History Main / LegacyCharacter

* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' :

** Ganondorf is the only character in the series thought to have been the same individual in each of his appearances. However, now that the official timeline has been released it's known that Ganondorf has reincarnated at least once, during the TimeSkip between ''[[VIdeoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' and ''FourSwordsAdventures''. WordOfGod is he's dead for good in the ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'' timeline, but he could also potentially come back in the ''LinkToThePast'' timeline... Or between ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Skyward Sword]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'', since it's never explicitly stated that the Ganon introduced in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'' was the first one.

* The concept is sent up in the pre-''Comicbook/{{Flashpoint}}'' Jaime Reyes run of ''BlueBeetle'', where it's revealed that aspiring supervillains actually have brawls--"title fights"--to earn the right to take on a deceased/retired villain's ''nom de guerre''. The story arc goes on to unveil a second Doctor Polaris.

** Jason Todd stole the Red Hood identity from SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker (making him a Legacy Villain) and also wore the costume of Red Robin, an alternate reality Dick Grayson - a costume now worn by Tim Drake. In at least one alternate future, Tim Drake himself will become Batman, and in another, Damien Wayne will. The Bat Family is less about legacy than clothing fetishes.

[[quoteright:350:[[{{Robin}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/robin555_574.png]]]]

* {{Batman}}:

* In ''AstroCity'', Zachary Jackson, Jack-in-the-Box, took the name and the equipment from his late father, who had died fighting crime. After encountering two horrific future versions of his unborn son (both of whom took the legacy ''much'' too far), in addition to a much better-adjusted version whose life was still shaped by his father's untimely death, Jackson passed the title on to Roscoe Jones, head of a street gang that sought to imitate Jack-in-the-Box via LeParkour.

** There is a new and not-very-different Link in nearly every game, with the same green tunic, Master Sword (or some other sword with potent magical properties), various other mainstay items, and left-handedness (except in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword''). This was explicitly referenced in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'', where the Links are fully aware that they are taking up the mantle of the previous hero, and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Brawl'' references it in one of [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid Snake's]] codec conversations. Each release usually features a new Zelda, too, and in later games, this can approach GenerationXerox levels, with even minor characters like Malon and Beedle getting new incarnations. The book ''Hyrule Historia'' makes note that only some of the Links are related to each other, but brings up the possibility that a number of them carry the blood of the Hylian Knights.

** Ganondorf is the only character in the series to have been the same individual in each of his appearances. However, now that the official timeline has been released it's known that Ganondorf has reincarnated at least once, during the TimeSkip between ''[[VIdeoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' and ''FourSwordsAdventures''. WordOfGod is he's dead for good in the ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'' timeline, but he could also potentially come back in the ''LinkToThePast'' timeline... Or between ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Skyward Sword]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'', since it's never explicitly stated that the Ganon introduced in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'' was the first one.

* [[spoiler:The ending of ''TheDarkKnightRises'' suggests Robin John Blake succeeds Bruce Wayne as Batman in the event Gotham needs him.]]

** There is a new and not-very-different Link in nearly every game, with the same green tunic, Master Sword (or some other sword with potent magical properties), various other mainstay items, and left-handedness (except in ''SkywardSword''). This was explicitly referenced in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'', where the Links are fully aware that they are taking up the mantle of the previous hero, and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Brawl'' references it in one of [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid Snake's]] codec conversations. Each release usually features a new Zelda, too, and in later games, this can approach GenerationXerox levels, with even minor characters like Malon and Beedle getting new incarnations. The book ''Hyrule Historia'' makes note that only some of the Links are related to each other, but brings up the possibility that a number of them carry the blood of the Hylian Knights.

* While the original ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' already established that Solid Snake and his genetic brothers (Liquid and Solidus) were clones of Big Boss, it was ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' that revealed that Big Boss used to go by the codename of Snake before any of his clones did. Since then, the shorthand "Snake" has been used interchangeably for both: Solid Snake and Big Boss. While Big Boss' full codename back in FOX was actually "Naked Snake", he is simply referred to as "Snake" most of the time and even seems to be a bit embarrassed of his "Naked" codename in ''MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'' . Solid Snake on the other hand, is the only one of his brothers who is referred by everyone else as "Snake" and never as "Solid".

* ArchieComics had published a superhero comic dubbed "the Mighty Crusaders". Well, currently, their teenage children have taken their place to become the '''Comicbook/NewCrusaders'''.

* The three Snakes (Solid, Liquid and Solidus) in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' are all clones of Big Boss, as we later learned in ''MetalGearSolid3'', was the original Snake. However, only Solid Snake is actually referred as "Snake" by other characters, the other two are just "Liquid" and "Solidus".

