History Characters / ArtemisFowl

%%* {{Meganekko}}

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Many have green hair.

* AffablyEvil: Walks the line between this and FauxAffablyEvil. He is very polite and respectful to allies and enemies alike. While he does do a lot of horrible things, he sees it more as a NecessaryEvil to reach a means to an end and never takes any sadistic pleasure in what he does.

* MulticolouredHair: It's dyed.

* BaldOfAwesome: Keeps his head shaved.

* SharedUnusualTrait: An accident in ''The Lost Colony'' swaps his and Holly's left eyes. Consequentially each is left with [[{{Heterochromia}} one hazel eye and one blue eye]]. In Artemis' case, a hazel left eye and a blue right eye.

* SharedUnusualTrait: An accident in ''The Lost Colony'' swaps her and Artemis' left eyes. Consequentially each is left with [[{{Heterochromia}} one hazel eye and one blue eye]]. In Holly's case, a hazel right eye and a blue left eye.

%%* BadassMustache

* GiveTheGeeksAChance: Her relationship with Foaly.

* PunnyName: Not him, but he tends to use these with various pseudonyms he publishes papers, which include (but are not limited to) Sir E. Brum (Cerebrum), F. Roy Dean Schlippe (Freudian Slip), C. Niall DeMencha (Senile Dementia) and Violet Tsirblou (Violets are blue).

* ColorMotifs: White. He wears white clothing, and just about everything in his personal quarters is white.

* AlienFairFolk: Demons are descended from single-cell organisms that evolved on the moon, and that arrived on Earth when a chunk of the moon broke off and crashed into the ocean in the Triassic period.

%%* HornedHumanoid
* {{Lunacy}}: They have an exceptionally strong connection to the moon and- by association- silver. Nº1 speculates at one point that it was believed demons were capable of levitating when under a full moon.

* PunnyName: Not him, but he tends to use these with various pseudonyms he publishes papers, which include (but are not limited to) Sir. E Brum (Cerebrum), F. Roy. Dean. Schlippe (Freudian Slip), C. Nial Damon Shia (Senile Dementia) and Violet Tsirblou (Violets are blue)

* ReplacementFlatCharacter: In ''Time Paradox'', Past Artemis is basically Artemis from the first book before he became good.

* SharedUnusualTrait: An accident in ''The Lost Colony'' swaps his and Holly's left eyes. Consequentially each is left with one hazel eye and one blue eye. In Artemis' case, a hazel left eye and a blue right eye.

-->"By the time she was fourteen, Juliet was a third-dan blackbelt in seven disciplines, could dissemble and reassemble any weapon blindfolded, and could do her makeup in under four minutes."

* SharedUnusualTrait: An accident in ''The Lost Colony'' swaps her and Artemis' left eyes. Consequentially each is left with one hazel eye and one blue eye. In Holly's case, a hazel right eye and a blue left eye.

* GenderFlip: Played by Creator/JudiDench in the movie.

* HappilyMarried: Gets hitched during the time skip at the end of book five. His wife Caballine doesn't appear as a character until halfway through the last book.

%%* SilverFox

* AlliterativeName: Both begone with D.

* BewareTheSillyOnes: Holly comments he looks more like a member of a boy band than a hardened criminal who killed his partner with a kitchen knife. He is extremely dangerous and even Butler commented that it's gonna be a problem if he is part of the antagoists.

* BreakTheCutie: Before the series even begins. With Father presumed dead and Mommy falling to pieces, what's to be expected? Plus, Angeline's episodes in the first book cause him to stifle a few 'uncharacteristic tears'. Afterwards, he is fixed, broken and re-fixed again. After THAT the cycle continues, especially with his difficulties with his Atlantis Complex.

* OnlyOneName: If "Foaly" has a first name, it's never mentioned.

* OnlyOneName: Britva and Kamar.

* WrestlerOfBeasts: The first book sees Butler take on a [[AllTrollsAreDifferent troll]] (one of the deadliest apex predators of the fairy world) with only a sig sauer pistol (almost useless against the troll's thick hide), a medieval mace and a suit of armor. He gets pretty messed up in the first round, but after being [[HealingHands healed]] by Holly and reevaluating his opponent, he delivers a CurbStompBattle that quickly reduces the troll to a quivering mass of shaggy fur.

