Line #48 Main/VillainousHarlequin


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17	A step down from the MonsterClown, a Villainous Harlequin is a villain that taps into the same clownish vein, but is usually PlayedForLaughs and rarely attempts to be outright scary.
18
19	If the Villainous Harlequin is female, she'll often be the PerkyFemaleMinion of the QuirkyMinibossSquad, rarely going any higher on the SortingAlgorithmOfEvil. Compared to the Monster Clown -- who is genuinely threatening -- she is usually closer to an IneffectualSympatheticVillain. She has shades of TheTrickster in her [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny impulsive]] and anarchic ways, but [[TooCleverByHalf lacks the intelligence necessary]] for this trait to provide any real danger.
20
21	Regardless of gender, Villainous Harlequins may fancy themselves [[SmugSnake Smug Snakes]], but their childish demeanor and outlandish appearance (which may range from traditional jester costumes to {{impossibly cool\|Clothes}} outfits or [[PimpedOutDress incredibly impractical]] [[ElegantGothicLolita poofy dresses]]) ruins any chance of anyone taking them seriously. Expect temper tantrums when [[VillainBall their plans inevitably fail]], and for them to either be [[ChewToy Chew Toys]] of TheDragon or a member of the GoldfishPoopGang. Such characters are even more likely to be a PsychopathicManchild than the MonsterClown but also much more likely to have the childish mentality that goes with it as a weakness that can be used against them by their enemies.
22
23	But be careful: if the Villainous Harlequin [[NotSoHarmlessVillain gets promoted]] to TheDragon or BigBad levels, you're going to have a ''serious'' case of WhosLaughingNow on your hands.
24
25	The Villainous Harlequin is the product of the popular view of the CourtJester, which is that of an [[PluckyComicRelief idiotic buffoon]]. (This is despite the fact that the jester was [[ObfuscatingStupidity one of the most insightful members]] of a king's court, due to his position outside the usual social ranks.) Interestingly, in some Renaissance art [[TheGrimReaper Death]] itself is often portrayed dressed in motley, or "pied" clothing, which is often conflated with the true Harlequin outfit. The more danger a Villainous Harlequin poses to [[TheHero the protagonists]], the closer he or she gets to MonsterClown.
26
27	----
28	!!Examples
29	[[foldercontrol]]
30
31	[[folder:Advertising]]
32	* Creditor The Clown of Chicago debt-settlement firm Legal Helpers. His main shtick is that he demands money he loaned to people by [[LoanShark beating them with his inflatable bat, screaming, "Where's my money?"]] He is eventually thwarted by spokesman Erik Martin, who proceeds to [[HoistByHisOwnPetard steal his bat and knock him out.]]
33	[[/folder]]
34
35	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
36	* The Juggler in ''Anime/BtX''. Dressed like a harlequin/jester, with a funny mask and a B't named 'Vanilla Fudge', you wouldn't expect this character to be one of the most fearsome, powerful and outright sadistic of the Demon Generals that guard the Area.
37	* Papillon from ''Manga/BusoRenkin'' fits this due to his [[SissyVillain campy behavior and dress]] and being AffablyEvil.
38	%%* Impmon in ''Anime/DigimonTamers'', until his digivolution and HeelFaceTurn not long after.
39	%%* Pixy Misa from ''Anime/MagicalProjectS''.
40	* Buggy the Clown from ''Manga/OnePiece'' as well as one of his mooks. He's introduced as the first true pirate villain Luffy faces, but after suffering a humiliating defeat becomes a reoccurring ButtMonkey who poses no real threat anymore. Although he does gain a huge following of loyal underlings [[FakeUltimateHero who don't know that]].
41	%%* Will in ''Manga/PokemonAdventures''. In every other continuity he's strictly a good guy though.
42	* The titular ''Anime/PopeeThePerformer''. He's an easily-angered teenager who works at the circus and very frequently maims or kills the people around him. It's ComedicSociopathy at its finest.
43	%%* [[TheDragon Joker]] from ''Anime/SmilePrettyCure''. Notable for [[VileVillainSaccharineShow being]] ''[[VileVillainSaccharineShow much]]'' [[VileVillainSaccharineShow worse]] than he [[BewareTheSillyOnes initially appears]].
44	%%* Jeager/Lazar from ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds''. He pulls a HeelFaceTurn in Season 3.
45	%%* The ''[[InsistentTerminology beautiful]]'' Suzuki from ''Manga/YuYuHakusho''.
