Badass Cape: Difference between revisions
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The reasons for this are many. The color might provide a fetching counterpoint to the rest of their clothes, or else blend with them to give the wearer a dynamic silhouette. It may make them look even bigger than they really are. In the right conditions they can wave in the [[Dramatic Wind|wind]] and look dramatic and striking. Lack of wind can be accommodated with a [[Cape Swish]].
But the main reason for this is that in the days of circuses, the strongmen often wore tights and a cape, thus the association with toughness in characters. The trope was then grandfathered into the present day by [[Superhero
This can apply to any character, whether it be a hero, sidekick, villain, and it doesn't even have to be a superhero setting.
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This can also count if the actual capes have some sort of abilities. Thus the capes themselves are badass.
Often overlaps with [[Superheroes Wear Capes]], [[All-Encompassing Mantle]]. Does not necessarily overlap with [[The Cape (trope)]]. May be used as an [[Improvised Parachute]].
Compare [[Badass Long Robe]], [[Badass Longcoat]], [[Black Cloak]], [[Scarf of Asskicking]], [[Caped Mecha]], [[Ominous Opera Cape]], [[Pimped-Out Cape]].
{{examples}}▼
▲{{examples}}
== Anime & Manga ==
* ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'': Fate Testarossa wears one, because she's [[Anti-Villain|sort of kinda like a villain]]. For a while. From a certain point of view.
* ''[[Getter Robo]]'': Getter-1's Getter Wing ability is a dramatically unfurling red cape that allows it to fly. [[Aim for The Top|Buster Shield]] is an even more dramatic cape that
** ''Armageddon'' Getter 1 has something closer to this than a [[Scarf of Asskicking]] like usual.
* Kamina of ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'' wears a cape that has an affinity for blowing in the [[Dramatic Wind]]. Simon later uses it too. ''It blows dramatically [[Beyond the Impossible|even in space.]]''
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** Dukemon / Gallantmon from ''[[Digimon Tamers]]''.
* Zero from ''[[Code Geass]]''. Always has it, even in the middle of battle.
* In ''[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni]]'', {{spoiler|Endless Sorcerer}} Battler wears one after [[Took a Level
* Piccolo from ''[[Dragonball Z]]'', one of the best examples of this can be found in movie special 8, especially when Piccolo's heroic save of Gohan from certain death(at the time)
** Piccolo's cape is attached to heavy weighted [[Shoulders of Doom|shoulder pads]]. He uses it for training and takes it off to fight. Gohan gets one just like it for the Cell Games.
** Garlic Jr in the
* Éclair from ''[[Kiddy Grade]]'' combines badassery and gracefulness by [[Roof Hopping]] while wearing one, as seen in a flashback.
* While D of ''[[Vampire Hunter D]]'' is already a badass alone with his skill, his cape only doubles, if not triples that level of coolness. And Meirlink from the second movie deserves a mention as well. He must have studied Batman, because not only could he glide with the thing, he block a freaking sword strike with it!
* ''[[Captain Harlock|Space Pirate Captain Harlock]]'' wears a cape. Oh boy does he ever. It's often very hard to tell what ratio of man to cape he is, but he's definitely all pirate.
** Badass capes tend to be a vital part of badass captains in [[Leiji Matsumoto
* Adol Christin gets a badass cape near the beginning of the anime ''[[Ys]] II: Castle in the Heavens''. What makes it so badass? Well, for one, it's purple. Second, it lets him use magic - specifically, shooting fireballs from his hand. Turns out he uses this more than he does his sword.
* Yuuki from ''[[Saki (manga)|Saki]]'' starts wearing one after she [[Took a Level
{{quote|'''Yuuki:''' I'll show all of you... our prefecture isn't weak at all!!}}
* Half the characters from ''[[One Piece]]''. Crocodile, Hina, lots of High-up Marines, even Luffy once (on a cover). Although, theoretically they're not capes, just specially-draped coats.
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* Kain Blueriver from ''[[Lost Universe]]'', though he's regularly mocked for it by others. At one point in the dub, he even [[Shout-Out|mentions Captain Harlock by name]].
* Mewtwo, in the ''[[Pokémon (anime)|Pokémon]]'' anime. And goddamn is it awesome.
* Dr. [[Black Jack]] keeps a lot of his medical tools in his cape, such as scalpels that he can whip out and throw at people.
* ''[[Rurouni Kenshin]]'': Hiko Seijuro's cape helped make him into a badass, even during peacetime. There are springs at the shoulders that exerts a counter-pressure on his body in order to maintain not only his strength, but the Hiten Mitsurugi style so he won't release all of its power on enemies.
* Guts from ''[[Berserk]]''. [http://www.mrsmanga.com/Berserk/133.143/16 Just look at this guy.]
* Tuxedo Mask, from ''[[Sailor Moon]]''.
