NationStates Jolt Archive

Internet Badass
Sure, you may look like any other nerd, but god help the person who insults your favourite webcomic/sc fi tihngy/browser/whatever. Skills include thread stealing.

One of the popular archetypes in stories that really fascinates me is the Secret Badass, the person that for all appearances is normal, but little do we (or even sometimes they) know, they're secretly a total badass.

What I want to know is, what is your preferred flavor of Secret Badass, which would you want to be?

The Amnesiac Secret Badass

This comes in two flavors, Bourne and American Ninja:
Bourne Style
You just wake up somewhere with no identification or whatever and can't remember anything, but for some reason you totally kick ass. Usually you find this out by kicking some dude's ass who was trying to kill you.

American Ninja Style
There is a gap in your memory, you can't remember your childhood or something like that. And though you don't know why, you can do some weird gymnastic shit, and in what seems like a normal mugging you suddenly bust out with some crazy ninja shit and beat their asses.

The Messiah Badass

Obviously a popular and enduring one, you're leading what you think is a normal life but, as it turns out, you have a destiny that involves Secret Badassery. This also has it's flavors.

The Last Starfighter Style
Everyone knows you're good at Galaga or whatever, but secretly they all kind of think that you really play it too damn much. Little do they know that also secretly, there's a race of people out there who face an enemy that uses fleets of ships that fly in fixed formation and fire slow moving projectiles and large tentacled 'boss' machines who needs your particular skill to save them all. Who knew your hobby was so useful?

"And His Friend Jesus!"
You may be a so-so carpenter, but as it turns out, you're also the chosen one. It might be divine birth or random chance, but you are born to a higher calling. Usually doesn't end well.

The Green Lantern/Greatest American Hero Style
You're day couldn't be going crappier when that meteor smashes the road ahead of you. Well, it turns out it's a galactic Santa Claus handing out rings or power suits to English teachers or down and out pilots. Now, you're totally a badass...just don't lose the instruction book...

The Undercover Badass

You're living a normal life, just trying to get by under the radar. Little does anyone know, you're totally a badass...

Under Siege Style
You've had enough of 'the life' and you're just trying to do your time. Everyone in the kitchen is impressed with your knife technique and know not to mess with you, but little do they know, you're Secretly a Badass. Which will come in handy when you're ship is taken over or someone from your past tries to fuck up your small town.

Rambo/Hulk Style
You're a drifter, trying to stay low and off the radar. You don't want any trouble, because if their is, they won't like it when you're angry.

Superhero Badass

Ah, the pleasures of being mild mannered while you watch the chick you're into moon over alter ego. It's the spandex. Shows off the package...

Superman Style
You've always been a badass, either from special parents or just mutation, and you decided not to tell anyone because you can totally pull of the tights look and you just know if everyone knew you could shoot lasers out of your eyes they'd always be like, "Hey man, do that laser eye thing again," and it would just get old...

Batman Style
You were totally going to just be another rich emo kid, but then something actually bad happened (ugh, I feel dirty. I actually shot the 'emo kid' fish in a barrel...) and now you're pissed...secretly.

Spiderman Style
You were the opposite of badass until that spider bit you, now you totally kick ass. All you need is some package revealing tights and you can totally hook up with that crazy redhead...

Otherworldly Badass

Little does anyone know, under the veneer of our normal world is another one that's full of all kinds of weird shit, and the only one who can handle it is you and your Secret Badassery. If only the people knew...

Constantine Style
You wouldn't be here except for some fluke, but you're a quick adapter and clever cat and you're able to walk the line better than anyone.

Ghost Rider Style (Shut up, I like Ghost Rider, and no, not the movie...)
You lead a slightly badass life, but then you pushed it too far or something of the kind and dipped too much of your big toe in the secret world and came out with secret badass powers that usually come with some cost, but it doesn't matter because now you're the only one who can hold the dark forces at bay.

Some of these overlap and such, and I don't feel like making a poll. Just tell us, what flavor of Secret Badass would you want to be(or are!!!)? Something already listed? One I missed?

