Line #195 Main/TheBusCameBack


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7	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/students_getting_off_bus.png]]
8	[[caption-width-right:350:Only two more seasons until they're back on the bus again.]]
9
10	->''"After months and months of rumors, flat-out denials, and almost certainly some begging by the producers, Creator/MichaelRosenbaum has agreed to reprise his role as Lex Luthor for the series finale of ''Series/{{Smallville}}''. When asked why he finally relented after refusing to return for so long, the actor explained that someone reminded him he was Michael fucking Rosenbaum, and what the fuck else did he have going on."''
11	-->-- '''[[http://www.toplessrobot.com/2011/02/lex_luthor_slums_his_way_back_to_smallville.php Rob Bricken]]''', ''Blog/ToplessRobot''
12
13	After a main character gets written out of a story (either [[PutOnABus explicitly]] or [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome with no explanation]]), we often never see them again. This trope is about when they return once again, to work with the current main characters.
14
15	This works several ways: we may get to find out what they've been up to, and then they go back to whatever it was; or it's used as a way to advance their character development even though they're no longer on the show.
16
17	So what happens next? Sometimes (particularly in live-action media where shooting schedules and prior commitments can keep an actor from returning full-time), at the end of the episode, the character ends up on a different, [[LongBusTrip longer bus]]. In other cases, the character in question returns for good and resumes their major role. This can happen when the character's been an EnsembleDarkhorse and the authors are either [[AuthorsSavingThrow trying to fix the removal]] that was controversial in the first place, or simply attempt to [[PanderingToTheBase win some favors from the fans]]. In this case, the character has all the chances to turn into a SpotlightStealingSquad.
18
19	It might be that it's a show with a lot of characters and this particular one was simply OutOfFocus, if maybe a bit too long. It may also occur when an actor recovers from an illness, finishes work elsewhere or when legal issues are resolved. Actresses who go on maternity leave may have their characters written out of a story only to be written back in once the actresses are ready to return.
20
21	Often The Bus Came Back is invoked as part of GondorCallsForAid, where the main characters bring characters back from the bus to help in a dire situation. Sometimes this even involves bringing back former villains to fight against the current BigBad, because EvenEvilHasStandards. If the returning character suddenly has a new personality or a new actor from the one showcased before, it's respectively either a case of NotAsYouKnowThem or TheOtherDarrin.
22
23	Compare with CommutingOnABus, where a former major character turns into a ''recurring'' guest character (regularly getting [[PutOnABus on]] and off a bus). If the character takes the bus and returns in the very same episode (or, despite his plans, never manage to actually take the bus), then he was simply WithAFootOnTheBus. BackForTheDead, which is the subtrope where the character dies at the end of the return episode; and BackForTheFinale, where a character returns expressly for a show's final episode. Also compare PlotArchaeology, when this trope is applied to an entire story arc. If, on the other hand, a character ''never'' comes back even though it'd be easy for the character to return for at least one episode, then it's a LongBusTrip.
24
25	'''There is a [[Administrivia/NoRecentExamplesPlease minimum time gap]] for any examples where the character [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome wasn't explicitly written out]]'''. To qualify for the trope, they require an absence of one season for episodic works with seasons, one year for episodic works without seasons, or two sequels for non-episodic works. There's no such waiting period for characters who return after being explicitly PutOnABus.
26
27	[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be mixed up with]] HesBack, which is when a mainstay character recovers from [[HeroicBSOD a personal]] [[AchillesInHisTent crisis]].
28	----
29	!!Example subpages:
30
31	[[index]]
32	* TheBusCameBack/AnimeAndManga
33	* TheBusCameBack/ComicBooks
34	* TheBusCameBack/{{Film}}
35	** TheBusCameBack/MarvelCinematicUniverse
36	** TheBusCameBack/StarWars
37	* TheBusCameBack/LiveActionTV
38	* TheBusCameBack/VideoGames
39	* TheBusCameBack/WesternAnimation
40	[[/index]]
41
42	!!Other examples:
43
44	[[foldercontrol]]
45
46	[[folder:Asian Animation]]
47	* A number of characters in ''Animation/HappyHeroes'' have returned in later seasons after being absent for a while. For instance, Zelia reappears in Season 12 after only appearing in the earliest five seasons and second movie, and the Wangcai and Miaomei aliens from Season 7 reappear in Season 14.
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Fan Works]]
51	* Used to great extent in ''Fanfic/AAMLDiamondAndPearlVersion''; starting with Ash deciding to visit Misty after realising how he feels about her, he immediately arranges to get Charizard back on his team so that he can fly straight to Cerulean, and later chapters include developments such as [[spoiler:Haunter permanently joining Ash's team, Ash bringing Sceptile and Snorlax back to his party to fight Paul, and Anabel appearing to face Ash during the Twinleaf Festival]].
52	* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'':
53	** Apart from Vivienne Graham, San, and Alan Jonah and some of his mercs; other characters from ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019'' and other Franchise/MonsterVerse movies don't appear in the story beyond mentions, dreams and flashbacks until at least the seventh chapter.
54	** [[spoiler:The Skullcrawlers]] from ''Film/KongSkullIsland'' unexpectedly enter the story from Chapter 11 onwards.
55	* The ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'' fic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/1745270/1/Always-A-Ranger-Series Always a Ranger]]'' makes great use of this, as not only does Kim return to Tommy's life, but most of Tommy's old Ranger friends drop in to visit him at some point (the only members of Tommy's old teams who never show up are Trini and Justin, and that's for the justifiable reason that Trini died a few years ago and Justin is doing top-secret work for the government).
56	* ''Fanfic/{{Ancienverse}}'':
57	** Numerous past friends of Ash return in the Team Tournament, including Brock, Gary, May, Dawn, and Conway.
