History Main / IdealHero

* Surprisingly, Perseus is one of the few heroes of Myth/ClassicalMythology that actually lives up to our modern standards of heroism, being a total NiceGuy, a devoted son to his [[MommasBoy mother]] and [[HappilyAdopted adopted father]] as well as a [[HappilyMarried faithful husband]] to Andromeda, a [[GoodParents good father]] to his children, [[TheGoodKing a fair and just ruler of Mycenae]], and [[OurFounder kicking off]] [[TheTimeOfMyths the Mycenaen age]] of Ancient Greece. While future Greek heroes were various shades of AntiHero, he was basically the only great demi-god who had no morally ambiguous qualities. Even in ancient times, Perseus was synonymous with empathy as well as bravery, notably feeling sorry for the Titan Atlas, and saw his punishment–holding up the sky for all eternity–as unjust and [[MercyKill turned him to stone at his request]]. He does [[PayEvilUntoEvil kill King Polydectes in retribution]] for trying to pull a AndNowYouMustMarryMe on Danae (Perseus' mother), but [[EvilOverlord the dude definitely deserved it]] AndThereWasMuchRejoicing.

* ''Film/MaryPoppins'' is [[LampshadeHanging explicitly stated to be]] "practically perfect in every way".
* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Luke Skywalker [[TheHero was designed to be one]], at least until ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' where he gets progressively more prone to fits of murderous rage, just like Anakin. Contrast him to [[AntiHero Han Solo]], and ''especially'' to [[APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil his own father]]. While Luke wanted to save Leia out of sympathy, Han only did so because Luke promised that Leia is a rich princess who would reward Han. Seeing Luke [[spoiler:fall into defeat and despair]] in ''Film/TheLastJedi'' is a hard pill to take - especially to Creator/MarkHamill!
* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'': Played with in Professor X's case. On the one hand, he's an AllLovingHero who wishes to preserve life, he practices ForHappiness as part of his daily routine, he's brimming with [[AllegoricalCharacter compassion, hope, and love]], his GoalInLife is for mutants and humans to live together in harmony, he endeavours to induce a HeelFaceTurn in Magneto and Mystique, and he was a WideEyedIdealist when he was younger. However, Xavier periodically slips into moral lapses when his dread over a likely disaster overrides his good nature, such as [[Film/XMenTheLastStand burying the Phoenix deep inside Jean Grey's subconscious without her awareness or permission]]. In between 1963 and 1973, he undergoes a HeroicBSOD which degenerates him into a [[Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast junkie hermit]] who doesn't give a rat's ass about anything (besides alcohol and the addictive PowerNullifier serum) or anyone (besides his caregiver Hank). Charles breaches his once-sacred ThouShaltNotKill principle in ''Film/XMenApocalypse'' when the eponymous villain leaves him with no other solution to SaveTheWorld.
* ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'': Mothra is an ideal hero, as she represents compassion and respect for humanity's right to live. This can mainly be interpreted by the fact that she is primarily guided by the Shobijin, two twin fairies who sympathize and often befriend numerous humans.

%%* ''Franchise/RoboCop'': [=RoboCop=].

* Caesar in the ''[[Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes The Planet of the Apes]]'', along with being MessianicArchetype, provides a contrast to the bleak setting by being compassionate, highly opposed to killing, revenge, and war, and extremely forgiving, always attempting to find the most peaceful solution possible to a problem. His decisions are always motivated by his love for both apes and humans and his fundamental belief in freedom for everyone. [[spoiler:He wavers in ''War'' by becoming obsessed with revenge, but he ultimately can't bring himself to go through with it and chooses to help his people, dying a legendary hero to his people.]]

* [[Characters/KungFuPandaMasterPoPing Po]] from ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaLegendsOfAwesomeness'', notwithstanding times where he acts immature or accidentally causes the problem of the episode.

* ''Anime/CaptainHarlock'': In spite of a government that actively tries to stop him, a world that sees him as little more than a common criminal, Harlock still remains firmly on the side of good. He fights for everyone's freedom, not merely his own, and he will continue to fight until all that remains are his bones. [[spoiler:Even the incident that cost him his eye won't stop him; the man is that dedicated to his ideals and what he stands for, such that even losing part of his sight is only a minor deterrent in the end.]]

* Anime/CaptainHarlock. In spite of a government that actively tries to stop him, a world that sees him as little more than a common criminal, he still remains firmly on the side of good. He fights for everyone's freedom, not merely his own, and he will continue to fight until all that remains are his bones. [[spoiler: Even the incident that cost him his eye won't stop him; the man is that dedicated to his ideals and what he stands for, such that even losing part of his sight is only a minor deterrent in the end.]]

** During the [[UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks Bronze Age]] and [[UsefulNotes/TheModernAgeOfComicBooks Modern Age]], Billy became characterized as even more ideal and pure than Superman. Superman felt pressure as TheAce and TheParagon to get things done since everyone looked to him for aid. Captain Marvel, however, always did what he thought was right and [[SmallStepsHero utterly refused to compromise that]] in any way.

* Surprisingly, Perseus is one of the few heroes of Myth/ClassicalMythology that actually lives up to our modern standards of heroism. Being a total NiceGuy, a devoted son to his [[MommasBoy mother]] and [[HappilyAdopted adopted father]] as well as a [[HappilyMarried faithful husband]] to Andromeda, a [[GoodParents good father]] to his children, and a fair and just ruler of Mycenae. He was basically the only Greek hero who had no morally ambiguous qualities. Even in ancient times, Perseus was synonymous with empathy as well as bravery, notably feeling sorry for the Titan Atlas, and saw that his punishment–holding up the sky for all eternity–was unjust and [[MercyKill turned him to stone at his request]]. He does kill King Polydectes in retribution for trying to pull a AndNowYouMustMarryMe on Danae (Perseus' mother), but [[EvilOverlord the dude definitely deserved it]].

