The funny thing about life is that there usually isn't much to laugh about!

"I'm not very happy most of the time," quipped Woody Allen. "The rest of the time I'm not happy at all."

On television, the joke is on someone else, so we laugh. Someone else's slip-up, struggles, loss of face, sleepless nights. In real life, however, the joke is usually on us. Maybe comedies bring us relief from our own frustrations and failures by drawing our attention to the fictional disasters of others. Or is it that we get to view a reflection of ourselves in those characters on the screen and so present a disguised opportunity to see the humorous angle of what happens to all of us; a form of catharsis; a chance to unwind and ease the tension of our troubled minds?

(See also: Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Love and Happiness: Listen to the Cosmic Laughter

Winx Club is an animated television series produced by Italian animation group Rainbow S.r.l.. and features the fictional characters that use magic. Winx Club - Overview. In the first episode of the first season, Bloom, a red-headed teenager from the Earth city Gardenia, stumbles upon Stella, who is locked in combat with an ogre named Knut and several small ghouls. Knut and the ghouls are about to defeat and capture Stella when, frightened by the monsters, Bloom unwittingly lets off a magical ...

Including:

• Winx Club - Overview
• Winx Club - Places Locations and Characters
• Winx Club - Schools
• Winx Club - Noted Planets
• Winx Club - Other Locations
• Winx Club - Minor characters
• Winx Club - Season Two Overview
• Winx Club - Added Places Locations and Characters
• Winx Club - The differences in the 4Kids and Italian language version
• Winx Club - Episode list
• Winx Club - Season one
• Winx Club - Season two
• Winx Club - Broadcasting
• Winx Club - Merchandising
• Winx Club - Edit and censorship controversy in United States

Read more here: » Winx Club: Encyclopedia - Winx Club

1916 (MCMXVI) is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) 1916 - Events. January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. Impressionist Monet paints 'Water Lilies'. January 5 - Heavy rain - allegedly caused by rainmaker Charles Hatfield - begins; it will cause flooding around San Diego, California January 8 - Allied forces withdraw from Gallipoli January 13/14 - ...

Including:

• 1916 - Events
• 1916 - March-June
• 1916 - July-August
• 1916 - October-December
• 1916 - Unknown dates
• 1916 - Ongoing events
• 1916 - Disputed events
• 1916 - Births
• 1916 - January-March
• 1916 - April-June
• 1916 - July-December
• 1916 - Deaths
• 1916 - Nobel Prizes

Read more here: » 1916: Encyclopedia - 1916

Charles "Buddy" Bolden (September 6, 1877 - November 4, 1931) was a cornetist and the first New Orleans jazz musician ever to come to prominence. Buddy Bolden - Life. He was known as King Bolden (see: Jazz royalty), and his band was a top draw in New Orleans from about 1895 to 1907, when he was incapacitated by schizophrenia. He never recorded, but he was known for his open tone and very loud sound. Joe "King" Oliver and Louis Armstrong were directly inspired by his playing. While there is sub ...

Including:

• Buddy Bolden - Life
• Buddy Bolden - Music
• Buddy Bolden - Bolden in fiction
• Buddy Bolden - External link

Read more here: » Buddy Bolden

The Vision is the name of several fictional characters, all superheroes, in the Marvel Comics universe. For the Golden Age Vision, see Vision (Golden Age) Vision comics - Vision Avengers 1968-2004. The Vision. Art by Brian Haberlin. The "synthezoid" Vision, a far more well-known character than the Golden Age Vision, is an android who originated in the Silver Age of Comic Books. Writer Roy Thomas based him on the Golden Age character, introducing him in his run as writer on The Avengers. ...

Including:

• Vision comics - Vision Avengers 1968-2004
• Vision comics - Character History
• Vision comics - Powers and abilities
• Vision comics - Other Media Appearances
• Vision comics - Bibliography
• Vision comics - Vision II Young Avengers 2005-
• Vision comics - Character biography
• Vision comics - Powers and abilities
• Vision comics - Ultimate Vision

Read more here: » Vision comics: Encyclopedia - Vision comics

This is a (theoretically) all-encompassing list of fictional things created in the media. Due to the length of this archive, some things have been listed in multiple places for ease of reference. Archive of fictional things - Fictional characters creatures and entities. Archive of fictional things - Fictional characters. Category:Fictional characters Category:Lists of fictional characters List of fictional characters Fictional charact ...

