History Main / TheCape

* ComicBook/CaptainAmerica is probably Marvel's best capeless Cape. As a youth, he tried out for World War II, but was rejected on physical grounds, so he ''volunteered to be a guinea pig in a military experiment''. He did not know there had already been successful trials, and the risk was much less than is commonly advertised; the experiment turned him into a soldier with physical and mental capabilities very slightly above peak human. In the modern era (how [[HumanPopsicle he survived]] is another story), he is such a tactical and moral exemplar that while powerless and wielding nothing more than an [[UnbreakableWeapons indestructible shield that doesn't obey the laws of physics]], he leads a team consisting of powerhouses like {{Thor}}, IronMan, Wonder Man, Ms. Marvel, and the rest of "Earth's Mightiest Heroes". And, despite the name, he figured out he could go against the government and still stand up for America's ideals... [[spoiler:and he was killed as an {{Anvilicious}} way to "punctuate" the civil war's FamilyUnfriendlyAesop]].

The superhero as an ideally good person. Generally associated with [[GoodOldWays older protagonists]], before whenever the latest round of {{deconstruction}} happened, and often invokes elements of TheMessiah. Has now become nigh-synonymous with the "classic" SuperHero.

*** [[GreenLantern Kyle Rayner]] once observed that Captain Marvel is essentially 10-year old Billy Batson's concept of the perfect adult, made real.

* The eponymous ''Comicbook/{{Empowered}}'' might well qualify. For all her faults and frailties, she knows what's right, and will go to tremendous lengths to do just that. [[spoiler:In the last story in issue 5, she's willing to very probably die to save Mindf*** , and she only slightly knows the other woman.]]

* Stannis Baratheon of ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' is what would happen if a non-superhero Cape existed in real life. He stands for truth and justice, but comes off a [[TheResenter vengeful]] JerkAss. He always does his duty [[BeingGoodSucks but has little to show for it]] which fuels his [[AmbitionIsEvil quest for the throne]]. He wants ti bring peace to the realm and the people in it, but has no problem [[TheNeedsOfTheMany sacrificing a few to save all]].

** Of course, there is the pervasive theory amongst the heroes (players) of Paragon City that Statesman has a stick magically implanted up his posterior as well.
*** Then again, he is the current incarnation/holder of the power of Zeus, who was not the warmest or most forgiving of deities.
*** He is also canonically over 100 years old and has been in the superhero business since the 1920s. So being a little [[JadeColoredGlasses jaded]] and tired of it all is somewhat understandable.

* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': [[spoiler: Sayaka Miki]] declares herself an ally of justice who will keep the city 'super safe'. She is one of the few magical girls who fights familars in addition to witches to reduce the number of {{muggles}} that are killed by them. Her MagicalGirl outfit is the only one with an actual cape. [[spoiler: Homura explains why these magical girls are always the first to die or corrupt. Because they fight familiars (who don't drop grief seeds) they engage many more battles which means more chances to die in battle. Also, it taxes their magic supply which accelerates the rate at which their soul gem darkens. Because they run on lofty ideals like selfness and heroism and justice, etc they are more vulnerable to despair which turns them into witches]] .

* More recently, JohnCena doesn't actually have a SuperHero gimmick, but nonetheless has earned the FanNickname "Super Cena" both from his resemblance to this trope and his tendency to never lose cleanly.

* Stannis Baratheon of ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' is what would happen if a non-superhero Cape existed in real life. He stands for truth and justice, but comes off a [[TheResenter vengeful]] JerkAss. He always does his duty [[BeingGoodSucks but has little to show for it]] which fuels his [[AmbitionIsEvil quest for the throne]]. He believes only he can bring peace to the realm and the people in it, but has no problem [[TheNeedsOfMany sacrificing a few to save all]].

* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': [[spoiler: Sayaka Miki]] declares herself an ally of justice who will keep the city 'super safe'. She is one of the few magical girls who fights familars in addition to witches to reduce the number of {{muggles}} that are killed by them. Her MagicalGirl outfit is the only one with an actual cape. [[spoiler: Homura explains why these magical girls are always the first to die or corrupt. Because they fight familars (who don't drop grief seeds) their souls gems quickly darken due to overuse of their magic which leads to their death in deatb; because they run on lofty ideals like selfness and heroism and justice, etc they are more vulnerable to despair which turns them into witches]] .

