History TookALevelInBadass / Webcomics

* Sebastian of ''TrueVillains'' was cursed by a spell that drains his life force. After the spell is lifted, well... [[http://www.truevillains.com/comic-2011-10-04-Mightier%20than%20the%20Sword-jpg.htm He can punch through swords.]]

*** "Beating" Belkar? More like ''one-shotting him with a plank of wood''.

*** What, you think you get to be the assistant to the most powerful man in the world without being able to take care of a simple Jagermonster?
** Tarvek either TookALevelInBadass or been playing CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass, surprising even his cousin-cum-bodyguard Violetta with his competence. Likewise, it appears Wooster, Gil's "valet", was doing much the same thing, as was [[MagnificentBastard Zola]]. Never mind The Unstoppable Higgs. All the major and secondary characters in Webcomic/GirlGenius started as BadAss, TookALevelInBadass, or aren't very important characters...yet.
*** One doesn't "play" CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass. After careful research, the trope that covers Tarvek is ObfuscatingStupidity; [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110425 this strip]] makes it pretty clear.

*** Unfortunately, that badass level was dependent on his {{Genre Savvy}}ness - in the Empire of Blood, his capabilities have been OvershadowedByAwesome: [[spoiler:his father,]] General Tarquin is exponentially savvier, throwing him back to being almost [[TheDitz incapable of functioning in the party for his stupidity.]]

** U17 Cell, who defeated Gohan in their final clash, and slaughtered the Z-Fighters easily, and likely went on to kill the Bojack Gang and Majin Buu as well. And, much like U6's Bojack Gang, may have actually managed to kill Broly when the latter arrived on Earth (or this could simply be a plot-hole as well).

* Liquid in [[Webcomic/TheLastDaysOfFoxhound Last Days of FOXHOUND]], right about [[http://www.doctorshrugs.com/foxhound/comic.php?id=104 here]]. Possibly multiple levels. Though it's more like regaining the levels he [[http://www.doctorshrugs.com/foxhound/comic.php?id=55 lost]] before the start of the comic.
* "Doc" Schweitzer in [[Webcomic/FlintlockesGuideToAzeroth Flintlocke's Guide to Azeroth]] after he [[spoiler:single-handedly kills Cheri and the Shadow Priest with [[Main/ChekhovsGun the "Murder" macro written by the Wuff]].]]
* Katherine Gilchrist, the spooky-eyed, introverted, generally strange fabrics expert at the museum where protagonist Monica Villareal works in [[Webcomic/WapsiSquare Wapsi Square]] has leveled up after her [[http://wapsisquare.com/comic/lost-dolls/ Mesa Verde adventure]], to the point where [[spoiler:she seems to be perfectly willing to [[http://wapsisquare.com/comic/lost-dolls/ scream at The Library]], which has the power to jerk Titans around]].

* Lily from ''CollegeRoomiesFromHell'' shows up to Dave and Mike's birthday party a full-fledged witch able to fly and summon ball lightning, swearing revenge for the death of her mother. Since [[DramaticIrony the audience knows Margaret to have done this and Roger to have already forgiven her]], and she hit it off with Diana at the party, her character arc is probably just getting started...

** And Aradia: she was already pretty powerful, but [[spoiler:her ascent to God Tier]] made her powerful enough to ''stop'' ''[[DiscOneFinalBoss Bec Noir]] in time.''

** And Aradia: she was already pretty powerful, but [[spoiler:her ascent to God Tier]] made her powerful enough to ''stop'' ''[[BigBad Bec Noir]]'' ''in time.''

* "Doc" Schweitzer in [[Webcomic/FlintlockesGuideToAzeroth Flintlocke's Guide to Azeroth]] after he [[spoiler:single-handedly kills Cheri and the Shadow Priest with [[Main/ChekhovsGun the "Murder" macro written by the Wuff]].]]

