoom=1&tbnid=yfVZT74zxBHrmM:&tbnh=125&tbnw=89&ei=Jd7fTfSTBsH00gHenLSdCg&prev=/search%3Fq%3DHorrors%2Bof%2BWar%2Bfilm%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1345%26bih%3D528%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=117&vpy=26&dur=380&hovh=268&hovw=188&tx=113&ty=160&page=1&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&biw=1345&bih=528

Box art or advertisement that features [[FloatingHeadSyndrome the villain's head]] "watching" the hero. Depending on the context, it may raise the question why someone with this kind of power couldn't [[WhyDontYaJustShootHim squash the hero like a bug]] then and there.

* The first game in the ''AceAttorney'' series (as seen on [[PhoenixWrightAceAttorney its own page]]), features both the Judge and Edgeworth as possible examples ([[spoiler:even if Edgeworth stops being that much of a villain in case 3]])
** The game itself features this for the artwork unlocked after beating each case- this can in fact spoil who the guilty party is for people who haven't played the game before.

* The first game in the''AceAttorney'' series (as seen on [[PhoenixWrightAceAttorney its own page]]), features both the Judge and Edgeworth as possible examples ([[spoiler:even if Edgeworth stops being that much of a villain in case 3]])

* The first ''AceAttorney'' game (as seen on that page), features both the Judge and Edgeworth as possible examples ([[spoiler:even if Edgeworth stops being that much of a villain in case 3]])

** One of ''[[Film/BeautyAndTheBeast Beauty and the Beast]]'s'' [[http://us.imdb.com/media/rm1122867712/tt0101414 original powers]] used the Beast as the overlooker, making it a case of CoversAlwaysLie since he's not the villain.

->''Composition wise this cover is actually more interesting than the ones we're used to seeing. We actually have something that catches the readers attention, with the menacing villain holding the symbols of the heroes by knifes.''

* Many a ''StarWars'' poster has Darth Vader doing this.

[[AC:WebAniamtion]]

* The first ''FireEmblem'' features the BigBad watching Marth and his army. The 3rd game, a remake and direct sequel to the first, has the BigBad in both forms. ''Fuuin no Tsurugi''/''Sword of Seals'' has both Zephiel and Idenn/Idoun's head in the background (although only Idenn/Idoun is really looking). Gaiden has... someone's head on its cover.
** The 3rd game's box art is pretty much reused for Shadow Dragon's. [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/Starwolf_UK/Fe_stuffs/XmasthruMarch.jpg point of sale]]

* A widely circulated fan poster of ''RedVsBlue'' Season 3 features the head of BigBad O'Malley doing some Evil Overlooking of the main cast. A similar fan poster of Season 4 featured the Alien in a similar position, although it was revealed rather early in the season that the Alien was actually ''not'' the new villain (it was still O'Malley).
* The interior art for ''TheVentureBros'' season two DVD features the Monarch looming over portraits of the main characters.
* Plenty of Disney movies, including ''Disney/SnowWhite, TheLittleMermaid'', and ''[[{{Disney/Aladdin}} The Return of Jafar]]''.
** By the same vein, so does AffectionateParody ''{{Enchanted}}''.
** Used to great effect on ''TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'''s [[http://www.logoi.com/pastimages/img/hunchback_of_notre_dame_4.jpg poster]]. [[http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1460706816/tt0116583 A video cover]] practically shoehorns it in.
*** To the point of being almost shunted off the top of the cover.
** One of ''[[Film/BeautyAndTheBeast Beauty and the Beast]]'s'' [[http://us.imdb.com/media/rm1122867712/tt0101414 original powers]] used the Beast as the overlooker, making it a case of CoversAlwaysLie since he's not the villain.
** And since it was a clear case of FollowTheLeader, the non-Disney effort ''TheSwanPrincess'' [[http://us.imdb.com/media/rm367435264/tt0111333 did this]] with Rothbart.
* One of the unlockable backgrounds in ''MetalSlug Anthology'' has Morden looming over Marco, Tarma, Eri, and Fio.
* The first ''AceAttorney'' game (as seen on that page), features both the Judge and Edgeworth as possible examples ([[spoiler:even if Edgeworth stops being that much of a villain in case 3]])
** The game itself features this for the artwork unlocked after beating each case- this can in fact spoil who the guilty party is for people who haven't played the game before.
* The third ''PennyArcade'' book, ''The Warsun Prophecies'', has Tycho's eyes looming over Gabe.
* ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'': the poster for Season One depicts the Gaang down the front, with Zuko looming over them evilly. This is also shown prominently in one of the last episodes "The Ember Island Players", when the in-universe poster showing the ShowWithinAShow is pretty much exactly the same as the poster for Season one.
** Also the poster for Season 3, which has Ozai looming behind Aang in the Avatar State.
* The complete works rereleases for ''Game/MegaMan 5'' and ''6'' feature this.
** ''9'' does this on its "[[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/45/Megaman9cover.jpg cover]]" (it's download-only), in order to emulate the cheesy box art the games had in the NES era.
** The European box art for the first game as well.
* The film posters for 1986's ''TransformersTheMovie'' had Unicron (both his planet form, and his robotic head) prominently in the background behind the main cast. Funnily enough, since Unicron is the size of a planet, for once this skewed perspective is actually proportionally correct.
* In ''Series/{{Heroes}}'', the Season 1 graphic novel collection has 2 different front covers, both of which feature Sylar's head looming over the main cast of Heroes.
** On the cover for the Season 2 DVD, the main cast of Heroes stands in the foreground at Times Square while Sylar's head grins down at them from an overhead billboard.