46	[[/folder]]
47
48	[[folder:Art]]
49	* ''Art/TheTemptationOfStAnthonyRops'', the devil (whether he's {{Satan}} or some other demon) is portrayed as an ash-grey man wearing a bright-red hooded robe, his horns poking out from the horns on his hood.
50	[[/folder]]
51
52	[[folder:Comic Books]]
53	%%* ''ComicBook/HarleyQuinn'' is literally named after this trope.
54	* Pierrot Lunaire is a foe of the Musketeer who dresses as the CommediaDellArte character Pierrot. He was a member of the Club of Villains that appeared in the ''[[Franchise/{{Batman}} Batman R.I.P.]]'' storyline.
55	%%* The Charlton/DC villains Punch and Jewelee are a married couple who both fit this role. They were originally foes of ''ComicBook/CaptainAtom'' before [[RoguesGalleryTransplant moving over to]] ''ComicBook/HawkAndDove''.
56	%%* ''Franchise/TheFlash''[='=]s enemy, The Trickster. Just imagine The Joker, but with more of a scientific genius and less psychosis. Like the rest of the Rogues, he's generally focused on petty theft instead of thinking bigger with his advanced tech.
57	%%* The [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'' foe the Harlequin (aka Molly Mayne), who he later ended up marrying.
58	%%** And Molly was just one of four DC villainesses to use the name The Harlequin over the years, not including Harley Quinn (who doesn't count because she spells it different...and it's a shortened version of her real name).
59	* ComicBook/TheJoker has wobbled between ''More Monster / More Clown'' depending on the decade, with the 50s and 60s leaning most strongly to the latter. Interestingly, the addition of his sidekick ComicBook/HarleyQuinn (who takes this to a literal example) ends up balancing the 'more Monster' situations. It's interesting to note that Harley is only PlayedForLaughs when she's fawning over The Joker. When she goes out on her own, ''especially'' when she's out to prove herself to "Mistah J", she takes a serious level in bad ass and becomes a dangerous threat to even Batman himself.
60	** The Joker's one-time sidekick Gaggy (a dwarf in a jester costume) also fits. The character was recently revived in ''ComicBook/GothamCitySirens'' where he sought vengeance on Harley Quinn whom he viewed as having taken his place.
61	* The ''Franchise/MarvelUniverse'' has the Clown from the Crime Circus. Like the rest of the circus crew, he lacks to the power or skill necessary to be truly threatening.
62	* ''ComicBook/SensationComics'': When Franchise/WonderWoman villain Countess Draska Nishki and her International Spies, Inc. first show up they throw a MasqueradeBall at which several of her murderous lackeys dress as clowns, and then pull guns on the Holliday Girls but they're unable to even seriously injure a single one of the well trained brawlers even though the girls are unarmed.
63	* In the ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' comics, the second Toyman was a WickedToymaker clad in a jester's motley. It is this version of the Toyman who was a member of the LegionOfDoom on the ''{{WesternAnimation/Superfriends}}''.
64	[[/folder]]
65
66	%%[[folder:Fan Works]]
67	%%* ''Fanfic/HarrysMadness'': Harry Potter, the Dark Jester and reviled leader of the Black Tide, is this.
68	%%[[/folder]]
69
70	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
71	* In Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{The Hunchback of Notre Dame\|Disney}}'' Clopin has shades of this. He's mostly ChaoticNeutral but turns downright malicious during "Court of Miracles".
72	* ''WesternAnimation/LegendsOfOzDorothysReturn'' featured a jester who went evil after getting his hands on a MagicWand.
73	* Jasper the court jester serves as the villain in Creator/RankinBassProductions' ''The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye'', an adaptation of Literature/TheEmperorsNewClothes. Jasper wants to become king by making the emperor vain and care only about clothes, rob the empire blind, and marry the emperor's daughter. The charlatan tailor named Marmaduke and his friends reveal his scheme by making the clothes they claim are invisible to anyone who is stupid.
74	[[/folder]]
75
76	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
77	* The eponymous antagonist in ''Film/FunnyMan'' is a demonic trickster whose appearance is based on [[Theatre/PunchAndJudy Punch]] and a playing card joker.
78	%%* Stitches, Royal Pain's sidekick from ''Film/SkyHigh2005''.
79	* This is [[Characters/DCEUHarleyQuinn Harley Quinn]]'s entire schtick, though she later evolves into an AntiVillain or even AntiHero.
