%% Trope was declared Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease via crowner by the Real Life Maintenance thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/crowner.php?crowner_id=o37wn5hf

Like almost everyone else, heroes can achieve greater things when they band together. Heroes R Us is a group that recruits, trains, equips, and funds heroes and directs their efforts where they are most needed. They can be [[{{Masquerade}} clandestine]] or [[LawEnforcementInc public]], {{government|AgencyOfFiction}}al or [[{{NGO}} not]], and the scope of their powers may vary from fighting some single, specific enemy to being some sort of benevolent AncientTradition; the crux of the trope is that if TheHero isn't a member, they'd at least like him to be.

There are two major types of Heroes R Us: '''organizations of heroes''' and '''heroic organizations'''. In '''organizations of heroes''', every member has a skill or power that sets them apart from the {{Muggles}}. Owing to the natural rarity of such extraordinary people, these tend to be {{Oddly Small Organization}}s where even perfectly good action heroes are forced to take on [[DeskJockey administrative duties]]. Stories following such organizations tend to focus on TheSquad of which the hero is a member, featuring the aforementioned promoted heroes as TheCaptain or the FourStarBadass.

A '''heroic organization''' fields only a small number of highly competent agents, backed up by a staggering number of faceless assistants tasked with conjuring up fake identities for the heroes, escorting them to their targets, and equipping them with fancy gadgets. Depending on how narrow the ratio between super and muggle employees in the organization gets, it may even become a HeroSecretService. Stories following heroic organizations generally follow the hero as he works alone, with only his MissionControl and possible partner/GirlOfTheWeek for company.

Though the word "hero" is used throughout this article, "protagonist" might be more accurate. While the intentions of the majority of the examples below are genuinely good, DaChief might be forced to [[ShootTheDog make tough decisions]] and butt heads with a ChaoticGood hero every once in a while; indeed, precisely this sort of [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight ideological schism]] is frequently an element of stories featuring a Heroes R Us.

Common types of Heroes R Us include TheChosenMany, SuperTeam, TheOrder, ArtifactCollectionAgency, {{NGO}}, AdventureGuild, and LaResistance, as well as [[CreatureHunterOrganization organizations that]] [[WhoYouGonnaCall hunt the paranormal]], and those which aren't defined beyond "WeHelpTheHelpless". Commonly overlaps with CrazyWorkplace, which an organisation of super-powered beings is almost bound to be.
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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* The Royal Order of Protestant Knights, or the ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'' organization.
* BABEL in ''Manga/PsychicSquad'', a government ESP organization dedicated to stopping crimes before they happen.
* The [[FunWithAcronyms Alien Exterminating Global Intercept System]] (AEGIS) from ''VideoGame/{{Gatekeepers}}''.
* The vampire hunting Red Shield from ''Anime/BloodPlus''.
* The Worlds Welfare and Works Association ([=3WA=]) from ''Literature/DirtyPair'' is an agency of the galactic government that sends out teams of problem solvers called Trouble Consultants.
* The Pandora organization in ''Manga/PandoraHearts''.
* The Black Order of ''Manga/DGrayMan'' collects Innocence and the people capable of using it to fight Akuma.
* The Alchemists' Guild in ''Manga/BusoRenkin''.
* In ''Anime/GaReiZero'', the Seeker Squad of Defense Ministry is a '''heroic organization''', while the Exorcists are an '''organization of heroes''', being AncientTradition converted into a modern framework. [[spoiler:Neither of them are effective.]]
* The Speedwagon Foundation in ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' dedicates part of its funds to investigating the supernatural as well as helping the Joestars in any way they can.
* The Hero Association from ''Manga/{{Ratman}}''.
* The Hero Association from ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan''.
* In ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'', Superheroes are all signed with agencies that help fund and promote them. Hero groups also occasionally pop up, like the Wild, Wild Pussycats.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Creator/Marvel Comics ]]

* ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} is essentially the UsefulNotes/{{CIA}} for a weird world, complete with bizarre supertech and ComicBook/NickFury.
** Originally, they answered to a [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness mysterious trio]], and had international authority; but during ''ComicBook/CivilWar2006'', they acted pretty much as an American Law Enforcement branch, answerable to the US President. It's possible the organization has been redesigned (as was the case with Creator/DCComics' ''ComicBook/{{Checkmate}}'')... or somebody made a mistake.\\\
This is almost certainly a case of Canon Immigration from the Ultimate universe, where S.H.I.E.L.D. is very definitely and contentiously a U.S. intelligence agency. Since that continuity's version of S.H.I.E.L.D. in general and Nick "Creator/SamuelLJackson" Fury in particular were wildly more successful with audiences... Whether it's intentional or the writers' mental picture was just infected by the more prominent adaptation is another question.
