History Characters / SpirouAndFantasioAntagonists

* Knight of Cerebus: Things get significantly darker when Zantafio enters the picture.

* ChronicVillainy: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] in the comic; Zorglub turned back to evil once after his initial appearance, but was rather quick to turn good again, and after that his HeelFaceTurn sticked [[spoiler: until ''The dark face of the Z'']].

* VillainousCrush: Not in the comics, as Zantafio only interaction with Seccotine was the minute where he menaced her with a gun in ''Le dictateur et le champignon''. But adaptations are another deal. In the second AnimatedAdaptation, Zantafio once disguised himself as Fantasio, helped by StrongFamilyResemblance. However, Zantafio start to hit on Seccotine, instead of arguing with her as the actual Fantasio would do, [[SpotTheImposter leading Spirou to suspect something is wrong.]] In the LiveActionAdaptation, Fantasio thinks Zantafio and Seccotine dated, despite the latter swearing they did not. It's probable that Zantafio tried his luck with Seccotine, but his attraction was unrequited. Still, he noticed Fantasio's feelings for the latter, ([[BelligerentSexualTension despite still denied at the time]]). Likely, Zantafio lied and pretended that he actually had his way with her, [[JealousRomanticWitness especially to torment Fantasio ]]. Had Zantafio been featured as the BigBad in an eventual sequel, certainly, discovering that [[spoiler: Fantasio and Seccotine became an OfficialCouple since their last encounter]] [[GreenEyedMonster would fuel the conflict with his cousin.]]

* HairTriggerTemper: To the point it's been [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]]. In the movie, Champignac states that Zorglub is too hot-headed to be an effective scientist. In ''Le triomphe de Zorglub'', the Count remarks that Zorglub's bad temper and mood swings always played tricks on him. Zorglub answers by yelling...[[InstantlyProvenWrong that he does not have mood swings.]]

* FreudianExcuse: In the second AnimatedAdaptation, Zorglub has lost his wife during an ecological disaster. As a result, [[CrusadingWidow he decides to avenge her death]] and prevent any other disaster by becoming an EcoTerrorist.

* ChronicVillainy: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] in the comic; Zorglub turned back to evil once after his initial appearance, but was rather quick to turn good again, and after that his Heel–Face Turn sticked [[spoiler: until ''The dark face of the Z'']].

* Chronic Villainy: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] in the comic; Zorglub turned back to evil once after his initial appearance, but was rather quick to turn good again, and after that his Heel–Face Turn sticked [[spoiler: until ''The dark face of the Z'']].

* ChronicVillainy: A minor case, but Zantafio actually gave up on his uncle's legacy at the end of ''Spirou et les Héritiers'', and left Spirou and Fantasio on good terms, having decided to make his own life in Palombia. Comes ''Le Dictateur et le Champignon'', it turns out he ended up becoming a ruthless dictator in Palombia about to cause a WarForFunAndProfit, putting him into a villainous role again. Since then, all his following appearances have depicted him as one of the vilest antagonists in the whole franchise.

* EvilTwin: He's actually Fantasio's cousin, but acts as his mirror image, being ill-intentioned, even having an inverted physique.

* Chronic Villainy: A minor case, but Zantafio actually gave up on his uncle's legacy at the end of ''Spirou et les Héritiers'', and left Spirou and Fantasio on good terms, having decided to make his own life in Palombia. Comes ''Le Dictateur et le Champignon'', it turns out he ended up becoming a ruthless dictator in Palombia about to cause a WarForFunAndProfit, putting him into a villainous role again. Since then, all his following appearances have depicted him as one of the vilest antagonists in the whole franchise.

* TheParalyzer: His first kind of zorglwaves. The victims are frozen in place like statues (sometimes their skin becomes blue) and [[AndIMustScream stays conscious]]. With a slight dose, the effects wear off by themselves quickly. With a high dose, only a special electrocution can put them back in motion. In [[Film/TheAdventuresOfSpirouAndFantasio the film]], there is a variant: it acts as a teaser, and the victims fall unconscious. The effects automatically wear off by themselves, and they do quicker if the victim is slapped back to consciousness.

* UngratefulBastard: If it wasn't for Spirou and Fantasio, Vito would end marooned on a desert island in ''Vito la déveine.'' They rescued him, and did not try to get rid of Vito after they recognized him. Then Fantasio spent days bringing back to the surface his drowned merchandise. And still, Vito, for a start, injected Spirou with soporifics for days, in order to make it look like an illness. Then, he tried to get rid of the duo via the CementShoes method.

* GenreSavvy: Given the aforementioned CementShoes entry, Vito seems very aware that he must use chains to tie up Spirou and Fantasio, then capture and bound Spip as well. Otherwise, if ropes are used and Spip is neglected, there are high chances that the squirrel frees the duo by gnawing their bonds.

