History KnightOfCerebus / Webcomics

* In ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' Coney and Gosh serve this role. As Bob and Jean discuss at the end of the Cone arc, Bob comes close to getting killed all the time these days, but it is experience inside the Cone Ship is the first time it's seriously, lastingly scared him. The story still ends on an upbeat note, but Bob seems much more self-aware than he's been up to this point.

* In ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' Coney and Gosh serve this role. As Bob and Jean discuss at the end of the Cone arc, Bob comes close to getting killed all the time these days, but his experience inside the Cone Ship is the first time it's seriously, lastingly scared him.

* In ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' Coney and Gosh serve this role. As Bob and Jean discuss at the end of the arc, Bob comes close to getting killed all the time these days, but his experience inside the Cone Ship is the first time it's seriously, lastingly scared him.

-->'''Undine:''' On that night... before any of us knew what was happening... out team went from five members... to one.

* The EliteMook from the second chapter of ''Webcomic/SleeplessDomain''.

* Nale and Miko Miyazaki in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''. Nale marks the beginning of the comic's first plot, and while he's very much still a comedic character, he has the honour of causing the first wholly serious moment in the comic by literally stabbing Elan in the back. Miko, on the other hand, is responsible for introducing the cast to the overarching plot by arresting them for ''damaging the fabric of reality''. Quite what she means by this isn't immediately obvious, but when it becomes clear, the story kicks fully into action.

* ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent'': Fighting PlagueZombie monsters was given considering the crew's mission, but their early opponents were whatever happened to be living in the location they were visiting, and obeying to their violent instinct. Then a ghost with murderous intent assembles a mixed herd of trolls and other ghosts whose sole purpose is to follow the crew and kill them off. The fist battle between that herd and the crew resulted in major damage on their transportation, left the most powerful mage able to help them in PowerStrainBlackout-induced DeepSleep that lasts for several days and[[spoiler:, after some delay, the death of one of the non-immune members of the crew]]. The humor doesn't completely disappear after the events, but has become more prone to being BlackComedy.

* ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent'': Fighting PlagueZombie monsters was given considering the crew's mission, but their early opponents were whatever happened to be living in the location they were visiting, and obeying to their violent instinct. Then a ghost with murderous intent assembles a mixed herd of trolls and other ghosts whose sole purpose is to follow the crew and kill them off. The fist battle between that herd and the crew resulted in major damage on their transportation, left the most powerful mage able to help them in PowerStrainBlackout-induced DeepSleep that lasts for several days and[[spoiler:, after some delay, the death of one of the non-immune members of the crew]].

* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' has played with this trope before, but it didn't stick until the introduction of Admiral Emm. ''Extremely'' DangerouslyGenreSavvy, the only reason the Toughs weren't immediately compressed into neutronium and fed into an annie plant was because Admiral Emm wanted to let Colonel [=DeHaans=] torture them first, just to make sure her clean-up job on [[spoiler:Laz'R'Us [[{{nanomachines}} nanite]]]] information was complete and thorough. The Toughs only survived by handing over an expert on [[spoiler:immortality treatment]] and agreeing to let the UNS mindwipe them. The fact that the very next story arc was the darkest story arc by far didn't help anything.

** The second master, Noisemaster (alongside the third, his cohort Mutemaster), is [[DangerouslyGenreSavvy much more cunning than he lets on]] (particularly compared to [[TheBrute Splashmaster]], the first boss), and {{near|VillainVictory}}ly [[spoiler:wipes out an entire city via KillSat]].

* ''Webcomic/{{Adventurers}}'' had Eternion, who tried very hard to be a Knight of Cerebus, but only managed to take the webcomic from GagSeries to AffectionateParody of overblown RPG SavingTheWorld.

