Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: You know, I'm a rather brilliant surgeon. Perhaps I can help you with that hump.
Igor: What hump?
I think I would differ with the statement that Heroes would not have a "Henchfreak" in their employ. One certainly might. Being in a Mel Brooks train of thought, the first one that comes to mind is Mongo from "Blazing Saddles", who winds up working for the Sheriff. And would you call Mister Roarke from "Fantasy Island" evil because he employs a creepy dwarf? (Actually, that would be an interesting reading of the character…) But a truly heroic character would treat his allies decently and with respect, no matter what their physical attributes.
P.T. Barnum made a fortune off of exhibiting freaks. But if you asked him, he would probably say that he was giving them employment which their deformities would normally bar them from, and paying them a good wage as well. Some of his biggest attractions ultimately left his employ and had successful solo carreers in show biz, most notably General Tom Thumb, who respected Barnum so much that when Barnum had financial problems later in life, Tom Thumb offered to go on tour with him to help him out. So was Barnum an evil exploiter, or a benevolent employer? Perhaps we should just say he was as enlightened as one could expect for his era and leave it at that.
