Badass: Difference between revisions

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It's notable that fans are more likely to tolerate a violent monster of a "hero" than a befuddled, cowardly [[Classical Antihero]].
It's notable that fans are more likely to tolerate a violent monster of a "hero" than a befuddled, cowardly [[Classical Antihero]].


Most attempts to parody or deconstruct the badass have turned into [[Misaimed Fandom]] -- no matter how nutty the character gets (like Rorschach from ''[[Watchmen (Comic Book)|Watchmen]]),'' the fans just cheer on how badass the character is. This has led to a new [[Trope]]: the [[Sociopathic Hero]]. Writers beware: Take it too far and either [[God Mode Sue]] or [[Jerk Sue]] will stride [[Out of the Inferno]] of your work.
Most attempts to parody or deconstruct the badass have turned into [[Misaimed Fandom]] -- no matter how nutty the character gets (like Rorschach from ''[[Watchmen (comics)|Watchmen]]),'' the fans just cheer on how badass the character is. This has led to a new [[Trope]]: the [[Sociopathic Hero]]. Writers beware: Take it too far and either [[God Mode Sue]] or [[Jerk Sue]] will stride [[Out of the Inferno]] of your work.


For a child-friendly version of the badass whose badassery is somewhat diminished by the limitations of the work, see [[Badbutt]].
For a child-friendly version of the badass whose badassery is somewhat diminished by the limitations of the work, see [[Badbutt]].
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* [[Agent Peacock]]: [[Rule of Glamorous]] meets [[Rule of Cool]] in a effeminate guy who kicks butt.
* [[Agent Peacock]]: [[Rule of Glamorous]] meets [[Rule of Cool]] in a effeminate guy who kicks butt.
* [[Almighty Janitor]]: He may have the lowest rank but can kick more ass than his superiors.
* [[Almighty Janitor]]: He may have the lowest rank but can kick more ass than his superiors.
* [[Asskicking Pose]]: [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin]].
* [[Asskicking Pose]]: [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]].
** [[Badass Arm-Fold]]: A particularly badass pose.
** [[Badass Arm-Fold]]: A particularly badass pose.
* [[Awesome Aussie]]: The coolest thing to come from down under.
* [[Awesome Aussie]]: The coolest thing to come from down under.
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* [[Badass Gay]]: Just because they're gay doesn't mean that they're not a bonafide badass.
* [[Badass Gay]]: Just because they're gay doesn't mean that they're not a bonafide badass.
* [[Badass Grandpa]]: He might have grandchildren who see him as a teddy bear, but don't think he won't make you fear him if you cross him.
* [[Badass Grandpa]]: He might have grandchildren who see him as a teddy bear, but don't think he won't make you fear him if you cross him.
** [[Never Mess With Granny]]: Genderflipped Badass Grandpa.
** [[Never Mess with Granny]]: Genderflipped Badass Grandpa.
* [[Badass in A Nice Suit]]: A badass needs nice clothes, don't you think?
* [[Badass in a Nice Suit]]: A badass needs nice clothes, don't you think?
** [[Hot Chick in A Badass Suit]]: When women wear badass apparel.
** [[Hot Chick in a Badass Suit]]: When women wear badass apparel.
* [[Badass in Distress]]: When a badass is temporarily out of action in a way that does not diminish their badass rating.
* [[Badass in Distress]]: When a badass is temporarily out of action in a way that does not diminish their badass rating.
* [[Badass Israeli]]: An Israeli who's a badass.
* [[Badass Israeli]]: An Israeli who's a badass.
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* [[Badass Normal]]: The non-powered character in a group with superpowers, but who kicks just as much ass.
* [[Badass Normal]]: The non-powered character in a group with superpowers, but who kicks just as much ass.
** [[Badass Abnormal]]: When said ordinary, already badass person gains superpowers.
** [[Badass Abnormal]]: When said ordinary, already badass person gains superpowers.
* [[Badass On Paper]]: A rare breed where the character can do badass things with out being badass.
* [[Badass on Paper]]: A rare breed where the character can do badass things with out being badass.
* [[Badass Pacifist]]: Will try to find a peaceful way out, but when push comes to shove, they ''will'' kick your ass.
* [[Badass Pacifist]]: Will try to find a peaceful way out, but when push comes to shove, they ''will'' kick your ass.
* [[Badass Preacher]]: He will minister to his flock and break you in half with his shepherd's crook if you think about hurting them.
* [[Badass Preacher]]: He will minister to his flock and break you in half with his shepherd's crook if you think about hurting them.
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* [[Kung Fu Jesus]]: When a [[Messianic Archetype]] decides to be badass.
* [[Kung Fu Jesus]]: When a [[Messianic Archetype]] decides to be badass.
* [[Lady of War]]: She is known for her grace and poise even while she's cutting you to pieces.
* [[Lady of War]]: She is known for her grace and poise even while she's cutting you to pieces.
** [[Officer and A Gentleman]]: [[Spear Counterpart]].
** [[Officer and a Gentleman]]: [[Spear Counterpart]].
* [[Lantern Jaw of Justice]]: That square jaw is the calling card of the one who will make you understand the meaning of the words "You will pay for your sins."
* [[Lantern Jaw of Justice]]: That square jaw is the calling card of the one who will make you understand the meaning of the words "You will pay for your sins."
* [[Large and In Charge]]: Size does matter.
* [[Large and In Charge]]: Size does matter.
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** [[Papa Wolf]]: Mess with [[Distaff Counterpart|his]] kids and [[Mama Bear]] is the ''least'' of your problems.
** [[Papa Wolf]]: Mess with [[Distaff Counterpart|his]] kids and [[Mama Bear]] is the ''least'' of your problems.
* [[Memetic Badass]]: While their actual badass credentials may or may not be justified, their reputation as a badass is considered [[Off the Scale]].
* [[Memetic Badass]]: While their actual badass credentials may or may not be justified, their reputation as a badass is considered [[Off the Scale]].
* [[Mighty Lumberjack]]: [[Monty Python's Flying Circus (TV)|Monty Python's Flying Circus]] He's a lumberjack and he's badass, he sleeps all night and chops trees/kicks asses all day!]]
* [[Mighty Lumberjack]]: [[Monty Python's Flying Circus]] He's a lumberjack and he's badass, he sleeps all night and chops trees/kicks asses all day!]]
* [[More Deadly Than the Male]]: She makes up for her lack of (obvious) strength by being more ruthless than you and her boyfriend combined.
* [[More Deadly Than the Male]]: She makes up for her lack of (obvious) strength by being more ruthless than you and her boyfriend combined.
* [[Mother Russia Makes You Strong]]: and it isn't a healthy environment for wussies.
* [[Mother Russia Makes You Strong]]: and it isn't a healthy environment for wussies.
* [[No Badass to His Valet]]: No matter how badass the character is, there is always one person who just isn't intimidated.
* [[No Badass to His Valet]]: No matter how badass the character is, there is always one person who just isn't intimidated.
* [[Oh Crap]]: The classic reaction when you realized you're about to get your ass kicked.
* [[Oh Crap]]: The classic reaction when you realized you're about to get your ass kicked.
* [[Once Killed a Man With A Noodle Implement]]: Badass enough to kill someone with strange implements.
* [[Once Killed a Man with A Noodle Implement]]: Badass enough to kill someone with strange implements.
* [[One-Man Army]]: They don't need reinforcements. They ''are'' the reinforcements.
* [[One-Man Army]]: They don't need reinforcements. They ''are'' the reinforcements.
** [[Person of Mass Destruction]]: They ''are'' the nuclear bomb.
** [[Person of Mass Destruction]]: They ''are'' the nuclear bomb.
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* [[Samus Is a Girl]]: When an [[Action Girl]]'s badass status is established before her gender is revealed.
* [[Samus Is a Girl]]: When an [[Action Girl]]'s badass status is established before her gender is revealed.
* [[Scarf of Asskicking]]: A badass scarf.
* [[Scarf of Asskicking]]: A badass scarf.
* [[Sealed Badass in A Can]]: When a badass of some type is temporarily put in some sort of stasis so they can later be unleashed.
* [[Sealed Badass in a Can]]: When a badass of some type is temporarily put in some sort of stasis so they can later be unleashed.
* [[Shut UP, Hannibal]]: How a badass lets you know that you talk too much.
* [[Shut UP, Hannibal]]: How a badass lets you know that you talk too much.
** [[Talk to The Fist]]: With his fist.
** [[Talk to the Fist]]: With his fist.
** [[Killed Mid-Sentence]]: Self-explanatory.
** [[Killed Mid-Sentence]]: Self-explanatory.
* [[Sociopathic Hero]]: They fight for good, but that doesn't mean they're good themselves.
* [[Sociopathic Hero]]: They fight for good, but that doesn't mean they're good themselves.

