History Main / KidHero

* People forget that the ''ComicBook/XMen'' started off as teen heroes in a school for gifted youngsters. After they grew up, various young mutants would join the team. Creator/GrantMorrison brought back the school concept during their run. X-Men spin-offs also include ComicBook/NewMutants, ComicBook/GenerationX, and to a lesser extent, ComicBook/XForce in its original roster (the team consisted of the aforementioned New Mutants with older members such as ComicBook/{{Cable}}). Interestingly enough, all the heroes mentioned have grown up, [[NotAllowedToGrowUp something that does not happen much in comics]].
* The Titans' successor ComicBook/YoungJustice was also a group of Kid Heroes, even younger than the original Titans.

If particularly well executed, TheBrigadier and others won't look like monsters or [[AdultsAreUseless weaklings]] for sending a kid to do their heroics for them. This is OlderThanFeudalism; examples include the Biblical hero David, and several Greek and Hindu mythic heroes (e.g., Hercules, who killed two large snakes sent by Hera to kill him in his crib).

They'll fight off hordes of monsters with techniques the likes of which master swordsmen would never equal. They'll wield weapons spoken of only in the oldest of legends. They'll SaveTheWorld and everyone in it from destruction five times over.

* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' and its sequel harshly deconstruct, demonstrating the psychological consequences. Harry, for instance, is TheHero of the story, ChronicHeroSyndrome and all, and is [[GuileHero intelligent]], brave, resourceful and - on his level - very capable. However, he's also 13 (to start with), impulsive, and completely out of his depth against Avengers-level opponents who [[WouldHurtAChild won't hesitate to kill him]]. Unusually, the Avengers recognise this, and do their level best to keep him out of trouble, with limited success (trouble and Harry tend to go hand in hand, even if he isn't looking for it). This is for good reason. Even after Harry gets the powers (and to a lesser extent, skills) to fight in the same weight-class, his inexperience is repeatedly and brutally exposed on multiple occasions, two near the end of the first book, the third at the start of the sequel. Respectively, they nearly kill him, [[spoiler: actually kill him]], and put him through a FateWorseThanDeath. While this leaves him as a much more competent hero who can more than look after himself against PhysicalGod level threats, it also leaves him with textbook [[ShellShockedVeteran PTSD]] at 14 (15, physically, thanks to YearInsideHourOutside) and [[TookALevelInCynic a]] ''[[TookALevelInCynic lot]]'' [[ResignedToTheCall of]] [[KnightInSourArmor cynicism]].

* ''Fanfic/CrimsonAndEmerald'': Hawks' backstory viciously deconstructs the concept as Hawks was railroaded into becoming a pro hero and had very little agency growing up.

** Chloe Cerise of ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBlossomingTrail'' is a ten-year-old girl who finds herself thrown into the Infinity Train, teams up with a corgi king and a living book, to bring down a dangerous cult called The Apex.

* Deconstructed in ''Fanfic/OnceMoreWithFeeling''. Shinji and his two teammates are fourteen-year-old mecha pilots. Shinji is NOT happy about it, and he often states that they're nothing but child soldiers.

* Steven, just like the protagonist of any real Pokémon game, is the protagonist of the hacked game in ''Fanfic/PokemonStrangledRed''.

* ''Fanfic/TalesOfTermina'' viciously deconstructs this trope, the numerous traumatic adventures Link has had at such a young age has turned him into an emotional wreck with severe PTSD.

%%* Both Bastian and Atreyu from ''Literature/TheNeverEndingStory''.
* Most of the ''[[Literature/LandOfOz Oz]]'' books have a child as at least one of the protagonists. Dorothy Gale is the most famous, but the books also include Tip, Princess Ozma (when she takes part in the action), Betsy Bobbin, Ojo the Unlucky, and others.
%%* ''Literature/{{Peak}}''
* All the half-bloods (and Grover) in Literature/TheCampHalfBloodSeries (starting with ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'', although they grow into their teen years in ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus''). They usually discover they are half-bloods in middle school.