* Damien from ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' is a great example of this trope, to the point where [[spoiler:the author killed him just to stave off CerebusSyndrome.]] It didn't really work, as the series has since entered Cerebus Syndrome from [[SliceOfLife a different angle.]]
** [[KnightTemplar Abraham]] was supposed to be even worse, but the whole thing turned out to be one ''huge'' misunderstanding on his part, and after everything was explained to him, he surrendered without further fight. He even got to be funny in places, something that did ''not'' apply to Damien. Pandora seems primed to do this in-universe, as she seeks to [[TheUnmasquedWorld give her son a world where he can make a difference.]]
* ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' kicks its CerebusSyndrome off with a {{Mook}} vampire named Kullan. He fits this trope because [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=980829 his introduction]] is (a) pretty much the first strip in the series to end on an ominous note rather than a straight-up funny one, and (b) the start of the "Vampires" arc, Sluggy's first more or less serious storyline.
** As the strip progressed, the presence of Oasis, [=K'Z'K=] or [=HeretiCorp=] is a fairly good signal that a given arc is going to be darker than usual.
** Dr. Schlock may qualify. Not only is he involved in virtually every other arc's sinister events, but even his first, still-comedic appearance, as a scientist testing cosmetics on Bun-bun (or, well, [[KillerRabbit trying to]]), sets up numerous events in the series, including [[spoiler: the [[GrayGoo nanomachine plague]]. It's not clear if that cosmetic lab�which also did nanomachine research�was part of [=HeretiCorp=] or not (and, if it was, if it had been all along, or if Abrams decided [[HijackedByGanon retroactively]] that it was).]]
* Played with in ''WebComic/EightBitTheater'' with the [[FourIsDeath Four Fiends]]. The first two, Lich and Kary are played as fairly serious villains, with their presence resulting in major character deaths (and in the case of Black Belt, KilledOffForReal) and some dramatic moments. The later two, Ur and Muffin subvert this trope, with Ur being killed in an {{Anticlimax}} while the Muffin Arc is dealt with humourously as usual.
** And then we get [[spoiler: Black Mage's "Almighty wizard of infinite evil"-form]], which, unlike all other "evils" up to that point, actually causes a major CerebusSyndrome and manages to kill off half of the cast in less than 10 comic strips before squaring off for the final battle with a powerful wizard. [[spoiler: Until Sarda comes in and reveals his plan, that is.]]
* {{Satan}} in ''Webcomic/CollegeRoomiesFromHell''. He even punctuates his arrival by ripping out a [[SacrificialLion main character's]] soul, just in case we were wondering whether this was a joke.

* The Wanderer, better known as The Cheese, from ''[[Webcomic/{{Walkyverse}} It's Walky!]]''. Anyone who can be ominous and badass even when people refer him as "The Cheese" is obviously not someone to trifle with.
* ''Webcomic/ZebraGirl'' has always kept a somewhat uneasy balance between funny and dramatic, but it tilted firmly into dramatic territory (and ditched some of its sillier, Fourth Wall-breaking gags) with the appearance of Harold [=DuVase=]. This is kind of odd, since [=DuVase=] appears at first to be a Harry Potter parody. In the end, he turns out to be something much, much worse...

* Jeff from ''Webcomic/RPGWorld'' is the greatest example of this. [[spoiler:He kills Eikre's family and makes some pretty disturbing scenes giving a whole lot of drama to a webcomic parodying classical RPG cliches]].
* ''Webcomic/SamAndFuzzy'' takes a turn for the serious which is arguably kicked off by Fridge. Although he starts off as comic relief, his actions in the "Friday Night" arc drag Sam into the Ninja Mafia plotline that has dominated the last four years of the comic.
* ''Webcomic/LastRes0rt'' was already pretty dark, but by the time we bring Veled around... she's the BigBad, and she doesn't leave much doubt of it either.
** Even if she does have more comedic value than most as she's easily bored (and eager for entertainment), Veled never comes off as harmless -- in fact, [[ChaoticEvil when she's bored, she's even more dangerous.]]
* Kore from ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'', who is introduced by creating a room full of likable new characters, giving them likable personalities in record time, and then [[MoralEventHorizon sending in the new villain to brutally slaughter the entire bunch]]. Including an innocent dwarven child. Kore himself is a dwarf.
** [[KnightTemplar And a paladin.]] How he has managed to keep his [[AlwaysLawfulGood paladin status]] is a mystery.
*** It's later revealed [[spoiler: that he steals the souls of those he's slain]] so it probably has something to do with that.
* Ozimaar from ''[[http://www.jaydenandcrusader.com Jayden and Crusader]]'' appeared unexpectedly on page 14 after 13 silly comics and created a nonsensical storyline which lasted 'till December '07 when the author cancelled the arc and skipped on ahead in the story, because the Ozimaar Arc was boring him.
** Then Computer [[http://www.jaydenandcrusader.com/2009/09/18/page-137/ re-appeared]] rampaging through the ongoing story lines and twisting them onto her self.
* Despite only appearing once so far, the hooded archer from ''Webcomic/SlightlyDamned'' counts. Devenol even more so.
* ''Webcomic/{{SSDD}}'' has an example of a [[FutureBadass pre-existing character]] serving this purpose.

