History Main / StockLightNovelHero

While the StockShonenHero is HotBlooded, BookDumb, and usually starts off at the lower end of the PowerLevel food chain, the Stock Light Novel Hero is typically an UnfazedEveryman, GeniusBruiser, DeadpanSnarker or [[TheStoic Stoic]] badass ([[NotSoStoic except when he isn't]]) with [[InvincibleHero power]], [[WeakButSkilled skill]], [[UniqueProtagonistAsset ability]], or [[AllLovingHero moral character]] that puts most other characters to shame. Further, very few shonen heroes are a ChickMagnet, and usually only have one "serious" LoveInterest. The {{Light Novel|s}} hero commonly gains a [[HaremGenre harem]], [[HaremSeeker wanted]] or [[UnwantedHarem otherwise]], without fail.

* ''Manga/TheDungeonOfBlackCompany'': A comedic take on the genre, Kinji Meiyuu is a shrewd, selfish businessman who managed to finally build his ideal lifestyle by accumulating a massive sum of wealth and power which allow him to live forever as a {{NEET}} and avoid the trap of being a {{salaryman}}. However, he is then whisked away to a fantasy world run by greedy and abusive corporations that force workers to toil in dungeons for rare materials. Refusing for this to be his new lot in life, Kinji begins hatching zany and risky schemes in order to be the one at the top of the hierarchy. Unlike most characters of this type, Kinji is definitely a NominalHero; there is very little difference between himself and the people he's up against. Also, while Kinji's fighting skills are practically non-existent, he's still crafty enough to be able to outsmart most threats he faces, and also gains a gang of loyal "friends" and powerful weapons to help him out.

** '''[[TrappedInAnotherWorld The Isekai Hero]]:'''[[note]]"I" = Different; "Sekai" = World. So, literally, "Different World"[[/note]] An extremely popular subtype that falls into the Isekai genre, where protagonists are transported to another world either by [[SummonEverymanHero being summoned]] or [[ReincarnateInAnotherWorld reincarnation]], where you can expect them to have a NewLifeInAnotherWorldBonus. If said world is an RPGMechanicsVerse then they will likely be a GodlikeGamer. In practice, these guys are pretty much a fusion of Everyday and Fantasy types: all the upbringing and modern knowledge of a mundane protagonist, plus the supernatural abilities and skillset of a fantasy one. Some may even involve a creator of a game or story being drawn inside their own creation. The TropeCodifier of this archetype is Kirito from ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'', while that of the ReincarnateInAnotherWorld variant is Rudeus Greyrat from ''Literature/MushokuTenseiJoblessReincarnation''[[note]]Keep in mind, the original novel was actually first released back in 2014 and it wasn't until 2021 when the anime was released, when the trope had already became commonplace thanks to many other anime series that had released before[[/note]].

** '''The Isekai Hero:'''[[note]]"I" = Different; "Sekai" = World. So, literally, "Different World"[[/note]] An extremely popular subtype that falls into the [[TrappedInAnotherWorld Isekai]] genre. Isekai protagonists usually reach the other world through [[SummonEverymanHero being summoned]] or [[ReincarnateInAnotherWorld reincarnation]], where you can expect them to have a NewLifeInAnotherWorldBonus. If said world is an RPGMechanicsVerse then they will likely be a GodlikeGamer. In practice, these guys are pretty much a fusion of Everyday and Fantasy types: all the upbringing and modern knowledge of a mundane protagonist, plus the supernatural abilities and skillset of a fantasy one. Some may even involve a creator of a game or story being drawn inside their own creation. The TropeCodifier of this archetype is Kirito from ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'', while that of the ReincarnateInAnotherWorld variant is Rudeus Greyrat from ''Literature/MushokuTenseiJoblessReincarnation''[[note]]Keep in mind, the original novel was actually first released back in 2014 and it wasn't until 2021 when the anime was released, when the trope had already became commonplace thanks to many other anime series that had released before[[/note]].

