'''Basic Trope''': A character who heralds a work or series becoming darker.
* '''Straight''': In a work that has previously been about the wacky hijinks of a small group of friends in a [[WorldOfWeirdness crazy world]], Emperor Evulz [[KillTheCutie kills the lovable Alice]] and [[CurbStompBattle curbstomps the heroes]] shortly after his entrance. From then on, the series becomes a dark drama as the heroes fight to avenge Alice.
* '''Exaggerated''':
** VileVillainSaccharineShow.
** Emperor Evulz is a CompleteMonster.
** Evulz is a [[FinalSolution genocidal]] ShadowDictator wearing a trenchcoat made out of [[GenuineHumanHide the skin]] of [[BadBoss his own soldiers]]. He's supposed to be a minor antagonist in a PreschoolShow and ends up scarring the letter A for life.
* '''Downplayed''':
** Emperor Evulz and his machinations were always in the background, often having to deal with [[WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb Alice's pet platypus]] who died alongside her; he's just now taken center stage.
** Emperor Evulz is either a MagnificentBastard or TheComicallySerious, but nonetheless remains a serious threat to the heroes.
* '''Justified''':
** Because of how peaceful the world was until then, the protagonists were unprepared to face serious threats, and as a result are completely frightened and devastated by the arrival of the unbelievably heinous and cruel Emperor Evulz. Before Evulz came along, the heroes only had to deal with minor problems that would only cause minor inconvenience if not solved. But now that Emperor Evulz is the antagonist, the heroes face problems as serious as genocide and corruption.
** Emperor Evulz is a [[ProfessionalKiller trained assassin]], which means his duty is [[HeroKiller killing heroes]], it's even implied that Evulz was [[LaserGuidedTykebomb being raised specifically]] to do so.
** Emperor Evulz is a {{Necromancer}}, which means not only he can kill, he can [[FateWorseThanDeath doom the afterlife]] and turn the others [[AnimateDead into]] [[TheUndead undead]].
** Emperor Evulz is exceptionally cunning. His wisdom and insight poses a serious threat to the story's IdiotHero.
** Emperor Evulz is an EldritchAbomination.
** Emperor Evulz is a character from a far more serious franchise which happened to {{Crossover}} with a far more light-hearted one.
** Emperor Evulz is an InvincibleVillain. Alice managing to make fun of him would technically count as a victory, so he makes sure it does not happens.
* '''Inverted''':
** A MagicalGirlfriend arrives to help make the work LighterAndSofter.
** [[MadScientist Dr. Von Freakenstein]], an unusually wacky villain, appears to take Emperor Evulz's place as the main antagonist.
** PluckyComicRelief
** LaughablyEvil
** ShooOutTheClowns
** HarmlessVillain
** '''Role-Inverted''': [[GoodIsNotSoft Pie]][[AntiHero rre]] [[CurbstompBattle "defeats" the villains]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown in the most brutal way possible]], something the other heroes weren't willing to do.
* '''Subverted''':
** Emperor Evulz arrives and kills Alice. The heroes [[BewareTheNiceOnes obliterate him]] with some Beyond Awesome skills and [[EverybodyLives even resurrect Alice]].
** Emperor Evulz attempts to off Alice. She responds with giant strawberry-shaped fireball. Back to the hijinks!
** Evulz's entire existence was AllJustAPrank set up by [[TheSmartGuy David]] and Alice.
* '''Double Subverted''':
** It turns out that Emperor Evulz was just the vanguard for a far greater threat.
** [[OhCrap Evulz survives.]]
** Evulz turns out to be RealAfterAll.
* '''Parodied''':
** Emperor Evulz is [[LaughablyEvil completely nuts]]; the work grows darker, but only [[BlackComedy humor]]-wise.
** Evulz first act of on-screen villainy is to chase down Comedy's AnthropomorphicPersonification and murder it in cold blood.
** The work goes from a RandomEventsPlot to a serious plot filled with (intentional) {{Wangst}}.
** Emperor Evulz is a BlackKnight sent by an [[ComicBook/CerebusTheAardvark aardvark]].
* '''Zig Zagged''': Emperor Evulz varies from being a pathetic BigBadWannabe to an outright monster DependingOnTheWriter.
* '''Averted''': Emperor Evulz is just another HarmlessVillain.
* '''Enforced''': ExecutiveMeddling proposed that the show gets high ratings if it had CerebusSyndrome. Now, if there was only a character who could pull this off...
* '''Lampshaded''': "Whoa, Emperor Evulz is ''cold''. ThisIsGonnaSuck."
* '''Invoked''': A character who was once a HarmlessVillain releases Emperor Evulz [[SealedEvilInACan from his imprisonment]] to spite the main characters.
* '''Exploited''': A HarmlessVillain uses Emperor Evulz's appearance and major threat level to distract away from his petty crimes.
* '''Defied''': Someone in the team (most likely TheBigGuy Clay) was [[CrazyPrepared ready for someone like Emperor Evulz to arrive]].
* '''Discussed''': "Man, that Emperor Evulz is a major buzzkill."
* '''Conversed''': "Once Emperor Evulz showed up and [[ShutUpKirk killed Alice]] [[ThePowerOfFriendship mid-friendship speech]], you could tell [[GutPunch things are going to be different]]."
* '''Deconstructed''': Because [[SugarBowl the world they live in]] hasn't seen anyone like Emperor Evulz before, they don't know how to react. Some panic, some GoMadFromTheRevelation, and some [[EvilVersusEvil become dark and edgy themselves]] during the long struggle against him.
* '''Reconstructed''': Emperor Evulz's arrival is a taste of the reality of life outside the show's SugarBowl. The main characters understand this, know better than to panic, and end up leading the struggle against him.
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Back to KnightOfCerebus. You know, the site was a lot more playful before that trope came around...
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%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
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%%* '''Implied''': ???
%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???
%%* '''Played For Drama''': ???