* The only somewhat-serious ''Webcomic/TheDragonDoctors'' gets a lot more heavy once the Crax chapter begins. It's a horrible flesh-and-mind-devouring parasite, and it's followed up on with a serial killer who kills people with nightmarish death spirits, a [[DieHardOnAnX Die Hard scenario]] in a hospital, and tragic backstory after tragic backstory.
* Although King Nastie came first, the true Knight of Cerebus for ''Webcomic/TheLifeOfNobTMouse'' is arguably the EldritchAbomination known as "Grandfather Time".

* Colonel Glass from ''Webcomic/{{Spinnerette}}''. Before, all the series had for major antagonists were Dr. Universe, Alexis Woodrow, and Captain Alberta - a noble WellIntentionedExtremist, selfish AttentionWhore, and incompetent PoliticallyIncorrectVillain respectively. Glass? An out-and-out AxCrazy sadist who kills and skins animals to send messages - a [[FlayingAlive modus operandi]] disturbingly similar to that of the notorious [[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire House Bolton]].
** In addition to his cruelty, Glass is notable for being far more powerful than most supers in the Spinnyverse. In a setting in which most characters have abilities like moderate super-strength, a weaker and more realistic version of the Franchise/SpiderMan power set, or sonic punches, Glass is essentially Magneto with Wolverine's HealingFactor: he can control glass with enough power to chop up people and vehicles in seconds and create near-impenetrable shields, and enough finesse to grab hostile drones in midair and send them crashing into their controllers, not to mention regrowing lost limbs and shrugging off whole-body third degree burns.
* Bravomaster from the ''{{VideoGame/Bravoman}}'' webcomic is a heroic example, while his enemy, Zulu, still get's some funny moments from beating up the Bravo corps. they combine into Bravomaster and toss him into the sun, the lack of jokes on panel is later lampshaded. Later, Bravoman get's transported to an alternate universe where the world has been destroyed. Zulu had come to Earth and forced [[EnemyMine everyone]] to team up to stop it, having done so, Dr. Bomb unleashed his army on the heroes, shutting down the fourth wall and preventing any gag-based powers or easy victories. Earth has been reduced to a wasteland and Dr. Bomb [[spoiler: was deposed long ago, and it was really the version of Anti-Bravoman who had done all of this, from unleashing Zulu, to shutting down the fourth wall even to attacking Salaryman and imprisoning him. It was all in the quest to become stronger, and in the end the heroes have to return the meta-humor to the strip to stop him.]]
* Borzax from ''Webcomic/{{Cloudscratcher}}'', though having the courtesy to make his mark relatively early in the story.

* The Wanderer, better known as The Cheese, from ''[[{{Walkyverse}} It's Walky!]]''. Anyone who can be ominous and badass even when people refer him as "The Cheese" is obviously not someone to trifle with.
* ''ZebraGirl'' has always kept a somewhat uneasy balance between funny and dramatic, but it tilted firmly into dramatic territory (and ditched some of its sillier, Fourth Wall-breaking gags) with the appearance of Harold [=DuVase=]. This is kind of odd, since [=DuVase=] appears at first to be a Harry Potter parody. In the end, he turns out to be something much, much worse...
* Silas Morth in ''ExterminatusNow'' was thought to be one of these... but [[CardCarryingVillain he]] [[LargeHam really]] [[GroinAttack wasn't]].
* Jeff from ''RPGWorld'' is the greatest example of this. [[spoiler:He kills Eikre's family and makes some pretty disturbing scenes giving a whole lot of drama to a webcomic parodying classical RPG cliches]].
* ''SamAndFuzzy'' takes a turn for the serious which is arguably kicked off by Fridge. Although he starts off as comic relief, his actions in the "Friday Night" arc drag Sam into the Ninja Mafia plotline that has dominated the last four years of the comic.
* ''LastRes0rt'' was already pretty dark, but by the time we bring Veled around... she's the BigBad, and she doesn't leave much doubt of it either.