* Liquid in [[Webcomic/TheLastDaysOfFoxhound Last Days of FOXHOUND]], right about [[http://www.doctorshrugs.com/foxhound/comic.php?id=104 here]]. Possibly multiple levels. Though it's more like regaining the levels he [[http://www.doctorshrugs.com/foxhound/comic.php?id=55 lost]] before the start of the comic.

* Torg of ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' has always been a goofy CloudCuckooLander, but with the comic taking on [[CerebusSyndrome more serious themes]] in addition to the goofy ones, he's had to cope with more and more dramatic and dangerous situations. The real shift happens in "That Which Redeems", a story during which he's stuck for months on an alternative Earth fighting against invading demons -- he both learns how to fight for real and finds out that the fancy sword he'd picked up during time travel to the past is magical and can be PoweredByAForsakenChild to become powerful enough to [[AbsurdlySharpSword cut like a lightsaber]] and [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu literally kill a god]]. After that, he remains goofy, but is quite capable of [[LetsGetDangerous getting dangerous]] when needed.

* Torg of ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' took his level in badass during the That Which Redeems arc. Being stuck in an alternate universe with demons hunting you all the time will do that. Afterwards he seems to have settled back into a CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass.
** Torg had been gradually -- very gradually -- ramping up in badassery from the start of the comic, where he was portrayed as geeky but normal, unlike explosion-happy Riff. It's only when he's placed in a world where everyone else is a wimp (throwing pies is considered a heinous act of violence, and their version of a "nuke" is a leafletting campaign) that he finally emerges as a true Bad Ass.
** It's easy to forget that, yes, he still owns a sword that can kill demons and gods if he allows it to feast on the blood of the innocent. Until somebody gives him a reason to pick it up again. Prior to That Which Redeems, he succeeded in killing off Aylee's [[CloningBlues Evil Clone]], who had just defeated [[KillerRabbit Bun-Bun]]. Bun-Bun prefers to pretend that the whole thing didn't happen, and nobody feels like arguing the point.
**** From the time Torg got the sword in the Stormbreaker Saga, his badassery was more or less incidental/accidental. It wasn't until after That Which Redeems that it became remarkable. He appears to have taken another level during Aylee-Code Boom, becoming a casual zombie-slayer.
***** [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=090205 And again.]] Perhaps it has become a RunningGag.
***** Demons are obviously tougher than the different "zombies", so it doesn't really suggest a further level-up.

** DoubleSubverted with the Commander himself. After [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2011/11/19/birth-of-a-spacer/ losing a tooth in the climax]], he certainly ''thinks'' he's taken a level, [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2011/11/27/give-and-take/ only for Zenith's monster to beat the smut out of him again]]. But then when that's out of the way, [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2012/02/23/the-cat-with-the-plan/ he's the one hatching a plan to save the galaxy's digitized population]], and goes [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2012/03/18/cks-epiphaly/ to barking out orders for not only his own crew, but the Velvet Knight crew as well]].

* Kedamono from ''ThePrideOfLife'' has managed to [[http://prideoflife.com/?p=199 take]] [[http://prideoflife.com/?p=208 one]] [[http://prideoflife.com/?p=509 or more]] [[http://prideoflife.com/?p=641 recently]].

** Then there's [[BumblingSidekick Mittens]], a general ButtMonkey who would rather be [[www.commanderkitty.com/2009/10/18/cliffhanger/ watching TV than]] [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2009/10/25/im-watching-you-butterball/ flying the ship]]. But after getting [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2010/12/19/mittens-found/ some words of encouragement and a spiffy outfit]], he becomes the most competent character in the comic, [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2011/01/16/mittens-has-another-cunning-plan/ even scaring the previous holder of the title, Ace]].

