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Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':
** Dick Grayson as ComicBook/{{Robin}} is about the only character seen as a bigger joke than ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} to the general public. He has come from far from being a DistressedDude who Batman would constantly need to rescue. As ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} he's generally a SupportingLeader whenever he appears outside his own series, this includes leading the ComicBook/TeenTitans, [[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders The Outsiders]] and the Franchise/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}}. [[TakingUpTheMantle He has even been Batman twice.]]
** Dick Grayson as ComicBook/{{Robin}} is about the only character seen as a bigger joke than ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} to the general public. He has come from far from being a DistressedDude who Batman would constantly need to rescue. As ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} he's generally a SupportingLeader whenever he appears outside his own series, this includes leading the ComicBook/TeenTitans, [[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders The Outsiders]] and the Franchise/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}}. [[TakingUpTheMantle He has even been Batman twice.]]
to:
* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':
''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'':
** Dick Grayson as ComicBook/{{Robin}} is about the only character seen as a bigger joke than ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} to the general public. He has come from far from being a DistressedDude who Batman would constantly need to rescue. As ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} he's generally a SupportingLeader whenever he appears outside his own series, this includes leading the ComicBook/TeenTitans,[[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders The Outsiders]] ComicBook/{{The Outsiders|DCComics}} and the Franchise/{{Justice ComicBook/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}}. [[TakingUpTheMantle He has even been Batman twice.]]
** Dick Grayson as ComicBook/{{Robin}} is about the only character seen as a bigger joke than ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} to the general public. He has come from far from being a DistressedDude who Batman would constantly need to rescue. As ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} he's generally a SupportingLeader whenever he appears outside his own series, this includes leading the ComicBook/TeenTitans,
Changed line(s) 10 (click to see context) from:
* In ''[[ComicBook/{{Convergence}} Convergence Booster Gold #2]]'', Booster Gold was dying due to leaving pieces of himself through time and Rip Hunter had an idea. [[spoiler:He took Pre-ComicBook/ZeroHourCrisisInTime Blue Beetle, Pre-ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}} Michelle Carter and ComicBook/New52 Booster Gold to Vanishing Point in an attempt to save the dying Booster. He had New 52 Booster take dying Booster into a secret room and leave him to be merged with the time stream. When he emerged he was the new Waverider. Booster, Waverider and Rip Hunter were then instrumental in saving and restoring the multiverse at the conclusion of Convergence]].
to:
* In ''[[ComicBook/{{Convergence}} Convergence Booster Gold #2]]'', Booster Gold was dying due to leaving pieces of himself through time and Rip Hunter had an idea. [[spoiler:He took Pre-ComicBook/ZeroHourCrisisInTime Blue Beetle, Pre-ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}} Pre-ComicBook/{{Flashpoint|DCComics}} Michelle Carter and ComicBook/New52 Booster Gold to Vanishing Point in an attempt to save the dying Booster. He had New 52 Booster take dying Booster into a secret room and leave him to be merged with the time stream. When he emerged he was the new Waverider. Booster, Waverider and Rip Hunter were then instrumental in saving and restoring the multiverse at the conclusion of Convergence]].
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* For the last several years, DC has been trying awfully hard to shake the famous notion that ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends'' put forth about ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} that he's useless outside of his ability to talk to fish. A lot of his appearances try a bit too hard to show off what a rugged badass he is to the point that he may as well have a neon sign over his sign reading "Do you guys think I'm badass yet? Guys? Please?" Although comic book readers know that he's come a long way since his ''Super Friends'' incarnation, the mainstream was unfortunately yet to care or notice; you could still catch the stock "Aquaman is useless" joke from time to time. However, the outstanding success of the [[Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse DCEU]] [[Film/{{Aquaman}} film adaptation]] of the character in 2018 has quelled much of that, embracing the quirkier elements of the character to win the public over at what a thrilling badass hero he is.