* Sayaka in ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]]'' wears one. {{spoiler|She still dons one after she becomes a Witch}}.
* Nakago in ''[[Fushigi Yuugi]]'' wears something very similar to a cape
* Sawada Tsunayoshi of ''[[Katekyo Hitman Reborn]]'', courtesy of his [[Cool Pet]] [[Spell My Name with an "S"|Natsu/Nuts]].
** Said cape was based on the one used by the founder, Vongola Primo.
* Ganpachi in ''[[Ultimate Teacher]]''.
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== Comic Books ==
* Cloak from ''[[Cloak and Dagger (comics)|Cloak and Dagger]]'', of course, is a cloak rather than a cape. In fact he's nothing but a cloak. He's also otherworldly, dark, and conflicted.
** And Cloak's [[Evil Counterpart]] Ecstasy manages a costume that is both a
* ''[[Spawn]]''. The cape even has a life of its own!
* ''[[Spider-Man]]'': Mysterio usually has a purple cape to go with his 'fishbowl' and green outfit, which both helps negate the cheesiness of the headgear and let him look more, well, mysterious. He's also got things attached to hold it on that have eyes on them.
* [[Batman]] wore his cape this way long before it was popular. Still does!
** Robin [[Legacy Character|always]] wears a cape. [[Sidekick Graduations Stick|Nightwing]] doesn't. The presence of a cape has however been given several [[Justified Trope|justifications]] in canon beyond the theatrics; it contains armor ''and'' you can grab someone who's falling from the roof of a train.
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*** Not to mention that this troper always found the cape to be an essential part of his scare tactic against criminals. Which is scarier when you can't see any details: a guy standing on a rooftop, or a GIANT BAT ABOUT TO EAT YOUR SOUL.
** It's an all-purpose cape. It's intimidating, (gives a giant bat silhouette, which is a big part of the scare tactic) hold weapons, (with the weighted ends and the fireproofing) and overall, he looks kind of silly without it.
* [[Superman]].
* In ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20190216202011/http://www.johnnysaturn.com/ Johnny Saturn]'', imposing characters such as Utopian and Tactical have badass capes. Elect, the ''original'' superhero, wears a cape over a cloak! Of course, he is the source for a great many characters in the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190216202011/http://www.johnnysaturn.com/ Johnny Saturn]/Spire City World.
* [[Storm]] from ''[[X-Men]]'' most of the time. Her capes are usually also attatched to her braclets, to the point where it's practically a definitive piece of her design.
* V from ''[[V for Vendetta]]''. He's so badass, he's an anarchist.
* Quasar, who is effectively Marvel's Green Lantern. His cape, it's full of stars...
* Even [[Donald Duck]] can look bad-ass in a cape, as he proved in [[Paperinik New Adventures]]. In his more dramatic moments, you can sense the inspiration from the Batman himself.
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* As did [[Doctor Strange]], with the added cool factor that the cape granted flight powers.
* As well as DC equivalent Dr Fate. Both Fate and Strange's capes are often shown billowing and wisping about as though they're enchanted to fluctuate in size and length which is likely for both characters.
* Subverted hard in ''[[Watchmen (comics)|Watchmen]]'', where Hollis Mason recounts that Dollar Bill's cape got him killed: It was caught in a revolving door when he tried to prevent a bank robbery, making him an easy target for the gun-toting robbers. What makes it even more tragic is that the costume was designed by people sponsoring him for public appeal. Mason speculated that if he designed it himself he may have realized how bad an idea it was.
* In ''[[Fables]]'' there's the Witching Cloak, which makes its wearer all but invulnerable, is (nearly) indestructible itself, and allows its wearer to teleport anywhere (even between worlds), carry huge loads, and change form.
* [[Mister Miracle]] has a large green cape. The original MM costume was that of a circus performer, which explains its presence, but when Scott Free took up the mantle, his cape was for more than just looks. It's been an [[Improvised Parachute]] and a portable shield and shelter against all sorts of attacks. Its size means that it can be wrapped around the wearer (and maybe another person or two) to provide all-round protection if needed.
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== Film ==
* ''[[Sleeping Beauty (Disney film)|Sleeping Beauty]]'': Maleficient. She's in a setting where a cape would be justified. But what she has is so over-the-top it gives her a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|Crowning Moment of]] [[Awesome but Impractical]] every time she moves.
* As a result of [[Dracula (1931 film)|Dracula]], capes tend to be a stereotypical item for a vampire to wear. Thank you, Bela Lugosi.
* In France, the name for swashbuckling films is "films de cape et d'épée", literally "cape and sword movie", referring to the two essentials ingredients of the genre.
* [[Lampshaded]] in ''[[Love at First Bite]]'': "It's the cape. Chicks dig the cape."
