History Main / TheHeavy

%%* In ''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/196256/the-moons-apprentice The Moon's Apprentice]]'', because Nightmare Moon is still in the moon, this role falls to Twilight Sparkle. [[AmbiguouslyEvil Not that you can tell.]]
%%* [[PsychoForHire Saturn Laos]] acts at this in the RWBY fanfic ''TheShadowOfFire''.
* In ''[[Fanfic/TheDearSweetieBelleContinuity The Changelings Have a King]]'', the eponymous King Carapace is this. While Queen Chrysalis created him [[spoiler:(by transforming Prince Blueblood into a changeling)]] to serve as a progenitor of new "pure" changelings and a source of [[EmotionEater love/power]], and the two of them nominally oversee the hive and the invasion together, he takes a much more active role in planning and carrying out the invasion, while Chrysalis is mainly concerned with her brood, [[spoiler:and it's implied he's isolating and manipulating her]].
* ''Fanfic/TheBridgeMLP'' has an overarching BigBad [[spoiler:Bagan]] with an ArcVillain for each story arc that is under its command, thus technically making them all this as said BigBad has a case of justified OrcusOnHisThrone. Most prominent example would be [[HumanoidAbomination Enjin]] for the Equestria Girls arc, who is a ScarilyCompetentTracker and full blown KnightOfCerebus. The threat of it alone is enough to spur an EnemyMine team-up.
* In ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku'', [[Characters/GLRedLanternCorps Atrocitus and the Red Lantern Corps]] completely reshaped Earth's views on aliens and space. The destruction wrought during the Lantern War, a clash between the Red Lantern Corp and the Green Lantern Corp, turned public opinion against aliens and led them to call for the ousting or extermination of all extraterrestrials, even previously loved superheros like ComicBook/{{Starfire}} and ComicBook/MartianManhunter. All investments into space travel were shunted aside as humans became terrified of what existed outside of their planet. In the present, it's precisely this level of FantasticRacism that gives Izuku his incredible self-loathing and dysphoria, as he's constantly berating himself for what he did to Bakugou and for being an alien on a planet that hates them as a whole.

* The MagicalGirl CrisisCrossover ''Fanfic/ShatteredSkiesTheMorningLights'' features [[Manga/SailorMoon Chaos]] as its CrossoverVillainInChief, but since it's a SentientCosmicForce without physical form, it needs someone else to lead [[LegionOfDoom Dead End]] in the mortal world. Enter [[Anime/SmilePrettyCure Joker]], Dead End's field leader, a sadistic and psychopathic VillainousHarlequin who goes around causing as much suffering as possible. By the time the titular Morning Lights are officially formed, Joker has [[Franchise/SailorMoon heroes]] [[Manga/CardcaptorSakura from]] [[Anime/PrettyCure five]] [[Franchise/LyricalNanoha different]] [[Franchise/MadokaMagica universes]] gunning for his head.

* ''Fanfic/AllForLuz'': Being the EvilMentor living in her head, Shigaraki is the one who interacts far more with Luz TheProtagonist than any other bad guy. He's also ultimately responsible for a lot of suffering in the story [[spoiler:like causing the MassSuperEmpoweringEvent in the Human Realm, corrupting Luz into becoming a killer and using her to get back to his own dimension and take over TheMultiverse.]]

* ''Fanfic/AllForLuz'': Being the EvilMentor living in her head, Shigaraki is the one who interacts far more with Luz TheProtagonist than any other bad guy. He's also ultimately responsible for a lot of suffering in the story [[spoiler:like causing the MassSuperEmpoweringEvent in the Human Realm, corrupting Luz into becoming a killer and using her to get back to his own dimension and take over TheMultiverse.

** ''Film/MissionImpossibleDeadReckoningPartOne'' has Gabriel, a terrorist mastermind recruited by the Entity to be its "[[MouthOfSauron messenger]]" and the main threat Ethan has to contend with throughout the film.

* ''Manga/JujutsuKaisen'': Mahito played this role in the first half of the series and [[spoiler:Sukuna takes over in the final arc of the series after taking over megumi's body]].

[[caption-width-right:350:You don't see the Emperor slaughtering rebels -- [softreturn]you see this guy.]]

* ''Literature/{{Dune}}'' has House Harkonnen, led by the nefarious Baron Harkonnen. While they are but one of several factions involved in the conspiracy against House Atreides, including TheEmperor and the Spacing Guild, they are the main muscle of the conspiracy and House Atreides's primary obstacle throughout.

