History Main / LaughablyEvil

** TokenEvilTeammate Astarion from ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIII'' is a LovableRogue vampire who's a [[CampGay flamboyant]] LargeHam and LovableSexManiac.

* ''VideoGame/LoserReborn'': Nya (as in [[Literature/CthulhuMythos that Nyarlathotep]]) is a [[JerkassGods cruel god]] who erases anyone who points out the world's contradictions [[spoiler:and later sends Gla'aki to the real world to start a zombie apocalypse there]]. They also have their share of sarcastic, fourth-wall breaking lines, especially in the fourth ending.

* ''VideoGame/LoserReborn'': Nya is a [[JerkassGods cruel god]] who erases anyone who points out the world's contradictions [[spoiler:and later sends Gla'aki to the real world to start a zombie apocalypse there]]. They also have their share of sarcastic, fourth-wall breaking lines, especially in the fourth ending.

** [[Characters/GravityFallsBillCipher Bill Cipher]] is a powerful (and [[http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/gravityfalls/images/e/ea/S1e19_bill_snap.png/revision/latest?cb=20130905173319 weirdly adorable]]) "dream demon" who combines bone-chilling sociopathy with a jovial, irreverent demeanor and a twisted sense of humor.

Often overlaps with the HarmlessVillain (Harmless Villains are inherently funny, but funny villains are not inherently harmless), AffablyEvil, FauxAffablyEvil (who are often funny), LoveToHate, the IneffectualSympatheticVillain and MagnificentBastard. And with EvilIsHammy (playing a villain seems to be very fun). It's also a prerequisite for the BumblingHenchmenDuo, the TerribleTrio and the QuirkyMinibossSquad. Interestingly, this either subverts or complements EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor, as does TooFunnyToBeEvil, a closely related sister trope. Tends to be the sort who CrossesTheLineTwice. See also LaughWithMe and BewareTheSillyOnes. A villain who is laughably evil need not have an EvilLaugh, though it can help. Alternatively, they may have an UnevilLaugh. A particularly CardCarryingVillain with emphasis put on the comical aspects of their "BadIsGoodAndGoodIsBad" morality can very easily turn into a Laughably Evil villain.

* WesternAnimation/{{Pete}} from the WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts and ''WesternAnimation/GoofTroop'', while his characterization is DependingOnTheWriter, is usually a comedic villain.

* ''Fanfic/AllForLuz'': Surprisingly, [[EnemyWithin All For One]] can be this with his chats with Luz, sometimes being NotSoAboveitAll and engages in CasualDangerDialogue with snarky remarks during her life or death struggles.

* ''Fanfic/TheBoysRealJustice'': The Joker makes his Earth-7 debut by hacking into Vought's security feed and learned about one of Homelander's...gross habits involving milk. He takes over a broadcasting station where he releases this footage publicly. While most of the League are stoic (or confused/disgusted), Green Lantern Guy Gardner [[ActuallyPrettyFunny bursts out laughing]]. [[note]] His humiliation of Homelander is so perfect that it actually ''is'' pretty chuckle-worthy [[/note]] After a few photoshopped pictures of Homelander dressed like a baby, he then tricks the "hero" into setting off a bomb in Times Square that kills sixty people. That's when the chapter stops being funny.

* ''ComicBook/{{Lobo}}'': [[Characters/DCComicsLobo Lobo]] might count DependingOnTheAuthor, especially if the ultraviolence gets cartoonish.

** Outside of his... regrettable... ''Brainiac Attacks'' appearance, the DCAU [[Characters/SupermanLexLuthor Lex Luthor]] can fit this trope to the proverbial 'T', thanks to clever writing and Creator/ClancyBrown's brilliant voice acting.

* Roger Smith from ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad''. He's the TokenEvilTeammate of the Smith family by a '''wide''' margin and is a PsychopathicManchild ''par excellance'', but is also one of the funniest characters out of the whole series.

* ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'' has Louise, who takes ComedicSociopathy to its logical extreme by ''actually'' being a sociopath. She's described on [[Website/{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]] as being "manipulative and aggressive...more than willing to exploit people", not exactly terms usually used to describe a protagonist. Her actions aren't always even harmless to the other protagonists of the show, and she very seldom expresses anything approaching remorse, although ultimately she is shown to [[AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther love her family]]. However, that doesn't keep her from being absolutely hilarious.

** Stewie Griffin, starting with the very fact that he's [[EnfantTerrible a one-year-old baby who is an evil mastermind]].

