Line #19 Main/TrenchcoatWarfare


1	[[quoteright:350:[[Film/TheBoondockSaints https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/760e594cc0a8b648af3730249df5c9ac.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:''There was a '''FIREFIGHT!''''']]
3
4	Someone allows their BadassLongcoat to flare open, [[HiddenWeapons revealing]] [[WalkingArmory enough weaponry]] to outfit a [[LaResistance small separatist uprising]] with enough to spare for opening a [[ArmsDealer gun shop]].
5
6	Compare with HyperspaceArsenal and CoatFullOfContraband. Often overlaps with ThrowAwayGuns. Will likely precede an OhCrap moment by their opponent. Surprisingly little overlap with the TrenchcoatBrigade.
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8	----
9	!!Examples:
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11	[[foldercontrol]]
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13	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
14	* Pierrot Le Fou from the ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' episode "[[Recap/CowboyBebopSession20PierrotLeFou Pierrot le Fou]]" looks like [[FatBastard a very round-chest man in a jacket]], but he's actually a skinny man with dozens of guns stuffed in his jacket.
15	* Meryl Strife from ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'' did this to an extreme, with dozens of one-shot derringer pistols lining her cloak, which she'd [[ThrowAwayGuns go through quite rapidly in a gunfight]].
16	* Variant in ''Anime/TheCastleOfCagliostro'': Lupin, shortly after ripping off the false beard, mustache, and glasses from his disguise as the archbishop, is about to be rushed by the Count. He then dramatically throws open the robe to reveal dozens of lit fireworks, all of which launch and begin going off, causing chaos and confusion. Jigen and Goemon (used to Lupin's talents for causing mayhem) take advantage of it to go on the attack, Jigen opening fire on the Count's assassins with a World War II anti-tank rifle and Goemon cutting their armor open with his super-sharp sword. Zenigata [[StormingTheCastle storms the castle]] with several Interpol troopers and they get into a fight with the royal guard.
17	* Sayaka from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' does this with her cape to create swords, which she then [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks throws]]. Mami does this with her MagicSkirt.
18	* In ''Anime/ReadOrDie'', Yomiko Readman's coat is filled with newspapers, magazines, paperbacks, and other forms of reading material. While most of the time this is due to her being an obsessive bibliomaniac, her powers as a PaperMaster allow her to wreak a lot of havoc with all that reading material if she has to.
19	* In one episode of ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries'', a doctor opens his lab coat to reveal an arsenal of scalpels, syringes, and other instruments of medical pain as he tells Team Rocket exactly why it would be unwise for them to try to steal the Pokémon that have been temporarily been placed under his care.
20	* Ryouma in ''New Manga/GetterRobo'' opens a cloak halfway through the series, revealing an arsenal of pointy and sharp objects on his person.
21	* In Literature/{{Slayers}} TRY, Jillas, a comic relief AntiVillain and a parody of TheGunslinger, demonstrates this trope with a cloak.
22	* Zazie from Battle Angel Alita: Last Order goes as far as to have an extra pair of arms under coat, holding even more guns.
23	* In an episode of ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'', the villain-of-the-day is a giant gunslinger in a poncho, out from which it produces several different firearms; when flipped upside-down it [[spoiler:is revealed to be a giant hand, each finger holding a gun.]]
24	[[/folder]]
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26	[[folder:Comic Books]]
27	* ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'': In the ''Jenny Sparks: Secret History of the Authority'' miniseries, Midnighter opens his coat to reveal nearly a dozen [[ImprovisedWeapon sharp objects]]. When he joined the Authority, he upgraded to a [[HyperspaceArsenal tesseract coat]] that holds any number of weapons imaginable and weighs close to 70 kilograms.
28	* ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'': Frank Castle has done this upon occasion.
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30
31	[[folder:Fan Works]]
32	* ''Fanfic/TatteredCapesUnderAShatteredMoon'': Lillie opens her coat to reveal she keeps fourteen revolvers holstered in it so she doesn't need to reload.
33	[[/folder]]
34
35	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
36	* The most famous example of this is Neo in the first ''Film/TheMatrix'' movie.
37	-->''[Neo steps through a metal detector, setting it off]''\
38	'''Security Officer:''' Could you please remove any metallic items you may be carrying: keys, loose change...\
39	''[Neo opens up his coat, revealing a massive weapons stockpile]''\
40	'''Security Officer:''' [[OhCrap Holy shit.]]
41	* ''Film/TheBoondockSaints'' features Il Duce, who reveals six pistols under his coat just before the firefight with the title characters.
42	* Takeshi Kaneshiro in the climax of ''Film/{{Hero\|1997}}'' wears a trenchcoat containing nine Mausers, multiple bundles of dynamites, knives, and a machine-gun.
