Evil laughter: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m spelling
Line 1: Line 1:
An '''evil laugh''' is a stock [[Megalomania|megalomaniacal]] [[laugh]] by a [[villain]] in [[fiction]]. In comic books, where [[supervillain]]s utter such laughs, it is variously rendered as '''Mwahahahaha!''', '''Muhuhahaha!''', '''Mwahahaha!''', and '''Mwa ha ha!''' or '''BooWHAHAHA!'''. (Compare [[Ho ho ho]].) These words are also commonly used on internet [[Blogs]], [[BBSes]], and games. There, they are generally used when some form of victory is attained, or to indicate [[superiority]] over someone else. The words are often used as either [[interjection]]s or nouns.
An '''evil laugh''' is a stock [[Megalomania|megalomaniacal]] [[laugh]] by a [[villain]] in [[fiction]]. In comic books, where [[supervillain]]s utter such laughs, it is variously rendered as '''Mwahahahaha!''', '''Muhuhahaha!''', '''Mwahahaha!''', and '''Mwa ha ha!''' or '''BooWHAHAHA!'''. (Compare [[Ho ho ho]].) These words are also commonly used on internet [[Blogs]], [[BBSes]], and games. There, they are generally used when some form of victory is attained, or to indicate [[superiority]] over someone else. The words are often used as either [[interjection]]s or nouns.


The evil laugh has been used for thousands of years to convey a villans feeling of significance.
The evil laugh has been used for thousands of years to convey a villain's feeling of significance.
For men it starts off as a low rumbling, in the back of the throat, slowly accending to a loud cackle. For women, on the other hand, it begins as a hoarse scratchy sound, and then rises to a maniacal laugh- however, this could work either way. Some protagonists have been known to use an "evil" laugh, either as a product of mental instability or merely to display a feeling of significance as a villain would. [[Father Grigori]] from the video game ''[[Half-Life 2]]'' is an example of this. [http://www.hlcomic.com/grighi.wav]
For men it starts off as a low rumbling, in the back of the throat, slowly ascending to a loud cackle. For women, on the other hand, it begins as a hoarse scratchy sound, and then rises to a maniacal laugh- however, this could work either way. Some protagonists have been known to use an "evil" laugh, either as a product of mental instability or merely to display a feeling of significance as a villain would. [[Father Grigori]] from the video game ''[[Half-Life 2]]'' is an example of this. [http://www.hlcomic.com/grighi.wav]


The [[Evil Overlord List]] notes that evil laughter often distracts the villain from important details that the hero can use to escape or prevail.
The [[Evil Overlord List]] notes that evil laughter often distracts the villain from important details that the hero can use to escape or prevail.
Line 17: Line 17:
*[[Darth Malak]] from [[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic]] Who also pressed one hand against his stomach while laughing, perhaps to assist containing the laughter.
*[[Darth Malak]] from [[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic]] Who also pressed one hand against his stomach while laughing, perhaps to assist containing the laughter.
*[[Devil Jin]] from ''[[Tekken 5]]''
*[[Devil Jin]] from ''[[Tekken 5]]''
*[[Doctor Claw]] from the popular childrens cartoon series [[Inspector Gadget]]
*[[Doctor Claw]] from the popular children's cartoon series [[Inspector Gadget]]
*[[Doctor Eggman]] from the Sonic the hedgehog video games ("HOO! HOO! HOO! HOO! HOO!")
*[[Doctor Eggman]] from the Sonic the hedgehog video games ("HOO! HOO! HOO! HOO! HOO!")
*[[The Dark Emmett]] from ''[[Evil City]]'' Mwahahahaha or BooWHAHAHAHA!
*[[The Dark Emmett]] from ''[[Evil City]]'' Mwahahahaha or BooWHAHAHAHA!
Line 69: Line 69:
*[[X-Death]] in ''[[Final Fantasy V]]''
*[[X-Death]] in ''[[Final Fantasy V]]''
*[[Yautja|Alien hunter]] from the film ''[[Predator (film)|Predator]]''.
*[[Yautja|Alien hunter]] from the film ''[[Predator (film)|Predator]]''.
* ZeeBad from [[The Magic Roundabout (film)|Doogal]] (American version) "The evil laugh comes from deep down the throat" in a parodical direct self-reference.
* ZeeBad from [[The Magic Roundabout (film)|Doogal]] (American version) "The evil laugh comes from deep down the throat" in a paradoxical direct self-reference.
*[[Zim (Invader Zim)|Zim]] from [[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]]'s ''[[Invader Zim]]''
*[[Zim (Invader Zim)|Zim]] from [[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]]'s ''[[Invader Zim]]''


