History Main / LegacyImmortality

* ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/26868238/chapters/114341713#workskin Same Fic]]'' contains a villainous example in All For One. The current holder of the title is actually the seventh All For One and the sixth died in the same battle that crippled All Might.

* In ''Videogame/PillarsOfEternity'', the archmage Llengrath has this. The first Llengrath, unlike his fellow archmage Concelhaut who is a bonafide ImmortalitySeeker, believed that it did not matter whether or not he survived as long as his knowledge did. Llengrath founded a cult dedicated to preserving his life's work. The title "Llengrath" along with all of the memories of the previous Llengrath has been passed down from master to apprentice for generations. [[spoiler:You can kill the current Llengrath in a BonusBoss fight. Transferring the save data to the [[Videogame/PillarsOfEternityIIDeadfire sequel]] reveals that the title of Llengrath has been passed down to a successor.]]

* Although it has never been seen through for any long period of time, ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' often hints, outright states, or puts into action the idea that Batman must live even if Bruce dies. This idea was the driving force behind the "Azbats" DorkAge.

* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' has Madara Uchiha. The real one died long ago (though not quite as long ago as most people thought); but Obito Uchiha assumed his identity to carry on his plan, and was able to use the name to spark a new war. Madara was resurrected thanks to Kabuto's necromancy, and the two of them began openly working together. [[spoiler:Of course, it eventually turns out [[TeethClenchedTeamwork neither necessary like each other]]: Madara was the one who manipulated Obito into being willing to carry out his will and [[ThanatosGambit always intended to be revived to see his plan through]], even if that meant sacrificing Obito's life in the process. Which is fair, because Obito [[ICanRuleAlone never intended to revive Madara in the first place and intended to go the plan alone and reap the reward]].]]

* In one of the ill-fated series offered by Atlas Comics in the 70's, it was left [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane completely up in the air]] whether the hero was an immortal superman or the latest in a long (family) line of adventurers.

* Another Marvel {{Elseworld}}, ''The 5 Ronin'', has a unique version of this trope. The equivalent of Wolverine is reputed as a man who cannot die -- you can see him lose his head, bury him, then meet him in town a few days later. It turns out [[spoiler:it isn't one man at all, but rather a large group of identical brothers who had gone their separate ways. They aren't even trying to spread this legend, one of them turned evil and, wearing a mask, started killing the others. By the end of the first issue, only one brother remains, and he's got quite a reputation to live up to.]]

* In ''ComicStrip/ThePhantom'', the main character is the 21st Phantom: All of them come from a single family where the son of the current Phantom becomes the next Phantom when the current one is killed. An oath is sworn by each of them upon taking up the mantle. Since only a very select few are privy to this knowledge, and because of the Phantoms' tendencies to have cast-iron {{Character Shield}}s, he is believed to be immortal by the natives of his home country and most of his foes.
* Subverted in the 2011 ''The Shade'' mini-series. The Shade is in Barcelona to help out his adoptive "daughter", the vampire hero La Sangre. He arrives just as her archenemy, a murderous zealot called the Inquisitor, returns. Sangre explains she first fought him during World War I and he seemed to fall into a molten pit in 1944. However, he soon returned for more clashes over the decades. Sangre had assumed that his devoted followers had vowed to take up the mantle to continue his crusade and thus was fighting imposters. However, a check on the blood from the latest fight has her realizing it is indeed the original Inquisitor all this time, kept alive by a deal with a demon and possessing the bodies of his acolytes for his later clashes with Sangre.

* In the remarkably inventive ''Literature/HarryPotter'' fic [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2354771/1/Where-in-the-World-is-Harry-Potter ''Where in the World is Harry Potter?'']] by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/649528/nonjon nonjon]], [[spoiler: Nicholas Flamel]] is not immortal, instead using legacy immortality and a lot of magic, including a [[TimeMachine Time Turner]] and [[VoluntaryshapeShifting metamorphmagus]] powers, to preserve the masquerade. The latest [[spoiler: Nicholas Flamel]] is none other than [[spoiler: ''Harry Potter'']]. This reveal is foreshawdowed early in the fic with references to ''Film/ThePrincessBride'' and the Dread Pirate Roberts is explicitly mentioned as an in-universe ficitonal example of this scheme.

