History SlasherSmile / ComicBooks

** The literary example, Gwynplaine of ''Literature/TheManWhoLaughs'' by Creator/VictorHugo, which is commonly cited as inspiration for The Joker, involves a man whose face is horribly mutilated so that he cannot stop smiling and how his psyche is twisted by this. In order to maintain the grin throughout the movie, actor Creator/ConradVeidt had to get metal hooks in his mouth to pull back his cheeks. Nevertheless, the character is a really nice guy. According to Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, Bill Finger produced [[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/94/The-Man-Who-Laughs-%281928%29-Gwynplaine.png this photo]] of Veidt while developing the character.

[[quoteright:300:[[ComicBook/{{Batman}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/joker_alex_ross.jpg]]]]

** Coming from the Dark Multiverse introduced in ''ComicBook/DarkNightsMetal'', there's the Batman Who Laughs, a nghtmarish version of Batman born out of him getting infected with a Joker Gas that turned him into a jokerized Batman. The Batman Who Laughs is insane, wishing to corrupt and destroy every reality possible, all while laughing with a distorted smile of his. In his own words, "in order to win, you need to adapt, and to adapt, you need to laugh away all restrains.[...] A Batman who laughs... is a Batman who always wins."

* The "American" vampires in ''ComicBook/AmericanVampire'' do these really, really well.

* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'': Dredd's undead arch-enemy Judge Death does this all the time as well. Mostly because his lips have rotted off. While hardly hilarious, out of all the Dark Judges, he's naturally the most prone to FauxAffablyEvil behavior.

* Pinkie Pie does a face like this in [[http://fav.me/d5mjno7 page 9 of Issue 1]] of ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW'' complete with a "cut/slit throat" gesture.

* ComicBook/{{Warlock}}'s evil side, The Magus, constantly does this. It's especially prevalent in the ''[[ComicBook/TheInfinityGauntlet Infinity War]]'' miniseries, where he is the BigBad.

** ComicBook/{{X 23}}: Kimura often [[http://static6.comicvine.com/uploads/original/1/15659/4105411-kimura-x-23-target_x%234-punishes.jpg sports]] [[http://static3.comicvine.com/uploads/original/1/11556/255344-63648-kimura.JPG one]] [[http://static1.comicvine.com/uploads/original/0/77/130061-138415-kimura.jpg worthy]] [[http://static6.comicvine.com/uploads/original/0/77/130062-150107-kimura.jpg of]] Comicbook/TheJoker himself. In one case she wears it while ''carving X-23 up with a chainsaw''.

[[quoteright:300:[[ComicBook/TheJoker https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/joker_alex_ross.jpg]]]]

* ComicBook/AdamWarlock's evil side, The Magus, constantly does this. It's especially prevalent in the ''[[ComicBook/TheInfinityGauntlet Infinity War]]'' miniseries, where he is the BigBad.

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':
** ComicBook/TheJoker had this expression [[FrozenFace glued on his face]], to the point of seeing him not smiling means [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness something bad is going to happen]]. His "Joker Venom" induces the expression in those exposed to it. Nobody should forget Joker's first ever [[http://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/16/13/980x490/landscape-1459336434-joker-batman-killing-joke.jpg smile]], in the ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke''.

** The magically created Batzarro is the opposite of Batman in every way he can be - so since Batman is grim and serious, Batzarro has a wild, fanged smile (and no eyes, making his smile freakier).

* Subverted in an issue of ''Franchise/GIJoe''. Formerly masked gunmen hold a family hostage in a remote house with the result being the authorities are not sure at first who are the hostages and who are the hostage-takers. One of them seems to be grinning maliciously all the time and the footage they have of the masked rampage shows them all grinning like maniacs while gunning down innocent people. So obviously the one with the constant grin is one of the bad guys? Wrong, he's the father of the innocent family caught in the middle, and a veteran who had suffered permanent damage to his facial muscles during active military service.

* From the ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' series:

* In ''Franchise/SpiderMan'', ComicBook/{{Carnage}}'s alter ego Cletus Kasady has one of these.
** [[ComicBook/{{Norman Osborn}} The Green Goblin]] is usually portrayed with having this in the comics and most adaptations. On his human face '''and''' his mask.