Including:

• Archive of fictional things - Fictional characters creatures and entities
• Archive of fictional things - Fictional characters
• Archive of fictional things - Fictional characters from specific works or series
• Archive of fictional things - Real people appearing in fictional context
• Archive of fictional things - Fictional mechanical electronic or machine entities
• Archive of fictional things - Fictional creatures
• Archive of fictional things - Fictional locations
• Archive of fictional things - Real places fictional works are set in
• Archive of fictional things - Fictional things
• Archive of fictional things - Books and literature
• Archive of fictional things - Commercial Misc.
• Archive of fictional things - Politics
• Archive of fictional things - Social Misc.
• Archive of fictional things - Language
• Archive of fictional things - Popular media
• Archive of fictional things - Science
• Archive of fictional things - War & Combat
• Archive of fictional things - Fictional events

Read more here: » Archive of fictional things: Encyclopedia - Archive of fictional things

Amazing Man is a name used by several fictional characters, all of them superheroes. Amazing Man - Centaur Comics. The original Amazing-Man was a Golden Age of Comic Books creation of Bill Everett, best known for creating Timely Comics' Sub-Mariner. John Aman was a Westerner who, while in Tibet, was trained by benevolent monks to a superhuman degree of physical and mental ability, as well as gaining the ability to disappear into a cloud of green mist. Centaur Publishing produced his eponymous series ...

Including:

• Amazing Man - Centaur Comics
• Amazing Man - DC Comics

Read more here: » Amazing Man: Encyclopedia - Amazing Man

The Beagle Boys are a group of fictional characters from the Scrooge McDuck universe loosely based on the popular image of Ma Barker and the Barker-Karpis Gang. They are a gang of criminals who constantly try to rob Scrooge McDuck and were created by Carl Barks. In the comics, the individual Beagle Boys are referred to by their prison numbers, indicated on the tags seen on the chests of their distinctive red shirts. The three most common numbers are 176-167, 176-671, and 176-761. In fact, no digits other than one, six, or seven appeared on t ...

Including:

• Beagle Boys - DuckTales Beagles
• Beagle Boys - Awards

Read more here: » Beagle Boys: Encyclopedia - Beagle Boys

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the player characters (fictional characters controlled by the players) often come into conflict with a variety of monsters from folklore and mythology. One of the game's more prominent monsters are the various races of demons, devils and other malicious otherworldly creatures, collectively referred to as fiends. These c ...

Including:

• Fiend Dungeons & Dragons - The Most Common Types
• Fiend Dungeons & Dragons - Tanar'ri
• Fiend Dungeons & Dragons - Baatezu
• Fiend Dungeons & Dragons - Yugoloths
• Fiend Dungeons & Dragons - Minor fiends and hybrids
• Fiend Dungeons & Dragons - Kythons
• Fiend Dungeons & Dragons - Controversy and related changes between editions

Read more here: » Fiend Dungeons & Dragons: Encyclopedia - Fiend Dungeons & Dragons

Aquagirl is the name of several fictional characters who were superheros from DC Comics. Although there have been many different characters bearing the name, the most recognizable one is Aqualad's Atlantean girlfriend. Aquagirl - Lisa Morel/Aquagirl I. First Appearance: Adventure Comics Vol. 1 #266, November 1959 Lisa Morel was among several violet-eyed Atlantean children that were born unable to adapt to the watery world, and would soon die. To save them, they were ejected in wa ...

Including:

• Aquagirl - Lisa Morel/Aquagirl I
• Aquagirl - Selena/Aquagirl II
• Aquagirl - Tula/Aquagirl III
• Aquagirl - Lorena Marquez/Aquagirl IV
• Aquagirl - Tula Kingdom Come
• Aquagirl - Other Media

Read more here: » Aquagirl: Encyclopedia - Aquagirl

The Baker Street Irregulars are several different groups, all named after the original, from various Sherlock Holmes stories. Baker Street Irregulars - The original. The original Irregulars are a group of fictional characters featured in the Sherlock Holmes stories. They were a group of street urchins who helped Holmes out from time to time. The head of the group was called Wiggins. Holmes paid them a shilling a day (plus expenses), with a guinea prize (worth one pound and one shilling) for a vital clue.

