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"Well, Mystery Incorporated, it appears you made an enemy. Fortunately for you I still require you alive."
- Professor Pericles, Pawn of Shadows

Professor Pericles[1] is a parrot and the former mascot of the original Mystery Incorporated of Crystal Cove. He was a friend of Ricky Owens. By the start of the second season, Pericles becomes the main antagonist in the series, only second to the Evil Entity. He is one of the few characters in the series that murdered (and attempted to kill) people, as he murdered Ed Machine, caused the death of Angel Dynamite, tried to kill Mystery Incorporated by ordering Brad Chiles and Judy Reeves to fire a missile to the helicopter where they're located, and ordered a genocide of all the inhabitants of Crystal Cove during the events in Gates of Gloom (which, however, failed to materialize due to the intervention of Mystery Inc.).

Physical appearance

File:Shadowy figure.png

Pericles's shadowy figure costume.

Pericles was wearing a white strait-jacket with a ball and chain attached to his leg when the gang first saw him. He has a cataract and a big scar over his left eye from years before when Mayor Jones knocked Pericles out with chloroform. A rock cut his face as he was thrown to the ground, which left a permanent mark. Pericles has pink feathers, a sharp beak, a big head, and two-toed feet. Officer Johnson says his brain is no bigger than a cashew nut, yet pound for pound it's the smartest brain in the world.

His skin in the light is dark purple; it's bluish-black when in the dark. He wears a purple ascot.

He has disguised himself in a black cloak before to fool people.

Personality

"Cassidy is bitter. Angry. Brad and Judy are enigmas. Both of them. That leaves only you Ricky. My sweet Ricky."

- Professor Pericles to Ricky Owens

Professor Pericles is a genius; sinister, maniacal, cold and calculating, and sadistic. Since his brain is no bigger than a cashew nut, this makes him, by comparison, uncannily intelligent and he prides himself as "The Smartest Criminal Parrot in the World". He is shown to be deranged and slightly insane, given his appearance and demeanor.

A master escape artist, Professor Pericles was able to escape the Animal Asylum which he was confined in, despite the fact that his detention cell was a glass dome and that he had a strait-jacket on. He appears to have a liking for sunflower seeds like most parrots and speaks with a distinct German accent. Often when upset or agitated, Pericles will curse or simply shout in German.

It may be possible he suffered from an inferiority complex. When the last Darrow attacked the new Mystery Inc, he referred to one of them as a 'big, fat, insensitive know-it-all.' Most likely, he was referring to Pericles. This trait may have originated from being the animal mascot despite being the smartest one of the group and may have been what allowed Mayor Jones to turn him against his friends.

Pericles is cold hearted and apathetic to a fault. No matter who is in his way, he will not hesitate to remove them. Examples are Marcy (Hot Dog Water) in through the curtain, Cassidy Williams in The Gathering Gloom, and Officer Johnson in Howl of the Fright Hound. However a few times he is seen showing affection to Ricky. A sign that he wishes to rekindle their old relationship. But, true to form, Pericles could not suppress his violent, malicious nature and began lashing out against his owner. Striking him when Ricky locked Pericles out of the system and poisoning him with venom to his spine.

File:Snapshot20130407194327.jpg

Professor Pericles has shown great physical strength in slapping and knocking down Ricky Owens during an argument.

Powers and abilities

  • Able to do magic tricks, sleight of hand, the skills of a stage magician:
  • Capable of making inanimate objects appear alive through clever trickery, props and technological know-how.
  • Duct-taped the stun gun on Officer Johnson without appearing to move.
  • Escaped the Animal Asylum without breaking his glass cage.
  • Brilliant chemist and machinist.
  • Able to hack into Fred's computer and control all of Fred's traps which were installed at Fred's house.
  • Very intelligent, expert at manipulating people to do his will, as shown when he had manipulated Scooby into fixing up a cure for Aphrodite's love potion.
  • Did something offscreen to Ed Machine that made him scream. Later confirmed by Tony Cervone that he killed him.
  • Infiltrated his house with ease.

History

Early life

He was once an associate of Abigail Gluck in Bavaria in the 1930's.

