User:RickTommy
From Homestar Runner Wiki
Trogdor the Burninator
More than anything else in this encyclopedia, Trogdor has found the most fame from people who do not necessarily "know" Homestar Runner, Strong Bad and the rest. Countless references to Trogdor abound throughout the Internet, and the Burninator found international fame with a brief mention on the final episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". Trogdor enjoys almost inexplicably intense fame that is so widespread that the creators have yet to stumble across a new character to match his popularity. For this we have an e-mail author named "Kaiser" to thank.
It was Kaiser who prompted Strong Bad to draw a dragon to demonstrate his "skills of an artist". Considering that Strong Bad demonstrated these skills with a lead pencil and lined paper, one would have little confidence in Strong Bad's artistic expertise. Although initially unsuccessful (his original dragon proved to be a serpentine being with a triangular face and muscular human-like limbs, which he disdainfully jettisoned, commenting that it was not majestic enough), Strong Bad was undaunted. Eventually he produced a dragon which, while far from well designed, was at least visually striking in a somewhat offbeat way. It was this dragon upon which he bestowed the immortal appellation of Trogdor the Burninator. This name may be inspired in part by Trorg, the Dragon from BBC Radio's "The Hordes of the Things", and Falkor, the Luck Dragon from Michael Ende's "The Neverending Story". So pleased was Strong Bad of his creation that he composed (and performed) a theme song in the dragon's honour, and later designed a video game furthering his exploits.
Trogdor's appearance would certainly turn the head of the most seasoned herpetologist. His thin body is twisted into an "S" shape from head to tail, his spine is adorned with dinosaur-like spikes, and his face resembles that of a crocodile. His crooked, fanged grin could almost be interpreted as a friendly one, but his empty, savage eyes betray the true nature of the beast. Some mammalian components are also present: an underdeveloped pair of obviously worthless bat-like wings rests on the back of his head, and a muscular human arm grows from the back of his neck (a throwback to the earlier, rejected design, which had a full complement of human limbs). His feet are simple sticks, rather like the Poopsmith's.
Although Trogdor is a unique design, he rather more resembles an occidental dragon rather than an oriental one. This is a vital indication of Trogdor's disposition; while oriental dragons represent, for the most part, wisdom and nobility, occidental dragons have generally represented destruction, cruelty, and evil. The book of Revelation depicts the Devil himself in the form of a (non-oriental) dragon, so Trogdor finds himself in sinister company indeed. And he lives up to his lineage; his sole purpose of existence seems to be the wanton demolition of hapless medieval peasants and their villages. There is no purpose behind this rampage, nor is there any remorse in regards to the loss of life and livelihood; Trogdor commits his massacres with a mix of animalistic brutality and the immature glee of a reckless child smashing his playthings. It is symbolic that his weapon of choice is "burnination"; like Trogdor, fire is an uncaring elemental force that destroys anything it contacts. The image of villages turned to flaming wreckage is another portent of Trogdor's diabolical lineage; those villagers would certainly agree that Trogdor is a hellish beast of the blackest shade. Even Trogdor's theme song accentuates this: not medieval by any stretch, it is a cacophony of screaming electric guitars (still the "Devil's music" to some), pounding bass and howled vocals by Strong Bad himself.
Which brings us to the most interesting facet of Trogdor's existence: if, as many believe, the creations of an artist can reveal motives and preferences of the creator, what does Trogdor's countenance say about Strong Bad? Psychologist Carl Jung asserted that a dragon often symbolizes what he calls "The Shadow", which consists of a gamut of dark, hostile and antisocial tendencies which must be repressed if the ego, the "good self" is to be at the forefront of one's personality. If Strong Bad is subject to the whims of his id, his "bad self", Trogdor literally IS id. While Strong Bad cannot commit violent acts on the scale of Trogdor's delirium, some deep, primitive part of him would like to, and it is through Trogdor's escapades that he can live out some of his dark fantasies while at least partially conforming to the world's standards of acceptable behavior. Strong Bad, like us, admires Trogdor because he is something that most of us will, for reasons of conscience, never be. Trogdor unabashedly acts on any feeling he has, and if innocents must pay the price for his freedom of action, even in blood, he feels no regret whatsoever. Conscience is all that keeps anarchy in check, and Trogdor is a textbook example of the results of unrestrained passion and impulse. Strong Bad himself unwittingly recognizes the link between dragons and "The Shadow" with the final line of Trogdor's theme song: "The Trogdor comes in the night."
Several parallels can be drawn between Strong Bad and Trogdor, to the extent that one almost seems to be drawing traits from the other. Most obvious is Trogdor's "beefy arm", which is undeniably human. Considering Strong Bad's pride in his musculature and strength, it is obvious that Trogdor's arm is Strong Bad's presence within him physically manifesting itself. Note that the arm never serves any function other than decorative, however. Lack of civilized control over a creation, perhaps? Has Strong Bad truly "created a monster"? Strong Bad has no fear about the themes that Trogdor introduces, however, and considers himself the dragon's equal in some respects. After all, both get satisfaction from victimizing innocents who are incapable or unwilling to fight back; just as Strong Bad receives no retribution to his abuse of Strong Sad, there is no chance that unarmed serfs and thatched huts could oppress Trogdor in any way. This relationship is made explicit when, after Strong Bad draws his loving rendition of Trogdor, he discovers that Strong Sad has also drawn a dragon much better rendered than his. His response is to callously destroy Strong Sad's picture with fire, doing some "burninating" of his own. He then celebrates his conquest with a cry of "Trogdor strikes again!", blurring the line between his deeds and the dragon's deeds further. The point is finally driven home when Strong Bad performs Trogdor's theme song, in which he erroneously asserts that "Trogdor was a man". It is not long before he corrects himself, but his momentary confusion is telling.
Did the Chapman Brothers have all of these themes in mind when designing Trogdor, who is, on the surface, a harmless little drawing? Possibly and possibly not. The Chapman Brothers have certainly proven themselves intelligent and with respect for the sophistication of their audience, but sometimes even the most brilliant creative minds inadvertently add subtexts without being fully aware of them. In any event, Trogdor's rampages not only serve entertainment purposes but also act as an outlet for Strong Bad to exercise - and exorcise - his baser tendencies. And Trogdor's massive popularity within the world at large shows that he is certainly not alone in his darker inclinations. Sometimes the abyss is closer than we think.
