History Main / CListFodder

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': one of the most StatusQuoIsGod series ever. Bleedin' Gums Murphy, Mrs. Glick and Maude Flanders died, as did Marvin Monroe (and [[UnexplainedRecovery he]] [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail got better]]). Frank Grimes died in the episode he was introduced. Dr. Nick apparently died in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie'', but [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail got better]]. Mona Simpson (Homer's mother) did die but the number of episodes she had a major role in can be counted on one hand. The same can be said for the victim of the TonightSomeoneDies episode of Season 26, Rabbi Krustofsky, as well as Larry the Barfly in Season 35. And numerous other characters have died, but only in non-canon WesternAnimation/TreehouseOfHorror episodes. Jokingly pointed out in one episode involving a mock trivia question.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': one of the most StatusQuoIsGod series ever. Bleedin' Gums Murphy, Mrs. Glick and Maude Flanders died, as did Marvin Monroe (and [[UnexplainedRecovery he]] [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail got better]]). Frank Grimes died in the episode he was introduced. Dr. Nick apparently died in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie'', but [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail got better]]. Mona Simpson (Homer's mother) did die but the number of episodes she had a major role in can be counted on one hand. The same can be said for the victim of the TonightSomeoneDies episode of Season 26, Rabbi Krustofsky. And numerous other characters have died, but only in non-canon WesternAnimation/TreehouseOfHorror episodes. Jokingly pointed out in one episode involving a mock trivia question.

* ''Fanfic/UltimateSleepwalker'': The whole point of ''Ultimate Sleepwalker: The New Dreams'' and ''Fanfic/UltimateSpiderWoman Ultimate Spider-Woman: Change With the Light'' is to focus the spotlight on underrated C-list characters and mess with the traditional A/B/C-list pecking order of the Franchise/MarvelUniverse. Mainstays like Captain America and Spider-Man do show up, but they are typically guest stars. Heroes like ComicBook/IronMan, [[Characters/MarvelComicsThorOdinson Thor]], Comicbook/TheAvengers and Comicbook/DoctorStrange don't even live in New York, with New York's hero population instead being rounded out by the likes of ComicBook/MoonKnight and Characters/{{Darkhawk}}. An excellent subversion of this trope occurs when Bullseye goes up against 8-Ball. The former is a long-standing PsychoForHire who made the list of [[Characters/MarvelComicsNormanOsborn Norman Osborn]]'s ComicBook/DarkAvengers during ComicBook/DarkReign. The other is a supposedly C-list supervillain who only appeared in the ''ComicBook/{{Sleepwalker}}'' comics and was summarily killed off afterwards in ''Heroes For Hire''. Guess who wins?

** Any character who isn't not Sam, Dean or Castiel will die permanently while those three will keep coming back to life. Many recurring characters, villains and heroes alike, get killed simply to either cause angst or show how badass the boys are just as they are getting character development or interesting story lines (a cause of frustration to fans due to the sheer amount of {{Ensemble Darkhorse}}s that suffer this fate).

Since newer characters tend to be more C-list than older characters, and also tend to include more females and minorities, this may lead to BuryYourGays and BlackDudeDiesFirst. (Although, on the other hand, outright {{Red Shirt}}s tend to be straight {{men|AreTheExpendableGender}}.) Another disturbing tendency in the comic book industry is to use ''teenage'' super-team characters as this. It works dramatically because of [[DeathOfAChild the impact of a child (or young adult) dying]], but is over-used to the point where the ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' actually [[LampshadeHanging hang a lampshade on this]] frequently. Similar young teams, ''the ComicBook/NewMutants'' and ''Comicbook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'', also fall victim to this with regularity.

[[caption-width-right:349:Characters/{{Deadpool|WadeWilson}} loves his C-List fodder.]]

