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The Heroic Sociopath in his natural environs.

Sam: Max, where should I put this [bomb] so it doesn't hurt anyone we know or care about?
Max: Out the window, Sam! There's nobody but strangers out there.
(BOOM!)
Sam: I hope there was nobody on that bus.
Max: Nobody we know, at least.
Sam and Max Hit the Road

Normally even the most brooding and Badass Anti Hero can be counted on to Pet The Dog sooner or later, or to be revealed as a Jerk With A Heart Of Gold. The Heroic Sociopath is different. A heroic sociopath is an obviously villainous character given copious amounts of badass and let loose on the world, with the Rule Of Funny thrown into the mix. Unlike the Anti Hero, a Heroic Sociopath isn't ineffectual or angsty - he loves what he does for a living. And unlike the Unsympathetic Comedy Protagonist, he seldom if ever suffers any wacky hijinks. Instead, he causes wacky hijinks. Lots of it. And the audience loves him for it. In fact, the more horrible his actions, the more they will seem like mere wacky fun.

A Heroic Sociopath could (and would) execute people, swindle old ladies, detonate buildings and punt puppies into traffic, all in broad daylight with a hundred witnesses present, and still avoid arrest by talking the police out of it. The Karma Houdini is a natural part of their being — he's literally too badass to suffer any backlash for his horribleness, usually both inside the show and from the audience. Being cranked up to the top and played for laughs as he is, the Heroic Sociopath is so evil and invincible that the audience cheers for him. At the same time, he serves as a wistful fantasy for the audience. Anyone who has wanted to give the boss what they deserve can wish they were like the Heroic Sociopath, or had a Heroic Sociopath ally to sic on said boss, while knowing that's not the case.

The Heroic Sociopath remains one of the "good" guys — something of a protagonist version of the Psycho For Hire. While a monster, he's our monster, and the bad guys better run when he goes after them. Sometimes the heroes have protection from the Heroic Sociopath's hijinks — it might be a Restraining Bolt, or the fact that the heroes combined can stand up to him. Failing that, they may be in some way endearing to him. Or possibly the Heroic Sociopath just finds the heroes amusing enough to leave them (mostly) alone. Other times, they don't have that luxury and are stuck with an "ally" as disrupting to them as to their enemies. As various examples that the Psycho For Hire page shares with this one may testify, it is all too possible for a character to sit on the fence.

Compare/contrast with the The Ace (which is a hero taken to the same ludicrous degree), The Humphrey, The Nietzsche Wannabe, and The Psychopathic Manchild. The Heroic Sociopath is usually a Villain Protagonist, but not all Villain Protagonists are Heroic Sociopaths.

Not to be confused with Vigilante Man.

Examples

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