* Kore from ''{{Goblins}}'', who is introduced by creating a room full of likable new characters, giving them likable personalities in record time, and then [[MoralEventHorizon sending in the new villain to brutally slaughter the entire bunch]]. Including an innocent dwarven child. Kore himself is a dwarf.

* Despite only appearing once so far, the hooded archer from ''SlightlyDamned'' counts. Devenol even more so.
* {{SSDD}} has an example of a [[FutureBadass pre-existing character]] serving this purpose.
* Given the ever-escalating nature of Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}, there are at least three "candidates" throughout the story so far: [[spoiler: the meteor]] at the end of Act 1 (not a character, but the moment where things start to shift from inventory shenanigans to plot), [[spoiler: Jack Noir]] in Act 4 and [[spoiler: Lord English, or alternatively his servant [[TheDragon Doc Scratch]]]] in Hivebent/Act 5.

* The only somewhat-serious ''TheDragonDoctors'' gets a lot more heavy once the Crax chapter begins. It's a horrible flesh-and-mind-devouring parasite, and it's followed up on with a serial killer who kills people with nightmarish death spirits, a [[DieHardOnAnX Die Hard scenario]] in a hospital, and tragic backstory after tragic backstory.
* Although King Nastie came first, the true Knight of Cerebus for ''TheLifeOfNobTMouse'' is arguably the EldritchAbomination known as "Grandfather Time".
* KiwiBlitz features the villainess Gear,whose presense is currently the only source of grimness and darkness in an otherwise fun and whimsical webcomic.
* The [[ChainsawGood chainsaw unicorn]] from ''ModestMedusa.'' It starts a rather bloody fight in what had previously been a lighthearted comic with no action and heralds the start of the StoryArc.

* Colonel Glass from ''Webcomic/{{Spinnerette}}''. Before, all the series had for major antagonists were Dr. Universe, Alexis Woodrow, and Captain Alberta - a noble WellIntentionedExtremist, selfish AttentionWhore, and incompetent PoliticallyIncorrectVillain respectively. Glass? An out-and-out AxCrazy sadist who kills and skins animals to send messages - a [[FlayingAlive modus operandi]] disturbingly similar to that of the notorious [[ASongOfIceAndFire House Bolton]].
** In addition to his cruelty, Glass is notable for being far more powerful than most supers in the Spinnyverse. In a setting in which most characters have abilities like moderate super-strength, a weaker and more realistic version of the SpiderMan power set, or sonic punches, Glass is essentially Magneto with Wolverine's HealingFactor: he can control glass with enough power to chop up people and vehicles in seconds and create near-impenetrable shields, and enough finesse to grab hostile drones in midair and send them crashing into their controllers, not to mention regrowing lost limbs and shrugging off whole-body third degree burns.
* Bravomaster from the {{VideoGame/Bravoman}} webcomic is a heroic example, while his enemy, Zulu, still get's some funny moments from beating up the Bravo corps. they combine into Bravomaster and toss him into the sun, the lack of jokes on panel is later lampshaded. Later, Bravoman get's transported to an alternate universe where the world has been destroyed. Zulu had come to Earth and forced [[EnemyMine everyone]] to team up to stop it, having done so, Dr. Bomb unleashed his army on the heroes, shutting down the fourth wall and preventing any gag-based powers or easy victories. Earth has been reduced to a wasteland and Dr. Bomb [[spoiler: was deposed long ago, and it was really the version of Anti-Bravoman who had done all of this, from unleashing Zulu, to shutting down the fourth wall even to attacking Salaryman and imprisoning him. It was all in the quest to become stronger, and in the end the heroes have to return the meta-humor to the strip to stop him.]]

** The Midnight Crew intermission also had one with Snowman. While the Felt were otherwise portrayed as hilariously incompetent gangsters existing only to mess up with their time powers before getting killed by the Midnight Crew, Snowman came in, and spent the rest of her screentime horribly maiming the fan-favourite main characters.