History: ComicBook / BattlePope

[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/battlepope.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:200:He kicks asses for the Lord.]]

'''WHEN HE'S NOT LEADIN' MASS, HE'S OUT KICKIN' ASS!'''

Once upon a time, there was a man. He worked hard and climbed up in the Church's hierarchy, and finally, he was elected [[ThePope Pope Oswald Leopold II]]. He lived his life womanizing, drinking, cussing, and generally having fun -- and nobody could as much as raise a finger against him, since he was the [=POPE=]!

And then, [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt Rapture]] came.

{{God}}, seeing [[HumansAreFlawed that people are no good]], [[NukeEm condemned them all]], and the [[DemonicInvaders gates of Hell opened]]. The war between Earth and Hell was long and bloody, but eventually both sides finally reached a truce: The gates of Hell were closed, but demons [[HellOnEarth were allowed to stay on Earth]]. The Pope, losing his power and wealth, devolved into a [[DrowningMySorrows drunkard]] living in a one-room lot.

One day, he saw a girl being molested by several thugs. He rescued her and fought off their demon friend Belaam, and the girl [[DoubleEntendre showed her generosity.]] Later that night, Belaam ambushes them, killing the girl and the Pope... just before [[KungFuJesus Jesus blows him away]] with a [[HandCannon revolver]]. Pope woke up in Heaven in the presence of God and Jesus. God gives Pope a task: if he can return to Earth and rescue St. Michael from Lucifer, Pope will be granted entry into Heaven despite his deplorable life-style. Granted with divine super strength and a caped costume, the Pope and Jesus must now find Hellcorp, fight through Lucifer's forces, and complete their divine mission.

Created by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore, and originally published under the moniker of ''Funk-O-Tron'' in 2000.
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!!''Battle Pop'' provides examples of following tropes:

* AllMonksKnowKungFu: It seems upper echelons of Catholic clergy were taught Kung Fu by none other than Bruce Lee himself.
* BadassPreacher: Well, subverted, since besides his title he isn't all that saintly...
* ChristianityIsCatholic: Perhaps intentionally. Demon-fighting BadassPreacher? Nothing new under the sun. Demon-fighting Badass Pope? [[CrazyAwesome Awesome]]!
* DemonicInvaders
* TheDevil: BigBad of first issue, but later other high-ranking demons decided they don't like his rule too much.
* GoofyPrintUnderwear: Both Pope and Jesus seem to wear it.
* GunsAkimbo: Picture above much?
* HellOnEarth
* HippieJesus
* JailBait: See entry for {{Squick}}.
* KungFuJesus: He's reduced to hippie sidekick, but able to stand ground when it's needed.
* OurAngelsAreDifferent: In particular, Archangel Michael is General Patton with wings.
* {{Metamorphosis}}: Pope's transition into Battle Pope.
* PalsWithJesus
* ThePope
* ReallyGetsAround: The ''Pope''. [[spoiler:Even in Hell.]]
* RefugeInAudacity
* ShoutOut: To ''Literature/LeftBehind'', a book of which is seen to be read by Pope.
* SmokingIsCool
* YouFailReligiousStudiesForever: Catholics don't believe in the Rapture.
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