History Main / VileVillainLaughableLackey

* The Namek Saga of ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' introduced the audience Frieza, a GalacticConqueror who exterminates the populations of entire worlds and has destroyed a number of planets as well. His minions for the most part are as evil as one would expect, except, ironically, his strongest warriors the [[BewareTheSillyOnes Ginyu Force]]. They are a QuirkyMinibossSquad whose first onscreen action is to go into a SuperSentaiStance, and before a fight play RockPaperScissors to determine who fights. Despite their comedic quirks, [[BewareTheSillyOnes the Ginyu Force do prove that they are Frieza's strongest warriors]], nearly killing the main characters before Goku arrives.

** ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'': Jafar is a [[TheComicallySerious Comically Serious]] Evil Sorcerer, but his sidekick Iago is an upfront comical character. It must be added though that Iago is one of the most intelligent and competent sidekicks that a Disney villain ever had and is also as conniving as Jafar, being actually the one to suggest the idea of Jafar getting the throne by marrying Jasmine. He contrasts Jafar's cold brooding with his hilarious snarking, loud and obnoxious attitude (being voiced by Creator/GilbertGottfried helps in that regard), and being a [[ButtMonkey regular victim of physical comedy.]]

** ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando'' zig-zags this quite a lot, originally the antagonists were the Unknown Thief that stole a [[AdorableAbomination biological experiment]] from MegaCorp and the Thugs-4-Less leader, one an manipulative but [[TheKlutz clumsy]] obstacle who managed to kidnap Clank, and the latter an AffablyEvil warmonger who [[MurderInc runs a formidable mercenary business]]. Both are [[LaughablyEvil menacing but also have comical means]]. This changes halfway through, when after Ratchet defeats the Thief and gives it back to MegaCorp's CEO Mr. Fizzwidget, [[spoiler: the Thief, [[SamusIsAGirl a female Lombax named Angela Cross]], reveals that MegaCorp was [[NoProductSafetyStandards going to sell the biological experiment]] (now called the Protopet) as a marketable household companion, [[KillerRabbit despite how dangerous and aggressive the experiment is]]. [[GoodAllAlong She was actually a hero in disguise trying to prevent a galaxy-wide cataclysm]]. It is also this time that MegaCorp later hires the Thugs-4-Less company to be their [[TheDragon dragon]] and betray Ratchet and Clank.]] [[spoiler:Even more surprising is that Mr. Fizzwidget was really [[DragonAscendant Captain Quark]] from the first game in disguise, using EngineeredHeroics to create the Protopet Crisis so he could stop it and become famous. And [[NearVillainVictory he actually would've won]]... if the [[ForWantOfANail batteries to the Helix-o-morph weren't backwards]], causing him to be devoured alive by a mutated and massive Protopet]].

** In ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife'', Hopper is a cruel, sadistic, and dead-serious grasshopper, but his brother Molt is a bumbling and amicable MinionWithAnFInEvil. This trope is actually the reason he was written as Hopper's brother: during the movie's development it became apparent that a murderous psycho like Hopper wouldn't put up with Molt's buffoonery without a good reason, so it was explained that the only reason Hopper didn't kill him was because their dying mother made him promise not to. [[spoiler:Molt pulls a HeelFaceTurn at the end of the film after Hopper is lured into a trap and eaten by bird chicks.]]

* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "Recap/DoctorWhoS33E2DinosaursOnASpaceship", the SpacePirate Solomon is one of the more sinister villains the Doctor has encountered, while his two robots are bungling, squabbling dimwits, whom the Doctor describes as "tantrum machines". And they're voiced by [[Creator/DavidMitchellActor Mitchell]] and [[Creator/RobertWebb Webb]].

* The Namek Saga of ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' introduced the audience Frieza, a GalacticConqueror who exterminates the populations of entire worlds and has destroyed a number of planets as well. His minions for the most part are as evil as one would expect, except, ironically, his strongest warriors the [[BewareTheSillyOnes Ginyu Force]]. They are a QuirkyMiniBossSquad whose first onscreen action is to go into a SuperSentaiStance, and before a fight play RockPaperScissors to determine who fights. Despite their comedic quirks, [[BewareTheSillyOnes the Ginyu Force do prove that they are Frieza's strongest warriors]], nearly killing the main characters before Goku arrives.

