History Main / JerkWithaHeartOfJerk

* ''ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}}'': In the ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' series, Slade is an ''awful'' human being who [[ManipulativeBastard manipulates]] and cons everyone around him. Flashbacks show he was always an abusive deadbeat to his sons, and nearly every interaction he has in the modern day with Joseph and Rose is brimming with insults. It's outright stated that he is incapable of having a healthy relationship; and even if he does ''care'' about someone, doesn't mean he won't hurt them very, very badly. [[spoiler:Among his other actions include putting a hit out on his own daughter because foiling it meant he could spend time with her; killing the dog of a teenage superheroine who had been unwittingly helping him in order to get her to hate him and burn whatever emotional ties he had with her; and risking time itself in an attempt to save his son]].
* ''Comicbook/{{Empowered}}'': Oyuki-chan is a ninja who owes a debt to Ninjette, and has helped her more than once. [[spoiler:She had to be blackmailed into helping further, and a brief ImagineSpot shows her gloating over Ninjette's "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation.]]
* The graphic novel ''Exit Wounds''. Koby Franco is a curmudgeonly cab driver who expresses indifference to the possibility that his estranged father might be dead. [[spoiler:After spending much of the book with his father's girlfriend who insists that he was a good person (and his other relatives, who think Koby is too hard on him) and finding out he may very well be dead, Koby softens up a little. Only to discover that his father isn't dead -- the handmade scarf the girlfriend made that they found at the scene of the bombing was a gift from him to ''another'' girlfriend. Koby realizes to his disgust that the reason for their poor relationship is that his father has always been a serial philanderer who doesn't care about how his actions affect the people around him. Which extends to the present day -- his new wife, a devout Orthodox Jew, thinks he's out at night so often because of "prayer meetings".)]]
* ComicBook/JohnConstantine from ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}'' is often this to anyone he meets especially if they are a supernatural or authority figure. He may pretend to be different as a means to [[ManipulativeBastard manipulate someone into doing what he wants]] only to betray or turn on them when it suits his purposes as former friends and/or allies Gary Lester, Zed, and the succubus Ellie found out. To his friends, he is usually a JerkWithAHeartOfGold but can turn on them too if he is in a bad mood or it again suits his purposes.
* ''Comicbook/{{Iznogoud}}'':

* {{Invoked|Trope}}. ComicBook/NickFury claimed this for himself back in the '70s ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'' comic. After he'd spent a whole issue getting ComicBook/TheFalcon pardoned for his criminal past, Cap remarked, "Fury, under that rough, unshaven exterior..." Fury interrupted, "There's an even rougher, unshaven interior!" Of course, in this case, it's very blustering; while later writers did make Fury genuinely amoral, around this time he was still a pretty straightforward bleeding-heart hero.

* Another case of a legitimate JerkWithAHeartOfGold being described like this is in one of the ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' guidebooks: J. Jonah Jameson is described as "Under his rough, crusty and rude exterior... You'll find that he's even ''worse''!" Justified in that the Heart Of Gold is very much DependingOnTheWriter in his case.

* ''Comicbook/SubMariner'': Namor the Sub-Mariner is all over the line between this trope, JerkWithAHeartOfGold, and NobleDemon.
-->'''Comicbook/DoctorStrange:''' I've known you long enough... and well enough... to know that beneath that rude and arrogant exterior -- lies an even ruder and more arrogant ''interior''. But in all things, Namor -- you are an honest.. and honorable... man.

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':

* ''ComicBook/TheUltimates''