58	** Squishy and Z-2 also make a return appearance in Alola.
59	** Harry Kalas returns in ''Tenacity'' to commentate on the Hope Leilani and Alola League.
60	** Several prominent Team Rocket agents reappear in ''Tomorrow'', including Butch and Cassidy, Domino, Pierce, and Dr. Zager.
61	** In the same story, the Team Rocket trio retrieves their Sinnoh Pokémon, left at HQ at the end of DP. Even their Unova Pokémon appear.
62	* In ''FanFic/CandyForYourThoughts'', Noah is brought back for the Niagara falls challenge instead of Blaineley. After that, he's eliminated, along with Owen. However, he proved to be vital for the chapter, as he sang a musical number with Owen that eventually got Cody to confess his love for Courtney.
63	* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11803928/20/Challenger Challenger]]'', Jessie, James, and Meowth first appear in the second chapter and don't show up again until the twentieth, six months later in-universe. They explain to Ash that their attempt to rob the Viridian City Pokémon Center was their very first mission as Team Rocket members and that they went legit after being arrested. They now work as news reporters.
64	* In ''Series/Numb3rs'' story ''Fanfic/DontStayAwayFromHomeForTooLong'', Terry makes an appearance after leaving for DC at the end of season one.
65	* In ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' story ''Fanfic/EverybodysGottaLeaveSometime'', several characters who hadn't been seen in years or even decades return to say their goodbyes to Charlie Brown: Shermy (who made his last appearance in 1969), Patty (1997), Violet (1997) and Pig-Pen (1999).
66	* In the ''FanFic/TheFifthAct'' [[PeggySue Cloud]] ditches Vincent when the latter proves to be an obstructive ally and the timeline's original Cloud is convinced to stay in Nibelheim. [[spoiler: Little Cloud and Vincent join the party both bearing important information about Cloud and Nibelheim.]]
67	* In ''FanFic/Flashpoint2AdventSolaris'', many characters and concepts from the ''WesternAnimation/DCAnimatedMovieUniverse'' that were mentioned but never appeared, were inexplicably absent or just never followed up on show up in full force. Examples being Blackfire (who was implied to exist but never made a formal appearance), Green Arrow (whose sidekick appeared, though he himself didn't), New Genesis (who was confirmed to have existed and given a reason for their absence), and many others.
68	* ''Fanfic/{{Guiding Light\|AuroraRose2081}}'' is about Mirabel returning to the Encanto ten years after she was (allegedly) kidnapped and left to fend for herself out in yonder.
69	* In ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'', the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes and [[EvilTwin Satan]] [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Girl]]'s child are put on a bus after the first arc wraps up, are conspicuously absent during the second arc, and return at the beginning of the final storyline, thirty-five chapters later.
70	* ''Fanfic/InfinityCrisis'' has an enormous lot of them, due to the big number of franchises and pieces of media involved in it.
71	** Phil Coulson returns to officially reveal his survival to the Avengers (although they admit they've known he was alive for a while now). The last time he interacted with the heroes was, well... in ''Film/TheAvengers2012'', when he died.
72	** While en route back to Earth, Stark and Nebula encountered and rescued Valkyrie (last seen in ''Film/ThorRagnarok'') and Sif (who hasn't been seen since Season 2 of ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'').
73	** Jane Foster, for the first time since ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'', returns, coming to the Avengers compound to provide scientific insight.
74	** The Red Skull returns to Earth for the first time since his initial defeat, and Thanos also brings back [[spoiler:Malekith and Hela, who disappeared after ''The Dark World'' & ''Ragnarok'', respectively]].
75	** Technically Snart’s cold gun, considering that we last saw it being disassembled by Ray to use its components to disable a bomb. [[spoiler:It also applies to Mjolnir, destroyed in ''Ragnarok'', which is restored by Thanos on Hela's request (even if it's subsequently picked up by Jane because Hela didn't know about the worthiness enchantment)]].
76	** Barry and Wally are able to bring Pietro Maximoff, who died all the way back during ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', back to life after finding him in the Speed Force.
77	** Jessica is shocked to see Matt Murdock/Daredevil alive after assuming he died following the Defenders' battle with the Hand.
78	** The moment when everyone killed by the Gauntlet returns (as well as Constantine working with Nebula to perform a ritual that restores Gamora to her body), leaving the heroes to tear through Thanos' forces.
79	** Shuri and Cyborg are able to use the Mother Box and the Mind Stone to repair and reactivate the Vision, kaputt since ''Infinity War''.
80	** Back on Earth-38, Lucy Lane and Cat Grant have returned to the DEO and CatCo respectively; after being 'dusted' by "The Snap", they each decided that National City was the best place for them to make the kind of difference they wanted to make.
81	** In ''Different Strokes'', the Arrowverse!Slade Wilson returns to help the team after being absent since the events of Season Two of ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' and the Huntress, who also disappeared following Season 2, is now an operative for Argus.
82	** Darcy Lewis, not seen since ''The Dark World'' like Jane, becomes part of the Avengers' primary support staff in ''Taking Flight (and Fights)''.
83	** In ''Powers and Marvels'', Jason, Trini and Zack are brought back into the fold to help the Avengers and the active Rangers after the Power Coins are stolen. The former two were last seen in ''Series/PowerRangersMegaForce'', while the latter disappeared after ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers''.
84	** In ''Counterpart Conferences'', the Earth-1 Batman, who was basically TheGhost for the entire ''Series/Batwoman2019'' series, returns to Gotham, although he declines to share his reasons for leaving the city with Kate, even if it's implied the Dusting was the catalyst for him to return.
