violator

vi·o·late

V0109800 (vī′ə-lāt′)tr.v. vi·o·lat·ed, vi·o·lat·ing, vi·o·lates 1. To disregard or act in a manner that does not conform to (a law or promise, for example).2. To assault (a person) sexually.3. To do harm to (property or qualities considered sacred); desecrate or defile.4. To disturb rudely or improperly; interrupt: violated our privacy.

[Middle English violaten, from Latin violāre, violāt-, from vīs, vi-, force; see weiə- in Indo-European roots.]

vi′o·la′tive adj.vi′o·la′tor n.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	violator - someone who violates the law law offender, lawbreakercriminal, crook, felon, malefactor, outlaw - someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
	2.	violator - someone who assaults others sexuallydebaucher, ravisherdebauchee, libertine, rounder - a dissolute person; usually a man who is morally unrestrained

Translations

παραβάτηςviolatore

Violator

Violator

(pop culture)Violator, also known as Clown, is the arch-nemesis of Spawn, a superhero created by writer/illustrator Todd McFarlane in 1992. Spawn is the flagship title of Image Comics, a company formed when several prominent artists working at Marvel Comics left to form their own line based primarily on creator control and ownership. Spawn is perhaps the best example of the grim-and-gritty tone that dominated mainstream superhero comics in the late 1980s and much of the 1990s. The title character of Spawn is Al Simmons, a covert government assassin who, after he is murdered by a fellow government operative, returns to Earth as a Hellspawn. The primary mission of a Hellspawn, an agent of the demon Malebolgia, is to recruit enough damned souls on Earth for the forces of hell to wage a final war on heaven. The Violator, a demon servant of Malebolgia, is assigned to keep an eye on Spawn and guide him in the right direction. As Violator tells Spawn in issue #4, “I'm not here to game-play. I'm here to keep you in line—make sure you don't stray.” In the 1997 live-action film, Violator tells Spawn to “just think of me as your guardian angel … the Clown from Hell.” On Earth, Violator chooses to appear in the form of the Clown—an obese, grotesque character almost as disturbing as his demonic Violator form. Guided by the jealousy of Al Simmons' promotion to Hellspawn, Clown tries to provoke Spawn instead of guarding and guiding him. As Violator, he goes on a murderous rampage through New York's mob underworld in an attempt to pull Spawn into direct combat. This strategy succeeds, but it eventually gets Clown into trouble. Malebolgia breaks up the fight, punishes Clown for his incompetence, and strips his Violator form and powers from him. Violator's demotion doesn't prove to be much of a deterrence, however. In the first issue of Violator (1994), a three-issue miniseries written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Bart Sears, Clown indicates that he hasn't changed much despite his limitations: “Maybe I don't look like a demon outta hell no more, but that don't mean I ain't thinkin' like one!” In this miniseries, Moore also reveals that Violator is one of five demonic siblings called the Phlebiac Brothers. In addition to his troubles with Spawn, Violator also has to cope with his role as the family embarrassment. Clown has emerged numerous times to provoke Spawn throughout the long-running comics series. Although he has reclaimed his Violator form from time to time, he chooses to appear as Clown most often. In a story arc called “A Thousand Clowns” (issues #134–#138), Clown possesses the body of fellow Spawn enemy Jason Wynn, recruits a legion of disciples, and orchestrates a chaotic riot in New York City before Spawn is able to stop him. As Todd McFarlane has ventured into several different media outlets since 1992, Clown and Violator have made appearances in numerous two- and three-dimensional forms. One of the highlights of the 1997 live-action Spawn film, directed by Mark A. Z. Dippé is John Leguizamo's portrayal of Clown. The film version of Clown, like his comics counterpart, is simultaneously comical and menacing. His flatulence, cursing, and general obscenity are all effectively enhanced in the live-action format. Clown was also featured prominently in the HBO Spawn animated series (1997–1999), which stayed much closer to the comics than the movie in terms of tone and continuity. In the animated series, which ran three seasons, Clown is appropriately dark and sinister. In each of Spawn's forays beyond comic books, Violator/Clown has appeared as the primary villain. The first series of McFarlane Toys' long-running action figure line featured both Violator and Clown figures, and Violator/Clown has also been the villain of several video games. While crimelord Lukas, with his brutish right-hand man Barabbas, is the first villain in McFarlane's newest television venture, Spawn: The Animation (2006–present) from DPS/Film Roman, one might suspect that the Violator will find a home there as well. Like Spawn himself, Clown is partially derivative of other recognizable comic book characters. If Spawn is an amalgam of dark superheroes like Batman and anti-heroes like the Punisher, then Clown offers a modern twist on the Joker, the “Clown Prince of Crime” in the Batman mythos. Whereas Joker is tall and somewhat dignified even in madness, Clown is short, fat, crude. He is a comic figure—a type of incompetent fool or court jester—but he is also extremely horrific and dangerous, both to Spawn and to humanity.

violator

vi·o·late

Violator

Violator

violator

Synonyms for violator

noun someone who violates the law

Synonyms

Related Words

noun someone who assaults others sexually

Synonyms

Related Words