Killer Clown

The Killer Clown is an enemy in the Castlevania series. He is a murderous clown who's popular at demon birthday parties.
==Origins==
Although clowns are originally comic performers and characterized to humor and entertain people, the image of the evil clown is a development in popular culture in which the playful trope of the clown is rendered as disturbing through the use of horror elements and dark humor.
The modern archetype of the evil clown has unclear origins; the stock character appeared infrequently during the 19th century, in such works as Edgar Allan Poe's Hop-Frog. Evil clowns also occupied a small niche in drama, appearing in the 1874 work La femme de Tabarin by Catulle Mendès, and in Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, both works featuring murderous clowns as central characters.
The modern stock character of the evil clown was popularized by Stephen King's novel It, published in 1986, via the character Pennywise the Dancing Clown (who was in reality a demonic entity) which became among the first to introduce the fear of an evil clown to a modern audience. Another one of the first appearances of the concept is that of John Wayne Gacy, an American serial killer and rapist arrested in 1978, who became known as the "Killer Clown" after it was discovered he had performed as "Pogo the Clown" at children's parties and other events (however, Gacy didn't actually commit any of his crimes while wearing his clown costume).
Another initial appearance was with the Joker, a prevalent member of the rogues gallery in the DC Comics franchise, in particular Batman, who is a psychopathic criminal mastermind that, due to a previous disfigurement from being exposed to chemicals in an earlier robbery, possessed green hair and bleached-white skin with ruby red lips which, alongside his purple suit, gave him the passing appearance of a clown (although his actual inspiration was closer to that of a Joker playing card).
==Description==
Killer Clowns are terrifying clowns usually occupying dollhouse- and carnival-themed stages. The first of these types of enemies to appear in a Castlevania game, was a toy clown called Pierrot in Castlevania Chronicles. Later versions were human sized and threw playing cards as weapons.
==Appearances==
===Castlevania Chronicles===
First appearance of a clown enemy in the series. Known as Pierrots, these enemies are little toy clowns who appear in the Floating Corridor along with many other toys, such as French Dolls, Toy Bats and rising Balloons. They come out of the many chests that comprise the platforms of that area, and move slowly and somewhat erratically; the main concern being that they may suddenly drop down on the player from a higher platform without warning while the latter is fending off other enemies.
===Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow===
In Dawn of Sorrow, the Killer Clown is a fairly powerful enemy. He slowly prances back and forth while shuffling a deck of cards from hand to hand, and then throws them at great speed in a straight line, inflicting considerable damage on contact.
Gaining dominance over his soul grants Soma Cruz the Trickster ability, which allows him to toss cards in a straight line as well.
Obtaining this soul is essential to get the good ending of the game, as it is required in order to destroy one of the three special carved columns that give access to the rear entrance of the Demon Guest House and fight Paranoia (the other two souls are Axe Armor and Ukoback).
The noise the Killer Clown makes when killed is shared by the Mud Demon, an enemy found later in the game.
===Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin===
In Portrait of Ruin, this enemy is seen tossing cards from one hand to the other, when suddenly three large cards fly at the player while he shouts: "Let's play!". He can sometimes be found walking upside-down on the "ceiling" (actually the floor) in the Nation of Fools, in rooms where the layout orientation is flipped upside-down.
He is the only source of the Joker card, which is required for Wind's "The Gambler" quest.
==Item Data==
==Trivia==
*The fact that the Killer Clown drops the Hamburger food item in Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin may be a reference to Ronald McDonald, the primary mascot of the McDonald's chain of fast food restaurants.
==See also==
*Killer-Clown Nose
==External links==
*Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin - Bestiary by Darth Nemesis at GameFAQs
*Mr. P's Castlevania Realm
es:Payaso Asesino
Category:Film Based Monsters
Category:Humans
Category:Literary Monsters
Category:Real Life Based Monsters
Category:Chronicles Enemies
Category:Dawn of Sorrow Enemies
Category:Portrait of Ruin Enemies