History TookALevelInBadass / WebComics

** Zaid starts out as a shallow jerk of a young man turned DistressedDude who's mostly not shown in the story for a long time while Allison's quest is to save him. After he's been rescued, and he's vanished out of sight again for a long TimeSkip, he returns as a formidable DualWielding army general, possibly showing how he could have been the ChosenOne and MultiversalConqueror of a prophecy that was supposed to happen.

* Allison in ''WebComic/KillSixBillionDemons'' starts out as a clueless victim, then levels up to at least be determined about what she's doing, even if she's still no more than an InvincibleIncompetent. There's an even bigger jump between books 3 and 4, where she trains up during the TimeSkip and becomes a full-fletched ActionGirl.

** John Egbert initially has troubles even [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=002293 lifting his hammer]], but once he starts levelling up, and gets some easier to use hammers, [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=002779 he becomes quite the powerhouse]]. He takes another level when he [[spoiler: learns how to do "[[BlowYouAway the windy thing]]"]], and yet another when [[spoiler: he and Vriska find [[ArtifactOfDoom Lord English's juju]], giving him CosmicRetcon powers]], though he only learns how to use these powers after [[spoiler: [[TotalPartyKill a devastating battle that leaves most of his friends dead]], and a trial by oil from his planet's [[SinkOrSwimMentor Denizen]] after he turns to them for help]].

** Future Trunks, from U12, actually managed to give U18 Vegeta a good fight, despite not being quite up to his level in power (U18 Vegeta has Super Saiyan 2, U12 Trunks can only use Super Saiyan Grade 3[=/=][[FanNickname Ascended Saiyan]], a form Goku and Vegeta considered useless, but got more mileage out of it through clever usage).

* ''Webcomic/{{Bastard}}'': Jin after utilising Manny Kim's training to take down the second serial killer, [[spoiler: Faye Kim.]]

* ''Webcomic/CrimsonFlag'': Under the influene of a shapeshifting spell, Sierra [[http://crimsonflagcomic.com/comic.php?comicID=340 starts dishing out the pain]].

** Further evidence: [[http://egscomics.com/?date=2011-05-12 Dragon]]

* Dies Horribly from ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'' is a self proclaimed coward. Now that he's getting control of [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/04072006/ his arm that Klik restored]] [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/11182011/ Demon: I'm going to rip you apart. Dies: You already did that. It didn't work.]]
** [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/11222011/ And the next]] [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/11252011/ two pages]].

* ''Webcomic/MagIsa'' -- [[http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119183 Eman Cruz started off as a real wimp]]:
** 1st level: [[http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119487 After being trained by the Catholic Priest]].
** 2nd level: [[http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119633 After getting a chip implanted in his head]], he suddenly can kick ass better. In fact, he's suddenly [[http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119714 capable of dodging bullets]]
** 3rd level: [[http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119766 After Claudita possesses him]] (with his full consent and full knowledge).

* [[spoiler:Steve]] from ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'', in what doubles as an ''epic'' BigLippedAlligatorMoment... unless it's mentioned again.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1406 Mentioned again.]] This is either a single continuity nod to the fans who insisted it was real, or will become the most epic [[ThirdLineSomeWaiting 3rd line]] ever.

* Criminy of ''Webcomic/SinFest'' has grown a massive pair in about a week's time. Went from meek nerd to telling the resident JerkAss HolierThanThou KnightTemplar Seymore off, digging his way into the maw of hell for Fuschia, then holding his own in a fight with a demonic pitch fork. Awesome.

** Moloch while acting as Agatha's minion. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120402 Made clear to Sanaa here.]]

** Monica also [[http://wapsisquare.com/comic/guard-dogs/ took a level or two]].

* ''Webcomic/ZebraGirl'': [[spoiler: Jack / Jack The Plaid. Complete with [[LampshadeHanging LoTR quote and the villain noting he]] [[PersonAsVerb 'pulled a Gandalf']].]]

** John Egbert initially has troubles even [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=002293 lifting his hammer]], but once he starts levelling up, and gets some easier to use hammers, [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=002779 he becomes quite the powerhouse]]. [[spoiler:He takes another level when he learns how to do "[[BlowYouAway the windy thing]]".]]