* Creator/TamoraPierce's protagonists grow up with the books, but:
** [[Literature/TortallUniverse Alanna, Kel]], [[Literature/CircleOfMagic Sandry, Tris, Daja, and Briar]] are 10 at the beginnings of their stories.
** [[Literature/TortallUniverse Daine]] is about 13.
** [[Literature/TortallUniverse Bekah and Aly]] are between 16 and 17.
** [[Literature/CircleOfMagic Evvy]] is 10 in her first appearance, but by the time she gets her own book, she's 14.

* ''Everyone'' in ''Literature/SomeoneElsesWar'', which is a book about ChildSoldiers trying to rebel and escape from the [[TruthInTelevision Lord's Resistance Army]].
* Robb Stark from ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''. The guy commands a good percentage of the continent's armed men while barely old enough to grow a beard.

* While his accomplishments may not be as epic as some of these others, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Stayner Steven Stayner]] qualifies. Abducted at age 7 by a child molester and held captive for seven years; when he learned that another boy had been kidnapped and was about to be similarly victimized, Stayner escaped with the boy, 5-year-old Timmy White, and hitchhiked 40 miles to White's hometown, taking the boy to the police. There are commemorative statues of 14-year-old Stayner rescuing 5-year-old White in both of their hometowns.

** Franklin and Valeria Richards, children of Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, have recently become full-fledged heroes and adventurers alongside their parents (during the same time period that brought us Kid Loki and ComicBook/MilesMorales - so perhaps as part of a wider comeback for younger superheroes).

* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': Creator/StanLee took a wild shot by making Spider-Man one of the first true teen solo superheroes (i.e. non-sidekick; there was the Star-Spangled Kid back in WWII, but he didn't sell as well). The eventual widespread popularity of Spider-Man quite possibly is the root of the trope within the West. The ComicBook/UltimateMarvel [[ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan version of Spidey]] remained in the 15-16 age for the duration (160 issues) of his run. His successor, ComicBook/MilesMorales, is only 13 when he gets his powers. Just to hit Miles' age home, ComicBook/NickFury holds his hand when showing him around the Triskelion. Neither Miles nor Fury seem to be bothered by it. Both Spider-Men are realistically proportioned, so there tends to be a DavidVersusGoliath dynamic with many villains. However it’s worth noting that due to ComicBookTime, Peter Parker is now in his late twenties or early thirties, and Miles is sixteen.

* For ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'', we have a three-fer! ComicBook/MilesMorales is prepubescent and in middle school, making him 13-14 at most. [[ComicBook/SpiderGwen Gwen Stacy]] states she's "15 months older" than Miles, putting her in the 14-15 year-old range, and SP//dr's Peni Parker, a young girl whose age is not stated, but who looks, sounds, and acts even younger than Miles. ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse'', which occurs sixteen months afterwards, establishes Miles to be fifteen by that point.

* Comicbook/{{Loki}} was reincarnated as a kid. He skips most of the negative tropes because he's got a focused mission (save [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] from the Serpent), it's pointed out that he's in a lot of danger (he's a god, but a god in the body of a kid without his magic), and most of all, he's not acting like [[TheScrappy Scrappy Doo]] and charging into situations (at least ''physical'' situations) that he can't handle. His book is considered one of the best Marvel is putting out.

* ''ComicBook/MsMarvel2014'' stars 16-year-old Kamala Khan, a LegacyCharacter to [[ComicBook/MsMarvel the title]] originally used by her idol, ComicBook/CarolDanvers. Kamala has since become a BreakoutCharacter in Marvel Comics, and has been described as being to twenty-first century teenagers what Peter Parker was to the kids of the Baby Boom.

* ''Comicbook/NewWarriors'': The team started off having mostly teenage members, although, like the ComicBook/XMen, they all grew up. In fact, two of the founding members, Nova and Speedball were originally created as solo heroes in an attempt to duplicate what Marvel had done with ComicBook/SpiderMan, who'd moved on to college and grad school.
* ''Comicbook/PowerPack'': The team all got their powers before the age of thirteen, and one of them had already ''retired'' from adventuring (more than once) by the time she was seventeen. Not to mention the fact that Katie, the youngest power sibling, was five.
* All the Comicbook/{{Robin}}s! Especially [[Characters/RobinTimeDrake Tim Drake]] and [[Characters/RobinDamianWayne Damian Wayne]] who had their own solo books while they were Robin.
* Most of the cast of ''Comicbook/{{Runaways}}'' are teenage superheroes, though Molly Hayes probably epitomizes this trope best. She's [[CuteBruiser 11 years old and has super-strength]], plus invulnerability. However, like a young child, she tires easily and has to take naps when she's over-exerted. (In other words, she could probably go a round or two with the Hulk, but would probably fall asleep mid-battle.) Her idea for a superhero name? Princess Powerful (Hey, she's ''[[PrincessPhase 11]]'', give her a break!).

* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': Creator/StanLee took a wild shot by making Spider-Man one of the first true teen solo superheroes (i.e. non-sidekick; there was the Star-Spangled Kid back in WWII, but he didn't sell as well). The eventual widespread popularity of Spider-Man quite possibly is the root of the trope within the West. The ComicBook/UltimateMarvel [[ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan version of Spidey]] remained in the 15-16 age for the duration (160 issues) of his run. His successor, ComicBook/MilesMorales, is only 13 when he gets his powers. Just to hit Miles' age home, Comicbook/NickFury holds his hand when showing him around the Triskelion. Neither Miles nor Fury seem to be bothered by it. Both Spider-Men are realistically proportioned, so there tends to be a DavidVersusGoliath dynamic with many villains. However it’s worth noting that due to ComicBookTime, Peter Parker is now in his late twenties or early thirties, and Miles is sixteen.

* People forget that the ''ComicBook/XMen'' started off as teen heroes in a school for gifted youngsters. After they grew up, various young mutants would join the team. Creator/GrantMorrison brought back the school concept during their run. X-Men spin-offs also include ComicBook/NewMutants, Comicbook/GenerationX, and to a lesser extent, ComicBook/XForce in its original roster (the team consisted of the aforementioned New Mutants with older members such as ComicBook/{{Cable}}). Interestingly enough, all the heroes mentioned have grown up, [[NotAllowedToGrowUp something that does not happen much in comics]].

* For ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'', we have a three-fer! Comicbook/MilesMorales is prepubescent and in middle school, making him 13-14 at most. [[ComicBook/SpiderGwen Gwen Stacy]] states she's "15 months older" than Miles, putting her in the 14-15 year-old range, and SP//dr's Peni Parker, a young girl whose age is not stated, but who looks, sounds, and acts even younger than Miles. ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse'', which occurs sixteen months afterwards, establishes Miles to be fifteen by that point.

Most commonly seen in console and computer role-playing games, as it allows for character growth to feel natural and skips the question of [[WithThisHerring why they aren't properly equipped for the job]]. Also appears in the vast majority of animated action-adventure, both Western and Eastern.

* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'': [[Franchise/SailorMoon Ami Mizuno/Sailor Mercury]] is still a teenager here.

* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'':

* The Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse version of Franchise/SpiderMan is only fourteen/fifteen years old when he makes his debut in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar''.

* There is also Comicbook/NewWarriors who started off having mostly teenage members, although, like the ComicBook/XMen, they all grew up. In fact, two of the founding members, Nova and Speedball were originally created as solo heroes in an attempt to duplicate what Marvel had done with Franchise/SpiderMan, who'd moved on to college and grad school.
* The Franchise/MarvelUniverse superteam Comicbook/PowerPack all got their powers before the age of thirteen, and one of them had already ''retired'' from adventuring (more than once) by the time she was seventeen. Not to mention the fact that Katie, the youngest power sibling, was five.

* Creator/StanLee took a wild shot by making Franchise/SpiderMan one of the first true teen solo superheroes (i.e. non-sidekick; there was the Star-Spangled Kid back in WWII, but he didn't sell as well). The eventual widespread popularity of Spider-Man quite possibly is the root of the trope within the West. The ComicBook/UltimateMarvel [[ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan version of Spidey]] remained in the 15-16 age for the duration (160 issues) of his run. His successor, ComicBook/MilesMorales, is only 13 when he gets his powers. Just to hit Miles' age home, Comicbook/NickFury holds his hand when showing him around the Triskelion. Neither Miles nor Fury seem to be bothered by it. Both Spider-Men are realistically proportioned, so there tends to be a DavidVersusGoliath dynamic with many villains. Though it’s worth noting that due to ComicBookTime, Peter Parker is now in his late twenties or early thirties, and Miles is sixteen.
* UsefulNotes/{{The Golden Age|OfComicBooks}} Star Spangled Kid and his modern age namesake are both teenage superheroes (with adult sidekicks). Courtney Whitmore, the modern ComicBook/{{Stargirl|DCComics}} and second [[ComicBook/StarsAndSTRIPE Star-Spangled Kid]], still wears braces on her teeth. At 17 years old, she is the youngest member of the [[ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica2013 JLA]].

