Basic Trope: An abused character takes revenge on their victimizer.
- Straight: With his evil lair falling apart around him, Emperor Evulz is killed by lowly Mook #13, who he'd been planning to execute for failure.
- Exaggerated:
- Emperor Evulz is subdued and captured by Mook #13, who then gets revenge by forcing Evulz to experience every single bad thing he's ever put one his minions through.
- Emperor Evulz is killed by Mook #13. He reappars as a ghost, and Mook #13 kills it, too.
- ALL the mooks gang up on Evulz, as does everyone he’s ever harmed.
- Downplayed:
- Mook #13 gets revenge on Emperor Evulz, but he doesn't kill him.
- Mook #13 did not do anything directly towards Emperor Evulz and ran away before things gets much worse, but he secretly tipped the heroes about Evulz's plans to get back at him.
- Justified:
- Evulz forced Mook #13 to work for him through fear and intimidation. Now that Evulz is powerless, Mook #13 is no longer afraid of him and takes the opportunity to exact his revenge for all the abuse.
- Evulz did something so horrible to Mook #13 it caused Mook #13 to snap and kill Evulz.
- Mook #13 had Character Development in which he Grew a Spine.
- Inverted:
- Kick the Dog.
- Because You Were Nice to Me; Emperor Evulz may have been a jackass to many of his mooks, but Mook #13 (and his troop of Elite Mooks) were treated fairly well, so they come to Evulz's aid.
- Subverted:
- As his evil lair falls apart, Mook #13 tries to kill Emperor Evulz, who unintentionally Offhand Backhands him and carries on.
- Mook #13 states that he could kill Evulz, but forgives him instead and walks away.
- Yank the Dog's Chain
- Double Subverted:
- Mook #13 gets back up and stabs Emperor Evulz in the back.
- Right after Mook #13 leaves, Evulz is confronted and killed by #15, who is not as forgiving.
- Throw the Dog a Bone
- Parodied:
- Emperor Evulz is a massive Tin Tyrant, and Mook #13 is a pathetic little goblin who curb stomps Evulz anyways.
- Mook #13 dramatically declares he's getting revenge against Evulz for adding too much salt to the mook rations before killing him.
- Zig Zagged: Evulz is attacked by Mook #13 who he used as a punching bag. However he dispatches Mook #13 effortlessly. This causes Lianna to flip out and attack Evulz as Mook #13 was the only one who was ever kind to her. She leaves him for dead. Later Lianna is adopted by the heroes and angsts about the blood on her hands from killing Evulz. Shortly after it is revealed that Evulz is still alive.
- Averted: Emperor Evulz makes his escape alive, or is killed by someone he hasn't beaten down.
- Enforced: "We can't let the hero kill Emperor Evulz; let's make a mook he's been tormenting do it instead."
- Lampshaded: "Emperor Evulz should have treated his minions better..."
- Invoked: The Guile Hero talks Mook #13 into assassinating Emperor Evulz by reminding him of all the cruel things Evulz has done to him.
- Exploited: Thanks to a spy in Evulz's base, the protagonists learn the mooks are planning to turn against their boss. With this in mind, they let them try and assassinate Evulz, but also get ready to strike the leaderless remnants when this happens.
- Defied:
- The villain treats his mooks well so they'll help him in his time of need.
- Evulz shoots Mook #13 In the Back during that split second at the beginning of the Final Battle when he was thinking his options.
- Evulz invests a whole lot on a Restraining Bolt that, essentially, robs the dog of his teeth. It is never hinted upon until that moment when Mook #13 draws his gun and his head explodes, Evulz just giving a "yup, knew this was a good idea" smile before barking more orders.
- Evulz's enemies, on either side of the law, make clear to his minions that it does not matters what they do to their master to try to appease them or if they try to run, there won't be any deals, nor quarter or hiding place. Loyalty to Evulz, and falling beside him, is all that Mook #13 has left.
- Discussed: "Ow... that looked like it hurt, Emperor Evulz better watch his back 'cause I don't think Mook #13 is gonna let him get away with that again."
- Conversed: ???
- Deconstructed:
- When word of his deed gets out, Mook #13 is Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves by the next Evil Overlord he offers his employment to.
- Mook #13 turns on Evulz, attacking the Evil Overlord when his back is turned with every ounce of his strength. Evulz is left standing unscathed in a crater, and he looks over his shoulder at #13.Emperor Evulz: Do you know what happens to dogs that bite their master?
- Reconstructed:
- Mook #13 is canny enough to get out of the Mook business after killing his old master; he'd done enough kind deeds to be accepted by the heroes.
- The Dragon who was also abused finishes off Evulz, and Mook #13 is allowed into the heroes’ ranks.
- Played For Laughs: Mook #13 gives Emperor Evulz the most bombastic Take This Job and Shove It speech ever and runs off like Daffy Duck.
- Played For Drama: Mook #13 tries to betray Evulz.
Hi, remember me? The one that you punted into The Dog Bites Back one too many times? Here's a taste of your own medicine...