* Sayaka Miki from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' - notably, among the main characters, her MagicalGirl outfit is the only one with an actual cape. You can guess [[{{Deconstruction}} how this one's played]].

* Literature/{{Worm}} Refers to anyone who dons a costume as a 'Cape' though few indeed fit the actual trope. However there are several clear examples, Legend is a crystal clear case. Alexandria and several other heroes may well be examples and a couple of the Brockton Bay Wards fit as well. Most unusually though, the main [[VillainProtagonist character]] herself is very close to fitting, avoiding it mostly through disliking authority and simple answers.

* In many [=RPG=]s the player can become The Cape, examples include the ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' series, ''MassEffect'' and ''KnightsOfTheOldRepublic''.

** Like Superman, Paragon Shepard's best friend is the ''MassEffect'' universe's equivalent of [[TheCowl Batman]], Garrus Vakarian. It's lampshaded in the third game that when they work together they make an [[BashBrothers unstoppable team]].

* Hego from WesternAnimation/KimPossible is a parody of this archetype.
* Played with in WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}. Metroman is a classic Superman Expy Cape (right down to his backstory originating on a doomed homeworld) who grows tired of having to live up to his responsibilities and fakes his death to retire. Megamind is his evil counterpart, who fell into supervillainy after his childhood attempts at doing good went wrong (ironically, at times because of Metroman's competition). After Metroman fakes his death, Megamind then tries to create his ''own'' Cape to fight in the form of Titan, which goes horribly wrong (forcing Megamind to finally become the Cape ''himself'' to stop him and save Metro City).

** [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2000}} Cassandra Cain]] is a very surprising example of a Cape. If you only read her ''very'' troubled backstory, you'd think she'd be an AntiHeroSubstitute for Barbara Gordon as Batgirl. But her experiences shaped her into being a very idealistic character instead of an anti-hero.

* Sayaka Miki from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' - notably, among the main characters, her MagicalGirl outfit is the only with an actual cape. You can guess [[{{Deconstruction}} how this one's played]].

* Sayaka Miki from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' - notably, among the main characters, hers is the only with an actual cape. You can guess [[{{Deconstruction}} how this one's played]].

* Sayaka Miki from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''... You can guess [[{{Deconstruction}} how this one's played]].

* Fate Testarossa of ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' spends one or two seasons as a DarkMagicalGirl. Flash forward 10 years in ''StrikerS'' and she's a LawfulGood law enforcer donning a white cape instead of her old completely black attire. Out of the main trio, she is the most classically heroic and focused on enforcing justice and has neither Hayate's trickster attitude nor Nanoha's BloodKnight characteristic. This is also evident in the climax of StrikerS, where she gets the honor of punching out and arresting the BigBad.

-->"[[{{Franchise/Superman}} Clark]], I... I think you're so amazing. You save peoples' lives and [[ThinkNothingOfIt take zero credit]]. To me, you're more than just a hero -- you're a {{superhero}}... [[HumansAreFlawed If more humans were like you]], [[TheParagon the world would be a better place]]."

** {{Batman}} holds himself to enough standards that he is often closer to this than an AntiHero, just more on the pragmatic side. But regardless, there's a reason his comics are the TropeNamer for JokerImmunity.

* Wrestling/{{WWE}} wrestler The Hurricane is, essentially, {{Superman}} meets the GreenLantern by way of [[Series/{{Batman}} Adam West]].

** It's also worth noting that like [[TheCape Superman]], Paragon Shepard's best friend is the ''MassEffect'' universe's equivalent of [[TheCowl Batman]], Garrus Vakarian. It's lampshaded in the third game that when they work together they make an [[BashBrothers unstoppable team]].

** He wants to be one, and his Sentry persona is essentially the expression of his desire to Marvel's answer to Superman. Unfortunately, his SuperpoweredEvilSide is having none of it.

* Samaritan in ''AstroCity''.

[[quoteright:350:[[{{Superman}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/The_Cape_8122.jpg]]]]