Monthly Obscure Trope Series – Punch-Clock Villain

Before we dive into today’s obscure trope, it might be best to preface with morality.  In fiction, there are two general morality scales:  Black-and-White or Grey-and-Grey.  

In Black and White morality stories, the heroes and the bad guys are easy to tell apart.  There’s likely some virtuously good force against some clearly evil one.  In Star Wars, the Empire is clearly bad and the Rebellion is clearly good.  In Lord of the Rings, Sauron and his forces are clearly evil and the hobbit an...