Badassery

[CandiCame]

So I found this site on the cultural literacy of badassery

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Badass

Rule Of Cool personified.

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 they break or stretch 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 Type I Anti Hero.

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 Heroic Sociopath. 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.

* Action Girl - She kicks ass.
o Boobs of Steel - And she's stacked too.
* Action Hero - He kicks ass.
* Action Mom - Mom kicks ass.
* Action Survivor - An everyday guy with no Action Hero qualities, but who can hold some hard situations quite well if he has to.
* Adaptational Badass - Maybe they weren't so badass in the manga or the TV show, but they really started cracking skulls in the anime and movies!
* Ambadassador - They represent their hometown or home country, and they plan to export an ass whooping to those who mess with them.
* Agent Peacock: Rule of glamorous meets rule of cool in a girly male who kicks butt.
* Almighty Janitor: He may have the lowest rank but can kick more ass than his superiors.
* Authority Equals Asskicking / Asskicking Equals Authority - The higher your rank and/or number of victories respectively, especially against Worthy Opponents, the more badass you are.
* Awesome Aussie - The coolest thing to come from down under.
* Badass Abnormal - When an ordinary person can shoot lightning bolts out of their hands and punch intangible deities in the balls.
* Badass Adorable - Okay, they're cute. Don't think they can't turn you into a pool of your blood.
o Cute Bruiser - Little kids with big strength.
o Killer Rabbit - Small, cute, dangerous as all HELL.
* Badass And Baby - They kick ass. Doesn't mean they can't go into battle and take care of an infant at the same time.
* Badass And Child Duo - Badass has a child following him around. And woe betide anyone who tries to target that kid.
* Badass Angster - He/She might have a few reasons to get depressed, but they compensate by using their anger or despair as fuel for their asskicking escapades.
* Badass Arm Fold - a very Badass pose.
* Badass Automaton - It clanks, it grinds, or it whirs when it moves. Doesn't mean that it can't beat the shit out of you.
* Badass Back - When someone is so Bad Ass they dropped your ass without turning around.
* Badass Bandolier - A utilitarian Bad Ass accessory worn so a Bad Ass can keep their tools of the trade handy.
* Badass Baritone - A very Bad Ass voice tone.
* Badass Beard - Their facial hair is shorthand for "Don't mess with me."
* Badass Biker - Nothing says Bad Ass better than a Cool Bike.
* Badass Blink - When a cloaking field pauses for badassery to ensue.
* Badass Boast/Pre-Asskicking One-Liner - Every good Bad Ass needs a cool line about how dead they are gonna make you.
o My Name Is Inigo Montoya - Isn't it nice for a Badass to introduce themselves before they kick your ass?
o Pre-Mortem One-Liner - A Bad Ass telling what they think what they think of you. Oh wait, you're already dead.
* Badass Bookworm - Reads the encyclopedia for fun. Is also quite capable of using it to bludgeon you to death.
* Badass Bystander - They were minding their own business until your turned their world upside down. Now, they will make you regret that mistake.
* Badass Cape - Long flowing capes.....the traditional accessory of certain breeds of Bad Ass.
* Badass In Charge - The boss kicks ass.
* Badass Creed - A philosophy that espouses Bad Ass as a central tenet.
* Badass Damsel - She's NOT as helpless as she looks.
* Badass Driver - Give them a vehicle, and they will do hardcore, death defying shit with it.
o Car Fu - Their Weapon of Choice naturally.
* Badass Furry - Their furry body is just an extension of how badly they plan to epically make your life suck for trifling with them.
* 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.
o Never Mess with Granny - Genderflipped Badass Grandpa.
* Badass in Distress - When a Bad Ass is temporarily out of action in a way that does not diminish their badass rating.
* Badass Israeli - When Israelis are portrayed as totally Bad Ass.