* ''Fanfic/UltimateSleepwalker'': The whole point of ''Ultimate Sleepwalker: The New Dreams'' and ''Fanfic/UltimateSpiderWoman Ultimate Spider-Woman: Change With the Light'' is to focus the spotlight on underrated C-list characters and mess with the traditional A/B/C-list pecking order of the Franchise/MarvelUniverse. Mainstays like Captain America and Spider-Man do show up, but they are typically guest stars. Heroes like ComicBook/IronMan, [[Characters/TheMightyThorThorOdinson Thor]], Comicbook/TheAvengers and Comicbook/DoctorStrange don't even live in New York, with New York's hero population instead being rounded out by the likes of ComicBook/MoonKnight and Characters/{{Darkhawk}}. An excellent subversion of this trope occurs when Bullseye goes up against 8-Ball. The former is a long-standing PsychoForHire who made the list of [[Characters/MarvelComicsNormanOsborn Norman Osborn]]'s ComicBook/DarkAvengers during ComicBook/DarkReign. The other is a supposedly C-list supervillain who only appeared in the ''ComicBook/{{Sleepwalker}}'' comics and was summarily killed off afterwards in ''Heroes For Hire''. Guess who wins?

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAssaultOnArkham'' has three confirmed fatalities: [=KGBeast=], King Shark, and Black Spider. The former is a D-lister used to show the bombs were real, the latter two are more well-known but aren't very prominent still, though they at least make it late into the movie. Killer Frost, who is more of a B-lister, [[NeverFoundTheBody likely died]] when she was in a car that exploded after being thrown by Characters/{{Ba|tmanBane}}ne.

** The [[SoftReboot soft reboot]] ''Film/TheSuicideSquad'' plays with this trope. On one hand, the films opening scene liberally kills off several obscure squad members, including Savant (who briefly served as a [[DecoyProtagonist decoy protagonist]]), Mongal, Javelin and Blackguard while leaving TDK [[UncertainDoom to bleed out on the beach]]. In addition, a film-exclusive incarnation of the Thinker and C-list Batman villain/[[JokeCharacter joke character]] Polka Dot Man both die by the end, and the popular Characters/{{Harley Quinn|TheCharacter}}, Amanda Waller and King Shark obviously survive. On the other hand, among the dead are Suicide Squad mainstays Captain Boomerang and Rick Flag, both returning from the prior film. C-listers Bloodsport and Ratcatcher II (specifically, a [[CanonForeigner film-original]] {{legacy character}}) also notably survive the events of the film, while Peacemaker and Weasel are granted [[NotQuiteDead fakeout deaths]] as revealed during post-credits scenes.

** The [[SoftReboot soft reboot]] ''Film/TheSuicideSquad'' plays with this trope. On one hand, the films opening scene liberally kills off several obscure squad members, including Savant (who briefly served as a [[DecoyProtagonist decoy protagonist]]), Mongal, Javelin and Blackguard while leaving TDK [[UncertainDoom to bleed out on the beach]]. In addition, a film-exclusive incarnation of the Thinker and C-list Batman villain/[[JokeCharacter joke character]] Polka Dot Man both die by the end, and the popular Characters/{{Harley Quinn|TheCharacter}}, Amanda Waller and King Shark obviously survive. On the other hand, among the dead are Suicide Squad mainstays Captain Boomerang and Rick Flag, both returning from the prior film. C-listers Bloodsport and Ratcatcher II (specifically, a film-original {{legacy character}}) also notably survive the events of the film, while Peacemaker and Weasel are granted [[NotQuiteDead fakeout deaths]] as revealed during post-credits scenes.

* ''Film/MastersOfTheUniverse'': In the 1987 film, Suarod was killed because the producer wanted one of Skeletor's generals to be killed off in the film, and they wanted to make sure it was one who did not appear in the cartoon.