** And then there's Jade, who was a competent, if underpowered latecomer to the game, and her AlternateSelf [[spoiler:Jadesprite]] -- a depressed, completely ineffectual fussbudget. By the [o] intermission, Jade [[spoiler:is easily holding her own against the BigBad, partially because the spirit of her dead dog and surrogate parent won't let him fight her]], and [[spoiler: Jadesprite]] is in control of her emotions enough to deliver a tactically-critical piece of hardware to another character. In [[SeasonFinale [S] Cascade]], [[spoiler: Jade and Jadesprite ended up merging into a combination of a [[CameBackStrong God Tier]] [[RealityWarper Witch of Space]], a [[PhysicalGod First Guardian]], and a [[SpiritAdvisor Sprite]] -- making her the most powerful heroic character and '''''second only to [[TheManBehindTheMan Lord English]]''''' in absolute power]].

** And Aradia: she was already pretty powerful, but [[spoiler:her ascent to God Tier]] made her powerful enough to ''stop [[DiscOneFinalBoss Bec Noir]] in time.''

* John Egbert of ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' initially has troubles even [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=002293 lifting his hammer]], but once he starts levelling up, and gets some easier to use hammers, [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=002779 he becomes quite the powerhouse]]. [[spoiler:He takes another level when he learns how to do "[[BlowYouAway the windy thing]]".]]