[[folder:Film]]

* Dean Koontz's ''Frankenstein'' series shows that Victor keeps an enhanced clone of himself in a tank, being fed regular uploads from Victor's memory, ready to step up if the original is killed. A semi-subversion also exists, since Victor is actually the original Dr. Frankenstein from the famous story, with his lifespan stretched by assorted biotech.
* The villainous Mycroft Ward from ''The Raw Shark Texts'' planned to combine this with TransferableMemory so that there would always be someone alive who shared all his memories and life experiences. By the time the book starts, MentalFusion has given way to HiveMind and Mycroft Ward is a self-perpetuating meme rather than an individual.
* The titular (anti)hero of ''Literature/SantiagoAMythOfTheFarFuture''. [[spoiler:There have apparently been at least four 'Santiagos', and the book ends with a fifth.]]

* The 5th edition ''Champions Universe'' included the hero Black Mask, whose family has been pulling a [[ComicStrip/ThePhantom Phantom]] since the American Revolution. It's not clear whether the Black Mask actually ''claimed'' to be immortal, but everyone else certainly treats him/them like it. It would later become just a LegacyCharacter with the current Black Mask, daughter of her predecessor (the ninth Black Mask). Criminals might be a superstitious, cowardly lot, but they can recognize the MostCommonSuperpower when they see it.

* In ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'', the Masked Lords of Waterdeep wear masks and cloaks that make it imopssible to tell them apart. Unless one is killed in a public manner or publically disgraced, they can be replaced easily with none the wiser. They are spoken for by an Unmasked Lord, who serves as leader of the council.

* [[BigBad The real]] [[VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}} Tohno Shiki]], though it still [[DeaderThanDead doesn't save him most of the time]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/ArthurChristmas'', {{Santa Claus}} is actually a title passed down from father to son, starting with the original Saint Nicholas. As the film opens, Santa Claus XX is getting too old to continue his duties, but is afraid of retirement.

* In ''Anime/LittleWitchAcademia'', Annabel Créme has supposedly been writing the same book series for 120 years, but has never been seen in public. That's because "Annabel Créme" is actually a ''nom de plume'' used by twelve different people over the years, with the next writer being chosen by a spirit residing inside Annabel's pen.

* In ''ComicBook/MarvelNoir Iron Man Noir]]'', Baron Strucker reveals that Baron Zemo isn't one person, but a series of chemically brainwashed men. Zemo wears a hood in case anyone recognizes him; the current Zemo is [[spoiler:Howard Stark]]. Strucker hopes to turn Tony Stark into the next Zemo, since the one they have now has "[[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness outlived his resourcefulness]]."

* One time ''Comicbook/SpiderMan'' villain The Black Tarantula (now an on and off ally/foe of Comicbook/{{Daredevil}}) was revealed to be passed from father to son in a manner very reminiscent of The Phantom. In fact, the Tarantula cropped up shortly after the 1996 Billy Zane movie.

* In ''ComicBook/IronMan Noir'', Baron Strucker reveals that Baron Zemo isn't one person, but a series of chemically brainwashed men. Zemo wears a hood in case anyone recognizes him; the current Zemo is [[spoiler:Howard Stark]]. Strucker hopes to turn Tony Stark into the next Zemo, since the one they have now has "[[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness outlived his resourcefulness]]."

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[[folder:{{Film}}]]

[[folder:{{Literature}}]]

%%[[folder:Web Comics]]

* The Confessor from ''Comicbook/AstroCity'' turned into this. His sidekick picked up for him pretty seamlessly when the original was killed off. (It confuses the crooks a lot because the original actually was an immortal vampire who got dusted; his replacement, while not immortal, is also no longer bothered by garlic or crosses. This is implied to have low-level criminals around the city freaking the eff out, because they seem to think the Confessor actually came back from the dead [[RemovedAchillesHeel invulnerable to traditional vampire weaknesses]].)

