History TheComicallySerious / AnimeAndManga

* Erza Scarlett from ''Manga/FairyTail'' fits the bill, reacting with deadpan seriousness to almost all the wackiness the guild gets into. It's particularly telling (and amusing) when she's around goofballs like [[IdiotHero Natsu]] and [[ButtMonkey Happy]], who are among her closest friends, as she barely bats an eye at their antics and generally takes them at face value. This is in contrast with [[OnlySaneWoman Lucy]] and [[StockShonenRival Gray]], who are only too quick to call them idiots. Really the only time Erza drops her natural [[TheStoic stoicism]] is when she's around her LoveInterest [[CrushBlush Jellal]].

%%* Most of Erza's funniest moments in ''Manga/FairyTail'' derive from her ability to be completely serious in absurd situations.

* Mash in ''Manga/{{Mashle}}'' is a DeadpanSnarker who takes what other people say way too literally, comments on how absurd things are without emoting, or just outright ignores people.

* Giovanni from the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime. Which of course, only makes Meowth's progressively delusional {{Imagine Spot}}s that much weirder.
** And recently, the Team Rocket trio themselves in the "Best Wishes" arc. One episode had them break from their serious dispositions when their life forces were being drained by Litwick. They attempt to menace the twerps, but they are exhausted and gasping for air even while reciting their motto.

* ''Manga/WayOfTheHouseHusband'' has its lead character "Immortal" Tatsu, an ex-yakuza turned HouseHusband now dealing with ordinary household tasks like shopping or cleaning without having changed any of his mannerisms.

* ''Manga/WayOfTheHouseHusband'' has its lead character "Immortal" Tatsu, an ex-yakusa turned house husband now dealing with ordinary household tasks like shopping or cleaning without having changed any of his mannerisms.

%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order.

* ''Manga/KarakuriCircus'': Narumi's [[NoSenseOfHumor nonexistent sense of humor]] is a problem -- because only causing someone to laugh will halt his IncurableCoughOfDeath. Crosses over into SoUnfunnyItsFunny, at times.

** Tenya Iida is somewhat more lighthearted than Todoroki, but he still takes most things very seriously, resulting in plenty of comedic moments, such as his reactions to his classmates goofing off, or Izuku getting [[GroinAttack punched in the balls]] by Kota at the training camp. His status as the class representative only amplifies this.

** There’s also the protagonist himself, Izuku Midoriya:
--> '''All Might:''' Do you remember what I said to you the day we met?
--> '''Midoriya:''' ''(doing a perfect imitation of All Might’s face)'' EAT THIS.
--> '''All Might:''' Not that!

** The Shogun, Shigeshige Tokugawa, is a IronButtmonkey who end up naked, accidentaly beaten, or in particularly ridiculous situations everytime he appear, but what make it even funnier is that he always keep a [[TheStoic perfectly stern face]] through all of this.
** Katsura spend most of his time making a fool of himself by doing things that are considered crazy even by the other characters of the show, coming up with absurd plans or appearing in public in very [[ClarkKenting suspicious costumes]]. But the joke with him is that he take everything he or anyone else is doing extremely seriously, no matter how stupid or insane it might be to anyone with more common sense.

** Tenya Ida is somewhat more lighthearted than Todoroki, but he still takes most things very seriously, resulting in plenty of comedic moments, such as his reactions to his classmates goofing off, or Izuku getting [[GroinAttack punched in the balls]] by Kota at the training camp. His status as the class representative only amplifies this.

* ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'':
** Germany, of course. How could we forget about him? He is most likely the biggest example of this trope in the series.
** [[TheGunslinger Switzerland]] is generally a serious, stern character, and occasionally throws out gems like this in his typically serious, stern manner:
--->'''Switzerland:''' Christmas is about family and loving people. ''[Pause.]'' Now get bent.
** Japan has his moments as well, especially during Germany's training sessions on how to deal with being asked to react if England attacks, or what to do if the enemy asks him to surrender. He gives his answers in complete seriousness:
--->'''Japan:''' You should imitate William the First's loud voice!\\
'''Japan:''' Yes sir! I respond Japanese way! Be unclear! Say one thing, but mean something else completely opposite! Lie to them!
** Norway keeps his [[TheStoic deadpan expression]] and [[TheStraightMan straightforward personality]] at all times, even when dealing with his [[{{Keet}} excitable friend]] [[BoisterousBruiser Denmark's]] antics.

* ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima''
** Occasionally Setsuna acts like this. Her mentor-figure Eishun played this to comical absurdity in his own group.
** Fate, at one point, gets his arm cut off. He's not worried at all, since apparently, [[GoodThingYouCanHeal he can regenerate/reattach it perfectly well]], but his [[HaremGenre haremettes]] promptly freak the eff out. How does he try to calm them down? Use his severed arm to [[PetTheDog pat the head]] of the CatGirl of the harem. All with a rather dead expression on his face. It's [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments rather hilarious]]. Two of the other haremettes actually point this out:
--->'''Shirabe''': F... Fate-sama actually attempting physical humor?\\
'''Homura''': Is that supposed to be funny?
** Chisame also qualifies on some occasions; most of her humor concerns her reactions to whatever absurd situation she ends up in.
** And in Cosmo Entelechia, we have [[spoiler: Dynamis]], who can be a really really LargeHam, but is ''always'' dead serious.

* ''Manga/{{Gokushufudou}}'' has its lead character "Immortal" Tatsu, an ex-yakusa turned house husband now dealing with ordinary household tasks like shopping or cleaning without having changed any of his mannerisms.

* There’s also the protagonist himself, Izuku Midoriya:

** Shoto Todoroki will occasionally say or do seemingly absurd things with complete seriousness and sincerity. After the Stain arc he muses about whether, between Midoriya and Iida, he had some curse that causes people to maim their hands around him. It takes a moment for the other two to realize he's serious. Later, when everyone sees he apparently '''rebuilt''' his dorm room with tatami mats in a single day, his only response is he worked hard. Indeed, he's noticeably more tired than the others.

** Tenya Iida is somewhat more lighthearted than Todoroki, but he still takes most things very seriously, resulting in plenty of comedic moments, such as his reactions to his classmates goofing off, or Izuku getting [[GroinAttack punched in the balls]] by Kota at the training camp. His status as the class representative only amplifies this.

** Shoto Todoroki will occasionally say or do seemingly absurd things with complete seriousness and sincerity. After the Stain arc he muses about whether, between Midoriya and Iida, he had some curse that causes people to maim their hands around him. It takes a moment for the other two to realize he's serious. Later, when everyone sees he redecorated his dorm room with tatami mats in a single day, his only response is he worked hard. Indeed, he's noticeably more tired than the others.

* ''Manga/Gokushufudou'' has its lead character "Immortal" Tatsu, an ex-yakusa turned house husband now dealing with ordinary household tasks like shopping or cleaning without having changed any of his mannerisms.

* His father, Endeavor, is this as well albeit in a different way. He's not as LiteralMinded as his son, but he does tend to comically overreact to certain situations, particularly [[StraightManAndWiseGuy in his dynamic with #2 hero Hawks]]. Also, because of his GoodIsNotNice attitude, he tends to freak people out when he tries to genuinely act nice and goes completely LargeHam when it comes to dealing with things involving Shoto.

** Both Zoro and Law continue this attitude in the Wano arc. The former learns that all the animals and water are poison, and simply responds "No wonder my stomach has been hurting", and the latter shows up to fight Basil Hawkins dressed as a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komus%C5%8D Komuso]].

** And Kakashi. Remember his reaction when Lee [[Funny/{{Naruto}} takes off his heavy wrist/leg bands upon Guy's request?]] As everyone is all OMG WTF BBQ, he just covers his masked face and thinks "[[CaptainObvious Guy, you are too much...]]" To enjoy a true "what the?" reaction from Kakashi, see [[http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&q=kakashi+shippuuden#/d1imui7 the beginning of his fight against Naruto and Sakura]] in ''Shippuuden''.