I'm more the type to create his bad-ass gadgets.

Internet Badass
Sure, you may look like any other nerd, but god help the person who insults your favourite webcomic/sc fi tihngy/browser/whatever.Skills include thread stealing.

Quality.

I'm more the type to create his bad-ass gadgets.

The Lucius Fox/Q badass, eh? Hadn't thought of that one.

I prefer
The Networked Badass.
falls into several catagories.
"The oddball who knows stuff"
Quiet, unobtrusive, and even seems a bit senile. but it's what (s)he knows that counts.
Examples
Egg in "Big Trouble in Little China"
Obi Wan in "Star Wars IV"
Abby Sciuto in "NCIS"
Mr Miyagi "The Karate Kid"


"I Know some friends"
the man who knows people and can call up resources at a moment's notice
Examples
Frank Madras in "Outragious Fortune"
Aleph in "Global Frequency"
Lucious Fox "Batman"

Maybe i don't want to be a badass thanks, sure the whole killing other people for a lovable ending is nice but would really get me down about killing some nasty crime lord guy/girl.
I'll just stay plain old ordinary, and be heroic by feeding my imagination, and generally avoiding people who think voilence is a cool passtime, this reminds me of that woman who died.
She was voted the most ordinary person in USA and went into space with some other ordinary people and well died, i learnt that a few years ago in English class, don't ask me what that's got to do with language.

The Undercover Badass

You're living a normal life, just trying to get by under the radar. Little does anyone know, you're totally a badass...

Under Siege Style
You've had enough of 'the life' and you're just trying to do your time. Everyone in the kitchen is impressed with your knife technique and know not to mess with you, but little do they know, you're Secretly a Badass. Which will come in handy when you're ship is taken over or someone from your past tries to fuck up your small town.

Rambo/Hulk Style
You're a drifter, trying to stay low and off the radar. You don't want any trouble, because if their is, they won't like it when you're angry.

Of the ones listed these two are my faves. The Under Seig one, to me, should be the Western, as it's the theme of so many great Western's - Shane, Pale Rider, Unforgiven, etc., etc...

Some of these overlap and such, and I don't feel like making a poll. Just tell us, what flavor of Secret Badass would you want to be(or are!!!)? Something already listed? One I missed?

Here's a few more:
The Reverse Undercover Badass, Remo Williams Style: You were an ordinary guy until you ran into the wrong people. They kidnapped you, probably faking your death along the way, and forcibly trained you to be a great badass. Now you take down the bad guys in secret from the shadows. Anther example is Crying Freeman

Don't push Geekyboy to far, a la Harry's War (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082503/) Style: You're an average, or even below average, Joe Milktoast. But then somebody or something pushes you beyond the limits. You find out you possess a hidden secret inner bad ass and proceed to chew bubble gum and kick ass.
Another example is Doctor Detroit. (I know there's got to be some better examples, but those are the ones that came to mind...)

Maybe i don't want to be a badass thanks, sure the whole killing other people for a lovable ending is nice but would really get me down about killing some nasty crime lord guy/girl.
I'll just stay plain old ordinary, and be heroic by feeding my imagination, and generally avoiding people who think voilence is a cool passtime, this reminds me of that woman who died.
She was voted the most ordinary person in USA and went into space with some other ordinary people and well died, i learnt that a few years ago in English class, don't ask me what that's got to do with language.
I'm a pacifist in actual life. Not all fantasies are things you'd actually want to happen.
Of the ones listed these two are my faves. The Under Seig one, to me, should be the Western, as it's the theme of so many great Western's - Shane, Pale Rider, Unforgiven, etc., etc...



