Rigby Barclay

Archetype: Culture Vulture

The media critic who becomes what he criticizes

Rigby embodies the culture vulture archetype - the media personality who critiques society - but subverts it by becoming exactly what he criticizes in his obsessive pursuit of fame and revenge. His screamfeed "I Hate It Here" positions him as an outsider speaking truth to power, while his actions reveal him to be motivated by the same vanity and ambition he condemns in others.

Basic Information

• Full Name: Rigby Barclay
• Aliases: "I Hate It Here" (screamfeed name), "Rigs" (nickname)
• Occupation: Host of "I Hate It Here" screamfeed (formerly), former drummer for Mayhem, factory worker (after downfall)
• Status: Sentenced to "clone death," working in a factory

Physical Description

• Cream-colored skin
• Brown hair
• Horizon City native
• Often wears rumpled brown suits
• Described as having a half-shaven face
• Appears disheveled and unkempt

Story Appearances

• Clone: Discovers a dead body with Matt; they investigate the victim's apartment and encounter someone with a katana
• Rock Star: Mentioned as former drummer for Mayhem who was betrayed by Matt and Katrina
• Culture Vulture: Host of "I Hate It Here," the second most popular screamfeed in Horizon City; obsessed with taking down Mayhem; spends 1.25 billion yen to frame Richard Johnson; eventually sentenced to "clone death" and loses his career

Connections

• Matt Charadon (Mayhem): Former bandmate and childhood friend who betrayed him; becomes his rival; they discover a dead body together as teenagers
• Joanna Fineman: His editor at New Light Media who confronts him about expenses
• Hookie: Bartender who provides him with information about Richard Johnson; continues to serve him after his downfall
• Richard Johnson: Target of his scheme to frame for corporate espionage; inadvertently causes his death
• Pae Pae Onatop: Prostitute who witnesses his reaction to Johnson's murder; regular companion
• Katrina: Former bandmate who betrayed him by leaving with Matt
• Akiko Takahashi: Briefly encounters her at a bar and is rejected when he hits on her

Subversion of Archetype

Rigby subverts the culture vulture archetype in several key ways:

1. The Critic Who Embodies What He Criticizes: While his screamfeed attacks the corruption and vanity of Horizon City, his own actions (spending vast sums on revenge, hiring prostitutes, framing an innocent man) mirror the very behaviors he condemns.

2. The Truth-Teller Who Creates Lies: His motto "Truth at any cost" becomes ironic as he fabricates evidence against Johnson, showing how media "truth" is often manufactured.

3. The Fame-Seeker Who Finds Infamy: His obsession with becoming the top screamfeeder leads not to greater fame but to his complete downfall and anonymity.

4. The Outsider Who Serves the System: While positioning himself as anti-establishment, his actions ultimately serve corporate interests by eliminating Johnson.

Role in the Corporate Game

Rigby functions as an unwitting pawn who believes he's a player. His media platform appears to challenge corporate power while actually reinforcing it by directing public anger toward individuals rather than systems. His scheme to frame Johnson inadvertently serves corporate interests by eliminating a problematic executive. His punishment (clone death and factory work) demonstrates how the system deals with those who step out of line while thinking they're independent actors.

Notable Quotes

• "Fuck a buck!" - His catchphrase expressing surprise or dismay
• "Truth at any cost." - His motto for his screamfeed, which becomes increasingly ironic
• "I hate it here." - How he ends every screamfeed cast
• "I'm going to take down Mayhem if it's the last thing I do." - Revealing his obsession with revenge against Matt
• "As far as major cities in the world to live go, Horizon City is second to last in math and science literacy, dead last in life expectancy, and has one of the lowest median household income rates." - His rant to a fan about why Horizon City isn't "the greatest"