* Knight Titus in ''[[Series/Fallout2024 Fallout]]''. A Knight for the Brotherhood of Steel, Titus takes [[{{Deuteragonist}} deuteragonist]] Maximus under his wing as a squire for a mission and is shown to be abrasive towards others, especially to Maximus, treating him rather poorly. At first, it appears that he is just being a [[SternTeacher tough-but-fair mentor]] towards Maximus like the rest of the Brotherhood are. However, once Titus and Maximus encounter a [[BearsAreBadNews Yao Guai (a violent, mutated bear)]], Titus tries to [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere flee for his own life]] - despite being clad in [[PoweredArmor BoS Power Armor]] that would enable him to fight it off. The Yao Guai catches up and severely injures him, forcing Maximus to shoot the bear dead. But Titus is ''[[UngratefulBastard not even remotely]]'' grateful towards Maximus for saving his life, continues pettily insulting the squire, states he's going to have Maximus [[DisproportionateRetribution executed for not saving him sooner]], and ''[[EntitledBastard has the gall]]'' to demand Maximus to treat his wounds. It's incredibly apparent that Titus is nothing more than an [[SmallNameBigEgo Arrogant]] [[DirtyCoward Coward]] who uses his status as a [=BoS=] Knight to [[TheBully abuse]] those below him. [[spoiler: Unsurprisingly, once Maximus sees Titus for [[WhatYouAreInTheDark what he really is]] in embodying ''none'' of the Brotherhood's ideals, [[RefuseToRescueTheDisliked he opts to let him die from his wounds]]]].

* ''Manga/DeathNote'': Light Yagami; whenever he does a "good" act, it's just a front for his own selfish purposes or murder plots. [[spoiler:He even goes so far as to think to himself he's willing to kill his sister or father if it will assist him in becoming the new God. While his father ''is'' killed, he's not the one who did it, [[SpeakIllOfTheDead but he does ultimately insult his memory near the end by remarking how his idealist nature made him a fool in such a]] CrapsackWorld, [[BewareTheNiceOnes and ends up pissing off Matsuda for his trouble]]]]. But he was remorseful at the end of the anime.

* Knight Titus in ''[[Series/Fallout2024 Fallout]]''. A Knight for the Brotherhood of Steel, Titus takes [[{{Deuteragonist}} deuteragonist]] Maximus under his wing as a squire for a mission and is shown to be abrasive towards others, especially to Maximus, treating him rather poorly. At first, it appears that he is just being a [[SternTeacher tough-but-fair mentor]] towards Maximus like the rest of the Brotherhood are. However, once Titus and Maximus encounter a [[BearsAreBadNews Yao Guai (a violent, mutated bear)]], Titus tries to [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere flee for his own life]] - despite being clad in [[PoweredArmor BoS Power Armor]]. The Yao Guai severely injures him, forcing Maximus to shoot the bear dead. But Titus is ''[[UngratefulBastard not even remotely]]'' grateful towards Maximus for saving his life, continues pettily insulting the squire, states he's going to have Maximus [[DisproportionateRetribution executed for not saving him sooner]], and ''[[EntitledBastard has the gall]]'' to demand Maximus to treat his wounds. It's incredibly apparent that Titus is nothing more than an [[SmallNameBigEgo Arrogant]] [[DirtyCoward Coward]] who uses his status as a [=BoS=] Knight to [[TheBully abuse]] those below him. [[spoiler: Unsurprisingly, once Maximus sees Titus for [[WhatYouAreInTheDark what he really is]] in embodying ''none'' of the Brotherhood's ideals, [[RefuseToRescueTheDisliked he opts to let him die from his wounds]]]].

* Knight Titus in ''[[Series/Fallout2024 Fallout]]''. A Knight for the Brotherhood of Steel, Titus takes [[{{Deuteragonist}} deuteragonist]] Maximus under his wing as a squire for a mission and is shown to be abrasive towards others, especially to Maximus, treating him rather poorly. At first, it appears that he is just being a [[SternTeacher tough-but-fair mentor]] towards Maximus like the rest of the Brotherhood are. However, once Titus and Maximus encounter a [[BearsAreBadNews Yao Guai (a violent, mutated bear)]], Titus tries to [[DirtyCoward flee for his own life]] - despite being clad in [[PoweredArmor BoS Power Armor]]. The Yao Guai severely injures him, forcing Maximus to shoot the bear dead. But Titus is ''[[UngratefulBastard not even remotely]]'' grateful towards Maximus for saving his life, continues pettily insulting the squire, states he's going to have Maximus [[DisproportionateRetribution executed for not saving him sooner]], and ''[[EntitledBastard has the gall]]'' to demand Maximus to treat his wounds. It's incredibly apparent that Titus is nothing more than an [[SmallNameBigEgo Arrogant]] [[MilesGloriosus Coward]] who uses his status as a [=BoS=] Knight to [[TheBully abuse]] those below him. [[spoiler: Unsurprisingly, once Maximus sees Titus for [[WhatYouAreInTheDark what he really is]] in embodying ''none'' of the Brotherhood's ideals, [[RefuseToRescueTheDisliked he opts to let him die from his wounds]]]].