** Confusion over exactly what S.H.I.E.L.D. was considerably predates the Ultimate Universe. From its creation, it was a basically American entity, notwithstanding it supposedly being international (which was mainly an excuse for why it could operate anywhere with impunity).
** S.H.I.E.L.D. ''did'' have foreign agents, however (e.g., Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine). A plausible explanation for S.H.I.E.L.D. might be that it's a UsefulNotes/{{NATO}} organization. Since NATO is an international alliance, ''but'' one where the United States largely runs the show, it would fit S.H.I.E.L.D. as it was depicted.
** [[WordOfGod Technically]] S.H.I.E.L.D. is a UsefulNotes/UnitedNations agency that the US (as the Superhuman capital of the world) administers over. The jurisdiction conflict between the UN and US was actually a major plot point of ''ComicBook/DarkReign'' before Siege set in.
** The confusion is reflected in what S.H.I.E.L.D. actually stands for: the original Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage and Law-Enforcement Division suggest NATO (as in the RealLife Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe), the later Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate could be either, and the current Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division definitely suggests a US agency.
* The British version of S.H.I.E.L.D. was, originally, S.T.R.I.K.E. - later replaced by W.H.O. (Weird Happenings Organization, a thinly veiled and chronically underfunded reference to Doctor Who's UNIT), which tussled with more nefarious groups like Black Air and RCX. These were ultimately replaced by [[ComicBook/CaptainBritainAndMI13 MI13]], which runs Excalibur, Britain's resident super-team and functions like a European outpost of the Avengers and the X-Men (it's been both, in the past).
* The trope is toyed with in '' ComicBook/UltimateXMen'', where the Hellfire Club provides funding for Charles Xavier -- as a means of getting to Jean Grey and unleashing the Phoenix Force.
** The Ultimate X-Men were subsequently funded by the Church of Shi'ar Enlightenment, who are quite open about their interest in the Phoenix, but see it as a force for good. Too bad they've been infiltrated by Hellfire members.
* From the ''ComicBook/{{Nextwave}}'' comics, we have the Nick Fury parody Dirk Anger, who leads up the organization known as H.A.T.E., which has such bizarre technology as "Ptero-assault troops" -- soldiers in bright yellow pterodactyl suits -- and "Drop Bears" -- Koalas with razor-sharp teeth. Nextwave is a strange, strange comic-- but it's got the name "Creator/WarrenEllis" on the cover, so you get what you came for.
* The Marvel counterpart of the JLA is Comicbook/TheAvengers, which varies from a group of major heroes based in a mansion in New York with [[Comicbook/IronMan Stark]] technology to a group of major heroes based in ''the body of a space god'' at the North Pole.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Creator/DC Comics ]]

* The [[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]] has been this for ages, especially during its Watchtower period, during which members lived/hung out/worked at their base.
* The ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica is a hero group with its origins in the days of WWII that these days activley recruits and trains younger heroes.
* The ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes is an organization of young super-powered heroes operating with the Science Police and other Planetary Federation authorities.
* DC has multiple counterparts to S.H.I.E.L.D., including Comicbook/{{Checkmate}}, the Department of Extranormal Operations in ''Comicbook/{{Chase}}'', and most recently A.R.G.U.S. in ''Comicbook/TheNew52''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku'', numerous Heroes merchandise themselves to the public as per the original ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia''. In addition to his veritable archive of All Might merchandise, Izuku owns a wide variety of Justice Society of America paraphernalia and [[ComicBook/BlackCanary "Beats by Canary"]] headphones. He also eats some of [[ComicBook/GreenArrow Green Arrow's]] blazing hot chili for breakfast one winter morning.
* During ''Fanfic/StevenUniverseAdventuresOfTheGems3'', Steven discovers the existence of a government organization going by the name of G.U.A.R.D (Governmental Undercover Agents Restoring Defense), led by Director Barak Wrath, who sees the opportunity to add him to a supernatural team of defenders, alongside two discovered vigilantes known as the Blue Devil from Montana and the Lunar Fox, sometime in the future.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/PenguinsOfMadagascar'' has the North Wind, a secret organization of Arctic animals. Their backers are unspecified, but they have a massive secret base, complete with hypersonic flying craft, PoweredArmor, {{BFG}}s, and flying {{jetpack}}s.
* The Rescue Aid Society from Creator/{{Disney}}'s ''WesternAnimation/TheRescuers'' (as well as [[Literature/TheRescuers the original novels]]) is a MouseWorld version of this.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* Another non-government agency, the titular agency from ''Film/MenInBlack''.