Line 80: Line 80:
*the song "[[Master Of Puppets]]" by [[Metallica]] has an evil laugh at the end.
*the song "[[Master Of Puppets]]" by [[Metallica]] has an evil laugh at the end.
*various occurrences in the [[Dilbert]] cartoons, usually though not always by [[Dogbert]], and usually spelled "Buwahahah" or some variation.
*various occurrences in the [[Dilbert]] cartoons, usually though not always by [[Dogbert]], and usually spelled "Buwahahah" or some variation.
* Manolo Yanes From After an Implementation he would do his "Muahahahahahah" to his colegues CSBS
* Manolo Yanes From After an Implementation he would do his "Muahahahahahah" to his colleagues CSBS
*the song [[Peek-a-Boo]] by [[Devo]]
*the song [[Peek-a-Boo]] by [[Devo]]
Professional wrestler [[Ted DiBiase]] was well known for an evil laugh whenever he performed as the Million Dollar Man during his run in the WWE. Although he doesn't usually laugh, [[The Undertaker]] does give a spine-chilling laugh once in while at the end of a promo, especially to his brother [[Glen Jacobs|Kane]].
Professional wrestler [[Ted DiBiase]] was well known for an evil laugh whenever he performed as the Million Dollar Man during his run in the WWE. Although he doesn't usually laugh, [[The Undertaker]] does give a spine-chilling laugh once in while at the end of a promo, especially to his brother [[Glen Jacobs|Kane]].

Revision as of 08:30, 18 November 2006

An evil laugh is a stock megalomaniacal laugh by a villain in fiction. In comic books, where supervillains utter such laughs, it is variously rendered as Mwahahahaha!, Muhuhahaha!, Mwahahaha!, and Mwa ha ha! or BooWHAHAHA!. (Compare Ho ho ho.) These words are also commonly used on internet Blogs, BBSes, and games. There, they are generally used when some form of victory is attained, or to indicate superiority over someone else. The words are often used as either interjections or nouns.

The evil laugh has been used for thousands of years to convey a villain's feeling of significance. For men it starts off as a low rumbling, in the back of the throat, slowly ascending to a loud cackle. For women, on the other hand, it begins as a hoarse scratchy sound, and then rises to a maniacal laugh- however, this could work either way. Some protagonists have been known to use an "evil" laugh, either as a product of mental instability or merely to display a feeling of significance as a villain would. Father Grigori from the video game Half-Life 2 is an example of this. [1]

The Evil Overlord List notes that evil laughter often distracts the villain from important details that the hero can use to escape or prevail.

Popular culture

Characters that use an evil laugh include:

Other notable occurrences of the evil laugh in popular culture include:

Professional wrestler Ted DiBiase was well known for an evil laugh whenever he performed as the Million Dollar Man during his run in the WWE. Although he doesn't usually laugh, The Undertaker does give a spine-chilling laugh once in while at the end of a promo, especially to his brother Kane. Also, The Boogeyman is known to use an evil laugh to coincide with his gimmick.

James Mitchell In Total Non Stop Action Wrestling will normally use an evil laugh at ringside and when conducting a promo in the ring.

The "evil laugh" has become an almost-total cliché in recent pop culture and is now almost only used in a comedy light or satire. For example, Gary Larson drew a Far Side cartoon which portrayed a lecture hall full of science students aspiring to be mad scientists. The mad science curriculum, asserts Larson, requires all students to take "one semester of maniacal laughter". In a similar vein, one panel in the webcomic A Miracle of Science show three mad scientists engaging in an impromptu evil laughter competition [2].

See also

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Evil_laughter&oldid=88589873"