** Bender. Only ''Futurama'' could take a sleazy, amoral, egotistical, and vice-ridden criminal robot, and make him one of the funniest characters in Western Animation.

** Bill Cipher is a powerful (and [[http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/gravityfalls/images/e/ea/S1e19_bill_snap.png/revision/latest?cb=20130905173319 weirdly adorable]]) "dream demon" who combines bone-chilling sociopathy with a jovial, irreverent demeanor and a twisted sense of humor.

* The titular [[VillainProtagonist protagonist]] of ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim''. Or just the [[AmusingAlien Irkens in general]], really. Who knew planet-scale genocide could be such a riot?

* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' has Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz. Yes, he wants to take over the entire Tri-State area, and has created everything from Killer Robots and mind-control helmets... [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain but he's so bad at it, it's hilarious]]! Compared to his alternate universe self, Doof-2 from ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerbTheMovieAcrossThe2ndDimension'', [[EvenEvilHasStandards he's a pretty decent guy]]. Doof-2 was willing to kill complete innocents and his alternate-self, just for the sake of it. Though he still fills this trope by, among other things, announcing their doom with a sock-puppet. The other members of [[FunWithAcronyms L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N]] count as well. Each spends their days building devices with distinctive suffixes (inator, izer, ator, ect.) and having their plans foiled by an animal agent.

** Aku is rather... goofy for being the [[MadeOfEvil embodiment of evil]] and all. [[DependingOnTheWriter It ultimately varies depending on the episode]], as there are some that present him as a legitimately evil and threatening figure. [[BewareTheSillyOnes Oftentimes, it's a bit of both.]]

** Mr. Burns is one of the most famous {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s in cartoon history, as well as an unrepentant CardCarryingVillain. Doesn't stop him from being very capable of being very funny.

** Cartman. An individual whose antics can sometimes backfire and lead to his humiliation, but he shows that he's capable of this, for example being able to team up with Cthulhu.

** Plankton, the BigBad of the show and the ArchEnemy to both [=SpongeBob=] and Mr. Krabs, is a DiabolicalMastermind who is constantly plotting to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula, but he's usually ineffective and constantly set back [[HoistByHisOwnPetard by his own arrogance]], lack of foresight and {{Genre Blind|ness}} nature. Doesn't stop him from being one of the funniest characters in the show, especially in the earlier seasons.

* Peridot in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' was callous to the extreme, even towards members of her own species, and talked about nightmarishly cruel experiments in [[spoiler:Gem fusion]] like she's recording the heights of soybeans, but at the same time her dorkiness, constant frustration, ridiculous facial expressions, and one particular scene where she soared away on a helicopter made from her own techno-fingers while giggling like a loon made her a source of constant amusement. She got even funnier following her HeelFaceTurn.

* [[TheCaligula Schlatt]] from ''LetsPlay/DreamSMP'' is a monstrous, tyrannical, and abusive dictator perfectly willing to slaughter anyone who opposes him. He's also a [[EvilIsPetty childishly petty]], [[LargeHam hammy]], borderline insane moron who repeatedly insists he is the pinnacle of manhood in spite of the fact [[SuperDrowningSkills he sinks like a rock the second he steps into water]] and actually brags about how his alleged physical fitness is the result of [[AddledAddict rampant steroid abuse]].

Of course, funny does not always equal weak. Praise be to the villain who can cause a chuckle from the audience, right before viciously thwarting the hero's best efforts. In fact, if done correctly, the very things that make a villain qualify can make them downright disturbing once they begin crossing the MoralEventHorizon. Villain laughing at faking someone out with [[BANGFlagGun a gun with a "BANG!" flag coming out]]? Funny. Same villain doing the exact same laugh when shooting them for real a few seconds later? ''Creepy.'' A truly well written one can manage to pull off both at once. See the trope picture for [[Characters/BatmanTheJoker an excellent example]] of this subtype. Just because a character qualifies, it does not prevent them from being [[CompleteMonster completely evil and there are many villains that manage to be both]] (again, see the page image). In these cases, what makes them funny also makes them ''very'' unsettling because of how much fun they have committing the most horrific acts possible.