Here's a few more:
The Reverse Undercover Badass, Remo Williams Style: You were an ordinary guy until you ran into the wrong people. They kidnapped you, probably faking your death along the way, and forcibly trained you to be a great badass. Now you take down the bad guys in secret from the shadows. Anther example is Crying Freeman

Don't push Geekyboy to far, a la Harry's War (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082503/) Style: You're an average, or even below average, Joe Milktoast. But then somebody or something pushes you beyond the limits. You find out you possess a hidden secret inner bad ass and proceed to chew bubble gum and kick ass.
Another example is Doctor Detroit. (I know there's got to be some better examples, but those are the ones that came to mind...)
Hehe, you're at least as old as I am, because I get all of those movie references...and I've been trying to remember the name of Harry's War for fucking years...Netflix, here I come!!!

I waffled on what I'll call (just for stubbornness' sake) the Falling Down badass. I do think it meets what should be the base criteria-you were normal, or everyone thinks you're normal, but it turns out you're a badass. It's a projection thing, that notion that even though you're a normal guy and kind of like you're normal life and wouldn't want to be going on Navy SEAL missions and all of that, you'd like to think under your veneer of normalcy beats the heart of a Secret Badass. But I don't know if people in this one are really Secret Badasses or just Secret Nutcases who go a level of nutbags that just has to be reckoned with. I don't know if there is a level of badassness or just a willingness to 'go there,' so to speak.

Here's a few more:
The Reverse Undercover Badass, Remo Williams Style: You were an ordinary guy until you ran into the wrong people. They kidnapped you, probably faking your death along the way, and forcibly trained you to be a great badass. Now you take down the bad guys in secret from the shadows. Anther example is Crying Freeman
actually, Remo was selected by the group. ;)
but theres also "Knight Rider" (new series begins soon.)
"Spawn"

Don't push Geekyboy to far, a la Harry's War (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082503/) Style: You're an average, or even below average, Joe Milktoast. But then somebody or something pushes you beyond the limits. You find out you possess a hidden secret inner bad ass and proceed to chew bubble gum and kick ass.
Another example is Doctor Detroit. (I know there's got to be some better examples, but those are the ones that came to mind...)
"Revenge of the Nerds"
"F/X"
"Payback" (tho he wasn't a nerd to begin with)
"Sneakers"

If I have to choose from those options I think I'd go with spiderman style, just because I want to wear those package revealing tights and hook up with the crazy redhead. And the swinging on buildings also looks nice.

Hehe, you're at least as old as I am, because I get all of those movie references...and I've been trying to remember the name of Harry's War for fucking years...Netflix, here I come!!!

Heh. Yep.

I waffled on what I'll call (just for stubbornness' sake) the Falling Down badass. I do think it meets what should be the base criteria-you were normal, or everyone thinks you're normal, but it turns out you're a badass. It's a projection thing, that notion that even though you're a normal guy and kind of like you're normal life and wouldn't want to be going on Navy SEAL missions and all of that, you'd like to think under your veneer of normalcy beats the heart of a Secret Badass. But I don't know if people in this one are really Secret Badasses or just Secret Nutcases who go a level of nutbags that just has to be reckoned with. I don't know if there is a level of badassness or just a willingness to 'go there,' so to speak.

I'll go for that (even though "D-Fens" was a villan, and we all know villans can't be bad asses. ;))

actually, Remo was selected by the group. ;)
but theres also "Knight Rider" (new series begins soon.)
"Spawn"

There we go.

"Revenge of the Nerds"
"F/X"
"Payback" (tho he wasn't a nerd to begin with)
"Sneakers"

And Real Genius.

So all together three more - Falling Down, Remo Williams, and Revenge of the Nerds.

You forgot the "Bad-ass due to the badguy fucking him up and killing his family when he was young". Similar to, but not quite the same as Batman cause he doesn't become a superhero, just a bad-ass.
e.g Charles Bronson in 'Once upon a time in the West'.

Also the "just plain total bad-ass for no reason whatsoever but you would not want to fuck with him because you know just by looking at him that he's 100% bad-ass".
for example, Clint Eastwood in any of his Sergio Leone movies.

And then there's Lionel in Braindead (aka Dead Again in the USA). If you had to choose, I guess he'd fit into the Spiderman Bad-ass catergory.