* WithholdingTheirName: Only Butler and his mother know his birth name, for security reasons. Thus when faced with impending death, Butler tells Artemis his first name, [[spoiler:Domovoi, a type of Russian FairFolk.]] This comes in handy later when ([[TheTapeKnewYouWouldSayThat a recording of]]) Artemis uses it as proof of their having been through truly harrowing experiences together, allowing Butler to defeat the fairy mind-wipe.

* BigBad: Of both the prequel story ''[=LEPrecon=]'' and ''The Atlantis Complex''.

* ForgotAboutHisPowers: ''Eternity Code'' would have been a lot shorter if she'd thought to mesmer Jon Spiro into giving the C Cube back at the airport. Though as Artemis points out, the chances of mesmer working on someone decreases the more intelligent and strong willed they are, both which Spiro handily qualifies, and if he recovers his memories then the fairies will have to bother with him again.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed

** They are more binary when it comes to magic. Most demons have no magic at all and have to rely on their tough hide and teeth, whereas the few demon warlocks are much more powerful than the magicians of the other races

* EmpoweredBadassNormal: In the fifth book while traveling through the time tunnel, he hugs some magic sparks and manages to acquire magic himself. He gets BroughtDownToNormal as of the next book after pouring all his magic into his sick mother.

** You also wouldn't expect him to be a Music/DavidBowie fan. ''Film/{{Labyrinth}}'' would most likely be his favorite movie.

* NoSocialSkills: Although he has improved in leaps and bounds since the first book, he still hasn't attended any of those school dances Butler mentioned in The Eternity Code. Plus, he's still keen on his vampire way of life. Also, he isn't incredibly skilled in the good first impressions category, preferring to scare people with his analyzing capabilities and his extensive vocabulary (although this could simply be a habit).

* BrainsAndBrawn: The Brawn to Artemis's Brains. Just as Artemis is unparalleled in the intellectual department, there is no one who can match Butler physically.

* RealMenWearPink: He apparently likes romantic comedies, his favorite film being ''Film/SomeLikeItHot''. He reads romantic novels when nobody is around, though he would never admit it.

* AntiHero: He fulfills the role of BigGood for the first half of the series, but he's rather... [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold gruff]]

* InsufferableGenius: Irreplaceable so he pushes Root's buttons all day; his favorite topics are his own work and the chief's smoking.

* BigEater: Party-size sherry trifle, a bottle of Moet champagne, a chicken, a t-bone steak, fruitcake, a Pavlova, a whole rack of lamb in one bite, two baguettes, a cocktail of dairy products... and that's just the part of one meal actually described. Then there's the whole issue of super-fast tunneling via eating dirt and expelling it.

* {{Tritagonist}}: Much like Holly is the {{deuteragonist}}, Mulch is the third character who the story independently centers around.
* TunnelKing: Dwarves have a physiology naturally designed for tunneling, being able to unhinge their jaw to eat dirt, process it, and fire it back out their rear end.

* DiscOneFinalBoss: The first threat that Artemis and co. face but she is soon usurped by Billy Kong who takes over as the new BigBad. Then even Kong gets shafted in favor of Leon Abbott the true BigBad.

* UnskilledButStrong: In terms of raw power his magic is unparalleled, but he is a complete novice who lacks the knowledge on how to properly use it.

* FurAndLoathing: She has the seats of her private shuttle lined with animal fur, symbolizing of her rejection of fairies in favor of [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters humans]].
* GeniusSweetTooth: One of her favorite foods is chocolate truffles.

* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Chocolate. Especially truffles.

* AmbitionIsEvil: His 'favorite daydream' of a Council seat leads him to one questionable act after another, leading to the following tropes.

* KillItWithFire: Their favorite method of dealing with things.
* NotSoHarmlessVillain: For all their stupidity, they very nearly manage to beat the LEP in Book 2. Only Foaly regaining control of Police Plaza's defense systems manages to put down their rebellion.

* KnightTemplar: The narration implies that unlike most of his friends he actually believes the crap about exterminating a species since humans are at the center and should only keep the animals that help them.

* LightIsNotGood: He's heavily associated with the color white, and is a CorruptCorporateExecutive ''par excellence''.

* KillTally: Loafers gets a new tattoo every time he completes a hit. Hardly any of his skin retains its original color by the time of the third book.