* [[Characters/BatmanTheJoker The Joker]] is a sterling example of the trope, even inspiring [[PracticallyJoker another]]. The trick in writing the Joker is to make his actions such that you can laugh one moment, and be horrified the next. Brilliantly brought out by many of the actors to portray him in other media, most prominently [[Film/Batman1989 Jack Nicholson]], [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries Mark Hamill]], [[Film/TheDarkKnight Heath Ledger]] and [[WesternAnimation/YoungJustice Brent Spiner]]. Whether it's electrocuting a gangster while singing showtunes, casually (and cheerfully) stalking an everyday accountant in the middle of rush-hour traffic, or doing a magic trick by making a pencil [[EyeScream disappear]], you can always find it either way with the Joker. Even Creator/CesarRomero qualifies, although because [[Series/Batman1966 the show]] was such high {{Camp}}, he focused more on the "laughable" than the "evil".

* Everyone's favorite VillainousHarlequin CanonImmigrant, Characters/{{Harley Quinn|TheCharacter}}.
* Creator/MarvelComics' [[http://marvel.wikia.com/Madcap_%28Earth-616%29 Madcap]] is a ChaoticNeutral who acts deliberately silly, and whose power is simply to make people act uninhibited.
* The [[Characters/MarvelComicsNormanOsborn Green Goblin]], who, just like the Joker, can make someone laugh one moment, and horrified the next.
* Herr Starr from ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}''.

* [[Characters/SupermanSuperboyPrime Superboy-Prime]] can come off as humorous when he's not terrifying, since a lot of his rambles make him come off as an arrogant, childish lunatic with little tolerance for not getting his way and having such wonderful bits of dialogue such as "[[ComicBook/CountdownToFinalCrisis I'll kill you! I'll kill you]] '''[[ShapedLikeItself to death]]'''!"
* [[Characters/GLOrangeLanternCorps Larfleeze]] of the ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'' books can be accurately described as the WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck of the DCU. He's a greedy and short-tempered PsychopathicManchild who constantly whines that everything he desires is his and is consistently shown to have a most unorthodox thought process.
* Jameson is a power-hungry undead MadScientist and demonologist. He's also the MetaGuy of ''ComicBook/CreatureTech'', and as such spends most of his time making [[PungeonMaster awful puns]], [[ShoutOut references to other media]], ChewingTheScenery, and [[LampshadeHanging hanging lampshades]] anywhere they'll fit.
* Characters/{{Deadpool|WadeWilson}}, when he's the antagonist. Except for [[ComicBook/DeadpoolKillsTheMarvelUniverse that one time]]...
* In the ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' comic of the 1980s, the alien despot Lord Damyn (High of Highs and Best of Best) played a supporting role to recurring villain Blackfire for all of two issues... but in that time, he managed to be both a relentlessly brutish, murderous dictator and bizarrely funny in [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/rJCrKJfZ5TDrObRhDoDBj2zJUDfp-Vl40P9Ha3Y2TiHJddvdyYVhYorPpmIGJokvO1DmZ1KkW5n5=s1600 every]] [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/RsB2R8_gzLgRe6S0Kul80BSCCiqD7PhJ2qaVTlyGIsymg5fcZxmCEufnT1Yinh6uqvOKE274qCb5=s1600 other]] [[http://www.herosandwich.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/FNF-Blackfire1.jpg panel]].
* ''ComicBook/TheWalkingDead'': Negan is a wonderful example of this trope, with his constant one liners, non-sequiturs, and profanity-ridden speech.
* [[Characters/DCComicsLobo Lobo]] might count DependingOnTheAuthor, especially if the ultraviolence gets cartoonish.
* Big Head from ''ComicBook/TheMask'', depending on the wearer (the mask itself travels from host to host). Stanley Ipkiss was this for sure, while Ray Tuttle from the "Hunt for Green October" arc [[AntiVillain had somewhat more heroic motivations.]] Most of the people affected by Big Head's actions are considerably less amused.
-->'''Lt. Kellaway''': Saving ''lives?'' With a ''chainsaw''? You think that's ''funny?''
--> (Big Head just looks at him with an ashamed expression)
* In ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'', the average low-caste Evronian is a bureaucratic, uptight goon who is easy to confuse and fool without someone from the higher castes around to explain the situation, leading to some amusing misunderstandings and hijinks. But [[BewareTheSillyOnes when they get their orders]], they demonstrate just why they're PlanetLooters feared around the universe.

* ''ComicBook/AtomicRobo'': Recurring villain Dr. Dinosaur manages to be funny in all of his appearances, being a sapient dinosaur who considers himself an evil genius when his grasp of science qualifies more as technobabble gibberish at best.
* ''ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}'': ''ComicBook/Hawkeye2012'' introduces the Tracksuit Mafia. If the name isn't enough indicative, they [[VerbalTic add "bro" to every sentence]] to drive their comedic nature home.
* ''ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIDW'' tends to have fairly serious villains, but a few of them do fit the trope...