* Knight Titus in ''[[Series/Fallout2024 Fallout]]''. A Knight for the Brotherhood of Steel, Titus takes [[{{Deuteragonist}} deuteragonist]] Maximus under his wing as a squire for a mission and is shown to be abrasive towards others, especially to Maximus, treating him rather poorly. At first, it appears that he is just being a [[SternTeacher tough-but-fair mentor]] towards Maximus like the rest of the Brotherhood are. However, once Titus and Maximus encounter a Yao Guai (a violent, mutated bear), Titus tries to [[DirtyCoward flee for his own life]] - despite being clad in [[PoweredArmor BoS Power Armor]]. The Yao Guai severely injures him, forcing Maximus to shoot the bear dead. But Titus is ''[[UngratefulBastard not even remotely]]'' grateful towards Maximus for saving his life, continues pettily insulting the squire, states he's going to have Maximus [[DisproportionateRetribution executed for not saving him sooner]], and ''[[EntitledBastard has the gall]]'' to demand Maximus to treat his wounds. It's incredibly apparent that Titus is nothing more than an [[SmallNameBigEgo Arrogant]] [[MilesGloriosus Coward]] who uses his status as a [=BoS=] Knight to [[TheBully abuse]] those below him. [[spoiler: Unsurprisingly, once Maximus sees Titus for [[WhatYouAreInTheDark what he really is]] in embodying ''none'' of the Brotherhood's ideals, [[RefuseToRescueTheDisliked he opts to let him die from his wounds]]]].

* Knight Titus in ''[[Series/Fallout2024 Fallout]]''. A Knight for the Brotherhood of Steel, Titus takes [[{{Deuteragonist}} deuteragonist]] Maximus under his wing as a squire for a mission and is shown to be abrasive towards others, especially to Maximus, treating him rather poorly. At first, it appears that he is just being a [[SternTeacher tough-but-fair mentor]] towards Maximus like the rest of the Brotherhood are. However, once Titus and Maximus encounter a Yao Guai (a violent, mutated bear), Titus tries to [[DirtyCoward flee for his own life]] - despite being clad in [[PoweredArmor BoS Power Armor]]. The Yao Guai severely injures him, forcing Maximus to shoot the bear dead. But Titus is ''[[UngratefulBastard not even remotely]]'' grateful towards Maximus for saving his life, continues pettily insulting the squire, states he's going to have Maximus [[DisproportionateRetribution executed for not saving him sooner]], and ''[[EntitledBastard has the gall]]'' to demand Maximus to treat his wounds. It's incredibly apparent that Titus is nothing more than an [[SmallNameBigEgo Arrogant]] [[DirtyCoward Coward]] who uses his status as a [=BoS=] Knight to [[TheBully abuse]] those below him. [[spoiler: Unsurprisingly, once Maximus sees Titus for [[WhatYouAreInTheDark what he really is]], [[RefuseToRescueTheDisliked he opts to let him die from his wounds]]]].

* Knight Titus in ''[[Series/Fallout2024 Fallout]]''. A Knight for the Brotherhood of Steel, Titus takes [[{{Deuteragonist}} deuteragonist]] Maximus under his wing as a squire for a mission and is shown to be abrasive towards others, especially to Maximus, treating him rather poorly. At first, it appears that he is just being a [[SternTeacher stern mentor]] towards Maximus like the rest of the Brotherhood are. However, once Titus and Maximus encounter a Yao Guai (a violent, mutated bear), Titus tries to [[DirtyCoward flee for his own life]] - despite being clad in [[PoweredArmor BoS Power Armor]]. The Yao Guai severely injures him, forcing Maximus to shoot the bear dead. But Titus is ''[[UngratefulBastard not even remotely]]'' grateful towards Maximus for saving his life, continues pettily insulting the squire, states he's going to have Maximus [[DisproportionateRetribution executed for not saving him sooner]], and ''[[EntitledBastard has the gall]]'' to demand Maximus to treat his wounds. It's incredibly apparent that Titus is nothing more than an [[SmallNameBigEgo Arrogant]] [[DirtyCoward Coward]] who uses his status as a [=BoS=] Knight to [[TheBully abuse]] those below him. [[spoiler: Unsurprisingly, once Maximus sees Titus for [[WhatYouAreInTheDark what he really is]], [[RefuseToRescueTheDisliked he opts to let him die from his wounds]]]].

