History Main / LivingLegend

* Wrestling/CMPunk is treated like this in Wrestling/AllEliteWrestling, and rightfully so -- wrestling wouldn't be where it is today without Punk. However, it also proves to be a deconstruction, because there are many in the locker room from Punk's past who resent how successful he became before his original retirement, or are new talent looking to make their names at his expense. Punk is well aware of it, and ultimately welcomes the challenge, if only to prove that he's StillGotIt.

* ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'': As a group, the Third Street Saints, in the third game. The Boss, in particular, is incredibly famous. So much so that, by the fourth game, s/he becomes President of the United States.

* Kazuma Kiryu, [[RedBaron the Dragon of Dojima]] and lead protagonist for much of the ''VideoGame/LikeADragon'' series. Anyone that doesn't know of him and crosses him [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown does so at their own peril]], and those who do know of him do their best not to, for Kiryu is a OneManArmy who has trashed multiple crime syndicates, triads, and rogue government agencies when they pissed him off. And even if he was only Chairman for fifteen minutes, he's still respected as a leader of one of the most powerful yakuza clans in Japan, even though he's not even an official member for most of the series.

* Union Pacific 844, a 4-8-4 steam locomotive, is actually nicknamed this very trope. Having been spared from the scrapper's torch in 1960 and kept on the railroad's active roster, it's not only a rare example of a steam engine having never been stripped from the active roster, but it's also a well-traveled one. Since the start of the Heritage Program, 844 has traveled across the entire UP system from California to Tennessee, handled numerous different excursion trains ranging from round-trip locals to World's Fairs, has teamed up with or met other steam stars like SP 4449 and Frisco 1522, and is planned to be kept running until it turns ''100''. To the steam community, this nicknamed is well earned, as few other preservation-era locomotives could boast to such an impressive career.

* As a group, the [[VideoGame/SaintsRow Third Street Saints]], in the third game. The Boss, in particular, is incredibly famous. So much so that, by the fourth game, s/he becomes President of the United States.

* In the ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' [[UsefulNotes/ProfessionalGaming esports scene]], one name towers above all others—Korean icon of the midlane Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, [[RedBaron "the Unkillable Demon King"]]. First appearing practically out of nowhere like a comet in 2013's Season 3, he slaughtered all who opposed him to lead the team to the world championship, kicking off the era of Korean dominance, and a decade later is not only still a potent presence in a sport where careers rarely last more than 5-6 years but is still the face of the same team he debuted on[[note]]give or take a rebrand from SK Telecom to T1[[/note]]. The only 3x World Championship winner[[note]]the only other player able to claim this is his own teammate Bengi, known as "the Right Hand of God" for his bond with Faker[[/note]], 2x Mid-Season Invitational winner, ''10x'' LCK Champion, with more pro-league wins than any other player in the LCK (the first to 500 wins, leading the next-closest competitor by well over 100). No player has ever [[TheDreaded inspired more dread]] across Summoner's Rift than Faker, and even if you can't definitively say that he's still the best player in the world, it's generally accepted that he is and will forever be the greatest player ''[=LoL=]'' has ever seen (the vice-president of Riot once described him as the UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan of ''[=LoL=]'' at a press conference). And when he won a record-solidifying 4th World Championship win in 2023[[note]]stepping ahead of his now long-retired teammate Bengi[[/note]], 10 years after the start of his career, he reaffirmed the fact that it's almost impossible for any player to ''ever'' be able to match him.
** His 2023 World Championship also solidify his status as TheDreaded for the LPL - the top-level professional league for League of Legends in China - for defeating ALL FOUR of LPL representatives, including JDG, widely considered to the #1 contender for the cup AND on a Golden Road - realdy winning LPL Spring, MSI and LPL Summer earlier of the same year.