80	[[/folder]]
81
82	[[folder:Literature]]
83	* One of the ten named demons from ''Literature/TheDivineComedy'' is known as Alichino, a name derived from the Italian for "harlequin." He is the only one whose blood-lust so overcomes his sense that he trusts a damned politician who promises to deliver more souls to kill; naturally, the politician betrays Alichino and leaves him looking like quite the fool.
84	* Creator/IsaacAsimov's ''Literature/FoundationSeries'': In "Literature/TheMule", Magnifico Giganticus is a Sad/pathetic Clown, however, [[spoiler:[[TwoAliasesOneCharacter he's really the Mule]], using his musical performances to create triggers that weaken the morale of his audiences when his fleet catches up to him]].
85	* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', Peeves the poltergeist is an example. Although rarely central to the plot, he regularly pops up and plays tricks on the students and staff, including pouring water or ink over them, and enjoys winding up Argus Filch, the grumpy student-hating caretaker.
86	---> '''Peeves:''' Wandering at night, ickle firsties? Tut tut tut. Naughty naughty, you'll get caughty!
87	* ''Franchise/LandOfOz'': ''Literature/DorothyOfOz'', by Roger S. Baum, featured a jester who went evil after getting his hands on a MagicWand.
88	* ''Literature/LordPeterWimsey'': In ''Murder Must Advertise'', Lord Wimsey takes on the persona of a sinister harlequin in order to infiltrate a murderous drug ring.
89	* Creator/IsaacAsimov and Creator/JanetAsimov's ''Literature/NorbyFindsAVillain'': Threezy is the name of a clown who plays an over-the-top villain… except it is a cover for [[TwoAliasesOneCharacter Ing the Incredible]], as he prepares to destroy the universe [[CausedTheBigBang and remake it in his image]]. However, because of nearly dying and then getting healed by the Twintas, he chooses to remain as Threezy the funny clown who does magic tricks.
90	[[/folder]]
91
92	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
93	* Googler from ''Series/AceLightning''. An insane, maniacal jester, Googler is summoned by Lord Fear after obtaining an Amulet fragment in the first season's seventh episode "Only Human". Imprisoned in a place called White Hot Oblivion by Ace, Googler seeks revenge against Ace. He speaks in third person and creates his own words like "googlerize" (an alternate use of "pulverise"). He wears a spiked shell on his back, which he can curl into, turning him into a dangerous, fast-moving bouncing ball. Googler is accompanied by two talking sock puppets named Zip and Snip, who are able to fly, can chew through any surface, absorb powers, and brainwash Ace in one episode.
94	%%* Evil Jester from ''Series/TheAmazingExtraordinaryFriends''.
95	* One episode of ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'' has Will, Carlton and Uncle Phil dealing with one of these, who demands to be taken to the courthouse (where Phil is to preside over a trial that will be televised) just so he can show his act in front of the cameras. He uses dynamite sticks strapped to his body in order to persuade people into following through with him. [[spoiler:However, the bombs later prove to be gag props complete with a [[BANGFlagGun "BANG!" flag]]. He's promptly kicked out of the court for his troubles.]]
96	* ''{{Series/Merlin\|2008}}'': A king sends a magic-using jester named Trickler to cause Prince Arthur to fall in love with Princess Vivian, causing her dad to challenge him to a duel and disrupt a peace treaty negotiation.
97	* Many, ''many'' villains from ''Franchise/PowerRangers''. Rita Repulsa (even when she was the BigBad), Jindrax (from ''Wild Force'') and Marah/Kapri (from ''Ninja Storm'') are probably the most straight examples of this trope.
98	** On the ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' side of things, this role usually falls to the solitary human female of the QuirkyMinibossSquad. Recent examples have been Furabiijo from ''Series/NinpuuSentaiHurricaneger'' and Kaze no Shizuka from ''Series/GoGoSentaiBoukenger''.
99	* Maaen from ''Series/TomicaHeroRescueForce''.
100	[[/folder]]
101
102	[[folder:Pinball]]
103	* The Ringmasters in ''Pinball/CirqusVoltaire'', who are green-skinned JerkAss antagonists.