* ''[[Star Wars]]'': Darth Vader. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090421221546/http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/080324/Villains/Darth-Vader-Star-Wars_l.jpg That is all.]
* [[Deconstructed Trope|Deconstructed]] in ''[[The Incredibles]]'', along with many other superhero tropes. Edna points out the inherent danger of dragging a long cloth behind you in rather gruesome ways.
{{quote|"''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v{{=}}M68ndaZSKa8#t{{=}}122s No capes!]''"}}
** Syndrome's death is caused by his cape, reminiscent of Strato-Girl's.
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** Before that, he spent much of the adventure wearing an elven cloak like the rest of the Fellowship, but the cape on his King of Gondor getup is much more badass.
* Etienne Navarre of ''[[Ladyhawke]]'' is the film's unequivocal hero, yet [[Dark Is Not Evil|dresses like a stereotypical villain]]. Naturally, he looks ''extremely'' badass in his ensemble, and sports a magnificent flowing black cape with red lining to complete the look.
* ''[[Dollars Trilogy]]'': The Man With No Name's poncho is the definite western example.
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* In ''[[Soon I Will Be Invincible]]'', supervillain Dr Impossible admits that his cape gets in the way during the inevitable fight scene, and is uncomfortable in hot weather, but feels that the psychological advantage imparted by a dramatically billowing cape outweighs the disadvantages.
* [[Erast Fandorin]] often wears a cape. It's nothing extraordinary, really; this is late 19th century Russia. Still, notable for the movie version of ''State Chancellor'', wherein he uses said cape to ''catch bullets''.
* ''[[Dragaera]]'''s Morrolan e'Drien. [[Deadpan Snarker|Vlad]] thinks he just wears it to look cool, and frankly, he's probably right.
* Wardens in ''[[The Dresden Files]]'' have gray cloaks as their uniform, and dear ''god'' can they be [[Badass]].
** This is even more cool because they are enchanted so that they never become stained or dirty, including the mention that blood splattered on the cloaks during combat just flows off the fabric. This means that no matter how hard or dirty the fight, a Warden's cloak of office is always recognizable to ensure their authority.
* {{spoiler|Pontius Glaw}} from ''[[Eisenhorn]]'', in his final "form", wears a cape so badass it's made of many, many small blades. When a Redshirt gets in the way of the cape, he... crumbles. Sort of.
* [[John C. Wright]]'s ''[[War of the Dreaming|Mists of Everness]]'' features two instances of this: [[Fashion Victim Villain|Azrael de Gray]], also referred to as "That crazy guy in the pimp outfit," and Pendrake, who either wears this or an especially floaty [[Badass Longcoat]].
* Deconstructed in [[Simon R. Green]]'s ''Hawk and Fisher'' novels, where the [[Badass]] [[Battle Couple]] are obliged to wear capes as part of their Watch uniforms; however, Hawk hates his because it gets in the way during fights. He puts up with wearing one for Fisher's sake, but seizes any plausible opportunity to "accidentally" abandon or destroy his (smothering fires, ditching it when it's pinned to the wall by a crossbow bolt, etc). A subversion, as going capeless doesn't diminish Hawk's Badass Quotient one bit.
* In ''[[X Wing Series|Starfighters of Adumar]]'', Red Flight ends up wearing Adumari clothing and Wes Janson, the showman of the group, goes with a massive cape with glowing nebulous shapes on it. Later, in a fight, he whips it off and uses it to entangle his opponent's weapon, later grousing that he ''liked'' that cape. His friend assures him that they'll find him something even more flashy.
* In ''The Shattered World'', Kan Konar the cloakfighter is a [[Badass]] ''because of'' his cape. His fighting style is one that traditionally employs [[Improbable Weapon User|the cloak]] as both a weapon and a defense: it's got razor-sharp bone shards in its hems, blinding-bright phoenix feathers concealed in its lining, and a strangling-cord clasp. And that's just the ''start'' of what it's good for.
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== Live Action TV ==
* The hero of NBC's ''[[The Cape (2010 TV series)|The Cape]]'', naturally.
* Those who grew up on the [[Power Rangers]] will remember the Magna Defender from ''[[Power Rangers Lost Galaxy]]'' who had this and an awesome horned helmet along with a [[Cool Sword]] and pump action energy rifle/shotgun
** The Magna Defender could also count as a [[Legacy Character]] in series, the season was in anyway.
* In the ''[[Mork and Mindy]]'' episode 'Watcher of Earth,' an alien named Xerko came to Earth and challenged Mork to a battle. Before the battle, he put on a
== Music ==
* The video for [[Pink Floyd]]'s song
* [[Doctor Steel]] is sometimes seen wearing a black PVC cape.
* Ichiro Mizuki singing "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adSGHnlEgeU Ima ga Sono Toki Da]" '''"[[Getter Robo|CHANGE GETTER!!]]"'''