** '''The Isekai Hero:'''[[note]]"I" = Different; "Sekai" = World. So, literally, "Different World"[[/note]] An extremely popular subtype that falls into the [[TrappedInAnotherWorld Isekai]] genre. Isekai protagonists usually reach the other world through [[SummonEverymanHero being summoned]] or [[ReincarnateInAnotherWorld reincarnation]], where you can expect them to have a NewLifeInAnotherWorldBonus. If said world is an RPGMechanicsVerse then they will likely be a GodlikeGamer. In practice, these guys are pretty much a fusion of Everyday and Fantasy types: all the upbringing and modern knowledge of a mundane protagonist, plus the supernatural abilities and skillset of a fantasy one. Some may even involve a creator of a game or story being drawn inside their own creation. The TropeCodifier of this archetype is Kirito from ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'', while that of the ReincarnateInAnotherWorld variant is Rudeus Greyrat from ''Literature/MushokuTenseiJoblessReincarnation''[[note]]Keep in mind, the original novel were actually first released back in 2014 and it wasn't until 2021 when the anime was released, when the trope had already became commonplace thanks to many other series that had released before[[/note]].

** '''The Isekai Hero:'''[[note]]"I" = Different; "Sekai" = World. So, literally, "Different World"[[/note]] An extremely popular subtype that falls into the [[TrappedInAnotherWorld Isekai]] genre. Isekai protagonists usually reach the other world through [[SummonEverymanHero being summoned]] or [[ReincarnateInAnotherWorld reincarnation]], where you can expect them to have a NewLifeInAnotherWorldBonus. If said world is an RPGMechanicsVerse then they will likely be a GodlikeGamer. In practice, these guys are pretty much a fusion of Everyday and Fantasy types: all the upbringing and modern knowledge of a mundane protagonist, plus the supernatural abilities and skillset of a fantasy one. Some may even involve a creator of a game or story being drawn inside their own creation. The TropeCodifier of this archetype is Kirito from ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'', while that of the ReincarnateInAnotherWorld variant is Rudeus Greyrat from ''Literature/MushokuTenseiJoblessReincarnation''.

* '''[[StockLightNovelEveryman The Everyday Hero]]:''' This guy lives in a world that's LikeRealityUnlessNoted. If he goes to school, it will be on the more mundane end, if a bit quirky. Should this guy be an adult, he'll usually be stuck as a {{Salaryman}} or a freeter, or in some more unfortunate cases may become a {{Hikikomori}} or a {{NEET}} due to pressure. His special skills tend to focus around social talents, such as AwesomenessByAnalysis or being TheHeart of the group. Sometimes, he'll be [[MostWritersAreWriters a light novel author or videogame creator himself]]. The TropeCodifier of this variant is [[Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya Kyon]]. See the full trope at StockLightNovelEveryman.
* '''The Fantasy Hero:''' This type of hero lives in a StandardFantasySetting, a futuristic setting, or an UrbanFantasy that is almost like our own, except with magic. As a young man, the schools he attends are, at the very least, {{Extranormal Institute}}s. If he lives in (or becomes trapped inside) a fantasy world, he can be anything from a complete nobody to a nobleman or even royalty. Where he begins doesn't usually matter much, though, because when his special ability awakens, it'll likely be some sort of StoryBreakerPower that instantly [[RagsToRiches shoots him to the top of the social sphere]], and even if his power level is rather mediocre, his pragmatism will see that he can apply his abilities in ways that others have never thought of. The TropeCodifier of this archetype is [[Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex Touma Kamijou]], who still possesses some unique traits that reflect how this character archetype developed from the StockShonenHero in the early days of light novels.
** '''The Isekai Hero:'''[[note]]"I" = Different; "Sekai" = World. So, literally, "Different World"[[/note]] An extremely popular subtype that falls into the [[TrappedInAnotherWorld Isekai]] genre. Isekai protagonists usually reach the other world through [[SummonEverymanHero being summoned]] or [[ReincarnateInAnotherWorld reincarnation]], where you can expect them to have a NewLifeInAnotherWorldBonus. If said world is an RPGMechanicsVerse then they will likely be a GodlikeGamer. In practice, these guys are pretty much a fusion of Everyday and Fantasy types: all the upbringing and modern knowledge of a mundane protagonist, plus the supernatural abilities and skillset of a fantasy one. Some may even involve a creator of a game or story being drawn inside their own creation. The TropeCodifier of this archetype is [[Literature/SwordArtOnline Kirito]], while that of the ReincarnateInAnotherWorld variant is [[Literature/MushokuTenseiJoblessReincarnation Rudeus Greyrat]].
** '''[[SlowLifeFantasy Slow Life Hero]]''': A blend somewhere between the "Everyman" and "Hero" variant. The "Slow Life" protagonist is usually a very gifted, talented, or even powerful individual who has retired from (or actively avoids) an action-oriented, adventurous life. All they want is to live a quiet, comfortable, and hassle-free life, despite possessing more than enough power or skill to be one of the strongest or most useful adventurers around. Any {{Big Bad}}s or [[MaouTheDemonKing Demon Lords]] that need defeating are SomeoneElsesProblem. Inevitably, this character will still wind up caught in the middle of conflicts and have to save the day completely by coincidence, much to his or her chagrin. [[Literature/DeathMarchToTheParallelWorldRhapsody Satou]] is the first example of this character type to gain large-scale prominence and is the TropeCodifier of this archetype--and as he possesses many of the traits of straight Isekai Heroes, he also shows how this archetype evolved from it.
** '''[[LoserProtagonist The Loser Hero]]:''' A particular form of {{deconstruction}} of the InvincibleHero often associated with this genre. Usually present in isekai stories, this hero finds that they have been dropped off in the fantasy world, but either has not been given any of the power typically expected OR the powers they are given are AwesomeButImpractical. This hero will find themselves struggling early on in the story, being on the lower end of the power food chain and have to slowly work their way up by gradually amassing power or skills (not unlike a Shonen hero). Typically comes in two different flavors: a lighthearted comedic tone where the hero's lack of resources often leads them to be treated as a ButtMonkey, while the second is a DarkerAndEdgier take where the hero's disadvantage in this world subjects them to a long string of brutal hardships. The two most famous examples of this archetype are [[Literature/KonoSuba Kazuma Sato]] as the comedic variant, and [[Literature/ReZero Subaru Natsuki]] as the serious variant. If the Loser Hero is abused too much, he can become...