104	* The Jinx King of ''Pinball/MagicGirl'' is a fiendish-looking harlequin, who leers at the player from the center of the playfield. Possibly intended as an {{Expy}} of the Ringmaster from ''Pinball/CirqusVoltaire''
105	[[/folder]]
106
107	[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
108	* {{Invoked\| Trope}} in Black Diamond Wrestling with Keith Haught, who along with several other wrestlers was imbued with "dark powers" meant to turn them evil, Haught in particular being remade into "The Jester". [[GoneHorriblyWrong Except Jester continued to not be evil, just goofy.]] And unlike the other wrestlers, [[NiceJobFixingItVillain he couldn't be cured either]].
109	[[/folder]]
110
111	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
112	* ''TabletopGame/{{Champions}}'' has the Black Harlequin, a cheerful, smiley villain who just wants to have fun. His signature weapons are armies of lethal toys, like teddy bears with metal claws, toy soldiers with real rifles and a rag-doll that causes aneurysms.
113	* In the ''TabletopGame/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.
114	* One of these shows up as an antagonist in a ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons module. She's also cheerfully AxCrazy, TooKinkyToTorture, and [[MadLove has a crush on her boss.]]
115	[[/folder]]
116
117	[[folder:Theatre]]
118	* The Porter from Theatre/MacBeth is a particularly sinister take on Shakespeare's recurring "witty fool" character archetype, and in some productions is even implied to be a kind of {{Psychopomp}} or demon, but still largely serves as comic relief, as he spends the entirety of his [[OneSceneWonder one scene]] getting drunk and making vaguely ominous jokes about hell.
119	[[/folder]]
120
121	[[folder:Theme Parks]]
122	* Chance from [[Ride/UniversalStudios Universal's]] Theatre/HalloweenHorrorNights initially started off like this when she made her first appearance in 2007; possessing a very childlike and ditsy kind of personality. However, she was was made into a much more significant threat over time; to the point that she became the event's "icon" in 2016. Now, she has far more darker characteristics and is very capable of killing - though at times she'll still display traces of her original childlike self.
123	[[/folder]]
124
125	[[folder:Toys]]
126	* Jestro from Franchise/{{LEGO}} ''Toys/NexoKnights''.
127	[[/folder]]
128
129	[[folder:Video Games]]
130	* [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin "The Harlequin"]] Cahin from ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood'', who uses his acrobatics to dazzle and distract his opponents while he ([[CreepyTwins or his sister Caha]]) move around to deliver a fatal strike.
131	* Harley Quinn from the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' and ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' Games.
132	* In ''VideoGame/CaptainSilver'', the MiniBoss of the first stage is a [[Literature/ThePiedPiperOfHamelin Pied Piper]]-like jester who summons a SwarmOfRats with his CreepyCircusMusic, and in the Sega Master System port directly [[MusicalAssassin attacks the player with musical notes]].
133	* The appropriately named Harle from ''VideoGame/ChronoCross''. However, she's far more of an EnigmaticMinion than an [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain ineffectual villain]]. [[spoiler:And being a villain or not doesn't really seem to be under her control.]]
134	* ''VideoGame/CrossedSwords'' have a harlequin magician in the first game as one of the last bosses, directly serving Nausizz the Demon Warlock. This Harlequin can spam projectiles and teleport while attacking you.
135	* ''VideoGame/{{Cuphead}}'' has Beppi the Clown, the boss of "[[AmusementParkOfDoom Carnival Kerfuffle]]". He's a clown, who like the other characters of the game, makes use of DerangedAnimation. When the protagonists confront him as part of their gig as [[EvilDebtCollector the Devil's Debt collectors]], Beppi fights them on top of a roller coaster's tracks, and transforms into a creepy-looking balloon man, and later [[spoiler:a giant carousel]], all with [[CheshireCatGrin a big grin]]. The ending shows [[spoiler: when not threatened by Debt collectors, Beppi is actually a pleasant enough person.]]
136	* The aptly-named Jevil from ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'', the {{Superboss}} from Chapter 1. It's debatable if he's truly an antagonist, but it's clear he's sadistic and insane. He was a court jester until [[spoiler: [[GoMadFromTheRevelation he discovered the true nature of the world]] - which is implied to be [[NoticingTheFourthWall just a game]] - and he decided to treat life as such since he believes that makes it all ultimately inconsequential]].
137	* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'': Jester, who reveals his true evil when he reveals [[spoiler:he's actually Arkham, who wanted to maneuver Dante and Vergil into fighting each other so that he could use their blood to undo their father's spell and get his hands on Sparda's power]].