to:
* For the last several years, DC has been trying awfully hard to shake the famous notion that ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends'' put forth about ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} that he's useless outside of his ability to talk to fish. A lot of his appearances try a bit too hard to show off what a rugged badass he is to the point that he may as well have a neon sign over his sign reading "Do you guys think I'm badass yet? Guys? Please?" Although comic book readers know that he's come a long way since his ''Super Friends'' incarnation, the mainstream was unfortunately yet to care or notice; you could still catch the stock "Aquaman is useless" joke from time to time. However, the outstanding success of the [[Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse DCEU]] [[Film/{{Aquaman}} [[Film/Aquaman2018 film adaptation]] of the character in 2018 has quelled much of that, embracing the quirkier elements of the character to win the public over at what a thrilling badass hero he is.
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Edited. Repair, don’t respond.
Changed line(s) 13,14 (click to see context) from:
* In ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis Aftermath: Run!'', the Human Flame gets tired of being a joke villain and decides to take so many levels in badass that he will never have to run away again. [[spoiler: He takes too many of them and ends as a monster so big, that he cannot move under his own weight.]]
** More a subversion. The Human Flame desperately wants to be a badass, but as hero and villain alike both note, he's really just a selfish, dimwitted slob and most of the carnage he causes is out of stupidity, not real supervillainous skill. He probably kills more people by accident than some of Batman's rogues have on purpose.
** More a subversion. The Human Flame desperately wants to be a badass, but as hero and villain alike both note, he's really just a selfish, dimwitted slob and most of the carnage he causes is out of stupidity, not real supervillainous skill. He probably kills more people by accident than some of Batman's rogues have on purpose.
to:
* In ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis Aftermath: Run!'', the Human Flame Flame, an incompetent villain who usually kills people by accident, gets tired of being a joke villain and decides to take so many levels in badass that he will never have to run away again. [[spoiler: He Ultimately subverted, as he takes too many of them and ends as a monster so big, that he cannot move under his own weight.]]
** More a subversion. The Human Flame desperately wants to be a badass, but as hero and villain alike both note, he's really just a selfish, dimwitted slob and most of the carnage he causes is out of stupidity, not real supervillainous skill. He probably kills more people by accident than some of Batman's rogues have on purpose.]]
** More a subversion. The Human Flame desperately wants to be a badass, but as hero and villain alike both note, he's really just a selfish, dimwitted slob and most of the carnage he causes is out of stupidity, not real supervillainous skill. He probably kills more people by accident than some of Batman's rogues have on purpose.
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None
Changed line(s) 11 (click to see context) from:
* Snow White, in ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}'', certainly qualifies. She started out as a helpless, hunted girl, [[spoiler: spent years as a sex slave for seven perverted dwarfs,]] and eventually became one of the most badass people in a comic full of them. [[spoiler: The first indication that the times, they were a-changin' was when she learned swordplay from her husband...and went on a RoaringRampageofRevenge against the dwarfs, nearly setting off a human-dwarf war.]]
to:
* Snow White, in ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}'', certainly qualifies. She started out as a helpless, hunted girl, [[spoiler: spent years as a sex slave for seven perverted dwarfs,]] and eventually became one of the most badass people in a comic full of them. [[spoiler: The first indication that the times, they were a-changin' was when she learned swordplay from her husband...and went on a RoaringRampageofRevenge RoaringRampageOfRevenge against the dwarfs, nearly setting off a human-dwarf war.]]
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Changed line(s) 5 (click to see context) from:
* [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Dick Grayson as Robin]] is about the only character seen as a bigger joke than ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} to the general public. He has come from far from being a DistressedDude who Batman would constantly need to rescue. As ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} he’s generally a SupportingLeader whenever he appears outside his own series, this includes leading the ComicBook/TeenTitans, [[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders The Outsiders]] and the Franchise/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}}. [[TakingUpTheMantle He has even been Batman twice.]]
to:
* [[Franchise/{{Batman}} ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':
** Dick Grayson asRobin]] ComicBook/{{Robin}} is about the only character seen as a bigger joke than ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} to the general public. He has come from far from being a DistressedDude who Batman would constantly need to rescue. As ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} he’s he's generally a SupportingLeader whenever he appears outside his own series, this includes leading the ComicBook/TeenTitans, [[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders The Outsiders]] and the Franchise/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}}. [[TakingUpTheMantle He has even been Batman twice.]]