* [[PlayingWithFire Carval]] [[BrattyHalfPint Jarvoc]] from HeartCore took quite a level in BadAss considering what happened to him in his first fight against the protagonist, [[BadAssPrincess Ame]] [[HornyDevils Lashiec]]. In his first battle against her, [[CurbStompBattle he got defeated and knocked down by one signle projectile, not even managing to cause any significant damage against her]]. In their second fight, he nearly managed to kill her untill he got thrown from the top of a skyskraper. [[SuperpoweredEvilSide And then he fused together with his even stronger father...]]

** Tarvek either TookALevelInBadass or been playing CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass, surprising even his cousin-cum-bodyguard Violetta with his competance. Likewise, it appears Wooster, Gil's "valet", was doing much the same thing, as was [[MagnificentBastard Zola]]. Never mind The Unstoppable Higgs. All the major and secondary characters in Webcomic/GirlGenius started as BadAss, TookALevelInBadass, or aren't very important characters...yet.

* Sebastian of ''TrueVillains'' was cursed by a spell that drains his life force. After the spell is lifted, well... [[http://www.truevillains.com/comic-2011-10-04-Mightier%20than%20the%20Sword-jpg.htm He can punch through swords.]]

* While already {{Badass}} before their [[GenderBender sex changes]], the T-Girls of ''Webcomic/JetDream'' also received BioAugmentation and [[TrainingFromHell extensive training]] in Combat Femininity, making them into an AmazonBrigade and quite effective in their new feminized bodies and roles.

** More recently, Boris, the Baron's personal secretary, has suddenly shown his ability [[spoiler: to not only take down a Jaegermonster, but actually [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100820 beat him until he gives up classified information]]]]. This is actually a classic example, in that there was no on-screen intermediate development.

* Torg of ''SluggyFreelance'' took his level in badass during the That Which Redeems arc. Being stuck in an alternate universe with demons hunting you all the time will do that. Afterwards he seems to have settled back into a CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass.

* Agatha takes ''several'' levels of badass in ''GirlGenius'' as she evolves from from the hopeless klutz of Polygnostic University to a Spark at or above the level of any previous Heterodyne.

** Tarvek either TookALevelInBadass or been playing CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass, surprising even his cousin-cum-bodyguard Violetta with his competance. Likewise, it appears Wooster, Gil's "valet", was doing much the same thing, as was [[MagnificentBastard Zola]]. Never mind The Unstoppable Higgs. All the major and secondary characters in GirlGenius started as BadAss, TookALevelInBadass, or aren't very important characters...yet.

* While already {{Badass}} before their [[GenderBender sex changes]], the T-Girls of ''Webcomic/JetDream'' also received BioAugmentation and [[TrainingFromHell extensive training]] in Combat Femininity, making them into an AmazonBrigade and quite effective in their new feminized bodies and roles.

* Seth of ''{{Narbonic}}''. Nerdy, pimply gamer geek. Gets sucked into hell. Comes back later in the comic as a nerdy, pimply gamer geek who wields an immense EmpathicWeapon axe and slays demons. When he's not gaming. For that matter, Dave Davenport takes a level in badass more than once throughout the course of the comic, all the way up until the big reveal near the end.

* While already {{Badass}} before their [[GenderBender sex changes]], the T-Girls of ''Webcomic/JetDream'' also received BioAugmentation and [[TrainingFromHell extensive training]] in Combat Femininity, making them into an AmazonBrigade and quite effective in their new feminized bodies and roles.

** 1st level: [[http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119487 After being trained by the Catholic Priest]].

** 3rd level: [[http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119766 After Claudita possesses him]] (with his full consent and full knowledge).
* Done in ''Webcomic/OrderOfTheStick'', where Elan takes a level in badass -- or, rather, in the Dashing Swordsman prestige class.

* Kedamono from ''{{The Pride of Life}}'' has managed to [[http://prideoflife.com/?p=199 take]] [[http://prideoflife.com/?p=208 one]] [[http://prideoflife.com/?p=509 or more]] [[http://prideoflife.com/?p=641 recently]].
* In ''{{Narbonic}}'', the character Seth was a pimple-faced girl-shy role-playing nerd. Then he got sent to hell, [[LikeABadassOutOfHell where he fought his way out]] after obtaining the [[{{BFS}} demonic axe Zürrr]] by defeating the devil queen Sh'zk'ra. And picked up a BadassLongcoat somewhere along the way.