Revision as of 22:33, 8 April 2014


The splinters and shrapnel would not touch him, due to Pure Awesomeness.
 "Until a man is twenty-five, he still thinks, every so often, that under the right circumstances he could be the baddest motherfucker in the world. ...Hiro used to feel this way, too, but then he ran into Raven. In a way, this was liberating. He no longer has to worry about being the baddest motherfucker in the world. The position is taken."
—--Snow Crash

Rule of Cool personified.

Badass is an adjective used to describe a character who gets away with outright insane stunts (defusing a bomb with their teeth, conning a mob boss, getting into a firefight with the entire army, etc.) that would be very hard to pull off in Real Life, or would get the person trying it killed several times over. A badass is a fantasy figure whom the audience roots for precisely because of how prone they are to awesome moments, to the point where they stretch or break the Willing Suspension of Disbelief. Of course, Willing Suspension of Disbelief may still be maintained depending on the mechanics of the universe.

It's notable that fans are more likely to tolerate a violent monster of a "hero" than a befuddled, cowardly Classical Antihero.

Most attempts to parody or deconstruct the badass have turned into Misaimed Fandom -- no matter how nutty the character gets (like Rorschach from Watchmen), the fans just cheer on how badass the character is. This has led to a new Trope: the Sociopathic Hero. Writers beware: Take it too far and either God Mode Sue or Jerk Sue will stride Out of the Inferno of your work.

For a child-friendly version of the badass whose badassery is somewhat diminished by the limitations of the work, see Badbutt.

For a not so complete list of badasses, see Badass of the Week.

This Trope is not what you say to a Stubborn Mule. Characters that are Badass are often said to have Brass Balls.

Below are the tropes that are definite signs of a true badass. For Sub Tropes when the character who you do not expect to be like this becomes a badass anyway, see this index.

At the time the tropebase was forked, an effort was under way to reorganize this list. A partially-complete revision can be found here, and if it reaches completion it will be transplanted into this page.

— The Mgmt.


Plural forms:


If an example can be placed in these previous tropes, please put them there.

For many outstanding examples of badassness, see Moment of Awesome.

Considering almost every hero of ancient myth was Badass Incarnate?, this trope is Older Than Dirt.

Now divided into Badass sub-pages:

Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Badass?oldid=910556"