History Main / HeroicWannabe

* [[KidHero Taran]] of the ''Literature/ChroniclesOfPrydain'' starts out as this status, but over the course of the books CharacterDevelopment takes hold.

* Interestingly, it's strongly implied that [[DarkMessiah Lelouch Lamperouge]] of ''CodeGeass'' is this, as indicated by several in- and out-of-universe factors. For example, he's a fan of {{Tokusatsu}} and WordOfGod says that his voice actors[[note]]Creator/JunFukuyama, who is practically typecast as TheHero, and JohnnyYongBosch, best known for being a [[PowerRangers Power Ranger]][[/note]] were chosen in order to show that Lelouch is trying very hard to be something that he's not.

* [[http://www.errantstory.com/2003-03-03/66 Chris]] in ''Webcomic/ErrantStory''. Unfortunately for him, in this webcomic you actually have to be [[{{Badass}} seriously dangerous]] to be a main character.

* [[TheCape Sayaka Miki]] in ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' once she becomes a magical girl (even dressed in a costume [[InvokedTrope with a]] [[SuperheroesWearCapes cape]]) sees herself as a hero, saving Mitakihara from witches and their familiars. Until it goes horribly downward with her once she realizes [[OurLichesAreDifferent what she really is]] and what transpired from her [[SecretlySelfish not-so-selfless]] [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor wish]], confesses she's been stupid, and ultimately becomes [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie a witch]].

* Sayaka Miki from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' makes a contract with Kyubey in hopes of becoming an "ally of justice". Given [[GenreDeconstruction what kind of anime this is]], things end badly for her. [[BreakTheCutie Very]], [[DespairEventHorizon very]] [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie badly]].

* [[TheCape Sayaka Miki]] in ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' once she becomes a magical girl (even dressed in a costume [[InvokedTrope with a]] [[SuperheroesWearCapes cape]]) sees herself as a hero, saving Mitakihara from witches and their familiars. Until it goes horribly downward with her once she realizes [[OurLichesAreDifferent what she really is]], and confesses she's been dumb, and ultimately becomes [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie a witch]].

* The main character (and arguably his sidekick, Boltie) of ''Film/Super'' is this. He dons the identity of Crimson Bolt to take revenge on the criminal who stole his wife, and cope with the emotional trauma that it caused. His crime-fighting intentions are genuine, but he is by no means a traditional heroic figure.

** The game draws comparisons between Walker and the player at several points, and this is probably the most obvious and explicit of them. ''The Line'' disguises itself as a standard modern military shooter to begin with, [[{{WrongGenreSavvy}} so the player assumes that they can sort everything out by just pressing forward, as does Walker]]. But when the game reveals it's [[{{Deconstruction}} true nature]], it calls out the player for wanting to be a hero and treating war as a power fantasy through showing just [[FromBadToWorse how much worse things get]] due to Walker's actions.

* ''Manga/FrankenFran'' has an extremely disturbing example, [[UpToEleven even by this series' standards]]. One of the Sentinels literally gets a high from pursuing vengeance, so whenever he gets in a fight he ''arranges'' for the maximum amount of collateral damage. Then he swears to the dead that he will avenge them, and starts off anew.

* Creator/BioWare did it again with poor foolish King Cailan of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', who walks straight into a trap set by his TreacherousAdvisor Loghain at Ostagar due to his desire to be a hero like in the legends he loves and dies when Loghain turns his back on him and abandons him.

* Sayaka Miki from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. Given [[GenreDeconstruction what kind of anime this is]], things end badly for her. [[BreakTheCutie Very]], [[DespairEventHorizon very]] [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie badly]].

* Overdrive in ''Comicbook/SuperiorFoesOfSpiderMan'' is an odd example. He's not just not a hero, he's a fully-fledged villain, albeit one who tends to fanboy over superheroes in the middle of fights. But he's a villain who hasn't given up on his original plan to be a superhero, and points out the HeelFaceTurn path to Comicbook/TheAvengers worked for Comicbook/{{Quicksilver}} and the Comicbook/ScarletWitch.