* TattooedCrook: He gets a new tattoo after every successful job. By the time he gets hired to go after Artemis, he hardly has any skin retaining its original color left.

* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Chips' is... well, chips.

* AnimeHair: Invoked by his spiky, multicolored hair, which the narration refers to as "manga hair".

* MulticoloredHair: It's dyed.

* TheChessmaster: One rumor Juliet hears is she caused a ''stampede'' to distract a trainee. With elephants no less.

* AntiVillain: In The first book, Butler is a villain only because of his UndyingLoyalty to Artemis and even calls him out on his actions multiple times.

* CuteIsEvil: Her Fairy subspecies, Pixies, are famous for being child-like, cute and adorable-looking. Doesn't prevent her from easily being one of the nastiest character in the whole series.

* EvilGenius: Her IQ is over 300 and its implied that shes even smarter than even Artemis himself.

* MadScientist: Shes the creator of various LEP's weaponry and transportation craft. She also later experiments on endangered animals to use there brain fluid to nicrease her powers.

* FallenHero: One of the few on a FirstNameBasis with Root because of their long friendship and the former's respect for his integrity and sense of duty. Then he lets ambition get the best of him.
* LadyAndKnight: Has this Dynamic with Opal Koboi ''The Artic Incident''. Opal is the {{ojou}} who does her techo-wizardy from a safe distance and Cudgeon is the FallenHero in the thick of things. "I shall be the hero of the resistance and you shall be my princess."

* NotSoHarmlessVillain: For all their stupidity, they very nearly manage to beat the LEP in Book 2. Only Foaly regaining control of the station's defenses manages to put down their rebellion.

* TookALevelInBadass: They go from a relatively minor nuisance to a very serious threat after Cudgeon and Opal ally with them, thanks to them being supplied with both illegal weaponry and a reliable supply of energy for said weaponry.

* ShinyNewAustralia: In light of Opal's narcissism and madness, the only thing keeping them loyal, aside from fear of punishment, is the thought of sipping alcoholic beverages on the beaches of the Carribean after Opal's world conquest.

* TheDragon: [[spoiler:To Opal Koboi, though he doesn't realise it]].

* EvilIsHammy: Thanks to seeing his dad as a preacher he is really good at making grandiose speech. Shame they're about exterminating a species.
* EvilPoacher: He extincts animals.

* BadBoss: Apparently used to toss complaining employees out of high-rise windows before the law became tighter. He resents having to give employees basic amenities like decent wages and insurance and those working for him are constantly in fear of having YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness and YouHaveFailedMe pulled on them.

* CriminalAmnesiac: [[spoiler:After Juliet knocks him out, he gets his memory altered]].

* JerkAss: Sool is an incredibly unlikable individual, as cemented by [[spoiler:his willingness to ''let the whole Eighth Family die off''.]]

* {{Hypocrite}}: He detests magic, and magic-using warlock demons, but is not above using it himself to [[CompellingVoice mesmer]] other demons into obeying him, or heal himself of humiliating injuries.

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: The reason he wants to wipe out the demons is because he thinks they killed his older brother and wants to avenge him.

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Subverted. It seems like he'll only be punished for property damage, leaving his more serious crimes unaccounted for... but then Butler reveals that he has an active arrest warrant for murder under his birth name, Jonah Lee]].

%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* PsychoForHire: A shining example of this trope.

* NonHumanHumanoidHybrid: Going by one passing comment in the first book, they can have children with gremlins.
** Can breed with pixies to make "pixels".

* CuteIsEvil: Pixies are described as being very cute compared to other fairy subspecies, with a large head and child-like features. The major pixie characters we get in the series range from the AxeCrazy Opal to her PunchClockVillain minions. Even the one named pixie character who isn't a villain started out as a small-time criminal before making a HeelFaceTurn.

** With Mulch apparently. He's testified against him 15 times and calls him 'convict' but when [[spoiler: Mulch fakes his death]] Root is immediately sad and called him "One of the constants of his life." Mulch for his part calls him by his first name and doesn't hold much of a grudge for the '15 times' thing. In fact, Mulch respected Root so much [[spoiler:that he temporarily gives up burglary for private investigation after Root died.]]

* IHaveManyNames: To date his aliases include: Lance Digger (a millionaire), The Grouch (a notorious thief who stole awards from celebrities), Mo Diggence (a specialist infiltrator under the employment of Jon Spiro), and Tombstone (a member of a dwarf gang).