* ''Webcomic/MagIsa'' -- [[http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119183 Eman Cruz started off as a real wimp]]:
** 1st level: [[http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119487 After being trained by the Catholic Priest]].
** 2nd level: [[http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119633 After getting a chip implanted in his head]], he suddenly can kick ass better. In fact, he's suddenly [[http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119714 capable of dodging bullets]]
** 3rd level: [[http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119766 After Claudita possesses him]] (with his full consent and full knowledge).
* Done in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', where Elan takes a level in badass -- or, rather, in the Dashing Swordsman PrestigeClass. As long as they [[PungeonMaster make puns while attacking]], a Dashing Swordsman can use their [[TheSixStats Charisma score]] as a bonus to their damage. Given that Strength was Elan's DumpStat, this turns him from a vulnerable SupportPartyMember into someone who can easily hold his own against multiple enemies.
** Vaarsuvius also does this (albeit only temporarily through a [[spoiler:DealWithTheDevil]]) in order to [[spoiler: save their children from a really pissed off dragon]].
** And in a less literal sense, Elan has also become somewhat less incompetent at using his regular Bard abilities over time. Despite Dashing Swordsman giving him a lot of advantage, he still also takes levels in Bard for the support mechanics that can help his party, like Cure spells (which usually only divine casters have access to) or Neutralize Poison.
** Roy took a level too. In the beginning, he was just a snarky team leader. The only time he showed his inner awesome was rescuing Elan from a situation he wouldn't have been in if he hadn't abandoned him in the first place (and him taking down Xykon, but that was via deus ex machina). After his little trip to heaven, he suddenly becomes more serious, has a worldly air around him, beats on a half-dragon-half-ogre, most of a bar in a barfight, gets ranked top of the list after beating Belkar (whose awesome used to be far above him) and bopped Haley's uncle across the room. Aside from asking Belkar to find him a cartographer ("...this is a cart of gophers, isn't it?"), after being resurrected Roy went for a decent while without making any leadership foibles until [[spoiler:not trusting Belkar about vampire!Durkon being evil]].
** Belkar, but more like regained his level of badass. [[spoiler: He comes down with a curse caused by his mark of justice. Then when the curse is broken, [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0611.html this]] happens. Complete with a kiss at the end!]]
** O'Chul is a minor supporting character until he falls prisoner to Xykon, and his subsequent survival and escape have led to a meme all of its own, namely: O'Chul does not have levels in badass - badass has levels in O'Chul.
** Redcloak took a literal level in badass in [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0825.html this strip]] and the two following, showing off his newfound powers by soloing the entire Resistance and leveling its base.
* ''Webcomic/ZebraGirl'': [[spoiler: Jack / Jack The Plaid. Complete with [[LampshadeHanging LoTR quote and the villain noting he]] [[PersonAsVerb 'pulled a Gandalf']].]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Narbonic}}'', the character Seth was a pimple-faced girl-shy role-playing nerd. Then he got sent to hell, [[EscapedFromHell where he fought his way out]] after obtaining the [[{{BFS}} demonic axe Zürrr]] by defeating the devil queen Sh'zk'ra. And picked up a BadassLongcoat somewhere along the way.
** In a more plot important example, [[spoiler: Dave, the [[ThisLoserIsYou nerdy, chain-smoking everyman]] grows more and more badass over the course of the series, finally ending in his becoming the most powerful Mad Scientist in the series, curb-stomping Helen, Mell, and Madblood with ease and coming pretty close to destroying the world.]]
* Lamia from ''Webcomic/{{Sidekicks}}'' makes takes several levels of badass after [[spoiler: Darkslug [[BequeathedPower transferred both the First Prana and his powers into her]].]] She is now on the same level as her former master, and he was overwhelmingly powerful.
* Torg of ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' has always been a goofy CloudCuckooLander, but with the comic taking on [[CerebusSyndrome more serious themes]] in addition to the goofy ones, he's had to cope with more and more dramatic and dangerous situations. The real shift happens in "That Which Redeems", a story during which he's stuck for months on an alternative Earth fighting against invading demons -- he both learns how to fight for real and finds out that the fancy sword he'd picked up during time travel to the past is magical and can be PoweredByAForsakenChild to become powerful enough to cut like a lightsaber and [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu literally kill a god]]. After that, he remains goofy, but is quite capable of [[LetsGetDangerous getting dangerous]] when needed.
--> '''Riff''': "''Dude!'' When did you learn to kick ass?"
--> '''Torg''': "I've been taking an internet college correspondence course in kickass."
--> '''Riff''': "You have not."
--> '''Torg''': "But I ''so'' want to teach one!"
* Many characters go step up the levels in ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod''.
** The biggest is [[TheHero Bam]] who has taken many, many levels over the course of the story. During season 1, he could barely do anything on his own and was one of the more weaker characters. Come season 2, and he's easily one of the most powerful Regulars on his level, [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomping]] most Regulars that challenge him. The levels only keep increasing after he gets [[SuperMode the Thorn]]. At the end of Season 2, he levels up even more ridiculously in one go, and after a TimeSkip and more training leading up to Season 3, he can take on Rankers, who are way more powerful than any other Regular like himself.
** Most of Bam's friends from the Second Floor take a few levels in badass after the Season 2 timeskip and have even gained some fame doing so. The most notable is Shibisu, who barely made it through Lero-Ro's test on the Second Floor but now ''leads'' a [[BadassCrew team full of]] badasses despite being the weakest (but cleverest) member.
** The members of Sweet and Sour took some levels too after Workshop Battle arc.
* Agatha takes ''several'' levels of badass in ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' as she evolves from from the hopeless klutz of Polygnostic University to a Spark at or above the level of any previous Heterodyne.
** Gil's evolution from a bored pupil constantly tested by his father for basic worth into a man capable of facing down his father, and an army of war clanks, is a clear example. See [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071121 here]] for evidence.
** More recently, Boris, the Baron's personal secretary, has suddenly shown his ability [[spoiler: to not only take down a Jaegermonster, but actually [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100820 beat him until he gives up classified information]]]]. This is actually a classic example, in that there was no on-screen intermediate development.
** Tarvek either TookALevelInBadass or been playing ObfuscatingStupidity, surprising even his cousin-cum-bodyguard Violetta with his competence. Likewise, it appears Wooster, Gil's "valet", was doing much the same thing, as was [[MagnificentBastard Zola]]. Never mind The Unstoppable Higgs. All the major and secondary characters in Webcomic/GirlGenius started as badass, TookALevelInBadass, or aren't very important characters...yet [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110425 this strip]] makes it pretty clear.
** Moloch while acting as Agatha's minion. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120402 Made clear to Sanaa here.]]
* [[spoiler:Steve]] from ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'', in what doubles as an ''epic'' BigLippedAlligatorMoment... unless it's mentioned again.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1406 Mentioned again.]] This is either a single continuity nod to the fans who insisted it was real, or will become the most epic [[ThirdLineSomeWaiting 3rd line]] ever.
* The character [[spoiler:Cale'Anon]] from the webcomic ''Webcomic/LookingForGroup''. He starts the series off [[spoiler:rather clueless and useless, and in the first comic gets blasted to cinders by Richard.]] By the third or fourth issue, he's [[http://www.lfgcomic.com/page/91 changed a little]] and very soon is pulling stunts like [[http://www.lfgcomic.com/page/96 this]] and [[http://www.lfgcomic.com/page/241 this]] .

