LogFAQs > #974597634

#71: Corporal Capeman

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/7/4/AAAG8cAAEn_W.jpg
Holder of the title of World's Worst Superhero before Florida Man took the crown.

Not to be confused with Captain Caveman, an actually decent cartoon character, Corporal Capeman was a self-styled superhero who showed up in the (mercifully short) second season of Inspector Gadget. Calling himself Gadget's assistant, he immediately set about attempting to help the inspector solve crimes, despite the fact that neither Gadget nor any of his friends wanted or needed his help. He bumbles even more than Gadget, and he acts like a complete jerk to Brain for no apparent reason (other than the fact that Brain doesn't seem to like him, but can you honestly blame him?), and fans immediately loathed this guy, no matter how much the writers and producers tried to foist him on us. He honestly might be the most unnecessary character in animation history. He's redundant as comic relief because you have Inspector Gadget (and Brain a little bit) for that. He's redundant as someone trying to help Gadget out because you have the infinitely more competent Penny (and I say that despite her getting captured half the time) helping him out. He's the definition of uncalled for: nobody asked for him, nobody wanted him. Inspector Gadget was already in trouble before Capeman came in for a landing, but this guy was definitely the nail in the coffin, and the show ended shortly after he debuted.