** In the classic ''Spider-Man vs. Wolverine,'' there's a scene where they're duking it out in an East German graveyard. Spider-Man thinks, "I'm hitting him hard enough to wreck cars... and I can't get him to stop ''smiling...''"
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':

** In ''ComicBook/SuperSons'', Damian Wayne flashes one as he informs ComicBook/LexLuthor about eleven explosives he left around his lab (which were really just fakes to throw him off).

* The ''ComicBook/TalesFromTheDarkMultiverse'' issue about ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'' sees this twice: first with Azrael standing over a defeated Batman and later [[spoiler:with a now FallenHero Batman]] doing the same to a fallen Azrael, complete with Bruce [[NightmareFace sporting glowing yellow eyes.]]

* ComicBook/UltimateMarvel:

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1987 Vol 2]] villain Doctor Poison has a big creepy smile, pulled up by metal hooks she slips into the corners of her own mouth.
* ''Franchise/XMen'':

** ComicBook/{{Mystique}} in the "Wolverine" story arc "Get Mystique"; just before their final climactic confrontation she strips naked, festoons herself with weapons, puts on a slasher smile and says, "Come and GET me, Lover!"

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
** In ''ComicBook/{{Bizarrogirl}}'', an human-like android created by villain Dollmaker displays a psychotic grin while abducting a child.
** In ''ComicBook/WhoIsSuperwoman'', Reactron sports a wide and absolutely insane grin when he's going to murder his ex-girlfriend. And when he's attempting to murder ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}. Generally, he ''always'' smiles when he's looking to kill someone.
** ''ComicBook/TheHuntForReactron'': After being chastised by commander Perseus Hazard, Reactron grins widely behind his back, a hint that Reactron was already planning to kill him.
** In ''ComicBook/SuperSons'', Damian Wayne flashes one as he informs ComicBook/LexLuthor about eleven explosives he left around his lab (which were really just fakes to throw him off).
** In ''ComicBook/TheUnknownSupergirl'', Lesla-Lar impersonates Supergirl, and after convincing a totally clueless Superman that she is ready to go public, she grins widely as pondering her future plans to get rid of Superman and Luthor before conquering Earth (or destroying the planet if it pleases her).
** In ''ComicBook/SupermanVsShazam'', [[EvilSorcerer Karmang]] grins wickedly while visualizing the kind of planet-wide destruction which will happen if someone tries to dismantle his world-ending engines before they activate.
* The Midnighter, in ''ComicBook/TheAuthority''. He [[SociopathicHero loves his job]] and he isn't afraid to show it in the scariest manner possible.
* ''Franchise/XMen'':
** The Juggernaut enjoys his role as an unstoppable engine of destruction. This is especially apparent when Creator/RobLiefeld drew him.
** ComicBook/{{Mystique}} in the "Wolverine" story arc "Get Mystique"; just before their final climactic confrontation she strips naked, festoons herself with weapons, puts on a slasher smile and says, "Come and GET me, Lover!"
** ComicBook/{{X 23}}: Kimura often [[http://static6.comicvine.com/uploads/original/1/15659/4105411-kimura-x-23-target_x%234-punishes.jpg sports]] [[http://static3.comicvine.com/uploads/original/1/11556/255344-63648-kimura.JPG one]] [[http://static1.comicvine.com/uploads/original/0/77/130061-138415-kimura.jpg worthy]] [[http://static6.comicvine.com/uploads/original/0/77/130062-150107-kimura.jpg of]] Comicbook/TheJoker himself. In one case she wears it while ''carving X-23 up with a chainsaw''.