43	* The titular character in ''Film/VForVendetta'' at one point draws back his cape to reveal multiple knives. He goes on to subvert NeverBringAKnifeToAGunFight.
44	* ''Film/{{Machete}}'' carries a ludicrous number of knives in his trenchcoat.
45	* ''Film/Transporter2'' manages to combine this with blatant {{Fanservice}} when [[TheDragon Lola]] first tries to kill the protagonist, ripping open the [[MuggedForDisguise white labcoat she's wearing]] to reveal a pink bra and panties, black garter, suspenders and stockings, and twin laser-sighted full-auto Glock pistols which she puts to immediate use.
46	* Used for AnachronismStew effect in the opening scene of ''Film/{{Timecop}}'' (1994), in which criminals are using time travel for personal gain. A lone man confronts five [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar American Civil War]] soldiers in the pouring rain, and insists they hand over the gold in the wagon they're escorting. They reach for their guns, only for the man to whip open his coat and gun them down with laser-sighted GunsAkimbo machine pistols.
47	* ''Film/Red2''. Victoria Brown steps into the Iranian embassy and draws a weapon from several hanging under her [[PrettyInMink fur-lined coat]]. Classy...
48	* In ''Film/TheDeathOfStalin'', Zhukov smuggles two automatic rifles to his men who are waiting for him in the bathroom by concealing them under his greatcoat.
49	* ''Film/TheGentlemen'': While doing business in sketchy areas, Raymond carries a sub-machinegun under his expensive cashmere trench coat. This comes as a nasty surprise to the gang of chavs who attempt [[NeverBringAKnifeToAGunfight to intimidate him with a machete]].
50	* {{Lampshaded}} in ''Film/HotFuzz'', where Nicholas Angel tries to teach his new partner Danny Butterman to be aware of suspicious people while on patrol. For example, that elderly man in a large coat could be hiding a weapon (Danny just supposes he could be cold). [[spoiler:In the final battle, the same old man turns out to be one of the villains, and indeed throws open his coat dramatically to draw a shotgun on Nick.]]
51	[[/folder]]
52
53	[[folder:Literature]]
54	* In ''Literature/TerminalWorld'', ActionGirl Meroka's introductory scene has her open her coat to reveal a sub-machine gun, a revolver, an automatic, a blunderbuss, a crossbow, and a varied assortment of knives.
55	* The warrior angel Jayt in ''Literature/WarsOfTheRealm'' is the team weapons specialist, and his trench coat is loaded with pistols, grenades, and plenty of throwing knives.
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58	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
59	* ''Series/AlteredCarbon''. Subverted in "Phantom Lady". On facing a gang of Yakuza, Takeshi Kovacs sweeps back his coat with a dramatic SlowMotion flourish and [[GunsAkimbo grabs a couple of hidden guns]]...which then go flying out of his hands when someone kicks him in the back. Hand-to-hand combat then ensues.
60	* One episode of ''Series/McHalesNavy'', "The [=McHale=] Mob", has the crew pretend to be UsefulNotes/AlCapone-style mobsters in a scam to get chief Urulu to sign a treaty with the US Navy. Ensign Parker plays the role of the stone cold executioner. As part of the gag where they are going to "execute" Captain Binghamton for squealing, Ensign Parker walks over to him and with a flourish opens his coat to reveal a rather large amount of weapons including various firearms, knives, truncheons, brass knuckles and grenades.
61	* Parodied in one sketch of ''Series/InLivingColor'' with David Allen Grier acting as a teacher manning the metal detector at an inner city high school. One student sets off the alarm and is forced to open his coat revealing a ridiculous number of weapons. David Allen Grier is shocked and appalled, [[ComicallyMissingThePoint at the plastic folding box cutter]] the student was carrying.
62	* ''Series/{{Angel}}''. In "[[Recap/AngelS05E11Damage Damage]]", WrongGenreSavvy geek Andrew (once a BigBadWannabe in the Buffyverse, but by this stage more of a ComedicHero) proudly shows off the WalkingArmory under his BadassLongcoat which he copied from Spike. Spike is not impressed.
63	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': In [[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS3E22GraduationDayPart2 "Graduation Day Part 2"]], Mayor Wilkins Ascends into [[OneWingedAngel demonic form]] during his commencement speech. As the adults flee in terror Buffy yells "Now!" and the entire graduating class open their gowns to reveal they're armed and ready to fight the Mayor.
64	* Came up a couple of times on ''Series/HillStreetBlues'', albeit [[DownplayedTrope usually with only one weapon,]] such as when someone shot up a gay bar with an Uzi concealed in this fashion [[spoiler:and wounded a police officer in the process, causing some awkwardness because he wasn't previously out to his colleagues.]] And unlike some more modern works, ConspicuousTrenchCoat didn't apply because long overcoats were a perfectly normal thing to wear in that era; it was even a plot point in an episode that took place during a ColdSnap that walking around wearing a trenchcoat and a ''ski mask'' didn't count as probable cause.
