History Main / ComedicSociopathy

* While generally a ManChild or Cloudcuckoolander MrBean is often cruel and vicious, mocking patients at the hospital including a wheelchair bound person in a neck-brace, constantly running a Reliant Regal off the road, and generally being a selfish nuisance with zero concern for others. This balance between lack of understanding and actual malice varies from episode to episode, however.

A subtrope of the OutOfCharacterMoment. See also HeroicComedicSociopath, a character who does this all the time and loves it. This trope is what the SadistShow lives off of. This may result in NoSympathy in situations where the character is clearly deserving of it. TooFunnyToBeEvil coupled with RuleOfFunny is the basic principle that allows this trope to work. Compare to LaughWithMe or CringeComedy.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' became this after the movie. All characters have ever been this (excluding Sandy), especially Mr. Krabs, after of his marked Flanderization after the movie, is actually a Comedic Sociopath, insensitive and immoral, arguably the kid's show equivalent of Cartman. Even to the extent that gets to have disturbing moments, including: "One Coarse Meal", where he even ''[[DrivenToSuicide drives Plankton to suicide]]''.
** And in fact, the most frequent victims of Comedic Sociopathy is Squidward, Plankton and Gary, who are often injured or humiliated by most characters.

* In one of Creator/CartoonNetwork's ''WesternAnimation/WhatACartoonShow'' shorts, an old man drags his two grandkids away from a video game to tell them a rambling, nonsensical story about the time he defeated the aliens. Near the end, he starts trailing off; after a worried second, the girl asks if he's dead, and her brother responds that no, he just turned down Gramps' oxygen. Then they go off and play the video game while their grandfather slumbers away with the very real possibility that he'll suffocate because the selfish little brats wanted to play Nintendo.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' became this after the movie. All characters have ever been this (excluding Sandy), especially Mr. Krabs, after of his marked Flanderization after the movie, is actually a Comedic Sociopath, insensitive and immoral, arguably the kid's show equivalent of Cartman. Even to the extent that gets to have disturbing moments, including: "One Coarse Meal", where he even ''[[DrivenToSuicide drives Plankton to suicide]]'' and is still treated like a [[DesignatedHero hero]].

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' became this after the movie. All characters have ever been this (excluding Sandy), especially Mr. Krabs, after of his marked Flanderization after the movie, is actually a Comedic Sociopath, insensitive and immoral, arguably the kid's show equivalent of Cartman. Even to the extent that gets to have disturbing moments, including: "One Coarse Meal", where he even ''[[DrivenToSuicide drives Plankton to suicide]]'' and is still treated like a [[DesignatedHero good guy]].

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' became this after the movie. All characters have ever been this (excluding Sandy), especially Mr. Krabs, after of his marked Flanderization after the movie, is actually a Comedic Sociopath, insensitive and immoral, arguably the adult version of Cartman. Even to the extent that gets to have disturbing moments, including: "One Coarse Meal", where he even ''[[DrivenToSuicide drives Plankton to suicide]]''.

Creator/JohnCleese once noted, when talking about ''Series/FawltyTowers'', that comedy is very much like {{tragedy}}, the only difference being that comedy lacks sympathy towards the character. This is often because the character in question does not particularly merit sympathy; Basil Fawlty, for example, lives a life full of hardships, annoyances and general misery, but because he is antisocial and offensive towards his guests and staff often with little provocation (and that most misery is caused by his own actions), you find yourself laughing at him rather than mourning his misfortune. If Basil Fawlty were a decent person rather than an UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist, ''Series/FawltyTowers'' would be a depressing exercise in watching a man tortured undeservedly (though see also KafkaKomedy).

What's amazing about the way this plays out is not that there will be characters who are mean, and snarky, and sarcastic, and uncaring, but the behavior of the characters who are ''not''. In order for the appropriate level of hilarious misery to occur, other characters -- even kind, loving characters -- must temporarily lose their ability to sense, understand, or care about the emotional discomfort, pain, and suffering that the current Butt Monkey is experiencing. They may regain it when the plot calls for it, but for that critical moment of "gag," the character is essentially a sociopath. In the worst cases, when there's a WriterOnBoard, ComedicSociopathy can cause characterization to break down completely, allowing close friends to deliver cutting remarks like casually thrown knives.

ComedicSociopathy can be seen in nearly all comedy. It is the root of shows like ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'', ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', and ''Series/FawltyTowers'', but it shows up just as readily on ''Series/SesameStreet''. To the cruel, it is meat and drink; to the kind, it is the chicken the vegan compliments as the best tofu ever. [[note]][[YouBastard You chuckled, didn't you?]] Sociopath.[[/note]]

* ''Manga/AhMyGoddess'' has Belldandy herself, who is a goddess, TheMessiah, FriendToAllLivingThings (and nonliving things!), and TheEmpath. Belldandy is not omniscient, but she is powerfully sensitive to emotions, and always knows just the right thing to say or do to give everyone else the epiphanies they need to triumph. She is beautiful and compassionate and perfect in every way...except to Keiichi, the man she loves. With Keiichi, she literally cannot distinguish love from the flu. She says exactly the wrong things to cause Keiichi to panic about others finding out her secret, and never notices his fear or flusteration. She embarrasses him, throws unintentional jealous fits that cause earthquakes and paranormal activity, and generally causes as much stress and mayhem for Keiichi as the villains, or at least the other good guys. Belldandy is a perpetrator, however unintentionally, of ComedicSociopathy of the highest order, and poor Keiichi is her unwitting victim.

