->'''Supergirl''': This symbol should give people hope. He made them fear it.\\
'''Batman''': That symbol's meaning is up to the person who wears it. When Clark and I founded the Justice League, we didn't govern people; we protected them, plain and simple. Maybe the world could use a team like that again. Welcome to the circle of trust.
-->-- ''VideoGame/Injustice2''

A rare occurrence which is in some ways the inverse of AntiHeroSubstitute, this is a ComicBook trope wherein one holder of a certain identity (usually a LegacyCharacter) is a hero despite all other versions of that character being villains.

Sometimes the characters taking on this persona will speak of a desire to "redeem" that identity, especially if they are children of the villainous wearers of the costume. Arguably, this trope happens for similar reasons as the AntiHeroSubstitute. The AntiHeroSubstitute aims to make heroes "[[DarkerAndEdgier cooler]]" by having a character with the hero's powers but less restraint in using them. In a similar way, EvilIsCool, and this trope allows villain powers to be showcased, but by a character with heroic aims.

By definition, all previous holders of the position would be a HerosEvilPredecessor which could mean an instance of APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil is in play. Then when someone like a NaiveNewcomer or HeroicWannabe shows up but also happens to have TheGift or is UnskilledButStrong TheMentor might appear and take him in seeing the chance to train the new guy as MyGreatestSecondChance. The new guy becomes his MentorsNewHope and will often lead to a clash with the guy who the new hero succeeds.

!!Examples:
[[index]]
* RedeemingReplacement/ComicBooks
[[/index]]
----
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Manga/Bastard1988'': The original Dark Schneider was pretty much an EvilOverlord, but then was sealed in a young boy. Thanks to the goodness of the "container", while the new Dark Schneider has the personality of the original (a lecherous egomaniac), he is a saint compared to the original.
* This is largely Sai Akuto's goal in ''Literature/DemonKingDaimao''. It's rather hard to win the trust of the people when the vocational raven says that you're going to be a ''Demon King''. [[spoiler:Things aren't as white and black as they seem.]]
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': Giorno Giovanna, the main protagonist of [[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Part 5]], is the son of the late Dio Brando, the main antagonist of [[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood Part 1]] and [[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Part 3]]. Unlike his villainous father, Giorno is rather heroic and loyal to his gang of friends. He even felt devastated when an innocent man gets killed. He even got revenge on his killer!
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/CheshireMiraculousLadybug'': The core conflict of the fic throughout its first season is how every Black Cat wielder in history has been a murderer, thief, etc. Marinette is the first person in millennia to use the powers of destruction for good, but since the relic has long since developed a reputation as being either TheCorruptor or drawn to vile people, none of the people who know the Black Cat's sullied past even entertain the thought that Marinette is any different.
* In ''Fanfic/CivilizationVPeaceWalker'', [[spoiler:the whole scenario is a test to see whether an AI construct, based on the Legendary Mercenary just before he became a villain, would repeat the real Snake's actions or choose a different path. Sure enough, Snake has a HeelRealization after seeing elements of himself in his various enemies, so by the end of it, the Kaz AI gives him a new moniker: Plastic Snake. "It's synthetic, but based on organic material. It's strong, flexible... better than the real deal in a lot of ways."]]
* ''Fanfic/ADiplomaticVisit'': [[spoiler:Three of the Powers get passed on to new and more suitable Bearers over the course of the series. While the new Self-Centeredness isn't identified, Aria Blaze is this trope for Adagio Dazzle when she becomes the new Lady of Hatred, and Pharynx is this for Umbrea, former Lady of Nightmares (whose mantle was actually held by Luna after Umbrea's soul was ejected from Luna's body).]]
* ''Fanfic/TheEquestrianWindMage'': Vaati, long since having had a HeelFaceTurn of his own, ends up becoming one to [[spoiler:Ganondorf]] as of the end of Season 2 [[spoiler:when a dying Ganon passes the Triforce of Power on to him.]]
