| “ |
Unfortunately for you, I’ve exchanged your attack… FOR ONE OF EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE! |
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| —Arnold Markdown, "All's Well That Ends Well" | ||
Arnold Markdown is a snooty Banzai Vice Principal in the criminal organization known as the Banzai Blasters, who was paired with Bugsy Pugsler to raid the small backwoods town of Redwood Run. After a brief encounter with detective Percy King and the subsequent retreat of Bugsy, he was captured by the police officer and interrogated for Bugsy's location. Later on, he was fully incarcerated, along with the rest of his Banzai Team, by the Sweet Jazz City Police Department.
Arnold's epithet, "Coupon", allows him to convert coupon deals into actual status enhancements for his allies.
Personality
Arnold holds high regard for himself and belittles anyone below his rank, even mistreating his minions due to their undying loyalty.
He is a shopper obsessed with smart dealings and savings of his coupons. But, this can be a fatal logical weakness. Without his coupons, he panics and whines. Ramsey Murdoch also managed to psychologically manipulate Arnold by offering him coupons or financial savings.
History
Past
Arnold joined the criminal organization known as the Banzai Blasters, and was eventually promoted to the rank of Vice Principal. Sometime afterwards, he and fellow Vice Principal Bugsy Pugsler were assigned to raid the small rundown town of Redwood Run.
"Redwood Run Arc"
During the raid, Arnold and Bugsy Pugsler encounter Giovanni Potage, who had just left the Redwood Run Police Station in hopes of turning in the Arsene Amulet to the Banzai Baron. The two belittle Giovanni sheerly because of his rank, before they notice the amulet in his hands. Bugsy reveals their ranks to the captain and Arnold orders Giovanni to hand them the amulet. Giovanni complains that he had earned the amulet fair and square, reinforcing they couldn't just take their minion's hard work. However, Arnold responds that minions are tools, deeply upsetting the captain. Bugsy then taunts Giovanni, asking where his minions are, while the two crowd their banzai team around him. The distinct lack of Potage's lackeys makes Arnold state that they are simply the better villains, before he orders the Blasters to attack Giovanni.
After a thorough beating of Giovanni, Arnold complements Bugsy on the stolen necklace around the other vice principal's neck, and the two laugh in the wake of a possible promotion. Suddenly, Giovanni interrupts their guffaws, saying that the two weren't villains, but jerks. Arnold stares down at the captain, explaining that cheating and other selfish behaviors is simply how people of note move up the ranks and why idiots stay minions. Giovanni, at his breaking point, angrily announces his resignation from the Banzai Blasters in contempt to Arnold. Unfortunately, he forgets that his ride out of Redwood hadn't arrived yet, and so heads towards the tavern, causing Arnold and his fellow Blasters to laugh at the red haired former captain before leaving the scene themselves.
Later, Arnold and Bugsy enter the tavern themselves to find Percival King surrounded by their Banzai Blasters after a failed attempt to arrest Giovanni. After Bugsy briefly attempts to imitate the detective, Arnold tries to intimate her as well, saying she was completely surrounded and outnumbered. However, Percy pays no mind to the threats and gains the upper hand of the situation, erecting a wizard tower that could magnetically stop the Banzai Blasters' bullets. Arnold cockily states that she is still outnumbered and barks an order for his Blasters to clobber her, the Blasters then charging at her.
After a brief brawl, Howdy Morning eventually enters the fight and shoots his soup shotgun at Arnold. Arnold stares at the soup heading for his face, confused, before Bugsy pushes him out of the way and eats it. As the Banzai Blasters hide under tables to cover themselves from Bugsy's ability, the vice principal then uses his epithet to shoot an ice blast at Percy's wizard tower, destroying it. After Bugsy briefly explains his powers, Arnold then uses his epithet to give the other vice principal a '2 for 1' deal. This allows Bugsy to fire another ice blast, this one freezing Percy's arm. Arnold brags about his powers before the townies previously occupying the bar flee. Arnold asks Bugsy if they should go after them, but the overweight principal keeps their attention on Percy.
As the two make their way from the front of the tavern to the police officer, Ramsey Murdoch stands between them and threatens them with his box of crayons. Arnold taunts the artist before Bugsy pushes Ramsey out of their way. They continue their march when Ramsey throws his crayons at Bugsy, actually harming him. Arnold then uses his epithet to exchange Ramsey's attack for one of equal or lesser value, subsequently healing Bugsy. Arnold is then stammered after Bugsy consumes the crayons and coughs up a pile of rubber ducks. Arnold is even more confused after Bugsy eats another shot of Howdy's soup shotgun, only for it to burn his mouth. Giovanni then reveals himself, pushes Bugsy over, and taunts the Blasters, causing Arnold to stutter even further. However, after Giovanni mocks him and attempts to recruit his Blasters, Arnold tries to regain control of the situation and flips through his coupons, seeing if any could be applicable on his minions. Giovanni simply spills soup onto them, briefly stopping Arnold.