** Shoto Todoroki will occasionally say or do seemingly absurd things with complete seriousness and sincerity. After the Stain arc he muses about whether, between Midoriya and Ida, he had some curse that causes people to maim their hands around him. It takes a moment for the other two to realize he's serious. Later, when everyone sees he redecorated his dorm room with tatami mats in a single day, his only response is he worked hard. Indeed, he's noticeably more tired than the others.

* ''Manga/KarakuriCircus'': Narumi's [[NoSenseOfHumor nonexistent sense of humor]] is a problem -- because only causing someone to laugh will halt his IncurableCoughOfDeath. Crosses over into SoUnfunnyItsFunny, at times.
* Raven from ''Anime/{{Gravion}}'', though this is a result of literally BecomingTheMask. [[spoiler: Ayaka, the current "Raven" is a woman and far more emotional than her unfunny alterego.]]

* Jin in ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo.'' At first glance, he comes off as a [[TheStoic stoic]], cool, smooth, handsome badass, but then the series proceeds to place him in some of the most comedic of situations alongside his companions. This includes a torture montage, working at an eel stand, getting a sore back after a night with unattractive courtesans, having to pretend to be a tour guide to win back his pawned swords, and dressing up as a female prostitute.
** It's the fact that he's always ''so'' damn serious that gives him the most [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments hilarity]] of this sort in the entire flippin' show. He's kneeling on a rock in the middle of a river while Mugen and Fuu are over on the shore. With no warning he suddenly dives in, swims and flails around like an utter madman, RUNS up to them in double-time animation (freaking them out in the process) and collapses in a prone-kneeling position before them, panting heavily... And holding a pouch full of (unknowingly, forged) gold coins. MUST be seen to be believed.
* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'':
** During the ''very'' rare occasions of humor, [[ManipulativeBastard Commander Gendo Ikari]] and [[TheStoic Professor Kouzou Fuyutsuki]] fit this perfectly. [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments "It's hot." "Yes."]]
** Gendo can also stare depressingly at Eva-01... while in an orange raincoat.
** There's also something funny about Fuyutsuki {{facepalm}}ing and muttering "Those kids are embarrassing us again..." when Shinji and Asuka are bickering at the end of Episode 9.
*** In the dub he says "Those ''darn'' kids are embarrassing us again". There's something very comical about that, as the wizened old Vice-Commander can't even say "damn". It comes out sounding like a line from a sitcom.
** Rei Ayanami, several times, specially whenever she interacts with Shinji and/or Asuka.
* ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'':
** Germany, of course. How could we forget about him? He is most likely the biggest example of this trope in the series.
** [[TheGunslinger Switzerland]] is generally a serious, stern character, and occasionally throws out gems like this in his typically serious, stern manner:
--->'''Switzerland:''' Christmas is about family and loving people. ''[Pause.]'' Now get bent.
** Japan has his moments as well, especially during Germany's training sessions on how to deal with being asked to react if England attacks, or what to do if the enemy asks him to surrender. He gives his answers in complete seriousness:
--->'''Japan:''' You should imitate William the First's loud voice!\\
'''Japan:''' Yes sir! I respond Japanese way! Be unclear! Say one thing, but mean something else completely opposite! Lie to them!
** Norway keeps his [[TheStoic deadpan expression]] and [[TheStraightMan straightforward personality]] at all times, even when dealing with his [[{{Keet}} excitable friend]] [[BoisterousBruiser Denmark's]] antics.

* ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'': Sakaki is notable for her perpetual stone faced expression and monotone. Yet, she delivers some of the most bizzare lines and has equally weird [[ImagineSpot daydreams]], like imaging Chiyo's dad as an oblong talking yellow cat.
%%* ''Manga/SgtFrog'': Sergeant Frog {{lampshade}}s and spoofs this relentlessly with no-nonsense badass soldier Giroro.
* ''Franchise/SailorMoon'': Mamoru Chiba/Tuxedo Mask is a pretty serious guy, but can sometimes lapse into this. Particularly when his child-like girlfriend Usagi/Moon (or any of the Sailor Senshi) say or do something that is so over-the-top all he can do is stare at them with a look that says "Moving right along..." Haruka/Uranus and Michiru/Neptune also slip once or twice into this.
* ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'':
** Kyon, who is also the DeadpanSnarker; though his creativity and sense of wonder are probably just repressed. His aloofness doesn't prevent him from getting stuck in alternate worlds with a [[MagicalGirlfriend Magical]] SheIsNotMyGirlfriend, or from finding himself smack-dab in the middle of mysterious murder cases.
** Yuki Nagato is another example, reacting with [[TheStoic robotic coldness]] to all the wacky hijinks created by Haruhi and Mikuru. Yuki herself is not above a friendly prank or two. Even if she doesn't show external signs of enjoying it...
** Kyon's [[GenderFlip genderbent]] counterpart, [[FanFic/SuzumiyaHaruhiNoSeitenkan Kyonko]], is even better at this than the original.

* ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'': Zelgadis shifts between this and being the group's OnlySaneMan. Which naturally makes him [[ButtMonkey the whipping boy]] whenever Lina needs a diversion, or a scapegoat to vent her frustrations on.
* Somehow, Unfunny Hatori Sohma from ''Manga/FruitsBasket'' manages to put up with ChivalrousPervert Shigure Sohma and LargeHam Ayame Sohma. Hatori is the only serious one of the three, [[NoSenseOfHumor without much of a sense of humour]]. Although this is justified, given his traumatic past. Maybe he's just plain tired of Shigure and Ayame's antics, after all this time?
%%** Yuki can sometimes fall into this, especially after he starts trying to head the Student Council.
* ''Anime/CodeGeass'': Part of the appeal of LadyOfWar Cornelia li Brittania is the potential for comic seriousness in just about any comedic situation she could be put into. Fanartists have caught onto this, and she's frequently shown looking flustered in comparison to the other characters. Canon toys a bit with this, considering the reaction she had to Clovis's [[ChivalrousPervert raunchy swimsuits]]. And Cornelia was ''naked'' or at least topless when she commented on how Euphie shouldn't wear any of them. She was concerned about wearing one herself, and it was quite amusing to hear Euphie forcibly putting one on her.
** Lelouch has his moments too. The DarkMessiah is capable of [[ScreamsLikeALittleGirl screaming like a little girl]] when a cat steals his mask, before running after the cat proclaiming "I shall not be defeated by a feline!" as passionately and seriously as he often declares "I will obliterate Britannia!" As with Cornelia, the sound dramas have fun with this. Suzaku in particular enjoys teasing Lelouch in order to get him flustered. Lelouch goes from panicking about the potential downfall of the Black Knights to blushing because Suzaku ate a piece of rice off Lelouch's face within the space of a minute.

