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2[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/RaiBlood_1869.jpg]]
3[[caption-width-right:350:He would like some [[TrademarkFavoriteFood ramen.]]]]
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11->''"I did not give you permission to move. Nor did I give you permission...to breathe."''
12-->'''-- Cadis Etrama Di Raizel'''
13
14''Noblesse'' is a [[KoreanWebtoons Korean webcomic]] about a 'noble', a powerful race once worshiped by humans, waking up from an 820-year slumber to find a modern city. After successfully navigating the traffic signals to find an old servant, he enrolls in high school to learn about this new world and modern technology, in the process drawing the attention of a massive conspiracy somehow connected to his long slumber.
15
16The original Korean version of the comic can be found [[http://comic.naver.com/webtoon/list.nhn?titleId=25455 here]]. The official English translation can be found [[http://www.webtoons.com/en/fantasy/noblesse/list?title_no=87 here]].
17
18Beware of {{Late Arrival Spoiler}}s. The series is a LongRunner by Creator/SonJaeHo, with more than 500 short chapters that are released weekly, various short comics, a sidestory, a WebNovel & two [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVA]], one a loose adaptation of some of Season 1 and the other a canon prequel, and in October 2020 received a TwelveEpisodeAnime series, continuing from where the first OVA left off. Who Raizel and Frankenstein are and [[OntologicalMystery how they got here]] are {{Driving Question}}s, and some of the reveals are game-changing enough that it's hard to discuss the characters without spoilers from chapters 300+. The Creator/ProductionIG [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVA]]'s intro text contained information not revealed until the climax of Season 3. The series officially came to an end at 543 chapters.
19----
20!!This comic provides examples of:
21
22* AbortedArc: Shinwoo and Ik-han's development seems to have been dropped from the story completely ever since the KSA agents failed to recruit them into the Korean government.
23* {{Acrofatic}}: Hammer
24* AdaptationDistillation: ''Noblesse: Awakening'' is a heavily compressed adaptation of Volume 1 that fits 78 chapters into 30 minutes. Since Dr. Crombel didn't appear in it, all references of him were cut in the 2020 anime, including the Dr. Aris's arc.
25* AdaptationalContextChange: In the 2020 anime, both Union and Lukedonia go to Korea to investigate the coffin, seemingly with a good grasp on the situation. DA-5 are sent to continue where Jake and Mary have failed and the nobles are sent to arrest Rai under suspicioun of killing the previous Lord. Most of the drama in the first half of the webtoon was actually caused by literally nobody aside select few people knowing that the Noblesse ''even exists''.
26* AerithAndBob:
27** Rai, Seira and Regis have Lukedonian names instead of Korean; but "Franchise/{{Frankenstein}}" would be pushing it a bit if he wasn't probably from Europe. It's a red flag when a character's name doesn't suit their probable origin: [[spoiler:Teira isn't a Japanese name, and Tesamu is a Union spy.]]
28** The noble clan leaders' soul weapons also have this case: On one hand, we have unusual names like Kartas, Izarok and Ragnarok, but on the other hand, we have Blood Witch and Death Scythe. Justified: at least two of those weapons were named by humans at different times and places, and their names may or may not be translated out of the nobles' language.
29* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents: The Previous Lord.
30* ArtEvolution: Just compare any of the early chapters to the latest ones. The difference is remarkable.
31* ArtifactOfDoom: The Blood Crystal. Humans considered Ragnarok one.
32* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking:
33** Every executive of the Union appears to far outpower his bodyguards or even the most trusted of agents. Same with the nobles, with one exception [[spoiler:the strongest noble holds no authority whatsoever.]]
34** Also true for the [[spoiler:werewolves.]]
35* BadassInANiceSuit: Happens so frequently that it provides the page image for the trope. Those on Rai's side always make it a point to go into fights in their best suits. While villains rarely dress well, those who do (such as Crombell and Yuri) can't be taken lightly either.
36* BadassNormal: Han Shinwoo. Beats down trained agents, a (kinda)vampire, and can even hold his own against low-end supers. He's an otherwise normal high school student.
37* BattleCouple: An Sangeen and Na Yonsu.
38* BeautyEqualsGoodness For a "shounen" series, it certainly emphasizes a lot on androgynous male beauty. & you can bet almost every attractive bad guy you see will be working for the protagonist by the end of the arc.
39** BeautyIsNeverTarnished: More like beauty ''must not'' be tarnished, as far as Rai is concerned. He frowns upon any sort of ClothingDamage, even something as minor as a coat button becoming unfastened after a fight.