• Baker Street Irregulars - The original
• Baker Street Irregulars - Special Operations Executive
• Baker Street Irregulars - The modern organization
• Baker Street Irregulars - The band
• Baker Street Irregulars - Influence on other popular culture

Read more here: » Baker Street Irregulars: Encyclopedia - Baker Street Irregulars

Charles "Buddy" Bolden (September 6, 1877 - November 4, 1931) was a cornetist and the first New Orleans jazz musician ever to come to prominence. Buddy Bolden - Life. He was known as King Bolden (see: Jazz royalty), and his band was a top draw in New Orleans from about 1895 to 1907, when he was incapacitated by schizophrenia. He never recorded, but he was known for his open tone and very loud sound. Joe "King" Oliver and Louis Armstrong were directly inspired by his playing. While there is sub ...

Including:

• Buddy Bolden - Life
• Buddy Bolden - Music
• Buddy Bolden - Bolden in fiction
• Buddy Bolden - External link

Read more here: » Buddy Bolden: Encyclopedia - Buddy Bolden

Dexterity is a term referring primarily to the ability of a person to "gracefully" coordinate their movements. It specifically refers to adroitness in using the hands. In this context, dexterity is a motor skill. The term can also refer to intelligence and "mental dexterity". Dexterity, in the former sense, is a primary attribute of the Dungeons & Dragons fictional characters, and was later adapted to be used as an attribute of characters ...

Read more here: » Dexterity: Encyclopedia - Dexterity

The fictional characters the Beagle Brats are a younger version of The Beagle Boys. They are either their sons or nephews. The Beagle Brats appear in a few comic book stories as well as in the DuckTales episode "Take Me Out of the Ballgame". They are common enemies of The Junior Woodchucks and sometimes The Junior Chickadees as well. They even antagonize adult members of the Duck Family on occasion. Other related archivesBeagle Boys, DuckTales, The Junior Chickadees, The Junior Woodchu

Read more here: » Beagle Brats: Encyclopedia - Beagle Brats

The Black Knight is the name of several fictional characters, both heroic and villainous, in Marvel Comics' universe. All of these characters have a shared lineage, and all wear similar costumes and use a medieval motif. Black Knight comics - Medieval Black Knight. The original Black Knight was Sir Percy of Scandia, a 6th century knight in the court of King Arthur's Camelot who appeared in the five-issue series Black Knight (May-Dec. 1955), from Atlas Comics, the 1950s precursor of Marvel Comi ...

Including:

• Black Knight comics - Medieval Black Knight
• Black Knight comics - The Crusader
• Black Knight comics - Villainous Black Knight
• Black Knight comics - Heroic Black Knight

Read more here: » Black Knight comics: Encyclopedia - Black Knight comics

Cain and Abel are a pair of fictional characters in the DC Comics universe based on the Biblical Cain and Abel. Cain and Abel comics - Origins. Originally they were the respective "hosts" of the EC-style horror comic anthologies House of Mystery and House of Secrets, which ran from the 1950s through the 1970s. During the 1970s, they also co-hosted the horror/humor anthology Plop!. In 1985, the characters were revived by writer Alan Moore, who introduced them into h ...

Including:

• Cain and Abel comics - Origins
• Cain and Abel comics - Sandman Appearances

Read more here: » Cain and Abel comics: Encyclopedia - Cain and Abel comics

Bao-Dur and the Remote are Star Wars fictional characters in the video game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. The name "Bao-Dur" may be an homage to Baldur's Gate, a role-playing game developed by the same company that made the original Knights of the Old Republic. Bao-Dur - Bio. Bao-Dur is a Zabrak from Iridonia, and a technician who fought under the Jedi Exile in the Mandalorian War, hence his insistence as referring to the Exile as "General". B ...

Including:

• Bao-Dur - Bio
• Bao-Dur - Remote

Read more here: » Bao-Dur: Encyclopedia - Bao-Dur

This is a list of characters appearing in The Sandman. This page discusses not only events which occur in The Sandman, but also some occurring in spinoffs of The Sandman and in stories The Sandman was based on. Characters of The Sandman - Cain and Abel. Cain and Abel are a pair of fictional characters in the DC Comics universe based on the Biblical Cain and Abel. Characters of The Sandman - Before The Sandman. Originally they were ...

