History Main / MysteriousPast

* The Franchise/MarvelUniverse has ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}, aka Logan, aka James Howlett (thanks to suddenly regained memories). He has the longest real-world time between introduction and full origin story. The Wolverine from ComicBook/UltimateXMen seems to have done a lot less globe-trotting, spending most of his time between World War 2 and the 90's imprisoned by Weapon X.
* ComicBook/{{Rogue}} also qualified as having something of a Mysterious Past until her background and given name were finally revealed in her now-cancelled ongoing series, more than twenty years of realtime after her debut.
* Ramona Flowers from ''ComicBook/ScottPilgrim'' is often very reluctant to share facts of her past with her boyfriend, Scott. The little we do learn is through rumour and so very suspect. [[WordOfGod Author of the series Bryan Lee O'Malley]] gave Creator/MaryElizabethWinstead (who played Ramona in the film), along with some of the other actors, a sheet listing 10 facts of Ramona's past, but even he said that these need not necessarily be true.

* In ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} ''ComicBook/ManyHappyReturns'' story arc Kara Zor-El and Linda Danvers face Xenon, an enigmatic demoniac being that is bent on slaying Supergirls. It is not known who Xenon was or where he came from, and he only alludes to be imprisoned by a Supergirl during an earlier battle.
* Indigo-1 from the ''Franchise/GreenLantern'' series. Apparently [[DeathByOriginStory Abin Sur]] had left a big impression on her and her tribe, but all we've known about her past so far is that [[spoiler:she was violent and self-centered and had to be incarcerated by Sur, and her real name is Iroque]]. It's eventually revealed that [[spoiler: she was Abin Sur's greatest enemy, and murdered his daughter]]. Although the whole Indigo Corps works on HeelFaceBrainwashing, [[spoiler: she truly regretted and felt sorry about her crimes even when the brainwashing was temporarily undone]].
* The main character of ''ComicBook/JohnnyTheHomicidalManiac'' is an enigma. The only thing about his past that was revealed is that his parents were killed by an evil man.
** This is parodied in ''ComicBook/{{Squee}}'' where one absurdly muscular super hero constantly brags about his "mysterious past and shit".
* ComicBook/{{Diabolik}}'s history is mostly known: saved from a shipwreck when he was still a toddler and raised on an island of criminals until he realized that King, the boss and his adopted father, was about to kill him to be the only one knowing the secret of LatexPerfection, at which point he struck first and ran away with his treasure. Also, once in a while an issue reveals something of what he did between escaping from King's Island and the first issue. But two things always remain secret, even to Diabolik himself: his true identity, and what he was doing on that ship. King and TheDragon Prof (who went on his own way when Diabolik was still too young to remember him) knew, but King, as already said, was killed by Diabolik before he could decide to tell him, and Prof, captured by Diabolik for a completely unrelated reason, [[EvenEvilHasStandards was killed by Diabolik for being a human trafficker]] before he could even tell him who he was. [[spoiler:There is around a time capsule containing the documents proving Diabolik's real identity and possibly what he was doing on that ship, but the only ones knowing about it were King and the engineer Suanda, and the latter not only knows why King made him built it but [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse has disappeared after King's death]].]]
* In ''ComicBook/TransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'', no one seems to know exactly where Tarn, leader of the Decepticon Justice Division, came from. He always wears a mask in public, is using an alias, and has had enough body modifications that he likely doesn't resemble how he used to. He's a [[SuperSoldier Phase-Sixer]], is an Outlier, and was personally trained by Megatron, but that's about all we know. Even after we ''do'' learn his true identity, we don't learn much of anything about his past or how he became Tarn, aside from some rueful comments by Megatron that it was his fault.
* Corey Taylor's graphic novel ''House of Gold & Bones'' revolves around the main character, called the Human, who awakens to a surreal landscape with no memory of how he got there. Throughout the story, the Human is given ''some'' backstory that is briefly visited for moments at a time in flashbacks, but it is never thoroughly explained how he ended up where he is. We know about his childhood with an abusive stepfather, and we know that he might have drowned attempting to save the daughter of his neighbors from drowning in a nearby lake. Beyond all of that, the rest is up to interpretation.
* The only two things known about [[ComicBook/TheTick The Tick's]] past is that he escaped from an insane asylum and that he has an ex-wife. Everything else--where he comes from, how he got his powers--is never revealed.
* Sameal of ''ComicBook/{{Birthright}}'' is one of the five mages who escaped Terrenos for Earth, but is the only one of the five not born on Terrenos. Whether he was born on Earth, how he developed mage powers, and how he got the titular birthright to jump worlds is so far unrevealed.
* ''ComicBook/{{Pack}}'': Little is known about Diligence's life, even within the Pack. All they truly know is that she's been with Patience the longest of them.
* ''ComicBook/WonderWomanWarbringer'': Hippolyta told Diana the stories of the other Amazons, and how they died in battle before being granted the chance to live again as Amazons if they swore an oath to protect the wider world from the evils the island keeps at bay, but she never told her daughter her own story. It's hinted that unlkie the others Hippolyta wasn't a normal human in her previous life, as the armor she died in is unmistakably magical.

* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' has [[Characters/MiraculousLadybugLilaRossi Lila Rossi]]: suddenly appearing as a ForeignExchangeStudent at the end of season one, she started making up some wild claims to get attention. Some are very clearly BlatantLies, but the season 2 finale showed she was telling the truth about being the daughter of an Italian diplomat, and there's still no explanation for the hand-to-hand combat skills she had ''not'' mentioned,[[note]]In "Chameleon" an irritated Marinette threw a paper ball at her, and Lila reflexively caught it in the same way boxers normally [[PunchCatch parry a punch]]. Later in the episode she's Akumatized with [[VoluntaryShapeShifting the ability to transform, powers and all, in whoever she kisses]], and as Chat Noir she inflicts a ''massive'' CurbStompBattle on Ladybug with hand-to-hand skills that Chat Noir never showed[[/note]] or why she seemed to recognize the picture of a past Chinese holder of the Fox Miraculous... That by some coincidence looks like an adult Lila (although the last bit is eventually explained by [[spoiler:TheReveal that Lila has been wearing a wig and colored contact lenses the whole time]]). Season five ups the ante by revealing that [[spoiler:Lila has multiple identities, claims to be the daughter of at least three different women, and that Lila probably isn't her real name]].

* Oddly enough for a protagonist, Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog's past is almost completely unknown besides his birthplace (Christmas Island) and the fact that he and Dr. Eggman have been enemies since before the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 first game]]. Even as characters like Knuckles and Shadow have their backstories fleshed out, Sonic remains as enigmatic as ever. However, this is only really the case for the main series titles, as the various cartoons, comics, and film have gone into his history.

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'': While he's considered the [[BigBad biggest enemy]] in Ben's vast and ever-growing RougesGallery and his action triggered the events that shaped the entire franchise, not much is known about Vilgax's backstory in the Classic timeline. Although we catch glimpses of his past through the flashbacks of other characters, little is known about who he was before his fixation on obtaining the Omnitrix. In ''Omniverse's'' finale, we discover that Vilgax stumbled upon the Omnitrix via time travel shenanigans and had a history of betrayal even as a youngster. However, beyond these details, very little else is revealed about him.

A NoodleIncident or ten might have happened in such a Past. FilmNoir characters such as {{HardboiledDetective}}s and {{Femme Fatale}}s often have a mysterious past. Any FrenchForeignLegion soldiers have a mysterious past (crime, owing money to the BigBad) that they keep hidden. TheSpook is this trope taken up to eleven; they may have done illegal research at a BlackSite, run hit teams, or destabilized countries. We don't know ''anything'' about the person's past, and maybe not even their real identity.

-->'''Nidbjorg:''' "What did you do different, Thorvor? He's not the same colour. This time he's grey."
-->'''Thorvor:''' "Grey! [[TheGoodKing Elbegast's]] horses are grey!"

* ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIII'' has Withers, the mysterious animated skeleton who can be found in a temple dedicated to Jergal, Faerun's former GodOfTheDead before the position was taken by the Dead Three: Myrkul, Bane, and Bhaal. [[spoiler:While never explicitly confirmed, it is heavily implied, by his original location in a temple for Jergal, some of his interactions with certain classes, and TheStinger when he addresses the Dead Three with a mix of familiarity and disdain, that Withers ''actually is'' Jergal. Concept art of Withers also names him "Jergal".]]

A NoodleIncident or ten might have happened in such a Past. FilmNoir characters, such as {{Hardboiled}} detectives and {{Femme Fatale}}s often have a mysterious past. Any FrenchForeignLegion soldiers have a mysterious past (crime, owing money to the BigBad) that they keep hidden. TheSpook is this trope taken up to eleven; they may have done illegal research at a BlackSite, run hit teams, or destabilized countries. We don't know ''anything'' about the person's past, and maybe not even their real identity.

* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': The Lich's origin is quite contradictory and vague. While at first it was believed that he was created by the Mushroom War, other theories suggest that he is an ancient being, or that his origin is related to GOLB. [[spoiler:Even after the end of the series, his nature is never explained with certainty and why he wants the extinction of all life]].

** King Sombra enslaved a hidden FisherKingdom [[spoiler:and hid its one KryptoniteFactor to him behind traps]], and... that's it. We never learn how he became OneManArmy-powerful, nor just why he wanted the kingdom--but it's implied he wanted to boost himself even more via its special magic before taking the rest of the world.
** Celestia and Luna's backstories have never been given in full, the depictions have [[MultipleChoicePast various contradictions]], and the youngest we've seen them at has been adolescence. According to ''Literature/TheJournalOfTheTwoSisters'', the two were raised as alicorns and were most likely born alicorns, but ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E1TheCrystallingPart1 The Crystalling]]'' contradicts this by implying they were ''not'' born alicorn. The book has also been contradicted elsewhere such as ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyLegendsOfMagic'' showing they had Cutie Marks as teens (versus getting them as adults like in the book) and ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsForgottenFriendship'' stating Clover the Clever was male (as opposed to Captain Hurricane being the sole male of the Founders). As a result, the sisters' backstories are vaguely defined at best.
** Cozy Glow, one of the members of the BigBadEnsemble of the last two seasons, is a sociopathic little pony (literally, she's an EnfanteTerrible) who manipulates everybody in Twilight's Friendship School and seeks to destroy it from within (and later just plain tries to take over/destroy Equestria) for reasons that are never explained. She never gives a MotiveRant, we never get any information regarding why. In fact, the only reason she was created, was to be a [[EvilAllAlong twist villain]]. Needless to say, the lack of a backstory of clear cut motives did not do well with portions of the fandom.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', the essential areas of the main characters' pasts are revealed through flashbacks. Except for Uncle Iroh's; all that is revealed about his backstory come in the form of vague statements by characters who know more than we do.

* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'': The details of Rick Sanchez life before he moved back in with the Smiths is almost entirely unaccounted for; all we know is that he was at least still living with Beth and her mother around the time she was a young child. Other than that, both his life before getting married and the whatever he was doing while separated from his family is entirely unknown. Beth even alludes to his "incredibly vague backstory" at one point. It's mentioned in "The Wedding Squanchers" that Rick and others were involved in numerous atrocities fighting for freedom from the Galactic Federation, to the point of being labeled a terrorist. Exactly what these atrocities were are unknown though. Knowing Rick, probably best it remains that way.

* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' has Lila Rossi: suddenly appearing as a ForeignExchangeStudent at the end of season one, she started making up some wild claims to get attention. Some are very clearly BlatantLies, but the season 2 finale showed she was telling the truth about being the daughter of an Italian diplomat, and there's still no explanation for the hand-to-hand combat skills she had ''not'' mentioned,[[note]]In "Chameleon" an irritated Marinette threw a paper ball at her, and Lila reflexively caught it in the same way boxers normally [[PunchCatch parry a punch]]. Later in the episode she's Akumatized with [[VoluntaryShapeShifting the ability to transform, powers and all, in whoever she kisses]], and as Chat Noir she inflicts a ''massive'' CurbStompBattle on Ladybug with hand-to-hand skills that Chat Noir never showed[[/note]] or why she seemed to recognize the picture of a past Chinese holder of the Fox Miraculous... That by some coincidence looks like an adult Lila (although the last bit is eventually explained by [[spoiler:TheReveal that Lila has been wearing a wig and colored contact lenses the whole time]]). Season five ups the ante by revealing that [[spoiler:Lila has multiple identities, claims to be the daughter of at least three different women, and that Lila probably isn't her real name]].

* Seimei and Kagura from ''VideoGame/{{Onmyoji}}'', seeing as they're both {{amnesiac|Hero}}. Helping them learn about their pasts is an important part of the story.

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': Ash's Pikachu has a touch of mystery to him. It's never mentioned why Professor Oak had a Pikachu to give away or where Pikachu came from. Ash's Pikachu is absurdly strong for his species for no clear reason. Originally he has a much more headstrong and aggressive personality than most Pikachu, until CharacterDevelopment causes him to soften up, and also [[{{Claustrophobia}} hates being in Poké Balls]]. It's possible that Pikachu is just an ordinary Pikachu with a stubborn personality, but everything suggests something in Pikachu's past that's never been clarified and likely never will be.

* ''TabletopGame/DeadOfWinter'': Alone among the playable characters, Anita Wallace's occupation before the ZombieApocalypse is listed as "Unknown". She also has the best possible attack stat and the unique ability to auto-kill a zombie (or wound a fellow survivor) as a free action.

* Befitting [[TheExpyWithNoName an expy of the Man with No Name]] from the Film/DollarsTrilogy, Cole Cassidy's past in VideoGame/{{Overwatch}} is more questions than answers. We still have no idea on his upbringing and the circumstances that led him to join the Deadlock Gang, or what incident caused him to lose his arm and have it replaced with a prosthetic, or how he came up with "Jesse [=McCree=]", the contrived identity that threatened to consume his sense of self.

A character can have a partially mysterious past as well; for instance, Alice was Bob's friend in college, but when they meet up as ten years later, Alice has KGB agents on her tail and the ability to pilot a military
helicopter to escape (or in fantasy, shoot fire from her eyes).

** A lot of people in ''Manga/ExcelSaga'' have pasts that are not elaborated on. According to Dr. Kabapu Il Palazzo and he are the sole survivors of a lost civilization, but nothing has ever been explained in detail. Hyatt and Elgala might have had normal lives before joining ACROSS, but the only thing mentioned about their lives is that Hyatt joined ACROSS after seeing an ad in a newspaper, and Elgala worked at a hotel before joining ACROSS. The title character Excel might have been a completely different person before meeting Il Palazzo, based on her personality when she was amnesiac. And nothing has been revealed about Kabapu's secretary Ms. Momochi, even though she is always seen with Kabapu and interacts regularly with the rest of the cast.

* Creator/TommyWiseau's past is virtually unknown. He claims to be from New Orleans, but his accent suggests somewhere in Eastern Europe. He's also independently wealthy, but the source of his wealth is unknown–he claims it was from selling leather jackets. Several people who worked with him on ''Film/TheRoom'' have proposed theories, and one--who claims to have seen something official from the US government regarding his immigration--said that the truth [[{{Tearjerker}} was the saddest story he had ever heard]]. He did not share the details.

** The [[VideoGame/DawnOfWar Blood Ravens]] chapter's recorded history only goes back to M37. They have no verifiable records of any activities before then, so they don't know when the chapter was founded or from which chapter they descend. That means they could be descended from the Thousand Sons (as several pieces of lore suggest) and not know it.