* This is the explanation for Yoshimitsu appearing in both ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' and ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries Soulcalibur]]'' -- the leader of the Manji clan adopts the name, personality, and fighting style, while using the same sword. This is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] by the fact the sword itself is [[NamedWeapons named "Yoshimitsu"]]. To the clan, referring to the sword or the one who wields it is one and the same. In doing so, they are able to portray their leader as one who can transcend death.

->''For 800 years, Norrisville High has been protected by a ninja.\\
No one knows that every four years, a new warrior is chosen.''
-->-- ''WesternAnimation/RandyCunninghamNinthGradeNinja''

* Although it has never been seen through for any long period of time, Franchise/{{Batman}} often hints, outright states, or puts into action the idea that Batman must live even if Bruce dies. This idea was the driving force behind the "Azbats" DorkAge.

* In ''ComicStrip/ThePhantom'', the main character is the 21st Phantom: All of them come from a single family where the son of the current Phantom becomes the next Phantom when the current one is killed. An oath is sworn by each of them upon taking up the mantle. Since only a very select few are privy to this knowledge, and because of the Phantoms' tendencies to have cast-iron {{Character Shield}}s, he is believed to be immortal by the natives of his home country and most of his foes.
* During the period where the original was frozen, there were no fewer than three men who assumed the ComicBook/CaptainAmerica identity. The first two were specifically recruited by the U.S. government to carry on the legacy of the original, with the president fearing that American morale would dissipate if the country learned that Captain America had perished.

* The main antagonist of the ''ComicBook/BlakeAndMortimer'' two-part book ''The Sarcophagi of the Sixth Continent'' claims to be none other than the ancient Indian emperor Ashoka the Great. Mortimer met him during his youth in Colonial India and meets him again in 1958. However, [[spoiler:the latter Ashoka turns out to be the ''daughter'' of the former. [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane We never learn who the previous Ashoka was, though...]]]]
* Although it has never been seen through for any long period of time, Franchise/{{Batman}} often hints, outright states, or puts into action the idea that Batman must live even if he dies. This idea was the driving force behind the "Azbats" DorkAge.

* Another Marvel {{Elseworld}}, ''The 5 Ronin'', has a unique version of this trope. The equivalent of Wolverine is reputed as a man who cannot die -- you can see him lose his head, bury him, then meet him in town a few days later. It turns out [[spoiler:it isn't one man at all, but rather a large group of identical brothers who had gone their separate ways. They aren't even trying to spread this legend, one of them turned evil and, wearing a mask, started killing the others. By the end of the first issue, only one brother remains, and he's got quite a reputation to live up to.]]

* Subverted in the 2011 ''The Shade'' mini-series. The Shade is in Barcelona to help out his adoptive "daughter", the vampire hero La Sangre. He arrives just as her archenemy, a murderous zealot called the Inquisitor, returns. Sangre explains she first fought him during World War I and he seemed to fall into a molten pit in 1944. However, he soon returned for more clashes over the decades. Sangre had assumed that his devoted followers had vowed to take up the mantle to continue his crusade and thus was fighting imposters. However, a check on the blood from the latest fight has her realizing it is indeed the original Inquisitor all this time, kept alive by a deal with a demon and possessing the bodies of his acolytes for his later clashes with Sangre.

* In ''Westernanimation/{{Arthur Christmas}}'', {{Santa Claus}} is actually a title passed down from father to son, starting with the original Saint Nicholas. As the film opens, Santa Claus XX is getting too old to continue his duties, but is afraid of retirement.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* The Crone of Maltak in ''Webcomic/DominicDeegan''.
[[/folder]]

* The Immortal Captain Roberto from ''Roleplay/OpenBlue''. It's AllThereInTheManual.