* Agatha takes ''several'' levels of badass in ''GirlGenius'' as she evolves from from the hopeless klutz of Polygnostic University to a Spark at or above the level of any previous Heterodyne.

* The character [[spoiler:Cale'Anon]] from the webcomic ''{{Looking for Group}}''. He starts the series off [[spoiler:rather clueless and useless, and in the first comic gets blasted to cinders by Richard.]] By the third or fourth issue, he's [[http://www.lfgcomic.com/page/91 changed a little]] and very soon is pulling stunts like [[http://www.lfgcomic.com/page/96 this]] and [[http://www.lfgcomic.com/page/241 this]] .

* Done in ''Webcomic/OrderOfTheStick'', where Elan ''literally'' takes a level in badass -- or, rather, in the Dashing Swordsman prestige class.

** Roy took a level too. In the beginning, he was basically just a snarky team leader. The only time he showed his inner awesome was rescuing Elan from a situation he wouldn't have been in if he hadn't abandoned him in the first place (and him taking down Xykon, but that was via deus ex machina). After his little trip to heaven, he suddenly becomes more serious, has a worldly air around him, beats on a half-dragon-half-ogre, most of a bar in a barfight, gets ranked top of the list after beating Belkar (whose awesome used to be far above him) and even bopped Haley's uncle across the room. Aside from asking Belkar to find him a cartographer ("...this is a cart of gophers, isn't it?"), after being resurrected Roy has not made one bad descision or done anything that has come back to bite him.

** Torg had been gradually -- very gradually -- ramping up in badassery from the start of the comic, where he was portrayed as geeky but normal, unlike explosion-happy Riff. It's only when he's placed in a world where everyone else is a total wimp (throwing pies is considered a heinous act of violence, and their version of a "nuke" is a leafletting campaign) that he finally emerges as a true Bad Ass.
** It's easy to forget that, yes, he still owns a sword that can kill demons and gods if he allows it to feast on the blood of the innocent. Until somebody gives him a reason to pick it up again.
*** It's also worth keeping in mind that, prior to That Which Redeems, he succeeded in killing off Aylee's [[CloningBlues Evil Clone]], who had just defeated [[KillerRabbit Bun-Bun]]. Bun-Bun prefers to pretend that the whole thing didn't happen, and nobody feels like arguing the point.

** Tarvek either TookALevelInBadass or been playing CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass, surprising even his cousin-cum-bodyguard Violetta with his competance. Likewise, it appears Wooster, Gil's "valet", was doing much the same thing, as was [[MagnificentBastard Zola]]. Never mind The Unstoppable Higgs. Pretty much all the major and secondary characters in GirlGenius started as BadAss, TookALevelInBadass, or aren't very important characters...yet.

* [[spoiler:Steve]] from ''QuestionableContent'', in what doubles as an ''epic'' BigLippedAlligatorMoment... unless, of course, it's mentioned again.

* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', Justin, after entire arcs of being one of the only main characters without amazing superpowers or [[WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys wonderful toys]], knocks back a flame golem [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-09-27 with his bare fists]] then kicks it [[PunchedAcrossTheRoom over a hundred feet]] [[http://egscomics.com/?date=2010-10-08 into a river]].

** [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/11222011/ And the next]] [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/11252011/ two pages]].

* In ''ElGoonishShive'', Justin, after entire arcs of being one of the only main characters without amazing superpowers or [[WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys wonderful toys]], knocks back a flame golem [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-09-27 with his bare fists]] then kicks it [[PunchedAcrossTheRoom over a hundred feet]] [[http://egscomics.com/?date=2010-10-08 into a river]].