85	** In ''Tomorrow's Guardians'', Alara Kitan rejoins the crew of the ''Orville'' during the Kaylon invasion of Xeleya after leaving it during Season 2 of the show.
86	** Subverted with Maxwell Lord. In ''Distant Cousins'', it seems at first that he came back to National City, showing up for the first time since the Season 1 finale of ''Series/Supergirl2015'', but it's Lex Luthor in disguise. It's later played straight when Chapter 8 of ''Another Side of the Glimpses'' introduces the real Max as he's shown having been in the MCU since the Snap, [[NoodleIncident thanks to The Pighead being drunk at the time]], and is discussing with his DCEU counterpart.
87	** In ''Infinity Crisis Aftermath: Therapy Session'', Leonard Samson returns from ''The Incredible Hulk'' as the Avengers' new psychiatrist.
88	** In ''Chronicles from the Hex'', [[Characters/HomestuckExiles Spades Slick]] returns, years after his death at the hands of Dave Strider. Later in the same series, it's shown that the rest of the Midnight Crew is also back after being last seen as cameos in Act 5 of ''Homestuck''.
89	*** In Chapter 8, we see the return of Lil' Cal, who hasn't been seen since the end of the original comic.
90	** In ''Another Side of the Glimpses'', we see the return of [[Creator/AdultSwim D.E.L.I.L.A.H.]] after her self-termination during the Phase 1 of the Adult Swim ARG, years ago. Zig-zagged with Reggie Long, aka Rorschach II. Despite him being last seen in his debut comic, here, only his backstory prior to ''ComicBook/DoomsdayClock'' is canon so it probably doesn't entirely count.
91	*** In Chapter 4, during Sonic's dream, he's facing [[VideoGame/HotlineMiami Richard, Don Juan & Rasmus]], the latter two making their return after their unexplained disappearance after the first game.
92	** ''Return of the Rani'' & ''Rampage of the Rani'' see The Rani, well... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin returning]] for the first time since 1993 and the "Dimensions In Time" special.
93	** ''National Stride'' sees James Olsen come back to National City in response to Kara being shot by a gold kryptonite bullet.
94	** ''Infinity Crisis Aftermath: The Spirit of Halloween'' has the Fright Knight return to menace Amity Park on Halloween. In addition, a number of Danny's enemies who were absent in previous stories set on Earth-83 arrive with him.
95	** An example inside ''Infinity Crisis'' itself: ''Visions of Magic'' sees the return of Lena Luthor, who was absent since ''Distant Cousins''. Merlin' scant appearances following ''Of Kryptonians and Queens'' and Chapter 8 of ''Counterpart Conferences'' also count, since he only returned in ''Bewitchcraft'' and possibly ''Celestial Navigation''.
96	** The second chapter of ''Spirits and Timey-Wimey Mischief'' marks the return of Earth-702 and Point Place into the narrative of ''Infinity Crisis'', having been absent for more than a year after their introduction.
97	** ''DEATHFAME'' has some meta AND traditional examples:
98	*** [[Series/That70sShow Rhonda Tate]] hasn't been seen since the Season 4 episode ''Tornado Prom'', in 2002. She comes back as the newly-christened Earth-702 Pighead in Chapter 3.
99	*** Missy reappears in the narrative after Chapter 1 of ''Counterpart Conferences'' and a 5-year long absence, with the end of the chapter revealing the circumstances of her return.
100	*** Chapter 4 sees the BTSO' employees and Sydney Moist making their return into the narrative for the first time since 2020 and Chapter 3 of ''Tales of the Beyond''. We even see the base being freed from the mad scientist!
101	** ''New Discoveries'' marks the return of the Valeyard, who hasn't been seen in a non-audio capacity in ''Doctor Who'' since 1986. He even receives the visit of four of his future selves.
102	** Chapter 11 of ''Counterpart Conferences'' has Team Arrow, who hasn't appeared in IC itself since 2020 and ''Salvation Run'', as a meta example and Jack Harkness, whose reapparition in "Fugitive of the Judoon" is done here rather than in this episode (making it his first appearance since 2011 in this series), as a traditional example.
103	** ''Backgrounds, Vol. 1'' shows the return, after two years, of the Earth-4500 Julia Carpenter, last seen in Chapter 3 of ''Glimpses'' [[note]]though, she was unnamed with only WordOfGod confirming her identity[[/note]] working undercover at the Beverly Hills High class reunion and posing from blind.
104	** ''Dead Menace'' sees the return of Matt Garetty for the first time since Chapter 9 of ''Tales of the Beyond'', in 2020, as well as the Fright Knight, whose last appearance was in 2022 in ''The Spirit of Halloween''.
105	** The finale of ''Tales from Everywhere'' shows an appearance from Rusty the Dalek, who hasn't been seen since the end of the Twelfth Doctor's tenure in "Twice Upon A Time". Earlier, Chapter 3 introduced Susan Foreman, who made her first appearance since the ''Dimensions in Time'' special, in 1993[[note]]Or since "The Five Doctors", in 1983, if you don't count this special nor the Expanded Universe stuff involving her[[/note]] (also counts as a LongBusTrip, since when she reunites with her grandfather, he had quite a lot of regenerations).
106	** ''Like Mother, Like Daughter'' sees the return of the Parr Family, Rick Decker & Evelyn Deavor inside the narrative of IC for the first time since Chapter 11 of ''Tales of the Beyond'', almost 4 years ago.
107	* In ''Fanfic/TheLegendOfTotalDramaIsland'', an eliminated contestant makes a guest appearance to help with a later challenge.
