History Main / MookPromotion

* At the beginning of ''Anime/CodeGeass'', Suzaku is a common Britannian mook. Over the course of the series, he becomes the pilot of the Lancelot, then Euphemia's personal knight, then the Knight of Seven (basically the seventh biggest badass in the entire Britannian army), then [[spoiler:second in command of all of Britannia, answering only to the Emperor himself]].

* Harley Quinn from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' was originally supposed to be a minor accomplice of the Joker and ended up a full-blown SuperVillain, making appearances in numerous other adaptations.

* Given its ACastOfThousands nature and being spread over several decades of in-universe time, this happens to several characters in the Literature/HonorHarrington series. One of the more notable ones is Kevin Usher. Seen in one book in a brief bit where he's part of a team that assassinates a member of the Havenite leadership to kick off the revolution that throws out the Legislaturists, he reappears sometime later in a short story as a member of the Havenite embassy on Earth. Several books later, after the second revolution, he's Haven's top cop and counter-spy.
** Another example would be Anton Zilwicki. His first appearance was as a father holding his daughter on a merchant ship while the light cruiser his wife captained sacrificed itself to save them from Havenite commerce raiders. Several books later he was revealed to be a top agent for Maticoran intelligence, and ended up becoming the partner of the leader of the manticoran Liberal Party, and de facto spymaster for the new kingdom of Torch, with his adoptive daughter as Queen.

* ''VideoGame/Psychonauts2'': The Lady Luctopus boss has a crown made out of the lightbulbs of Bad Ideas, implying she is a Bad Idea blown up to massive poportions.

** The Fly Guy R Thieves in ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam''. They decide to steal a valuable object the party is after, and then later attack them. They're absolutely no different in appearance or abilities to the normal versions fought a dozen times alrady, with the exception of the boss intro and boss music played throughout the fight.

* In ''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' all minibosses, except Bebop, are promoted mooks.

* ''ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'': The Shredder was conceptualized as little more than a TokenMotivationalNemesis, essentially the Turtles' equivalent to Franchise/{{Batman}}'s Joe Chill, and swiftly killed off at the end of the first issue. One [[Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles multi-media franchise later]], the Shredder had gone from their Joe Chill to their Joker - the definite ArchEnemy to which all other members of their RoguesGallery are compared to.

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap'', minor enemies are occasionally promoted to GiantMook bosses. In this instance, though, [[NormalFishInATinyPond the enemies haven't become more powerful]]; Link has simply been [[IncredibleShrinkingMan shrunk to a smaller size]].
* Also from the Zelda series: Vire, the miniboss of both ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames Oracle]]'' games' sixth dungeons. He's graphically identical (though tougher and faster) to a regular late-game enemy in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening''.

* ''VideoGame/PizzaTower'': [[EvilKnockoff Fake Peppino]] [[WhatCouldHaveBeen was initially meant to be]] a StalkedByTheBell mechanic during [[EscapeSequence Pizza Time]] in certain levels, such as a cut HauntedMansion. In the game proper, [[spoiler: Fake Peppino is the fourth boss, and is the primary threat during an EscapeSequence of his own]].

* ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}''
** The Man Eater, a regular enemy in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaAriaOfSorrow'', appeared in the BossRush for some reason.
** Possibly as a bane to speedrunners, annoying three-headed bastard...Well technically eyes, but you have to kill every one of them. If you're not using the Red Minotaur when you enter, you should be.
** And by ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaOrderOfEcclesia'' it's gotten to be a full-fledged boss at the end of the Skeleton Cave.

** The IncredibleShrinkingMan plot of ''VideoGame/MarioPartyDS'' allows for boss roles by a Piranha Plant, Hammer Bro. and Dry Bones. ''VideoGame/MarioParty9'' also includes a Lakitu, Cheep Cheep, Chain Chomp and Spike.

** The IncredibleShrinkingMan plot of ''VideoGame/MarioParty DS'' allows for boss roles by a Piranha Plant, Hammer Bro. and Dry Bones. ''Mario Party 9'' also includes a Lakitu, Cheep Cheep, Chain Chomp and Spike.

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap'', minor enemies are occasionally promoted to GiantMook bosses. In this instance, though, the enemies haven't become more powerful; Link has simply been [[IncredibleShrinkingMan shrunk to a smaller size]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'' The Black Mask would [[YouHaveFailedMe kill his Number One]] then point to a random mook and make him or her his new [[NumberTwo Number One]].

You know [[{{Mooks}} this guy]]. You've seen him before. There are a million others like him, and they're [[YouALLLookFamiliar all the same]]. He's just another minor pawn in the BigBad's army. He probably doesn't even have a {{n|ominalImportance}}ame. And yet...