* Re-L in ''Anime/ErgoProxy'' gets this a couple of times, due to her being a Very Serious Intelligence Operative... who ended up WalkingTheEarth with Vincent, who is effectively TheFool with superpowers.
* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
** Zoro. He plays both "badass" and "buffoon" very well, but what makes it funny is that he's ''so serious'' the whole time. One example is when he, Nami and Vivi are caught by Mr. 3 during the Alabasta arc and placed in a DeathTrap with powdered wax pouring over them until they become living wax statues. The girls are in despair, but Zoro keeps his cool throughout. Eventually, he decides to raise his sword and point it to the sky, justifying himself with something along the lines of, "if I'm gonna die like a statue, might as well make it look cool". All the while keeping his straight face.
** A filler episode set soon after Enies Lobby uses this as its entire premise (the title, "Zoro's Slapstick Housework Help", should tell you everything you need to know)
** He borders on being a ComedicSociopath. He's a cold-blooded killer, but when he angrily shouts at and threatens someone for giving him directions when he gets lost on a ''straight, narrow '''cliff''''', you know you're supposed to laugh at him.
** Zoro and Usopp are cuffed together while facing two opponents. With a totally serious face throughout. Zoro still is completely serious even as he executes his (innovative but completely ridiculous) plan. [[http://scottthong.wordpress.com/2007/12/25/the-katanas-name-is-sogeking/ See it to believe it.]]
--->'''Zoro:''' I have a plan. We play rock-paper-scissors. The loser cuts off his hand.\\
'''Usopp:''' How can you say such a scary thing with a straight face!\\
'''Zoro:''' I'm not finished. Then he goes and gets Chopper to sew it back on.\\
'''Usopp:''' We're not rag dolls!!\\
'''Zoro:''' I have another idea...\\
'''Usopp:''' I don't wanna hear it!!!
** Nico Robin is another example, especially given she's the only crew member who never adopts crazy facial expressions when shocked or angry (though that's been eroding since the Enies Lobby arc, and she's actually had a genuinely shocked face in the Dressrosa arc). She once calmly remarked how she knew Zoro hadn't been eaten by a shark because the water hadn't turned red, much to her crewmates' shock. She's also an occasional StraightMan for the crew's antics.
** And a less prominent character who is a notably perfect example: During the Enies Lobby showdown, Cipher Pol 9 agent [[spoiler: Kaku]] takes this trope to hilarious lengths (all ye who have not watched his fight with Zoro, spoil at your own risk): [[spoiler: not only does he turn into a ridiculous block-nosed giraffe-man, he gets ''defensive'' about it, and says things like "Witness the power of a giraffe!" all while keeping a perfectly straight face. Using attacks like "Giraffe Canon" and "Nose Gun" is several times funnier just because of how absurdly seriously Kaku takes himself.]] No wonder he came in 9th in the following popularity poll. [[spoiler: Though he's right about being dangerous.]]
** Jinbei is starting to evolve into one by virtue of hanging out with [[spoiler: Luffy and Hancock on Amazon Lily]].
** Trafalgar Law does not appear to be sure how to react to [[spoiler:the Straw Hats' usual antics when he offers to ally with them in Punk Hazard]], resulting in this trope.
** Pica of the Donquixote Pirates. Of all the members from said pirate crew, he is TheStoic. However, despite being such a serious character with no quirks, he is a huge, TopHeavyGuy with a very [[VocalDissonance high-pitched voice]]. HilarityEnsues whenever anyone hears his voice and starts laughing, [[BerserkButton much to his annoyance]].
** Out of [[spoiler: Sanji]]'s BigScrewedUpFamily, the Vinsmoke clan, the one who fits the most is the eldest son [[AloofBigBrother Vinsmoke Ichiji]]. Seeing the aloof and snarky WarriorPrince [[AllMenArePerverts going gaga over Nami]] like [[spoiler: his estranged brother]] Sanji did after seeing her for the first time was pretty funny. Seeing him with big heart eyes ''while keeping his serious disposition'' is even funnier.
** Both Zoro and Law continue this attitude in the Wano arc. The former learns that all the animals and water are poison, and simply responds "No wonder my stomatch has been hurting", and the latter shows up to fight Basil Hawkins dressed as a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komus%C5%8D Komuso]].
* Tezuka and Sanada from ''Manga/ThePrinceOfTennis'', especially in the "chibi" episodes. Preceded by Rukawa, Akagi, Maki and Uozumi from ''Manga/SlamDunk''.
* ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'': Sousuke Sagara. At least it tends to actually be his fault, though. He eventually plays the straight man ''[[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments to his own mecha]]''.
** This also applies to his appearances in crossover games like ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' and ''VideoGame/AnotherCenturysEpisode'' - in the latter, his stoic attitude brings ''Anime/MacrossFrontier'''s RunningGag of [[DudeLooksLikeALady Alto]] being mistaken for a girl to new comedic heights.
* This is discussed in ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}'', where after one too many failures in getting serialized, Ashirogi Muto's [[spoiler:then-]]former editor Akira Hattori gives them a tip to help set them in the right direction: serious humor. Later on, Takagi decides to bring Mashiro with him to trail Mr. Hattori for a whole day, and at the end, they realize what "serious humor" means after witnessing a few examples along the way [[spoiler:(such as Iwase coming on to him and him rebuking her, both keeping themselves straight throughout)]], which leads to the creation of ''Perfect Crime Party'', the series that gets them out of their creative rut.