* In the ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' [[UsefulNotes/ProfessionalGaming esports scene]], one name towers above all others—Korean icon of the midlane Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, [[RedBaron "the Unkillable Demon King"]]. First appearing practically out of nowhere like a comet in 2013's Season 3, he slaughtered all who opposed him to lead the team to the world championship, kicking off the era of Korean dominance, and almost a decade later is not only still a potent presence in a sport where careers rarely last more than 5-6 years but is still the face of the same team he debuted on[[note]]give or take a rebrand from SK Telecom to T1[[/note]]. The only 3x World Championship winner[[note]]the only other player able to claim this is his own teammate Bengi, known as "the Right Hand of God" for his bond with Faker[[/note]], 2x Mid-Season Invitational winner, ''10x'' LCK Champion, with more pro-league wins than any other player in the LCK (the first to 500 wins, leading the next-closest competitor by well over 100). No player has ever [[TheDreaded inspired more dread]] across Summoner's Rift than Faker, and even if you can't definitively say that he's still the best player in the world, it's generally accepted that he is and will forever be the greatest player ''[=LoL=]'' has ever seen (the vice-president of Riot once described him as the UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan of ''[=LoL=]'' at a press conference).

* It has been implied by time-traveler characters such as Cable that Franchise/SpiderMan will become one of these.
* The DC maxi-series ''ComicBook/Trinity2008'' showed people breathe a sigh of relief when they're in trouble and the Justice League shows up. The Justice League cheers when they're in trouble and Franchise/{{Superman}}, Franchise/{{Batman}}, and Franchise/WonderWoman show up.

** ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI:'' Altaïr was famous among the Assassins for being a prodigy, although he let that reputation go to his head, making him respected by all, but liked by few. After [[BreakTheHaughty the events of his game]], he's earned the enmity of everyone involved in the Crusades, and also [[TheAtoner the loyalty of every Assassin]] outside of their citadel. His legacy extends even to Assassins in the modern day, who hold him in high regard for rewriting the rules of the order and implimenting many changes to their equipment and training methoods.

* ''Franchise/MassEffect:''

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'':
** Snake, although he doesn't think himself as one.
** Also in the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' series, there is "The Boss" the Legendary Soldier that definitively won World War 2, "Big Boss" the Legendary Mercenary who ended up establishing the general political atmosphere of the Cold War Era, and Solid Snake's own title was the "Legendary Hero" for defeating countless rogue terrorist cells among others. When they were still alive, utmost respect, fear, and admiration is giving to them until they were succeeded by the next Living Legend.
* [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus Aran]] is treated as this by both Space Pirate {{mook}}s, who call her "The Hunter," and Galactic Federation soldiers, particularly in the ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy Metroid Prime]]'' series of games. Many low-ranking members of both groups are often disbelieving of the various feats that Samus has accomplished, and responses to the confirmation of her existence range from absolute terror on the part of the former and stunned awe on the part of the latter.

* ''VideoGame/StarCraft'' has a number of war heroes who grow to legendary reputation during the games.

* [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]] in any of the RPG spin-offs will always be marveled at by most of the population due to his previous achievements (defeating Bowser, saving the princess, can jump really high, etc.)

* Kazuma Kiryu, [[RedBaron the Dragon of Dojima]] and lead protagonist for much of the ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza}}'' series. Anyone that doesn't know of him and crosses him [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown does so at their own peril]], and those who do know of him do their best not to, for Kiryu is a OneManArmy who has trashed multiple crime syndicates, triads, and rogue government agencies when they pissed him off. And even if he was only Chairman for fifteen minutes, he's still respected as a leader of one of the most powerful yakuza clans in Japan, even though he's not even an official member for most of the series.

* In virtually every universe, [[Toys/{{Transformers}} Optimus Prime and Megatron]] are ''the'' living legends. There are sometimes others--Overlord, Arcee, Starscream, Grimlock--but they're more often notorious. Only Optimus and Megatron are universally respected [=and/or=] feared.

* In ''Manga/DeliciousInDungeon'', [[spoiler: the Lunatic Magician is an entity of legend and many don't even think he exists. Too bad the mage very much does.]]