* In ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' we have Monokuma, the self-proclaimed headmaster of the Despair Academy. His funny antics and quirks never quite manage to make up for the way he gleefully sets up the murders, watches everyone with cameras and his ability to violently self-destruct. [[spoiler: Played with, since he is a robot that is controlled by the real mastermind the same presumably goes for them. And oh boy it does. Junko Enoshima is an AxCrazy psychopath who experiences mood swings so violently that they might as well be different personalities. Her shifting her behaviour from a high and mighty EvilOverlord, to a {{Kawaiiko}} complete with ArtShift might seem amusing, if she didn't talk about how she randomly killed her sister [[ForTheEvulz out of boredom]] and her part in causing the collapse of human society ''at the same time''.]]

Often overlaps with the HarmlessVillain (Harmless Villains are inherently funny, but funny villains are not inherently harmless), AffablyEvil, FauxAffablyEvil (who are often funny), LoveToHate, the IneffectualSympatheticVillain and MagnificentBastard. And with LargeHam (playing a villain seems to be very fun). It's also a prerequisite for the BumblingHenchmenDuo, the TerribleTrio and the QuirkyMinibossSquad. Interestingly, this either subverts or complements EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor, as does TooFunnyToBeEvil, a closely related sister trope. Tends to be the sort who CrossesTheLineTwice. See also LaughWithMe and BewareTheSillyOnes. A villain who is laughably evil need not have an EvilLaugh, though it can help. Alternatively, they may have an UnevilLaugh. A particularly CardCarryingVillain with emphasis put on the comical aspects of their "BadIsGoodAndGoodIsBad" morality can very easily turn into a Laughably Evil villain.

* Stewie Griffin from ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', starting with the very fact that he's [[EnfantTerrible a one-year-old baby who is an evil mastermind]].

* In ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' we have Monokuma, the self-proclaimed headmaster of the Despair Academy. His funny antics and quirks never quite manage to make up for the way he gleefully sets up the murders, watches everyone with cameras and his ability to violently self-destruct. [[spoiler: Played with, since he is a robot that is controlled by the real mastermind the same presumably goes for them. And oh boy it does. Junko Enoshima is an AxCrazy psychopath who experiences mood swings so violently that they might as well be different personalities. Her shifting her behaviour from a high and mighty EvilOverlord, to a {{Kawaiiko}} complete with ArtShift might seem amusing, if she didn't talk about how she randomly killed her sister [[ForTheEvulz out of boredom]] and her part in causing the collapse of human society ''at the same time''.]] [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] In ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony'', Monoakuma becomes [[TookALevelInJerkass ''more scarier than funny''.]], [[AbusiveParents As he's an abusive father to the Monokubs]] near the end of the game, willingly broke his own rules, [[MiscarriageOfJustice manipulated Kaede into thinking she kaccidentally killed Rantaro and executed her, just to keep the killing game going,]] Gave numerous killers (except Kaito) [[BloodierAndGorier much more gorier and disturbing executions than ever]], leaving them DeaderThanDead, and he along with [[BigBad Tsumugi]] doesn't just commit genocide and snuff filming on humans just for the sake of despair, [[VillainWithGoodPublicity but also for good television and fame]], willing to dehumanize and driving the survivors into suicide to make it happen. [[BrokenBase Some fans admit just how outright terrifying this version of Monokuma is because]], [[RealismInducedHorror numerous elements in the game do happen in real life]]. [[TheDogBitesBack Needless to say, it's satisfying to see Shuichi take his vengeance against two two cocksuckers]] and get them [[KilledOffForReal killed off for good.]]

