History Main / IShallReturn

* ''GIJoe: The Mass Device'': Duke made this promise to a woman who helped him escape and he came back with an assault force.

See also WeWillMeetAgain. [[IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] a WillReturnCaption, where a work proclaims that the hero will return in a sequel.

See also WeWillMeetAgain.

* ''Toys/{{BIONICLE}}'': at the end of the 2008 storyline, Mata Nui, whose body was [[GrandTheftMe stolen]] by [[BigBad Makuta]] and is now [[SoulJar sealed in the Mask of Life]], vows "I will return!"

The trope name [[TropeNamer comes from]] General UsefulNotes/DouglasMacArthur's catch phrase after he fled the Philippines in 1942 when the Japanese invaded, vowing that he would come back in force to liberate the nation, which he did two years later during the Battle of Leyte with a hearty, "[[IncomingHam I have returned!]]" Though soldiers had long since parodied the line. "I am going to the latrine...but I shall return!"

The trope name [[TropeNamer comes from]] General UsefulNotes/DouglasMacArthur's catch phrase after he fled the Philippines in 1942 when the Japanese invaded, vowing that he would come back in force to liberate the nation, which he did two years later during the Battle of Leyte with a hearty, "[[IncomingHam I have returned!]]"

* At the end of the first episode of ''Series/BlakesSeven'', a guard on the deportation ship warns his prisoners to take a last look at Earth -- it's the last time they'll ever see it. [[RebelLeader Blake]] replies, "No, I'm coming back," with a manner that suggests he's just going on holiday. ([[spoiler:He does indeed return.]])

-->-- Popular WW2 joke, Pacific Theater

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': In "Call to Arms", Sisko tells the people of [=DS9=], "I will not rest until I stand with you again," before leaving to fight the Dominion. He also leaves his baseball behind to let Dukat know this too. The writers have admitted it was an allusion to Douglas [=MacArthur=].

* After the [[spoiler:failed invasion of the Fire Nation]] in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Aang gives a brief speech along these lines to the soldiers that are forced to surrender before escaping on Appa. Sokka furthermore promises his father that "we won�t be apart for too long this time."

* This is the entire premise of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3''. After [[spoiler:the [[AlienInvasion Reapers invade Earth]]]], Shepard has no choice but to leave and assemble an army large enough to stand against the threat, leaving [[ParentalSubstitute Captain Anderson]] behind�though he stays voluntarily. [[spoiler:When Shepard comes back, there unfortunately isn't much left to save.]]

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]

[[AC:Professional Wrestling]]

[[AC:{{Toys}}]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

* After the [[spoiler:failed invasion of the Fire Nation]] in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Aang gives a brief speech along these lines to the soldiers that are forced to surrender before escaping on Appa. Sokka furthermore promises his father that "we won’t be apart for too long this time."
* In ''WesternAnimation/RobbieTheReindeer'' ''Legend of the Lost Tribe'', Robbie vows this as he escapes from Blitzen's prison.

[[AC:{{VideoGames}}]]

* This is the entire premise of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3''. After [[spoiler:the [[AlienInvasion Reapers invade Earth]]]], Shepard has no choice but to leave and assemble an army large enough to stand against the threat, leaving [[ParentalSubstitute Captain Anderson]] behind—though he stays voluntarily. [[spoiler:When Shepard comes back, there unfortunately isn't much left to save.]]

** In the finale, "What You Leave Behind", [[spoiler:after ascending to the Prophets' plane of existence,]] Sisko tells Kasidy, his newlywed wife that he'll return soon.

* ''{{BIONICLE}}'': at the end of the 2008 storyline, Mata Nui, whose body was [[GrandTheftMe stolen]] by [[BigBad Makuta]] and is now [[SoulJar sealed in the Mask of Life]], vows "I will return!"

* Happens over the course of the ''Literature/XWingSeries''. When Corran Horn is held captive in the Empire's most notorious prison, Lusankya, he befriends the old leader of the other prisoners, a man named Jan. Though Jan saves Corran's life during his escape attempt, Jan elects to stay behind and look after the others. Problem is, once Corran does come back with his squadron to free the rest of the prisoners, he discovers that the Empire had already relocated them to an unknown location - and that Jan was the legendary Rebel general at [[Film/ANewHope the Battle of Yavin]], Jan Dodonna. It takes Corran ''years'' (thanks to distractions such as [[Literature/TheCourtshipOfPrincessLeia Warlord Zsinj]] and [[TheThrawnTrilogy Grand Admiral Thrawn]]) to make good on his promise, a task that involves faked deaths, alliances with old enemies, and an obsessive clone.

