History CowardlyLion / ComicBooks

* Rex and Pugsy in ''ComicBook/BeastsOfBurden''. Notable that Rex was a MilesGloriosus in the first story, but has gotten better. All of the characters are regularly terrified by the supernatural occurrences that surround them, but these two (especially Pugsy) are the ones most likely to be visibly afraid -- and yet neither will back down when their friends or their town is in danger.
* ''Franchise/TheDCU'':
** Commander Blanx of the pre-Crisis ''ComicBook/MartianManhunter'' comics is a villainous example along the same lines as Donald Pierce. A DirtyCoward and CombatPragmatist who never fights fair -- and indeed, doesn't fight at all if he can get someone else to do the dying for him -- he's nevertheless very dangerous when cornered, nearly killing J'onn in one appearance and going toe-to-toe with Superman in another.
** The Golden Age Earth Two Wonder Woman is nonchalant in the face of danger. In the Justice Society stories especially she tends to strongly advise against starting fights that she feels cannot be won, but does not show any signs of fear when in said fights and even maintains composure when [[FaceDeathWithDignity she thinks her own death is imminent.]] The Silver Age Earth One Wonder Woman, by contrast, is much more concerned about her health and life, both privately and publicly, especially after the writers stopped retelling Golden Age stories and moved exclusively to new content. She openly panicked in the clutches of a monster she could neither fend off nor escape from and retreated from an army of Amazons attempting to kill her, while her mother refused, without apology since the gods were protecting her mother but not her. Even in these less than dignified showings the Silver Age Wonder Woman was able to successfully think up strategies to turn the tide and save the day however. More, Silver Age Wonder Woman was still willing to die to save her loved ones and or the world, even if she wasn't as comfortable with it as her Golden Age counterpart. In addition to all of this, Silver Age Wonder Woman had a smaller supporting cast and fewer allies to call on than her Golden Age self, in spite of the DC Comics SharedUniverse being more pronounced on Earth One than Earth Two, meaning she often had to solve things on her own where her other self could casually call for backup, which was more obvious when they were retelling Golden Age stories. In short the Silver Wonder Woman was just as capable as the Golden Age version, in some cases she was forced to do more, in spite of being more easily flustered.
** [[ComicBook/{{New52}} The New 52]] version of Power Ring is an enormous wuss who seems fearful of everything. However, he wields a RingOfPower that runs on fear which makes him as powerful as the rest of the Crime Syndicate. At least until he ran into a TRUE master of fear.
** ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'':
*** Kyle Rayner relative to other Green Lanterns. Kyle, unlike all Lanterns who came before him, could actually feel fear and doubted his abilities and heroism frequently. Eventually, his ability to feel fear made him the only lantern capable of spotting the greatest threat to the entire Green Lantern Corps, Parallax. Even Dream of the Endless once told him he'd surpass Hal Jordan ''because'' he knew fear.
*** Jessica Cruz never stops being scared of all the things she has to deal with as a Green Lantern, but her ability to overcome her fear is what makes her one.
*** More recent interpretations of the Green Lantern mythos (such as [[Film/GreenLantern2011 the movie]]) have made the capacity to overcome fear as a primary characteristic a ring uses in choosing a wearer.
** In ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' story ''ComicBook/{{Bizarrogirl}}'', ComicBook/{{Bizarro}} and his cousin are biological weapons of mass destruction, but they are quite cowardly. Bizarro wanted to escape from Bizarro World instead of fighting an Eldritch Abomination. Bizarrogirl admits to being terrified of the Godship, yet still does a bang up job fighting it after she grows a spine.

* ''ComicBook/{{Empowered}}'' of the comic of the same name is a variation on this -- instead of considering herself a coward while still being brave, she lacks in self-confidence in her super-heroing duties while still trying her darndest to be a superheroine -- which, as her friends point out, generally ends up demonstrating that she's better at it than she thinks she is.

* ''Franchise/MarvelUniverse'':
** Donald Pierce is a villainous version in ''ComicBook/XMen''. He's a bully, and a DirtyCoward, but in a fight he's a match for the likes of Wolverine.

* ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'': Deadpool considers Bob, Agent of Hydra, better at running away than anyone he's ever seen. Bob can become "invisible" when in danger-- that is, hiding so thoroughly that he escapes harm.
* ''ComicBook/MegaManArchieComics'' has the [[CanonForeigner original character]] Quake Woman. A geological survey robot who developed PTSD so crippling after being nearly obliterated in a mine shaft collapse that her creator had to [[EmotionlessGirl delete her emotion programming in order for her to function]], she struggles with severe claustrophobia after having it re-installed but still uses her digging abilities to save the day numerous times.
* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'': Antoine D'Coolette started off as a CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkey throughout the ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM'' cartoon. While it carries over to the comics, the story's evolving tone allows him to evolve into this trope, one that will cast his fears aside to protect all he loves. Whether in the original continuity or CosmicRetcon, he remains overly cautions but no less brave.
** Mordred Hood, one of Robotnik's minions, is a cowardly and overly cautious guy who would rather keep his head down than fight the heroes. He feels that he isn't cut out for fieldwork, but is actually a surprisingly skilled infiltrator and an intelligent manager, with his cautiousness ensuring that he doesn't recklessly run into danger like some of the other Egg Bosses. The problem is that he's also so much of an ExtremeDoormat that no one pays his legitimately good suggestions any mind.

* ''Comicbook/{{Empowered}}'' of the comic of the same name is a variation on this -- instead of considering herself a coward while still being brave, she lacks in self-confidence in her super-heroing duties while still trying her darndest to be a superheroine -- which, as her friends point out, generally ends up demonstrating that she's better at it than she thinks she is.

** Donald Pierce is a villainous version in ''Comicbook/XMen''. He's a bully, and a DirtyCoward, but in a fight he's a match for the likes of Wolverine.

** When he started off, ComicBook/MilesMorales was easily frightened and focused on the negatives, but when needed, he'd go into battle.

** The Golden Age Earth Two Wonder Woman is nonchalant in the face of danger. In the Justice Society stories especially she tends to strongly advise against starting fights that she feels cannot be won, but does not show any signs of fear when in said fights and even maintains composure when [[FaceDeathWithDignity she thinks her own death is imminent.]] The Silver Age Earth One Wonder Woman, by contrast, is much more concerned about her health and life, both privately and publicly, especially after the writers stopped retelling Golden Age stories and moved exclusively to new content. She openly panicked in the clutches of a monster she could neither fend off nor escape from and retreated from an army of Amazons attempting to kill her, while her mother refused, without apology. Even in these less than dignified showings the Silver Age Wonder Woman was able to successfully think up strategies to turn the tide and save the day however. More, Silver Age Wonder Woman was still willing to die to save her loved ones and or the world, even if she wasn't as comfortable with it as her Golden Age counterpart. In addition to all of this, Silver Age Wonder Woman had a smaller supporting cast and fewer allies to call on than her Golden Age self, in spite of the DC Comics SharedUniverse being more pronounced on Earth One than Earth Two, meaning she often had to solve things on her own where her other self could casually call for backup, which was more obvious when they were retelling Golden Age stories. In short the Silver Wonder Woman was just as capable as the Golden Age version, in some cases she was forced to be more so, in spite of being more easily flustered.