108	* The ''Series/PowerRangersInSpace''/''WesternAnimation/MightyDucksTheAnimatedSeries'' crossover "[[http://www.paladar.com/fanware/room13/brand70.htm Lost and Found]]" opens with the Astro Megaship crashing into the energy worm that apparently killed Canard and managing to rescue him. The Rangers eventually find the rest of Canard's team when Dragaunus tries to release the rest of his fleet from dimensional limbo and creates a rift that the Astro Megaship can use to enter the Ducks' version of Earth, the two groups banding together to defeat Dragaunus's latest plan before the Rangers return to their world.
109	* A total of ''one'' "disappeared" character from ''Fanfic/{{Fractured\|SovereignGFC}}'', a ''Franchise/MassEffect''[=/=]''Franchise/StarWars''[[spoiler:[=/=]''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}'']] [[MassiveMultiplayerCrossover crossover]] reappears in its sequel ''Fanfic/{{Origins}}''. Anna Erickson, a [[TheBattlestar Star Destroyer]] captain, pops in for a few chapters but isn't seen again after that. Given that there's a whole cruiser load of characters to begin with...
110	* In Chapter 52 of ''Fanfic/TheParselmouthOfGryffindor'', Professor Max, who had been bussed off to Azkaban ''forty'' installments earlier (in Chapter 15), finally makes a return.
111	* In the ''FanFic/PonyPOVSeries'', [[SixthRanger Trixie]] leaves Ponyville at the end of the Gaia Arc, and (minus an appearance in the "Retcon-Struction Blues" special episode) doesn't properly return until the Wedding Arc.
112	* A recurring thing in ''Fanfic/PokemonNovaAndAntica''. The story is bringing back old friends and rivals.
113	* Ciel, from ''Fanfic/RubyAndNora'' disappeared for five stories after one scene. She has since returned in “Atlas”, and it’s possible she’ll be a part of the main cast.
114	* ''Fanfic/TruePotential'': The Kumo Chūnin Exams arc might as well have this as its title, as many characters who were OutOfFocus after dozens of chapters and real-life years without showing up come back, notable examples including Temari, Misora, Karin, and [[spoiler:Yagura]].
115	* ''Fanfic/TheUltimateEvil'':
116	** [[HunterOfMonsters Nataline "Nat" Homato]] leaves the story at the end of the Demon Portal arc. Aside from a cameo as [[spoiler:a [[DeadPersonOnDisplay displayed corpse]]]] in the [[VillainWorld Demon World]] arc, she doesn't reappear until the end of the seventh chapter of the sequel, ''The Stronger Evil''.
117	** The [[MacGuffinGuardian Guardian of the Book of Ages]], who was last seen at the end of the Demon World arc, is eventually contacted in the 16th chapter of ''The Stronger Evil'' for information about [[spoiler: Tiamat]]'s whereabouts.
118	** Following the Demon World arc, Hsi Wu enters ''The Stronger Evil'' a couple of times in Jade's dreams before he returns in flesh and blood in the eleventh chapter. The rest of the Demon Sorcerers return as well when Shendu contacts them in the 21st chapter.
119	* Inverted in ''Fanfic/TheUniverseDoesntCheat'', since it's a {{prequel}}. Lieutenant T'Var, Eleya's operations officer prior to Reshek Gaarra, only made a brief appearance in ''Fanfic/{{Bait and Switch\|STO}}'' before leaving the USS ''Bajor'' to take her first command, but is a supporting character here.
120	* ''FanFic/WeightOfTheWorld'': After not being seen since ''The Depths of Deception'', Roman returns in ''The Charlatan of Choice'' and takes [[spoiler:the Relic of Creation]] from Nora and Romano to give it to Salem.
121	[[/folder]]
122
123	[[folder:Literature]]
124	* ''Literature/TheBeginningAfterTheEnd'':
125	** Volume 4: After having not seen her since his childhood in Elenoir back in Volume 1, Arthur meets with Rinia Darcassian, who ends up telling him hints about his future and the coming crisis.
126	** Volume 6: At the start of the volume, Arthur is brought face to face with Uto, the Retainer who killed Alea Triscan in Widow's Crypt at the end of Volume 3. Sebastian, the former Court Conjurer of the Glayders who coveted Arthur's bond Sylvie during the 10th Annual Helstea Auctions in Volume 2, makes a reappearance in Arthur's birthplace of Ashber where he is shown to have become a slave trader since being stripped of his position. He ends up being a case of BackForTheDead as he gets killed not long afterwards. Claire Bladeheart is revealed to have survived her injuries from the attack on Xyrus Academy two volumes ago, though at the cost of losing her mana core which has been why she has been living in seclusion away from the war. Her reappearance is accompanied by that of her uncle, Kaspian Bladeheart, who had not been seen since Volume 2 when he tested Arthur for his adventurer's license.
127	** Volume 7: [[spoiler:After having been missing since he was taken by the Vritra back to Alacrya during the attack on Xyrus Academy three volumes ago, Elijah Knight makes his return at the end of the volume having been seemingly ReforgedIntoAMinion by the Vritra. As Arthur [[TheReveal finds out]], this is not exactly the case. Elijah is in fact Nico Sever, the EvilFormerFriend of Arthur's past life King Grey, and has been willingly working with Agrona and the Vritra to exact revenge on Grey for the [[SuicideByCop apparent murder]] his fiancée (and their shared ChildhoodFriendLoveInterest) Cecilia in their past lives. Before Elijah/Nico's return, Arthur comes face to face with Cadell, the Scythe who killed Sylvia back in Volume 1, during the attack on the Council Castle]].
128	** Volume 8: [[spoiler:Feyrith Ivsaar III, who has not been seen since the attack on Xyrus, makes a return at the end of the volume as one of the elves whom Tessia's party rescues from Alacryan captivity. He unfortunately ends up being a case of BackForTheDead as he ends up becoming a casualty of Taci's rampage at the end of the next volume (with his fate not being revealed until the start of the volume after)]].
