History Main / ThePhoenix

* ''Franchise/{{Beyblade}}'': The two true phoenixes are Burn Phoenix 135MS,[[note]]Renamed Burn Fireblaze 135MS outside Japan, possibly for copyright reasons.[[/note]] which is wielded by the appropriately name CharClone Phoenix in ''Anime/BeybladeMetalFusion'', and Thief Phoenix [=E230GCF=], which is wielded by Ren Kurenai in ''Anime/BeybladeShogunSteel''. Additionally, Kai's bit-beast Suzaku aka Dranzer from ''Anime/BakutenShootBeyblade'' is modeled after the Suzaku of TheFourGods. Dranzer got a ShoutOut in ''Metal Fight Beyblade Zero-G'', in which Kai's {{expy}} Karura wields Guardian Garudas with the titular Garudas being a phoenix-like reimagining of Garuda. This concept would be used again in ''Anime/BeybladeBurst'' with Maximum Garuda 8Flow Flugel owned by Ghasem Madal.

%%* ''Literature/DavidAndThePhoenix'': This was quoted in ''[[Literature/HonorHarrington At All Costs]]'', complete with birth-death motifs.%%Right, but what about the original work fits this trope?

* ''Franchise/{{Beyblade}}'': The two true phoenixes are Burn Phoenix 135MS,[[note]]Renamed Burn Fireblaze 135MS outside Japan, possibly for copyright reasons.[[/note]] which is wielded by the appropriately name CharClone Phoenix in ''Anime/MetalFightBeyblade'', and Thief Phoenix [=E230GCF=], which is wielded by Ren Kurenai in ''Anime/MetalFightBeybladeZeroG''. Additionally, Kai's bit-beast Suzaku aka Dranzer from ''Anime/BakutenShootBeyblade'' is modeled after the Suzaku of TheFourGods. Dranzer got a ShoutOut in ''Metal Fight Beyblade Zero-G'', in which Kai's {{expy}} Karura wields Guardian Garudas with the titular Garudas being a phoenix-like reimagining of Garuda. This concept would be used again in ''Anime/BeybladeBurst'' with Maximum Garuda 8Flow Flugel owned by Ghasem Madal.

** [[https://scryfall.com/card/jmp/21/lightning-phoenix Lightning Phoenix]] and Ravnica's [[https://scryfall.com/card/grn/91/arclight-phoenix Arclight Phoenix]] are unusual examples of phoenixes connected to lightning rather than to flame.

** The phoenixes of the Plane of Mountains and Seas are more closely based on the Fenghuang, meaning they do not resurrect. They are however still prone to burning others alive.
* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'' has [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Sacred_Phoenix_of_Nephthys Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys.]]

* ''Literature/{{Bakemonogatari}}'' has Tsukihi Araragi and more specifically the Dying Bird which she is possessed by (or simply is, it's hard to tell). The Dying Bird is a spiritual phoenix; when the host dies of age it reincarnates as another newborn and essentially lives again. Despite looking human Tsukihi is very much a supernatural creature and has all the powers one might expect including a massive HealingFactor.

* The villain of the second book of ''Literature/TheWinternightTrilogy'' is none other than [[spoiler:famous Russian [[OurLichesAreDifferent sorcerer/lich]] Koschei the Deathless]], who has enslaved a phoenix to do his biding. Setting the creature free is unquestionably seen as a good thing, as it had been treated badly in captivity. However it's said that a phoenix/firebird isn't exactly inclined to be thoughtful or careful about the fate of mortals or animals around it, and this one ''definitely'' isn't after the long captivity and cruel treatment it has endured... [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished as soon as it is set free it promptly burns half of Moscow down by accident]].

-->-- '''Music/EltonJohn''', ''Grey Seal''

The Phoenix is sometimes equated or associated with a number of other myths about fiery or divine birds. The Egyptian Bennu, a heron-like bird associated with the sun and the creation of the world, is believed to be at least partly ancestral to the Greek phoenix. The Chinese Fenghuang (or Houou to the Japanese) is often referred to as the Chinese Phoenix, but similarities between the two myths are fairly superficial -- the Fenghuang lacks any particular association with fire or renewal, and is instead typically linked to celestial bodies, the Chinese empress, and the Chinese dragon, which serves as its male counterpart. Other sometimes-associated myths include the Vermilion Bird [[TheFourGods Suzaku]] and the Firebird of Russian folklore, whose feathers glow like flame. When treated as an actively pyrokinetic creature, it may also be contrasted with or compared to the {{Thunderbird}}. LightningFireJuxtaposition is likely a factor in this.

[[folder:Manhwa and Manhua]]

* ''Literature/TheHouseInTheCeruleanSea'': One of the characters is revealed to be a phoenix, likely the last one on Earth-- if there were ever any others to begin with (something that even the phoenix in question isn't sure of).

* ''Film/Revenge2017'': The heroine has been LeftForDead by the villains, and ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice on a tree, but escapes but setting fire to the tree so that it eventually breaks under her weight. Later she heals her injuries by cutting open and flattening an aluminum beer can, [[HealItWithFire holding it over the fire and then pressing it against her wound]]. In doing so she inadvertently brands the beer can's logo on her flesh, which happens to be a phoenix.

