History Main / RetiredBadass

* Played with in [[http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/6/25/ this]] example of [[CatchPhrase dreaded continuity]] from ''Webcomic/PennyArcade''.

* The ''{{Manga/Naruto}}'' fanfic "[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/11304672/chapters/25295988 What Went Wrong For Us?]]" has Freyja, a former shieldmaiden turned farmer's wife from a viking/Scandinavian-inspired country called Fjordland. She's implied to have killed so many people [[ButForMeItWasTuesday she forgot the exact number.]]

* The ''{{Manga/Naruto}}'' fanfic "[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/11304672/chapters/25295988 What Went Wrong For Us?]]" has Freyja, a former shieldmaiden turned farmer's wife from a viking/Scandinavian-inspired country called Fjordland. She's implied to have killed so many people [[ButForMeItWasTuesday she forgot the exact number.]]

** "Hero's Reward" is about Duncan Keller, ''a.k.a.'' the hero Starfighter, adjusting to being this. [[SentientCosmicForce The Lorus]] that gives him his powers, has decided he should enjoy his retirement, and he should accept that it's okay to just take it easy for a while.

* A dark example from ''ComicBook/AstroCity'': FlyingBrick Supersonic is brought out of retirement by a nostalgic old friend, but proves to be a shadow of his former self. Thanks to a combination of senility and lack of practice leaving him unable to use the clever and silver-age-y tricks he preferred during his career, Supersonic is reduced to wailing on his enemy until it stays down, causing massive collateral damage in the process.
** A lighter example appears in "The Dark Age". After the target of their RoaringRampageOfRevenge is no more, the Williams' brothers realize how self-destructive their quest was, and left their life of crime-fighting to run a chartered fishing business instead.
** An extremely light example comes in Starfighter, who finds the Lorus, the SentientCosmicForce that gives him his powers, has decided he should enjoy his retirement. It's even found five possible candidates to be the next Starfighter (and one of them is the original's daughter). Starfighter's story is about accepting that, yes, it's time to just take it easy for a while.

* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBt8ioYEXBw&t=1739s cover image]] of the fanmade ''VideoGame/JetSetRadio''-inspired album, ''Memories of Tokyo-To'', seems to imply this was the ultimate fate of [[ActionGirl Gum]]. We see her in a [[HurtingHero borderline depressed state]] as all she can do is [[GloryDays listen to music that reminds her of the glory days]] while [[BreakTheBadass she lays slumped against the wall]] [[HowTheMightyHaveFallen without her iconic helmet and face paint]]. One can only wonder what happened between her and [[TheFellowshipHasEnded the rest of the GGs...]]

* ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'' has [[ComicBook/TheSandman Destruction of the Endless]], a very old, very powerful god who gave up his domain several millennia ago.

* General, later Field Marshal and even later President, Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, born 1867. He made his lifetime career in the Czarist Russian army, retiring as a fully serving General of Cavalry of the Lifeguards in 1917, having participated in both Russo-Japanese war 1904-1905 and WWI 1914-1917. After the declaration of Independence of Finland in December 1917, he was pleased to become the commander-in-chief of the White Army. After the Finnish Civil War, he retired. Little did he know that his SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome was yet to become. His happy pensioneer's days were over in 1939 when the Winter War began. Again he was called to service, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Army. He was promoted to Field Marshal in 1940, and he served as the Supreme Commander of the Finnish Armed Forces until the end of the Continuation War. After theArmisticee with the USSR in 1944 and resignation of President Risto Ryti, he was nominated as ''the President of Finland''. Why? Because [[WorthyOpponent he was the only person both Finns and Soviets could trust]]. He passed away in 1951.

* Creator/AnthonyRuttgaizer'': In 1997, Anthony took time off from writing ComicBooks and joined an indie wrestling league. His career lasted until the 2000s, where his career injuries caught up with him.

* The end of ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' Season 10 reveals that [[spoiler:Butch Flowers, the Blues' deceased captain, was once Agent Florida and fought alongside the other Freelancers. It's not technically retirement, since he still answered to the Director, but his new job was much less intense.]]

* In ''Fanfic/TheParselmouthOfGryffindor'', Dumbledore hires Gellert Grindelwald for a Defence Professor. Yes, to everyone but Dumbledore's bemused outrage, the man who once came close to [[TakeOverTheWorld Taking Over The World]] through ''causing goddamn World War II'' is now a schoolteacher.
* ''Fanfic/TheSecretReturnOfAlexMack'': ComicBook/{{Batman}}'s butler Alfred is a former 006 agent. Not only that but he was retired for being too old (Double-Oh agents are required to retire at 45); he was skilled enough to complete his career without ever getting seriously hurt.
* [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/124263/1/songs-uncle-sings/sineva Songs Uncle Sings]] by [=Kalash93=] features two such characters.

* Steel Song is enjoying a quiet small-town life at the start of the book. However, he is an ex-guard, has worked for many years as a bodyguard, becoming quite famous in the process and [[spoiler:is the only alive non-griffon Blademaster in existence.]] When he's called out of retirement to lead the [[Fanfic/TheDuskGuardSaga Dusk Guard]], he amply demonstrates just why the Princesses have chosen him.

* ''Fanfic/PokemonJohtoQuest'': Martha from episode two is this for standing up to the Mareep Liberation League (who were trying to take her flocks of Mareep) and calling on her Ampharos to take care of them prior to moving to Johto.