** Dick Grayson as
Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
** Tim Drake (ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}} III), started out with the least crimefighting applicable skills out of all the Robins prior to his training and leveled up by training with ComicBook/LadyShiva to become a HyperCompetentSidekick. By the time he took on the identity of ComicBook/RedRobin when his former title was taken from him he was among the most dangerous and competent non-powered heroes in the DCU due to his analytical mind, connections and staff fighting skills.
* Speaking of Batman villains, Black Mask was a D-list villain (Batman sent "Batgirl" (ComicBook/{{Huntress}}) to defeat him in [[ComicBook/BatmanNoMansLand No Man’s Land]]), then came "War Games"; at the end of that mini series, Black Mask became crime lord of Gotham City.
* Speaking of Batman villains, Black Mask was a D-list villain (Batman sent "Batgirl" (ComicBook/{{Huntress}}) to defeat him in [[ComicBook/BatmanNoMansLand No Man’s Land]]), then came "War Games"; at the end of that mini series, Black Mask became crime lord of Gotham City.
to:
** Tim Drake (ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}} (Robin III), started out with the least crimefighting applicable skills out of all the Robins prior to his training and leveled up by training with ComicBook/LadyShiva to become a HyperCompetentSidekick. By the time he took on the identity of ComicBook/RedRobin when his former title was taken from him he was among the most dangerous and competent non-powered heroes in the DCU due to his analytical mind, connections and staff fighting skills.
* Speaking of Batman villains, ** Black Mask was a D-list villain (Batman sent "Batgirl" "ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}" (ComicBook/{{Huntress}}) to defeat him in [[ComicBook/BatmanNoMansLand No Man’s Man's Land]]), then came "War Games"; at the end of that mini series, Black Mask became crime lord of Gotham City.
Changed line(s) 11 (click to see context) from:
* Grunge of the newly rebooted ''ComicBook/{{Gen 13}}'' series is a slightly different example. He starts out as your more-than-average nerd with genius IQ and photographic memory. And the first name... Percy. So he starts working out, hides his book smarts and his photographic memory, starts using his middle name, trains in martial arts and starts skateboarding. And turns into a stereotypical 'stupid' musclebound frat boy slacker by the start of the series when we first see him. And then he gets superpowers.
to:
* Grunge of the newly rebooted ''ComicBook/{{Gen 13}}'' ''ComicBook/Gen13'' series is a slightly different example. He starts out as your more-than-average nerd with genius IQ and photographic memory. And the first name... Percy. So he starts working out, hides his book smarts and his photographic memory, starts using his middle name, trains in martial arts and starts skateboarding. And turns into a stereotypical 'stupid' musclebound frat boy slacker by the start of the series when we first see him. And then he gets superpowers.
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** In ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', Kara spends several weeks in Paradise Island being trained by Franchise/WonderWoman.
to:
** In ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton2004'', Kara spends several weeks in Paradise Island being trained by Franchise/WonderWoman.
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* In ''[[ComicBook/{{Convergence}} Convergence Booster Gold #2]]'', Booster Gold was dying due to leaving pieces of himself through time and Rip Hunter had an idea. [[spoiler:He took Pre-ComicBook/ZeroHour Blue Beetle, Pre-ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}} Michelle Carter and ComicBook/New52 Booster Gold to Vanishing Point in an attempt to save the dying Booster. He had New 52 Booster take dying Booster into a secret room and leave him to be merged with the time stream. When he emerged he was the new Waverider. Booster, Waverider and Rip Hunter were then instrumental in saving and restoring the multiverse at the conclusion of Convergence]].
to:
* In ''[[ComicBook/{{Convergence}} Convergence Booster Gold #2]]'', Booster Gold was dying due to leaving pieces of himself through time and Rip Hunter had an idea. [[spoiler:He took Pre-ComicBook/ZeroHour Pre-ComicBook/ZeroHourCrisisInTime Blue Beetle, Pre-ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}} Michelle Carter and ComicBook/New52 Booster Gold to Vanishing Point in an attempt to save the dying Booster. He had New 52 Booster take dying Booster into a secret room and leave him to be merged with the time stream. When he emerged he was the new Waverider. Booster, Waverider and Rip Hunter were then instrumental in saving and restoring the multiverse at the conclusion of Convergence]].