* Inverted in ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', where the [[FlatEarthAtheist Tolnedrans]] think it's the case for Belgarath and Polgara, who are both genuinely TheAgeless.
** Another example in the same series is Queen Salmissra, though she's somewhat of a subversion as she was never intended to deceive the public. Instead, it's the Nyissans' own absentminded god, because he forgot to make the original Salmissra immortal. He's not even very put out when someone finally sets things straight, so it's possible the entire ruse was never necessary in the first place.
* A similar inversion occurs in the ''{{Literature/Deverry}}'' novels, where Nevyn keeps popping up at the side of key historical figures over the course of his 450-year existence. Opinions are divided as to whether the name of Nevyn is passed down from father to son or master to apprentice.
* Also inverted in the ''Literature/EndersGame'' series. Valentine is a published writer under the name "Demosthenes," and she was also born about a thousand years ago (although, through the anomalies of general relativity, she hasn't had any more years of subjective experience than any normal human). Because Demosthenes has been writing for a thousand years, he/she/they are believed to be this kind of legacy character, rather than all of the books and articles being written by the same person.

* Lampshaded in ''[[Literature/TheDarkElfTrilogy Homeland]]'', where a student assumes the identity of his dead master (who had a disfigured face), and briefly considers the possibility of the pattern continuing for millennia. It doesn't happen, though.

* Dean Koontz's "Frankenstein" series shows that Victor keeps an enhanced clone of himself in a tank, being fed regular uploads from Victor's memory, ready to step up if the original is killed. A semi-subversion also exists, since Victor is actually the original Dr. Frankenstein from the famous story, with his lifespan stretched by assorted biotech.

* In a later series of ''Series/RedDwarf'', it is revealed that [[spoiler:[[TheAce Ace Rimmer]] is not one man, but a succession of hologram Rimmers from countless dimensions who have taken on his identity to continue the legacy of the original.]]

* The Hordemaster Epic Destiny from 4th Edition of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' has this as a class feature: if a hordemaster dies, one of his followers takes up his name and is treated as being exactly the same character.
* The 5th edition ''Champions Universe'' included the hero Black Mask, whose family has been pulling a [[ComicStrip/ThePhantom Phantom]] since the American Revolution. It's not clear whether the Black Mask actually ''claimed'' to be immortal, but everyone else certainly treats him/them like it.
** Switched to LegacyCharacter with the current Black Mask, daughter of her predecessor (the ninth Black Mask). Criminals might be a superstitious, cowardly lot, but they can recognize the MostCommonSuperpower when they see it.

* This is the explanation for Yoshimitsu appearing in both ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' and ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries Soulcalibur]]'' -- the leader of the Manji clan adopts the name, personality, and fighting style, while using the same sword.
** This is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] by the fact the sword itself is [[NamedWeapons named "Yoshimitsu"]]. To the clan, referring to the sword or the one who wields it is one and the same. In doing so, they are able to portray their leader as one who can transcend death.
** ''VideoGame/SoulcaliburV'' lends even more credence to this, as the successor of the Yoshimitsu from ''SC'' to ''SCIV'' explicitly refers to himself as Yoshimitsu the Second.

* In ''VideoGame/ZettaiHeroProject'', the Unlosing Ranger (a sendup of the entire {{sentai}} genre of heroes) manages to achieve this. The tendency (at least for the past few exchanges) seems to be for a dying Unlosing Ranger to hand off the Morphing Belt to the best available passerby. Nobody ever picks up on this, at least not until the events of the game, where the latest recipient is laughably weak and unheroic.
* [[spoiler:Mistbeard]] in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV''. [[spoiler:The Hullbreaker Isle dungeon has you fighting your way to the wreck of his ship in order to get the mask back for the latest one, who plans to lock it up and end the tradition.]]
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/RiseOfTheTombRaider'', Trinity thinks that the Prophet has this but he turns out to actually have ResurrectiveImmortality.

* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'', the [[PhantomThief Gray Fox]] works this way. He actually was many people in a row wearing the same magical mask. The mask was cursed by the Daedra it was originally stolen from; wearing it permanently erases the wearer's identity from history, meaning nobody will ever recognize them (masked or not) as anyone other than the Gray Fox. After [[spoiler:the curse is broken, the wearer is able to use the mask to perfectly mask his identity, but the mask can be removed and the effect will end.]]

* Ajax from ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' is a hybrid of this and CompleteImmortality: the first Ajax was utterly invulnerable -- right up until the point where a two-bit punk named Ralph Valetti shot him. His powers transferred to Ralph as he died, and a few weeks later Ralph took up Ajax's name, costume, and heroic efforts.