* Approximately 90% of humor associated with Hamel in ''Manga/ViolinistOfHameln'' is built on this trope. [[MoodWhiplash Whenever the mood switches from serious to comedic]], he acts like an absolute asshole towards his companions, ''particularly'' the girl he secretly loves, as well as unfortunate bystanders. And like everything else in this manga, his ComedicSociopathy is quite over the top. In other words, which half of his JerkWithAHeartOfGold personality is currently dominant depends on whether the scene is supposed to be humorous or not.

* Belkar Bitterleaf of ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' has both the archetype of the HeroicComedicSociopath and ComedicSociopathy at the core of his character. There are too many examples of his behavior to chronicle here, but you don't have to read too far into the comic before he starts displaying his hilariously sadistic self full-tilt. In one recent arc, he force-fed a guard in a gladiatorial arena another man's internal organs, which had been neatly sliced out by his cat. [[CrossesTheLineTwice Then he pulled them out the other end.]]

* ''Webcomic/{{Blazen}}'''s AlternateCharacterInterpretation of Litchi definitely qualifies. She's an [[FauxAffablyEvil Bad]] [[GoodBadGirl Bad Girl]] {{Magnificent B|astard}}itch who [[spoiler:tricked Tao into carving up the body of a dead hooker and then ''[[ImAHumanitarian made meat-buns out of her before feeding them to Tao and Ragna]]'']]. Although, ComedicSociopathy pretty much sums most of the comedy in Blazen. Just look at Jin and Hazama...

----

* ''Manga/AxisPowersHetalia'' has an ever growing array of characters representing various countries and territories from around the world. The number of Tsundere and Kuudere characters that result means the show runs on this trope.

* Somehow, Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei manages to pull of the feat of playing Comedic Sociopathy for laughs... And, yes, this statement takes into consideration the fact that Comedic Sociopathy is already playing on sociopathy for laughs.

* ''LightNovel/Baccano'': [[AxCrazy Ladd]] [[PsychoForHire Russo]]. He dances like a maniac on the corpses of people he killed, {{Boom Headshot}}s a little kid, freaking ''skips'' when he hears someone getting killed, and shows his love for his fiance by regularly threatening to kill her (though to be fair, she's a DeathSeeker, and he really does care for her in his own way). His [[PerpetualSmiler huge, shit-eating grin]] doesn't hurt, either.

* Calamity James of ''TheBeano'' is the world's unluckiest boy, and gets chewed up by life in every strip; sometimes the punishment comes from his pet lemming or even his mother. This trope makes it funny, though the poor boy wouldn't see it that way.

* [[UltimateMarvel Ultimate]] {{Hawkeye}}, especially when he's [[TheUltimates written]] by MarkMillar.

** ''BurnAfterReading'' plays it more for laughs; the characters all suffer horribly (often due to their own idiocy) and it's ''hilarious''.

-->'''[[NoSenseOfHumour Data]]''': I am uncertain as to why someone falling into freezing water is amusing.

* ''Series/TheThickOfIt'' and TheMovie, ''InTheLoop'', practically have this trope as their guiding force.

* Charlie Harper on ''TwoAndAHalfMen'' had big elements of this.

* [[http://www.roosterteeth.com/media/viewItem.php?id=472 Griffon Ramsey]], wife of Geoff Ramsey of ''RoosterTeeth'', is a sadist.

** The first couple episodes of ''WesternAnimation/TwelveOunceMouse'' are all about this. Less so in later episodes, though still plenty present. Considering some of Shark's comments about a ShowWithinTheShow later in the series, Mouse's initial behavior may be a deliberate {{Deconstruction}}.

* [[CreepyChild Gaz]] in ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' is something of a Comedic Sociopath.
** The entire show is essentially this.

* The Urpneys are regularly beaten, squashed, fried and otherwise comically decimated by everyone from their BadBoss, their MadScientist rival, to the messianic Dream Maker, his Noop {{Kid Sidekick}}s and their pet dog fish in ''TheDreamstone'', largely for being shanghaied into a villainous mission they don't even want to be part of. Played (at least partially) less comedically in the opening of the pilot episode, [[YouHaveFailedMe where it is shown clearly that an Urpney can ultimately be killed]].

----

* ''Itchy And Scratchy'' in fact based itself more on the ''HermanAndCatnip'' series, which takes the cat and mouse formula and rises the slapstick violence UpToEleven.

* ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'', holy mother of God, ''Drawn Together''. Special mention has to go to Captain Hero, who's actions might be better described as Comedic Psychopathy.