* In ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' we have Monokuma, the self-proclaimed headmaster of the Despair Academy. His funny antics and quirks never quite manage to make up for the way he gleefully sets up the murders, watches everyone with cameras and his ability to violently self-destruct. [[spoiler: Played with, since he is a robot that is controlled by the real mastermind the same presumably goes for them. And oh boy it does. Junko Enoshima is an AxCrazy psychopath who experiences mood swings so violently that they might as well be different personalities. Her shifting her behaviour from a high and mighty EvilOverlord, to a {{Kawaiiko}} complete with ArtShift might seem amusing, if she didn't talk about how she randomly killed her sister [[ForTheEvulz out of boredom]] and her part in causing the collapse of human society ''at the same time''.]] [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] In ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony'', Monoakuma becomes [[TookALevelInJerkass ''more scarier than funny''.]], [[AbusiveParents As he's an abusive father to the Monokubs]] near the end of the game, willingly broke his own rules, [[MiscarriageOfJustice manipulated Kaede into thinking she kaccidentally killed Rantaro and executed her, just to keep the killing game going,]] Gave numerous killers (except Kaito) [[BloodierAndGorier much more gorier and disturbing executions than ever]], leaving them DeaderThanDead, and he along with [[BigBad Tsumugi]] doesn't just commit genocide and snuff filming on humans just for the sake of despair, [[VillainWithGoodPublicity but also for good television and fame]], willing to dehumanize and driving the survivors into suicide to make it happen. [[BrokenBase Some fans admit just how outright terrifying this version of Monokuma is because]], [[RealismInducedHorror numerous elements in the game do happen in real life]]. [[TheDogBitesBack Needless to say, it's satisfying to see Shuichi his vengeance against two two cocksuckers]] and get them [[KilledOffForReal killed off for good.]]

* In ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' we have Monokuma, the self-proclaimed headmaster of the Despair Academy. His funny antics and quirks never quite manage to make up for the way he gleefully sets up the murders, watches everyone with cameras and his ability to violently self-destruct. [[spoiler: Played with, since he is a robot that is controlled by the real mastermind the same presumably goes for them. And oh boy it does. Junko Enoshima is an AxCrazy psychopath who experiences mood swings so violently that they might as well be different personalities. Her shifting her behaviour from a high and mighty EvilOverlord, to a {{Kawaiiko}} complete with ArtShift might seem amusing, if she didn't talk about how she randomly killed her sister [[ForTheEvulz out of boredom]] and her part in causing the collapse of human society ''at the same time''.]] [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] In ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony'', Monoakuma becomes [[TookALevelInJerkass ''more scarier than funny''.]], [[AbusiveParents As he's an abusive father to the Monokubs]] near the end of the game,{{Hypocrite willingly broke his own rules,}} [[MiscarriageOfJustice manipulated Kaede and executed her, just to keep the killing game going,]] Gave numerous killers (except Kaito) [[BloodierAndGorier much more gorier and disturbing executions than ever]], leaving them DeaderThanDead, and he along with Tsumugi doesn't just commit genocide and snuff filming on humans just for the sake of despair, [[VillainWithGoodPublicity but for good television]], willing to dehumanize and driving the survivors into suicide to make it happen. [[BrokenBase Some fans admit just how outright terrifying this version of Monokuma is because]], [[RealismInducedHorror numerous elements in the game do happen in real life]]. [[TheDogBitesBack Needless to say, it's satisfying to see Shuichi his vengeance against two two cocksuckers]] and get them [[KilledOffForReal killed off for good.]]

* In ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' we have Monokuma, the self-proclaimed headmaster of the Despair Academy. His funny antics and quirks never quite manage to make up for the way he gleefully sets up the murders, watches everyone with cameras and his ability to violently self-destruct. [[spoiler: Played with, since he is a robot that is controlled by the real mastermind the same presumably goes for them. And oh boy it does. Junko Enoshima is an AxCrazy psychopath who experiences mood swings so violently that they might as well be different personalities. Her shifting her behaviour from a high and mighty EvilOverlord, to a {{Kawaiiko}} complete with ArtShift might seem amusing, if she didn't talk about how she randomly killed her sister [[ForTheEvulz out of boredom]] and her part in causing the collapse of human society ''at the same time''.]] [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] In ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony'', Monoakuma becomes [[TookALevelInJerkass ''more scarier than funny''.]], [[AbusiveParents As he's an abusive father to the Monokubs]] near the end of the game, [[Hypocrite willingly broke his own rules,]] [[MiscarriageOfJustice manipulated Kaede and executed her, just to keep the killing game going,]] Gave numerous killers (except Kaito) much more gorier and disturbing executions than ever, leaving them DeaderThanDead, and he along with Tsumugi doesn't just commit genocide and snuff filming on humans just for the sake of despair, [[VillainWithGoodPublicity but for good television]], willing to dehumanize and driving the survivors into suicide to make it happen. [[BrokenBase Some fans admit just how outright terrifying this version of Monokuma is because]], [[RealismInducedHorror numerous elements in the game do happen in real life]]. [[TheDogBitesBack Needless to say, it's satisfying to see Shuichi his vengeance against two two cocksuckers]] and get them [[KilledOffForReal killed off for good.]]