* For ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'', Morgoth is the Heavy as well as the BigBad for most of the story, however the episodic nature of its mythical narrative allows other characters like [[FallenHero Feanor]], [[TheDragon Sauron]], and [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Glaurung]] to all have their time in the spotlight.

* In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'', [[TheCaligula Visser Three]] is leading the [[PuppeteerParasite Yeerk]] invasion of Earth, but the Yeerk Empire is actually ruled by the Council of Thirteen, who only appear in one book. He's also technically outranked by [[EvilVersusEvil his rival]], Visser One, who started the invasion but is only a recurring villain in the series. There's also a GreaterScopeVillain, [[CosmicHorror Crayak]], who is pulling the strings of the Yeerk invasion (and just about every other evil thing in the galaxy) but can't do much directly, being limited by the arcane rules of his game with [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien the Ellimist]].

* [[CainAndAbel Diogenes Pendergast]] in ''Literature/AgentPendergast'' books ''Literature/DanceOfDeath'' and ''Literature/BookOfTheDead''. He is the driving force for both books and even manages to get more screentime than his brother in each of them.
* In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}},'' [[TheCaligula Visser Three]] is leading the [[PuppeteerParasite Yeerk]] invasion of Earth, but the Yeerk Empire is actually ruled by the Council of Thirteen, who only appear in one book. He's also technically outranked by [[EvilVersusEvil his rival]], Visser One, who started the invasion but is only a recurring villain in the series. There's also a GreaterScopeVillain, [[CosmicHorror Crayak]], who is pulling the strings of the Yeerk invasion (and just about every other evil thing in the galaxy) but can't do much directly, being limited by the arcane rules of his game with [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien the Ellimist]].

[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] the [[Music/TheHeavy band of the same name]], or the [[Characters/TeamFortress2TheHeavy Heavy Weapons Guy]], though a skilled player can certainly ''make'' him qualify. Also not to be confused with TheBigGuy, although the two can overlap, or with TheLoad or TheMillstone. Any equivalent character in the form of your most reliable party member would more than likely qualify as a GameBreaker.

* ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'': The angel [[KnightTemplar 6 Juggernaut Star Scours the Universe]] sets the plot in motion by decapitating the visitor to Allison's room, [[ImDyingPleaseTakeMyMacGuffin causing him to hand it to Allison as he dies]] ([[spoiler:we later learn this was entirely intentional]]). It turns out to be TheDragon of the comic's possible GreaterScopeVillain, becomes an antagonist to [[TheLancer 82 White Chain Born in Emptiness Returns to Subdue Evil]], causing the latter to team up with Allison, and is much more personally invested in Allison's advancement (and much more personally interested in killing her) than the comic's actual BigBadEnsemble.

* ''Film/TheTexasChainsawMassacre'': The Sawyer family collectively serve as the {{Big Bad}}s of the series, but it's their mentally handicapped son Leatherface who's [[VillainBasedFranchise the face of the franchise]] and the one who's out there killing people and delivering their corpses to his CannibalClan family on their orders. In some films, it's implied that he's just DumbMuscle for his family and too simple-minded to realize that he's doing anything wrong, while others make him actively malicious in his own right. In [[Film/TheTexasChainsawMassacre2003 the remake]], Sheriff Hoyt ([[spoiler:who is really his adoptive brother Charlie Hewitt, Jr.]]) joins Leatherface in a BigBadDuumvirate.

** Roman is the show's StarterVillain and the key villain of Volume 1. The media mentions the manhunt for him and the protagonists repeatedly encounter him. As their only link to the villainous activity, the heroes focus on him throughout Volume 2 as well. [[spoiler:His pilot episode getaway pilot is revealed at the end of Volume 1 to be his superior, Cinder Fall. In Volume 2, the heroes don't know that Cinder is a villain is therefore don't realise she's the one pulling Roman's strings.]]

** [[StarterVillain Roman Torchwick's]] string of dust robberies and other illegal activity is a looming shadow of a much bigger plot in Volume 1 while the main focus is the girls' introduction to Beacon and the forming of their team, [[spoiler:but then the revelation that he's working for [[LadyOfBlackMagic Cinder Fall]] comes along]], and in Volume 2 he becomes The Heavy full-stop [[spoiler:until the season finale where he is locked up, with Cinder taking on the role of main antagonist in Volume 3]]. The season finale of 3 then reveals that [[spoiler:Cinder herself is working for [[TheDreaded Salem]], with the latter content to let Cinder work out the details of how to fully capture the Fall Maiden's powers and destroy Beacon]].
** Acting under Salem's orders, Watts is the primary driving antagonist throughout Volume 7. He spends his time masterminding a plot to subvert Atlas from within and prepare the terrain for Salem's arrival; his malevolent intent makes him directly responsible for all problems affecting the heroes, with Tyrian following his orders and Jacques being used to give him access to Atlas's highly secure network.