* '''The "Princess" Heroine''': The DistaffCounterpart subtype, introduced in the late [=2010s=] and early [=20s=], being an opposite-gender counterpart of the stock fantasy and isekai protagonist. As the name would suggest, this type of protagonist is AlwaysFemale and shows up in light novels aimed at women. While, like her cousin the StockShoujoHeroine, she's not likely to be a fighter ([[GuysSmashGirlsShoot or, if she is one, is usually a ranged magician or marksman]]), her knowledge and interpersonal relationship skill are her greatest power.[[note]]It is important to note that not all female light novel protagonists fall into this type; some are simply {{Gender Flip}}s of the standard male hero, with all the personality and power that entails.[[/note]] While this archetype had existed for quite a while in niche light novels, [[Literature/AscendanceOfABookworm Myne]] was the first example to gain widespread prominence.

** '''[[RebornAsVillainessStory The Otome Villainess]]''': A popular variant of the Otome Heroine, in which the protagonist, or central character, is the game's "villainess". Usually this means, in order to avoid a DownerEnding for herself, she has to take the story OffTheRails. The TropeCodifier of this variant is [[Literature/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom Catarina Claes]], who, ironically, was conceived as a ''[[UnbuiltTrope parody]]'' [[UnbuiltTrope of this archetype]].

[[caption-width-right:350:L - R: [[Literature/SwordArtOnline Kazuto Kirigaya/Kirito]], [[Literature/TheMasterOfRagnarokAndBlesserOfEinherjar Yuuto Suoh]], [[Literature/WiseMansGrandchild Shin Wolford]], [[LightNovel/IsekaiCheatMagician Taichi Nishimura]], [[Literature/InAnotherWorldWithMySmartphone Touya Mochizuki]], [[Literature/DeathMarchToTheParallelWorldRhapsody Satou Pendragon]]]]

* ''WebVideo/SwordArtOnlineAbridged'': Kirito is a {{deconstruction}} given that it's an [[TheAbridgedSeries Abridged Series]] that pokes fun at the genre. He's far from the NiceGuy [[TheHero Hero]] that are common to the genre, being a [[TheSociopath sociopath]] who holds little regard for human life and part of his CharacterDevelopment being learning to care. While he's similarly overpowered, he's also a SmugSuper who loves rubbing it in everyone's faces. He starts off as a ChickMagnet who attracts girls, but his obnoxious personality always repels them away before he acquires his UnwantedHarem, with only Asuna so far being able to remain romantically involved with (Lisbeth gets over her feelings for him, but they remain VitriolicBestBuds). He also learns his skills along the way rather than being given them with no explanation.