40** TheBeautifulElite: There are entire chapters dedicated to how awesome the main characters look. Movie stars and idols don't stand a chance against them, [[DramaticDrop dropping whatever they're holding just to stare at them.]] One of Rai's friends is the idol Suyi, and the webtoon makes a point of comparing her and other idols to nobles. It's possible that the human tendency to become obsessed with celebrities is a holdover from when we worshiped nobles.
41* TheBermudaTriangle: Now you know why various aeroplanes and boats go missing here; it's actually the [[spoiler:Noble's homeland, Lukedonia, under enchantment to make it intangible, invincible and undetectable.]].
42* BigDamnHeroes: Once Rai and Frank shows up, [[CurbStompBattle the battle is pretty much over]].
43* BigGuyFatalitySyndrome:
44** [[spoiler:M-24]]
45** [[spoiler: Subverted in chapter 245, where he's revealed to have been saved by the Union. Then double-subverted in 255 as this person is actually a shapeshifter who has taken M-24's powers and identity.]]
46* BloodFromTheMouth: [[spoiler:Rai.]]
47* BloodMagic:
48** [[spoiler:Gradeus]] becomes more powerful when his blood is shed.
49** Now there's the [[ArtifactOfDoom Blood Crystal.]]
50* BloodyMurder: Rai. Also, [[spoiler:the Lord.]]
51* BondCreatures: Nobles can turn dogs, horses, humans and other animals into this if they drink their blood.
52* BrickJoke: In Ch. 142, Frankenstein presents his own versions of 'D'. One is essentially a suicide pill that gives you a 200% boost(Not just from their own power, but 200% more than the original 'D'!) before it completely burns out your life force. While M-21, Tao and Takeo stand dumbstruck, Frank adds that he made it "strawberry-flavoured, so at least it will taste good". At the end of Ch.151, Dr. Arith steals Takeo's D pill and collapses while gushing over the taste of strawberry in her mouth.
53* CastFromLifespan: [[spoiler:Rai]] Several of the Union's creations also are either this or using their powers damages their bodies.
54* CharmPerson: Humans react very strongly if they sense noble auras - Regis has to constantly conceal his aura, Seira and Raizel's and when a room full of people become fascinated by Raizel he's worried he slipped up. In the novelization, people are stopping in the middle of a busy street to stare at Rai until he remembers to shield, and the staff at a fast food place gives him and has friends a lot of free food as basically an offering. It's easy for a rogue noble to get humans to worship him in ''Rai's Adventure'' - it may be ancient instinct for humans to worship nobles.
55%%* TheChessmaster: The Previous Lord.
56* CollectiveDeathGlare: When Shinwoo greets Rai who has all the girls fawning and {{squee}}ing at him at school, they all send him a glare [[GreenEyedMonster out of jealousy]].
57%%* ComesGreatResponsibility: An enforced trope [[spoiler:by Rai.]]
58%%* CrossOver: With VideoGame/DragonNest.
59* CurbStompBattle:
60** ALL fights so far that have involved [[InvincibleHero Rai]]. It's a big deal when the opponent draws his blood. {{Inverted}} while playing ''VideoGame/CounterStrike''. "Frankenstein...I experienced death today."
61** Frank doesn't have much problem with his opponents either early in the webtoon -- at least after his full powers have been released.
62%%* DarkIsEvil: The antagonists.
63%%* DarkIsNotEvil: The protagonists.
64* DealWithTheDevil: The criminal selling of contracts to humans - humans got power, including mind control, but the nobles could now mind control them and owned their souls.
65* DitzyGenius: The Previous Lord and his work on [[spoiler:soul weapons.]] Karias is also a fountain of sage advice and tactical smarts when he's not calling the Lord Big Sis.
66* TheDreaded: Rai, and to a lesser extent Frankenstein, The Lord, and [[spoiler:Muzaka]].
67* DubNameChange: In the AnimatedAdaptation, the main setting is moved to Japan and the names are changed from Korean to Japanese.
68* DudeLooksLikeALady:
69%%** Tao, now and then.
70** Essentially every male character to those not used to the art style
71** A couple of the werewolf warriors areee [[ViewerGenderConfusion incredibly ambiguous]] until their inevitable shirtless fight scene.
72* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness:
73** In his first appearance, M-24 kills a guy for very little reason, with M-21's permission. Later, M-24 is usually shown as a GentleGiant, and both he and M-21 clearly try to avoid unnecessary killing; the shift seems to happen around the hospital incident, when it's mentioned that they ordered the infected to avoid killing anyone, and after that they're suddenly uncomfortable with murder.
