History Main / NominalHero

** Aria T'Loak is a crimelord who allows slavery, drug running and pretty much anything else as long as it doesn't undermine her power. She is however willing to aid Shepard to some extent, and seems none too fond of the collectors. Probably both for practical reasons and on principle.

* ''StarWars'' ''TheOldRepublic'' Lord Scourge is a companion to the Jedi Knight class, he sides with the Jedi to stop the [[OmnicidalManiac Sith Emperor]] from destroying the entire galaxy. In the back story he was responsible for [[spoiler: Revans capture and the Exiles death because he saw that they would fail in defeating the Emperor.]]

* In ''Fanfic/NarutoVeanganceRevelaitons'', Ronan [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Beelzbub]] is a tyrannical king fights against the forces of evil, especially when they kidnap one or more of his girlfriends, but it's often hard to see them as being worse than he is considering that he's also an abusive boyfriend, will persecute those who don't share his tastes and a jerk to ordinary people like shopkeepers.

So why '''are''' they on the side of good? Usually, it's one of the following:

** Belkar Bitterleaf is an unapologetic SociopathicHero with no actual redeeming qualities. At one point, [[TheHero Roy]] claims that the only reason he keeps Belkar around is to keep him from using his abilities to become a full-blown CompleteMonster. Belkar's StupidEvil antics are entirely deliberate on his part, as he finds being his own personal MookHorrorShow is not only entertaining but also an effective way of gaining XP. Later, he shifts to a more subdued TokenEvilTeammate role, and gains an actual MoralityPet of sorts, his RightHandCat, Mr. Scruffy.

* Boredom. These characters are basically fighting for good because they don't have anything better to do. They don't care if the heroes actually succeed, they just enjoy the adventure. A HeroicSociopath or TheTrickster might have this motivation.

This type of hero is rarely averse to working alone, with other heroes, or for the BigBad, if they think it is in their interest. Being a HeelFaceRevolvingDoor is no big deal, because from their point of view, they never really switched sides, just tactics. When working for a villain, it will usually be as a DragonWithAnAgenda, PsychoForHire, or TheStarscream; this character will betray the villain the moment the villain's plans interfere with their own. On a team of otherwise conventional heroes, they'll often be in an EnemyMine, HeroicSociopath, or TokenEvilTeammate role. Other heroes may only work with them because they could use all the help they can get, or specifically to keep an eye on the HeroInNameOnly, so that they don't become a more serious threat.

* Even without a HeelRealization, an EnemyMine, the lesser of evils in an EvilVersusEvil or ALighterShadeOfBlack story, a HeroicSociopath, NobleDemon, TokenEvilTeammate, or UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist can have an EvenEvilHasStandards moment and fight for good for the same reasons an IdealHero would. A NominalHero has no such standards.

* ''{{Deadpool}}'' is an AxCrazy PsychoForHire HeroicSociopath. He easily eclipses even the Punisher, as he frequently finds it ''funny'' to casually torture, dismember, and murder people.

* In the [[{{Sherlock}} 2010 BBC modernization]], Sherlock Holmes [[{{Lampshade}} describes himself]] as a "[[{{HeroicSociopath}} High-Functioning Sociopath]]", and cautions Dr. Watson, "Don't make people into heroes, John. Heroes don't exist, and if they did, I wouldn't be one of them," showing not only that his motivations are not those of a typical straight hero, but also that he has a very cynical worldview.

* In the ''MetalGear'' series, Meryl, Psycho Mantis, and Liquid [[InformedAbility claim that]] Solid Snake is a HeroicSociopath who enjoys combat and killing, with the latter two telling him that he's far worse then they are. However, Psycho Mantis and Liquid are mass murdering psychopaths attempting to 'kill as many people as possible' and bring on a Darwinist 'warrior's paradise' respectively, which makes their attacks on him border on HypocriticalHumor and possibly UnreliableNarrator as well.

** Belkar Bitterleaf is an unapologetic HeroicSociopath with no actual redeeming qualities. At one point, [[TheHero Roy]] claims that the only reason he keeps Belkar around is to keep him from using his abilities to become a full-blown CompleteMonster. Belkar's StupidEvil antics are entirely deliberate on his part, as he finds being his own personal MookHorrorShow is not only entertaining but also an effective way of gaining XP. Later, he shifts to a more subdued TokenEvilTeammate role, and gains an actual MoralityPet of sorts, his RightHandCat, Mr. Scruffy.