Or, Groo (and Rufferto) in any of his Sergio Aragones series.
Those Sergio's really knew their bad-asses, huh?

for example, Clint Eastwood in any of his Sergio Leone movies.
Or, Groo (and Rufferto) in any of his Sergio Aragones series.

You forgot the "Bad-ass due to the badguy fucking him up and killing his family when he was young". Similar to, but not quite the same as Batman cause he doesn't become a superhero, just a bad-ass.
e.g Charles Bronson in 'Once upon a time in the West'.

Also the "just plain total bad-ass for no reason whatsoever but you would not want to fuck with him because you know just by looking at him that he's 100% bad-ass".
for example, Clint Eastwood in any of his Sergio Leone movies.

But those are overt badasses...

But those are overt badasses...
I s'pose you're right. But Clint doesn't do anything particularly bad-assed or even particularly tries to look bad-assed, until there comes a time, place and need to be bad-assed (and even then he does bad-ass w/o looking bad-assed). But there's def an aura about him that screams bad-ass.

One of the popular archetypes in stories that really fascinates me is the Secret Badass, the person that for all appearances is normal, but little do we (or even sometimes they) know, they're secretly a total badass.

What I want to know is, what is your preferred flavor of Secret Badass, which would you want to be?

The Amnesiac Secret Badass

This comes in two flavors, Bourne and American Ninja:
Bourne Style
You just wake up somewhere with no identification or whatever and can't remember anything, but for some reason you totally kick ass. Usually you find this out by kicking some dude's ass who was trying to kill you.

American Ninja Style
There is a gap in your memory, you can't remember your childhood or something like that. And though you don't know why, you can do some weird gymnastic shit, and in what seems like a normal mugging you suddenly bust out with some crazy ninja shit and beat their asses.

The Messiah Badass

Obviously a popular and enduring one, you're leading what you think is a normal life but, as it turns out, you have a destiny that involves Secret Badassery. This also has it's flavors.

The Last Starfighter Style
Everyone knows you're good at Galaga or whatever, but secretly they all kind of think that you really play it too damn much. Little do they know that also secretly, there's a race of people out there who face an enemy that uses fleets of ships that fly in fixed formation and fire slow moving projectiles and large tentacled 'boss' machines who needs your particular skill to save them all. Who knew your hobby was so useful?

"And His Friend Jesus!"
You may be a so-so carpenter, but as it turns out, you're also the chosen one. It might be divine birth or random chance, but you are born to a higher calling. Usually doesn't end well.

The Green Lantern/Greatest American Hero Style
You're day couldn't be going crappier when that meteor smashes the road ahead of you. Well, it turns out it's a galactic Santa Claus handing out rings or power suits to English teachers or down and out pilots. Now, you're totally a badass...just don't lose the instruction book...

The Undercover Badass

You're living a normal life, just trying to get by under the radar. Little does anyone know, you're totally a badass...

Under Siege Style
You've had enough of 'the life' and you're just trying to do your time. Everyone in the kitchen is impressed with your knife technique and know not to mess with you, but little do they know, you're Secretly a Badass. Which will come in handy when you're ship is taken over or someone from your past tries to fuck up your small town.

Rambo/Hulk Style
You're a drifter, trying to stay low and off the radar. You don't want any trouble, because if their is, they won't like it when you're angry.

Superhero Badass

Ah, the pleasures of being mild mannered while you watch the chick you're into moon over alter ego. It's the spandex. Shows off the package...

Superman Style
You've always been a badass, either from special parents or just mutation, and you decided not to tell anyone because you can totally pull of the tights look and you just know if everyone knew you could shoot lasers out of your eyes they'd always be like, "Hey man, do that laser eye thing again," and it would just get old...

Batman Style
You were totally going to just be another rich emo kid, but then something actually bad happened (ugh, I feel dirty. I actually shot the 'emo kid' fish in a barrel...) and now you're pissed...secretly.

Spiderman Style
You were the opposite of badass until that spider bit you, now you totally kick ass. All you need is some package revealing tights and you can totally hook up with that crazy redhead...

