History Main / TakingUpTheMantle

* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': Kyril [[DiscussedTrope discusses this trope]] with the Doll, pondering on the decision to take up the mantle of First Hunter, which was held by his mentor Gehrman, should the conflict in Eostia take a turn for the worst. PlayedStraight in the original version, where he accepts the mantle the moment he resolves to hunt down his enemies and save the people of Eostia from the Black Dogs. Taking a step forward, he starts training multiple [[TheApprentice apprentices]] at once instead of one at a time.

* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': Kyril ponders on the decision to take up the mantle of First Hunter, which was held by his mentor Gehrman, should the conflict in Eostia takes a turn for the worst. The original version has him accepting the mantle the moment he resolves to hunt down his enemies and save the people of Eostia from the Black Dogs. Taking a step forward, he starts training multiple [[TheApprentice apprentices]] at once instead of one at a time.

* In ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'', both Kyril and The Doll pondered on whether he should take up the mantle of First Hunter, held by his mentor Gehrman, should the conflict in Eostia takes a turn for the worst. He accepts the mantle in order to hunt down his enemies to save the Eostians from the Black Dogs. Taking a step forward, he starts training multiple [[TheApprentice apprentices]] at once instead of one at a time.

%%* The ending of ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'' implies that [[spoiler: Robin John Blake]] is going to become the new Batman.
%%* ''Film/{{Deerskin}}'' does this very literally as [[spoiler: Denise takes the deerskin jacket from George when he dies]].

--> '''[[spoiler:Liara]]:''' This is the Shadow Broker, the situation is under control. We experienced a power fluctuation while upgrading hardware. We are back online, resume standard procedures. [[MeaningfulEcho I want a status report on all operations within the next solar day.]]

* In ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'', both Kyril and The Doll pondered on whether he should take up the mantle of First Hunter, held by Gehrman, the mentor he slayed, should the conflict in Eostia takes a turn for the worst. He accepts the mantle in order to hunt down his enemies to save the Eostians from the Black Dogs. Taking a step forward, he starts training multiple [[TheApprentice apprentices]] at once instead of one at a time.

* ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'': After Peter Parker is killed by [[NotQuiteDead Norman Osborn]]]], a tiny [[TwoferTokenMinority black/hispanic]] kid with Spider-powers named Miles Morales decides to pick up the slack and become Spider-Man, partially out of guilt that he didn't help Peter fight off Osborn.

* In ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', [[spoiler:when Kid Flash dies saving the world in the episode "Endgame", Impulse honors him by taking up his persona]].

** Briefly attempted by ''ComicBook/{{Bane}}'', of all people, when Batman disappears during ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil''. Gotham is in chaos, with Arkham's inmates released, and Bane knows this is the perfect time to conquer the city. He runs into a bit of trouble with the Arkham crew though and realizes that to succeed he needs to become something that truly terrifies them- so he makes his own Bat-costume and declares himself the new Batman. Note that he has no real intention of being a hero or living up to Batman's ideals; he just needs the fear. Needless to say, his stint ends [[ShaggyDogStory in the space of a couple pages]] once ''Forever Evil'' is resolved and the real Batman can return to Gotham.

* In ''Fanfic//TheNightUnfurls'', both Kyril and The Doll pondered on whether he should take up the mantle of First Hunter, held by Gehrman, the mentor he slayed, should the conflict in Eostia takes a turn for the worst. He accepts the mantle in order to hunt down his enemies to save the Eostians from the Black Dogs. Taking a step forward, he starts training multiple [[TheApprentice apprentices]] at once instead of one at a time.

The TropeNamer comes from a line in Literature/TheBible where Elisha takes up the mantle of Elijah the prophet -- literally.

* Wally West took up the mantle of ComicBook/TheFlash after his mentor Barry Allen died saving the universe in ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths''. He is considered to be one of the most successful {{Legacy Character}}s and is the first one among his own generation from Teen Titans.
* The page image comes from '' ComicBook/AllNewWolverine'' where [[ComicBook/{{X23}} Laura Kinney]] takes on her father's mantle of ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} after the latter died. Though she eventually gave it back when he returned.

** After Batman's [[NotQuiteDead "death"]] during ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'', [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]] is forced to become Batman because Bruce Wayne never appointed a successor, and Gotham City was descending into chaos without Batman's presence to strike genuine terror into the hearts of criminals. Dick was reluctant to become Batman because Bruce left specific instructions ''not'' to don the cowl. But Bruce was a bit shortsighted on the matter, so Dick eventually wound up doing so anyway. [[spoiler:Bruce was understanding when he got back]]. Specifically, it comes from the above quote.
** ''Battle for the Cowl'' was about ''several'' people trying to become the new Batman. [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]], [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]],[[note]]who didn't ''want'' the cowl but Dick hadn't stepped up yet[[/note]] [[Characters/{{Batman}} Jason Todd, Two-Face]], and Michael Lane, the new ComicBook/{{Azrael}}, all heeded the call to become Gotham City's new Dark Knight. In the first two issues of the mini-series, the story mostly focused on [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]], but in the final issue, it mostly focused on [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]].

* ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'': After Peter Parker [[spoiler: is killed by [[NotQuiteDead Norman Osborn]]]], a tiny [[TwoferTokenMinority black/hispanic]] kid with Spider-powers named Miles Morales decides to pick up the slack and become Spider-Man.

%%* ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'' has [[spoiler: Robin John Blake]] do this at the end.

* In ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', [[spoiler:when Kid Flash dies in the episode "Endgame", Impulse honors him by taking up his persona]].

* ''ComicBook/StarMan'' is a multi-generational example. Starting with Ted Knight, the titular mantle falls to his eldest son David, then to his younger son Jack. After Jack's retirement, both the legacy and the Cosmic Staff (which gave the Starmen their powers) passed to a heroine name Star-Spangled Girl - aka Courtney Whitmore - who adopted the name Stargirl out of respect for her predecessors.

* In ''VideoGame/Persona3 [[ExpansionPack FES]]'', when [[RobotGirl Aigis]] gains the "Wild Card" ability, she also gains the "field leader" status from the [[spoiler:[[TheHeroDies recently deceased hero.]] And also gains the role as player character.]] This does cause some resentment from another love interest, Yukari.

So you're two thirds of the way through a book/movie/whatever, when suddenly, TheHero /TheLeader/ TheChosenOne etc. dies, is imprisoned, performs a FaceHeelTurn, or is otherwise unable to act as their important role. [[DarkestHour All seems lost]], a TakeUpMySword hasn't been pulled! What is to be done?

But wait! A {{Sidekick}}, the LoveInterest, TheRival, a MauveShirt or even a FriendlyEnemy steps or is forced into this important role, and the work that you are reading focuses on them for the rest of the time it takes to finish the work. Essentially, it's when someone invokes LegacyCharacter.

** ''Battle for the Cowl'' was about ''several'' people trying to become the new Batman. [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]], [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]],[[note]]who didn't ''want'' the cowl but Dick hadn't stepped up yet[[/note]] [[Characters/{{Batman}} Jason Todd, Two-Face]], and Michael Lane, the new ComicBook/{{Azrael}}, all heeded the call to become Gotham City's new Dark Knight. The first two issues of the mini-series, the story mostly focused on [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]], but in the final issue, it mostly focused on [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]].

** Briefly attempted by ''ComicBook/{{Bane}}'', of all people, when Batman disappears during ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil''. Gotham is in chaos, with Arkham's inmates released, and Bane knows this is the perfect time to conquer the city. He runs into a bit of trouble with the Arkham crew though, and realizes that to succeed he needs to become something that truly terrifies them- so he makes his own Bat-costume and declares himself the new Batman. Note that he has no real intention of being a hero or living up to Batman's ideals; he just needs the fear. Needless to say, his stint ends [[ShaggyDogStory in the space of a couple pages]] once ''Forever Evil'' is resolved and the real Batman can return to Gotham.
** Averted in the pre-Crisis era. On Earth-Two, the Golden Age Batman is killed trying to stop a criminal with mysteriously-obtained supernatural power. After the funeral, both Dick Grayson and Helena Wayne both agree that they ''can't'' be Batman and to keep going in their identities as Robin and Huntress.

* In the ''ComicBook/DarkwingDuck'' comic series, one story line features many Darkwings from alternate universes. One of them had taken up Gosalyn's Quiverwing Quack superhero identity after she was killed performing a HeroicSacrifice in his universe, and [[ILetGwenStacyDie there was nothing he could do to save her]]. Interestingly, the comic has him fight Darkwarrior Duck, the BadFuture version of Darkwing from an episode of the TV show, who thought that ''his'' Gosalyn had run away from home, and had a ''[[KnightTemplar very]]'' [[AllCrimesAreEqual different]] reaction to losing her. [[spoiler:Quiverwing [[CurbStompBattle completely wrecks his ass]].]]

* The TropeNamer comes from a line in Literature/TheBible (specifically, the book of 2nd Kings) which states that the prophet Elijah's protégé Elisha literally took up Elijah's mantle after Elijah was taken up into heaven. Elisha was automatically endowed with a significant portion of Elijah's power, and assumed his place as the de facto leader of all of the prophets of {{God}} residing in Israel, as well as becoming one of the greatest prophets ever.

* In ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'', Gabrielle takes up the mantle left by Xena [[spoiler: after her death in the end of the series]].

* In the lore of ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' there is a theological concept where beings can "Mantle" the the essence of or certain aspects of gods. In this world, due to the fact that the gods have a very real and physical impact on the world, it is rather more literal than in most cases. The most notable instances of this are when Tiber Septim, or Talos, took up the Mantle of the dead god Lorkhan, specifically his aspect as the god of man. The other case, arguably, is when his descendent merged with Akatosh to defeat an invasion by Mehrunes Dagon.