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== Video Games ==
* While the original [[Sequel Hook]] in ''[[Kingdom Hearts]] II: [[No Export for You|Final Mix+]]'' showed the main characters of ''[[Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep]]'' with this trope added to their armor. However, due to the fact that having them in the game proper would have caused lag during co-op play, [[What Could Have Been|they didn't appear there.]]
* ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'' gives us <s> the Aussenseiter</s> [[Fan Nickname|Trombe]], a ''giant robot'' with an equally giant
** The Vysaga also wears one, complete with plenty of dramatic swirling and whatnot.
* [[Mario]] in ''[[Super Mario World (video game)|Super Mario World]]'' has a cape that allows him to fly, and which can be used to deflect projectiles in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''.
* Magus in ''[[Chrono Trigger]]'' wears a cape that looks really cool when he levitates.
** [[Villainous Crossdresser|Flea]], on the other hand...
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* Meta Knight of the ''[[Kirby]]'' series wears one that can turn into bat wings.
** And [[Flung Clothing|when he throws it off]]... you're screwed.
* ''[[
* [[Oda Nobunaga]] in ''[[Sengoku Basara]]''. He even uses it to attack people.
* Ezio in ''[[Assassin's Creed II
** More specifically, he has several capes. The Plain Cape is just for looks; the Medici Cape sets infamy to 0 when you're in Florence or Tuscany; there's also another cape for Venice. Those three are all gotten at various points in the story. There are also, apparently two "secret" capes: one you only get during some festival; and the Auditore Cape, rewarded at the end of the Feather sidequest, which does the opposite of the others (that is, infamy is set to max in all cities).
*** On a more practical note, it also helps to conceal most of his weaponry when he's walking in public.
* Yo and Bo of ''[[Yo-Jin-Bo]]'' wear capes "because they are cool," and frequently mock Jin's fashion sense because he doesn't wear one.
* Many ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' characters love their capes, hero and villain alike. More prominent in the earlier games which took place in medieval settings with [[Yoshitaka Amano]] as the designer, once ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'' hit and the series shifted to a modern setting designed by [[Tetsuya Nomura]], the characters prefer to use [[Badass Longcoat
** Most noticeable in ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy]]'', where every character from ''Final Fantasy VI'' and earlier has some sort of cape in at least one of their outfits. The most Badass Cape arguably belongs to Golbez of [[Final Fantasy IV]], so large it passes into [[All-Encompassing Mantle]], whirls and flaps in the air with every movement he makes, and his block and intro animations are [[Cape Swish
** [[Norse Mythology|Odin]] also sports one whenever he appears.
* Given the 'strongman' description above, is it any surprise to hear that ''[[Street Fighter]]'''s Zangief has an opening animation where he starts standing shrouded in a cape, then flings it away?
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* Nearly every tier 3 promoted character in ''[[Fire Emblem Tellius|Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn]]'' have capes. The ones that don't have capes have long flowing [[Badass Long Robe|robes]] or [[Badass Longcoat|coats]], both of which behave like capes anyway.
* Valvatorez from ''[[Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten]]'' has one.
* Ganondorf in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess]]''.
* [[Rance]] is a rare [[Heroic Comedic Sociopath]]
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** Orphaner Dualscar, {{spoiler|Eridan's}} ancestor, takes this [[Up to Eleven]]. Just ''look'' at [http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=005408 him].
** Later Dave gets one, after {{spoiler|ascending to God Tier}}.
* Quinn-Tain in ''[[Harkovast]]'' wears a dramatically flowing, dark red [http://www.drunkduck.com/Harkovast/index.php?p=702277 cape]{{Dead link}}.
* [[Dragon with an Agenda|Redcloak]] from ''[[The
** Also popular with bards, General Tarquin, and the paladins of the Sapphire Guard.
* ''[[Coga Suro]]'': Steve seems fond of using a cape in his superhero persona; two out of his three costumes have featured one. The first costume's cape was once used to help entangle an opponent.
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== Web Original ==
* In ''[[Sailor Nothing]]''
* Shroud, in the ''[[Whateley Universe]]''. But she's animated matter, so she can really make her cape billow, since it's part of her.
* Madras, from the ''[[Global Guardians PBEM Universe]]'', had telekinetic control over cloth (and ''only'' over cloth), so he wore a costume that included a ten-foot long cape made of canvas. And he used it as a ''weapon''.
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* [[Gaius Julius Caesar]] always put on his red cape before going to battle himself.
* Players in the [[NFL]] wear capes in cold weather. Easier to put on and off with all the gear, but [[Rule of Cool]] also has something to do with it.
* [[
* The Highland belted plaid has a rough resemblance to a cape and of course it is worn by [[Proud Warrior Race|Scottish Highlanders.]]
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:Costume Tropes]]
[[Category:Badass]]
[[Category:
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