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* DC crossover ''ComicBook/UnderworldUnleashed'' Nero offers to grant wishes in exchange for souls and makes this deal available to the villains first. Many of them use this opportunity to take levels in badass. For example, Blockbuster, a big dumb guy, wished to be a GeniusBruiser and eventually ended up as the crimelord of Bludhaven in the Nightwing title years later.
to:
* DC crossover ''ComicBook/UnderworldUnleashed'' Nero offers to grant wishes in exchange for souls and makes this deal available to the villains first. Many of them use this opportunity to take levels in badass. For example, Blockbuster, a big dumb guy, wished to be a GeniusBruiser and eventually ended up as the crimelord of Bludhaven in the Nightwing title years later.later.
* Yorick in ''ComicBook/YTheLastMan'' starts as an inept loser who's often beaten up by women (including his sister) but with the help of some traumatic incidents, and training by Agent 355, becomes more adept at defending himself. Subverted also in one scene when a non-action character suddenly whips out a sword in an apparent elevation to Badass, only to be easily defeated by the more experienced villain.
* Yorick in ''ComicBook/YTheLastMan'' starts as an inept loser who's often beaten up by women (including his sister) but with the help of some traumatic incidents, and training by Agent 355, becomes more adept at defending himself. Subverted also in one scene when a non-action character suddenly whips out a sword in an apparent elevation to Badass, only to be easily defeated by the more experienced villain.
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Added DiffLines:
!!Franchise/TheDCU
* An issue of ''ComicBook/AmbushBug'' from the 1980s once listed a bunch of corny [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] characters that should never be mentioned again because they could not possibly work in modern comics. Creator/GrantMorrison has since made them all awesome.
* Although the process was aided by her [[spoiler:gaining vampiric powers]], Pearl Jones from ''ComicBook/AmericanVampire'' comes under this trope. After being victimized by a coven of "traditional" vampires, [[spoiler:and turned into a vampire by Skinner Sweet on a whim]], she goes on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge against her tormentors, and becomes a ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend to her chosen man, who is a retired SemperFi/Marine and no pushover in his own right.
* For the last several years, DC has been trying awfully hard to shake the famous notion that ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends'' put forth about ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} that he's useless outside of his ability to talk to fish. A lot of his appearances try a bit too hard to show off what a rugged badass he is to the point that he may as well have a neon sign over his sign reading "Do you guys think I'm badass yet? Guys? Please?" Although comic book readers know that he's come a long way since his ''Super Friends'' incarnation, the mainstream was unfortunately yet to care or notice; you could still catch the stock "Aquaman is useless" joke from time to time. However, the outstanding success of the [[Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse DCEU]] [[Film/{{Aquaman}} film adaptation]] of the character in 2018 has quelled much of that, embracing the quirkier elements of the character to win the public over at what a thrilling badass hero he is.
* [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Dick Grayson as Robin]] is about the only character seen as a bigger joke than ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} to the general public. He has come from far from being a DistressedDude who Batman would constantly need to rescue. As ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} he’s generally a SupportingLeader whenever he appears outside his own series, this includes leading the ComicBook/TeenTitans, [[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders The Outsiders]] and the Franchise/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}}. [[TakingUpTheMantle He has even been Batman twice.]]
** Jason Todd (Robin II), when he became the second Red Hood, deserves a mention as well.
** Tim Drake (ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}} III), started out with the least crimefighting applicable skills out of all the Robins prior to his training and leveled up by training with ComicBook/LadyShiva to become a HyperCompetentSidekick. By the time he took on the identity of ComicBook/RedRobin when his former title was taken from him he was among the most dangerous and competent non-powered heroes in the DCU due to his analytical mind, connections and staff fighting skills.