* In ''WhateleyUniverse'', the Scourge, which in the distant past has destroyed entire galactic civilizations in its efforts to defeat Mythos monsters. HeroicSociopath Jobe Wilkins may fall in this trope as well.

* ''{{Anime/Gantz}}'' features a number of these. Several of the Osaka members are sadists who get off on hurting defenseless aliens who just happen to be their enemies. For the most part they could care less about their own team mates and even threaten to kill innocent people who simply irritate them. One is a serial rapist who rapes female aliens before murdering them in order to avoid being imprisoned for rape. Basicly they are CompleteMonsters who just happen to be fighting for the good of mankind.

* In ''WebOriginal/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog'', Captain Hammer. Apparently Hammer's ''only'' qualification as a hero is that the guy he's fighting is trying to get into a supervillain organization.

* Captain Hammer of ''DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog'' may look like TheCape, but underneath his dashing, larger-than-life demeanor is a misogynistic, self-centered, bigoted glory hound who's far more interested in his image than in actually helping people. This makes him the [[HeroAntagonist antagonist]] of the story, set against the nerdy, TechnicalPacifist, ShrinkingViolet [[VillainProtagonist protagonist]], Dr. Horrible.

* Eugene Greenhilt from ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' swore a BloodOath to defeat Xykon the Sorcerer because the latter killed his mentor, but he was the one who muttered "yeah, whatever," afterwards. He was a horrible father, an inattentive husband, and is only tangentially interested in Xykon being defeated because that oath he swore is keeping him from resting. He's only ''barely'' inside heaven in the afterlife. Note that when his son Roy died and went to heaven, Roy was able to get much further inside heaven because unlike Eugene, he actually gave a damn and did everything he could to fulfill the family oath.

* In ''Webcomic/OrderOfTheStick'', Belkar Bitterleaf is an unapologetic HeroicSociopath with no actual redeeming qualities. At one point, [[TheHero Roy]] claims that the only reason he keeps Belkar around is to keep him from using his abilities to become a full - blown CompleteMonster. Belkar's StupidEvil antics are entirely deliberate on his part, as he finds being his own personal MookHorrorShow is not only entertaining but also an effective way of gaining XP. Later, he shifts to a more subdued TokenEvilTeammate role, and gains an actual MoralityPet of sorts, his RightHandCat, Mr. Scruffy.

* In
''Anime/DeathNote'', Mello is solely dedicated to being the one to stop Kira and is more than willing to become a mob boss, kidnap innocent girls, and in the manga, even threaten the President to sabotage his rival so said rival can't catch Kira.

[[folder:Films (Live-Action)]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

* Yarol, the Venusian sidekick in C.L. Moore's Northwest Smith stories, is heavily implied to be athis. The narration never specifies his enormities, but hints that his [[{{Bishonen}} angelic beauty]] belies his absolutely evil nature.

[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''{{Hexen}} II'', two of the heroes are the Assassin (who wants to prove she can kill the most powerful and best protected being on the planet) and the Necromancer (who has a problem with Eidolon being more feared than him).

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Eugene Greenhilt from ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' swore a BloodOath to defeat Xykon the Sorcerer because the latter killed his mentor, but he was the one who muttered "yeah, whatever," afterwards. He was a horrible father, an inattentive husband, and is only tangentially interested in Xykon being defeated because that oath he swore is keeping him from resting. He's only ''barely'' inside heaven in the afterlife. Note that when his son Roy died and went to heaven, Roy was able to get much further inside heaven because unlike Eugene, he actually gave a damn and did everything he could to fulfill the family oath.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* In ''WebOriginal/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog'', Captain Hammer. Apparently Hammer's ''only'' qualification as a hero is that the guy he's fighting is trying to get into a supervillain organization.