* Frequently used in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. The [[CrowningMomentOfFunny most spectacular moment]] has to be when Sokka gets rid of the crew of an airship by luring them into the bomb-bay with the promise of "[[TheCakeIsALie hot cakes and sweet cream]]" to celebrate a crew member's birthday (''[[RuleOfFunny which it really was]]'') and then opens the doors, dumping them into the ocean.

* It's rampant in ''WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends''; the basis of the series is cute little critters [[MoodWhiplash dying hideous deaths]]. The average characters reaction upon another's death is either disinterest or running or shifting away to try not to get involved with it. Considering [[CrapsaccharineWorld the universe, that's probably wise...]]
* Although many characters in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' fit this trope, the most obvious example would have to be Cartman, who freely manipulates and uses everybody around him according to whichever whim has him at the moment. As an example: In the episode [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger_Kids Ginger Kids]], Cartman freely advocates denying all [[RedHeadedStepchild ginger kids]] basic human rights. After Stan and Kyle conspire to turn Cartman into a ginger with makeup, convinced that it is [[TheOnlyWayTheyWillLearn the only way he'll learn]] fairness, Cartman proceeds to instantly convert to the ginger cause and quickly advocates the total ''genocide'' of all ''non''-gingers, especially the gingers who are "Faking It" with make up.

** [[ButtMonkey Butters and Pip]] are frequent victims of Comedic Sociopathy; you would expect a JerkAss like Cartman to exploit or bully the unfortunate souls, but be less expectant of Stan and Kyle (and sometimes even [[OnlySaneMan Chef]]) acting as {{Manipulative Bastard}}s around them (anti-bigoted Kyle even went into long winded rant at 'Frenchy little frog' Pip that earned him a broken nose). In later episodes this treatment toned down slightly with closer to Earth characters acting more sympathetic towards Butters and Pip being put OutOfFocus until he was squashed by Mecha-Streisand.

* Although not entirely sociopathic, one of the reasons why ''Disney/ChickenLittle'' flopped was because of this trope. In the first few minutes, the main character believes the sky is falling, his father becomes ashamed of him, and the whole town mocks him for it, ''for a whole year''. And afterwards, when C.L. wants to be a baseball star like his dad, everyone except for Abby, Runt, and Fish discourage him. [[spoiler:Until he gives his all and wins it for his home team, but then, aliens invade, and...]]

* The Henry and June wraparounds on ''WesternAnimation/KaBlam''. It's about a slightly ditzy ten-year-old boy and his JerkAss admirer/best friend who LOVES beating this kid up. On top of that, he's constantly beat up by a sasquatch. [[TheWoobie He needs so much hugging]]. Most likely enforced, it ''is'' a comedy.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'', many of Tom's injuries which are intended to be funny are sometimes downright cruel such as [[AnvilOnHead anvils or a heavy blunt object landing on his head]], getting poked in the eyes, stabbed with knives or pitchforks, getting shot with guns, heavy objects dropped onto his feet, getting his teeth smashed or pulled out, mauled by spike, etc. No wonder some viewers end up RootingForTheEmpire.

* Louise from ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'' definitely qualifies. In the first episode alone she [[spoiler: Convinces the town that their restaurant uses [[ImAHumanitarian Human Flesh]] in their burgers]] and at the point where [[spoiler: Bob is close to defusing the situation, convinces the crowd to turn on him]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' became this after the movie. All characters have ever been this (excluding Sandy), especially Mr. Krabs, after of his marked Flanderization after the movie, is actually a Comedic Sociopath, insensitive and immoral, arguably the adult version of Cartman. Even to the extent that gets to have disturbing moments, including: "One Coarse Meal", where he even ''drives Plankton to suicide''.
** And in fact, the most frequent victims of Comedic Sociopathy is Squidward, Plankton and Gary, who are often injuried or humiliated by most characters.

* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' features HK-47, an assassination droid that was designed with a love of violence and hatred of anything living. ** This is largely because even though he wants to kill almost everybody he sees, and says so, he cannot act on these desires without your orders. Statement: The result is lines such as the following.

* Statement: ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' features HK-47, an assassination droid that was designed with a love of violence and hatred of anything living. Commentary: However, HK is also one of the primary sources of humor in the series.
** Elaboration: This is largely because even though he wants to kill almost everybody he sees, and says so, he cannot act on these desires without your orders. Statement: The result is lines such as the following.

** She does have some justification for this. Part of it is because she's naive enough to literally not understand what she's doing wrong, and part of it is because her mission (tracking down Roa) is just that important.
** The creepiest moment is probably when she considers breaking Shiki's glasses (something she ''knows'' would drive him insane) just because he was given them from another woman...

* {{Griefing}} in general. Recording the gameplay and watching their reactions on YouTube leads to [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUPzN7tp7bQ hilarious results.]]

----

* ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'', holy mother of God, ''Drawn Together''. Special mention has to go to Captain Hero:

* [[UltimaeMarvel Ultimate]] {{Hawkeye}}, especially when he's [[TheUltimates written]] by MarkMillar.