* In ''Fanfic/WeissReacts'', [[EccentricMentor Professor Ozpin]] is heavily implied to be this, considering that he cows even the badass Adam Taurus into following him with nothing more than a [[TranquilFury glare]].
* Gideon becomes this in ''Series/CriminalMinds'' fanfic ''To live again''. He retired from profiling and opened a little store in a small town, the same place where Annie lives. He's still capable of serious ass-kicking, especially if his pseudo-daughter is at the risk. (No, you don't want to face a PapaWolf ex-profiler. You really don't.)
* ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'': Silver Spoon's father Silver Axe/Silver Tongue was once a member of the Royal Guard before leaving to raise a family. He is forced to fight again during the Wedding Arc to stave off the Changeling Invasion and proves he's StillGotIt.
* In ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' fanfic ''Fanfic/SupermanOf2499TheGreatConfrontation'', the descendant of the first Franchise/{{Batman}} resolves to quit after taking down the last Joker, although he still trains the younger heroes (Superman, ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}, Franchise/WonderWoman and Franchise/GreenLantern) comprising the new Justice League.
* [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Xander's]] shop teacher Mr. Hanson in ''[[https://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-32204-3/dogbertcarroll+Lucky+at+Cards.htm Lucky at Cards]]'' reveals that not only is he a former demon hunter, but most shop teachers are. According to him, it's because shop teachers can be missing a few pieces and people just assume they were clumsy. He advises Xander to get some teaching credits when he can, in case he lives long enough to be forced to retire.

* Parodied in ''Fanfic/XMenTheEarlyYears''. After the events of "Hit Women, Goats, and Other Vacation Blunders", Jeanette "the Super-Goat" quits the "heroing" business.
-->'''Jean:''' So how is the sixth member of our team doing?\\
'''Scott:''' Jeanette is being retired to a beautiful country estate that a friend of Professor Xavier owns. There, she'll live out the rest of her days in peace, officially retired from the superhero business.
* ''Fanfic/EarthsAlienHistory'': After the end of the [[Franchise/MassEffect Reaper War]], the happily married couple of [[ComicBook/WonderWoman Diana]] and Liara retire from both the military and active membership in the [[NGOSuperpower Conspiracy of Light]] in order to raise their family in peace.

* Creator/SeijunTombo's fanfics depict Professor Oak as a former Pokémon Champion.
* ''Fanfic/FireDarkMark'': Spider-Man, the original X-Men, the Human Torch, Iron-Man... become retired super-heroes after the main conflict is over.
* ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'' has [[ComicBook/TheSandman Destruction of the Endless]], a very old, very powerful god who gave up his domain several millennia ago.
* ''Fanfic/HereThereBeMonsters'': Most members of the Squadron of Justice had not suited up in many years, but they return to help the [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Marvel Family]] out.
-->'''Mister Scarlet:''' "The costumes are over. They had their time, but now the war, as far as we're concerned, is over. All we are now, is ourselves. Without the masks. So don't let me hear that you've put on the suit again and started trying to catch crooks. Fighting crime and studies don't mix."
* ''Fanfic/BoldoresAndBoomsticks'' has Professor Oak is this to the surprise of no one who knows anything about Pokémon. Once he gets Dragonite, he completely devastates Tyrian Callows without even blinking.
* ''Fanfic/FuturesFreakMeOut'': Shinji and Asuka retired from piloting war machines three years ago. Since then, they have been going to school and trying to overcome their post-traumatic stress disorder. Shinji has adapted decently to his new life, but Asuka is not coping well with the changes.
* In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' FlashForwardFic ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/24258940/chapters/58462522 Next of Kin]]'', several characters -- especially the Smashers -- have become this in the twenty years since ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', focusing on settling down and raising their children.
* ''Fanfic/LongTimeNoSee'': Fifteen years the War, former child soldiers Shinji and Asuka have become a cook and a high-school teacher.
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* One of the non-player characters found in ''TabletopGame/InNomine'' is The Old Guy, a warrior angel in Austin, Texas, who's old enough to remember dinosaurs. He's away from the front lines and drastically weakened from what he used to be, due to the poisoning of a tree his life is bound to, but he hasn't lost any of his cunning or his skill, as he'd be glad to remind any demon stupid enough to come onto his radar.

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[[quoteright:350:[[ComicStrip/{{Scamp}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lazy_dad1.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Tramp doesn't come out of retirement easily.]]

* By the events of ''[[Fanfic/ForewarnedIsForearmed Forearmed]], Koromaru has reached his doggy golden years and doesn't show up with the rest of the Persona users Akira calls in to draw in Elizabeth because he's simply too old to be in this kind of action anymore.

* ''Fanfic/{{FIRE}}'': Spider-Man, the original X-Men, the Human Torch, Iron-Man... become retired super-heroes after the main conflict is over.

* ComicBook/JessicaJones's backstory involves her being a former superhero who went to high school with Peter Parker. However, a few years into her hero career she was kidnapped and enslaved by [[Characters/Characters/DaredevilCentralRoguesGallery Purple Man]] for eight months. The experience so traumatized Jessica that she quit superheroics, though continues to fight crime as a private eye.

* ComicBook/JessicaJones's backstory involves her being a former superhero who went to high school with Peter Parker. However, a few years into her hero career she was kidnapped and enslaved by ComicBook/PurpleMan for eight months. The experience so traumatized Jessica that she quit superheroics, though continues to fight crime as a private eye.

* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': In order for a T'au of the Fire Caste to be able to retire, they must be able to prove that their guidance as a teacher or advisor is of more benefit to the Greater Good than using their skills in the field. To be even considered for this, the T'au in question must have achieved the rank of [[FourStarBadass Shas'O]] - the highest possible field rank, which requires three Trials by Fire and at least twelve years of active service (out of a Tau's 30-40 year lifespan). In other words, only the biggest badasses are allowed to retire in the first place, and none of them are afraid to get back into the battlesuit if the Greater Good needs them to.

[[folder:Tabletop RPG]]