Otherworldly Badass

Little does anyone know, under the veneer of our normal world is another one that's full of all kinds of weird shit, and the only one who can handle it is you and your Secret Badassery. If only the people knew...

Constantine Style
You wouldn't be here except for some fluke, but you're a quick adapter and clever cat and you're able to walk the line better than anyone.

Ghost Rider Style (Shut up, I like Ghost Rider, and no, not the movie...)
You lead a slightly badass life, but then you pushed it too far or something of the kind and dipped too much of your big toe in the secret world and came out with secret badass powers that usually come with some cost, but it doesn't matter because now you're the only one who can hold the dark forces at bay.

Some of these overlap and such, and I don't feel like making a poll. Just tell us, what flavor of Secret Badass would you want to be(or are!!!)? Something already listed? One I missed?

i prefer to call it the divine bad ass

I recommend the TVtropes article on badassery (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Badass). It's edutainment!

As for me, I am partial to the "undercover" badass: someone who you'd never expect to kick your ass. The everyman, the scientist, the lanky geek. The friendly, everyday dude or dudette that we know from the local grocery shop. Could be a neighbor, could be your teacher. They don't go about showing off their badassery; in fact, if it weren't for the dire circumstances that they were thrust into, they'd be more than happy to hang up the holsters and live a life of peace. But when the shit hits the fan, bad guys best duck.

Case in point: Dr. Gordon Freeman. The One Free Man. PhD in physics and fighting. Can handle hazardous materials and military grade firepower. Is as comfortable in a lab coat as he is a powered exoskeleton. He doesn't seem the type to go about wantonly causing destruction; as a scientist he is more interested in creating.

But the Combine fucked with the wrong theoretical physicist.

Colonial Minuteman Badass: Trying to tax them to death and dominate their colonies with imperialistic laws, the British Government created a massive number of ordinary farmers and shopkeepers who couldn't take it any more.

Hmmm.... pretty much any of the candidates running for office in the U.S. may find themselves facing a similar badass threat if they don't watch out...

Gordon Freeman is more of a badass than the Master Chief.

Gordon Freeman is more of a badass than the Master Chief.

Damn STRAIGHT! :D

While I'm here, let me bring up another possibility, albeit in reverse: "The Character who COULD be a Badass".

In this case we have a character who's design is so good, so unique, so out-of-this-world, that given the right situation and the right attitude, (s)he could become an epic badass who would lay waste to everything in his/her path.

Case in point: Inspector Gadget. Think about it, endless equipment and potential firepower, a largely cybernetic body and a kickass trenchcoat and fedora. He's happy-go-lucky now, but you push that guy too hard, and he might just push back.

[/shameless geekdom]

Ratchet of the "Ratchet & Clank" games - just a mechanic, working on building a spaceship in his back yard, finds himself beating aliens with his trusty wrench, which leads to saving the galaxy. The Rip Ya a New One (RYNO) is the ultimate badass gun, too.

I recommend the TVtropes article on badassery (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Badass). It's edutainment!

TVTropes is back up? YEAH!!! The archive binge resumes!!

Case in point: Dr. Gordon Freeman. The One Free Man. PhD in physics and fighting. Can handle hazardous materials and military grade firepower. Is as comfortable in a lab coat as he is a powered exoskeleton. He doesn't seem the type to go about wantonly causing destruction; as a scientist he is more interested in creating.

But the Combine fucked with the wrong theoretical physicist.

I got The Orange Box for Christmas, never played Half-Life 1, I'm somewhere near the end of Episode One and loving every minute of it. Gordon Freeman is awesome, and the close quarters combat against the Antlions just before Nova Prospekt in Half-Life 2 scared the crap out of me.

The Zen Badass

The guy who is all mysterious and calm, but still rips your spine out of your sphincter.

The Zen Badass

The guy who is all mysterious and calm, but still rips your spine out of your sphincter.

Hmmm...I forgot the Mr. Miyagi badass, the shopkeeper that woops someone's ass with a broom...