138	* The ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' DLC Mark of the Assassin has enemy rogues as Harlequins to fit the flamboyant Orlesian setting.
139	* ''Franchise/DragonQuest'':
140	** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV'': The Winksters, Blinksters, and Jinksters, which barrage enemies with their Frizz, Crack, and Sizz spells. Later appearances in ''Dragon Quest IX'' and ''Dragon Quest X'' would expand the Jinkster's repertoire with Bang, Boom, Frizzle, Egg On, Caduceus, and Snub, while the Blinkster would have Drain Magic and Bound.
141	** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVI'': One of the enemy types fought in the game, which make their debut, are the Prickly Pranksters, Pesky Jesters, and Jugular Jokers, sai-wielding jester monsters that use a variety of skills and spells in the form of Falcon Slash, Gust Slash, Oomph, Tap Dance, Flame Slash, Lightning Slash, Kacrackle Slash, Ban Dance, Kasnooze, and Sword Dance to overwhelm enemies in battle.
142	** Dhoulmagus, the BigBadWannabe from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'' is one of these.
143	** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestX'':
144	*** Pujyu is a seemingly ordinary human jester who performs for the citizens of Gardlund and entertains them with magic tricks, while his only crimes are causing disappearances from Gardlund Castle and aiding the Fangs of Gazbaran, a separatist group named after the Ogre god of Astoltia. But later on, he is revealed to be a MonsterClown who [[KnightOfCerebus makes things serious]] by opening the Netherworld's doors with Kyronos's Shock Seed and was mentioned to have incited Valeria's Invasion of Astoltia. [[TheReveal THEN, it turns out he's also one of]] [[spoiler:Jagonuba's Dark Deities, created by the Great Source of Darkness himself to fight against the Poppet God Pinahet]].
145	*** In addition to the returning Jinkster and Prickly Prankster monster lines, the game also introduces the Buddhist Circus monster line, little demon clown creatures that ride Bomboulders, or Rockbombs in the case of Indojesters.
146	* [[spoiler:Cicero]] from ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' is one of these. You first find him on a road with a broken wagon and he asks you to fetch him some tools to fix the wagon, all while laughing and dancing. [[spoiler: Turns out he is actually a member of the Dark Brotherhood, a league of very dangerous assassins.]] After you find that out he becomes considerably more malicious.
147	* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
148	** [[BigBad Kefka]] in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' is initially presented as an almost harmless looking Villainous Harlequin. That perception doesn't last long, as he commits multiple atrocities during the course of the game, and ends up becoming the MadGod of the world during the game' second half.
149	** Zorn and Thorn from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX''. They are twin jesters that serve under Queen Brahme's court, and during the game they try to capture Garnet to steal her Eidolons. After the events of Disk 2, they start to work for Kuja.
150	* Shannon, the [[CuteMonsterGirl succubus]]-slash-[[{{Stripperiffic}} stripper]] from ''VideoGame/GodHand''.
151	* ''VideoGame/Heidelberg1693'' has harlequin zombies as recurring enemies, who can spam [[AbnormalAmmo flying snakes]] as ranged attacks.
152	* The redesign of [[EverybodyHatesHades Thanatos]] in ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'' goes for this. While he's a rare example who's TheDragon and can prove to be [[BewareTheSillyOnes powerful and threatening]], more often than not he's the butt of many jokes thanks to his childishness and laziness.
153	* Shaco the Demon Jester in ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends''. If the title or his glowing green eyes didn't give it away, his name is an anagram of "chaos".
154	* Marx from ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar''. He's an AxCrazy jester who tricks the sun and moon to fight each other to get Kirby to summon Galactic Nova so he can rule Popstar.
155	* Malcolm the Jester from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfKyrandia'', who goes from being a ChaoticEvil [[EvilSorcerer Sorcerer]] to a depowered VillainProtagonist trying to [[ClearMyName Clear His Name]] in the third game.
156	* Harlequin, the psychic gambler pig from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaCDiGames Link: The Faces of Evil]]''.
157	* Clown Man, one of the [[QuirkyMiniBossSquad Robot Masters]] from ''VideoGame/MegaMan8''.
158	* The last boss and main villain of ''VideoGame/MysticRiders'' is a gigantic, red-faced demon clad in a harlequin outfit.
159	* Reala and Jackle from ''VideoGame/NiGHTSIntoDreams''. Turns out [=NiGHTS=] itself was originally planned to be that, but a HeelFaceTurn turned it into the hero.