* AdaptedOut: Zantafio didn't appear in the first AnimatedAdaptation. Justified as that series adapted mostly the Tome and Janry era, and the album where they used Zantafio (''Spirou and Fantasio in Moscou'') was not adapted.
* ArchEnemy: Zantafio is the most regular adversary Spirou and Fantasio face. Things also get personal for Fantasio since Zantafio is his cousin.

* PuttingOnTheReich: As general Zantas, his dictatorship in ''Le dictateur et le champignon''. In ''Aux sources du Z'', Spirou even [[LampshadeHanging lampshade it]], by wondering why "farcical tyrants feel always compelled to copy the nazis apparel."

Zorglub was a fellow student of the Count of Champignac in college, [[TheyCalledMeMad and was expelled from there following his dangerous works. ]] It turned out, in his first album ''Z comme Zorglub'', that he studied laser beams that can either paralyse, or [[MindControlDevice totally hypnotize a person]], both called zorlgwaves. Since, Zorglub is, according to his trainee Zedrik in the second volume of his spin-off: "[[ComplimentBackfire The inventor of discoveries as brilliant as they are unuseful]], the recurring antagonist, the megalomaniac scientist", before adding "ImYourBiggestFan". Or to quote his daughter in the same spin-off: "A Franchise/JamesBond's villain caricature."

* AdaptationalVillainy: Well, he ''is'' a villain, but of the FriendlyEnemy kind, easily remorseful. It was due to an editorial exigence, as the executives feared the presence of an equivalent of a super villain in this story, and did not like SF stories either. That's why Franquin had to make Zorglub do a HeelFaceTurn, and did not use him as often he wished to, notably finally doing ''QRN sur Bretzelburg'' without him. And it's safer for the heroes, as Zorglub 's capacities are actually quite dangerous. He, after all, invented devices that can freeze or make anyone obey. It's not very surprising that authors who came after Franquin, or adaptations' writers, decided to make Zorglub more vile in order to be a true BigBad, and a real menace, for the story.

** It's likely that Yoann and Vehlman, too, wanted to use Zorglub in a dangerous version. He provoked damages unwillingly in ''Alerte aux Zorkons'' and ''The dark face of the Z''. But in the end of the latter album, [[spoiler: Zorglub finally lost it. He zorglwaves minions's minds, then uses the paralyzing version of his zorglwaves on his guests, despite promising to stop doing it. He also perform an EvilCostumeSwitch, then announces he will make basements again, but in space.]]

** In the LiveActionAdaptation, among all the RoguesGallery, Zorglub was chosen to be the antagonist of the first on -screen adaptation. " The more successful the villain" adage was followed there as well. The dangerousness of his usual capacities there were taken [[ExaggeratedTrope up to eleven]]. Instead of [[{{Brainwashed}} brainwash]] one person at once in a 40 feet range, zorglwaves can [[spoiler: [[MassHypnosis hypnotize all humans on Earth]] at the same time]]. In comics, Zorglub has never killed or tortured anyone, and kept attached to the Count of Champignac despite their disagreements. Plus Zorglub has mostly a ForScience motivation, despite debatable methods. In the movie, [[EstablishingCharacterMoment he kills several people in a few minutes]] in his introduction scene alone. It includes a henchman [[EvilIsPetty who mispronounces his name]], a part of his scientist team [[YouHaveFailedMe who failed him]], and a (reluctant) RedShirt, sacrificed to malfunctioning zorglwaves. And all die of a CruelAndUnusualDeath, falling in a LavaPit, except the RedShirt who [[YourHeadASplode explode]]-showing how this version of Zorglub has little credit for human life. He shows no respect for the one of the Count as well, first by trying of torture him to make him talk. Then Zorglub tries to kill him without second thoughts [[spoiler: along with Seccotine, once they're {{Brainwashed}}, by ordering them to walk into the LavaPit.]] Zorglub's main goal there is apparently [[AGodAmI satisfying his ego]] and TakeOverTheWorld, [[spoiler: given he intended to induce a MassHypnosis on the whole earth, except for him. He also won't redeem in the end.]]

Vito Cortizone is TheDon of the Italo-American [[TheMafia mafia]] in New York. His dummy company is a frozen pizzas's business, called Lucky's pizza. It suggest that Vito once used to be lucky, but cursed by his rivals of the Chinese 's mafia, he became since quite luckless. It's initially to find a cure for this curse that Vito dealt with Spirou and Fantasio first in ''Spirou et Fantasio à New York''. He then came back in three more albums of Tome and Janry (who invented him). He reappeared (albeit in a short role) in ''Le groom de Sniper alley'' by authors Yoann and Vehlman, cementing Vito's status as a recurring 's antagonist.