* ''Film/TheSoldier'' (1982). The title character is the leader of an elite unit formed after the "Iranian fiasco" and reporting only to the Director of the CIA. Which causes problems when he's assassinated.
* The Jedi Order of ''Franchise/StarWars''.
* The ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'' had NEST, an organization formed by humans and Autobots to fight the Decepticons hiding in various countries across the globe. They were disbanded by the time the events of ''Age of Extinction'' rolled around, however.
* The Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse has [=SHIELD=], a non-government organization dedicated to dealing with super-powered threats founded by Peggy Carter and Howard Stark after Captain America disappeared in 1945. It was made up primarily of non-powered agents (although the original Ant-Man and the Wasp may have been agents as well) until the creation of [[Film/TheAvengers2012 the Avengers initiative]]. The organization dissolved in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'' when it was revealed that the entire organization was infested with Hydra moles. In its place rose [[Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron the Avengers]] as a separate organization funded by Tony Stark, the ranks of which fluctuates but includes a roster of 6-9 superheroes at one time and a few non-powered support agents (Nick Fury and Maria Hill, for example). After ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', there are only 2 active Avengers - Vision and War Machine - while a few other heroes (Nomad, Falcon, and Black Widow) do vigilante work under the nickname "Secret Avengers". [=SHIELD=], meanwhile, [[Series/AgentsOfShield continued under the leadership of Phil Coulson]], [[spoiler: at least until the events of Season 5]], although as a much smaller organization. After the events of ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', [[spoiler:both organizations have been decimated, with only the original 6 Avengers plus War Machine making it through the Snap, and who knows how much of [=SHIELD=]]]. Following ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' [[spoiler: the Avengers seem to be more or less disbanded after the deaths of Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow and Vision, and while it's still not clear how much S.H.I.E.L.D. still exists, sister organisations S.W.O.R.D. and S.A.B.E.R. are still operating.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* American Teens Against Crime (ATAC) from the most recent incarnation of ''Literature/TheHardyBoys''.
* ''Literature/TheExecutioner''. Stony Man handles anti-terrorist and anti-crime operations beyond the capacity of established agencies like the CIA, NSA, and FBI. This usually means a mission that the U.S. Government can disclaim any knowledge of if it goes sour, or something that is just too dangerous for regular agencies to handle. Led by Hal Brognola and answering only to the White House, its primary weapons are {{vigilante|Man}} OneManArmy Mack Bolan, and his black ops units Able Team and Phoenix Force.
* The [[PrivateMilitaryContractors mercenary unit]] Soldiers of Barrabas (or [[FunWithAcronyms SOBS]]) (a Gold Eagle series by Jack Hild) is ostensibly led by a mercenary who's 'soft' on his native country, and so willingly seeks contracts that advance its interests. In truth they work directly for the US government as a deniable dirty tricks team.
* The Knights of Maidenhead in ''Literature/TheFaerieQueene''.
* Tiger Mann (created by Creator/MickeySpillane) was an early version of this trope, working for an espionage organization funded by a radical right-wing billionaire. The character was first introduced in the 1964 novel ''Day of the Gun''.
* In ''Literature/BadMonkeys'', the protagonist Jane Charlotte works for an organization that is the second type. The organization has many branches, and the one that she works for is the Department for the Final Disposition of Irredeemable Persons ("Bad Monkeys" for short), which is devoted to ending the lives of irredeemable evil persons. The various branches do almost anything you can think of, such as Panopticon, which has cameras in any picture with eyes and also in library bindings, or Catering, which will always answer if you pick up any phone.
* In ''Literature/TheDestroyer'' series, Remo Williams works for CURE, an agency whose very existence is known only to Presidents, and which has only three members: Remo himself, his mentor Chiun, and their boss, Dr. Smith. Chiun insists that Smith is the de facto emperor of the US, as the agency appears to have essentially unlimited authority and resources, even denying Presidential requests when Smith deems them unwise. Of course, an uber-hacker and two sociopathic assassins with superhuman powers ''would'' be able to get away with a lot.
* In ''Literature/LegendsOfTheRedSun'', set in a far future world where the sun has gone red giant, evil chancelor Urtica needs to deal with a rising crime rate. So he has his government [[MadScientist cultists]] take 3 individuals and alter them with their arcane sciences. These 3 individuals are then brought into a team called the Viljamur Knights. The Viljamur Knights work hand in hand with their fellow gov't organization, the police, and when they aren't patrolling or fighting opportunistic crime, they're reading over old cases and whatnot.
