Basic Trope: A character, usually with the good guys, resents the fact that they are not the hero and the successes of the actual hero.
- Straight: Andy is the hero and Bob is his sidekick; Bob resents Andy's success.
- Exaggerated:
- Bob resents Andy's every success, even if it has nothing to do with the hero's mission.
- Andy is smart, strong, kindhearted, and gets the attention of girls, all at age sixteen. Bob is in his 20's and isn't as well off (much less when he was sixteen). Bob deeply dislikes Andy and anyone who praises him for constantly saving the day, even though Andy is completely deserving of praise... or maybe especially because Andy is completely deserving.
- Downplayed: Bob's a little bitter about Andy's successes, but it's little more than just grumbling.
- Justified:
- Andy was simply born into his power while Bob worked his block off, and yet Andy is still the hero.
- Bob respects the rules of society, while Andy often causes as many problems as the bad guys.
- Implied: After Andy gets lavished with enough praise at a party, Bob asks to use the bathroom so he doesn't have to hear any more.
- Inverted:
- Andy resents Bob for not being the hero.
- Bob greatly admires Andy's heroism and does everything he can to support him.
- Bob resents himself for having been a villain.
- Subverted: Bob's seems to resent Andy's success, but it turns out to be just how their relationship is. He's cool with it.
- Double Subverted: Until Andy's teacher plants the idea in his head that he should be the hero, and it sticks.
- Parodied:
- The rest of the team has a lottery to see how long after the battle it takes for Bob to start grumbling.
- Bob is so resentful because he wasn't chosen as line leader in kindergarten and Andy was. If it wasn't for that, they'd be completely alike!
- Zig Zagged: Bob gets so frustrated seeing Andy succeed and get all the credit for the team's endeavors he strikes out on his own. His Love Interest Claire is kidnapped as a result, which brings him back to help save the day. But Claire thanks Andy and only Andy, giving him a kiss, making Bob upset and vulnerable to Diane's corrupting words. He resists and comes back to the team, but then Emily teases him about it.
- Averted:
- Andy and Bob are both heroes.
- Andy and Bob both work for the hero in an equal capacity.
- Enforced: The writers believe this kind of tension between the heroes is interesting and generates readers.
- Lampshaded: "Hey look, the townsfolk are chanting Andy's name over and over again. Bob is gonna be pissed."
- Invoked: Wanting the Heroes to take each other out, General Dusk starts subtly corrupting Bob's thoughts, convincing him that Andy doesn't deserve his success and that he shouldn't be happy staying in his shadow.
- Exploited: After noticing how Bob reacts to Andy's success, General Dusk has his agents spread fantastic stories about Andy among the population, hoping it will push Bob over the edge.
- Defied: The rest of the team notices how Bob pushes himself and make it a point to include him so it doesn't become a problem.
- Discussed: "Bob's been brooding since the last battle- that happens a lot."
- Conversed:"Look at all the people praising Andy."
"Look at Bob muttering under his breath." - Deconstructed:
- Bob gets so fed up with Andy's successes he strikes out on his own.
- Bob gets so frustrated he just can't function at a critical moment.
- Bob's resentments isolate him from the rest of the team, who don't seem to feel the same way, leaving him vulnerable to Diane.
- Bob makes a Face–Heel Turn.
- Reconstructed:
- Bob's time alone gives him perspective, and he returns, although he still can't get over Andy's behavior.
- When Bob hears his Love Interest Claire screaming in pain, he snaps to his senses. Andy or no, he can't have her hurt.
- Bob resists temptation, preferring to be with the heroes, no matter how much Andy pisses him off.
- Bob eventually makes a Heel–Face Turn... reluctantly.
- Played For Laughs: Bob resents Andy for looking better in a suit and having all the right dance moves.
- Played For Drama:
- Andy's a real asshole who never lets Bob live down that he's not special, no matter how hard he tries. Bob tries and tries, but can't cut it and takes his own life.
- Andy is the hero in the first place because he has strong personality traits like perseverance. Bob resents Andy because these traits serve as a mocking reminder of the traits Bob lacks. Bob, having given up on self-improvement, decides to tear Andy down to his level.
- Played For Horror: In the Wham Episode, Bob's resentment leads to him going off the deep end and trying to kill Andy in cold blood. After that, Bob becomes a bigger and more personal threat than the previous villain.
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