* AdaptedOut: Vito Cortizone was not featured in the second AnimatedAdaptation, while one of the main antagonists of the first. And despite [[UnrelatedInTheAdaptation his daughter]] appear in it.
* BornUnlucky: Not exactly as Vito was actually cursed by the Chinese mafia into being unlucky. Before that, Vito was maybe fortunate as his pizza enterprise is named "Lucky pizza" and its logo is a four leaf clover. However, the curse stayed on and since, it's like Vito was effectively born this way.

** In the end of ''Le groom de Sniper Alley'' (''Sniper alley's bellboy''), Vito Cortizone nearly tossed Spirou, Fantasio and [[AndYourLittleDogToo Spip]] chained to concrete blocks into the Hudson river, as Vito is not happy with a WorthlessTreasureTwist after he send them into a [[TreasureHuntEpisode treasure hunt]]. However, Spirou and Fantasio have time to explain that the parchment they came back with led to about thirty treasure's hideouts, and Vito finally let them go.

* CigarChomper: Vito is rarely seen without a Cuba cigar in his mouth. When he ended up [[{{Robinsonade}} marooned on a deserted island]], Vito tried to make his cigar last as long as possible, and he still has it after months.

* FriendlyEnemy: In a way: Vito is often happy to see Spirou and Fantasio, call them "friends", and even expose his plan in ''Le groom de sniper alley'' in a VillainOverForDinner scene (albeit it's lunch, in that case). All while trying to kill them, or blackmail them several times, explaining that on their side, Spirou and Fantasio are not that delighted to see him. Except Spirou once, in the above entry.

* GenreSavvy: Given the aforementioned CementShoes entry, Vito seems very aware that he must use chains to tie up Spirou and Fantasio, then capture and bound Spip as well. Otherwise, if ropes are used and Spip neglected, there are high chances that the squirrel free the duo by gnawing their bonds.
* KnightTemplarParent: Vito literally doesn't see his daughter Luna growing up. She's already 20, but Vito calls her his "little one". He finally [[YouAreGrounded grounded her]], and told her they will discuss again at her legal age...that he set at 50.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: He's the perfect look alike of Marlon Brandon in ''Film/TheGodfather'', and his name is even a {{Pun}} on the name of said godfather, Vito Corleone. Also, the name of his pizzeria, Lucky pizza, is maybe based on the Italo American gangster "Lucky" Luciano, who was based in New York.
* AnOfferYouCantRefuse: Once again, it's logical as Vito is a godfather. In ''Le groom de Sniper alley'', Vito asks Spirou and Fantasio to go on a [[TreasureHuntEpisode treasure hunt]] for him. When they refuse, [[ChainOfDeals Vito reveal they have a debt of honor towards him]]. In the previous volume ''Dans les griffes de la vipère'', Spirou had to escape the evil corporation who "bought" him, and needed a false ID. Seccotine asked Vito for it. So now, either Seccotine honors her own debt, or Spirou and Fantasio do, due to the fact that the initial service was for one of them. To not put Seccotine in a difficult situation, the duo have no choice but to say yes.

Miss Flanner used to be a classmate of the Count of Champignac and Zorglub in college, but she was massively irradiated there due to a failed experience. The Count even thought she was dead, until she reappeared years later in ''Paris sous Seine'', slowly dying from the irradiation. She kidnaps the Count and flows Paris as a last stand. In the album ''Aux sources du Z'', Miss Flanner is in her death throes, and on Zorglub's insistence, Spirou [[TimeTravel turns back time]] in order to save her. [[spoiler: Since the next album, ''Alerte aux zorkons'', it seems that Miss Flanner did die during her college 's years and [[{{Retgone}} been mostly forgotten by the main characters]].]]

* ForTheEvulz: Miss Flanner pretends to help Champignac to meet glory when she floods Paris and knows he can stop this with one of his inventions, but in the end, she seems to act like this, just because she can. The proof is, in the last scene of ''Paris sous Seine'', [[HereWeGoAgain she envisions flooding New York]] too, and there is no actual reason for that.

* {{Retgone}}: [[spoiler: In the album that came after ''Aux sources du Z'', ''Alerte aux Zorkons'', the story restart normally with the new duo of authors, without any consequences (while Spirou was supposed to be a younger TemporalDuplication since, he remained in fact the same). No explanation is given except that when Fantasio mentions Miss Flanner, Spirou does not remember her and Fantasio admits it was in "another space-time". However, readers can deduce from context that Fantasio finally did not resign to the new situation at the end of ''Aux sources du Z''. Instead, he did what he announced he would do while discovering the AlternateTimeline. Fantasio did again use the time gun, and a piece of clothing of the younger Spirou, to come back to the day Miss Flanner was irradiated. There, Fantasio acted in a way that prevented Spirou to save her, but also those who shall save her initially. So she died young in the college fire, and a back to the future Fantasio discovered a present where Spirou was still the one he had all those adventures with. And where the events of ''Paris sous-Seine'' and ''Aux sources du Z'' did not happened, only Fantasio remember them through RippleEffectProofMemory.]]

