Big Good: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

[[File:PRIMEsmallB 2077.jpg|link=Transformers Generation 1|frame|[[Transforming Mecha|Also, he can transform into a truck.]]]]

Whereas the [[Big Bad]] is considered the ultimate evil to be defeated, the Big Good is the cornerstone of any heroic organization. This character is explicitly stated to be a counterpart to combat the forces of evil, likely calling all the shots in the organization and is normally the highest ranking or the absolute most powerful. Since [[The Hero]] is usually, but [[Anti-Hero|not]] [[Villain Protagonist|always]] synonymous with the protagonist, the Big Good does not always fill that role, as it is usually more dramatic for the protagonist to work upwards from the bottom. In fact, it may even be stated (at least in the beginning) that [[The Hero]] is expendable whereas this character is not. The Big Good is simply the most valuable member of the heroic movement in a given work, whether in terms of rank, function or wisdom. If not [[The Hero]], then they will most definitely be [[Mentor Archetype|the mentor]] to craft [[The Hero]] into being the weapon they need him to be.

 

== Anime and Manga ==

* It's difficult to decide which lead from ''[[Legend of the Galactic Heroes]]'' better qualifies. While Reinhard continuously rises through the ranks and spends most of the series pretty much being the driving force of the Empire, he is much more morally flawed compared to Yang, who never attempts to rise past the rank of Admiral.

* L from ''[[Death Note]]'' - a more uncommon [[Anti-Hero|Anti Heroic]] example.<ref>[[Sliding Scale of Anti-Heroes|Type IV]]</ref>

* The Elder from ''[[Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple]]''. Almost certainly the strongest character in the series, it's fortunate that he's on the side of good.

* Integra Hellsing from ''[[Hellsing]]''.

* Captain Bravo from ''[[Busou Renkin]]''. Then the second half of the series introduced a ''Bigger'' Good Guy who was ''his'' captain. He even makes the bigger part somewhat literal—whereas Captain Bravo's weapon is a body-fitting armor, his superior's weapon is a ''[[Humongous Mecha]]'' suit of armor.

* Koutarou Taiga from ''[[GaoGaiGar]]''. (Not actually more powerful, but [[The Hero]] is a super-advanced cyborg and Taiga is a [[Badass Normal]] who can fight off the enemy boss with a golf club.)

* Lord Mallory from ''[[Full Metal Panic!]]''.

* [[Physical God|Primus]] serves this role in ''[[Transformers]] [[Transformers Armada|Unicron Trilogy]].

* Hakuoro of ''[[Utawarerumono]]''. He was both [[The Hero]] and emperor of his country, which under his leadership went around smiting bad guys.

* The Queen in ''[[Futari wa Pretty Cure]]''.

** Couppe-sama and Granny Kaoruko{{spoiler|/Cure Flower}} jointly hold this position in ''[[Heartcatch Pretty Cure]]''.

** At the same time [[Manipulative Bastard|Lieutenant General Grumman]] and [[Four-Star Badass|Major General Armstrong]].

* Pope Benedict in ''[[The Legend of Koizumi]]'', who leads the world's [[What Do You Mean It's Not Awesome?|Mahjong-based]] defense against the [[Stupid Jetpack Hitler|Fourth]] [[Those Wacky Nazis|Reich]], who live on the moon and shoot meteors at major cities. [[It's Personal]] for him for some reason, probably due to his having grown up in the third one.

* ''[[Soul Eater]]'''s Big Good is Death, ironically. He's the head of the school that trains the heroes, gives them their missions and is the only one capable of going head to head with the Big Bad. Also, he's the one the villains are worried about; the heroes themselves are a much lower priority.

** Two of the strongest pirates alive, "Red-Haired" Shanks and Edward "Whitebeard" Newgate {{spoiler|until his death}} could also qualify. In particular, during the Whitebeard War, the rather morally-sound Newgate led the battle against the more reprehensible [[Knight Templar|Marines]] into battle, but it was Shanks himself that ended the war, simply by '''threatening to attack anyone that wanted to continue fighting'''!

* The [[Power Trio|Three Dark Lords]] of ''[[Rosario + Vampire]]'', or at least the two who are still alive, seem to fill this role.

* This was [[Badass|Erza]]'s role in the earlier chapters of ''[[Fairy Tail]]'', until [[The Obi-Wan|Makarov]], then [[Person of Mass Destruction|Gildarts]] was introduced.

* Dumbledore in ''[[Harry Potter (novel)|Harry Potter]]''.

** Subverted in that while everyone ''else'' thinks the Big Good is Dumbledore, ''Dumbledore'' thinks the Big Good is Harry, and even mentions that he himself is expendable. Also subverted in that while he is the leader of Good against all Evil, he himself takes some reaaally questionable methods every now and then. All for the Greater Good and justifiable, but he isn't a white dove. Then again, the leader should never be.

*** In the practical sense, however, {{spoiler|Moody and, after ''he'' dies, Kingsley}}, seem to be Dumbledore's designated successors.

** Off-screen, {{spoiler|Neville}} is this for Hogwarts during ''Deathly Hallows'': it's implied by the way he talked that he stood up and took a lot of crap so the other students wouldn't have to, he was the only leader of the DA to remain at school for the entire year, and during the Second Battle of Hogwarts, he was explicitly shown leading an attempt to ''kill Death Eaters en masse'' using Mandrakes.

* [[Anti-Villain|Baron Klaus Wulfenbach]] from ''[[Girl Genius]]'', assuming you label him one of the good guys.

** If you don't, he's at least the [[Discworld|Vetinari]], in that his rule keeps everyone from killing everyone else.

 

== Web Original ==

* ''[[Fine Structure]]'': {{spoiler|Mitch Calrus, AKA Xio, is one of two [[Eldritch Abomination]]s sealed in our universe. He's the one opposed to senselessly destroying all sentience.}}

* ''[[That Guy With The Glasses]]'': SANTA CHRIIIST, SANTA CHRIIIIIST!

* Subverted in the blog [http://sooniwillrule.blogspot.com/ Soon I will Rule The World], in that the Big Good, the Luchador security guard Santo Christo, is the Big Bad to the blog's villain protagonist [[Our Liches Are Different|Asmodeus Acerak]]

* [[The Messiah|The Yostwell]] of ''[[The Questport Chronicles]]'', according to legend. It disappeared after a [[Heroic Sacrifice]] millennia ago, but left behind [[MacGuffin|a relic]] with a portion of its power.

 

== Western Animation ==

* Optimus Prime in just about any ''[[Transformers]]'' adaptation.

** Ultra Magnus served this role in ''[[Transformers Animated]]'', while Optimus was re-envisioned as [[The Hero|a younger, rookie hero]].

*** Of course, Prime is ''every so slightly'' outranked by [[God|Primus]].