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', "The Coon" is an imcompetant KidHero who, being Eric Cartman in disguise, cannot comprehend good from evil (he attacks a man romantically kissing his girlfriend for attempted rape), and the large amount of time is more interested in gaining a mystique and fame than actually doing something benevolent. When another genuinely competant KidHero, Mysterion (Kenny in disguise), steps in and overshadows him, he actually joins forces with a villain to put him out of action (albeit still perfectly convinced he is doing good and Mysterion is actually a dick). Amusingly, The Coon is a ''much'' more competent villain than he is a hero.
-->'''The Coon:''' It's not my fault you turned evil, Kenny!\\
'''Mysterion:''' You are the bad guy, Cartman. You!\\
'''The Coon:''' I'm making the world a better place!\\
'''Mysterion:''' ''(exasperated)'' FOR YOU! You're making the world a better place for YOU!\\
'''The Coon:''' ''(beat)'' Right, that's what superheroes do.

!!Examples:

[[AC: {{ComicBooks}}:]]
* Genis-Vell, aka [[{{Captain Mar-Vell}} Captain Marvel]], during his "space madness" phase. Genis was, at best, a VillainProtagonist with a severely warped sense of justice and rabid sense of entitlement. Rick Jones, to whom Genis was molecularly bonded, constantly opposed him and (rightly) questioned Genis's sanity. On one occasion, Genis bestowed powers upon a serial killer whom his friend Rick Jones had testified against in order to get the killer to stalk both Rick and his wife, Marlo. After putting Rick through absolute hell to the point where death seemed certain, Genis then executes the serial killer and explains to Rick that all of this was to teach Rick that he only lived on Genis's own whims, and that he was ''never to question him again''.

[[AC: {{Film}}:]]

[[AC: {{Literature}}:]]

[[AC: {{VideoGames}}:]]
* In ''{{Hexen}}'' II, two of the heroes are the Assassin (who wants to prove she can kill the most powerful and best protected being on the planet) and the Necromancer (who has a problem with Eidolon being more feared than him).

[[AC: {{WebComics}}:]]
* Eugene Greenhilt from ''OrderOfTheStick'' swore a group oath to defeat evil, but he was the one who muttered "yeah, whatever" afterwards. He was a horrible father, an inattentive husband, and is only tangentially interested in Xykon being defeated because that oath he swore is keeping him from resting. He's only ''barely'' inside heaven in the afterlife. Note that when his son Roy died and went to heaven, Roy was able to get much further inside heaven because unlike Eugene, he actually gave a damn and did everything he could to fulfill the family oath.

[[AC: {{WebOriginal}}:]]

[[AC: {{WesternAnimation}}:]]
* In ''SouthPark'', "The Coon" is an imcompetant KidHero who, being Eric Cartman in disguise, cannot comprehend good from evil (he attacks a man romantically kissing his girlfriend for attempted rape), and the large amount of time is more interested in gaining a mistique and fame than actually doing something benevolent. When another genuinely competant KidHero, Mysterion (Kenny in disguise), steps in and overshadows him, he actually joins forces with a villain to put him out of action (albeit still perfectly convinced he is doing good and Mysterion is actually a dick). Amusingly The Coon is a ''much'' more competant villain than he is a hero.
--> '''Coon:''' It's not my fault you turned evil, Kenny!
--> '''Mysterion:''' You are the bad guy, Cartman. You!
--> '''Coon:''' I'm making the world a better place!
--> '''Mysterion:''' *exasperated* FOR YOU! You're making the world a better place for YOU!
--> '''Coon:''' *beat* Right, that's what superheroes do.

In ''{{Film/Hulk}}'', it's not entirely clear (until possibly the end) if the title character really knows and/or understands what he's doing.

In ''{{Hexen}}'' II, two of the heroes are the Assassin (who wants to prove she can kill the most powerful and best protected being on the planet) and the Necromancer (who has a problem with Eidolon being more feared than him).

In ''WebOriginal/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog'', Captain Hammer. Apparently Hammer's ''only'' qualification as a hero is that the guy he's fighting is trying to get into a supervillain organization.

!!Examples

* Eugene Greenhilt from ''OrderOfTheStick'' swore a group oath to defeat evil, but he was the one who muttered "yeah, whatever" afterwards. He was a horrible father, an inattentive husband, and is only tangentially interested in Xykon being defeated because that oath he swore is keeping him from resting. He's only ''barely'' inside heaven in the afterlife. Note that when his son Roy died and went to heaven, Roy was able to get much further inside heaven because unlike Eugene, he actually gave a damn and did everything he could to fulfill the family oath.

'''NoRealLifeExamples, please.'''