* ''Fanfic/UltimateSleepwalker'': The whole point of ''Ultimate Sleepwalker: The New Dreams'' and ''Fanfic/UltimateSpiderWoman Ultimate Spider-Woman: Change With the Light'' is to focus the spotlight on underrated C-list characters and mess with the traditional A/B/C-list pecking order of the Franchise/MarvelUniverse. Mainstays like Captain America and Spider-Man do show up, but they are typically guest stars. Heroes like ComicBook/IronMan, [[Characters/TheMightyThorThorOdinson Thor]], Comicbook/TheAvengers and Comicbook/DoctorStrange don't even live in New York, with New York's hero population instead being rounded out by the likes of ComicBook/MoonKnight and Characters/{{Darkhawk}}. An excellent subversion of this trope occurs when Bullseye goes up against 8-Ball. The former is a long-standing PsychoForHire who made the list of [[Characters/MarvelComicsNormanOsborn Norman Osborn]]'s ComicBook/DarkAvengers during ComicBook/DarkReign. The other is a supposedly C-list supervillain who only appeared in the ''Comicbook/{{Sleepwalker}}'' comics and was summarily killed off afterwards in ''Heroes For Hire''. Guess who wins?
* Roleplay/DCNation lampshades the ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' example above big time, and inverted it. Arsenal gets angry enough to challenge ''Hades'' for Donna Troy and convinces the other Titans to go in on it by arguing to the effect "The ComicBook/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}} die and come back. Titans die and stay dead. Why are we putting up with it when we can have a chance of fighting back?!" As an indirect result, the Nation-verse Titans have thrown a few more challenges and are now the largest hero team in the storyline. This bit them in the ass when Nationverse launched their take on ComicBook/BlackestNight. It's not just the Titans. Nation is notorious for making use of obscure, underwritten, and c-list characters. The Dibneys, for example, are major players. The Comicbook/DoomPatrol is getting re-launched, the Metal Men and the [=JSA=] are starting to get more plots... Conversely, it has been very difficult to get a [=JLA=] plot done.

* {{Parodied|Trope}} in [[http://waitingforthet.tumblr.com/post/145348086536/i-know-jackson-might-be-bi-or-pan-all-they-said#note-container this]] ''Comicbook/{{Aquaman}}'' fancomic.

** The [[SoftReboot soft reboot]] ''Film/TheSuicideSquad'' plays with this trope. On one hand, the films opening scene liberally kills off several obscure squad members, including Savant (who briefly served as a [[DecoyProtagonist decoy protagonist]]), Mongal, Javelin and Blackguard while leaving TDK [[UncertainDoom to bleed out on the beach]]. In addition, a film-exclusive incarnation of the Thinker and C-list Batman villain/[[JokeCharacter joke character]] Polka Dot Man both die by the end, and the popular Characters/{{Harley Quinn|TheCharacter}}, Amanda Waller and King Shark obviously survive. On the other hand, among the dead are Suicide Squad mainstays Captain Boomerang and Rick Flag, both returning from the prior film. C-listers Bloodsport and Ratcatcher II (specifically, a film-original [[LegacyCharacter legacy character]]) also notably survive the events of the film, while Peacemaker and Weasel are granted [[NotQuiteDead fakeout deaths]] as revealed during post-credits scenes.

* ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' has done this a handful of times. The first was during the attack on the group's camp in episode four, where, although three named characters end up dead, there are [[https://walkingdead.fandom.com/wiki/Background_Survivors_(TV_Series) over a dozen (many unnamed) extras]] that are also killed and only seemed to be there to increase the attack's body count. Even later, the attack on Herschel's farm in the season 2 finale only claims the lives of two characters, Jimmy and Patricia, both of whom are effectively worthless to the entire story.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'' actually discusses this following Event Comic Week III, which reviewed ''ComicBook/ZeroHourCrisisInTime'', ''ComicBook/HouseOfM'', ''ComicBook/SecretEmpire'' and ''ComicBook/HeroesInCrisis'', all events where heroes turn evil or are killed off. When asked as to why he complains when characters are killed off, he listed off a number of characters who have been killed, including Danny Chase, who is one of his favorite characters, and have not come back. He, then, mentions [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2000}} Cassandra Cain]], who was turned evil, then back to good after vocal backlash. Many of the characters who have a fanbase, thus can be revived or restored at will, but not every B- or C-Lister does, thus it could be years or decades before they come back. Ultimately, he cares for when DC or Marvel kills someone because, otherwise, who will?

** If we consider that in the novel ''Comicbook/ArkhamAsylumASeriousHouseOnSeriousEarth'', Milo is [[FateWorseThanDeath secluded in Arkham]] [[GuiltByAssociationGag while he insists]] [[GoAmongMadPeople he is perfectly sane]], that makes him the ButtMonkey of the [[RoguesGallery Batman villains]].

