Basic Trope: A character who is abused by and yet is pathetically loyal to the Big Bad.
- Straight: Alex, despide being constantly used as the test subject for Professor Drachenstein's evil experiments, is ridiculously loyal.
- Exaggerated: Alex experiments on himself to save Drachenstein the trouble, offers himself up whenever he needs someone to kick around, and is always seen grovelling at Drachenstein's side.
- Downplayed:
- Alex is submissive to Drachenstein, but not obnoxiously so and occasionally expresses different opinions or shows clear reluctance to follow certain orders.
- Yes-Man
- Justified:
- Alex is afraid of what will happen to him if he abandons Drachenstein and is too weak or cowardly to stand up to him.
- Alex genuinely admires Drachenstein enough to ignore or even enjoy the abuse.
- Drachenstein has Alex under Mind Control to ensure his loyalty, sapping his sense of pride and free will.
- Drachenstein finds Alex extremely annoying, but can't get rid of him, so puts him to some menial use.
- Alex is Too Kinky to Torture.
- Inverted: Professor Drachenstein is the one unknowingly under his minion's control.
- Subverted:
- When Drachenstein goes too far in his abuse or his methods, Alex grows a spine, tells him off, and switches over to the heroes' side or quits.
- It turns out that what looks like abuse is voluntary: Drachenstein is paying or otherwise rewarding Alex for volunteering as a test subject, explaining why Alex tolerates it.
- While seemingly loyal to Professor Drachenstein, Alex is plotting his downfall behind his back, and is using grovelling behavior as part of the act.
- Alex is actually a Professional Butt-Kisser who is loyal to the position and not Drachenstein himself. When Drachenstein is deposed, he sucks up to the new boss right away.
- Double Subverted:
- ...But when Drachenstein decides to stop compensating Alex for using him as a lab rat, Alex eagerly continues without pay.
- However, Alex isn't able to work up the nerve to carry out his plan to betray Drachenstein.
- Alex ends up missing Drachenstein and turns into The Starscream of his new boss to get Drachenstein his old position back.
- Parodied: Alex is actually the one responsible for most of Drachenstein's success, despite being a hapless bootlicking minion.
- Zig Zagged: Professor Drachenstein seems to do his own work, but it's revealed that he has an assistant that he uses as a guinea pig.
- Averted: Professor Drachenstein doesn't employ this kind of minion. He values hard work and competence more than ego-boosting.
- Enforced: ???
- Lampshaded: "Get over here, Alex! I need someone to abuse today!" "Yes, master. Punch me in the face again, master."
- Invoked: Villains place ads in the paper for this kind of character.
- Exploited:
- Alex is coerced into a Heel–Face Turn or Mistreatment-Induced Betrayal when the heroes point out to him how thankless and abusive Drachenstein is despite Alex's loyalty.
- Alex acts submissive, but it’s an act. He’s actually manipulating Drachenstein.
- Defied:
- Drachenstein goes out of his way to hire minions competent enough to think for themselves but loyal enough not to betray him.
- Alex outright refuses to degrade himself for Drachenstein.
- Discussed: "Looks like I need a new subject for my experiments. Find a loyal minion with the brain of a pea and a lack of self-worth."
- Conversed: "Why does Alex stick around with Professor Drachenstein? I mean, surely being turned radioactive and being gene-spliced with a beaver would be too much." "That's loyalty."
- Deconstructed: Alex is a great admirer of Drachenstein's work, and is glad to be around his hero and assist him with his experiments. However, when Drachenstein keeps treating him like garbage, Alex loses his enthusiasm and submits to a life of abuse and underappreciation.
- Reconstructed: But he's just glad to be working for Drachenstein.
- Played For Drama: Drachenstein's organisation has a "kiss up, kick down" policy. Alex takes his master's mistreatment in stride due to being able to torment his own underlings.
Back to Sycophantic Servant, master.