* [[KidHero Taran]] of the ''PrydainChronicles'' starts out as this status, but over the course of the books CharacterDevelopment takes hold.

* BioWare did it again with poor foolish King Cailan of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', who walks straight into a trap set by his TreacherousAdvisor Loghain at Ostagar due to his desire to be a hero like in the legends he loves and dies when Loghain turns his back on him and abandons him.

* In ''Disney/TheLionKingIISimbasPride'', [[BigBrotherBully Nuka]] is hopelessly envious of Kovu's exalted position, and takes every opportunity he can to remind people of this. His issues stem from [[FreudianExcuse maternal neglect]] and the lack of respect everyone else shows him. ([[{{Jerkass}} The latter is completely justified.]]

* Leopold Scorpse from ''ScrappedPrincess'', who follows the heroine out of equal parts sense of chivalry and growing feelings for her.

* ''FrankenFran'' has an extremely disturbing example, [[UpToEleven even by this series' standards]]. One of the Sentinels literally gets a high from pursuing vengeance, so whenever he gets in a fight he ''arranges'' for the maximum amount of collateral damage. Then he swears to the dead that he will avenge them, and starts off anew.

* Almaz in-game title in ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 3|AbsenceOfJustice}}'' is "Wannabe Hero" which pretty much says it all. Then Mao breaks the Fourth Wall to steal his title. Almaz is a downplayed example as he lacks the skill of a true hero ([[GenreBlind he decided to try to defeat the Overlord at level 5]]), but not the heart. [[spoiler:His interactions with Mao ends up changing both of them for the better and in the normal ending he subverts the trope by becoming a true hero.]]

* Almaz in-game title in ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 3|AbsenceOfJustice}}'' is "Wannabe Hero" which pretty much says it all. Then Mao breaks the Fourth Wall to steal his title.

* The main character (and arguably his sidekick, Boltie) of ''Film/Super'' is this. He dons the identity of Crimson Bolt to take revenge on the criminal who stole his wife, and cope with the emotional trauma that it caused. His crime-fighting intentions are genuine, but he is by no means a traditional heroic figure.

* TamoraPierce's Alanna is shown to have some elements of this when she first sets out to become a knight in ''Literature/SongOfTheLioness'', but it's not much followed up on.

** The game draws comparisons between Walker and the player at several points, and this is probably the most obvious and explicit of them. ''The Line'' disguises itself as a standard modern military shooter to begin with, [[{{WrongGenreSavvy}} so the player assumes that they can sort everything out by just pressing forward, as does Walker]]. But when the game reveals it's [[{{Deconstruction}} true nature]], it calls out the player for wanting to be a hero and treating war as a power fantasy though showing just [[FromBadToWorse how much worse things get]] due to Walker's actions.

* Utena from ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'' desires to become the saintly Prince who saved her as a child, and most of the series deals with deconstructing, subverting, and arguably playing straight this concept as Utena is essentially sent through Hell and back, and that's before we find out that her memories of her encounter with the Prince are anything but fully accurate.

* Sayaka from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. Given [[GenreDeconstruction what kind of anime this is]], things end badly. [[BreakTheCutie Very]], [[DespairEventHorizon very]] [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie badly]].

* Dave Strider of ''{{Webcomic/Homestuck}}'' exhibits some Heroic Wannabe traits--he's expressed a fixation on becoming a "hero" and seems to be willing to sacrifice anything to save his friends.

* The unifying trait of the Lucha Family, most obvious with Leva Bates, who styles herself a superhero and feels the need to stop members of the locker room she knows have bad intentions but in a more subtle way, both Los Bendejos(Jay Rios and Eddie Cruz) think of themselves as motivational role models whose job is to elevate the spirits of the audience and locker room, which often sees them suffer indignities. Mia Yim meanwhile is another example of a wrestler who is big and strong but not quite to the extent she thinks she is.

* ''FrankenFran'' has an extremely disturbing example ([[UpToEleven yes, disturbing for the series]]). One of the Sentinels literally gets a high from pursuing vengeance, so whenever he gets in a fight he ''arranges'' for the maximum amount of collateral damage. Then he swears to the dead that he will avenge them, and starts off anew.