129	** Volume 9: [[spoiler:Taci, the young Asura whom Arthur sparred with during his time in Epheotus, makes a return. His return is significant as he is not only chosen to be the inheritor of the [[FantasticNuke World Eater]] technique that destroyed Elenoir, but as a RiteOfPassage to prove he is worthy of inheriting said technique, he gets sent to slaughter the Dicathian resistance at the end of the volume when Kezess deems that [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness they have outlived their usefulness to him]]. He ends up being killed by Arthur once he returns from the Victoriad. On a more minor note, Draneeve, the leader of the Radicals, is revealed to have been ReassignedToAntarctica as Nico's attendant since the attack on Xyrus as punishment for inadvertently endangering Agrona's plans with the Legacy]].
130	** Volume 10: Quite a few characters return to the story in this volume. [[spoiler:After having not been seen since Volume 5, both Kordri and Wren reappear in a scene in Epheotus covering the fallout from Taci's death, with the latter joining Aldir in his exile. Following up on this, Avier, the late Cynthia Goodsky's bond who had not been seen since the attack on Xyrus, makes a sudden reappearance near the end of the novel to establish contact between Arthur and the Hearth, the [[HiddenElfVillage hidden enclave]] of the Lost Prince Mordain wherein Aldir and Wren have found refuge in since leaving Epheotus. This culminates in Arthur finally being able to bring back Sylvie after her HeroicSacrifice at the very end of Volume 7. Kaspian Bladeheart makes a second reappearance when Arthur retakes Blackbend, followed by that of Vincent and Lilia Helstea and Vanesy Glory when Arthur retakes Xyrus. Lastly, Lyra, the Retainer who paraded the corpses of Dicathen's kings and queens at the end of Volume 7 to mark the end of Agrona's conquest, makes a reappearance when Arthur retakes Etisin as she surrenders herself and the remaining Alacryan forces on Dicathen to him]].
131	** Volume 11: [[spoiler:Diane Whitehall and Jarrod Redner, minor characters who have not been seen since Volumes 2 and 4 respectively, end up becoming a case of BackForTheDead as they get killed when the Wraiths attack the refugee caravan they were accompanying. Claire Bladeheart, like her uncle Kaspian before her, makes a second reappearance where it is revealed she is participating in Gideon and Wren's secret project. Her reappearance is accompanied by Jasmine's older sister Senyir Flamesworth, who last appeared in Volume 7]].
132	* ''Literature/TheCatWhoSeries'': In book #13 (''The Cat Who Moved a Mountain''), Melinda Goodwinter returns to Pickax after having left town in book #7 (''The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare'') while Qwill is away, though she isn't seen onscreen until the next book.
133	* In ''Literature/CalebWilliams'', Collins disappears from the novel after telling Falkland’s backstory. Ten years (and many chapters) later, Collins bumps into Caleb on the road. It turns out Collins was sent to the West Indies to look after Falkland’s plantation.
134	* The ''Series/DiagnosisMurder'' books "[[Literature/DiagnosisMurderTheSilentPartner The Silent Partner]]" and "[[Literature/DiagnosisMurderTheLastWord The Last Word]]" both feature Jack Stewart, who was a regular in the first 2 seasons of the TV series.
135	* ''Literature/DiaryOfAWimpyKid'':
136	** Nasty Pants appears in ''Wrecking Ball'', for the first time since ''Cabin Fever''. He's dancing at Greg's going-away party.
137	** The members on Greg's basketball team in ''Big Shot'' include Marcus and Darren Woodley (the boys who Frank chaperones at the campout in ''The Last Straw''), and Ruby Bird from ''The Third Wheel''.
138	* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
139	** Twoflower is put on a bus at the end of ''Literature/TheLightFantastic''. He returns (or, rather, Rincewind returns to him) in ''Literature/InterestingTimes'', about a decade later. He has not been seen since, except for a small mention in ''Literature/TheLastHero''.
140	** Then there's Eskarina Smith. Admittedly she belongs in the earlier stranger parts like Twoflower, but it took her 23 years to return, and about 34 books.
141	* ''Literature/DoraWilkSeries'': Witkacy is a side character in ''Soul Thief'', appears briefly in ''Gods Must Be Crazy'' and then all is silent about him until he reappears as Dora's police partner in ''Exorcisms of Dora Wilk'', three books later.
142	* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'':
143	** ''Literature/PeaceTalks'': As the book centers around a meeting between the Accord signers all sorts of characters who haven't been part of Harry's life for a while show up including but not limited to Lara Raith, Ebenezar [=McCoy=], Justine and Carlos Ramirez in significant roles and [[DiabolicalMastermind Marcone]], [[TheDragon Hendricks]], [[{{Valkyries}} Gard]], [[ProfessionalKiller Childs]], [[Myth/NorseMythology Vadderung]], [[DraconicAbomination Ferrovax]], [[TheOmniscient Ivy]], [[UnexpectedSuccessor Sarissa]], [[MagicKnight Fix]], [[CorruptPolitician Cristos]], [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure Martha Liberty]], [[MagicalNativeAmerican Listens-to-Wind]], [[DishingOutDirt Wild Bill]], [[CulturedBadass Chandler]], [[BlowYouAway Yoshimo]], [[FlatEarthAtheist Sa]][[BoisterousBruiser nya]], the [[AffablyEvil Redcap]], [[HateSink Rudolph]], and Gary the paranoid Paranetter among others. Harry lampshades the situation of course;
144	--->'''Harry:''' Reunion week out here.
145	** ''Literature/BattleGround'': After being out of the picture for nine books Mavra reappears, bringing the sire of the Black Court with her and killing two fan favorite Wardens while dragging off a third for a probable FateWorseThanDeath.