* A villainous version in ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' is [[HunterOfMonsters the Hunter]]. The original was a scarred man who Demona clawed as a young boy; the title then passed to Prince Duncan and his descendants, who dedicated themselves to hunting her and other Gargoyles down. Demona knows that they're a family, having killed a good number of Hunters herself. She does sometimes use "the Hunter" to refer to the whole line, probably because there's not much difference between them all from her perspective.

* In ''WesternAnimation/RandyCunninghamNinthGradeNinja'', the {{Ninja}} is believed to be an immortal warrior who has lived for over 800 years. In reality, the titular protagonist is [[KidHero only a high schooler]] and the latest in a long line of heroes to wear the mask.

* In ''WesternAnimation/RandyCunninghamNinthGradeNinja'', the {{Ninja}} is believed to over be 800 years old, but the titular protagonist is only a 9th grader who is the latest in a long line of heroes to wear the mask.

* In ''WesternAnimation/RandyCunninghamNinthGradeNinja'': The {{Ninja}} is believed to over be 800 years old, but the titular protagonist is only a 9th grader who is the latest in a long line of heroes to wear the mask.

* In ''WesternAnimation/RandyCunninghamNinthGradeNinja'': The {{Ninja}} is believed to over be 800 years old, but the titular protagonist is only a 9th grader who is merely the latest in a long line of heroes to wear the mask.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'', the school's pet hamster had been replaced by the current teacher whenever it died without the students knowing for over four decades until one day, T.J. notices it die.
* In ''WesternAnimation/IronManArmoredAdventures'', Moses Magnum initially cannot believe that the ComicBook/BlackPanther has stalked him to New York City, as he is sure he killed the Panther back in Africa. He later realizes that the Black Panther that is after him is actually [[YouKilledMyFather the son of the one he already killed]].
* ''WesternAnimation/RandyCunninghamNinthGradeNinja'': [[LivingLegend The Ninja]] is believed to over be 800 years old, but the titular protagonist is merely the latest in a long line of heroes to wear the mask.
* Used as a plot point in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', where Jaime Reyes (ComicBook/BlueBeetle) states that most people erroneously assume that he is the previous (deceased) Blue Beetle in a new costume. It's implied that a similar situation exists for the new ComicBook/{{Robin}}, Tim Drake, [[spoiler:who inherited the mantle after the death of the previous Robin, Jason Todd]].

* Downplayed in ''WesternAnimation/DefendersOfTheEarth'', where the Phantom's supposed immortality is only mentioned in one out of the sixty-five episodes produced. What's more, the version of the Phantom featured in the series has no male heir and has chosen his daughter, Jedda, to be his successor, which would ultimately destroy the illusion of immortality.

This can be made much easier if the first Bob The Immortal wore a mask all the time (possibly while [[FromACertainPointOfView claiming]] that [[MaskOfPower the mask is what gives him immortality]]) or [[ShroudedInMyth no one can agree on what the original looked like]] beyond 'he wears a BadassLongcoat and carries around a [[{{BFS}} huge sword]].'

The inversion (Bob the Immortal pretends to be a series of different people) is MyGrandsonMyself.

* In ''ComicStrip/ThePhantom'', the main character is the 21st Phantom: All of them come from a single family where the son of the current Phantom becomes the next Phantom when the current one is killed. The page quote is sworn by each of them upon taking up the mantle. Since only a very select few are privy to this knowledge, and because of the Phantoms' tendencies to have cast-iron {{Character Shield}}s, he is believed to be immortal by the natives of his home country and most of his foes.

->''"I swear to devote my life to the destruction of piracy, greed, cruelty, and injustice, in all their forms, and my sons and their sons shall follow me."''
-->-- '''[[BadassCreed Oath of the Skull]]''', ''ComicStrip/ThePhantom''

* ''WesternAnimation/RandyCunninghamNinthGradeNinja'': The Ninja is believed to over be 900 years old, but the titular protagonist is merely the latest in a long line of heroes to wear the mask.