* ''Fanfic/GodOfWarChainsOfTheHeart'': In the five years since the fall of Asgard, Thrúd has become this to her father. Thor, as the previous God of Thunder and wielder of Mjölnir, was a violent butcher who slaughtered countless under Odin's orders and was despised by many. Thrúd, after taking up her dad's hammer and old godly titles, strives to help protect the innocent of the Eight Realms from the many dangers that lurk it, and is well-regarded by the people as a hero.
* ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'':
** Cadence in [[BadFuture Dark World]] serves as this for Queen Chrysalis after defeating her and taking over the Changelings. From that point to her death, she turns the Changelings from vampiric parasites to symbiotic heroes who form a large part of the resistance against Discord. [[spoiler:Cadence ends up replacing Chrysalis in the main timeline too.]]
** [[spoiler:Minuette is this to [[Series/DoctorWho the Master]], being a female regeneration of him using a fob watch. Once she learns of her true nature she fully rejects the Master's evil ways and ultimately feeds him to [[ClockRoaches the Blank Wolf]], erasing him from existence and sealing her status as a good guy.]]
* ''Fanfic/RosarioVampireBrightestDarkness'': Hothorne Tamaka, the head of the [[MonsterHunterOrganization HDA]] from the mid-point of Act VI onwards, is a ReasonableAuthorityFigure who meets with Moka to negotiate and actually believes that some monsters can be good. He serves as this to his predecessor Jenner Rythmore, a GeneralRipper who [[AggressiveCategorism automatically assumed that all monsters are evil]] and eagerly took the first possible excuse he could find to declare open war on the monster world.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/{{Dave}}'' is about the United States President being replaced by one of these. Not only is Dave much warmer and good-hearted than the President he's acting as a body double for, but said President also turns out to be quite corrupt as well.
* In ''Film/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'', the Invisible Man is one Rodney Skinner, a LovableRogue cockney thief who apparently stole the formula from Griffin of the novel, a psychopathic InvisibleJerkass.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Chiffon Nox of ''Literature/BeastTamer''. Where Arios Orlando was a NominalHero and ThePoorlyChosenOne, only being the hero because he was the only one with the class, Chiffon is an AllLovingHero who truly believes in helping others and treats her comrades like TrueCompanions instead of disposable pawns.
* ''Literature/ADealWithADemon'':
** Azazel, current leader of the Bargainer Demons, is manipulative and amoral, but he's way less evil than predecessor and actually wants to help ensure the demon realm is at peace. He ensures all his bargains are fair and keeps his word to anyone who makes a deal with him without resorting to ExactWords or tricks like his predecessor.
** Bram, the current king of the Gargoyles, has replaced his father, who was a far more vicious ruler. Bram is more willing to let there be peace between the various demon races and cares about his people.
* In ''Literature/DragonBones'', [[GentleGiant Ward]] takes over the title of "Hurogmeten" when his cruel and abusive father dies. Many of his subjects consider him a Redeeming Replacement. Some nobles, on the other hand, are not so pleased with his stance towards [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil slavery]] and the like. While he doesn't have superpowers as such, Ward ''does'' own castle Hurog, which is PoweredByAForsakenChild, and the enslaved boy, Oreg, by whom it is powered. Oreg is a powerful mage, but subject to the will of the castle's owner, and probably the one who is happiest about the replacement.
* ''Literature/FunJungle'':
** Tracey Boyd, who succeeds Martin Del Gatto as park manager, actually does love animals, is willing to give Teddy a lot of leeway, orders the security force not to automatically assume his guilt in the koala theft, and while she does threaten to fire Teddy's parents, only does so on J.J.'s orders (something she doesn't reveal to Teddy when it would have been easy to try and paint J.J. as the bad guy). Unfortunately, she ends up suffering a nervous breakdown between books, causing her to leave the park.
** Chief Honneker, the third chief of security of the park, is somewhat stiff-necked, but ultimately an honest man who is willing to hear out Teddy's theories, and good at responding to threats in the park, putting him ahead of his two predecessors (one of them was an InspectorJavert, the other was corrupt).
