This is exactly what it sounds like. Please sort examples between single scene, background appearance, and recurring gag.
Single Scene
Deadpool
Source Fiction: Several comics from the
Marvel Universe (see
Deadpool for more info)
Description
Deadpool is a genre savvy, fourth-wall-breaker who sometimes completely operates without it, aware of his own speech bubble and possibly suffering from Marvel's answer to the Joker's super sanity. In the world of Fiction, he already knows he's a fictite, and thus he's one of the few fictites to come over who knows he's not real.
Proposed Role
Knowing that he is a comic book character, Deadpool spends his time trying to increase the popularity and success of
Cable & Deadpool—if his series becomes insanely popular then he never has to die, the fans would complain if he were defeated, he'll get to keep his Gwen Stacey harem. So he spends his time arranging deals with film producers, defending Marvel Publishing HQ from attack by DC villains, organising San Diego Comic Con with actual comic characters so something like that, anything to get him
Wolverine Publicity.
Of course, he'll care about his fans and this world which he sees as his readership so he'll try to defend them but imagine a recurring character rather than one following along the main plot for too long. Deadpool is such a wild card of a character that he would not come off best being constrained into the plot of an ensemble. He get to interact with him on occasions where he has already gotten himself into a situation where the writers can explore the impact of things like the
Celebrity Paradox and the treatment of characters by people in the real world who have gotten the chance to see all the details of their lives.
Deadpool has a crush on Death.
Background Appearance
Recurring Gag
Rincewind (and the Luggage)
Source Fiction: The
Discworld series of novels
Description
Rincewind is an incredibly cowardly "Wizzard" whose general response to everything is to run away quickly. With Fate out to get him, he constantly gets into trouble, though he always manages to escape because he is under the protection of Luck. He is also one of the few people who are on speaking terms with Death as a result of being able to see Death before he dies (due to being a wizard) and surviving numerous circumstances that should have killed him (due to Luck's protection).
The Luggage is a walking magical chest that is incredibly devoted to its master (currently Rincewind). Anything that gets between the Luggage and its master has a tendency to be annihilated by this cross between a suitcase and a centipede.
Proposed Role
Every time a disaster of some kind happens, Rincewind is seen as a member of the crowd running in fear, as a bit of a
Running Gag, the Luggage not far behind. Each time we see him, however, he is less panicky, to the point where he has reached a nervous stroll by his penultimate appearance, thinking that because he can't see Death, it's not yet time for him to die. When Death shows up as a minion of Dracula, Rincewind might get some lines as he reacts to finally seeing Death again—lines that would promptly be followed by him running away as fast as his legs can carry him, never to be seen again.
