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Even Dilbert wasn’t usually mean, and certainly never to people who didn’t really deserve it.

You sure you've been reading the same strip because the PHB and Dogbert have both been deliberately mean on multiple occasions.

EDIT: Also catbert whose whole character is about being cruel.

The PHB isn’t a viewpoint character. And Dogbert is usually only mean to people who can said to be (in some sense) deserving.

Dilbert himself: no. Most of the other characters: yes (mostly to Dilbert).