160	* ''VideoGame/{{Overlord}}'' has the Minion Jesters, whose duties are to give their EvilOverlord Masters amusing names (or, in ''VideoGame/OverlordII'', make little limericks) while also serving as their Training Dummies at times.
161	* Junkrat from ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' has two Legendary skins that make him this.
162	* Played with in regards of the Royal Jester in ''VideoGame/PrincessMaker2''. Everyone ''thinks'' he's a bad guy and going talk to him actually drops your daughter's social reputation each time, but he's actually a rather good-hearted fellow... if a bit of a TricksterMentor to the heroine. Who ''can'' choose being a Jester as her main work in the end, if some requirements are met (specifically, having him give her his Royal Harp after several visits, as well as possessing a strong Constitution and very high Art and Conversation skills).
163	* Loki from ''VideoGame/{{Smite}}'' has two skins that makes him one of these, named "Last Laugh," and "Joki."
164	* Tira from ''VideoGame/SoulCalibur''.
165	* Motley Bossblob from ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'' is a Koopa jester who summons sentient blobs to create a larger clown form around him.
166	* Also, Bowyer, a Boss from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'', is like this.
167	* Dimentio, from ''VideoGame/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 a NotSoHarmlessVillain by the end of the game.
168	* The Dark Wings from ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' subvert this troupe. Initially they seem to be a trio of annoying (if relatively harmless) thieves disguised as circus clowns, [[spoiler: but they're actually in league with Asch, putting them at least slightly on the side of good.]]
169	* Goremand in ''VideoGame/TrialsOfMana'' is a soul-eating monster with a jester-like appearance. He lapses into MonsterClown at times.
170	[[/folder]]
171
172	[[folder:Webcomics]]
173	* ''WebComic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'': One of the Doctor's [[StarterVillain lesser]] opponents is Donald [=McBonald=], the unscrupulous clown (and mime) who owns the [[BlandNameProduct McBonald's]] burger chain. (Reportedly he was originally just Ronald [=McDonald=], before that detail got {{retcon}}ned and changed in the old comics to avoid copyright infringement.)
174	* The ''Riddler's Gammon'' comics by ''Webcomic/MSPaintAdventures''' Andrew Hussie feature a harlequin who menaces people with nonsensical puzzles and complicated rhyming schemes. He tends to get arrested, or shoved into garbage.
175	** In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' every enemy gets decorated in harlequin garb near the beginning of the story. And of course there's Gamzee Makara, who when first introduced is a fairly mellow, perpetually stoned, Faygo-swilling Juggalo who's ''trying'' to troll Dave but is laughably bad at it. When he sobers up he goes directly into MonsterClown territory and things get ugly fast. Gamzee's ancestor the Grand Highblood is an extremely dark example. His office/throne room is decorated with brightly splashes of color all over the walls, which turns downright creepy once you notice that the colors exactly match the possible colors of troll blood.
176	* Jokerella from ''Webcomic/TheNonAdventuresOfWonderella'' would probably fit in here, but she's [[TheDitz kinda bad]] on the '[[PokeThePoodle villainous]]' part. Her mother Pirouette was a much straighter example when she was alive.
177	* In the ''KITTEN II'' storyline of ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', the commander of a paramilitary group devoted to battling the forces of evil is inexplicably dressed as a clown, which [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes terrifies]] the normally-stoic Riff. It turns out he isn't really a clown, it's just a disguise to divert attention away from them. Somehow. But then it turns out that [[spoiler:he's gone insane and believes himself to be chosen by God to control [[KillerRabbit The Evil]], which involves killing a lot of the other characters.]] And then it turns out that [[spoiler:he was a clown all along.]]
178	[[/folder]]
179
180	[[folder:Web Original]]
181	* The Website/FlameWarriors website lists the [[http://www.flamewarriorsguide.com/warriorshtm/evilclown.htm "Evil Clown"]] archetype, an internet netizen who has a tendency to annoy everyone with his irrelevant, mean jokes.
182	* Fizzarolli from ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'' fits this trope like an oiled glove as a mean-spirited jester, comedian, entertainer, [[SexyJester sex symbol]] and consort to [[{{Asmodeus}} King Asmodeus.]] It's subverted later on in the series, as it's shown Fizz is actually a fairly caring and decent guy who only puts up an act for his stage persona. He is sincerely mean to Blitzo, but he's generally fairly nice when he's off the clock and [[DarkAndTroubledPast has a legitimate reason for it]].