* Kishou Arima from ''Manga/TokyoGhoul''. A [[HunterOfMonsters Ghoul Investigator]] feared and adored for his legendary prowess in battle, established when he defeated [[HeroKiller The Owl]] while still a teenager. His reputation has earned him titles such as "CCG's Grim Reaper" and "The Undefeated Ghoul Investigator", with the mere mention of his presence on a battle field sufficient to rally the troops and [[TheDreaded terrify]] Ghouls into fleeing. When he finally shows up in person, it quickly becomes clear his reputation is entirely deserved when he [[spoiler: brutally defeats [[TheHero Kaneki]] and leaves him on the verge of death]]. Other Investigators seem to either worship him (younger generation) or [[TallPoppySyndrome hate him]] for making them all look bad in comparison (older generation).

* In ''Film/TheMartian'', this becomes [[spoiler: Mark]]'s status with students acknowledging them as such and saying it was an honor to meet them, though to be fair [[spoiler: managing to survive alone on ''Mars'' for years with only enough supplies to last a few months at most and then making it back to Earth alive]] will do that to you.

* In a rare example, AmnesiacHero Caeden from ''Literature/TheLicaniusTrilogy'' is a living legend as [[spoiler: BigBad Aarkein Devaed]], though he doesn't know it yet. Once he finds out, he wisely keeps it a secret.

%%* Geralt of Rivia: Franchise/TheWitcher.

** Andros and the other Rangers from ''Series/PowerRangersInSpace'' are this, demonstrated by "[[Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy To the Tenth Power]]" ("You're Andros, the Red Ranger!"). Tommy Oliver and Jason Lee Scott are this at least among Rangers (since they kept their identities secret) in "[[Series/PowerRangersWildForce Forever]] [[ReunionShow R]][[MilestoneCelebration ed]]". Cole in particular goes fanboy over Jason.

** Jin Kisaragi is praised as "The Hero of Ikaruga" because he singlehandedly turned the civil war in Ikaruga around and ended it. In a bit of a twist, [[spoiler: Hakumen, the leader of the Six Heroes, is a [[MyFutureSelfAndMe time displaced Jin Kisaragi]]]], making him a bit of a twofer when it comes to this trope.

* Athos from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'' is specifically referred to as a Living Legend in-game, as one of the Eight Legends who fought the dragons in [[GreatOffscreenWar the Scouring]] nearly a millennium before the game starts. [[spoiler: He passes away at the end of the game, living just long enough to help the current generation save the day and give them a cryptic prophecy about [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade their future.]]]]

** Commander Shepard starts the game as somewhat famous, enough to warrant the Council having taken interest in them for several years for possible Spectre candidacy, as well as earn themselves a rather over-eager LoonyFan. Depending on your [[MultipleChoicePast choices at the start of the game]], Shepard can also be hailed as "[[YouShallNotPass The Hero of Elysium]]" or feared as "[[TheButcher The Butcher of Torfan]]". By the end of the first game, s/he is ridiculously famous after saving the galaxy. In the second game, it's mentioned that during the two year interim while they were being resurrected by Cerberus, most worlds erected memorial gardens dedicated to them and with the Colonist background, their image now adorns the colonial seal of their homeworld, while a BrokenBase has formed over those who feel joy and betrayed by their return from the dead. In the third game, when the Reapers do return and Shepard's warnings are vindicated, s/he becomes a living inspiration and symbol of hope to humanity and all of the other species involved in the war effort. The epilogue of the third game has it revealed that [[spoiler: Shepard is remembered and venerated far into the future as "The Shepard", although the precise details of their legend [[ShroudedInMyth have been lost to time]]]].

* [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus Aran]] is treated as this by both Space Pirate {{mook}}s and Galactic Federation soldiers in some entries, particularly during her early career in the [[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy Prime series of games]]. Many low-ranking members of both groups are often disbelieving of the various feats that "The Hunter" has accomplished, and responses to the confirmation of her existence range from absolute terror on the part of the former and stunned awe on the part of the latter.

** ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'': Malik, Bastila, the PC. Revan at first seems to be the regular dead sort of legend... [[spoiler: and then you find out ''you'' are Revan]].