74** The early chapters of the first StoryArc have a vastly different feel compared to later on due to the focus being on the Ye Ran High School students, which are characters that become almost [[OutOfFocus non-existent]] as the series goes on.
75* EvilFormerFriend: [[spoiler:Lagus Tradio]] to Gejutel.
76* {{Expy}}:
77** Rai and Regis, respectively, looks like [[Manga/{{Bleach}} Byakuya and Hitsugaya]].
78** Rai definitely looks a lot like Byakuya in certain parts.
79* FamilyOfChoice: Finally made official when a furious Frankenstein declares he's not letting anyone escape when they did this to "my kids."
80* FanBoy: Dr. Crombel picked the ''wrong'' person to brag about his 'superior' knowledge to.
81* FantasticRacism: To the [[spoiler:werewolves]] and [[spoiler:Lagus Tradio,]] the real fight is over which of their species will get to be the superior one and rule the obviously inferior humans.
82* FatherlyScientist: Frankenstein when he likes you and isn't in a mood to troll: there's more than one reason he runs a school.
83* GasLeakCoverUp: Used once by Tao to explain in lieu of the schoolchildren getting kidnapped again.
84* GeniusBruiser: The Math teacher at the high school they all attend; he looks like a typical GiantMook...but in Korea, being a teacher apparently requires you to be at least the top at your high school in terms of physical strength.
85* GiveHimANormalLife: Frankenstein's reason for founding a school.
86* GodGuise: The villain in the ''Rai's Adventure'' sidestory.
87* GrimReaper: The stories are based on the Loyard clan.
88* HealingFactor: Pretty much any character with a superpower also has this as A {{Required Secondary Power|s}}. A specialty of [[spoiler:werewolves.]]
89* HeroesPreferSwords: Ragnarok, soul weapon of the noble Lords. Kate in the ''Rai's Adventure'' sidestory.
90* HiddenElfVillage: Lukedonia.
91* HiveMind: [[spoiler:Dark Spear.]]
92* HollywoodHacking: An entire chapter.
93* HonorBeforeReason: Clans Landegre and Loyard are accused of this for dying 'meaningless' deaths to protect humans.
94* HumanResources: The Union and the [[spoiler:Blood Crystal.]] Large numbers of people were killed to produce [[spoiler:Dark Spear.]]
95* HumansAreSpecial: [[spoiler:Frankenstein]] argues this, and the [[spoiler:Previous Lord]] wanted nobles to learn from and be more like humans.
96* IAmNotLeftHanded:
97** [[http://comic.naver.com/webtoon/detail.nhn?titleId=25455&no=77&weekday=tue "Release"]]: After Frank lets loose his full powers, he become strong enough to one-shot [[spoiler:Marie]].
98** [[spoiler: And now ''Rai'' reveals that he has a seal restraining his powers. Not that he actually needed to, but because he was facing the Lord and decided he needs to show her the "proper courtesies".]]
99* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: Each chapter is referred to as Episodes (Ep.)
100* ImTakingHerHomeWithMe: ''Rai.'' He even ends up with a puppy in the webnovel.
101* LampshadeHanging: Muzaka casually remarks that he always seems to be showing up at the end of a fight, after doing so about three times in quick succession.
102* LaserGuidedAmnesia: How the Noblesse maintain TheMasquerade. The Union apparently has the technology to do so, as well, but generally prefers the [[KilledToUpholdTheMasquerade kill-everyone]] approach instead.
103* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Shown here:
104-->'''Ik-Han:''' You're joking, right? That's impossible! It's not like we're in a manhwa or anything...
105* LightningBruiser: Anyone who can fight is extremely fast and agile.
106* LimitedWardrobe:
107** It's [[{{Lampshaded}} revealed]] in chapter 93 that Rai's closet consists of nothing but copies of their school uniform. And he ''still'' takes time deciding what to wear.
108** Tao, Takeo and M-21 also seem to have these.
109* MadeOfIron: Every non-human, but Shinwoo is one too; despite being having an ordinary physiology, he takes much more abuse than a normal person could survive.
110* MadScientist:
111** Dr. Cromwell. [[spoiler: Frank]] also seems to have been one in the past. [[spoiler:He learned how to fake being one so the Union wouldn't use hostages like Tesamu against him.]]
112** Turns out the Union is full of {{mad scientist}}s. Aside from Crombell, we have 9th Elder and Ignes.
113* MagicPants: Jake, when he [[spoiler: transforms into his final form in chap. 77.]]