* Badass Longcoat - A great way to say Bad Ass is wear an imposing overcoat.
o Badass Labcoat - The scientist version of Badass Longcoat.
o Badass Long Robe - The wizard version of Badass Longcoat.
o The Coats Are Off - Sometimes you get even more Bad Ass when you take the coat off.
o Trench Coat Warfare - A very specific type of Badass Longcoat
* Badass Long Hair - Who says mullets aren't proof you kick ass?
* Badass Minds Think Alike - Two badasses go into battle together without any plans at all. They STILL manage to kick every ass they come across.
* Badass Mustache - Like Badass Beard, but above the lip.
* Badass Native - When the natives are restless and scrotum crushingly Bad Ass.
* Badass Normal - The non-powered character in a group with superpowers, but who kicks just as much ass.
* Badass Pacifist - Won't hurt you, but will fearlessly sacrifice their lives to keep you from hurting others.
* 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 Princess - She is not one to get kidnapped. Instead, she breaks kidnappers in half.
* Badass Spaniard - Hispanic is just another word for "you will know what true fear means now".
* Badass Teacher - Teaches the alphabet to kids, and brutally schools the fools who take them on.
* Badass Transplant - When someone becomes a Bad Ass via a prosthetic of some kind.
* Badass Unintentional - Didn't plan to be a Bad Ass.
* Badbutt - As Badass as a kid-friendly show will allow.
* Bald of Awesome - Who said hair was a requirement to be Bad Ass?
* Battle Strip - When clothing is removed for the convenience of the Bad Ass in question.
* Beat Them at Their Own Game - When a Bad Ass beats you with your own special move.
* Beware the Nice Ones - They're so sweet, they won't even hurt a fly. But they will hurt you, badly, if you piss them off.
* Beware The Quiet Ones - They don't talk much. However, they will kick you ass if you take that as a sign of weakness.
* Beware The Silly Ones - They're always goofing off. However, push the wrong button and they will destroy you, no questions asked.
* Big Badass Bird Of Prey - Birds of prey can be scary as hell, especially when they are large enough to flay your face in half in mid flight.
* Big Badass Wolf - Wolves are known for being Bad Ass. Big ones even more so.
* Born Winner - That automatically makes you a loser.
* Brought Down To Badass - Had superpowers, lost them, but even afterwards, they can still kick ass.
* The Captain - Who has the balls to run the coolest Cool Ship? (or The Squad)? This guy, of course.
* Colonel Badass - Leads their troops in being Bad Ass by being one as well.
* Cool Shades - A traditional visual accessory of a Bad Ass.
* Cowardly Lion - They may be cowardly but when the going gets tough, they'll kick your ass.
o The So-Called Coward - They're faking.
* Cultured Badass - Enjoys the finer things in life.....and breaking the skulls of their foes.
* Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass - Acts like an idiot or non Bad Ass, either on purpose or not, but it's just to hide how capable they are at breaking their opponents in half.
* Dare To Be Badass - When someone decides to quit being normal and be a Bad Ass instead.
* Dark Action Girl - She's evil and she kicks ass.
* Deadly Doctor - Can cause the same hideous agony they usually cure.
* Determinator - THEY. DO. NOT. GIVE. UP!
* Diagnosis From Dr. Badass - Will tell you in deep detail just how badly they are wrecking your shit while doing so.
* Dying Moment of Awesome - How a Bad Ass dies.
* Dynamic Entry - How a Bad Ass says hello.
* Eyepatch of Power - A great way for a Bad Ass to say "even with one eye, I'm still gonna kick your ass."
* Four Star Badass - Has a general's rank, and a long list of wrecked faces to their name.
* Future Badass - That goofy, gawky character from the present day? In the Bad Future, that character's gone hardcore.
* Glowing Eyes of Doom - Does anymore need to be said?
* Handicapped Badass - Don't mistake them as a cripple, or they will crush you with what limbs they still have.
o Blind Weaponmaster - Just because he's blind doesn't mean that he can't kick your ass.
* Heartbroken Badass - You murdered their lover or family. They can and will do the same to you.