* Hazuki Kudo in ''Literature/MyHappyMarriage'' is this for her sister-in-law, Miyo Saimori. In the past, Miyo was mistreated by her family, especially her biological sister, Kaya. Shortly after officially becoming engaged to Kiyoka Kudo, Miyo wishes to restart her education, so she can be a good match for her future husband. Kiyoka introduced Miyo to Hazuki, and she quickly develops a teacher/sisterly bond with Miyo. While Miyo is still traumatized by the abuse her sister put her through, she comes to quickly accept Hazuki as a part of her life.
* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', when Joffrey is killed in the Purple Wedding, he is succeeded by his younger brother Tommen Baratheon. Tommen is a nice innocent boy, and is nothing like the [[TheCaligula cruel and sadistic]] Joffrey.
* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'':
** [[Literature/XWingSeries Admiral Laryn Kre'fey]] isn't evil, but he is [[GeneralFailure impulsive]] and [[FakeUltimateHero incompetent]], rushing into the Battle of Borleias with little preparation and inadequate intelligence and getting a lot of people killed, including himself. Because of Laryn's failure, his grandson Traest Kre'fey ended up getting sent to a less prominent satellite of the main Bothan military academy - where he met a teacher who not only turned him into a highly effective (if unorthodox) tactician and strategist, but opened his eyes to the failures of Bothan society. He went on to become one of the great military figures of [[Literature/NewJediOrder the Yuuzhan Vong War]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** Thanks to TheNthDoctor and the TimeyWimeyBall, the Doctor sometimes functions as one of these to ''himself''. For example, the expanded universe often shows Eight deliberately rejecting Seven's [[TheChessmaster chessmaster]] tendencies.
** Taken to the extreme with regard to the War Doctor, a regeneration between 8 and 9 which all subsequent regenerations (as well as himself) refuse to recognize as being The Doctor for what he did during the Time War.
* ''Series/TheFlash2014'':
** Harrison Wells [[spoiler:turns out to be the BigBad of the first season.]] He is eventually replaced as TheMentor by another version of himself from another dimension. "Harry" turns out to not be without his secrets, and just as big of a prick as the original Wells at times, although he's firmly a good guy through and through, and eventually develops genuine camaraderie with the team.
** The Flash of Earth-2, "Jay Garrick", is in reality merely a time remnant clone of TheDreaded Zoom working in tandem with Zoom. He is "succeeded" in the same capacity by Harry's daughter Jesse "Quick" Wells after she gains superspeed. Meanwhile, the real Jay Garrick turns out to be the Flash of Earth-3 and Barry's father's doppelganger of that world.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** Played with after Daenerys names her three dragon hatchlings Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion after her late husband Drogo and her late brothers Rhaegar and Viserys, the latter of whom had lost the plot before he died. Viserion is the most welcoming out of Dany's children, but his namesake... wasn't. His resurrection by the Night King upends this, instantly turning him into an EnemyToAllLivingThings and an even greater threat than anything the original Viserys ever imagined himself being.
** Deconstructed with Tommen. He is a sweet and kind-hearted boy who ''wants'' to be a good king, but he's hindered by his indecisiveness and lack of experience. All the adults in his life who could help him learn to rule see him as nothing more than a chance to control King's Landing, and thus refuse to teach him what he needs to know. This eventually leads to him being very easily manipulated by the Faith Militant and causing the majority of the conflict in Season Six, [[spoiler:and ends with him being DrivenToSuicide after things go horribly wrong]].
* Paladin of ''Series/HaveGunWillTravel'' is an interesting twist. Paladin was hired by a CattleBaron to kill a gunslinger called Smoke because he claimed Smoke was terrorizing a small town. As he lay dying, Smoke proved that he had been hired by the town to protect them from the cattle baron's thugs and called Paladin "Paladin" ironically. Paladin adopted the name "Paladin" and Smoke's all-black "working outfit", and set out [[TheAtoner to atone for his mistake]].