* ''ComicBook/{{Crossed}}'': This seems to be the default expression of the Crossed.
* From the ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' series:
** The Corinthian has ''three'': [[spoiler:he has devouring mouths instead of eyes behind his shades]]. Fitting, since he's the ''eidolon'' (the word ''eidolon'' being especially apt here: it connects strongly to concepts such as delusion, idol, spirit, or bogeyman) or [[spoiler:archetype dream that inspires and is inspired by {{Serial Killer}}s]].
** George in "A Game of You".
* ComicBook/EvilErnie tends to have a huge friggin' grin while engaging in murder. This extends to his maybe-sentient friend Smiley The Psychotic Button. ComicBook/LadyDeath is also often shown sporting a slasher smile when encouraging Ernie to kill for her.
* ComicBook/UltimateMarvel:
** ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'':
*** One of the last things you want to see is Hawkeye covered in the blood of the squad you sent to subdue him, holding their weapons and grinning into your security camera telling you, [[TranquilFury "Run"]], when you are part of the group responsible for his family's murder. Unfortunately for you, it ''is'' the one of the last things you're going to see.
*** Captain America gave one to Herr Kleiser when he informed him that his mission was to blow up the train they were in, and not capture it as he thought.
** ''ComicBook/UltimateGalactusTrilogy'': Carol Danvers looks way ''too'' enthusiastic about handing Marh over to the scientists for an old fashioned vivisection.
* [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/df/Bullseye5.jpg Bullseye.]] Yeah, you see that space where he's missing a tooth? That's cause he killed a guy with it.
* ComicBook/AdamWarlock's evil side, The Magus, constantly does this. It's especially prevalent in the ''[[ComicBook/TheInfinityGauntlet Infinity War]]'' miniseries, where he is the BigBad.
* Subverted in an issue of ''Franchise/GIJoe''. Formerly masked gunmen hold a family hostage in a remote house with the result being the authorities are not sure at first who are the hostages and who are the hostage-takers. One of them seems to be grinning maliciously all the time and the footage they have of the masked rampage shows them all grinning like maniacs while gunning down innocent people. So obviously the one with the constant grin is one of the bad guys? Wrong, he's the father of the innocent family caught in the middle, and a veteran who had suffered permanent damage to his facial muscles during active military service.
* Kid Miracleman from the [[ComicBook/{{Miracleman}} series of the same name]] is constantly depicted with this facial expression. The scariest example is probably from the cover of Issue #15 (which can be found in the ImageLinks)- truly horrifying just from the sheer inhumanity of that grin.
* ''ComicBook/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice'': Max's default expression.
* Marv from ''ComicBook/SinCity'' makes them all the time.
* Very often shown by Spider Jerusalem from ''ComicBook/{{Transmetropolitan}}''. The Presidential candidate known as "The Smiler" also has that name for a very good reason.
* ComicBook/{{Grimjack}} sports one whenever he is in a fight. The smile is an involuntary tick that he developed as a child gladiator where he was known as "The Grinner." Also, combat is the only time you ever see him smiling.
* Pinkie Pie does a face like this in [[http://fav.me/d5mjno7 page 9 of Issue 1]] of ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW'' complete with a "cut/slit throat" gesture.
* While Cyclonus is one of the good guys of ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'', his preferred brand of smile is less "I am happy that the world is a nice place" and more "I am happy that the world is going to be a nicer place ''when I finish cutting you out of it''." He does occasionally get the other sort, though.
* ComicBook/TheMightyThor's enemy Malekith the Accursed looks like the offspring of Drizzt Do'Urden and Two-Face, with a smile like the Joker.
* In the ''ComicBook/DuckTales'' comics, Magica's Launchpad clone makes a very evil grin as he pulls a gun on Scrooge.
* ''ComicBook/{{Amulet}}'':
** Only twice has the [[spoiler:Amulet spirit]] [[TheBlank shown any sort of expression]]. Both times it's been one of these.
** Before he uses his Amulet's power to transform, Luger sports a [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/aOkSknSnAssv6A6QmCK87pNKXXI03I78rJQEaklRdnPMx06ogXWUItNf-jtJ7gwa30977vy0-7zR=s1600 truly terrifying one]].
* The ''ComicBook/TalesFromTheDarkMultiverse'' issue about ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'' sees this twice: first with Azrael standing over a defeated Batman and later [[spoiler:with a now FallenHero Batman]] doing the same to a fallen Azrael, complete with Bruce [[NightmareFace sporting glowing yellow eyes.]]

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

** In Creator/FrankMiller's ''ComicBook/AllStarBatmanAndRobinTheBoyWonder'', the Dark Knight himself has one in both his costumed and civilian identity, especially when thinking about his young ward, age 12. In one scene, Batman even [[LaughingMad laughs in excitement]], with the narration saying how he haven't slept in days yet is full of energy.

* ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'': The last image of the book is ComicBook/SuperboyPrime grinning after carving a haphazard Superman logo on his bare chest.

* Grimjack sports one whenever he is in a fight. The smile is an involuntary tick that he developed as a child gladiator where he was known as "The Grinner." Also, combat is the only time you ever see him smiling.