* ShipTease: With the Count in ''Paris sous-Seine''. While he's asleep, Miss Flanner puts her hand on his. It wakes him up, and [[HeldGaze they look in each other eyes for a while]]. Before realizing what's going on, and quickly letting go. Later on, Miss Flanner set a quiet breakfast for them on the roof of the opera. She also recalls the days when Pacôme used to nickname her [[JustFriends "his little sister"]], and it got on her nerves. In ''Aux sources du Z'' , Pacôme calls "affection" his feelings for her, but Zorglub corrects him by assuring she is the love of his life. In the same album, there is ship tease with Zorglub as well. When they were younger, he and Miss Flanner created a SdrawkcabSpeech they used to discuss with each other, without being understood by Pacôme.

* TooDumbToLive: In ''Aux sources du Z'' , Miss Flanner and Zorglub stole plutonium to charge their time travel guns. Zorglub told her to wait for him before starting. Not only Miss Flanner didn't and charged the plutonium alone, but she didn't even bother to wear a radiation suit. Chain reaction ensued, and she was fatally irradiated.

* BadBoss: His pilot, Von Schnabbel , see his request for an increase met with Vito crushing [[CigaretteBurns his cigar on Von Schnabbel's hand]], then by a GroinAttack.[[spoiler: Which ejects Von Schnabbel from his plane, actually, [[NoOneShouldSurviveThat despite he survives the experience]].]]

* BirdsOfAFeather: Like Champignac, not much is known about Zorglub 's deceased wife in the 2006 animated series. The only women we see him flirting with, had a lot in common with him. One (still in the TV show) was Eléonore Brightness, a CorruptCorporateExecutive who [[FalseSoulmate actually betrayed him]], but was his equal in villainy. Another was [[LoveTriangle once again Miss Flanner.]] Not only was she a talented scientist too, but she shared with Zorglub the [[AGodAmI megalomania]] and [[EvilGenius lack of moral code]]. In the volume ''Lady Z'' of ''Zorglub'', when Zandra comments that [[YouNeedToGetLaid her father shall find a girlfriend]], the latter retort that he's afraid he could only fall in love with himself. This is to take literally: Zorglub then creates his OppositeSexClone, the titular Lady Z (who turns out to be a genius of her own), then [[ScrewYourself accepts a date with her]]. Birds of a feather, [[ExaggeratedTrope indeed]].

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: He's the perfect look alike of Marlon Brandon in Film/TheGodfather, and his name is even a {{Pun}} on the name of said godfather, Vito Corleone. Also, the name of his pizzeria, Lucky pizza, is maybe based on the Italo American gangster "Lucky" Luciano, who was based in New York.

* BirdsOfAFeather: Like Champignac, not much is known about Zorglub 's deceased wife in the 2006 animated series. The only women we see him flirting with, had a lot in common with him. One (still in the TV show) was Eléonore Brightness, a CorruptCorporateExecutive who [[FalseSoulmate actually betrayed him]], but was his equal in villainy. Another was [[LoveTriangle once again Miss Flanner.]] Not only was she a talented scientist too, but she shared with Zorglub the [[AGodAmI megalomania]] and lack of moral code. In the volume ''Lady Z'' of ''Zorglub'', when Zandra comments that [[YouNeedToGetLaid her father shall find a girlfriend]], the latter retort that he's afraid he could only fall in love with himself. This is to take literally: Zorglub then creates his OppositeSexClone, the titular Lady Z (who turns out to be a genius of her own), then [[ScrewYourself accepts a date with her]]. Birds of a feather, [[ExaggeratedTrope indeed]].

* EasilyForgiven: In ''Le rayon noir'', Spirou seems happy to see Vito when they are in the same prison cell, despite at their least encounter, Vito tried to get rid of him as told in the first CementShoes entry. It can be justified, though, as Spirou currently resembles a man of African descent and no one recognizes him. So he's maybe relieved to cross the path of someone he knows, in order to be identified.

* TheUnapologetic: Miss Flanner will never make amends to Parisians, for flooding their city, to the Count, for kidnapping him, or to Spirou, after apparently provoking the death of his beloved pet (nor she'll excuse herself to Spip himself, in fact). On the contrary, she assures: "IRegretNothing".

* ForTheEvulz: Miss Flanner pretends to help Champignac to meet glory when she floods Paris and knows he can stop this with one of his inventions, but in the end, she seems to act like this, just because she can. The proof is, in the last scene of ''Paris sous Seine'', she envisions flooding New York too, and there is no actual reason for that.