146	* Canto 11 of ''Literature/TheFaerieQueene'''s fourht book starts with the narrator making note of how long it's been since Florimell got taken away by Proteus and decides to return her to the forefront of the story.
147	* ''Literature/TheFowlTwins'' brings back Minerva in the third book, after she was [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse rather abruptly dropped]] after the fifth ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'' book. Apparently she and Artemis did date briefly between books, after which she [[spoiler:had a HalfHumanHybrid with a fairy]].
148	* The AI Iona, one of ''ComicBook/HaloBloodLine''[='s=] stars, was seemingly forgotten after the comic ended with a BolivianArmyEnding. It took five years before she appeared in ''Halo'' media again, in ''Literature/HaloSaintsTestimony'', which centers around Iona attempting to convince the UNSC to not terminate her despite her impending rampancy.
149	* Dame Estelle Matsuko was a main character and ally of Literature/HonorHarrington's in the first novel of the series, ''On Basilisk Station''. She then virtually vanished from the narrative for a dozen books thereafter; despite being name-checked as the incoming Home Secretary for the Grantville government in ''War of Honor'' and having gained a peerage in the meanwhile (becoming ''Lady'' Dame Estelle Matsuko, Baroness Medusa), she didn't properly reappear on-page until ''The Shadow of Saganami''. As the Imperial Governor of the Talbott Quadrant, she is a major player in the ''Saganami Island'' spinoff series (of which ''The Shadow of Saganami'' is the first novel).
150	%% * For [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap Erik Night]] and Thanatos in ''Literature/TheHouseOfNight''.
151	* In ''Literature/KnightsOfTheBorrowedDark'', Grey is hauled off by the Order at the end of the first book after being [[MindRape mind-raped]] into [[spoiler:betraying the rest of the Dublin cadre]]. He returns in the final book when the protagonists travel to the Order's HQ for training, and discover that [[spoiler:Grey is to be their new teacher]].
152	* ''Literature/MartinBeck'': The killers from the first two books both reappear in ''Cop Killer'', having gotten out of jail and kept out of trouble since.
153	* ''Literature/MaxAndTheMidknightsTheTowerOfTime'': When Mary, Max, and Kevyn enter the tower of time, they find Ghastley there, who hadn't been seen since getting carried off by dragons in [[Literature/MaxAndTheMidknights the first book]].[[note]]''The Tower Of Time'' is the third book in the series.[[/note]] He claims he's there because he's turned over a new leaf, and wants to help them. [[spoiler:He's lying, of course. He wants to kill Max when she was a baby so she doesn't kick him off the throne years later.]]
154	* ''Literature/OneHundredYearsOfSolitude'': José Arcadio (son of Úrsula and the original José Arcadio Blendía) leaves to join the gypsies after finding out Pilar Ternera is pregnant with his child while he is only 14 years old. He later returns, having seen much of the world and being able to regale people with many stories.
155	* ''Literature/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'':
156	** Bruce (a minor character from ''The Reptile Room'') in ''The Slippery Slope''. Carmelita Spats also returns in the same book.
157	** Phil in ''The Grim Grotto''. It also marks the first appearance of Mr. Poe since ''The Vile Village''.
158	** Tons of examples in ''The Penultimate Peril'', including Jerome, Justice Strauss, the teachers from Prufrock Prep School, residents of the Village of Fowl Devotees, Hal (running an Indian restaurant), Sir, and Charles.
159	* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'': Halfway through ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear'', the droid DV-9 declared that he was tired of dangerous adventures. On a character level he wasn't really needed anymore, either; mostly he had contrasted with TheStoic Hoole as an adult-figure who was less forbidding around Tash and Zak, and by that point the kids and Hoole had finally come to trust and like each other. DV-9 was freed and went to be a research assistant on Koaan. In the last book the others visit Koaan and he meets them and helps find something they were looking for, but declines to come with them off the planet.
160	-->"I am not programmed for philosophy, but I've seen enough to know that you and Tash are in for more excitement than my circuitry can handle. I belong here."
161	* ''Literature/SwansBraidAndOtherTalesOfTerizan'': In "The Things Everyone Knows" Councilor Saladaz, who'd been the villain in the first story, "Swan's Braid", turns up again here as a ghost organizing a secret society to get revenge on the Council for beheading him because he had been in bed with bandits.
162	* ''Literature/TanteiTeamKZJikenNote'': [[spoiler:Sunahara]], who has been CommutingOnABus after the fourth novel[[note]]Owing to his father's company's bankruptcy[[/note]], officially returns to the recurring cast in the eighteenth novel, when he returns to Aya's class.
163	* ''Literature/TortallUniverse'': In the ''Literature/ProtectorOfTheSmall'' quartet's third book, ''Squire'', most of Kel's page friends are scattered all over Tortall with their own knight-masters and she doesn't see them at all. They come back in ''Lady Knight'' when they're all posted to the Scanran front.
164	* Trixie and Gilda in ''Literature/TwilightSparkleAndTheCrystalHeartSpell''. Less so for Trixie, since she had recently appeared in Season 3, but this is Gilda's first reappearance in ''any'' sort of [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Friendship is Magic]]-related media since ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E5GriffonTheBrushOff Griffon The Brush Off]]''.
165	* In ''Literature/WarriorCats'', Graystripe was captured by Twolegs early in the third book of the second series and ultimately presumed dead or permanently lost by his Clanmates. In the first book of the third series - taking place half a year after the second series ended - he returned, having escaped and found the Clans in their new home.