* Heroic Sociopath - Crazy as hell, and their feats have scared lesser badasses shitless.
* Hidden Badass - They are badass....you just don't notice it at first glance.
* Hot Chick in a Badass Suit - When women wear Bad Ass apparel.
* I Just Want To Be Badass - When a non badass aspires to be one.
* Iron Woobie - Their life sucks, but instead of angsting and kicking ass, they go straight to the second part.
* Kicking Ass And Taking Names - Self explanatory.
* 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.
o 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."
* Large and in Charge - Size does matter.
* Let's Get Dangerous - 'Nuff said.
* Lightning Bruiser - Quick, Strong and Bad Ass.
* Like a Badass out of Hell - When a Bad Ass walks into Hell or a reasonable alternative, and later leaves, with a lot of kicked asses in their their wake.
* Little Miss Badass - Short of stature, but not of the ability to make you die horribly for underestimating her.
* Minored In Asskicking - A much more subdued version of the Badass Bookworm who doesn't actively practice their Bad Ass status, but can be if need be.
* Majorly Awesome - Okay, so they're not a Colonel Badass or a Four Star Badass. You still would NOT want to get on their bad side.
* Major Injury Underreaction - You ripped off their arm. They. Didn't. Flinch.
* Mama Bear - Mess with her kids and die. Your choice.
o Papa Wolf - Mess with HIS kids and Mama Bear is the LEAST of your problems.
+ And you'd better be signing your will if they are a Battle Couple or patrons of a Badass Family
* Memetic Badass - While their actual Bad Ass credentials may or may not be justified, their reputation as a Bad Ass is considered Off The Scale.
* More Deadly Than The Male - If you thought the male was dangerous, stay away from the woman.
o Action Girlfriend - When she's your girlfriend
+ Violently Protective Girlfriend: You hurt her boyfriend. BIG MISTAKE!!!!
* Oh Crap - The classic reaction when you realized you're about to get your ass kicked by a Badass.
* One-Man Army - They don't need reinforcements. They ARE the reinforcements.
o Person of Mass Destruction - They ARE the Nuke.
* Pint Sized Powerhouse - They may be small but they pack quite a punch.
* Pop Cultured Badass - They kick ass while listening to some rock music after having seen their favorite sitcom.
* Pregnant Badass - She's carrying a child. Don't think she can't terminate your ability to create them.
* Ragin' Cajun - What Cajuns become when your face needs wrecking.
* Rated M for Manly - Badass taken Beyond the Impossible.
* Red Baron- Because every Badass needs a nickname to go with the reputation.
* Retired Badass - They hung up their asskicking credentials. Doesn't mean they forgot how.
o Retired Badass Roundup - For when the Badasses all team up again for One Last Job.
* Scarf of Asskicking - A Badass wrap.
* Sealed Badass in a Can - When a Bad Ass of some type is temporarily put in some sort of stasis so it can later be unleashed.
* Shut UP Hannibal - How a Bad Ass lets you know that you talk too much.
o Talk to the Fist - With his fist.
o Killed Mid-Sentence - Self-explantory.
* Specs Of Awesome - They wear glasses, but that doesn't make them any less badass.
* Submissive Badass - When a Bad Ass is a follower, not a leader, but don't make the mistake that they can't break you in half as a result.
* Took a Level in Badass - When a non Bad Ass or a minor Bad Ass gets better at it.
* Testosterone Poisoning - Parodying Rated M for Manly.
* Underestimating Badassery - When a Bad Ass is underestimated by those whose excess DNA needs to be removed from the gene pool.
* Warrior Prince - He will lead his people to victory on the front lines.
* What Measure Is A Non Badass - When a Bad Ass isn't considered Bad Ass enough for the setting in question.
* Worthy Opponent: He may be an enemy but he is still a Badass.

Plural forms:

* Back-to-Back Badasses - When two Bad Ass characters back each other up. Two badasses are better than one.
* Badass Army - An entire army of Bad Ass.
* Badass Crew - An entire team of Bad Ass.
* Badass Family - An entire family of Bad Ass.
* Battle Couple - Bad Ass Lovers.
* World of Badass - An entire WORLD of Bad Ass.