Playing the Fool

Write a scene where the comic villain uses their perceived incompetence to their advantage.

This prompt focuses on the trope of the ‘buffoon villain,’ who is often underestimated due to their absurd behavior or ineffectual threats. But what if their bumbling is a ruse, a cover for their true devious plans? In this exercise, develop a narrative where this comic villain uses their foolish facade to dupe the heroes and scheme their misdeeds undetected. This allows you to explore the themes of deception, misconceptions, and the underestimation of the ‘fool’.