* The [[http://www.magicball.net/files/images/j/a/q/jaquette.preview.JPG box art]] for ''LittleBigAdventure 2'' contains a cloud, shaped like Dark Monk looking menacingly over Twinsun.
* ''SonicTheHedgehog 2'''s Mega Drive version does this on the cover, with Robotnik slamming a "2" into the ground.
* SHODAN does this on the box for SystemShock 2. Now, TheReveal is [[SpoilerOpening no longer surprising]].
* ''MassEffect'' has Saren's eyes looming over Shepard.
* The box art for ''[[KingsQuest King's Quest 3]]'' features the villain Mananan doing a crystal ball version of this.
** The box art for ''[[KingsQuest King's Quest 7]]'' 1.0 (for DOS 5/Windows 3.1) features Malicia looking down over a tornado sucking in Rosella and Valanice. Version 2.0 (for Windows 95) has different box art.
* The box art for ''BatmanBeyond: Return of the Joker'' has Joker's (green-tinted) head doing this.
* The Troll King is doing this on the DVD cover for ''TheTenthKingdom'' -- which is a subversion, as he is [[TheManBehindTheMan neither the real BigBad of the miniseries]] nor even impinges very much on the plot, particularly since he only briefly menaces the heroes in Parts 1 and 2. (He's actually much more of TheRival for the BigBad.) This might be a borderline case of BillingDisplacement, since while Dianne Wiest is greatly respected and a well-known actress, Ed O'Neill is probably more popular. Or it could be a bit of canny advertising to misdirect the audience.
* The American cover of ''SpiritStallionOfTheCimarron'''s DVD case features the Colonel's ethereal head looking over his shoulder at the heroes. Thing is, his expression and the semi-transparency makes him look downright benevolent...
* Done on the cover of the ''TransformersAnimated'' video game, with Megatron looking on from the background.

* ''ShiningForce [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shining_Force_II II]]''.
* ''[[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fcXNAceha1o/RyyjsQIygAI/AAAAAAAAAAk/hPdIJIzkA0o/s1600-h/cover.png War with the Evil Power Master.]]''
* The film poster/VHS cover of ''[[TomAndJerry Tom & Jerry]]: TheMovie'' features Tom chasing Jerry (which only happens for a few minutes in-film) while the face of the [[BigBad villainous]] [[FatBastard fat lady]] watches them with utter rage in cloud-form (much as the Beast did in the aforementioned ''Beauty and the Beast'' poster).
* MarvelComics has been known to do this: for starters, the one-shot Daredevil villain [[http://atopfourthwall.blogspot.com/2008/03/daredevil-306.html The Surgeon General]] and Spider-Man villain [[http://atopfourthwall.blogspot.com/2008/10/web-of-spider-man-122-part-1-of-3.html Jackal]].
* ''[[SoulSeries Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny]]'' arguably [[http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/image/959863.html?box=124368 does this]]... the "arguably" coming from whehter you see ''GodOfWar''[='=]s Kratos as an AntiHero or a CompleteMonster VillainProtagonist, as we noted on the page for that [[GuestFighter guest-starring]] series.

* Likewise, IronMaiden's ''[[http://allmusic.galeon.com/caratulas/i/ironmbnw1.jpg Brave New World]]'' and ''[[http://allmusic.galeon.com/caratulas/i/Iron_Maiden-Rock_In_Rio-Frontal.jpg Rock in Rio]]'' ([[http://mob135.photobucket.com/albums/q122/skjack99/Iron%20Maiden%20Rock%20In%20Rio/Poster.jpg specially the DVD]]) turn the band's mascot Eddie into an overlooking cloud.

* [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/maho-sensei-negima-mo-hitotsu-no-sekai.jpg A promotional poster]] for the ''MahouSenseiNegima'' {{OVA}} ''Mō Hitotsu no Sekai (Another World)'' shows Negi and Asuna posing in front with Fate Averruncus overlooking. What makes this example unusual is that Fate's head and line of sight is turned slightly to the side to show his [[TheStoic effectively apathetic nature]] (rather than diabolic or megalomaniacal).
* ''DragonBallZ Budokai'' has Cell doing this with a MagnificentBastard smirk on his face.
* The box art for ''{{Sacrifice}}'' features Charnel ominously looking down on the PlayerCharacter, [[HelloInsertName Here Eldred]], holding a Manalith in his long clawlike fingers. Easily the evilest of the game's five gods, he's notably not the BigBad of the game.