114* MamaBear: Noble soul weapons run on this trope. The reason [[spoiler:Roctis]] turned to the dark side.
115%%* TheMasquerade
116* TheMole: [[spoiler:Crombell]] has some at his disposal:
117** First is [[spoiler:Yuri, his regular mole for the Union.]]
118** Then some minor moles in 12th Elder's Navy fleet.
119** There's also [[spoiler:Mark, who has absorbed M-24's appearance, memories and powers to spy on M-21 and his team mates.]]
120* MonsterMash: Nobles, contractors and mutants fit vampires; the infected is a vampire/zombie; ''Frankenstein;'' werewolves exist and Tao's cables make him the mummy.
121* MoodWhiplash: Comedy at the beginning of a chapter...violence at the end. And vice-versa.
122* MundaneMadeAwesome: Almost every single mundane task that Rai accomplishes. Special mention for opening the door.
123* MrFanservice: Any {{Bishounen}} mentioned above but especially M-21, who not only gets the most {{Shirtless Scene}}s, but also has a very sympathetic backstory.
124* MuggingTheMonster: Happens so frequently that they should put a count or something.
125* MusclesAreMeaningless:
126** It seems that so far, more muscles a character has, more likely he'll get his ass handed to him.
127** Averted for the mortal characters, for the most part, with more athletic builds corresponding to strength and training. There just aren't all that many purely mortal characters around, and since the power-sets range from psychokinetic to biokinetic physical strength doesn't mean a lot.
128* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Don't bother, they wouldn't let you. Especially Rai -- he'll make you kneel.
129* NeatFreak: Frankenstein.
130* NoDelaysForTheWicked: Subverted. Even an Evil Secret Organization isn't beyond the reach of telemarketers.
131* NotSoInvincibleAfterAll: [[spoiler:Rai.]]
132* OhCrap: In Chapter 278. The look on the faces of the 6th and 7th Elders when Rai informs them why he has appeared before them is a thing of beauty.
133-->'''Rai:''' You have attacked human beings. You have harmed those I must protect. ...You are now offenders I must remove.
134** [[spoiler:''Rai'' of all people has one at the end of chapter 436, because Frankenstein is (apparently) close to death.]]
135* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Rai ''dropping a cup of tea'' is depicted and treated ''very'' dramatically, and it is in fact a '''very''' dire sign.
136* OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent: Shinwoo, Yuna, Ik-han and Sui.
137* OurVampiresAreDifferent:
138** Addressed in the beginning. Rai interprets the chopsticks for his ramen to be stakes, and the garlic in his ramen to be Shinwoo's attempt at poisoning him. He starts to tell them it's futile, but all of the other students just get annoyed with his muttering and tell him to just eat the stupid bowl of ramen.
139** Neither the Noblesse nor Nobles are vampires, but they are capable of creating them. Aside from M-24's vampire-like mutant, there have been no vampires in Noblesse so far, but there were vampire plagues in the backstory [[spoiler:and Frankenstein may technically be one.]]
140** Also a BrickJoke much later. [[spoiler: After the situation with Lukedonia is resolved, Raskreia sits down to a meal with Rai, who serves... ramen. Her reaction is almost exactly the same as Rai's, but it's Seira who explains the 'portable stakes' and garlic to her. He even gives her packs of instant ramen as a farewell gift.]]
141* OntologicalMystery: The story starts with Rai waking up and finding a man who calls him master: who they are and how they got here are gradually revealed over hundreds of chapters.
142* OutOfFocus: Shin-Wu & the other kids become increasingly less important in season 2, & have been reduced to cameos for comical interludes between serious story lines. Noblesse S was a text-only side story that focused more on them interacting with Raizel & Frankenstein, but it was unceremoniously discontinued.
143* ParentalSubstitute: Gejutel and later Rai and Frankenstein for Regis and Seira.
144* PeopleJars: M-21, Takeo, Tao, and some unknown experimental subjects of The Union were seen in these.
145* PsychicLink: Seira has one to let her know if anything happens to Regis
146** Crombel has one to his higher-level minions.
147** [[spoiler:Rai and Frankenstein]] have a True Contract that is closer to MindlinkMates.
148* PsychicPowers: Nobles.
149* PrimeDirective: Nobles [[spoiler:and werewolves]] were supposed to leave humans alone instead of trying to take us over until we evolved enough to defend ourselves.
150* PunchPunchPunchUhOh: Shinwoo's first fight against the the infected.
151* QuirkyMinibossSquad: First the [=DA-5=], then the Cerberus.