When Ricky Owens was just a boy, Professor Pericles met him. He had crashed into a tree in Ricky's front yard. Despite initial mistrust, Ricky was trusted and nursed Pericles back to health until he was healthy enough to fly again. Initially sad, Ricky was then pleasantly surprised to see Pericles fly back and the two became friends ever since.

He visited the buried Darrow Mansion along with the rest of the old Mystery Incorporated. (Escape From Mystery Manor)

He helped investigate the old Spanish church where a monster had been sited, and speculated the monster might have led them there on purpose. He was very interested when the drawing of the Planispheric Disk was discovered.

Professor Pericles went to the Crystal Cove Caves with the original Mystery Incorporated. He led them to a site where the first Planispheric Disk piece was found. He teamed up with Fred Jones, Sr. to betray the original Mystery Incorporated and find the treasure of the conquistadors. His left eye was injured when (the yet to be) Mayor Jones betrayed him. He was wrongly accused of a crime and sent to Crystal Cove's Animal Asylum. (All Fear The Freak)

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated

Season one

File:Professor Pericles at the Animal Asylum.png

Imprisoned at the Crystal Cove Animal Asylum for the Criminally Insane

The gang discovered that he was the mascot of the original Mystery Inc. in a Crystal Cove High School yearbook.

After Gill Littlefoot was taken to jail, Velma Dinkley picked up a box she found from Mr. E. She opened it and saw a picture of the original Mystery Inc. with Professor Pericles circled. The message said, "don't give up, this has happened before."

Pericles was found in a glass cage in the animal asylum. He was depicted as a crazy bird who had the smartest brain in the world. When Daphne Blake opened the locket (she had found in the Crystal Cove Caves), music played; Professor Pericles said, "Mystery Incorporated to the rescue." He warned the Mystery Inc. gang to be wary of "those closest to you." Especially Fred Jones, Jr. from Fred Jones SR. In the end, the parrot broke out during the Fright Hound's attack on the Animal Asylum. The real reason was that he knew the gang was coming to the rescue. Sheriff Bronson Stone was contacted by Officer Johnson that all the inmates were rounded up except for Professor Pericles. Mr. E told Scooby and the gang to "follow the parrot."

Pericles secretly gave Aphrodite her love potion formula, then helped with the antidote, so that he could get the help of Scooby-Doo to obtain things he needed to find the lost treasure of the conquistadors. He sent a mocking message to the gang and Mr. E through his henchman telling them this.

Professor Pericles is the Shadowy Figure

Unmasked as the "Shadowy Figure"

He haunted Mayor Jones in his home by taking over his son's traps, and managed to steal his piece of the Planispheric Disk.

He watched using video monitors when the gang was attacked by the Obliteratrix, and thought about helping them because he still needed them alive.

He went to Ed Machine's house and told Ed that he wanted to deliver a message to Ricky (or Mr. E). But Pericles didn't want to use words and attacked Ed Machine. He later showed up when the gang was down in the Crystal Cove Caves. He had used a tracker to see where the Mystery Machine was and said there was nothing to fear. The Freak of Crystal Cove appeared and swiped Pericles, knocking him to the ground. He managed to get a piece of the Planispheric Disk away from the Freak, and mocked Scooby about it before flying away. In anger, Scooby vowed to stop Pericles.

Season two

He summoned the former members of the original Mystery Inc. when the kids gathered the next two pieces, tying with his own amount.

Mr. E then invited them into a partnership, though this may be more than a mere partnership and they may miss each other's friendship.

He told the gang that he lived for more than 80 years as he recalled being a friend of Abigal Gluck in the 1930s. He took over her underwater robot factory after her death.

He created a mutant cattle herd to destroy Crystal Cove and give the gang nowhere to hide.

He implanted mutated cobra larvae in Mr. E's spinal column in his sleep, and assumed effective control of Destroido Corp..

He had recovered the Planispheric Disk from Fred after threatening to harm Daphne. He returned to Destroido to make the preparations needed to free his master. It's revealed that he knew about the cosmological event called Nibiru the entire time.

Using slave labor from Crystal Cove he found the underground gate leading to the cursed treasure.

