History PassingTheTorch / ComicBooks

** According to Marv Wolfman, around the time Jason Todd was introduced, one of the Batman writers wanted to de-age Dick Grayson and return him to being Batman's sidekick. As writer on ''Comicbook/TeenTitans'', DC's hottest property at the time, Wolfman wielded a lot of power, and suggested that instead, Dick Grayson could move on to a new identity and a new Robin could be introduced as a publicity stunt (since that sort of thing had never really happened before).

* The anthology series ''ComicBook/BatmanBlackAndWhite'' includes a story called "Guardian" in which Batman, early in his career, meets the original ComicBook/GreenLantern, who also operated out of Gotham City before retiring. They discuss their different approaches to the work, and at the end Green Lantern talks to Batman about why he retired and gives Batman his approval as Gotham's new guardian.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Batman Incorporated|2010}}'', Batman goes searching around the world for young men and women he can train to succeed him in case he dies again.
* ComicBook/CaptainAmerica has done this (willingly) twice. The first was, after his return from seeming death after ''ComicBook/{{Civil War|2006}}'', he allowed Bucky Barnes to keep going as Captain America, which lasted until ''ComicBook/FearItself''. The second one had him pass the title to Sam Wilson, the Falcon, after he loses his Super Soldier Serum, reverting him to an old man.
* Comicbook/DoctorStrange inherited the title of Sorcerer Supreme from the Ancient One, and he in turn passed it on to [[AffirmativeActionLegacy Brother Voodoo]]. After Voodoo was killed in a HeroicSacrifice, the office sat vacant for a while before the Ancient One appeared to Strange and gave his title back to him.
* In ''ComicBook/TheFinalDaysOfSuperman'', Post-Flashpoint Franchise/{{Superman}} finds himself dying with him not being able to stop it. So he takes Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} to the Fortress of Solitude and asks her to take over for him, before giving her the key to the Fortress. Although he doesn't actually die, Kara effectively carries on his legacy.

* In ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'', ComicBook/{{Hourman}}'s son took up the mantle after his father's death. When time-travel allows the father to be saved, the son offers to hand back the role; the father refuses it, because he wishes to retire and make his wife happy.
* In the "Cannon Fodder" arc of ''ComicBook/RunawaysRainbowRowell'', the Runaways are taken in by Doc Justice, a middle-aged superhero who is ostensibly looking to train a team to take his place when he retires. [[spoiler:Gert ends up learning that this is not the case: he's training them to be CListFodder so that he can use their deaths to boost his popularity, something he's done constantly.]]
* ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'' did this a little more properly: [[spoiler:When Peter Parker came BackFromTheDead, he was ''not'' thrilled at Miles Morales being Spider-Man. However, after the two finally put an end to the menace of the Green Goblin, Peter decides to fully retire and gives Miles his blessing.]]
* In ''ComicBook/VForVendetta'', [[spoiler:this is the final part of V's plans for Evey - all the work they did together was preparing her so that she could take over his work when he died.]]
* In ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', the first Nite Owl handed off the heroship to a fan of vigilantes and nocturnal fowl, and retires to be a mechanic and neighborhood old guy. [[spoiler: Until his head is bashed in by a mob of punks for being thought to be related to the controversial BadassNormal and WellIntentionedExtremist Rorschach, that is.]]
* Donna Troy, the first ComicBook/WonderGirl, gave her costume to Cassie Sandsmark, who at the time was fighting crime in a Wonder Woman T-shirt and denims. However, Cassie was so overwhelmed she never wore it in case it got damaged.
* A more somber version happens in ''ComicBook/ZeroHourCrisisInTime''. After Extant runs roughshod on the Justice Society, deaging and killing many, the active survivors retire, with the Alan Scott Green Lantern giving Kyle Rayner his ring (which is lost and destroyed an issue later) and Starman giving his Cosmic Rod to his eldest son. Superman realizes there that things aren't the same now...
* The final issue of ''ComicBook/{{Starman}}'' has Jack Knight going around insuring Opal City is safe with various heroes watching it before passing off the Cosmic Rod and some of his gear to Courtney Whitmore, setting her up to become ComicBook/{{Stargirl}}.

* In ''[[ComicBook/BatmanGrantMorrison Batman Incorporated]]'', Batman goes searching around the world for young men and women he can train to succeed him in case he dies again.

* In ''ComicBook/AstroCity'', the hero Jack-in-the-Box learns that his wife is pregnant, and [[KidFromTheFuture various possible sons appear from the future]]. His death as a superhero had harmed them all. He passes the torch to another young man, without his familial responsibilities.