* ''Franchise/KamenRider'':
** Wataru, a.k.a. ''Series/KamenRiderKiva'' is not this, despite there seemingly a tie between him and the [[BigBad Fangire King]]. However, his half-brother Taiga (full-blooded son of the King) definitely qualifies; not only is he more qualified for the throne, Taiga would later adopt his father's alter-ego, Dark Kiva, for the finale, just in time to work together with Wataru to battle the resurrected King. The series ends with the brothers on good terms, working together to create a peaceful co-existence between Fangire and humans.
** The first ''Series/KamenRiderOOO'', an ancient king described as "desire incarnate" and creator of the [[BigBadEnsemble Greeed]], would be succeeded centuries later by Eiji Hino, BewareTheNiceOnes ([[BewareTheSillyOnes and also a bit silly]]) personified.
* ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'':
** Rip Hunter used to be a member of the Time Masters, an OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness TimePolice that doesn't want anything to do with his vendetta against Vandal Savage, [[spoiler:and in fact the latter is in league with them]], and instead oppose Rip's RagtagBunchOfMisfits in every way. Near the end of Season 1, the Masters were wiped out, and Rip decided to officially make the Legends the true TimePolice and they join him to continue protecting the timeline. Then, at the beginning of Season 3, Rip (who left the Legends) has founded another TimePolice organization, the Time Bureau. While the Bureau finds itself at odds with the Legends, they are a lot more willing to put their differences aside and work together against dangerous threats.
** The FairyDevilmother is a JackassGenie and one of the main villains of Season 4. Nora Darkh takes her place late into the season (although the former is not killed until the season finale), but she does put better effort into the job, becoming a proper FairyGodmother.
* A variation in ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy'' with [[BlackKnight Magna Defender]], who wasn't evil, but was extremely unscrupulous, not hesitating to fight against the Power Rangers or even shoot into a crowd of civilians if there was an enemy among them to avenge the loss of his son. After his [[RedemptionEqualsDeath death]], the Defender passed his sword to [[SixthRanger Mike]], who became a more heroic Defender to make up for the deeds of his predecessor.
* In ''Series/StrangerThings'', Dr. Sam Owens serves as this for the US Government, and Hawkins National Laboratory, in season 2. After the AbusiveDad tendencies of Martin Brenner in season 1, Owens is initially presented as a replacement character, but after showing compassion and helping the main characters on several occasions, it becomes clear that he genuinely wants to help.
* In ''Series/Supergirl2015'', Winn Schott Jr. is the son of the original Toyman, a well-known supervillain, but is firmly a heroic character, to the point that, at the end of Season 3 he's recruited by the Legion of Superheroes in the future. At first he's nicknamed "Computer Lad" by one his teammates, which he acknowledges is a pretty sucky codename, but after confronting an evil doppelganger of himself [[spoiler:and being saved from him by a digitalized copy of his father's consciousness]], he decides to adopt the name Toyman to redeem it.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'':
** Some of the modern Solars try to be this. Even the Abyssals and Infernals can at least ''try''.
** Amongst the canonical Exalted, the best example would be Swan, who is the NiceGuy of the iconic Solar circle. The previous incarnation of his Exaltation, a fellow by the name of Desus, was so [[Monster/TabletopGames horrendously evil]] that his actions alone are considered one of the reasons of the Usurpation and the Solars' fall from grace.
* ''TabletopGame/HunterTheVigil'': The life tenet of the [[DarkIsNotEvil Lucifuge]] is basically "we ''are'' {{Satan}}'s children, but we protect humanity from the darkness". They are also the nicest Hunters when it comes to dealing with the more decent supernaturals. The other children of Satan, however...
** To a lesser extent, the Loyalists of Thule, who seek to make up for the Thule Society's role in the Holocaust. Because most of the people involved in that one are not around anymore (seventy years is a ''long time''), they recruit other people who have screwed up messing about with magic and gotten people hurt.
* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering:'' In Ravnica, several of the guildmasters receive more benign replacements at the end of the original block or in Return to Ravnica --
** For the Simic the genocidal Momor Vig, who wished to destroy all life and start over again, is replaced by Prime Speaker Zegana, who brought a new philosophy reemphasizing their lost connection to the natural world.
** For the Boros the warlike Razia is replaced with the much more compassionate Feather. However, she was promptly overthrown by Aurelia, who is more personable than Razia but has the same brutality (although Aurelia has lightened up a ''lot'' since then).
** For the Azorious Grand Arbiter Augustin IV was murdered while attempting to seize control of the plane, and his role split in two. Grand Arbiter Leonos II is a heartless bureaucrat, but the new guildmaster [[RiddlingSphinx Isperia]] appears to have good intentions...and then undone in the third Ravnica block, with the new guildmaster being Dovin Baan, an agent of Nicol Bolas.
** For the Golgari the ancient necromancer Svogthir was overthrown by the power-hungry [[{{Medusa}} Sisters of Stone Death]], who were overthrown by traitor to the guild Savra, who was murdered and then possessed by Svogthir's spirit, who was slain (or at least deprived of a working body for the third time) while conspiring with Momor Vig to destroy all life. Finally, Savra's brother [[OurLichesAreDifferent Jarad]] ascended to leadership with a policy of less pointless conflict...only to be cast down again by Vraska, another agent of Nicol Bolas (albeit one with memories of a HeelFaceTurn just waiting to be unlocked).
* Omnitron-X in ''TabletopGame/SentinelsOfTheMultiverse'' is a future version of [[AIIsACrapshoot Omnitron]], an iteration where it attempted to finally gain victory over its enemies by emulating human empathy...only for the new version with the HeartDrive to travel back in time and start fighting against its earlier selves.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'', Bill "Faultline" Temblor was a hero but is largely remembered as a villain for destroying an area of Paragon City. After his son Jim learned that Bill was {{mind control}}led when he did so, he embraced his own powers and took up the Faultline mantle as a hero.
* In ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'', the Emperors of Tamriel have often been served by someone in the position of Imperial Battlemage, essentially a CourtMage and advisor on all matters magical. Given the nature of the position, it has long been a breeding ground for EvilSorcerer types who go on to become {{Evil Chancellor}}s. Jagar Tharn, the BigBad of ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsArena Arena]]'' was [[TheGoodKing Emperor Uriel Septim VII]]'s Imperial Battlemage before usurping him. In the prequel ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsOnline'', [[TheDragon Mannimarco]] doesn't officially have the title, but serves in a very similar role to Emperor Varen Aquilarios and betrays him. In the main series' time period, Uriel VII replaces Tharn as Imperial Battlemage with Ocato of Firsthold, who already served Uriel VII as [[TheGoodChancellor High Chancellor]]. Ocato is very much a ReasonableAuthorityFigure who holds the Empire together for the rest of the series until his death, holding the Empire together for 10 years after Uriel VII's death while serving as [[RegentForLife Potentate]]. (He was actually doing such a good job that the [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Thalmor]] had him assassinated so they could rise up.)
* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight'', the kingdom of Gra is ruled by the tyrant Jiol. He is succeeded by his daughter Sheena in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem'', and she's nothing like her father: She's charismatic and protective to her people genuinely, making her a popular ruler and eventually joins Marth... [[AFatherToHisMen if he doesn't harm any of her men on his way to her.]]
* In the first ''VideoGame/GalaxyAngel'', the leader of the Transbaal Imperial Fleet, Admiral Sigurd Sidmeyer, [[ProfessionalButtKisser was more concerned about getting in the Empire's higher-ups good graces than the good of the Empire itself]], [[SmallNameBigEgo and he thought his fleet could easily beat Eonia's just by winning a few skirmishes]], only to get a very rude awakening when the Black Moon shows up and his entire fleet gets decimated. He's then replaced by Comodore Luft Weizen, who quickly proves himself a more capable and more effective leader.