He led his group through the elemental dimensions to the sarcophagus of the Evil Entity, and freed it.

He asked to be the host of the Evil Entity instead of Scooby-Doo, but instead of gaining power as he hoped the possession killed him and used his body as a vessel.

Post-Nibiru

Pericles, now happy and without a scar, had become the mascot for a now-married Ricky Owens and Cassidy Williams at Creationex Corp..

Appearances

Notes/trivia

  • In Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Crystal Cove Online, the player is rewarded a trophy of Professor Pericles when two treasure maps are completed.
  • Professor Pericles is somewhat similar to Professor James Moriarty.
  • Pericles may be named for the renowned ancient Greek orator (c. 495 – 429 BC), as it fits his intricate schemes and erudite nature.
  • Pericles, in a small way, is similiar to Arpeggio from Sly2 Band of Thieves. Both small in stature, but brilliant to a fault. Both skilled with machinery and not to be taken lightly.

In other languages

Actor Language Notes
Enrico Di Troia Italian Season 1
Gianni Giuliano Season 2

Quotes

"Mystery Incorporated to the rescue."

"I trust you enjoyed their little theme song."

"Clues await you, clues that will lead you to the cursed secret that feeds on Crystal Cove."

"I am sure you will find out, meanwhile I will dispense this bit of advice: beware of those closest to you, I am specifically talking to you Frederick."

"I'm no one's sidekick."

"Fred should have really come up with more than Trappin' Guy."

"What can I say? A bird's got to eat."

"I am the smartest criminal parrot in the world. You didn't think I had a back up plan? Aha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Until we meet again, auf wiedersehen, Mystery Incorporated.."

"Hello, Ed Machine."
"I'd like you to deliver a message to Ricky. Or, should I call him... Mr. E?"
"Ah, ha ha ha, dear Ed. You misunderstand. I don't want to say anything."

"Isn't this cozy? Us? Alone? No one to watch over you? Or your piece of the disk?"

"I was trying to save your life."

"They lead to a treasure beyond calculation, dear Scooby. A treasure many have died trying to find."

"My calculations don't lie."

"Because, my dear Ricky, everyone has their weakness."

"Creationex makes life... better for everyone!"

"You do as I say: first, we steal the Planispheric Disk from the knder (="kids" in German), then, we destroy them! A ha ha ha ha! A ha ha ha ha! We desrtoy them! Ha ha ha ha..."

"Kriegstaffebot, destroy him!"

The doorway, at last! Finally, I can claim what is rightfully mine: ultimate power!"

"Yes, they will! Und (="and" in German) I need them to! I need Scooby-Doo. If I'm to take control of the great power below, the dog must be destroyed at just the right moment."

"Focus on the digging of that spot!"

"Und Ricky, once the entrance is found, have my Kriegstaffebots destroy all the workers. They have outlift their usfulness."

"All my years of searching to find this door! I have done it! It will lead us to the treasure, and more! Soon - very soon - the world as we know it will never be the same again!"

"Come! My destiny awaits."

"You two are behaving like children!"

"The kinder. I know they are out there, following us. Give them a minute. They will soon understand their part in all this. But they must hurry. The planets are nearly in full alignment. The time of Nibiru is almost at end."

"Alright, you Mystery Incorporated! I know you are out there! And you have the key."

"Good kinder. Now come co-operate and I will not harm the Hot Dog Water."

"Ah, the forth key. I knew you would've found it. Here, allow my Kriegstaffebots to open the gate. It is very dangerous."

"Ah! What is the meaning of this? Put me down you horrible girl!"

"Hmm. Do I care? NO!"

"Looks like the kinder are having fun. And they're aall still alive."

"That is too bad! Because I will."

"Forget the dog! Cosume me! Give me the power!"

"After all thse years! I am... UNSTOPPABLE!"

"Und, I shall finaly be rid of the Mystery Incorporated kinder!"

"Something's wrong! What... what's happening to me?!"

"I did. The little evil bird in the tree brunvh. I asked you all to discuss a matter of great imporatance."

References

  1. SDMI: The Legend Of Alice May
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