Howard Clifford

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Howard Clifford
ハワード Howard
PDP Howard Clifford.jpg
Howard Clifford
Gender Male
Eye color Black
Hair color Grey
Hometown Unknown
Ryme City (founder)
Region Unknown
Relatives Roger Clifford (son)

Howard Clifford (Japanese: ハワード Howard) is one of the main characters of Pokémon Detective Pikachu and its major antagonist. He is the founder of Ryme City and father of Roger Clifford.

History

As a wheelchaired man, Howard not only wished to cure his own disability, but also to evolve the entire humanity to the fullest like Pokémon could. To this end, he recruited detective Harry Goodman to track and capture Mewtwo and hired Dr. Ann Laurent to produce the R substance, which can be used with Mewtwo's psychic ability to merge humans and Pokémon. However, his plan was thwarted after Harry learnt of it and rescued Mewtwo. Howard sent his genetically-modified Greninja to chase after Harry's car and cause it to crash, seemingly killing him. However, Howard deduced that Harry was still alive and his Pikachu was the key to find Mewtwo, so he sent his assistant Ms. Norman into the city to find it. When Ms. Norman brought Tim Goodman and Detective Pikachu back to him, Howard pretended that his own son Roger Clifford was the mastermind who hired Harry to capture Mewtwo, and Tim would be able to find his father if he could track Mewtwo.

After Ms. Norman successfully secured Mewtwo, Howard revealed his plan to Tim, that he had secretly filled Ryme City's parade balloons with the R substance. After using a neural link to transfer his mind into Mewtwo, Howard used his new-found psychic ability to merge all humans in the city into their Pokémon. When he discovered that Detective Pikachu was trying to stop his plan, Howard engaged and chased after him, which resulted in Pikachu's seeming defeat. When Howard returned to his office to dispose of Tim, Howard was hit by Detective Pikachu's Volt Tackle and crashed into his building's lower floors. An angry Howard emerged and tried to choke Pikachu to death, but Pikachu revealed that he bought enough time for Tim to break his neural link, forcing Howard back to his own body.

A defeated Howard was seen arrested by the police afterward.

Moves used as Mewtwo

Move First Used In
Shadow Ball Pokémon Detective Pikachu
A shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Pokémon

On hand

 
Ms. Norman
Main article: Ms. Norman

Ms. Norman is a Ditto. It is Howard's Pokémon and his personal assistant.

Ms. Norman only move is Transform. Like Duplica's Ditto, its cannot transform its eyes.

Debut Pokémon Detective Pikachu

Experimented

 
Greninja (multiple)
Multiple Greninja were genetically modified and put in chambers. They were used to chase after Harry Goodman, and when Tim and Lucy broke into Howard's facility.
Debut Pokémon Detective Pikachu
 
Torterra (multiple)
Multiple Torterra were genetically modified for their growing. Many normal-sized Torterra live in the facility, but gigantic ones, who are as big as mountains, lay dormant nearby.
Debut Pokémon Detective Pikachu

Escaped

 
Mewtwo
Main article: Mewtwo (Detective Pikachu)

Mewtwo was a Pokémon captured and experimented by Howard. He also briefly transferred his mind in its body, but it was eventually freed by Tim Goodman.

Debut Pokémon Detective Pikachu