Since newer characters tend to be more C-list than older characters, and also tend to include more females and minorities, this may lead to BuryYourGays and BlackDudeDiesFirst. (Although, on the other hand, outright {{Red Shirt}}s tend to be straight {{men|AreTheExpendableGender}}.) Another disturbing tendency in the comic book industry is to use ''teenage'' super-team characters as this. It works dramatically because of [[DeathOfAChild the impact of a child (or young adult) dying]], but is over-used to the point where the ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' actually hang a lampshade on this frequently. Similar young teams, ''the ComicBook/NewMutants'' and ''Comicbook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'', also fall victim to this with regularity.

!!'''As a DeathTrope, all Spoilers will be unmarked ahead. Beware.'''

Since newer characters tend to be more C-list than older characters, and also tend to include more females and minorities, this may lead to BuryYourGays and BlackDudeDiesFirst. (Although, on the other hand, outright {{Red Shirt}}s tend to be straight {{men|AreTheExpendableGender}}.) Another disturbing tendency in the comic book industry is to use ''teenage'' super-team characters as this. It works dramatically because of the impact of a child (or young adult) dying, but is over-used to the point where the ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' actually hang a lampshade on this frequently. Similar young teams, ''the ComicBook/NewMutants'' and ''Comicbook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'', also fall victim to this with regularity.

[[folder:Film]]

** Other material establishes that K'Kruhk lived, and in fact is ''still'' alive in ''Star Wars: Legacy'', nearly 160 years after this attack. Thanks to his [[NiceHat hat]]. [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/K%27Kruhk%27s_hat No, seriously.]] Since then K'Kruhk's ability to [[UnexplainedRecovery re-appear unarmed after a supposed "death"]] has become something of a RunningGag.

[[caption-width-right:349:ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} loves his C-List fodder.]]

* ''Fanfic/UltimateSleepwalker'': The whole point of ''Ultimate Sleepwalker: The New Dreams'' and ''Fanfic/UltimateSpiderWoman Ultimate Spider-Woman: Change With the Light'' is to focus the spotlight on underrated C-list characters and mess with the traditional A/B/C-list pecking order of the Franchise/MarvelUniverse. Mainstays like Captain America and Spider-Man do show up, but they are typically guest stars. Heroes like ComicBook/IronMan, ComicBook/TheMightyThor, Comicbook/TheAvengers and Comicbook/DoctorStrange don't even live in New York, with New York's hero population instead being rounded out by the likes of ComicBook/MoonKnight and ComicBook/{{Darkhawk}}. An excellent subversion of this trope occurs when Bullseye goes up against 8-Ball. The former is a long-standing PsychoForHire who made the list of Comicbook/NormanOsborn's ComicBook/DarkAvengers during ComicBook/DarkReign. The other is a supposedly C-list supervillain who only appeared in the ''Comicbook/{{Sleepwalker}}'' comics and was summarily killed off afterwards in ''Heroes For Hire''. Guess who wins?
* Roleplay/DCNation lampshades the ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' example above big time, and inverted it. Arsenal gets angry enough to challenge ''Hades'' for Donna Troy and convinces the other Titans to go in on it by arguing to the effect "The Franchise/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}} die and come back. Titans die and stay dead. Why are we putting up with it when we can have a chance of fighting back?!" As an indirect result, the Nation-verse Titans have thrown a few more challenges and are now the largest hero team in the storyline. This bit them in the ass when Nationverse launched their take on ComicBook/BlackestNight. It's not just the Titans. Nation is notorious for making use of obscure, underwritten, and c-list characters. The Dibneys, for example, are major players. The Comicbook/DoomPatrol is getting re-launched, the Metal Men and the [=JSA=] are starting to get more plots... Conversely, it has been very difficult to get a [=JLA=] plot done.

** The [[SoftReboot soft reboot]] ''Film/TheSuicideSquad'' plays with this trope. On one hand, the films opening scene liberally kills off several obscure squad members, including Savant (who briefly served as a [[DecoyProtagonist decoy protagonist]]), Mongal, Javelin and Blackguard while leaving TDK [[UncertainDoom to bleed out on the beach]]. In addition, a film-exclusive incarnation of the Thinker and C-list Batman villain/[[JokeCharacter joke character]] Polka Dot Man both die by the end, and the popular [[ComicBook/HarleyQuinn Harley Quinn]], Amanda Waller and King Shark obviously survive. On the other hand, among the dead are Suicide Squad mainstays Captain Boomerang and Rick Flag, both returning from the prior film. C-listers Bloodsport and Ratcatcher II (specifically, a film-original [[LegacyCharacter legacy character]]) also notably survive the events of the film, while Peacemaker and Weasel are granted [[NotQuiteDead fakeout deaths]] as revealed during post-credits scenes.