* ComicBook/CaptainAmerica has done this (willingly) twice. The first was, after his return from seeming death after ''ComicBook/CivilWar'', he allowed Bucky Barnes to keep going as Captain America, which lasted until ''ComicBook/FearItself''. The second one had him pass the title to Sam Wilson, the Falcon, after he loses his Super Soldier Serum, reverting him to an old man.

* Variation in Franchise/{{Batman}}: Jason became Robin because Batman willed it so, without it having anything to do with ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} (Robin I), but in some versions Jason's place was confirmed when Dick gave Jason his old Robin uniform, recognizing him as Robin.

** Dick also does this with [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim]], although the gift comes years after Tim became Robin and Dick started thinking of him as his little brother. Tim is nevertheless quite moved by the gesture.

** When Cassandra Cain becomes ComicBook/{{Batgirl| 2000}}, Barbara Gordon/Oracle, who was the original Comicbook/{{Batgirl}}, is the one to give her the costume, though Cass doesn't wear it.

** Babs also gives a new Batgirl costume based on hers to [[ComicBook/Batgirl2009 Stephanie Brown]].

* In ''[[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman Batman Incorporated]]'', Batman goes searching around the world for young men and women he can train to succeed him in case he dies again.

* In the "Cannon Fodder" arc of ''ComicBook/RainbowRowellsRunaways'', the Runaways are taken in by Doc Justice, a middle-aged superhero who is ostensibly looking to train a team to take his place when he retires. [[spoiler:Gert ends up learning that this is not the case: he's training them to be CListFodder so that he can use their deaths to boost his popularity, something he's done constantly.]]

* A more somber version happens in ''ComicBook/ZeroHour''. After Extant runs roughshod on the Justice Society, deaging and killing many, the active survivors retire, with the Alan Scott Green Lantern giving Kyle Rayner his ring (which is lost and destroyed an issue later) and Starman giving his Cosmic Rod to his eldest son. Superman realizes there that things aren't the same now...

* In the "Cannon Fodder" arc of ''ComicBook/RainbowRowellsRunaways'', the Runaways are taken in by Doc Justice, a middle-aged superhero who is ostensibly looking to train a team to take his place when he retires.

* In ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'', ComicBook/{{Hourman}}'s son took up the mantle after his father's death. When time-travel allows the father to be saved, the son offers to hand back the role; the father refuses it, because he wishes to retire and make his wife happy.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', the first Nite Owl handed off the heroship to a fan of vigilantes and nocturnal fowl, and retires to be a mechanic and neighborhood old guy. [[spoiler: Until his head is bashed in by a mob of punks for being thought to be related to the controversial BadassNormal and WellIntentionedExtremist Rorschach, that is.]]

* Donna Troy, the first ComicBook/WonderGirl, gave her costume to Cassie Sandsmark, who at the time was fighting crime in a Wonder Woman T-shirt and denims. However, Cassie was so overwhelmed she never wore it in case it got damaged.

* ComicBook/CaptainAmerica has done this (willingly) twice. The first was, after his return from seeming death after ''ComicBook/CivilWar'', he allowed Bucky Barnes to keep going as Captain America, which lasted until ''ComicBook/FearItself''. The second one had him pass the title to Sam Wilson, the Falcon, after he loses his Super Soldier Serum, reverting him to an old man.
* A more somber version happens in ''ComicBook/ZeroHour''. After Extant runs roughshod on the Justice Society, deaging and killing many, the active survivors retire, with the Alan Scott Green Lantern giving Kyle Rayner his ring (which is lost and destroyed an issue later) and Starman giving his Cosmic Rod to his eldest son. Superman realizes there that things aren't the same now...
* ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'' did this a little more properly: [[spoiler:When Peter Parker came BackFromTheDead, he was ''not'' thrilled at Miles Morales being Spider-Man. However, after the two finally put an end to the menace of the Green Goblin, Peter decides to fully retire and gives Miles his blessing.]]

* The anthology series ''ComicBook/BatmanBlackAndWhite'' includes a story called "Guardian" in which Batman meets the original ComicBook/GreenLantern, who also operated out of Gotham City before retiring. They discuss their different approaches to the work, which Green Lantern retired, and at the end Green Lantern gives Batman his approval as Gotham's new guardian.

* Variation in Franchise/{{Batman}}: Jason became Robin because Batman willed it so, without it having anything to do with Nightwing (Robin I), but in some versions Jason's place was confirmed when Dick gave Jason his old Robin uniform, recognizing him as Robin.

** Dick also does this with Tim, although the gift comes years after Tim became Robin and Dick started thinking of him as his little brother. Tim is nevertheless quite moved by the gesture.

** Babs also gives a new Batgirl costume based on hers to Stephanie Brown.