* Cackletta for ''[[MarioAndLuigi Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'', then the Shroobs in the sequel.

* The boxart for the ''{{Overlord}}'' games often feature the EvilOverlord posing menacingly in the background while the Minions take the forefront.
* A variation on the cover of {{Filmation}}'s animated movie ''Happpily Ever After.'' Snow White and the Dwarfelles are front in center, with The Shadow Man glaring malevolently at them from behind a tree. This is a case of CoversAlwaysLie, as the character in question is actually Snow White's very-harmless, mute StalkerWithACrush ([[spoiler:actually the prince under an enchantment]]), and the film's ''actual'' villain is nowhere to be seen on the cover.
* Every ''{{Angel}}'' DVD case has Angelus looking over Angel's shoulder.
* Some of the ''{{Kirby}}'' games have this, like ''Kirby's Epic Yarn''.
** Specifically, ''Nightmare in Dreamland'' [[http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images%3Fp%3Dkirby%2Bnightmare%2Bin%2Bdreamland%2Bbox%2Bart%26ei%3Dutf-8%26fr%3Dsfp&w=500&h=498&imgurl=www.emuparadise.org/GBA/boxart/0775.jpg&rurl=http://www.emuparadise.org/Nintendo_Gameboy_Advance_ROMs/Kirby_-_Nightmare_in_Dreamland_(U)(Mode7)/51101&size=53KB&name=...+Dreamland+(U...&p=kirby+nightmare+in+dreamland+box+art&oid=67bdb2316d06c44bf289b3d98f9fda51&fr2=&no=1&tt=7&sigr=138bf55li&sigi=1170l4vcn&sigb=1336pqs34 does this]] with Meta Knight.
* Wii version of ''ABoyAndHisBlob'' has the main villain boss watching.

----

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/custom_1264877442884_system_shock_2_4002.jpg

'''Examples:'''

* The first FireEmblem features the BigBad watching Marth and his army. The 3rd game, a remake and direct sequel to the first, has the BigBad in both forms. ''Fuuin no Tsurugi''/''Sword of Seals'' has both Zephiel and Idenn/Idoun's head in the background (although only Idenn/Idoun is really looking). Gaiden has... someone's head on its cover.

** ThePhantomMenace has it with Darth Maul.
** And KnightsOfTheOldRepublic has Malak glaring down at Bastila

* The interior art for TheVentureBros season two DVD features the Monarch looming over portraits of the main characters.

* The Troll King is doing this on the DVD cover for ''TheTenthKingdom''--which is a subversion, as he is [[TheManBehindTheMan neither the real BigBad of the miniseries]] nor even impinges very much on the plot, particularly since he only briefly menaces the heroes in Parts 1 and 2. (He's actually much more of TheRival for the BigBad.) This might be a borderline case of BillingDisplacement, since while Dianne Wiest is greatly respected and a well-known actress, Ed O'Neill is probably more popular. Or it could be a bit of canny advertising to misdirect the audience.

* [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fcXNAceha1o/RyyjsQIygAI/AAAAAAAAAAk/hPdIJIzkA0o/s1600-h/cover.png War with the Evil Power Master.]]

* [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/maho-sensei-negima-mo-hitotsu-no-sekai.jpg A promotional poster]] for the ''MahouSenseiNegima'' {{OVA}} Mō Hitotsu no Sekai (Another World) shows Negi and Asuna posing in front with Fate Averruncus overlooking. What makes this example unusual is that Fate's head and vision is turned slightly to the side to show his [[TheStoic effectively apathetic nature]] (rather than diabolic or megalomaniacal).
* DragonBallZ Budokai has Cell doing this with a MagnificentBastard smirk on his face.

* Cackletta for [[MarioAndLuigi Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]], then the Shroobs in the sequel.

* The boxart for the {{Overlord}} games often feature the EvilOverlord posing menacingly in the background while the Minions take the forefront.

* Every {{Angel}} DVD case has Angelus looking over Angel's shoulder.

----
<<|{{Paratext}}|>>
----
<<|ComingAttractions|>>

* The complete works rereleases for ''MegaMan'' 5 and 6 feature this.
** ''MegaMan 9'' does this on its "[[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/45/Megaman9cover.jpg cover]]" (it's download-only), in order to emulate the cheesy box art the games had in the NES era.
** The European box art for the first game as well

** Specifically, ''Nightmare in Dreamland'' does this with Meta Knight.

* Plenty of Disney movies, including SnowWhite, TheLittleMermaid, and [[{{Disney/Aladdin}} The Return of Jafar]].