* ''VideoGame/Injustice2'': Seeing how far [[FallenHero Superman]] has fallen, ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} ultimately decides to bring honor back to the House of El. It happens in both her Arcade ending and the Absolute Justice ending.
* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'':
** Rugal Bernstein is a bonafide evil character. He's then succeeded by his son Adelheid, who did inherit his fighting prowess... but none of his evilness, making him a NobleDemon.
** Clone Zero is a treacherous psychopath who went so far as to nuke a city via KillSat. The redeeming replacement here is, uniquely, the original Zero, who is not happy about what his clone was up to and, when defeated, [[GracefulLoser goes down with both his ship and dignity]].
* ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' has [[spoiler:Legion]], a [[spoiler:geth platform]]. While Commander Shepard has blasted through enough of these things to melt them down and rebuild the Normandy, [[spoiler:Legion is a member of the ''true'' geth, which regards the geth Commander Shepard is familiar with as "heretics". These geth just want to be left alone, rather than leaving geth space and attacking.]]
* In ''Franchise/MortalKombat'', in both the games and the LighterAndSofter (but still accurate to continuity) [[WesternAnimation/MortalKombatDefendersOfTheRealm animated series]], the original Sub Zero was a villain/AntiVillain, and is succeeded by his younger brother, who fights on the side of the heroes.
** ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'' introduces Kotal Kahn, who took Shao Kahn's place as ruler of Outworld after the latter's death. Despite a [[HairTriggerTemper temper problem]] and a bad tendency to grab the IdiotBall when he loses his cool, Kotal is by far a more benevolent ruler than Shao (and his interim replacement [[PsychopathicManchild Mileena]]); [[BenevolentBoss treating his underlings well]], possessing a strict code of honor, and showing no interest in conquering other realms.
* In ''VideoGame/Persona5'', every police officer encountered was rude, incompetent, corrupt, or some combination thereof. ''VideoGame/Persona5Strikers'' introduces the character of Zenkichi Hasegawa, an honest police officer driven by a sincere sense of justice and duty who not only becomes a close ally of the Thieves' but even becomes a full-fledged member of the team himself. [[spoiler:He's later joined by his superior, the [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure Director of Public Safety herself]]]].
* In one possible version of the ModularEpilogue of ''VideoGame/PillarsOfEternity'', [[spoiler:Aloth]] takes control of the society led by the {{Big Bad}}, whose [[GrayAndGrayMorality arguably noble]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist goal]] is to [[spoiler:protect the world from [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow truths deemed to terrible to release]]]]. However one feels about the aims, it's made clear they intend to pursue much more benevolent and restrained means than their utterly ruthless predecessor.
* Jake Muller from ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6''. His strong physical resemblance to his father [[spoiler:Albert Wesker]] is about the only thing he has in common with him by the end of the story:
-->'''Jake:''' ''"You know what? I'm not my father, and I'm gonna make damn sure it stays that way!"''
* When first introduced in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', the [[HorsemenOfTheApocalypse Four Horsemen]] were the royal guard of Kel'Thuzad and loyal agents of the undead Scourge. Years after their death in the ''Legion'' expansion, the Knights of the Ebon Blade create a new generation of Horsemen to serve as Azeroth's protectors.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* In ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'', the Heterodyne boys were really [[ScienceHero stand-up guys...]] but their ancestors... [[MadScientist not so much.]] Bill's daughter Agatha is also trying to redeem the family reputation -- which is a bit hard when they've even made toasters that can kill people.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Aladar from ''{{WesternAnimation/Dinosaur}}'' is proven to be a far better leader of the Herd than their previous leader, Kron, who cares very little about the dinosaurs he is supposed to protect, and would prefer to sacrifice those unable to continue to the ''Carnotaurus'' just so he can get them all to the Nesting Grounds faster, but at the cost of their safety.