166	[[/folder]]
167
168	[[folder:Multiple Media]]
169	* Franchise/MonsterVerse:
170	** Lee Shaw, a supporting characters from the ''Film/Godzilla2014'' supplementary prequel graphic novel ''Awakening'', is finally set to return in the 2023 TV series ''Series/MonarchLegacyOfMonsters'', almost a full decade after the character debuted and was last heard from.
171	** James Conrad and Mason Weaver of ''Film/KongSkullIsland'' (2017) return in the storyline of the tabletop game ''Kong: Skull Island Cinematic Adventure'', released in 2023, with two movies and several other supplementary materials occurring inbetween their two appearances.
172	[[/folder]]
173
174	[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
175	* Wrestling/ChrisJericho appears to be turning into this, alternating stretches of helping to put over younger wrestlers or rookies on WWE programming with tours with his rock band Fozzy. He's since moved on to Wrestling/{{AEW}}, where he's under long term contract.
176	* Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin also continues to make cameos, over a decade after he supposedly retired.
177	* Wrestling/MaeYoung would randomly show up through her 90s.
178	* For the ''Wrestling/{{WWERAW}}'' 1000th episode almost the entire Wrestling/DGenerationX crew reunited: Wrestling/ShawnMichaels, Wrestling/TripleH, Wrestling/XPac, Wrestling/BillyGunn and Wrestling/RoadDogg. The only ones missing were Wrestling/RickRude (who had died) and Wrestling/{{Chyna}}.
179	[[/folder]]
180
181	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
182	* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' had a series of sets focused around the efforts of New Phyrexia to overtake Mirrodin. The set ended with the Mirran resistance's crushing defeat and the final compleation (not a misspelling) of the plane. Then the New Phyrexians went quiet for several real-world years... until the ''Kaldheim'' set, [[spoiler:where Vorinclex, one of the Praetors of New Phyrexia, revealed his presence on the plane, crushed all who attempted to stop him, and successfully made off with a sample of tyrite, hinting at further manipulations from the New Phyrexians in the future - especially since this incident makes clear ''they can cross planes''.]]
183	* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': The [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Squats]] were featured very prominently in the first two editions of the game, but were subsequently dropped during the shift to third. Fast forward ''thirty years'' to 2018 and they return (albeit in a very limited form) to the GaidenGame ''TabletopGame/{{Necromunda}}''. Then, in April 2022, they were brought back into the mainline game as the Leagues of Votann.
184	[[/folder]]
185
186	[[folder:Theme Parks]]
187	* The ''Haunted Mansion'' in [[Ride/DisneyThemeParks Disneyland]] opening day had a denizen called the Hatbox Ghost. Through the use of lighting his face in a certain way, his head would disappear and reappear in the hatbox he carried. He was included front and center in much of the promotional material for the new attraction. However, while the effect worked from a specific angle, the illusion broke down when viewed from most of the angles of the ride. Just a few days after the ride was opened, the Hatbox Ghost was removed. His animatronic was subsequently lost by the staff. Yet, the Hatbox Ghost retained a following for decades afterward. In 2015, the Hatbox Ghost, using modern projection technology, finally returned to the mansion.
188	[[/folder]]
189
190	[[folder:Webcomics]]
191	* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'':
192	** As of [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0789.html issue 789]], the green-haired elf that's been hanging around the Palace of Blood is revealed to be Zz'dtri in disguise, more than 700 comics after [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0065.html being dragged away by copyright lawyers]]. "Parody is protected speech."
193	** And [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1105.html #1105]] sees the return of [[spoiler: the final member of the original Linear Guild, Hilgya]]. That's more than ''1,000'' comics since [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0084.html we last saw her]].
194	** Strip [[https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1226.html 1226]] sees the return of [[spoiler:Serini Toormuck, whose last appearance was 1,030 strips ago.]]
195	* ''Webcomic/DominicDeegan'': [[AnIcePerson Snowsong]], who was last seen in 2007, makes a re-appearance in July of 2012.
196	* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'':
197	** [[spoiler:God Tier Aradia]] was PutOnABus by going off to delay Jack Noir, then turned up alive and well in a dream-bubble in Act 6, having appointed herself a caretaker of the dead.
198	** For the longest of time, John was PutOnABus when in comparison to other characters. Then in Act 6 he gains the ability to CosmicRetcon anything, anywhere, at anytime. Suddenly, he becomes the main focus of the plot again.
199	* ''Webcomic/{{Parisa}}'': After Nolan and Gwen send the Hand Turkey all the way into outer space in Chapter 2, it returns in Chapter 5 by crashing into the wrestling stadium and demanding to be the next fighter.
200	* ''WebComic/SomethingPositive'' begins each year with a week of "Old Familiar Faces," where we get a bunch of one-shot comics dealing with characters who haven't been seen in a long time. Often these include characters like [[StraightGay Jhim]] or [[PerkyGoth Branwen]], who used to be major secondary characters, but also a grab-bag of {{One Shot Character}}s from years ago who [[NoNameGiven never even got named]].
201	* The ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' strip for [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20200612#.Xue2j-d7mUk June 12th 2020]] features the return of [[spoiler: Pix, and subsequently the rest of Master Payne's Circus]], last seen [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070314#.Xue5med7mUk back in 2007]]. In this case, it's not so much that the bus came back, as that Agatha ''finally'' made it to where the bus was going.
202	* Phillip Kim in ''Webcomic/WeakHero'' is a prominent antagonist throughout Season 1, only to be quickly and firmly beaten by the protagonist at the very start of Season 2. He then disappears almost completely from the story, only to suddenly pop up in Season 3, roughly 100 episodes later, as his business connections prove useful to the BigBad when he needs to gather information on a rival gang.