* SmugSnake: Even though she's one of the most dangerous bad guys in the series, she still slips into this, largely thanks to regularly bragging about her plans and accomplishments. In ''The Opal Deception'', she sets up an underwater TV monitor to taunt Artemis and Holly, which ends up simply providing motivation for both after they survive.

* OurGoblinsAreDifferent: They are reptilian creatures who shed their skins and use them to make clothes. They have [[PlayingWithFire the ability to produce fire as well as complete immunition to it]]. And they are ''incredibly'' stupid.

* StupidEvil: Colfer [[RunningGag will not let you forget that goblins are dumb.]]
* TooDumbToLive: A general, their best and brightest, was caught using a forged credit card because he used his real name.

* EvilIsHammy: Thanks to seeing his dad as a preacher he is really good at making grandiose speech, shame it's about exterminating a species.

* KnightTemplar: The narration implies that unlike most of his friends he actually believes the crap about exterminating a species since human are at the center and should only keep the animals that helps humanity.

* RuthlessForeignGangsters: Inverted as it is the Irish GentlemanThief that moved on their territories and they showed him he was not welcome with a stinger missile.

* CrazyPrepared: Holly describes his company's security system as being the most state of the art she has ever seen for a Mudman. It's telling that Foaly concludes they could not pull off infiltrating it without his help.

* ContrastingSequelAntagonist: Aside from Artemis himself being a VillainProtagonist in the first book, Spiro is the only villain who is a human rather than a fairy.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: His relationship with Phonetix seems very reminscient of that between Microsoft and Apple.

* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler:After realising he has been the victim of an elaborate BatmanGambit in book three.]]
* VillainInAWhiteSuit: Wears all white suits, and is a wealthy CorruptCorporateExecutive with ties to the mob.

* AffablyEvil: Walks the line between this and FauxAffablyEvil. He is very polite and respectful to allies and enemies alike. While he does do a lot of horrible things, he sees it more as a NecessaryEvil to reach a means to an end and never takes any sadistic pleasure.

The placement for the late Commander Julius Root after his assassination. Ark Sool is an immoral BadBoss who is eager to push Holly as a criminal and have her arrested or killed for her crimes.

* FaceHeelTurn: Played with. He was never a saint to begin with, being an immoral CorruptCorporateExecutive and BadBoss. However, after being fired from LEP, he officially switches over to the baddie's side by joining Turnball's gang.

* ObstructiveBureaucrat: Is extremely abrasive and refuses to so much as consider the possibility of Holly being innocent.

!Madam Ko

* BizarreAlienBiology: ''The Fowl Twins'' specifies that their fire breathing isn't magic and is allowed by various biological quirks including a fireproof throat.
* GenuineHumanHide: A harmless version; since they shed, they have the habit of using their own old shedded skins to make clothes. Other fairies still find this habit pretty disgusting.

* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Goblins are described as ascending from reptiles, and all those we get to see in the Book are at best thugs.

* TooDumbToLive: While their stupidity tends to be rather exaggerated in-universe, there have been several incidents where it directly led to the demise or nearly so of goblin characters, mostly criminals -- one, for instance, was incinerated by a magma flare because he flew into a magma vent without bothering to think of grabbing more safety gear than a thermal suit, while a gang of goblins nearly killed themselves by deciding to break out of a prison vehicle by turning it to slag... which would have killed them even through their normal heat resistance.

* {{Metamorphosis}}: One of their major characteristic is that they don't grow up gradually; instead, they stay imps, then at some point in their life suddenly turn into cocoons, from which they later emerge as full-grown demons. Imps who never grow up will instead develop magic abilities and become warlocks.

* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Justified; they are more barbaric than the other tribes because they were forced to live outside of time under the influence of a megalomaniac. [[spoiler:They start changing their ways after being reunited with the other Fairy families]].

* PragmaticVillainy: Fairies speculate that Artemis only healed his mother because he didn't want social services interfering in his plans. (Though the reader knows better)

* HiddenDepths: ''The Fowl Twins'' reveals that Angeline has acquired a doctorate in psychology, in an effort to understand the debilitating depression she fell into during Artemis snr's disappearance. During this book, she and Artemis Snr are absent because she's giving a lecture at a university.

* InseriesNickname: He's known as 'Beet Root' as a pun on his name and temper.