Arnold checks up on Bugsy, who irately tells him to continue the fight. Arnold then barks at the Blasters to get out from under the tables, calling them cowards. He tries to rally them by again bragging about his epithet's abilities, only to realize he had used most of his useful coupons. As he worryingly looks through his catalogue, Ramsey then turns his coupons to gold, completely defeating Arnold. Bugsy, reading the room, then selfishly retreats, causing Arnold to throw insults at him as he leaves the tavern. Arnold is then held at sword point while the rest of the Blasters follow Bugsy. The vice principal tries to escape himself, but Ramsey merely trips him.
While down, Percy cuffs Arnold and asks where Bugsy would have ran off too. Despite Bugsy's betrayal, Arnold stays loyal, telling her nothing. However, Ramsey convinces Howdy to tell him one of the tavern's meal deals. Arnold, just thinking of the savings, almost immediately gives up Bugsy and tells the two that he and the other vice principal planned leaving Redwood via the train station. He then beckons Howdy to hand him his deal, to which the old man complies. Percy and Murdoch then give chase, keeping Arnold under surveillance of Howdy. However, the explicit command from Percy to keep Arnold in his sight leads Howdy to go to grab his shotgun, as being blind meant he would never see Arnold. Arnold gulps in terror as he does so.
Hours later, Arnold is led by a Sweet Jazz City police officer into the back of a cruiser, and sent to prison.
Non-Canon
TWO-LOWEEN
As part of his parole, Arnold works as the cashier for a costume store. Ramsey Murdoch teases him about the role before Arnold vents about his job, complaining that customers don't care about their wallet whatsoever. He continues, ranting on about customers not using any coupons or using the savings at the bottom of their receipts. Arnold then leaves to assist Sylvester Ashling in buying a giant bag of Halloween raisins.
Abilities
Epithet: Coupon
Arnold carries a large number of coupons that he can use to magically enhance his allies in various ways (it's never confirmed if Arnold can use his Epithet on himself). His coupons can, however, be rendered useless if their barcodes are tampered with in any way.
- 2 for 1: When Arnold uses this, it can repeat his ally's last attack.
- Heal Up: When Arnold uses this, it can heal for the same amount of damage that his allies gain (or less).
- Strength Up: When Arnold uses this, it can make his allies have the power of five men. But, it will only work if four or more people attack at the same time.
Trivia
- In-universe, he is Deepwood-raced.[2]
- His hair is a barcode. If you scan it at a grocery store, it will get you the secret prize of being thrown out.[3]
- His last name, Markdown, refers to when a store lowers an item price to clear stocks.
- Arnold is Gay.[2]
- Arnold, along with Molly, is Jello's favorite character out of the Epithet Erased cast.[5]
- Arnold could print and use his coupons. But, they would not save him any money if he opened a store as he would have to pay for the merchandise stock.[6]
- If, by some miracle, Arnold reaches Nova class, then everything is free![7]
- In the original Anime Campaign, Arnold is an officer of Bliss Ocean and a rival to Bugsy. Additionally, his epithet was "Groupon" instead of "Coupon."
- His height is 5'8"[1]
- His birthday is January 1.[1] This makes him a Capricorn.
- His favorite animal is the skunk.[1]
- His favorite food is free samples.[1]
- His likes are birdwatching and small collectables like coins & stamps.[1]
- On Twitter, Jello said, "Arnold seems like the kind of person who's room is covered top to bottom with painstakingly organized collectibles and he spends most of his time waiting on internet auctions to snipe more of them at low prices."[1]
- On Twitter, Jello joked, "In his old age Arnold will be visited by three ghosts who will tell him to stop being such a cheapskate and instead of listening to them he'll ask if he can exchange them for better ghosts of equal or lesser value." [8]
- On Twitter, Jello made a tier list of how well liked in the fandom each character is, placing Arnold in "Mid."[9]
Gallery
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Bio
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Trivia 1
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Trivia 2
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Infocard to promote Prison of Plastic
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by @_Serinaaa_
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by @_Serinaaa_
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by @_Serinaaa_
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by @_Serinaaa_
Portraits
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Icon used for overhead maps.
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Portrait for the character audition packet, drawn by show artist Siv Ryan.
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Arnold’s portrait in Anime Campaign
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Arnold Promo Infocard for Prison of Plastic
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Epithet FaQ
- ↑ Arnold Trivia 2
- ↑ https://jelloapocalypse.tumblr.com/post/189562857942/hihi-i-sent-an-ask-about-this-a-little-while-ago
- ↑ https://jelloapocalypse.tumblr.com/post/189866404677/whos-your-favorite-out-of-the-cast
- ↑ https://jelloapocalypse.tumblr.com/post/189981026622/could-arnold-open-his-own-store-print-his-own
- ↑ https://jelloapocalypse.tumblr.com/post/189978781492/really-weird-question-what-would-arnolds-powers
- ↑ https://twitter.com/EpithetErased/status/1598072447743315969
- ↑ Epithet Erased on Twitter - 12/20/22