History Main / VillainousHarlequin

* Buggy the Clown from ''OnePiece''.

** Let's not forget the fact that just about every enemy is decorated with Harlequin garb in ''{{Homestuck}}''!

** Seriously, [[UnderStatement a LOT of cocaine.]]

** Seriously, [[Understatement a LOT of cocaine.]]

* In the Disney ''HunchbackOfNotreDame'' Clopin has shades of this. He's mostly ChaoticNeutral but turns downright malicious during "Court of Miracles".

** [[CrazyAwesome Why do people not like these games again?]]

A Villainous Harlequin will often be the PerkyFemaleMinion of the QuirkyMinibossSquad, rarely going any higher on the SortingAlgorithmOfEvil. Compared to the Monster Clown- which is [[NightmareFuel genuinely threatening]]- she is closer to an IneffectualSympatheticVillain. She has shades of the TricksterArchetype in her [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny impulsive]] and anarchic ways, but [[TheDitz lacks the intelligence necessary]] for this trait to provide any real danger. She may fancy itself as a SmugSnake, but her childish demeanor and outlandish appearance (which can range from traditional jester costumes to [[ImpossiblyCoolClothes impossibly cool]] and [[PimpedOutDress incredibly impractical]] [[ElegantGothicLolita poofy dresses]]) ruins any chance of anyone taking her seriously. Expect temper tantrums when [[VillainBall her plans inevitably fail]], and for her to either be a ChewToy of TheDragon or a member of the GoldfishPoopGang.

* Dimentio, from ''SuperPaperMario'', fits this trope perfectly, but while his slightly [[LargeHam hammy]] antics and overall FriendlyEnemy demeanor is played for laughs, he ''definitely'' proves to be NotSoHarmless by the end of the game.

* Impmon in DigimonTamers, until his [[NotSoHarmless digivolution]] and HeelFaceTurn not long after.

* The Joker has wobbled between ''More Monster / More Clown'' depending on the decade, with the 50s and 60s leaning most strongly to the latter. Interestingly, the [[strike:addiction]] addition of his sidekick Harley Quinn (Who takes this to a literal example) ends up balancing the 'more Monster' situations.

* Evil Jester from Amazing Extraordinary Friends.

* [[{{Exactly what it says on the tin}} "The Harlequin"]] Cahin from {{Assassins creed Brotherhood}}, who uses his acrobatics to dazzle and distract his opponents while he ([[{{Creepy twins}} or his sister Caha]]) move around to deliver a fatal strike.

* In a recent {{Squidbillies}} episode, Rusty and Early become Clowny Freaks (a parody of {{Juggalo}}s). To advance up the Ziggurat of the Clownies towards full ninjahood, aspiring clowny freaks must smash stuff while playing "that evil-ass calliope". Clowny Daggers, baby!

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* Evil Jester from ''AmazingExtraordinaryFriends''.

*** Subverted by [[spoiler:Gamzeee, who, while keeping with the whole clown thing, is a juggalo rather than a harlequin. Probably creepier.]]

* Interestingly averted by the [[{{Warhammer 40k}} Eldar Harlequins]], which are technically good (i.e. they fight Chaos), are best described as psychedelic space elf killer clown ninjas, and are so competent even the Dark Eldar, who have an almost psychopathic urge to horrifically maim, torture, and kill every living being they can get a hold of, are afraid to keep them from the otherwise impenetrable Hell dimension they reside in. Oh, and they use some of the setting's most horrific weapons when they're not doing psychically enhanced cautionary interpretive dance.

* In a recent {{Squidbillies}} episode, Rusty and Early become Clowny Freaks (a parody of [[InsaneClownPosse Juggalos]]). To advance up the Ziggurat of the Clownies towards full ninjahood, aspiring clowny freaks must smash stuff while playing "that evil-ass calliope". Clowny Daggers, baby!

* ''{{Champions}}'' has the Black Harlequin, a cheerful, smiley villain who just wants to have fun. His signature wepaons are armies of leathal toys, like teaddy bears with metal claws, toy soldiers with real rifles and a rag-doll that causes anurysims.

* The GoldenAge GreenLantern foe the Harlequin (aka Molly Mayne), who he later ended up marrying.

* The Joker goes back to his SilverAge Harlequin feel in ''BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold.''

* [[BeneathTheMask Pixy Misa]] from ''MagicalProjectS''.

* [[ShadowPersona Pixy Misa]] from ''MagicalProjectS''.

* [[TwilightZone ''Five Characters in Search of an Exit'']] had a menacing clown. He wasn't quite evil, but he was all nihilistic and ominous and strange.

* In the DungeonsAndDragons 3.5 Edition Monster Manual IV is a creature called the Taunting Haunt, the vengeful spirit of a clown or preformer that can only be destroyed if beaten in a game of wits.
* {{Champions}} has the Black Harlequin, a cheerful, smiley villain who just wants to have fun. His signature wepaons are armies of leathal toys, like teaddy bears with metal claws, toy soldiers with real rifles and a rag-doll that causes anurysims.
* Interestingly averted by the [[Warhammer40k Eldar Harlequins]], which are technically good (ie. they fight Chaos), are best described as psychedelic space elf killer clown ninjas, and are so competent even the Dark Eldar, who have an almost psychopathic urge to horrifically maim, torture, and kill every living being they can get a hold of, are afraid to keep them from the otherwise impenetrable Hell dimension they reside in. Oh, and they use some of the setting's most horrific weapons when they're not doing psychically enhanced cautionary interpretive dance.

* Wouldnt Tira from ''SoulCalibur'' be this to Nightmare [[SplitPersonality when she's in a happy mood]]
* Kefka in ''FinalFantasyVI'' is initially presented as a Villainous Harlequin. Of course, ''that'' [[MonsterClownperception]] [[MagnificentBastard doesn't]] [[AGodAmI last]] [[BigBad long]]. Good thing we still have Ultros.

* The appropriately named Harle from ''ChronoCross''. However, she's far more of an {{enigmatic minion}} than an {{ineffectual villain}}. [[spoiler:And being a villain or not doesn't really seem to be under her control.]]