* The super heroes of ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' are all well known. This bites them when they start getting sued by an angry populace and they're all forced into hiding.

* ''Anime/PokemonJourneysTheSeries'': May, Ash's traveling companion from ''Anime/PokemonAdvancedGeneration'', has become legendary enough in the Hoenn Region that she's known as "The Princess of Hoenn" like she was on ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesDiamondAndPearl''.

* In virtually every universe, Optimus Prime and Megatron are ''the'' living legends. There are sometimes others--Overlord, Arcee, Starscream, Grimlock--but they're more often notorious. Only Optimus and Megatron are universally respected [=and/or=] feared.

-->-- '''Malia Hosaka''', summing up her newly expanded PowerStable.

* [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]] in any of the RPG spin offs will always be marveled at by most of the population due to his previous achievements (defeating Bowser, saving the princess, can jump really high, etc.)

* ''Webcomic/TheShufflers:'' Hiddenite comes from a tribe of mages called the Harvesters who were ShroudedInMyth and dismissed as fairy tales. He has the unique ability of having his own world in his cloth. When he confirms he’s a descendant, Märchen outright calls him a walking legend.

* In the ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' [[UsefulNotes/ProfessionalGaming esports scene]], one name towers above all others—Korean icon of the midlane Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, [[RedBaron "the Unkillable Demon King"]]. First appearing practically out of nowhere like a comet in 2013's Season 3, he slaughtered all who opposed him to lead the team to the world championship, kicking off the era of Korean dominance, and almost a decade later is not only still a potent presence in a sport where careers rarely last more than 5-6 years, but is still the face of the same team he debuted on[[note]]give or take a rebrand from SK Telecom to T1[[/note]]. The only 3x World Championship winner[[note]]the only other player able to claim this is his own teammate Bengi, known as "the Right Hand of God" for his bond with Faker[[/note]], 2x Mid-Season Invitational winner, ''10x'' LCK Champion, with more pro-league wins than any other player in the LCK (the first to 500 wins, leading the next-closest competitor by well over 100). No player has ever [[TheDreaded inspired more dread]] across Summoner's Rift than Faker, and even if you can't definitively say that he's still the best player in the world, it's generally accepted that he is and will forever be the greatest player ''[=LoL=]'' has ever seen (the vice-president of Riot once described him as the UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan of ''[=LoL=]'' at a press conference).
* Union Pacific 844, a 4-8-4 steam locomotive, is actually nicknamed this very trope. Having been spared from the scrapper's torch in 1960 and kept on the railroad's active roster, it's not only a rare example of a steam engine having never been stripped from the active roster, but it's also a well traveled one. Since the start of the Heritage Program, 844 has traveled across the entire UP system from California to Tennessee, handled numerous different excursion trains ranging from round-trip locals to World's Fairs, has teamed up with or met other steam stars like SP 4449 and Frisco 1522, and is planned to be kept running until it turns ''100''. To the steam community, this nicknamed is well earned, as few other preservation-era locomotives could boast to such an impressive career.

* ''Literature/SnowCrash'': Raven -- He's a one man nation with a nuclear bomb keyed to his heartbeat and an AbsurdlySharpBlade.

--->"Maybe you forgotten something: I'm Ben Tennyson, wielder of the most powerful weapon in the universe. I stopped the [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Highbreed]] [[AlienInvasion invasion]], I defeated [[EvilOverlord Vilgax]] in hand-to-hand combat and I've beaten the [[KnightTemplar Forever Knights]] more times that I can count. Here's what's going to happen: you're going to release these prisoners, you're going to crawl back to whatever hole you came from and you're going to stop hunting down aliens because if you don't, I promise, you'll regret it for the rest of your ''very'' short lives."

* The DC maxi-series ''ComicBook/{{Trinity}}'' showed people breathe a sigh of relief when they're in trouble and the Justice League shows up. The Justice League cheers when they're in trouble and Franchise/{{Superman}}, Franchise/{{Batman}}, and Franchise/WonderWoman show up.