* Rumy from ''Webcomic/{{Fans}}'', like everyone else, had already come a long way from the OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent with martial arts training by the end of the fifth book, but after the five-year TimeSkip she comes off as a battle-hardened LadyOfWar.
* John Egbert of ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' initially has troubles even [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=002293 lifting his hammer]], but once he starts levelling up, and gets some easier to use hammers, [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=002779 he becomes quite the powerhouse]]. [[spoiler:He takes another level when he learns how to do "[[BlowYouAway the windy thing]]".]]
** Jack Noir does this too [[spoiler:when he kills the Glorious Monarch after he gets fed up with the ridiculous costumes that he's forced to wear and then takes her ring for himself]]
** Kanaya when [[spoiler:she comes back from the dead as a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Rainbow Drinker]], punts [[AxCrazy Gamzee]] off a cliff with a DynamicEntry [[GroinAttack to the balls]], sucker punches god-tier Vriska so hard she goes flying, and [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe cleaves Eridan in two]] with her [[ChainsawGood chainsaw]]]].
** The Parcel Mistress starts out as just a simple mailwoman who wouldn't hurt a fly. By the end of Act 5 [[spoiler: she's a space-warping OneManArmy on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge, and one of the most powerful characters in the comic.]]
** And then there's Jade, who was a competent, if underpowered latecomer to the game, and her AlternateSelf [[spoiler:Jadesprite]] -- a depressed, completely ineffectual fussbudget. By the [o] intermission, Jade [[spoiler:is easily holding her own against the BigBad, partially because the spirit of her dead dog and surrogate parent won't let him fight her]], and [[spoiler: Jadesprite]] is in control of her emotions enough to deliver a tactically-critical piece of hardware to another character. In [[SeasonFinale [S] Cascade]], [[spoiler: Jade and Jadesprite ended up merging into a combination of a [[CameBackStrong God Tier]] [[RealityWarper Witch of Space]], a [[PhysicalGod First Guardian]], and a [[SpiritAdvisor Sprite]] -- making her the most powerful heroic character and '''''second only to [[TheManBehindTheMan Lord English]]''''' in absolute power]].
** Here's an easy rule to remember: is this Homestuck character a badass? If no, they will be. If yes, they will become even ''more'' of a badass. Dave is another great example - at the beginning, he's thoroughly [[CherryTapping Cherry Tapped]] by Bro (who, admittedly, is a pretty amazing badass in his own right). A little later, he denies that he's a hero, guessing that he'll become a hero when he becomes 'future Dave'. By Cascade, [[spoiler:he has already aided the other three kinds in innumerable ways, and in that flash he takes the final step to becoming God Tier.]]
** And Aradia: she was already pretty powerful, but [[spoiler:her ascent to God Tier]] made her powerful enough to ''stop [[DiscOneFinalBoss Bec Noir]] in time.''
* Criminy of ''Webcomic/SinFest'' has grown a massive pair in about a week's time. Went from meek nerd to telling the resident JerkAss HolierThanThou KnightTemplar Seymore off, digging his way into the maw of hell for Fuschia, then holding his own in a fight with a demonic pitch fork. Awesome.
* ''Webcomic/DubiousCompany'' handled this very subtly. At first, they have [[AttackAttackRetreatRetreat trouble fighting]] anything other than Kreedor's [[TheGoomba rookies]]. Later, the pirates attack [[spoiler: Mary and Sue, AKA: The Sues]] in their sleep and ''still'' need to fight dirty and outnumber them. Then during the rematch at Kreedor's castle, the pirates are barely holding their own going one-on-one. Later still, [[spoiler: The Sues, [[SpearCounterpart Stus]], and Tiren [[EnemyMine team up]] against a dragon.]] The pirates' Tiren [[MadeOfIron holds out]] the longest.
* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', Justin, after entire arcs of being one of the only main characters without using amazing superpowers or [[WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys wonderful toys]], knocks back a flame golem [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-09-27 with his bare fists]] then kicks it [[PunchedAcrossTheRoom over a hundred feet]] [[http://egscomics.com/?date=2010-10-08 into a river]].
** Further evidence: [[http://egscomics.com/?date=2011-05-12 Dragon]]

* Dies Horribly from ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'' is a self proclaimed coward. Now that he's getting control of [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/04072006/ his arm that Klik restored]] [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/11182011/ Demon: I'm going to rip you apart. Dies: You already did that. It didn't work.]]
** [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/11222011/ And the next]] [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/11252011/ two pages]].
* While already badass before their [[GenderBender sex changes]], the T-Girls of ''Webcomic/JetDream'' also received BioAugmentation and [[TrainingFromHell extensive training]] in Combat Femininity, making them into an AmazonBrigade and quite effective in their new feminized bodies and roles.
* Sebastian of ''Webcomic/TrueVillains'' was cursed by a spell that drains his life force. After the spell is lifted, well... [[http://www.truevillains.com/comic-2011-10-04~N-Mightier%20than%20the%20Sword-jpg.htm He can punch through swords.]]
* [[PlayingWithFire Carval]] [[BrattyHalfPint Jarvoc]] from ''Webcomic/HeartCore'' took quite a level in badass considering what happened to him in his first fight against the protagonist, Ame Lashiec. In his first battle against her, [[CurbStompBattle he got defeated and knocked down by one single projectile, not even managing to cause any significant damage against her]]. In their second fight, he nearly managed to kill her until he got thrown from the top of a skyscraper. [[SuperpoweredEvilSide And then he fused together with his even stronger father...]]

* Liquid in ''Webcomic/TheLastDaysOfFoxhound'', right about [[http://www.doctorshrugs.com/foxhound/comic.php?id=104 here]]. Possibly multiple levels. Though it's more like regaining the levels he [[http://www.doctorshrugs.com/foxhound/comic.php?id=55 lost]] before the start of the comic.
* "Doc" Schweitzer in ''WebComic/FlintlockesGuideToAzeroth'' after he [[spoiler:single-handedly kills Cheri and the Shadow Priest with [[ChekhovsGun the "Murder" macro written by the Wuff]].]]
* Katherine Gilchrist, the spooky-eyed, introverted, generally strange fabrics expert at the museum where protagonist Monica Villareal works in ''WebComic/WapsiSquare'' has leveled up after her [[http://wapsisquare.com/comic/lost-dolls/ Mesa Verde adventure]], to the point where [[spoiler:she seems to be perfectly willing to [[http://wapsisquare.com/comic/lost-dolls/ scream at The Library]], which has the power to jerk Titans around]].
** Monica also [[http://wapsisquare.com/comic/guard-dogs/ took a level or two]].

** U10 shows off what Nail would be capable of had he actually helped fight the Ginyu Force on Namek - let's put this into perspective, this Nail could've defeated Recoome, who Vegeta couldn't defeat back then. Yes, Nail has been listed twice, but he is pretty awesome.

** U16 has a couple - Vegito was ridiculously powerful in U18, sure, but here we see the ''true'' extent of his power against Broly, and it is ''awe-inspiring''. Bra, being his daughter, isn't the girly-girl like her U18 counterpart (which is lampshaded in a side-comic), and is ''ridiculously'' powerful in her own right, even if she does have some ''serious'' anger issues.

* ''Webcomic/CrimsonFlag'': Under the influene of a shapeshifting spell, Sierra [[http://crimsonflagcomic.com/comic.php?comicID=340 starts dishing out the pain]].
* Mal in ''Webcomic/CthulhuSlippers''. Mal starts off as an incompetent, mostly harmless {{CloudCuckooLander}}. But as time goes on he not only manages to [[http://www.cthulhuslippers.com/comic/weaponised/ weaponize his own incompetence]] against the [[EldritchAbomination monsters]] he works for, he starts to become a [[BodyHorror monster]] himself.
* ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent'':
** A PhotoMontage showing characters from the HyperlinkStory prologue bracing themselves for TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt includes the NiceGuy from one of the segments learning to use a rifle. In an AfterTheEnd portrait, the same character is casually holding a rifle.
** In the main story, [[LittleStowaway Reynir]] after he manages a functionning anti-ghost rune, and someone else notices the best way to use it is to draw it really big on the ground. The fact that the thing [[IncendiaryExponent catches fire]] when it activates helps a lot.

* In ''WebComic/YokokasQuest'', Yokoka specifically asks Lady Pachi to teach her "to be this badass" after she leads a team to defeat a tunnel dweller. Yokoka then spends the next couple of chapters receiving combat training.
* ''Webcomic/{{Bastard}}'': Jin after utilising Manny Kim's training to take down the second serial killer, [[spoiler: Faye Kim.]]
* ''Webcomic/ImTheGrimReaper'': Brook finds this out, to his displeasure, that after over a month of being a reaper and finding a link to her humanity in [[spoiler: Chase,]] Scarlet has become considerably stronger, although she still barely has control over her demon. Because of these reasons, he finds her to be a legitimate threat and is determined to take her out and send her back to hell, at least until [[spoiler: her demon form rips him to shreds.]]