* Speaking of Batman villains, Black Mask was a D-list villain (Batman sent "Batgirl" (ComicBook/{{Huntress}}) to defeat him in [[ComicBook/BatmanNoMansLand No Man’s Land]]), then came "War Games"; at the end of that mini series, Black Mask became crime lord of Gotham City.
* In ''[[ComicBook/{{Convergence}} Convergence Booster Gold #2]]'', Booster Gold was dying due to leaving pieces of himself through time and Rip Hunter had an idea. [[spoiler:He took Pre-ComicBook/ZeroHour Blue Beetle, Pre-ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}} Michelle Carter and ComicBook/New52 Booster Gold to Vanishing Point in an attempt to save the dying Booster. He had New 52 Booster take dying Booster into a secret room and leave him to be merged with the time stream. When he emerged he was the new Waverider. Booster, Waverider and Rip Hunter were then instrumental in saving and restoring the multiverse at the conclusion of Convergence]].
* Snow White, in ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}'', certainly qualifies. She started out as a helpless, hunted girl, [[spoiler: spent years as a sex slave for seven perverted dwarfs,]] and eventually became one of the most badass people in a comic full of them. [[spoiler: The first indication that the times, they were a-changin' was when she learned swordplay from her husband...and went on a RoaringRampageofRevenge against the dwarfs, nearly setting off a human-dwarf war.]]
* Grunge of the newly rebooted ''ComicBook/{{Gen 13}}'' series is a slightly different example. He starts out as your more-than-average nerd with genius IQ and photographic memory. And the first name... Percy. So he starts working out, hides his book smarts and his photographic memory, starts using his middle name, trains in martial arts and starts skateboarding. And turns into a stereotypical 'stupid' musclebound frat boy slacker by the start of the series when we first see him. And then he gets superpowers.
* In ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis Aftermath: Run!'', the Human Flame gets tired of being a joke villain and decides to take so many levels in badass that he will never have to run away again. [[spoiler: He takes too many of them and ends as a monster so big, that he cannot move under his own weight.]]
** More a subversion. The Human Flame desperately wants to be a badass, but as hero and villain alike both note, he's really just a selfish, dimwitted slob and most of the carnage he causes is out of stupidity, not real supervillainous skill. He probably kills more people by accident than some of Batman's rogues have on purpose.
* Seems to be standard for a character when they're managed by Creator/GeoffJohns. The revamping of throwaway Franchise/GreenLantern villain Black Hand is a prime example, with his pivotal role in the ''ComicBook/BlackestNight'' series.
* Zigzagged with Dr. Destiny in ''ComicBook/TheSandman''. While he's a much greater threat in his appearances there than in the early days of his enmity with the Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica, he also underwent SanitySlippage and TookALevelInJerkass.
* In the ''Villains United'' and ''ComicBook/SecretSix'' comics, former Franchise/{{Batman}} whipping boy Catman has graduated to a capable threat, fighting the Caped Crusader to a standstill in one issue.
** Just to give you an idea how big the change was, the last time we saw Catman before ''Villains United'' was ''Archer's Quest'' where he was a fat slab doing grunt work for [[spoiler: the Shade.]] First scene with him in ''Villains United'' has him, very fit, leading a pride of lions and telling the Secret Society of Super Villains where they could put their recruitment drive.
*** This is more a case of RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap. When he first showed up in UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|OfComicBooks}}, Catman was a skilled fighter who took on Batman and nearly won. Later writers just made him more and more pathetic (the crowning example would be ''Franchise/GreenLantern 80-Page Giant'' #1, in which he is captured by [[PluckyComicRelief G'Nort]]. A ''ringless'' G'Nort).
* ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'':
** In several storylines -set before and after the ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths''-, Supergirl was trained by Franchise/{{Superman}} or Franchise/WonderWoman and learnt some style of martial arts.