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'': One mini-comic has the Penguin theming a series of thefts after the phoenix, eventually creating a fire-breathing robot called the "penguin phoenix".

** ComicBook/JeanGrey, depending on the continuity or even [[{{Retcon}} the writer at the moment in the main continuity]], is either the Phoenix itself (later [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity the Dark Phoenix]]), [[GrandTheftMe possessed by it]], or replaced and impersonated by it at some point. She keeps an equally variable [[TouchedByVorlons connection]] to it from her return onwards. The Phoenix wasn't even originally intended to give her an ability to come BackFromTheDead. Becoming the Phoenix in the ''first'' place was considered her "death and rebirth." None of this helped her overall reputation much, and by now she has become the poster child for DeathIsCheap even by comic book standards, to the point that whenever she's in mortal danger, both readers ''and other characters'' don't really care all that much, though they might be concerned about her occasionally [[CameBackWrong coming back wrong]] with her SuperpoweredEvilSide active. Even her epitaph lampshaded it: "she will rise again." As of 2018, following ''ComicBook/PhoenixResurrection'', she's back and sane, with [[spoiler:the Phoenix having departed after Jean flatly told it to leave her alone.]]
*** The same goes for Jean's KidFromTheFuture, Rachel Grey, who keeps the motif even after ditching the actual cosmic critter itself. Rachel's connection with the Phoenix isn't in a constant state of {{retcon}} like her mother's, though: she and the Phoenix were merged for years, then separated via a fairly complicated (though simple by Summers/Grey family standards) TimeTravel storyline. She also never went [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity Dark Phoenix]] like Jean, despite generally being more the hot-tempered of the two, but she came close to it a couple of times.
*** One of Jean's other children, Nate Grey -- not quite from the future, instead Cable's counterpart from the ''ComicBook/AgeOfApocalypse'' -- has never been explicitly a Phoenix host. It was hinted a few times, with the Phoenix raptor forming around him more than once, and it being bluntly stated from the start that he was as powerful as the Dark Phoenix, but more as a comparison. However, death and rebirth motifs, usually related to the fact that he was slowly dying from PowerDeGeneration, followed him wherever he went, and he ultimately pulled an actual death and rebirth worthy of his mother in ''Dark X-Men''. Twice.
** Hope Summers, the Mutant Messiah, was foreshadowed as a Phoenix host quite literally from birth, with the Phoenix raptor frequently being seen glowing in her eyes. And when her powers finally manifested, a Phoenix raptor formed around her as she obliterated Bastion and a dome of energy that had been shrugging off the best the Avengers could throw at it for most of a day, in a split-second. This led to a lot of speculation as to who and what she really was, it being clear that she wasn't just an average mutant -- the Phoenix in human form, the reincarnation of Jean Grey herself (speculation restarted after an encounter with Teen Jean revealed that they looked identical)... no one was really sure. The ultimate answer seems to have been that her birth was arranged by the Phoenix to restart mutantkind and undo M-Day, which she ultimately did at the end of ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'' -- and the resemblance may just have been because the Phoenix likes Jean. Since then, however, there's been no real sign of anything Phoenix related going on with her, with the closest she's come being her involvement in Teen Jean's struggles with the entity.
** Various other characters have also been hosts for the Phoenix, but it's always been either an extremely temporary situation or happened in ancient history. Even ComicBook/SpiderMan! [[spoiler:But not really. He was using the gadgetry that allowed the robot Rachel of some ''{{ComicBook/Excalibur}}'' impostors to make it ''look'' good. Thus the costume change]].

* ''Fanfic/SentinelsOfChaos'': One of the gifts the Keyblade Masters receive is a magical phoenix that "reads the intentions of their hearts," so that the one who gave the phoenix to them can know if the Keyblade Masters are worthy for something more. Axel (reluctantly) takes ownership of the phoenix, originally calling her ''Dopey'', though after bonding with her later on, renames her to Pyranas. Interestingly, Dopey/Pyranas is treated as an actual character, rather than as a pet, and communicates through squawks and other bird noises (which are conveniently translated by the narrator) that the Keyblade Masters interpret and translate perfectly. And she also laughs at almost every pun, [[IncrediblyLamePun regardless of quality.]]

* The ''Literature/ArsGoetia'' speaks of a [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils demon lord]] called Phenax who takes the form of one of these.

* ''WebOriginal/CodexInversus'': True phoenixes once lived in the Plane of Fire, before the Collapse. Afterwards, Iblis, the last of the Lords of Fire, reshaped them into their modern descendants, the flamingo-like ''phoenixopteroi'', to which he gave dexterous hands for feet and the ability to cast spells. ''Phoenixopteroi'' wade through lakes of molten rock like regular flamingos do in tepid lakes, using spells to call up small elementals to eat, and, when they die, they burst into flames. This often leaves behind an egg, but this isn't the bird being reborn, as true immortality has been impossible ever since the Collapse. Instead, they use the heat of their deaths to incubate their eggs.