** A massive EnemyCivilWar breaks out in the penultimate episode "Alive!" and while there are a few major deaths, most of the casualties are villains who've had few-to-no lines in the series: people like Monocle, Neutron, Merlyn, Major Disaster, Lady Lunar, Fastball, Goldface, Hellgrammite, Electrocutioner, Doctor Cyber, Crowbar, Bloodsport, Angle Man… The more relevant villains in the list include Silver Banshee, the ComicBook/{{Shade}}, Copperhead, and Parasite. The last one was still a relatively prominent bad guy in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries''.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAssaultOnArkham'' has three confirmed fatalities: [=KGBeast=], King Shark, and Black Spider. The former is a D-lister used to show the bombs were real, the latter two are more well-known but aren't very prominent still, though they at least make it late into the movie. Killer Frost, who is more of a B-lister, [[NeverFoundTheBody likely died]] when she was in a car that exploded after being thrown by ComicBook/{{Bane}}.
* ''WesternAnimation/SuicideSquadHellToPay'' has several major deaths (namely ComicBook/VandalSavage and Zoom, likely ComicBook/AmandaWaller), but many of the deaths are far lesser-known characters, such as Punch, Jewlee, Count Vertigo, Tobias Whale, Professor Pyg, Silver Banshee, Blockbuster, Copperhead, Killer Frost[[note]]specifically the Crystal Frost version, rather than the more well-known Louise Lincoln[[/note]], and Bronze Tiger. Knockout, another C-lister, subverts this in that she ''was'' gunned down but ultimately revealed in the follow-up comic to have survived.

* A promotion will sometimes run a house show with C-List wrestlers in smaller (or new) markets, often as a test ground and/or to give the lower-tier wrestlers work; these will sometimes take place the same night that the promotion is running two (or more) shows, including the AShow, in other towns. While a BShow wrestler or two will often be on the card (frequently as part of the main event, or to help anchor the card and guide the younger/local talent), and a secondary championship will frequently be defended (usually against wrestlers who would never be given the opportunity at an A-Show), these shows also are put on to allow promoters to evaluate new and potential talent. Often, matches against local wrestlers will also be on the card, with the promotion's main wrestlers being the headliners. As such, being on a C-Show isn't always a bad thing.

* ''Literature/WarriorCats'': Every time the series needs some more angst, a minor character gets killed. This doubles as thinning of the herd, since there are LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters. In ''Twilight'', the TonightSomeoneDies book, there's a supposedly "devastating" attack on [=ThunderClan=] which results in them needing plenty of help from the other clans in the next book... but then you realize that only three cats died. And ''two'' of them were minor characters. The other ends up getting reincarnated, anyway.

If you said 'Bleeding Gums' Murphy and Doctor Marvin Monroe, you were wrong! They were never popular.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': one of the most StatusQuoIsGod series ever. Bleedin' Gums Murphy, Mrs. Glick and Maude Flanders died, as did Marvin Monroe (and [[UnexplainedRecovery he]] [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail got better]]). Frank Grimes died in the episode he was introduced. Dr. Nick apparently died in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie'', but [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail got better]]. Mona Simpson (Homer's mother) did die but the number of episodes she had a major role in can be counted on one hand. The same can be said for the victim of the TonightSomeoneDies episode of Season 26, Rabbi Krustofsky. And numerous other characters have died, but only in non-canon WesternAnimation/TreehouseOfHorror episodes.

Since newer characters tend to be more C-list than older characters, and also tend to include more females and minorities, this may lead to StuffedIntoTheFridge, BuryYourGays, and BlackDudeDiesFirst. (Although, on the other hand, outright {{Red Shirt}}s tend to be straight {{men|AreTheExpendableGender}}.) Another disturbing tendency in the comic book industry is to use ''teenage'' super-team characters as this. It works dramatically because of the impact of a child (or young adult) dying, but is over-used to the point where the ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' actually hang a lampshade on this frequently. Similar young teams, ''the ComicBook/NewMutants'' and ''Comicbook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'', also fall victim to this with regularity.