65	[[/folder]]
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67	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
68	* A frequent occurrence in ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' thanks to the popularity of Armored Longcoats and the habit of combat-oriented 'Runners for carrying around plenty of firepower for when things go south.
69	[[/folder]]
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71	[[folder:Video Games]]
72	* The Merchant's introduction in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4''. He can carry as much stuff within his coat as he can sell to Leon, and it shows.
73	* In ''VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy 3'', the Gunslinger enemies and their sword-based variant essentially ARE trench coats with robotic heads. The coats don't open, although just because it'd require an explanation on how hammerspace works - {{BFG}}s or {{BFS}}s still emerge from the coats regularly.
74	* In ''VideoGame/TheMatrixPathOfNeo'' you start to play the govt. lobby level just after the ''Film/TheMatrix'' example above, it's awesome.
75	* In VideoGame/ChampionsOnline it is not only a simple matter to outfit your character with a trenchcoat, but also to equip them with enough holsters, ammo belts and guns strapped to their body to make that Munitions Superpower look realistic.
76	* In ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' the character Reaper has a spray that suggests this to be the case. In it, he is holding open his coat to reveal several identical shotguns within, replacements for the ones he's holding when they run out of ammo and he [[ThrowawayGuns carelessly tosses them aside]].
77	* In ''VideoGame/OctopathTravelerII'', [[TheFagin Father]]'s battle sprite wears a coat whose inside is ''lined'' with rows upon rows of knives.
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79
80	[[folder:Web Comics]]
81	* In a variation: EvilChancellor Magon during the 'Stormbringer' arc of ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance''. Seeing as it's the middle ages, he doesn't have any guns or trenchcoats - he does, however, have several daggers lining the inside of his cloak. All the easier to to indulge in his ChronicBackstabbingDisorder. (Though he prefers the term 'Morally Challenged'.)
82	** And in another case, one character accuses Riff of bad intentions towards another character by asking if he had A weapon beneath his trench coat. Kiki the ferret jumps out from the coat replying that it wasn't just one gun, it was an arsenal.
83	* MadScientist version in ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'', in winter Agatha wears [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20140326#.YeRRBFlMFPY an overcoat]] loaded with so many tools it can stand on its own.
84	-->'''Krosp:''' "You didn't ''have'' to bring all those tools."\
85	{{beat}}\
86	'''Agatha:''' "I don't understand what you mean."
87	* ''Webcomic/HeartCore'': [[http://www.deviantart.com/art/heartcore-chp-08-page-288-301525807 Seems that]] [[MadBomber Carval]] was more than prepared to bring a shirt full of blood bombs with him for his fight against Ame.
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90	[[folder:Web Videos]]
91	* Parodied [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VDvgL58h_Y this]] fake movie trailer, albeit with a hoodie instead of a trench coat, and... spoons instead of guns.
92	[[/folder]]
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94	[[folder:Western Animation]]
95	* Variant in the animated show ''[[WesternAnimation/COPS1988 C.O.P.S.]]''. The {{cyborg}} gangster Buttons [=McBoomBoom=] opens his coat to reveal machine guns hidden ''[[ChestBlaster inside his chest]].''
96	* Along with his equally-sized arsenal in his hat, this is WesternAnimation/SecretSquirrel's schtick. He has a device for pretty much any situation but has problems either getting it out in time or finding it among other gadgets. His storage of objects inside his trench coat comes up as the focus of an episode of ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw'' when Secret gets mistakenly accused of flashing people and turns to Harvey for legal backup.
97	* Depending on the series, ''WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget'' has dozens of gadgets inside his coat. The original 1983 series was fairly restrained -- his coat carried only the airbag gadget and the retractable handcuffs. Later on, in the movies, ''WesternAnimation/GadgetAndTheGadgetinis'', and the recent 2015 CGI series, his coat contains many more gadgets.
98	* ''WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters'': The figurine of Sam Hain wore a cloak which concealed an array of ferocious-looking butcher knives, jagged-edged shears, and such.
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101	[[folder:Real Life]]
102	* Ever wondered why the trenchcoat is called a ''trench''coat? Because they were [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trench_coat first produced for British officers]] in UsefulNotes/WorldWarI. These greatcoats were, in fact, tailored exactly for this trope's sake (though they also kept the wearer warm and dry in the trenches). You could stuff the pockets and fit the belt with hand grenades, maps and casings, ammo cartridges, swords, walking sticks, and much more. Plus, the coat made it easier to shoulder rifles and similar things.
103	* A modern trench coat (i.e. what businessmen wear to work in bad weather) is far more advanced than what was available back then. The modern ones are very expensive waterproof coats capable of keeping someone mostly dry during a thunderstorm.
104	[[/folder]]

Context Main / TrenchcoatWarfare