[[folder:ComicBooks]]

* ''Fanfic/TheBridge'' has an overarching BigBad [[spoiler:Bagan]] with an ArcVillain for each story arc that is under its command, thus technically making them all this as said BigBad has a case of justified OrcusOnHisThrone. Most prominent example would be [[HumanoidAbomination Enjin]] for the Equestria Girls arc, who is a ScarilyCompetentTracker and full blown KnightOfCerebus. The threat of it alone is enough to spur an EnemyMine team-up.

** Similar to ''Gingaman'', this role gets alternated quite a bit in ''Series/NinpuuSentaiHurricaneger'', but Fifth Spear, Sargain is the one who holds it for most of the series. As soon as Seventh Spear, Sandaaru arrives in episode 39 however, he pretty much does the heavy-lifting of finding the key pieces for the awakening of "That" accomplishing what his teammates and boss couldn't come close to doing before, notably by the end of his tenure he's all but overthrown Tau Zant as the BigBad [[spoiler:by disposing of him, the only reason he doesn't gets to become the FinalBoss is because the Gouraigers sacrifice Gouraijin to take him out just barely.]]

* In ''Film/TheNeverEndingStory'', Gmork fills this role in the first movie. The Nothing is probably the actual BigBad, but Atreyu has to fight him. Gmork even says something to this effect:

** [[spoiler:Leslie]] serves as this for Season 19. While only one of an entire race of [[spoiler:sapient Internet ads]], she is the one that is capable of having [[TheyLookLikeUsNow a human form]] and active in South Park.

** Doctor Kemp and Doctor Mazenda are responsible for creating the majority of [[MonsterOfTheWeek Brain Beasts]] the ''Series/ChoujuuSentaiLiveman'' battle. Great Professor Bias is the BigBad but doesn't participate in most schemes himself. Instead, as their EvilTeacher, he grades them on their plans and performance.

* The 1955 version of Biff Tannen in ''Film/BackToTheFuture1''. Half the conflict is trying to get Marty [=McFly=] back to 1985, the other half is Biff bullying Marty's father George, which directly threatens Marty because George might not have the courage to court Lorraine, which would lead to Marty being erased from existence. Biff graduates to BigBad for ''[[Film/BackToTheFuturePartII Part II]]'', while his FamousAncestor Buford "Mad Dog" Tanner serves the same role for ''[[Film/BackToTheFuturePartIII Part III]]''.

* ''ComicBook/{{Arawn}}'': Math is the most prominent antagonist in the series, since his murderous rivalry with Arawn drives the plot, but he is under the influence of the Black Cauldron, who is the real BigBad.
* ''{{ComicBook/Avengers}}'':Ultron mostly is the villain for most stories.
* ''{{ComicBook/Batman}}'': The Joker usually plays this role in most arcs.
* ''{{ComicBook/CaptainAmerica}}'': The Red Skull plays the role to torment Steve and his supporting cast most of the time.

* ''{{ComicBook/FantasticFour}}'':Doctor Doom most of the time.
* ''{{ComicBook/TheFlash}}'': Captain Cold leader of the rogues plays this role.
* ''{{ComicBook/GreenLantern}}'':Sinestro,Leader of the Sinestro Corps,former green lantern member, and arch-enemy of hal jorden has played the role in most of the series long run.
* ''{{ComicBook/Spawn}}'':The Violator aka Clown plays this role for most of the series.
* ''{{ComicBook/SpiderMan}}'': Norman Osborn has played this role in most stories after his comeback.
* ''{{ComicBook/Superman}}'': Lex Luthor is usually the one causing trouble.
* ''{{ComicBook/TheMightyThor}}'':Loki back in the day.
* ''{{ComicBook/WonderWoman}}'': Cheetah aka Barbara Minvera has become the most prominent foe for Diana but never the big bad that role is usually Ares or Circe.
* ''{{ComicBook/XMen}}'':Magneto back when he was the arch-enemy of the X-men before siding with them in recent years.

** ''Film/{{Solo}}'': Dryden Vos acts as the public face of [[TheSyndicate the Crimson Dawn]] and is the main antagonist to Han Solo during the film, but is merely a subordinate to [[spoiler: Maul]].

** ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'': [[spoiler:Bartemius Crouch Jr., using the Polyjuice Potion to disguise himself as Alastor "Madeye" Moody,]] plots an encounter between Voldemort and Harry to help his master to regain his full body during the Triwizard Tournament. [[spoiler: And he succeeds.]]