152* RealMenWearPink: Frankenstein cooks, sews and becomes Seira's housekeeping teacher. It doesn't matter if you're an enhanced human or noble clan leader: if he tells you to wear a pink apron and do the dishes, you wear a pink apron and do the dishes.
153* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Pretty much the entire Noble race. Rai and Frank are confirmed to be over 800 years old, and almost certainly well over a thousand. The teens period happens at around 200 years for the Nobles, and a 500-year-old barely registers as over 20.
154* RedemptionPromotion: M-21, Tao, and Takeo all eventually get hired as security guards at Frankenstein's high school.
155* RefugeInAudacity: Everything M-21 does to [[{{Troll}} screw with]] [[{{AxeCrazy}} Shark.]] ''Everything.''
156* RoofHopping: None of the super-powered characters seem to understand what sidewalks or public transportation are used for. Rai is especially fond of this.
157* ScrewDestiny: Goal of the [[spoiler:Previous Lord.]]
158* ScrewYouElves: [[spoiler:Frankenstein's]] opinion of nobles before he met Rai.
159* SecretPolice: [[spoiler:The Noblesse.]] Their existence was known only to the clan leaders, their job was to mind-read and mind-wipe nobles and they could execute anyone at will.
160* SeriousBusiness:
161** There are many examples, but notably making and eating ramen. And tea.
162** Also: Videogames, door-opening, clothing. Pretty much anything Rai does -- especially as he's trying to understand and master modern technology.
163* SexIsViolence: The 5th Elder in her first fight with Frankenstein. So much. She apparently loses this trait in later appearances... though she does [[ShipTease seem to retain a crush on him (possibly even reciprocated)]], so perhaps it's because she's not fighting ''him'' the other times.
164* SheIsTheKing: Erga Kinesis di Raskreia is the Lord.
165* ShipTease: There's a ''huge'' one between Seira and Shinwoo in chapter 296. It's notable in that every ship tease before that were one-sided and unrequited, or simply comedic. ''Everyone'' noticed this ship tease, in-universe and out, and it came complete with romantic lighting and blushes.
166** [[spoiler:The Lord and Rai, once she visits the human world.]]
167** Possibly Frankenstein and the 5th Elder; if so, this one's a lot more subtle. Frankenstein seems a lot more willing to perform favors for her than he would for other characters (though perhaps that's just because her favors always seem to end up in [[BloodKnight him fighting powerful enemies]]), and she shows signs of having a crush on him as well.
168* SmugSnake: Jake and Shark were '''very''' smug, both of them were also '''very''' pathetic, seeing as they were demonstrating their so-called superiority by beating up those much weaker than themselves.
169* SortingAlgorithmOfEvil: Done fairly believably. The Union is implied to be neck-deep in dirty and dangerous business around the globe, so the fact that the few agents sent to South Korea all happen to die, disappear, or turn traitor doesn't immediately capture their full attention.
170* TheStoic:
171** Rai, Seira, Crance.
172** When Raskreia gets angry, earthquakes happen, so normally she's this.
173* SuicidalOverconfidence:
174** Jake and, a few chapters later, the Infected.
175** Everyone from the Union. ''Everyone.''
176* SupernaturalElite: Tao brings up the trope explaining nobles.
177* SympatheticMagic: If a noble drinks your blood, they own your soul but can give you power in exchange.
178* TranshumanTreachery: Enforced: enhanced humans had better follow the Union party line or else. When a Union enhanced human shows concern for human life, they'll either be adopted or killed by their own side.
179* VampireHunter: [[spoiler:Frankenstein.]]
180%%* WebFirst
181%%* WorldOfBadass
182* WhamLine: Not the largest of twists, but this one line reveals that [[spoiler:Frankenstein isn't the one behind the wheel anymore; it's the Dark Spear in control of his body.]]
183-->'''Frankenstein''': I'm not the type of power you can dare control, you pathetic meat.
184* WrittenByTheWinners: Subverted: he kicked their asses, and the Union's version of history still paints [[spoiler:Frankenstein]] as a traitor to humanity who stole their research.
185* {{Yandere}}: Rael and Urokai Agvain. Possibly Yuri, given how he reacts to being told he's not [[spoiler:Seira's]] type.
186* YouHaveFailedMe: 12th Elder and the captain of Cerberus don't react well to the rest of the Cerberus taking a beating.
187* YouShallNotPass: [[spoiler:M-24]] tried this with Jake. While he did get himself killed, he managed to buy enough time for Rai to make a BigDamnHeroes moment.
188* YouWillBeAssimilated: [[spoiler:Dark Spear.]]

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