* Knight Titus in ''[[Series/Fallout2024 Fallout]]''. A Knight for the Brotherhood of Steel, Titus takes [[{{Deuteragonist}} deuteragonist]] Maximus under his wing as a squire for a mission and is shown to be abrasive towards others, especially to Maximus, treating him rather poorly. At first, it appears that he is just being a [[SternTeacher stern mentor]] towards Maximus like the rest of the Brotherhood are. However, once Titus and Maximus encounter a Yao Guai (a violent, mutated bear), Titus tries to [[DirtyCoward flee for his own life]] - despite being clad in [[PoweredArmor BoS Power Armor]]. The Yao Guai severely injures him, forcing Maximus to shoot the bear dead. But Titus is ''[[UngratefulBastard not a even remotely]]'' grateful towards Maximus for saving his life, continues pettily insulting the squire, states he's going to have Maximus [[DisproportionateRetribution executed for not saving him sooner]], and ''[[EntitledBastard has the gall]]'' to demand Maximus to treat his wounds. It's incredibly apparent that Titus is nothing more than an [[SmallNameBigEgo Arrogant]] [[DirtyCoward Coward]] who uses his status as a [=BoS=] Knight to [[TheBully abuse]] those below him. [[spoiler: Unsurprisingly, once Maximus sees Titus for [[WhatYouAreInTheDark what he really is]], [[RefuseToRescueTheDisliked he opts to let him die from his wounds]]]].

* Knight Titus in ''[[Series/Fallout2024 Fallout]]''. A Knight for the Brotherhood of Steel, Titus takes deuteragonist Maximus under his wing as a squire for a mission and is shown to be extremely abrasive towards others, especially to Maximus, treating him rather poorly. At first, it appears that he is just being a [[SternTeacher stern mentor]] towards Maximus like the rest of the Brotherhood. However, once Titus and Maximus encounter a Yao Guai (a violent, mutated bear), Titus tries to [[DirtyCoward flee for his own life]]-- despite being clad in [[PoweredArmor BoS Power Armor]]. The Yao Guai severely injures him, forcing Maximus to shoot the bear down. But Titus is ''[[UngratefulBastard not at all]]'' grateful towards Maximus for saving his life, continues throwing petty insults at the squire, states he's going to have Maximus executed for not saving him sooner, and ''[[EntitledBastard has the gall]]'' to demand Maximus to treat his wounds. It's incredibly apparent that Titus is nothing more than an [[SmallNameBigEgo Arrogant]] [[DirtyCoward Coward]] who uses his status as a [=BoS=] Knight to [[TheBully bully]] those below him. [[spoiler: Unsurprisingly, once Maximus sees Titus for [[WhatYouAreInTheDark what he really is]], [[RefuseToRescueTheDisliked he opts to let him die from his wounds]]]].

* Knight Titus in ''[[Series/Fallout2024 Fallout]]''. A Knight for the Brotherhood of Steel, Titus takes deuteragonist Maximus under his wing as a squire for a mission, and is shown to be extremely abrasive towards other, especially to Maximus, treating him rather poorly. At first, it appears that he is just being a [[SternTeacher stern mentor]] towards Maximus. However, once Titus and Maximus encounter a Yao Guai (a violent, mutated bear), Titus tries to [[DirtyCoward flee for his own life]]-- despite being clad in [[PoweredArmor BoS Power Armor]]. The Yao Guai severely injures him, forcing Maximus to shoot the bear down. But Titus is ''[[UngratefulBastard not at all]]'' grateful towards Maximus for saving his life, continues throwing petty insults at the squire, states he's going to have Maximus executed for not saving him sooner, and ''[[EntitledBastard has the gall]]'' to demand Maximus to treat his wounds. It's incredibly apparent that Titus is nothing more than an [[SmallNameBigEgo Arrogant]] [[DirtyCoward Coward]] who uses his status as a [=BoS=] Knight to [[TheBully bully]] those below him. [[spoiler: Unsurprisingly, once Maximus sees Titus for [[WhatYouAreInTheDark what he really is]], [[RefuseToRescueTheDisliked he opts to let him die from his wounds]]]].