* Surprisingly, Perseus is one of the few heroes of Myth/ClassicalMythology that actually lives up to our modern standards of heroism. Being a total NiceGuy, a devoted son to his [[MommasBoy mother]] and [[HappilyAdopted adopted father]] as well as a [[HappilyMarried faithful husband]] to Andromeda, a [[GoodParents good father]] to his children, and a fair and just ruler of Mycenae. He's basically the only Greek hero who has no morally ambiguous qualities. He does kill King Polydectes in retribution for trying to pull a AndNowYouMustMarryMe on Danae (Perseus' mother), but [[EvilOverlord the dude definitely deserved it]].

* Surprisingly, Perseus is one of the few heroes of Myth/ClassicalMythology that actually lives up to our modern standards of heroism. Being a total NiceGuy, a devoted son to his [[MammasBoy mother]] and [[HappilyAdopted adopted father]] as well as a [[HappilyMarried faithful husband]] to Andromeda, a [[GoodParents good father]] to his children, and a fair and just ruler of Mycenae. He's basically the only Greek hero who has no morally ambiguous qualities. He does kill King Polydectes in retribution for trying to pull a AndNowYouMustMarryMe on Danae (Perseus' mother), but [[EvilOverlord the dude definitely deserved it]].

* ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' gives us the Warrior of Light, a StrongAndSkilled swordsman, clad in [[BlueIsHeroic blue]] [[KnightInShiningArmor armor]] (complete with a [[TheCape cape]]) who fights ForGreatJustice and [[TheChampion to uphold Cosmos' honor]]. [[TheFettered Singularly devoted]] to ending war and bringing peace to the world, he's [[IncorruptiblePurePureness never even remotely swayed]] by the villains trying to bring him to their side or get him to give up fighting, remaining [[TheParagon staunch and resolute in his trust in Cosmos]], and his [[ShutUpHannibal immunity to breaking speeches]] make him an example for the other heroes follow. He's so ridiculously heroic and stalwart that he almost comes across as a parody or a FlatCharacter, but his Mysterious Past as [[spoiler:a Manikin–a kind of artificial soldier–who gained self-awareness and a lasting personality after repeated memory wipes illustrate the depths of his character: although he was designed for war, fighting for Cosmos gives his life a purpose he's happy with.]] He's also a very insightful and thoughtful person.

%%* ''Film/{{Transformers}}'': Optimus Prime.

* ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'': Percy Jackson, though reckless and mischievous, is still undoubtedly this. Even his FatalFlaw (excessive loyalty to his friends) only reinforces how heroic he is. The DarkerAndEdgier ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'' SequelSeries makes him into more of an AntiHero by [[{{Flanderization}} playing up his fatal flaw]], [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools which is one of a number of reasons why it's been less well-received by the fanbase than the original series]].

** Gohan parodies one when he's dressed as the Great Saiyaman in ''Anime/DragonBallZ''. When he's in SuperHero mode, he's a mixture of Franchise/PowerRangers and Franchise/{{Superman}} with his poses and grand speeches. When he's not in costume he is closer to a ClassicalAntiHero because of his self-doubt in his ability.

* Franchise/{{Superman}}, consistently, but given an especially provocative portrayal in ''ComicBook/KingdomCome'', where Superman plays this trope straight, subverts, and reconstructs it all over the course of the story. In fact, that ends up being the way they challenge the InvincibleHero in many of his better stories, putting things in front of him that could legitimately compel him to break this character type or putting him up against less ideal sort of hero (frequently Franchise/{{Batman}}) to make a case for being an ideal hero versus being a more "pragmatic" hero. Some of his most crippling defeats were victorious battles that could only be won by breaking one of his rules.

* Franchise/SpiderMan is mostly this in his own series and team-ups, [[MyGreatestFailure aside from doubting himself]], [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} being a goofy motor mouth]] and being [[ButtMonkey generally awkward]], he is Marvel's most lovable and warm-hearted hero who always does the selfless and right thing for anyone and anything in his career only second or rivaling the Captain himself and in the future is destined to be the greatest hero of all (according to Cable).

* ''Fanfic/LastChildOfKrypton'': In this story Shinji is ''[[Franchise/{{Superman}} half-kryptonian]]''. Since his powers began manifesting he used them to try to help people because he is genuinely good, caring, and kind-hearted, and hates seeing people hurt and suffering. In one instance [[spoiler:Kaji]] notes that despite of being a tad cynical he really believes Shinji when he tells he would never hurt people and he only wants to help.

* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse

* When he finally stops being TheGhost or TheFaceless in the second season of ''Series/{{Supergirl|2015}}'', Franchise/{{Superman}} lives up to his reputation of being TheCape and TheParagon. Essentially the only bad things you can say about this version of him is that he's initially suspicious of Lena Luthor because of her family name and has an understandable disagreement with J'onn, which they work out.

May overlap with IncorruptiblePurePureness. SubTrope to TheIdealist. SuperTrope to AllLovingHero, TheCape, KnightInShiningArmor, and CaptainPatriotic. Almost always a HumbleHero. While TheHero is often an Ideal Hero, the former is the role a character occupies in a group while the latter is a character personality. See also StandardizedLeader. Contrast AntiHero, a hero with character flaws, and CompleteMonster, a villain who is pure evil. Can overlap to some degree with one of either MartialPacifist, TechnicalPacifist, or ActualPacifist.