* The Department of Paranormal Resources in the ''Literature/{{Temps}}'' SharedUniverse ... sort of; most of their [[SuperRegistrationAct draftees]] have [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway useless powers]], and are generally called in because they're on the payroll anyway so it's cheaper than hiring admin staff or furniture movers. Occasionally, however, there's a perfect match between [[HeartIsAnAwesomePower seemingly-useless power]] and situation, or the paranorm has other useful skills, or the DPR is just desperate. (These are the occasions the stories are about, of course.)
* ''The Stockholm Syndicate'' by Colin Forbes. "Telescope" is a vigilante anti-terrorist group operating in Europe, that finds itself going up against the titular syndicate.
* ''Literature/VillainsCode'' has the Alliance of Heroic Champions that fits both definitions. It has a good number of metas to do all the crime-fighting across the country, but there are also {{Muggle}} support staffers, such as the marketing team. The Guild of Villainous Reformation is their EvilCounterpart, although it fits the first definition more, as there are no observed non-meta members or employees. In fact, the guild is actually a secret, known only to its members and the AHC. The guild tends to use Doctor Mechaniacal's robots for menial work.
* In ''Literature/EverybodyLovesLargeChests'' there exists an organization called ''Demons R Us'' Which is this trope except for demons.
* R.S. Belcher's ''The Brotherhood of the Wheel'' has the Brotherhood of the Wheel which are the descendants of the Knights Templar. A combination of this trope, AncientConspiracy and AncientOrderOfProtectors, the group consists of 3 branches. The Builders are the researchers into the supernatural and also develop new technologies such as a quantum radio channel, the Benefactors expand the financial and political power (they control much of the media) and finally there's the Brethren, who are the foot soldiers of the group and protect the roadways from supernatural threats and {{serial killer}}s. Unfortunately for the USA, the Brethren are greatly diminished from attrition.
* In ''Literature/TheMouseWatch'', the titular team is an international group of crimefighting, do-gooding mice created by Gadget Hackwrench of ''WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers'' fame. They divide their time between WeHelpTheHelpless activities such as "helping an elderly person cross the street" and "helping build a well for a thirsty village" and saving the world from the NebulousEvilOrganization [[FunWithAcronyms R.A.T.S.]].
* ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' provides examples of both types.
** In terms of organizations of heroes, the Protectorate is the national organization of heroic [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividuals parahumans]] in the United States, with the Wards serving as its junior division. There are other such organizations in other countries, such as the Guild in Canada, and smaller local groups like Brockton Bay's New Wave.
** The PRT is a heroic organization of non-parahumans which both supports the Protectorate and acts as oversight [[spoiler:although the Director of the PRT is secretly Alexandria and the whole organization was founded and remains more or less controlled by Cauldron]]. They also field well-trained agents to act as backup for heroes.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* The Phoenix Foundation, ''Series/MacGyver1985'''s employer from the second season onward, though the DXS (a government department) also fits the type.
* The Foundation for Law And Government in ''Series/KnightRider'' is an organization of exactly the same sort.
* The Blackwood Project of ''Series/WarOfTheWorlds1988'' is an example with a narrow scope and clandestine affiliation with the government.
* Very common in [[{{Invisibility}} Invisible Man]] series. The Scifi Channel's ''Series/TheInvisibleMan'' used a clandestine government department, while ''Series/GeminiMan'' and the Creator/DavidMcCallum series both used private companies.
* ''Series/PowerRangersLightspeedRescue'', ''Series/PowerRangersTimeForce'' and ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'' all used this setup.
* Most of the early ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' teams were part of a military organization. Starting from the early 90's, this trope faded from prominence, with teams formed from a RagtagBunchOfMisfits becoming the norm.
** ''Series/DenjiSentaiMegaranger'' proves you can combine the two: none of the Megarangers were part of the organization before being the only ones around to suit up and stop the attack in the series premiere. The Megarangers themselves are high school students.
** ''Series/TokumeiSentaiGoBusters'' has a darker take on this trope. Due to being the only ones able to destroy the villains, two of the three heroes belong to this organization from childhood, meaning they had no chance on having a normal life. In an early episode, the commander even makes clear that if he had to sacrifice the heroes to win the war, he would do so.
* ''Franchise/KamenRider'':
** Subverted in ''Series/KamenRiderBlade''. Two of the Riders were part of an organization called BOARD, but it was wiped out in the first episode by a MonsterOfTheWeek, leaving our heroes on their own with what little tech they could recover, this basically being the shiny suits and the monster radar.
** Played straight in ''Series/KamenRiderHibiki'', where all the Riders are part of an organization of demon hunters called Takeshi.
** ''Series/KamenRiderKabuto'' has the ZECT organization, which is dedicated to destroying a hostile race of aliens known as the Worm. However, ZECT is quite shady and our heroes are definitely ''with'' them but not ''of'' them, subverting this trope once more.