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'':

* All the Comicbook/{{Robin}}s! Especially [[Comicbook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]] and [[ComicBook/RobinSonOfBatman Damian Wayne]] who had their own solo books while they were Robin.

* For ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'', we have a three-fer! Comicbook/MilesMorales is prepubescent and in middle school, making him 13-14 at most. [[ComicBook/SpiderGwen Gwen Stacy]] states she's "15 months older" than Miles, putting her in the 14-15 year-old range, and SP//dr's Peni Parker, a young girl whose age is not stated, but who looks, sounds, and acts even younger than Miles. ''WesternAnimation/AcrossTheSpiderVerse'', which occurs sixteen months afterwards, establishes Miles to be fifteen.

* For ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'', we have a three-fer! Comicbook/MilesMorales is prepubescent and in middle school, making him 13 at most. [[ComicBook/SpiderGwen Gwen Stacy]] states she's "15 months older" than Miles, putting her in the 14-15 year-old range, and SP//dr's Peni Parker, a young girl whose age is not stated, but who looks, sounds, and acts even younger than Miles.

* While the ''ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' tend to act as adults, the four main characters usually start as 15 year olds at the beginning of most incarnations, hence the title.

* People forget that the ''ComicBook/XMen'' started off as teen heroes in a school for gifted youngsters. After they grew up, various young mutants would join the team. Creator/GrantMorrison brought back the school concept during his run. X-Men spin-offs also include ComicBook/NewMutants, Comicbook/GenerationX, and to a lesser extent, ComicBook/XForce in its original roster (the team consisted of the aforementioned New Mutants with older members such as ComicBook/{{Cable}}). Interestingly enough, all the heroes mentioned have grown up, [[NotAllowedToGrowUp something that does not happen much in comics]].

* All three children in ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles''. Interestingly, they start off with attitudes fairly realistic to children their age, just with superpowers. But by the end of the movie, the whole family is happy to take baby Jack-Jack with them on life-or-death fights against super-villains.

* In ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'', Sanakan, Hugh, and Soren are kids or teenagers[[note]]all of Kyril's apprentices but Lily have been referred to as "kid"[[/note]] who [[TookALevelInBadass fight off]] hordes of orcs, mercs, brutes, soldiers and other monstrosities over the course of the series as skilled hunters. It is [[VagueAge unknown whether they aged]], given how long they have to train in the Hunter's Dream before swooping into the real battlefield. Their actions in the story, as well as the [[CrapsackWorld setting]] itself, presents a rare {{Reconstruction}} of this character archetype, a breath of fresh air that comes after a slew of [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructive]] works that have torn [[DeconstructedCharacterArchetype it]] apart.

A Kid Hero will commonly, but not universally, have two primary adversaries; their most dangerous opponent is usually an adult villain who serves as the hero's ArchEnemy, while their second most dangerous opponent will usually be a younger antagonist, closer to their own age or slightly older, who serves as the TheRival or EvilCounterpart of the hero. These two are rarely affiliated, but if they do work together, the adult will almost certainly be the BigBad with the younger character as an extremely [[ForcedIntoEvil reluctant]] and rebellious [[TheDragon Dragon]].

%%* Eliot in ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial''.

%%* Alcatraz Smedry of the ''Literature/AlcatrazSeries''.

%%* Gregor from ''Literature/TheUnderlandChronicles''.

* David of Israel makes his debut in the Old Testament as this, in the classic tale where he faces the giant Goliath with only his sling and stones... oh, and the [[DivineIntervention power of God]] on his side. The [[Literature/BooksOfSamuel book of 1 Samuel]] describes his youth thus: "[Goliath] disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance."

* David of Israel makes his debut in the Old Testament as this, in the classic tale where he faces the giant Goliath with only his sling and stones... oh, and the [[DivineIntervention power of God]] on his side. The book of 1 Samuel describes his youth thus: "[Goliath] disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance."