Mine is a reference to the old webcomic “8 Bit Theater” by Brian Klevinger, his more famous work being Atomic Robo.
The comic was originally meant to be a loving send up to a lot of the old retro games of the 80’s, but instead became a retelling of the story of the original Final Fantasy following unquestionably THE WORST Heroes of Light to have ever existed.
The main human kingdom they deal with is Corneria, ruled the insane and grossly incompetent King Steve. His chief advisor and right hand man is a piece of string. Well, at least until King Steve loses his crown due to the string’s superior debating skills, at which point Steve commits an act of regicide in order to regain his throne.
His weapon of choice being a pair of scissors.
Left Hand Man Gary is, as the name implies, the left hand man of King Steve. He’s this poor, overworked and underappreciated bureaucrat stuck dealing with this mad fool of a king. King Steve has, on occasion, declared war on their two most powerful enemies (naming it “King Steve’s kickass double offensive”) and gotten their entire army slaughtered, had an entire village slaughtered to the last because too many names started with the letter “P,” had a child killed for “excessive breathing of my air,” and once referred to his own daughter thusly: “Left Hand Man Gary! When did you grow boobies!?”
Then there’s the multiple times he drained the treasury for the stupidest shi…
Point is, Gary has to put up with that b.s. EVERY BLOODY DAY. Nor can he say anything against King Steve, both because Steve wouldn’t get it, and the guards would kill him if he even hinted that the bad things happening were in any way Steve’s fault. My college room mate and I agreed that Gary had to be on some wicked drugs and/or alcohol to avoid going insane from being in that madhouse, and that he would eventually help Steve’s daughter, the rather capable and intelligent Princess Sarah, to take the throne before Corneria died in flames.
And in all honesty, the name has worked out rather well over the years. Most people have never heard of 8 bit theater, the few who have really like the reference, and because he’s such a minor character, I have yet to encounter a scenario where the name is “in use” before I get there.