** In the ''Sun and Moon'' series, Kiawe has shades of this.
* One of the [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments highlights]] of the ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'' OVA episode (which spoofs the main series) is the resident EmotionlessGirl reciting [[CovertPervert smutty yaoi fanfic]] in a dead-serious CreepyMonotone.
* Vanilla from ''Anime/GalaxyAngel'', less so in the video games. A [[TheStoic stoic]], EmotionlessGirl couldn't possible be funny, right? [[BewareTheNiceOnes You'd be wrong.]]
* ''Characters/LupinIII'' has the ''very'' formal and traditional Goemon Ishikawa XIII, who is often used this way for the {{Bathos}}. In the crossover movie, ''Anime/LupinIIIVsDetectiveConan'', [[ImplausibleFencingPowers Goemon]] jumps from a plane and cuts through several floors of a building on his way to land in the vault. Once there, he says [[CatchPhrase "Once again I have cut a worthless object"]] as usual, completely serious... and his legs are wobbling from the impact, seemingly unnoticed. He tries so very ''hard'' to be serious and dignified... but when he hangs out with Lupin...
* A number of characters from ''Manga/Eyeshield21'' qualify:
** Hayato Akaba of the Bando Spiders remains almost completely stone-faced while striking goofy rock-star poses for no apparent reason, and has a tendency to make convoluted music metaphors with the same completely serious expression.
** Seijuro Shin of the Oujou White Knight has [[WalkingTechbane a tendency to break any piece of technology more advanced than a stopwatch]], and is occasionally seen going to comically ridiculous efforts in his training.
** Shun Kakei of the Kyoshin Poseidons always takes the antics of his wackier teammates in stride, whether it's the rivalry between Ohira and Onishi or whatever hijinks Mizumachi is up to.
* ''Manga/{{Gintama}}'':
** The Shogun, Shigeshige Tokugawa, is a IronButtmonkey who end up naked, accidentaly beaten, or in particularly ridiculous situations everytime he appear, but what make it even funnier is that he always keep a [[TheStoic perfectly stern face]] through all of this.
** Katsura spend most of his time making a fool of himself by doing things that are considered crazy even by the other characters of the show, coming up with absurd plans or appearing in public in very [[ClarkKenting suspicious costumes]]. But the joke with him is that he take everything he or anyone else is doing extremely seriously, no matter how stupid or insane it might be to anyone with more common sense.
* ''Anime/PaniPoniDash'': Rei Tachibana. Nothing makes her humorless nature more glaring than when her pissed-off face takes up two thirds of the screen while [[GenkiGirl Himeko]] rises up on the remaining one-third and shoots off her motormouth while rocking side-to-side.
** Tsurugi Inugami would count even more, with him being the serious, near-emotionless one in the same class as characters like Misao Nanjo and Behoimi (not to mention that said class is taught by Old Geezer).
** Ichijou never once changes facial expressions (except to change to a more super-deformed version of the same stoic expression,) but is the {{Cloudcuckoolander}} supreme of the series.
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': Jotaro Kujo has a perfect poker face, as he demonstrates to good effect when gambling against D'Arby. The reason he's so stoic is that he thinks his emotions are easy to read, so he tries to hide them, but of course no one can tell what he's thinking anyway. Naturally, he's put into quite a few humorous situations thanks to his deadpan reactions to the bizarre things that happen in the series.
%%** Many, ''many'' different protagonists/antagonists fall into this category, too. In fact, you could call JJBA ''Comically Serious: the Anime Series.''