** There is a new and not-very-different Link in nearly every game, with the same green tunic, Master Sword (or some other sword with potent magical properties), various other mainstay items, and left-handedness (except in ''SkywardSword''). This was explicitly referenced in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'', where the Links are fully aware that they are taking up the mantle of the previous hero, and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Brawl'' references it in one of [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid Snake's]] codec conversations. Each release usually features a new Zelda, too, and in later games, this can approach GenerationXerox levels, with even minor characters like Malon and Beedle getting new incarnations. The artbook ''Hyrule Historia'' makes note that only some of the Links are related to each other, but brings up the possibility that a number of them carry the blood of the Hylian Knights.

* The various Cyborg Ninja in ''Franchise/MetalGear'', as well as the Snakes (from The Boss, to Big Boss/Naked Snake, to Solid Snake, and [[PassingTheTorch supposedly to Raiden]] although ironically he went down the path of Cyborg Ninja LegacyCharacter instead.

* There appear to have been at least three people known as "Franchise/WonderBoy" in the video game series of the same name: Bock Lee Temjin, AKA "Tom-Tom", from ''VideoGame/WonderBoy'', ''VideoGame/WonderBoyInMonsterLand'', and ''VideoGame/WonderBoyIIITheDragonsTrap''; Leo, from ''VideoGame/WonderBoyIIIDragonsLair'', and Shion from ''VideoGame/WonderBoyInMonsterWorld''.

* KamenRider:

** Both the Decade Kuuga and the [[KamenRiderKuuga original series Kuuga]] count, as they're actually the second Kuuga, the original existing eons ago. We never see the original, but its still plainly stated.

* In a somewhat controversial move, the rock band KISS has passed the makeup characters of the Spaceman and Catman on to new members (Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer respectively) following the departures of original members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss in the early 2000s (Frehley left in 2002. Criss departed in 2001, returned in 2003, and left again in 2004, replaced by Singer both times.). This move is in contrast to the pair's original exit in the early 80s, when their replacements (Vinnie Vincent and Eric Carr, respectively, with Singer taking up his first drummer stint with the band after Carr died in the early 90's) were given unique personas.

* DoctorWho is probably the most famous Meta example with the regeneration PlotDevice being used to carry the same in universe character across multiple real life actors. Used for both The Doctor and its ArchEnemy The Master the show has been running for half a century and is on its 12th Doctor. Being chosen to portray The Doctor is, in some circles, akin to being chosen Pope.

* In ''Galactic Champions'' from Hero Games:
** The powered-armor hero Defender is the direct descendant of the powered-armor hero Defender from the main ''Champions'' book. One could argue the Legacy Character status of the first Defender; James Harmon IV was the child, grandchild, and great-grandchild of heroes, but none of them ever donned a mask (or PoweredArmor).
** The 5th edition ''Champions Universe'' included the hero Black Mask, whose family has been pulling a [[ComicStrip/ThePhantom Phantom]] since the American Revolution. The claim that the Black Mask is immortal fell apart with number 10, the daughter (and only child) of the ninth Black Mask.

** Exemplified by the traditional announcement of a monarch's death in Great Britain "The King (or Queen) is Dead...Long Live the King (or Queen)" as the monarch technically never dies as the role immediately passes to the next qualified heir. This is also why the royal standard is never flown at half staff.

* Heads of State most closely fit this trope in real life, specifically those with actual influence or power. In most traditional Monarchies the royal sovereign was literally granted LegacyCharacter status [[OnAMissionFromGod by God]] and such status was passed down in perpetuity to their heirs. In Republics the Head of State can be viewed as an unchanging personification the nation and its people. Works best in a country with a fairly stable form of government where the character of state can build up sufficient gravitas. Current best examples are the BritishRoyalFamily, TheEmperor of Japan and ThePresident of the United States.

* Heads of State most closely fit this trope in real life, specifically those with actual influence or power. In most traditional Monarchies the royal sovereign was literally granted LegendaryCharacter status [[OnAMissionFromGod by God]] and such status was passed down in perpetuity to their heirs. In Republics the Head of State can be viewed as an unchanging personification the nation and its people. Works best in a country with a fairly stable form of government where the character of state can build up sufficient gravitas. Current best examples are the BritishRoyalFamily, TheEmperor of Japan and ThePresident of the United States.

* ''Franchise/StarTrek'':
The various incarnations of the ''Enterprise NCC-1701''. In fact, many ships in ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' have counterparts in ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', though not all are similar to the originals in design. The ''Enterprise NCC-1701'' is widely assumed to be the only ship in Starfleet to have its serial number recycled consistently, which is a testament to the importance of Kirk's five-year mission and subsequent voyages in Federation history. At least one possible future - and probably all of them - has a ship named ''Enterprise'' with the serial number NCC-1701-'''J''' (in this particular future, [[http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/USS_Enterprise_%28NCC-1701-J%29 a ''Universe''-class ship in operation in the 26th century]]), which means the serial number has been carried on for ''three hundred years'' and borne by ''eleven different vessels''. '''Holy shit'''.