203	[[/folder]]
204
205	[[folder:Web Original]]
206	* ''WebAnimation/BurgerBrawl'': A twofer for episode 14 "[[Recap/BurgerBrawlEpisode14IWantTheWeed I want the weed]]"
207	** After abandoning the competitiom he's hosting and remaining cast in episode 9 for [[ItMakesSenseInContext being canceled on Twitter]], Burger King angrily comes back when he discovered someone else named [[AuthorAvatar Gery]] took his place and usurps his position once again. Most of the contestants weren't please with his return.
208	** An even longer example with Tyce, a contestant who mysteriously disappeared in episode 3 and was replaced with a [[CardboardPal cardboard cutout]], when Burger King decides the cutout joke isn't funny anymore and [[ForcedTransformation transformed him to his sentient, non-cardboard self]].
209	--->'''Tyce:''' It took you ''that'' long to bring me back?!
210	* ''WebVideo/CrossedLines'': In Episode 1, Public Enemy, the Waterdown Railway's mixed-traffic diesel engine, Boomer, breaks down and is left in Benjamin's care while Atlas takes his train. He eventually returns in episode 7, Rebel Iron, attending the meeting Zebedee is holding in the Waterdown Railway shed.
211	* ''WebVideo/SuburbanKnights'': [[WebVideo/ThatDudeInTheSuede Suede]] left the site two years prior to do missionary work. It turns out he was taking a [[PunchClockVillain temp position]] as an Obstacle for [[KnightTemplar Jaffers]]. He lets Team A go after 'defeating' him and assists them in the final battle.
212	* ''WebVideo/FalloutNukaBreak'': In episode 5, a character from the movie, Red, returns to the cast ensemble as a villianess.
213	* ''AudioPlay/WereAlive'' had Pegs, Kelly, Datu and Hope PutOnABus at the end of chapter 29. In chapter 34 Datu and Hope return after [[spoiler: Boulder falls to the zombies. [[BusCrash Pegs and Kelly are missing and presumed dead, however.]]]]
214	* ''WebAnimation/EddsWorld'' had [[TriggerHappy Tord]] returning to redo one of his lines in [[TimeTravel WTFuture]]. It was rumored he was scheduled to return in Fun Dead and an upcoming Wild West-themed episode should feature him as a main character.
215	** Oh, he [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8ZU32B4U24 DID,]] sweetheart. [[spoiler:[[FaceHeelTurn And proceeded to]] [[OhCrap destroy the boys' house.]]]]
216	* Fans were disappointing when Taylor wasn't on season 5 of WebVideo/WipeoutRoblox, but were happy to see him return for season 6.
217	* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue''
218	** A surprising one was [[spoiler:Grif's sister Kaikaina, who was only seen in the final season of ''The Blood Gulch Chronicles'' saga and claimed to have [[DroppedABridgeOnHim Dropped A Bridge On Her]], though Grif knew this was unlikely.]]
219	** Another comes from Doc suddenly returning in season 13 after a teleportation accident vanished him halfway through season 11, with nobody seeming bothered by his disappearance. Doc is very angry to discover that the people he considered his friends never bothered to try and find him. In the process, the long-missing character of "O'Malley" also returned, after a much longer absence of about 8 seasons. (The Omega AI he was birthed from appeared, but O'Malley is somewhat distinct from Omega. [[MindScrew It's weird]]. )
220	* ''Series/{{Noob}}'' had to get Dark Avenger PutOnABus due to his actor having a drop in availability, but has been able have him back just long enough to be relevant to the plot on a couple of select occasions.
221	* The Brooklyn Guy from ''WebVideo/SuperMarioLogan'' made his debut in a 2011 short, and was PutOnABus the following video. He then returned three years later at the end of Part 5 of the "Bowser Junior's Summer School" story arc, [[AscendedExtra and is now a recurring character]] [[NewJobAsThePlotDemands with so far over 30 different jobs]].
222	* ''WebVideo/MidnightScreenings'': Jerrid Foiles left the show after about a year due to a falling out between him and main host Creator/BradJones. Although they later reconciled and Jerrid started appearing in Brad's other videos again, it seemed that Jerrid was forever gone from ''Midnight Screenings''. However, he made his triumphant return for the ''Film/{{Warcraft\|2016}}'' review, and has become a semi-regular reviewer again ever since.
223	* This happens on ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'' every time an old contestant (winner or loser) returns in another match-up.
224	* ''WebAnimation/GamingAllStars 2'': [[VideoGame/GodOfWar Kratos]], after initially appearing in ''Remastered'' to slay [[spoiler: Giga Bowser]] and never receiving any more screen time after that, returns as one of the central protagonists of this series (Alongside [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]] and [[VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved Master Chief]]).
225	* In ''WebVideo/{{Dream}}'''s Minecraft Manhunts, for a while, George was the one and only hunter. Dream did special one-off Manhunt episodes with Sapnap and Bad, [[PutOnABus but they hadn't appeared for a while]]. Eventually, however, Sapnap was brought back as a second hunter alongside George, and when they decided a third was needed Bad came back as well. Just like Dream and George, [[AscendedExtra Sapnap and Bad are now mainstays in the Manhunt series]].
226	* ''WebAnimation/{{Dreamscape}}'': After having a (rather minor) role in episode 1, Soya and Vladmare finally return at the end of episode 7 to fight Ethan and Curien.
227	* ''WebOriginal/ProtectorsOfThePlotContinuum'': Sean, who used to be Agent Luxury's boyfriend, returns after an absence of nearly a decade to help a team of newbies tackle an NSFW crossover involving a [[Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}} Slimer]] replacement raping Sam from ''Film/{{Transformers\|FilmSeries}}''. His disappearance is {{handwave}}d by him explaining that he spent most of the decade lost in a plothole.
228	[[/folder]]

Context Main / TheBusCameBack