** ''WesternAnimation/TheRescuersDownUnder'' has an even more extreme variation than the first film. Joanna the Goanna, while vicious, is a bumbling, stupid animal who spends most of her screentime [[TheMillstone screwing up her boss's plans]] and being abused by him [[ButtMonkey verbally and physically.]] Her boss, by contrast, is an unhinged ''lunatic'' bent on hunting down the last of an endangered species of giant eagle at all costs, [[EgomaniacHunter solely for the bragging rights]], and doesn't care who he has to kill to do so, [[WouldHurtAChild including children.]]

** {{Inverted|Trope}}, but {{downplayed|Trope}} in ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989''. Ursula is a cunning, manipulative BigBad, but has a bombastic, hammy, and snarky personality to boot. Her eel minions, Flotsam and Jetsam, are creepy with only sporadic moments of comedy.

** ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2002'' has Chairman Drek and [[spoiler:Captain Qwark]]; while the former is a CorruptCorporateExecutive ruling over a species of PlanetLooters and destorying multiple occupied worlds to make a new home for his people [[spoiler:[[NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist and get rich off the real-estate sales]]]] with very little comical presence, [[Qwark is a [[WhiteDwarfStarlet past-his-prime superhero]] who was offered an endorsement deal by Drek that Qwark hoped to use to make his big comeback]].
** ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando'' zig-zags this quite a lot, originally the antagonists were the Unknown Thief that stole a [[AdorableAbomination biological experiment]] and the Thugs-4-Less leader, one an manipulative but [[TheKlutz clumsy]] obstacle who managed to kidnap Clank, and the latter an AffablyEvil warmonger who [[MurderInc runs a formidable mercenary business]]. Both are menacing but also have comical means. This changes halfway through, when after Ratchet defeats the Thief and gives it back to Mr. Fizzwidget, [[spoiler: the Thief, [[SamusIsAGirl a female Lombax named Angela Cross]], reveals that MegaCorp was going to sell the biological experiment (now called the Protopet) as a marketable household companion, despite how dangerous and aggressive the experiment is. She was actually a hero in disguise trying to prevent a galaxy-wide cataclysm. It is also this time that MegaCorp later hires the Thugs-4-Less company to be their [[TheDragon dragon]] and betray Ratchet and Clank.]] [[spoiler:Even more surprising is that Mr. Fizzwidget was really Captain Quark from the first game in disguise, using EngineeredHeroics to create the Protopet Crisis so he could stop it and become famous. And he almost would've won... if the batteries to the Helix-o-morph weren't backwards, causing him to be devoured alive by a mutated and massive Protopet]]

** ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2002'' has Chairman Drek and [[spoiler:Captain Qwark]]; while the former is a CorruptCorporateExecutive ruling over a species of PlanetLooters and destorying multiple occupied worlds to make a new home for his people [[spoiler:[[NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist and get rich off the real-estate sales]]] with very little comical presence, [[Qwark is a [[WhiteDwarfStarlet past-his-prime superhero]] who was offered an endorsement deal by Drek that Qwark hoped to use to make his big comeback]].

** ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2002'' has Chairman Drek and [[spoiler:Captain Qwark]]; while the former is a CorruptCorporateExecutive ruling over a species of PlanetLooters and destorying multiple occupied worlds to make a new home for his people [[spoiler: [[NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist and get rich off the real-estate sales]]] with very little comical presence, [[Qwark is a [[WhiteDwarfStarlet past-his-prime superhero]] who was offered an endorsement deal by Drek that Qwark hoped to use to make his big comeback]].
** ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando'' zig-zags this quite a lot, originally the antagonists were the Unknown Thief that stole a [[AdorableAbomination biological experiment]] and the Thugs-4-Less leader, one an manipulative but [[TheKlutz clumsy]] obstacle who managed to kidnap Clank, and the latter an AffablyEvil warmonger who [[MurderInc runs a formidable mercenary business]]. Both are menacing but also have comical means. This changes halfway through, when after Ratchet defeats the Thief and gives it back to Mr. Fizzwidget, [[the Thief, [[SamusIsAGirl a female Lombax named Angela Cross]], reveals that MegaCorp was going to sell the biological experiment (now called the Protopet) as a marketable household companion, despite how dangerous and aggressive the experiment is. MegaCorp later hires the Thugs-4-Less company to be their [[TheDragon dragon]] and betray Ratchet and Clank. Even more surprising is that Mr. Fizzwidget was really Captain Quark from the first game, using EngineeredHeroics to create the Protopet Crisis so he could stop it and become famous.]]
** ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal'': An interesting variation where the villain, Dr. Nefarious is truly threatening but also LaughablyEvil, and the target of the jokes from his lackey hench-robot butler Lawrence: Dr. Nefarious wants to exterminate all organic life, but Lawrence [[ServileSnarker isn't afraid to snark at him]], and [[PunchClockVillain doesn't really care for Nefarious's schemes]].

* ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal'': An interesting variation where the villain, Dr. Nefarious is truly threatening but also LaughablyEvil, and the target of the jokes from his lackey hench-robot butler Lawrence: Dr. Nefarious wants to exterminate all organic life, but Lawrence [[ServileSnarker isn't afraid to snark at him]], and [[PunchClockVillain doesn't really care for Nefarious's schemes]].

* ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal'': An interesting variation where the villain is truly evil and a threat, but is nevertheless the target of the jokes from his lackey: Dr. Nefarious wants to exterminate all organic life, but he has a henchman named Lawrence who [[ServileSnarker isn't afraid to snark at him]].

* Scruple, a snarky, delinquent wizard-school dropout, is this to the vengeful Gargamel in ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs''. Gargamel himself is [[ButtMonkey not]] [[DirtyCoward without]] [[BrilliantButLazy his]] [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption comical]] [[HoistByHisOwnPetard moments]], and acts as a laughable lackey to his abusive godfather Balthazar in every episode the latter is in.

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': While Team Rocket members aren't always competent, only the TerribleTrio, and later Butch and Cassidy due to [[VillainDecay characterization changes]], are actually [[GoldfishPoopGang goofy]]. Most members are some level of dangerous. Their boss Giovanni has a case of AdaptationalVillainy as he is more violent than in the games.
** Inverted in the Sun & Moon season where Jessie captures a [[BedsheetGhost Mimikyu]] who is always portrayed as a fairly competent opponent to Pikachu. Instead of capturing Pikachu, Mimikyu wants to kill him, making it a case of the vile lackey to the Team Rocket Trio’s Laughable villains.

** In ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife'', Hopper is a cruel, sadistic, and dead-serious grasshopper, but his brother Molt is a bumbling and amicable MinionWithAnFInEvil. [[spoiler:Molt pulls a HeelFaceTurn at the end of the film after Hopper is lured into a trap and eaten by bird chicks.]]

** ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeastTheEnchantedChristmas'': The main villain Forte is a downright scary and creepy ManipulativeBastard, while his lackey Fife is a silly MinionWithAnFInEvil.

** ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar'': Jafar is still serious and ruthlessly cunning, while his minion is Abis Mal, an idiotic, childish BigBadWannabe.

* ''Series/HRPufnstuf'': [[WickedWitch Witchiepoo]] had her comical moments to be sure, but she was conniving, greedy, and did wield powerful and dangerous magic. But she also had a minion named, [[SincerityMode we kid you not]], "Stupid Bat".

** ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'': Squat and Baboo are bumbling villains compared to Rita and Zedd.

** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga'' has the duo of Cackletta and Fawful. Despite her name, Cackletta was one of the nastiest and most dangerous foes the Mario Bros. had ever fought, while her [[TheDragon Dragon]] Fawful was always played for laughs thanks to his [[IntentionalEngrishForFunny unusual speech patterns]]. However, [[BewareTheSillyOnes being goofy didn't make him any less of a threat than his boss]]; ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory'' gives him a shot as the BigBad, and without losing any of the silliness, he's just as dangerous as Cackletta was, if not more so. Further, Fawful's chief enforcer, Midbus, doesn't qualify as this, as he proves to be quite resourceful in combat and planning.

** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga'' has the duo of Cackletta and Fawful. Despite her name, Cackletta was one of the nastiest and most dangerous foes the Mario Bros. had ever fought, while her [[TheDragon Dragon]] Fawful was always played for laughs thanks to his [[IntentionalEngrishForFunny unusual speech patterns]]. However, [[BewareTheSillyOnes being goofy didn't make him any less of a threat than his boss]]; ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory'' gives him a shot as the BigBad, and without losing any of the silliness, he's just as dangerous as Cackletta was, if not more so. Further, Fawful's chief enforcer, Midbus, doesn't qualify as this, as though he isn't very smart, he is somewhat smart in battles.

Compare AbusiveParents, BigBadWannabe, BrainsAndBrawn, EvilDuo, EvilerThanThou, ALighterShadeOfBlack, TheManBehindTheMan, MyMasterRightOrWrong, SlidingScaleOfVillainEffectiveness, SortingAlgorithmOfEvil, SurroundedByIdiots, TheStarscream, WhatMeasureIsAMook A TerribleTrio can have this dynamic if one of them is in charge and meant to be taken more seriously than the other two, though the three of them together can act as the laughable lackey if they have a more serious boss, or they can even together act as the serious villain if they're not PlayedForLaughs and have one or more underlings who are. Sometimes overlaps with VileVillainSaccharineShow and PerkyFemaleMinion. Contrast HypercompetentSidekick and MoreDespicableMinion, where it's the BigBad that's humorous and/or sympathetic and [[TheDragon the main minion]] that's fearsome.

* ''Film/Carrie1976'': While [[AlphaBitch Chris Hargensen]] is [[AdaptationalJerkass even more horrible here than in the book]], her boyfriend Billy Nolan has been DemotedToDragon in this version and is a dim-witted buffoon who is mainly comic relief, and who Chris [[ManipulativeBitch plays like a fiddle]] throughout the whole movie.

* ''Film/TheHobbitTheDesolationOfSmaug'' and ''Film/TheHobbitTheBattleOfTheFiveArmies'': The Master of Laketown is uncaring about his people, enriching himself while the people starve and become poorer. He has a more comical lackey, Alfrid, who is cowardly enough to use a PaperThinDisguise, pretending to be a woman to avoid going into battle.

This can have a lot of benefits to the writers, such as averting VillainDecay: no matter how many times the heroes triumph over the lesser villain(s), the fact that a more serious villain (or group of more serious villains) is still part of the same organization means there's still a credible threat that the heroes still need to deal with. Also, for works aimed at especially young children, this also allows the writers to make the lesser villain goofy and funny, thus keeping a work lighter and softer and generally less frightening for the kiddies.

The laughable lackey can be an IneffectualSympatheticVillain, but it's not necessary for the lackey to be sympathetic at all for this trope to apply, nor is it necessary for the laughable lackey to be ineffectual or a HarmlessVillain: they can even [[TeamRocketWins win at times]], as long as they're noticably less serious than their superiors. It's not even necessary for the higher-ranked villain(s) to be out-and-out devoid of comedy for the trope to apply, either; a noticeable difference is all that's really needed. A BumblingHenchmenDuo, a QuirkyMinibossSquad, or a GoldfishPoopGang can also fill in the loser villain slot as well as a single villain can. It's also common for the laughable lackey to have an unpleasant, demeaning, or dumb-sounding name.

* Creator/DonBluth's ''WesternAnimation/RockADoodle'' has the Grand Duke as the main villain, whose weather machine clouds out the sun and floods the valley, making the small farm animals easy pickings for himself and his owl {{mooks}}. His diminutive but eager nephew Hunch is tasked with intercepting the party of heroes seeking to retrieve Chanticleer, Hunch is woefully outclassed, as even Patou narrates: "He's more a hoot than horrible ..." and he's voiced by the late Charles Nelson Reilly.

* ''Film/OneHundredAndTwoDalmatians'': This Disney live-action sequel sees Cruella's butler Alonzo taking the role of the laughable lackey instead of Jasper and Horace. He has repeated ButtMonkey moments where his hand gets hurt in slapstick moments, particularly during his heists of puppies for Cruella's latest fur coat idea that requires the eponymous 102 dalmatian puppies' skins, and it almost seems like his injured hand was intended to be symbolic of his villainy, [[spoiler:as he throws his sling off just as he's cementing his HeelFaceTurn near the film's climax]].

* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'': The cute and hilarious minions are this for the VillainProtagonist, Gru. While Gru isn't devoid of comedy, he's very competent, unlike the minions who are mostly silly and childish.