Including:

• Characters of The Sandman - Cain and Abel
• Characters of The Sandman - Before The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - In The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - The Corinthian
• Characters of The Sandman - Eve
• Characters of The Sandman - Fiddler's Green
• Characters of The Sandman - Gregory
• Characters of The Sandman - Goldie
• Characters of The Sandman - In The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - After The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - Lucien
• Characters of The Sandman - Matthew
• Characters of The Sandman - Mervyn Pumpkinhead
• Characters of The Sandman - Minor dreams
• Characters of The Sandman - The Basanos
• Characters of The Sandman - Bast
• Characters of The Sandman - The Creator
• Characters of The Sandman - The Endless
• Characters of The Sandman - Loki
• Characters of The Sandman - Odin
• Characters of The Sandman - The Three
• Characters of The Sandman - In The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - After The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - Minor gods
• Characters of The Sandman - Duma
• Characters of The Sandman - Before The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - In The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - After The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - Azazel
• Characters of The Sandman - Beelzebub
• Characters of The Sandman - In The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - After The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - Choronzon
• Characters of The Sandman - Lucifer
• Characters of The Sandman - Mazikeen
• Characters of The Sandman - In The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - After The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - Remiel
• Characters of The Sandman - In The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - After The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - Minor angels and demons
• Characters of The Sandman - Hob Gadling
• Characters of The Sandman - Orpheus
• Characters of The Sandman - Thessaly
• Characters of The Sandman - Minor immortals
• Characters of The Sandman - The Cluracan
• Characters of The Sandman - Nuala
• Characters of The Sandman - Oberon
• Characters of The Sandman - Titania
• Characters of The Sandman - In The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - After The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - Puck
• Characters of The Sandman - Alex Burgess
• Characters of The Sandman - Roderick Burgess
• Characters of The Sandman - Johanna Constantine
• Characters of The Sandman - After The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - John Constantine
• Characters of The Sandman - After and/or Before The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - Ethel Cripps
• Characters of The Sandman - Doctor Dee
• Characters of The Sandman - Wesley Dodds
• Characters of The Sandman - Foxglove
• Characters of The Sandman - In The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - After The Sandman
• Characters of The Sandman - Daniel Hall
• Characters of The Sandman - Lyta Hall
• Characters of The Sandman - John Hathaway
• Characters of The Sandman - Unity Kinkaid
• Characters of The Sandman - Prez Rickard
• Characters of The Sandman - Ruthven Sykes
• Characters of The Sandman - Jed Walker
• Characters of The Sandman - Rose Walker
• Characters of The Sandman - Historical figures
• Characters of The Sandman - Minor mortals

Read more here: » Characters of The Sandman: Encyclopedia - Characters of The Sandman

Nite-Owl - Character history. Hollis J. Mason (1916-1985) At the age of 12 his father left the family farm and moved to New York, working at Moe Vernon's Auto Repairs. Starting out as a New York City policeman in 1938, he was inspired by Action Comics' Superman and the real life exploits of Hooded Justice to take up the life of a vigilante. He was nicknamed Nite-Owl for spending his evenings working out in the Police Gymnasiums as much as possible and going to bed at 9:00pm to rise for a 5:00a ...

See also:

Nite-Owl, Nite-Owl - Nite Owl I, Nite-Owl - Character history, Nite-Owl - Events of Watchmen, Nite-Owl - Nite Owl II, Nite-Owl - Character history, Nite-Owl - Events of Watchmen

Read more here: » Nite-Owl: Encyclopedia II - Nite-Owl - Nite Owl I

Birds of Prey #84 Adriana Melo, artist The current Huntress is Helena Rosa Bertinelli, who first appeared in Huntress #1 (April 1989). Huntress comics - Mafia Family. The Modern huntress has two conflicting origins. In both, she is Helena Bertinelli, born into one of Gotham City's most prominent Mafia-connected families, the Bertinellis. In the first, she was a silent, withdrawn girl, having been kidnapped and raped at the age of six by an agent of another Gotham cr ...

See also:

Huntress comics, Huntress comics - Helena Bertinelli, Huntress comics - Mafia Family, Huntress comics - Nightwing, Huntress comics - Untrusted, Huntress comics - Birds of Prey, Huntress comics - Golden Age Huntress Tigress, Huntress comics - Helena Wayne, Huntress comics - The Huntress in other media

Read more here: » Huntress comics: Encyclopedia II - Huntress comics - Helena Bertinelli