** Supergirl increased her badassery in the ''ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'' storyline when she got a [[Franchise/GreenLantern Red Lantern Ring]]. Lantern Rings are the most powerful weapons in the universe, and Red Rings are fueled by their bearer's fury. And Supergirl is a headstrong, HotBlooded ''Kryptonian''.
** In ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', Kara spends several weeks in Paradise Island being trained by Franchise/WonderWoman.
** In ''ComicBook/GothamCityGarage'', [[ComicBook/NewGods Big Barda]] trains Kara after the latter joins the biker gang.
** In ''ComicBook/Trinity2008'' Kara becomes a highly-trained government agent Interceptor in an alternate reality.
* DC crossover ''ComicBook/UnderworldUnleashed'' Nero offers to grant wishes in exchange for souls and makes this deal available to the villains first. Many of them use this opportunity to take levels in badass. For example, Blockbuster, a big dumb guy, wished to be a GeniusBruiser and eventually ended up as the crimelord of Bludhaven in the Nightwing title years later.
* An issue of ''ComicBook/AmbushBug'' from the 1980s once listed a bunch of corny [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] characters that should never be mentioned again because they could not possibly work in modern comics. Creator/GrantMorrison has since made them all awesome.
* Although the process was aided by her [[spoiler:gaining vampiric powers]], Pearl Jones from ''ComicBook/AmericanVampire'' comes under this trope. After being victimized by a coven of "traditional" vampires, [[spoiler:and turned into a vampire by Skinner Sweet on a whim]], she goes on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge against her tormentors, and becomes a ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend to her chosen man, who is a retired SemperFi/Marine and no pushover in his own right.
* For the last several years, DC has been trying awfully hard to shake the famous notion that ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends'' put forth about ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} that he's useless outside of his ability to talk to fish. A lot of his appearances try a bit too hard to show off what a rugged badass he is to the point that he may as well have a neon sign over his sign reading "Do you guys think I'm badass yet? Guys? Please?" Although comic book readers know that he's come a long way since his ''Super Friends'' incarnation, the mainstream was unfortunately yet to care or notice; you could still catch the stock "Aquaman is useless" joke from time to time. However, the outstanding success of the [[Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse DCEU]] [[Film/{{Aquaman}} film adaptation]] of the character in 2018 has quelled much of that, embracing the quirkier elements of the character to win the public over at what a thrilling badass hero he is.
* [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Dick Grayson as Robin]] is about the only character seen as a bigger joke than ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} to the general public. He has come from far from being a DistressedDude who Batman would constantly need to rescue. As ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} he’s generally a SupportingLeader whenever he appears outside his own series, this includes leading the ComicBook/TeenTitans, [[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders The Outsiders]] and the Franchise/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}}. [[TakingUpTheMantle He has even been Batman twice.]]
** Jason Todd (Robin II), when he became the second Red Hood, deserves a mention as well.
** Tim Drake (ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}} III), started out with the least crimefighting applicable skills out of all the Robins prior to his training and leveled up by training with ComicBook/LadyShiva to become a HyperCompetentSidekick. By the time he took on the identity of ComicBook/RedRobin when his former title was taken from him he was among the most dangerous and competent non-powered heroes in the DCU due to his analytical mind, connections and staff fighting skills.
* Speaking of Batman villains, Black Mask was a D-list villain (Batman sent "Batgirl" (ComicBook/{{Huntress}}) to defeat him in [[ComicBook/BatmanNoMansLand No Man’s Land]]), then came "War Games"; at the end of that mini series, Black Mask became crime lord of Gotham City.
* In ''[[ComicBook/{{Convergence}} Convergence Booster Gold #2]]'', Booster Gold was dying due to leaving pieces of himself through time and Rip Hunter had an idea. [[spoiler:He took Pre-ComicBook/ZeroHour Blue Beetle, Pre-ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}} Michelle Carter and ComicBook/New52 Booster Gold to Vanishing Point in an attempt to save the dying Booster. He had New 52 Booster take dying Booster into a secret room and leave him to be merged with the time stream. When he emerged he was the new Waverider. Booster, Waverider and Rip Hunter were then instrumental in saving and restoring the multiverse at the conclusion of Convergence]].