* ''WesternAnimation/HotWheelsBattleForce5'': The Red Sentients are the more warlike race of Sentients (having been frozen to stop the war), and Krytus, their leader, becomes the BigBad in season 2. When they are unfrozen, they exile Krytus as they are sick of war, and two new Red Sentients become part of the ruling council Korosivash and Karmakaris. While the former is kind and wants to help the people, the latter is arrogant and looks down on his blue counterparts. However in the final act, he personally leads a brigade to stop the antagonists and launches the hero out to beat the new BigBad, cementing his own position as a good guy, and as the new ruler of the council, washing away the treachery and evil Krytus brought to their species.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'': The Fire Sages are peaceful, and they immediately try to get Korra help when they find her, their Shaman setting her down in a spiritual place so she may recover from whatever has harmed her. This contrasts the original series where the Sages were completely loyal to the Fire Nation and stood against Aang and the protagonists, bar their youngest member [[CoolOldGuy Shyu]]. (Though, as he noted, the Sages of his era were a corruption of what they were ''supposed'' to be.)
** And of course, the series confirms that [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderZuko Zuko]] managed to be this for [[ArchnemesisDad Ozai]], [[PredecessorVillain Azulon and Sozin]], with his daughter continuing the position. (Indeed, the Fire Nation's history leaves her reluctant to even lead it into a justified war.)
--->'''Izumi''': The Fire Nation has spent too much of its history fighting nonsense wars, and I refuse to drag my nation into another one unless there's no other choice.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionGuard'': It's revealed in the pilot that Scar led the Lion Guard under Mufasa's regime, and was blessed with the power of the [[MightyRoar Roar of the Elders]]. However, [[DrunkWithPower the power went to Scar's head]] and he vainly believed that with this power, he should be king instead of Mufasa. But when the rest of the Lion Guard refused to help him, Scar furiously used the Roar to destroy them. Due to using his powers for evil, Scar lost his power completely and descended further into evil, becoming shriveled and horrible. In the present, Kion leads the new Lion Guard, and [[ComesGreatResponsibility takes his power and duties]] ''[[ComesGreatResponsibility very]]'' [[ComesGreatResponsibility seriously]], not wanting to [[HeWhoFightsMonsters end up like Scar]]. Kion is successful.
* While it's only revealed in supplementary material, Jordan C. Wilde from ''WesternAnimation/ObanStarRacers'' turns out to be this [[spoiler:for his grandfather, William J. Wilde. William was one of the first humans to encounter aliens, but it's implied that he [[TheQuisling later turned traitor]]. Jordan received [[SinsOfOurFathers a lot of bullying]] because of it, which motivated him to join the army and, eventually, become the new Avatar]].
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'': [[spoiler: Uncle Nigel is basically Buck Rockgut if he had keeped some minimal sanity of his glory days left.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAndHisAmazingFriends'': Francis Byte is the first Videoman to be a hero instead of a villain.
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'': In Season 4, Karai forms her own Foot Clan separate from Shredder's, seeking to be this to Shredder and his own clan. In "[[Recap/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012S4E15CityAtWar City at War]]," she makes it clear that she wants to rebuild the Foot under better circumstances and restore its honor after everything Shredder did to pervert it.
-->'''Karai''': I want to rebuild the Foot. Bring back honor to a clan that Shredder poisoned for almost two decades.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'': In the show's backstory, SPHINX was a [[Franchise/GIJoe COBRA]] parody and terrorist organization that was wiped out by the OSI. In the show proper, SPHINX gets revived as a peacekeeping organization by former OSI agents disillusioned with the current leadership. In this case, they just used the old organization's name because their old stuff was lying around.
* [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice''. During season two, Artemis goes deep undercover with the villains, claiming to be an assassin named Tigress. After the final battle and [[spoiler:her boyfriend Wally's death]], she decides to use "Tigress" as [[MeaningfulRename her new superhero name]].
[[/folder]]
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