** ''Series/KamenRiderExAid'' has the CR organization, whose mission it is to fight the sentient Bugster Viruses and treat patients infected with said virus.
** In ''Series/KamenRiderDragonKnight'', the Riders were apparently ''originally'' part of one of these, but as their doppelgangers in [[ParallelUniverse our dimension]] - the only ones who can use the LoyalPhlebotinum assigned to the original owners - had different lives, it's not how it works in the show proper.
* The United Nations Intelligence Taskforce (UNIT) in ''Series/DoctorWho'' is a (not very) clandestine government organization -- though it isn't always clear ''which'' government they answer to. The "United Nations" part of the name implies that they work for the UN, but there are many examples of the wishes of the UK government taking precedence, without a very clear sense of whether this is by the organization's design or a side-effect of UNIT's officers also being members of the British army.
** During the time of the new series, the real life UsefulNotes/UnitedNations had complained. The organization's name is now the ''Unified'' Intelligence Taskforce, which makes who they answer to even less clear.
** Also The Torchwood Institute in ''Doctor Who'' (where they start off as grey area "bad guys") and in ''Series/{{Torchwood}}''. It was set up by UsefulNotes/QueenVictoria and was for most of its history directly answerable to the Monarch but Queen Elizabeth's current position on them isn't very clear. According to some ExpandedUniverse stories (mainly AudioPlay/{{Big Finish|DoctorWho}}), the template of "alien-fighting institute founded by a past monarch" makes it to Russia and Germany.
* International Rescue from ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}'' makes it a point to keep their secrets and technology away from the governments of the world. This one dates to the '60s, ahead of its time.
* We're never told exactly ''how'' or ''where'' the heroes of ''Series/MissionImpossible'' get their hands on all their useful gadgetry, fake [=IDs=], financial resources, and so forth. All we know is that they're connected to TheGovernment, but not very closely; as the recordings we hear OnceAnEpisode imply, the CIA (or ''whoever'' it is) can cut their whole organization loose if necessary, in order to maintain plausible deniability.
** The line is "The Secretary will deny all knowledge of your actions", implying they answer directly to someone at the cabinet level.
* ''Series/TheFortyFourHundred'' has the US governments National Threat Assessment Command (NTAC) which was pretty much completely redirected to handling issues caused by the 4400.
* [=O2STK=] in ''Series/TheMiddleMan'' apparently are behind the Middleman Organization's bankroll and AppliedPhlebotinum supply. In an interesting subversion, not even the Middleman himself knows who they are--the name is a joke meaning "Organization Too Secret To Know", and Middleman '69 called them WTHWWF, "Whoever The Hell/Heck We Work For."
* ''Series/{{Airwolf}}'''s heroes get a fair degree of support from the F.I.R.M.- they must get Redeye missiles from somewhere, but also have Santini Air (a chopper hire company) for other money and occasionally get paid for rescuing a captive.
* ''Series/TheATeam'''s weaponry source is unclear and they have no organization backing them up, averting this trope in one of the most Eighties of the shows.
* The ''{{Series/Dollhouse}}'' may be for hire, but most of the agents and administrators display the best intentions for their work.
* The Millennium Group from the first series of ''Series/Millennium1996'' consisted of the best analysts, pathologists, and other agents from various law-enforcement organizations. The Group consulted with police agencies on extraordinary cases beyond the scale and budget of the average police department.
* The heroes of ''Series/MadanSenkiRyukendo'' belong to [=SHOT=], this being an acronym for Shoot Hell Obduracy Troopers, which is an organization dedicated to protecting Akebono City from the Jamanga Demons.
* The United Fire Defense Agency, UFDA for short, is the organization behind both the ''Series/TomicaHeroRescueForce'' and ''Series/TomicaHeroRescueFire'' teams.
* ''Series/LancelotLinkSecretChimp'' has A.P.E., the Agency for the Prevention of Evil, of which Lance is their top agent and lead guitarist for the Evolution Revolution.
* ''Series/GetSmart'': Maxwell Smart and agent 99 are agents for [=CONTROL=].
* Team Machine in ''Series/PersonOfInterest'' is one of these. [[spoiler: Especially after The Machine goes on a hiring spree, adding agents around the world other than the main crew.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Podcasts]]
* ''Podcast/TheAdventureZoneBalance'' has The Bureau of Balance, which hires adventurers to find and collect the Grand Relics, and to stop those who use them.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pinball]]
* The protagonists of ''Pinball/MacAttack'' are implied to be this -- although only three members are shown, they have enough hardware, vehicles, and firepower to rival a small country.