* ''World's Greatest {{Superfriends}}'': {{Superman}} was trapped in the "Universe of Evil" and just got some vital help from a scientist who asks him to come back one day and free her world. Superman responds, "You can count on it!" The episode ends with the Superfriends' preparation to invade.

* Happens over the course of the ''XWingSeries''. When Corran Horn is held captive in the Empire's most notorious prison, Lusankya, he befriends the old leader of the other prisoners, a man named Jan. Though Jan saves Corran's life during his escape attempt, Jan elects to stay behind and look after the others. Problem is, once Corran does come back with his squadron to free the rest of the prisoners, he discovers that the Empire had already relocated them to an unknown location - and that Jan was the legendary Rebel general at [[Film/ANewHope the Battle of Yavin]], Jan Dodonna. It takes Corran ''years'' (thanks to distractions such as [[Literature/TheCourtshipOfPrincessLeia Warlord Zsinj]] and [[TheThrawnTrilogy Grand Admiral Thrawn]]) to make good on his promise, a task that involves faked deaths, alliances with old enemies, and an obsessive clone.

* Wrestling/HiroshiTanahashi at the end of the Wrestling/RingOfHonor[=-=]Wrestling/{{New Japan|ProWrestling}} War Of The Worlds event after he and Wrestling/JushinThunderLiger ran off Adam Cole, who was even then taking every chance he got to ruin Michael Elgin's life. The New Japan wrestler who would pursue Cole ended up being Tanahashi's usual enemy Wrestling/AJStyles though.

* Happens over the course of the ''XWingSeries''. When Corran Horn is held captive in the Empire's most notorious prison, Lusankya, he befriends the old leader of the other prisoners, a man named Jan. Though Jan saves Corran's life during his escape attempt, Jan elects to stay behind and look after the others. Problem is, once Corran does come back with his squadron to free the rest of the prisoners, he discovers that the Empire had already relocated them to an unknown location - and that Jan was the legendary Rebel general at [[{{Film/StarWars}} the Battle of Yavin]], Jan Dodonna. It takes Corran ''years'' (thanks to distractions such as [[Literature/TheCourtshipOfPrincessLeia Warlord Zsinj]] and [[TheThrawnTrilogy Grand Admiral Thrawn]]) to make good on his promise, a task that involves faked deaths, alliances with old enemies, and an obsessive clone.

The trope name [[TropeNamer comes from]] General DouglasMacArthur's catch phrase after he fled the Philippines in 1942 when the Japanese invaded, vowing that he would come back in force to liberate the nation, which he did two years later during the Battle of Leyte with a hearty, "[[IncomingHam I have returned!]]"

* Despite securing a sizable fleet of ships, Literature/HonorHarrington is forced to leave many of the prisoners behind on the Havenite prison planet of Hades. Upon her return to Manticore, the Manticoran Alliance seizes on the opportunity to send a large force to Hades to evacuate the rest of the prisoners, with the Havenite government not even learning of the original jailbreak until the fleet is on their way home.

* Protoss Dragoons from ''StarCraft'' say "I have returned" upon arrival.

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': In "Call to Arms", Sisko tells the people of [=DS9=], "I will not rest until I stand with you again," before leaving to fight the Dominion. He also leaves his baseball behind to let Dukat know this too.

The trope name [[TropeNamer comes from]] General DouglasMacArthur's catch phrase after he fled the Philippines in 1942 when the Japanese invaded, vowing that he would come back in force to liberate the nation, which he did years later with a hearty, "[[IncomingHam I have returned!]]"

* Happens over the course of the ''XWingSeries''. When Corran Horn is held captive in the Empire's most notorious prison, Lusankya, he befriends the old leader of the other prisoners, a man named Jan. Though Jan saves Corran's life during his escape attempt, Jan elects to stay behind and look after the others. Problem is, once Corran does come back with his squadron to free the rest of the prisoners, he discovers that the Empire had already relocated them to an unknown location - and that Jan was the legendary Rebel general at [[{{Film/StarWars}} the Battle of Yavin]], Jan Dodonna. It takes Corran ''years'' (thanks to distractions such as [[TheCourtshipOfPrincessLeia Warlord Zsinj]] and [[TheThrawnTrilogy Grand Admiral Thrawn]]) to make good on his promise, a task that involves faked deaths, alliances with old enemies, and an obsessive clone.