* Snow White, in ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}'', certainly qualifies. She started out as a helpless, hunted girl, [[spoiler: spent years as a sex slave for seven perverted dwarfs,]] and eventually became one of the most badass people in a comic full of them. [[spoiler: The first indication that the times, they were a-changin' was when she learned swordplay from her husband...and went on a RoaringRampageofRevenge against the dwarfs, nearly setting off a human-dwarf war.]]
* Grunge of the newly rebooted ''ComicBook/{{Gen 13}}'' series is a slightly different example. He starts out as your more-than-average nerd with genius IQ and photographic memory. And the first name... Percy. So he starts working out, hides his book smarts and his photographic memory, starts using his middle name, trains in martial arts and starts skateboarding. And turns into a stereotypical 'stupid' musclebound frat boy slacker by the start of the series when we first see him. And then he gets superpowers.
* In ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis Aftermath: Run!'', the Human Flame gets tired of being a joke villain and decides to take so many levels in badass that he will never have to run away again. [[spoiler: He takes too many of them and ends as a monster so big, that he cannot move under his own weight.]]
** More a subversion. The Human Flame desperately wants to be a badass, but as hero and villain alike both note, he's really just a selfish, dimwitted slob and most of the carnage he causes is out of stupidity, not real supervillainous skill. He probably kills more people by accident than some of Batman's rogues have on purpose.
* Seems to be standard for a character when they're managed by Creator/GeoffJohns. The revamping of throwaway Franchise/GreenLantern villain Black Hand is a prime example, with his pivotal role in the ''ComicBook/BlackestNight'' series.
* Zigzagged with Dr. Destiny in ''ComicBook/TheSandman''. While he's a much greater threat in his appearances there than in the early days of his enmity with the Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica, he also underwent SanitySlippage and TookALevelInJerkass.
* In the ''Villains United'' and ''ComicBook/SecretSix'' comics, former Franchise/{{Batman}} whipping boy Catman has graduated to a capable threat, fighting the Caped Crusader to a standstill in one issue.
** Just to give you an idea how big the change was, the last time we saw Catman before ''Villains United'' was ''Archer's Quest'' where he was a fat slab doing grunt work for [[spoiler: the Shade.]] First scene with him in ''Villains United'' has him, very fit, leading a pride of lions and telling the Secret Society of Super Villains where they could put their recruitment drive.
*** This is more a case of RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap. When he first showed up in UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|OfComicBooks}}, Catman was a skilled fighter who took on Batman and nearly won. Later writers just made him more and more pathetic (the crowning example would be ''Franchise/GreenLantern 80-Page Giant'' #1, in which he is captured by [[PluckyComicRelief G'Nort]]. A ''ringless'' G'Nort).
* ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'':
** In several storylines -set before and after the ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths''-, Supergirl was trained by Franchise/{{Superman}} or Franchise/WonderWoman and learnt some style of martial arts.
** Supergirl increased her badassery in the ''ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'' storyline when she got a [[Franchise/GreenLantern Red Lantern Ring]]. Lantern Rings are the most powerful weapons in the universe, and Red Rings are fueled by their bearer's fury. And Supergirl is a headstrong, HotBlooded ''Kryptonian''.
** In ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', Kara spends several weeks in Paradise Island being trained by Franchise/WonderWoman.
** In ''ComicBook/GothamCityGarage'', [[ComicBook/NewGods Big Barda]] trains Kara after the latter joins the biker gang.
** In ''ComicBook/Trinity2008'' Kara becomes a highly-trained government agent Interceptor in an alternate reality.
* DC crossover ''ComicBook/UnderworldUnleashed'' Nero offers to grant wishes in exchange for souls and makes this deal available to the villains first. Many of them use this opportunity to take levels in badass. For example, Blockbuster, a big dumb guy, wished to be a GeniusBruiser and eventually ended up as the crimelord of Bludhaven in the Nightwing title years later.