%%* ''Manga/CromartieHighSchool'' uses this to great effect. No matter how strange the situation, the cast never loses their stoic expressions.
%%* Most of Erza's funniest moments in ''Manga/FairyTail'' derive from her ability to be completely serious in absurd situations.
%%* ''Manga/OuranHighSchoolHostClub'' occasionally uses Mori's perpetual seriousness for a few laughs.
%%* Heinel plays this part in ''Anime/FutureGPXCyberFormula'' when dealing with Gudelhian's antics.
* Garterbelt, [[Anime/PantyAndStockingWithGarterbelt Panty and Stocking's]] stern taskmaster. Ghost-slaying at God's command is SeriousBusiness, and there's [[AbsurdityAscendant nothing absurd]] about ghosts of [[VulgarHumor turd, semen, boogers or vomit]]. There are a few moments when even he can't remain serious all the time though. The end of the episode "If Angels Wore Swimsuits" is one of the funniest scenes in the whole series because of him.
%%* Mai, Nano, Sakamoto, and Kojiro, among others in ''Manga/{{Nichijou}}''.

* Accelerator of ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex''. He's a former serial killer and child soldier now undertaking a long and painful path to redemption. [[GoodIsNotNice He only ever laughs and smiles when he's brutally killing people]]. Therefore watching him get tackled to the ground and hit on by a drunken Misaka Misuzu near the end of season 2 was absolutely hilarious.
* Most of the punchlines from ''Manga/ServantXService'''s Megumi Chihaya come at her outwardly calmer moments... such as [[spoiler:declaring dryly that she and Ichimiya are an OfficialCouple]].
* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' has Commander Levi, who doesn't crack a smile ever. He's also the best at what he does (killing Titans) despite being one of the shortest males in the series. He's also ''deadly serious'' about cleaning, wears an apron and a dust mask and it just looks hilarious.
* Laura from ''LightNovel/InfiniteStratos'' takes everything seriously. Whether it be an IS battle or trying to find a pair of "hot panties" to flash Ichika with, she will treat it all the same. Bonus for her being [[GermanicEfficiency German.]]
%%* Sonya, the tsukkomi to Yasuna's boke in ''Manga/KillMeBaby''.
%%* ''WebComic/OnePunchMan'': Saitama's student/sidekick Genos is hilariously serious about ''everything''.
* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'':
** Shoto Todoroki will occasionally say or do seemingly absurd things with complete seriousness and sincerity. After the Stain arc he muses about whether, between Midoriya and Ida, he had some curse that causes people to maim their hands around him. It takes a moment for the other two to realize he's serious. Later, when everyone sees he redecorated his dorm room with tatami mats in a single day, his only response is he worked hard. Indeed, he's noticeably more tired than the others.
** When doing supplemental training for his provisional hero license, Todoroki is one of three students accosted by a teacher in full DrillSergeantNasty mode. He calls them all pieces of crap and demands to know how they could ever expect to help people. Todoroki actually considers the question and begins giving an answer about use as fertilizer before being smacked down for needing more guidance.
** All Might's former sidekick, Sir Nighteye, places high value on humor but you wouldn't know it to look at him. He's a stern man who's hero costume is literally just a suit and tie. He will, without a change in expression, put his own sidekicks in a tickle torture machine if he thinks they aren't being funny enough and uses seals, stamps used in Japan in place of signatures, as his WeaponOfChoice, noting the humor of how it goes along with his "salaryman" look.
* The entirety of ''Manga/PrisonSchool'' can be summed up as this. The realistic and serious art style is juxtaposed with the absurdity of the premise and plot.
* The title character of ''Manga/GoblinSlayer''. In a blood and violence soaked series full of rape Goblins, 90% of the rare humor comes from Goblin Slayer acting like a borderline automaton. Especially in regards to how food just passes through the slots in his helmet.
%%* Kuroda Yumewo from Manga/SaikeMatashitemo, especially that time he held up a picture of a lesser panda to Saike's team to tell them that's their target.