* ''Pinball/BoneBusters'' features a team of [[{{Expy}} suspiciously familiar]] [[Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}} supernatural-stopping heroes]] fighting a horde of [[DemBones animated skeletons]] with beam-shooting energy weapons.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* Department 7 in ''d20 Modern'' (Most Player characters are members by default). Department 7's depictions vary from GM to GM, but it's always an organization that gives the players missions, provides them with payment (and [[WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys cool equipment]]). It also provides assistance in other ways as well. Depending on the campaign, it could function as a mundane Law Enforcement/Anti Terror agency, or a [[Series/DoctorWho UNIT]]/Series/{{Torchwood}} style agency for dealing with the supernatural. It's also very mysterious, and may or may not have government connections.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Champions}}'' has two Heroic Agencies: PRIMUS (Paranormal Research and Investigation Mission of the United States), which is basically S.H.I.E.L.D. with the serial numbers filed off, and UNTIL (United Nations Tribunal on International Law), which has similar jurisdiction everywhere except the United States. Both are primarily anti-super crime investigative and enforcement agencies, with a small number of low-level super-powered agents they can call upon.
* The ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'' setting of Freedom City has AEGIS (American Elite Government Intervention Service), which is a clear expy of SHIELD, or at least the "American Agency" version of it. It also has UNISON, the UN International Superhuman Oversight Network, which fills in for SHIELD's "UN Operation" version, combined with Doctor Who's UNIT.
* The Conspiracies and Compacts of ''TabletopGame/HunterTheVigil'' gears toward one end or another of this trope; for example, the [[TheMenInBlack Task Force Valkyrie]] is closer to heroic organization (made of normal humans fighting monsters), while the Lucifuge is closer to organization of heroes (made of super"humans" fighting monsters).
* In ''TabletopGame/{{Crimestrikers}}'', the titular heroes are an elite team of international crimefighters who protect Creaturia, a WorldOfFunnyAnimals, from a RoguesGallery of {{Super Villain}}s. They're a special unit of CIPO ('''C'''reaturian '''I'''nternational '''P'''olice '''O'''rganization), the setting's equivalent of Interpol.
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': The ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' setting's City of Waterdeep maintains Force Grey, an elite group of adventurers who dispatch threats that the CityGuards can't handle. Members are available on-call for a certain number of hours per week in exchange for a monthly stipend, but otherwise have no standard duties.
** The Realms are also the home of the Harpers, an organization of bards that exists explicitly to generally promote ''good'' in the world. Bear in mind that the Realms is a setting where, thanks to the ubiquity of magic, [[CharacterAlignment moral alignment]] is a somewhat more tangible and definable concept than it is in our world.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Toys]]
* This is the basic premise for Franchise/{{LEGO}}'s ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}''-replacement, ''Toys/HeroFactory''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Predictably, there are SEVERAL of these in ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'', including the for-profit Hero Corps, the non-profit Freedom Corps, and several more-or-less clandestine groups, including The Vanguard, Longbow, and Wyvern.
** And those are just the official ones in the game backstory. Technically, anyone who starts a supergroup (this MMO's version of a guild) has begun their own Heroes R Us organization.
** There are also the official Villains R Us groups like The Council, Arachnos, and the Malta Group. Any player can start their own villain group as well.
* The [=VSSE=] in ''VideoGame/TimeCrisis''. They're one of only two plot elements that connect the games together.
* The Heroes Guild in the original ''VideoGame/{{Fable|I}}''.
* The Assassins of ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' are engaged in a SecretWar with the Templars.
* The Grey Wardens of ''Franchise/DragonAge'' were formed to guard against the Blight.
* The Ad Libitum guild in the ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheWorld: Radiant Mythology'' series.
* The Minutemen in ''VideoGame/Fallout4''. They establish and [[WorldHalfFull protect settlements from the dangers of Post-Nuclear Apocalypse society]]. However, they're ''very'' decentralized, and some troops don't even listen to you or Preston. By the end of the game, they border on being a Libertarian-style system of government.
* The Videogame/{{Skylanders}} are such a group, existing to defend the Skylands against evil with the help of the Portal Masters. Though interestingly enough, previous acts of heroism aren't required; you just have to be a badass who's willing to fight for good. A few members are even [[DarkIsNotEvil of species which are enemies in game]] who defected, such as Boomer the Troll and most of the Undead Skylanders. [[TokenEvilTeammate Ghost Roaster]] isn't even really a hero and had to promise to only eat ''evil'' ghosts when he joined.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' has various groups that serve as official adventurer organizations. The Adventurers' Guild is a supranational organization that provides work for adventurers the realm over. Each city-state also has a Grand Company which serves as the official armed forces of their homeland: the Immortal Flames from Ul'dah, the Order of the Twin Adder from Gridania, and the Maelstrom from Limsa Lominsa. In addition, the city-states are home to various guilds that help adventurers learn various martial abilities, including (but not limited to) the Pugilists' Guild in Ul'dah, the Lancers' Guild in Gridania, and the Arcanists' Guild in Limsa Lominsa.
