# Legacy hero

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_hero
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{{Short description|Type of superhero}}
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'''Legacy heroes''' are a type of [superhero](/source/superhero) whose codenames and/or personas are passed from pre-existing characters to newer characters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brevoort |first=Tom |date=2022-05-21 |title=The First Legacy Hero |url=https://tombrevoort.com/2022/05/21/the-first-legacy-hero/ |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=The Tom Brevoort Experience |language=en}}</ref> This often can come in the form of a descendant and/or relative of the pre-existing hero adopting or inheriting either the codename and/or attributes of the original.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 March 2017 |title=Taking Up The Mantle: The 15 Best Marvel Legacy Heroes |url=http://www.cbr.com/generations-the-15-best-marvel-legacy-heroes/ |access-date=14 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Moore |first=Trent |title=Future Star Wars films to focus on new characters, not legacy heroes |url=http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/future-star-wars-films-focus-new-characters-not-legacy-heroes |access-date=14 August 2017}}</ref>

== Overview ==
The term is often referred to characters published by [DC Comics](/source/DC_Comics) and [Marvel Comics](/source/Marvel_Comics);  Family franchises such as DC's [Batman](/source/Batman), [Superman](/source/Superman), [Wonder Woman](/source/Wonder_Woman), [Atom](/source/Atom_(character)), [Black Canary](/source/Black_Canary), [Captain Marvel](/source/Shazam_(DC_Comics)), [The Flash](/source/Flash_(comics)), [Green Lantern](/source/Green_Lantern), [Hawkman](/source/Hawkman), [Hawkwoman](/source/Hawkwoman), [The Ray](/source/The_Ray) and [Robin](/source/Robin_(character)) or Marvel's [Black Knight](/source/Black_Knight_(Marvel_Comics)), [Captain America](/source/List_of_incarnations_of_Captain_America), [Captain Marvel](/source/Captain_Marvel_(Marvel_Comics)), [Hulk](/source/Hulk), [Iron Man](/source/Iron_Man), [Spider-Man](/source/List_of_incarnations_of_Spider-Man), [Thor](/source/Thor_(Marvel_Comics)), [Wolverine](/source/Wolverine_(character)), have seen several characters take up the name and abilities of the original. In ''[Watchmen](/source/Watchmen)'', the codename [Nite Owl](/source/Nite_Owl) is used by two characters, the second after the first one retires. 

In video games, the  ''[Assassin's Creed](/source/Assassin's_Creed_(video_game)),'' many of the game's characters are descended from bloodlines of Assassins. In the ''[Donkey Kong](/source/Donkey_Kong)'' franchise, it is stated that Cranky Kong is the original Donkey Kong from [the 1981 arcade game](/source/Donkey_Kong_(arcade_game)), while the Donkey Kong in later games is his grandson.

=== Legacy villain ===
In opposition, there have been legacy villains in fiction as well. In comics, examples are DC's [Blockbuster](/source/Blockbuster_(DC_Comics)), [Captain Boomerang](/source/Captain_Boomerang), and [Clayface](/source/Clayface); Marvel's [Green Goblin](/source/Green_Goblin), [Mysterio](/source/Mysterio), and [Electro](/source/Electro_(Marvel_Comics)).

In Disney's ''[Gargoyles](/source/Gargoyles_(TV_series))'', a multi-generational line of villains known as [the Hunter](/source/Hunter_(Gargoyles)) share the same scar on their faces.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUbuDobX484 |title=Gargoyles — City of Stone (Part 1) |medium=YouTube |publisher=Disney Shows |year=1995 |time=10:10 to 10:22 |access-date=April 24, 2014 |format=YouTube}}</ref>

==References==
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{{Stock characters}}

Category:Stock characters
Category:Superhero fiction themes
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Legacy hero](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_hero) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_hero?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.