* [[spoiler:Tony Almeida]] in the seventh season of ''Series/TwentyFour''. Alan Wilson is the true BigBad of the season, but [[spoiler: Tony's]] actions throughout the entire thing serves one giant GambitRoulette to kill Wilson which is what serves as Season 7's entire driving force.

** In ''Series/PowerRangersInSpace'', [[TheSociopath Darkonda]] is the one advancing the plot by [[spoiler: capturing Andross's sister (one of the reasons why he has at first trust issues ''and'' the reason leading to said sister becoming the BigBad), turning Ecliptor into a cyborg (leading to ''Ecliptor himself'' turning Astronema into a cyborg, leading to her becoming more evil and creating ThePsychoRangers) and killing Dark Specter (leading to Astronema and Ecliptor becoming the FinalBoss(es)]]. Darkonda also acts briefly as the BigBad when Astronema is absent.
** In ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy'', [[TheStarscream Deviot]] is the one who breaks the statut quo by indirectly killing Scorpius, leading to Trakeena becoming the new BigBad. He's also the only general serving all three [[BigBad big bads]] [[spoiler: and his FusionDance whith Trakeena leads to the latter becoming an AxCrazy FinalBoss]].

** In ''Series/PowerRangersTimeForce'', [[TheStarscream Frax]] fills the role as the MookMaker, [[spoiler: the creator of both the outlaw who caused Ransik's illness and the cure to said illness, the one causing the HeelFaceTurn of Nadira (and by proxy Ransik) and the GreaterScopeVillain of the comic epilogue (once more, by proxy)]]. All of this makes Frax the most significant villain, even if Ransik is the BigBad.

** ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm'' : [[TheStarscream Vexacus]] is the one who makes the plot moves during the last StoryArc [[spoiler: until [[BigBad Lothor]] reveals that he was his UnwittingPawn during the endgame]].

** ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'' : Half way through the show, [[ArmsDealer Broodwing]] becomes pissed off by the fact that Grumm doesn't pay him anymore and decides to TakeOverTheWorld before him. He then becomes more active than Emperor Gruumm [[spoiler: and Omni]] and ends up becoming this trope. He's also the ClimaxBoss.
** ''Series/PowerRangersMysticForce'': Since [[GreaterScopeVillain Octomus]] is a SealedEvilInACan, and the ArcVillain(s) filling the role of the BigBad are also [[OrcusOnHisThrone Orcus On Their Trone]], [[TheDragon Koraag]] fills the the role of the Heavy because he's the RecurringBoss, ItsPersonalWithTheDragon and [[spoiler: he's the [[TheHero red rangers's]] ArchnemesisDad]]. He ultimately falls ''after'' the first two main villains.
*** During the last StoryArc he's replaced by [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Black Lance]], TheDragon of the third ArcVillain who becomes the PreFinalBoss [[spoiler: while said ArcVillain is killed by a reformed baddie]]. Ironically, [[spoiler: Koraag and Black Lance face each other]].

*** [[spoiler: While initially set up as the new BigBad, Snide is The Heavy of season 2, being the only general who ''willingly'' obeys (and betrays) all three BigBads. He has also a connection to '''all''' of them]].

*** [[spoiler: In season 2 Void Knight acts as The Heavy due to being the most RecurringBoss of this season. He's also the BigBad... for the first six episodes. He is then DemotedToDragon by ''his own wife'' but remains The Heavy because he's far more often on the battlefield than in season 1 (and because his wife is a NonActionBigBad)]].

%%** One could make a definite case for Earth-2 Lionel Luthor in the latter half of Season 10. {{ComicBook/Darkseid}} and his CoDragons may be the BigBad, but it's Earth-2 Lionel's schemes who drive most of the plots, and (unintentionally) enable Darkseid to eventually cross over.

* Captain Snow in ''Webcomic/{{Archipelago}}'' is a dreaded pirate, has a personal history with [[TheProtagonist Credenza]] [[spoiler: and Uru]] and while she and her friends are trying to keep the SealedEvilInACan sealed, he's working to release it, often reaching key points just after - or just before - the hero group does.

The Heavy is an antagonist trope, not a villain trope, so this can be a HeroAntagonist standing in the way of a VillainProtagonist just as easily as being an IneffectualSympatheticVillain all the way up to the BigBad. The Heavy can act as TheDragon, as keeping the Big Bad out of the limelight makes them more mysterious, and thus scarier. That role often overlaps with a NonActionBigBad, where the Heavy is providing the muscle. But it is the relation of the Heavy to the audience that defines this type, not the interaction with the Protagonist.