* The Institute Of War in ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' is an interesting example, as it accepts Champions and Summoners from every qualifying city-state, several of which view each other's Champions as decidedly un-heroic. The Institute supervisors have to be very careful to avoid conflicts of interest, since its primary purpose is to allow every faction to hire heroes against each other to solve political disputes.
* The Bracers' Guild in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky''.
* Expect plenty of them appearing throughout the ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' installments, with the most popular being the "Alpha Numbers" from ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha'', ""Wärter"/"Neue Wärter" from ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsW'' and the "Steel Dragon Battle Group" from ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration''.
* Shinra from ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom'' and ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone'', which is a government agency dedicated to investigating paranormal activity and eliminating supernatural threats to the world.
* The VCD (Vanguard for Crystal Destruction, or Vanguard Crystal Defense) from ''VideoGame/RaidenV'', which is an elite military organization dedicated to eliminating contaminated weapons and the crystals that the army can't normally deal with.
* Planet Tamers in ''VideoGame/{{Evolve}}'', specialized mercenaries employed by various governments to reduce the levels of dangerous wildlife on colony worlds. While their individual motivations may vary, the colonists undoubtedly view them this way when they kill the alien nightmare beasts that keep eating their friends.
* The World Hero Association in ''VideoGame/ZettaiHeroProject''. It's by their great timing that the Main character doesn't die on their very first battle against Darkdeath Evilman, allowing the Main Character do go through TrainingFromHell to get strong enough to defeat Darkdeath Evilman. Their purpose is to train new heroes by having them practice heroism on an alternate Earth called Bizzaro Earth. The Unlosing Ranger, [[spoiler: whether it's Main Character or Pirohiko,]] gets most of his experience in heroism from here.
* ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' features... well, [[TeamTitle Overwatch]]. Originally, it was merely a five-man, United Nations-sanctioned strike team to combat the Omnic Crisis, and by the time peace was finally reached, it had become a global peacekeeping force with heroes stationed all across the globe. The organization eventually fell after long-term animosity against the rivalling terrorist group [[NebulousEvilOrganization Talon]], leading to [[FallenHero rampant corruption]] and [[BreakingTheFellowship eventually illegalization]] once the public learned of the extent of their dirty business. However, with Talon still tearing apart the world in the years since, several of Overwatch's remnants decide the world needs heroes, [[PuttingTheBandBackTogether reuniting in a smaller capacity]] against international law, amassing old and new talent across the world for the good fight.
* ''VideoGame/MasterDetectiveArchivesRainCode'' features the Master Detectives, all of which serve the NonGovernmentalOrganization of the WDO, being sent across the world in multiple agencies branching from the parent. And indeed, just like the trope, agents are recruited and funded on their trips to wherever they need to go to investigate. And [[InterpolSpecialAgent they are above jurisdiction, allowing them total freedom to investigate anywhere]]. Well, except when sent to investigate [[CityInABottle Kanai Ward]], featuring the Nocturnal Detective Agency, the game's agency of focus, where the Peacekeepers deny that freedom.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* The Order of Orion from the WebComic ''Webcomic/RumorsOfWar'' is an example in a world based on Myth/GreekMythology. The main cast is one of several groups retained by the Order, though the role they play in the organization has yet to be revealed.
* Spoon from ''Webcomic/IDontWantThisKindOfHero'', aka a government agency that recruits people to become 'heroes'. They actually almost had to disband when their main nemesis, Knife, suddenly disappeared years ago, and ultimately had to create a fake Knife group to justify their continued existence. Until the real Knife's return in the present, they mostly take on odd jobs and act as a second police force.
* Superhumans Inc. from ''Webcomic/{{Supercrash}}''. Though in this case, they're the ones ''giving'' the powers since they manufacture orbs from special material they dub Heronium and only employ teenagers since the orbs won't work past the age of 18 and even then, to join, you have to pay a monthly fee (Hey the CEO of the company has to pay the HeroInsurance somehow).
* ARCHON from ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'' - a government-run, military-style heroic organization (Field leader Maxima is explicitly an [[ColonelBadass Air Force colonel]]). Protagonist Sydney's recruitment and subsequent training in Arc-SWAT (ARCHON's field teams) is the series' main ongoing narrative.
* The unnamed "Hero Organization" from ''Webcomic/SidekickGirl'' is ostensibly one, though it acts more like a WeirdTradeUnion.