183	[[/folder]]
184
185	[[folder:Western Animation]]
186	* [[Characters/DCAUHarleyQuinn Harley Quinn]] from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''. Though it's worth pointing out that her NightmareFace and [[LaughingMad insane cackling]] as she lowers Batman [[ItMakesSenseInContext into a vat of piranhas]] thinking she can finally have the relationship she dreams of with the Joker pushes her ''this close'' to MonsterClown levels.
187	* The Joker goes back to his [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] Harlequin feel in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold.'' That being said, however, he's still [[BewareTheSillyOnes a very competent villain]] and [[NotSoHarmlessVillain a genuine threat]].
188	* ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}} Challenge of the Superfriends]]'' had Superman villain Toyman wear a jester-like costume, being based on the Jack Nimball version from the comics.
189	* Jack-In-The-Box from ''WesternAnimation/CoolMcCool''.
190	* Quackerjack from ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'', a comedy-themed villain with many toys and gadgets, dressed in a jester outfit, who regularly gets outsmarted by Darkwing Duck.
191	* The Jester in the "Court Musician" segment in ''WesternAnimation/GarfieldHis9Lives''. He keeps taunting "Freddie," the titular court musician, that if he doesn't please the king with his concerto, he faces [[OffWithHisHead the guillotine]].
192	* ''WesternAnimation/JimmyTwoShoes'' has the recurring Rodeo Clowns, who although literal {{Monster Clown}}s, were generally more of asshole bikers who pull nasty pranks on the people of Miseryville, including Jimmy and Lucius.
193	* Luan Loud of ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' can sometimes veer into this territory, especially during the April Fools episodes.
194	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}'': I'm Dr. Rockso, the rock-and-roll clown! I do cocaine!
195	* Reflekta, the akumatized form of Juleka Couffaine, from ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'', who wants people to notice her by converting people into clones of herself. Her colorful appearance making a huge contrast compared to her normal self, a shy goth-looking girl wearing dark colors to her Reflekta persona who is extroverted and confident, resembling a female pierrot with bright colors on her.
196	* Hexadecimal from ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'', an AxCrazy virus whose main motivation is ItAmusedMe, has an appearance inspired by a traditional Harlequin costume. She tends to be played more as a HumanoidAbomination with a dash of harlequin and a VillainousCrush on Bob to highlight her otherness, [[spoiler:and she eventually becomes a [[HeelFaceTurn Heroic Harlequin]] by [[HeroicSacrifice giving her life to save the entire Net from an apocalyptic viral infection]] all [[LoveRedeems for Bob]]]].
197	* In a ''WesternAnimation/{{Squidbillies}}'' episode, Rusty and Early become Clowny Freaks (a parody of {{UsefulNotes/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!
198	* Jester-themed villain Madkat in ''WesternAnimation/SwatKats'' is like this, though he can be scary at times.
199	* ''WesternAnimation/SuperMansion'': [[PracticallyJoker The Groaner]], whose [[SkullForAHead ghastly appearance]] would make him a MonsterClown were he not a villainous prop comic who doesn't seem to be out to actually (intentionally) hurt anyone. He has actually accompanied the heroes on a number of missions, but still does things like set a house on fire with a brush so he can make a joke about "brushfires" and actually came closest to beating the league by stealing one of their expense cards and using it to cause them to go over budget.
200	* Bozette Slapstick from ''WesternAnimation/TotallySpies'' started out as a NonIronicClown, but because she feels people no longer appreciate clowns, she planned to use a {{Clownification}} makeup to turn everyone into clowns. Unfortunately for Clover, she ends up getting blasted pointblank with the makeup.
201	* ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'' gives us the mischievous Dr. Screwball Jones, a deviously daffy prankster who, ironically enough, is the only villain that Wander takes seriously. He even gets a whole VillainSong!
202	* An actual royal court jester was a villain in one ''WesternAnimation/WoodyWoodpecker'' cartoon; he wasn't ''really'' evil, but he ''was'' a pretty bad jester, and when the king threatened to fire him after thinking Woody was ''much'' funnier, the guy went after Woody in an attempt to keep his job. (The cartoon ended with Woody getting the job with the guy being punished by being part of Woody's act - getting pies thrown in his face.)
203	[[/folder]]

Context Main / VillainousHarlequin