* Knight Titus in ''[[Series/Fallout2024 Fallout]]''. A Knight for the Brotherhood of Steel, Titus takes deuteragonist Maximus under his wing as a squire for a mission, and is shown to be extremely abrasive towards other, especially to Maximus, treating him rather poorly. At first, it appears that he is just being a [[SternTeacher stern mentor]] towards Maximus. However, once Titus and Maximus encounter a Yao Guai (a violent, mutated bear), Titus tries to [[Dirty Coward flee for his own life]]-- despite being clad in [[PoweredArmor BoS Power Armor]]. The Yao Guai severely injures him, forcing Maximus to shoot the bear down. But Titus is ''[[UngratefulBastard not at all]]'' grateful towards Maximus for saving his life, continues throwing petty insults at the squire, states he's going to have Maximus executed for not saving him sooner, and ''[[EntitledBastard has the gall]]'' to demand Maximus to treat his wounds. It's incredibly apparent that Titus is nothing more than an [[SmallNameBigEgo Arrogant]] [[DirtyCoward Coward]] who uses his status as a [=BoS=] Knight to [[TheBully bully]] those below him. [[spoiler: Unsurprisingly, once Maximus sees Titus for [[WhatYouAreInTheDark what he really is]], [[RefuseToRescueTheDisliked he opts to let him die from his wounds]]]].

* Knight Titus in ''[[Series/Fallout2024 Fallout]]''. A Knight for the Brotherhood of Steel, Titus takes deuteragonist Maximus under his wing as a squire for a mission, and is shown to be extremely abrasive towards other, especially to Maximus, treating him rather poorly. At first, it appears that he is just being a [[SternTeacher stern mentor]] towards Maximus. However, once Titus and Maximus encounter a Yao Guai (a violent, mutated bear), Titus tries to flee for his own life... despite being clad in [[PoweredArmor BoS Power Armor]]. The Yao Guai severely injures him, forcing Maximus to shoot the bear down. But Titus is ''[[UngratefulBastard not at all]]'' grateful towards Maximus for saving his life, continues throwing petty insults at the squire, stating he's going to have Maximus executed for not saving him sooner, and [[EntitledBastard has the gall]] to demand Maximus to treat his wounds. It's incredibly apparent that Titus is nothing more than an [[SmallNameBigEgo Arrogant]] [[DirtyCoward Coward]] who uses his status as a [=BoS=] Knight to bully those below him. [[spoiler: Unsurprisingly, once Maximus sees Titus for [[WhatYouAreInTheDark what he really is]], [[RefuseToRescueTheDisliked he opts to let him die from his wounds]]]].

** Tywin Lannister occasionally says something that might indicate that he's not as bad as people think but he usually tells them in no uncertain terms his entirely pragmatic reasons for saying it if he's questioned about it.
** Cersei Lannister is vicious and hostile by default, petty, vindictive, and an overall despicable person to be around. It goes without saying that she HatesSmallTalk and openly hates anyone that's not her children or her Lannister family (with the exception of Tyrion, of course). In the second half of the final season, [[spoiler:she decides to let Tyrion have an audience with her in an effort to end the war before innocents are slaughtered in King's Landing, with both of them knowing that Cersei has contempt for her subjects]]. She stops for a moment to consider his words, and specifically [[spoiler:his promise that she and her unborn child will be protected if she steps down. She even refuses to take the opportunity to kill her hated brother right then and there]]. And then, following a brief moment of consideration, [[spoiler:she executes Missandei and dooms the city to violence]], just in case you needed a reminder about what kind of person she is.

* In the ''Literature/VitaNuova'', [[Creator/DanteAlighieri Dante]] maintains that anyone who does not remember Beatrice and mourn must have a heart made of granite with no space for goodness.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'': Bowser appears to genuinely love Peach at first, even singing about her and acknowledging that she despises him. As the film progresses however, [[spoiler:his love for Peach is revealed to be entirely possessive and self-serving, and it's so shallow that he has no problem trying to kill her the instant she turns him down during their wedding, only ever voicing affection for Peach again after his defeat, as a way to beg for mercy]].