* The Heroes' League from ''Webcomic/WhiteDarkLife'' is a coalition of heroes organized to counter a LegionOfDoom that sought to wipe its members out. Notable members include [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]], Franchise/{{Sonic|TheHedgehog}}, Franchise/{{Kirby}}, and VideoGame/{{Bomberman}}. In between clashes with said LegionOfDoom, the Heroes' League spends much of its time [[WeHelpTheHelpless righting wrongs, performing public services, and fighting other villains]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* The Justice Brigade of the Literature/WhateleyUniverse, a world renowned team of superheroes. Similarly, the Empire City Guard in the BigApplesauce, who are the mentors to the Cadet Crusaders (a city-sponsored team of {{Kid Sidekick}}s which skirts the laws regarding underaged superheroism).
** Most superhero teams are supporters of SuperheroSchool Whateley Academy, with many of their members being graduates, and some take in interns recruited from the school once they reach eighteen. This is balanced out by the number of supervillain students similarly recruited by TheSyndicate and similar villainous organizations who ''also'' support the school financially.
** The Knights of Purity are supposed to be this, teams of baselines in power armor protecting regular people from supervillains, but most mutants see them as the enemy. (They may be right, or it may be a mixed bag: in "Loose Cannons" a Knight is trying to kill the protagonists to hide his screw-up, but in "Ayla and the Birthday Brawl", a team of Knights saved Chaka from The Lamplighter.)
* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'' has the Cheat Commandos, a direct parody of Franchise/GIJoe that was formed to counter the evil Blue Laser and to [[MerchandiseDriven sell toys and cereal]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Global Justice on ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' is a S.H.I.E.L.D. knockoff, right down to an [[EyepatchOfPower eyepatch-wearing]] Fury equivalent, Dr. Director (who [[GenderFlip happens to be a woman]]).
* The Order of The White Lotus in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' serves as this, dealing with extraordinary threats such as the Red Lotus, a nebulous conspiracy that seeks to bring the world to chaos.
* WOOHP in ''WesternAnimation/TotallySpies'' exemplifies this trope.
* Inter-Nation Security from ''WesternAnimation/Birdman1967'' was never that developed - its only members seemed to be Birdman, Falcon Seven, Avenger, and possibly Birdboy - but it seemed to be a legitimate government (or inter-governmental) agency.
* The Office Of Secret Intelligence (OSI) from ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'', who even have their own theme song. It's a cross between ''Franchise/GIJoe'', S.H.I.E.L.D. and Music/VillagePeople.
-->''"OSI!! We fight for freedom and the little guy!\\
OSI!! We'll tear a new hole in your sky!\\
When it's time to start the war\\
You'll hear our mighty engines roar\\
A super army of super spies\\
Look out Sphinx, you're gonna die!\\
OSI!! We'll shatter your skull and make your children cry!\\
OSI!! Here we come, look up in the sky!\\
OSI!! Mass destruction comes your way!"''
--->--[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9bZwBzITyk The OSI's theme song]]
* "[[WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero G.I. Joe]] is the code name of America's daring, highly trained special mission force. Its purpose: to defend human freedom against Cobra, a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world."
* In season two of ''WesternAnimation/YogisTreasureHunt'', Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw [=McGraw=] and Boo Boo Bear have their own hero agency -- as Huckle Hero, El Kabong, and Ram-Boo Boo, respectively. They have a poster on the wall with the three ubiquitous guys laughing and the caption "You want your planet saved ''when??''"
* ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'': St. Clair Foundations is a brutal {{deconstruction}} of this. Made when an epiphany hits its affluent owner, the foundation goes from one ravaged country to another, building hospitals and helping refugees. Of course, while unsung heroes do their share of the work, Sebastian St. Clair often does the same in a more flashy way which draws more attention to him. Adding to that, the foundation is empathetic ''only'' to the basic necessities of the country's people; giving less of a shit about feelings, tact or their plight. Moreover, their heroics, while helpful, are done for the sake of publicity, white guilt and fame. Sadly, these attributes are what makes them effective, even if it doesn't make them less of assholes. [[IntrepidReporter Diane]] learned this the hard way.
* On [=DePatie=]-Freleng's ''Super 6'', the title heroes are heroes for hire at a superhero agency. Super Bwoing has his own segment weekly while the others rotate among the third segment of the show. (The second segment is the Brothers Matzoriley, a three-headed brother act.)
* WesternAnimation/{{The Powerpuff Girls|1998}} attempt to join a superhero league in "Members Only", only to be turned away even after they've proved themselves worthy simply because they're girls.
* ''WesternAnimation/TUFFPuppy'' has the titular Turbo Undercover Fighting Force, of which Dudley Puppy and Kitty Katswell are the main agents.
[[/folder]]
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