* After Batman's [[NotQuiteDead "death"]] during ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'', [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]] is forced to become Batman because Bruce Wayne never appointed a successor, and Gotham City was descending into chaos without Batman's presence to strike genuine terror into the hearts of criminals. Dick was reluctant to become Batman because Bruce left specific instructions ''not'' to don the cowl. But Bruce was a bit shortsighted on the matter, so Dick eventually wound up doing so anyway. [[spoiler:Bruce was understanding when he got back]]. Specifically, it comes from the above quote.

* After Franchise/{{Batman}}'s [[NotQuiteDead "death"]] during ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'', [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]] is forced to become Batman because Bruce Wayne never appointed a successor, and Gotham City was descending into chaos without Batman's presence to strike genuine terror into the hearts of criminals. Dick was reluctant to become Batman because Bruce left specific instructions ''not'' to don the cowl. But Bruce was a bit shortsighted on the matter, so Dick eventually wound up doing so anyway. [[spoiler:Bruce was understanding when he got back.]] Specifically, it comes from the above quote.

* In the 2007 ''WesternAnimation/{{TMNT}}'' movie, [[spoiler:[[TheBigGuy Raphael]]]] briefly takes over for [[TheCaptain Leonardo]] just prior to TheClimax.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'', [[spoiler:Megamind himself fills Metro Man's role]].

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'' has [[spoiler: Robin John Blake]] do this at the end.
* ''Film/{{Deerskin}}'' does this very literally as [[spoiler: Denise takes the deerskin jacket from George when he dies]].
[[/folder]]

* The short story ''Aftermath'', taking place just two hours after ''Literature/{{Changes}}'' in Literature/TheDresdenFiles, [[spoiler: [[OurHeroIsDead with Harry shot and thrown into Lake Michigan]]]], there is no one to protect Chicago from the supernatural baddies, until [[spoiler: [[BadassNormal Murphy]] and [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent the Alphas]] take up the charge [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome "untill Dresden gets back."]]]]

* The novel ''Summer Knight'' in Literature/TheDresdenFiles, [[spoiler: The concept of supernatural power and identity called a Mantle exists in the Dresden Files universe, and takes the form of a package of power that can be passed from person to person, and that starts to shape the identity, will, and personality of the wielder. In the case of the Sidhe mantles there are at least eight, and take the forms of Mother, Queen, Lady, and Knight for the Summer and Winter courts each. The Mother, Queen, and Lady mantles are so powerful that they will overwrite the original person entirely given enough time.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' has Terry [=McGinnis=] become the new Batman after Bruce Wayne retires (although Bruce is retired for several decades before Terry happens upon the Batcave). The twist is that Bruce may be out of the field (being an old man with a cane and all), but he becomes Terry's VoiceWithAnInternetConnection.

* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', Liara is trying to find the Shadow Broker, an information dealer who is possibly the most powerful individual in the entire galaxy, who hides on a ship drifting inside a storm on an uninhabitable planet and never shows his face to anyone and communicates with his top agents only through digital voice synthesizers. While trying to free Liara's assistant, who has been captured, the Shadow Broker and all his personal guards are killed in his office. After the fight, dozens of agents call in to inquire about the disrupted connection. In that moment, Liara realizes what could be lost if no reply is sent, and seizes the opportunity:

* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', Liara is trying to find the Shadow Broker, an information dealer who is possibly the most powerful individual in the entire galaxy, who hides on a ship drifting inside a storm on an uninhabitable planet and never shows his face to anyone and communicates with his top agents only through digital voice synthesizers. While trying to free Liara's assistant, who has been captured, the Shadow Broker and all his personal guards are killed in his office. After the fight, dozens of agents call in to inquire about the disrupted connection.

* ''Film/{{Deerskin}}'' does this very litteraly as [[spoiler: Denise takes the deerskin jacket from George when he dies]].

* ''ComicBook/Starman'' is a multi-generational example. Starting with Ted Knight, the titular mantle falls to his eldest son David, then to his younger son Jack. After Jack's retirement, both the legacy and the Cosmic Staff (which gave the Starmen their powers) passed to a heroine name Star-Spangled Girl - aka Courtney Whitmore - who adopted the name Stargirl out of respect for her predecessors.

-> ''And it came to pass as they still went on and talked that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind onto heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof." And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes and rent them in two pieces. And he [[TropeNamer took up also the mantle]] of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan.''

** ''Battle for the Cowl'' was about ''several'' people trying to become the new Batman. [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]], [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]][[note]] (who didn't ''want'' the cowl but Dick hadn't stepped up yet)[[/note]], [[Characters/{{Batman}} Jason Todd, Two-Face]], and Michael Lane, the new ComicBook/{{Azrael}}, all heeded the call to become Gotham City's new Dark Knight. The first two issues of the mini-series, the story mostly focused on [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]], but in the final issue, it mostly focused on [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]].

* In ''Wecomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': Book -1 ''Start of Darkness'' opens with Redcloak being obliged to pick up the Crimson Mantle of the High Priest Of The Dark One, as the only surviving cleric after a Paladin raid on his village.