Hidden Badass

Sub-index to Badass and More Than Meets the Eye. Contrast with Paper Tiger.

This Trope has a sub-index of its own:


 * Submissive Badass

These characters are Badasses but you wouldn't expect it because they are...


 * Action Fashionista - too obsessed with the latest trends.
 * Action Mom - a mom
 * Adaptational Badass- not a Badass in the original
 * Adaptational Villainy - not a Badass villain in the original
 * Agent Peacock - too much of a girly boy
 * Almighty Janitor - too blue-collar
 * Ambadassador - an ambassador
 * Awakening the Sleeping Giant - too neutral
 * Badass Adorable - too cute
 * Badass and Baby - too busy protecting the baby
 * Badass and Child Duo - too busy protecting the child
 * Badass Back - not facing you
 * Badass Bookworm - too smart
 * Badass Bureaucrat - a paper-pusher
 * Badass Bystander - just some random person
 * Badass Damsel - a damsel
 * Badass Gay - homosexual
 * Badass Grandpa - too old
 * Badass Normal - lacking special powers
 * Badass on Paper - unimpressive in person
 * Badass Pacifist - opposed to violence
 * Badass Princess - a princess
 * Badass Preacher - a priest
 * Badass Santa - Santa
 * Badass Teacher - a teacher
 * Blind Weaponmaster - blind
 * Beware the Nice Ones - too gentle
 * Beware the Quiet Ones - too quiet
 * Beware the Silly Ones - just the Comic Relief
 * Bodyguarding a Badass - letting others fight for him
 * Brilliant but Lazy - too lazy
 * Brought Down to Badass - officially powerless
 * Bully Hunter - a kid
 * Cornered Rattlesnake - a once weak person fighting back
 * Costumed Nonsuper Hero - too ordinary
 * Cowardly Lion - too cowardly
 * Crazy Awesome - too crazy
 * Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass - too stupid
 * Cultured Badass - too urbane
 * Deadly Doctor - just a doctor and doctors only heal, never harm
 * Dork Knight - Adorkable
 * Effortless Amazonian Lift - just a strong girl
 * False Innocence Trick - just an Innocent Bystander -- right?
 * Fluffy the Terrible - given too cutesy a name
 * Good Is Not Dumb/Good Is Not Soft - too nice
 * Goo-Goo Godlike - too young
 * Handicapped Badass - handicapped
 * Heartbroken Badass - too despondent
 * Heart Is an Awesome Power - gifted with a seemingly lame superpower
 * Hypercompetent Sidekick - a sidekick
 * Iron Woobie - too sympathetic
 * Just a Kid - too young
 * Kicking Ass in All Her Finery - not gonna start a fight in that dress
 * Killer Rabbit - too cute and looks harmless
 * Kung Fu Jesus - too Messianic
 * Lady of War - too refined to get her hands dirty
 * Lethal Joke Character - a Joke Character.
 * Let's Get Dangerous - not an actual threat...
 * Little Miss Badass - a little girl, or looks like one
 * Mama Bear - a mom
 * More Deadly Than the Male - a proper lady
 * Minored in Asskicking - too smart
 * Mugging the Monster/Bullying the Dragon - not going to hit back, right?
 * Never Mess with Granny - a sweet little old lady who wouldn't hurt anyone
 * Not-So-Harmless Villain - a Harmless Villain
 * Obfuscating Insanity - hiding it
 * Obfuscating Stupidity - hiding it
 * Papa Wolf - a dad
 * Pint-Sized Powerhouse - too small
 * Pop-Cultured Badass - too nerdy
 * Pregnant Badass - pregnant
 * Retired Badass - retired
 * Savage Setpiece - just part of the background
 * Silk Hiding Steel - too quiet and refined
 * Specs of Awesome - wearing glasses
 * Submissive Badass - too much of a follower
 * The So-Called Coward - a coward, right?
 * Took a Level In Badass - not a Badass previously
 * Tranquil Fury - too calm
 * Unskilled but Strong - lacking the skills to apply his strength
 * Violently Protective Girlfriend - someone's girlfriend
 * Waif Fu - a petite female
 * Weak but Skilled - lacking the strength to apply her skills
 * Who's Laughing Now? - originally a wimp.
 * Will Not Be a Victim - apparently already conquered
 * Xenafication - suddenly Action Girl

Then again, anyone might turn out to be a secret badass.

Even if they never wanted to be in the first place.