History Main / CorporateSamurai

* Han Cho Bai in ''Film/Red2'', though he subverts it in [[BerserkButton Frank's case]].

* Han Cho Bai in ''Film/{{Red}}'''s sequel, though he subverts it in [[BerserkButton Frank's case]].

* ''ShadowWarrior'' is set in a world of corporate ninjas. Lo Wang was once Zilla's most loyal corporate ninja until he learned that his employer was summoning monsters from the netherworld and planning to take over the world and quit, resulting in Zilla taking out a ContractOnTheHitman.

* Symmetra of ''Videogame/{{Overwatch}}'' is officially an architect for the Vishkar Corporation who uses her HardLight technology to build cities. Unofficially, she performs clandestine operations such as stealing important items/documents for the corporation's interest. Her loyalty to Vishkar means that she does not get along with Lúcio, who is a freedom fighter working against them.

* In ''Videogame/FalloutNewVegas'', the Courier can become something akin to a post-apocalyptic version of this by working for Mr. House, a pre-war tech mogul. While House is more akin to a WastelandWarlord in his power, he still prefers to act more like a corporate executive and treats his dealings with the protagonist as strictly business whether it be to investigate things for him or even to wipe out entire factions.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Speed-O-Sound Sonic starts out as one in ''WebComic/OnePunchMan''.

* ''WesternAnimation/Ducktales2017'' has Falcon Graves, a corporate saboteur for hire who serves as a recurring antagonist.

* ''Film/BestSeller'' is about a former hitman for Kappa Industries, who after being fired approaches detective-turned-novelist Meechum about writing his story.

Corporate Samurai are similar to StreetSamurai. The biggest difference is that the Corporate Samurai are not {{Ronin}}, due to the fact that they are retained by or work for a corporation, or on contract in the Private Sector. The Corporate Samurai are often highly trained as {{Professional Killer}}s, {{Ninja}}, assassins, special ops, HiredGuns, PrivateMilitaryContractors, or former intelligence operatives. Like StreetSamurai, expect Corporate Samurai to be [[CyberNinja well-versed in espionage, technology and gadgetry.]] In {{Western}}s this person may work as a PinkertonDetective or for the Railroad. Whatever his specific job, expect the Corporate Samurai to be steadfastly loyal to his employer, just as historical Samurai were to their masters.

Corporate Samurai are similar to StreetSamurai. The biggest difference is that the Corporate Samurai are not {{Ronin}}, due to the fact that they are retained by or work for a corporation, or on contract in the Private Sector. The Corporate Samurai are often highly trained as {{Professional Killer}}s, {{Ninja}}, {{Assassin}}s, special ops, HiredGuns, PrivateMilitaryContractors, or former intelligence operatives. Like StreetSamurai, expect Corporate Samurai to be [[CyberNinja well-versed in espionage, technology and gadgetry.]] In {{Western}}s this person may work as a PinkertonDetective or for the Railroad. Whatever his specific job, expect the Corporate Samurai to be steadfastly loyal to his employer, just as historical Samurai were to their masters.

[[quoteright:350:[[Film/RoboCop3 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1993_robocop_3_d.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The [[MegaCorp OCP]] has [=RoboCop=]. The [[JapanTakesOverTheWorld Kanemitsu Corporation]] has Otomo.]]

-> ''"A person in a conflict-oriented profession (i.e. assassin, negotiator, advertising personnel, etc) who follows a samurai-like code of ethics. This generally means limiting collateral damage (whatever that might be, depending on the profession), treating their job as 'just business (not bringing personal animosity into competition),' and respecting competitors in their profession. Coined as a part of the cyberpunk movement in science fiction, and exemplified by Case in Literature/{{Neuromancer}} by William Gibson, and Hiroaki Protagonist in Literature/SnowCrash by Neal Stephenson."''

Typically within a {{Mega Corp}} all sorts of things can happen that can quickly turn into a problem. Normally, you would call on your security team to deal with an issue before it becomes a problem. A Corporate Samurai is who you call when something ''has'' gone wrong, and you need it cleaned up, fast. And if ''you're'' the problem, it's likely too late for you.

* A more literal example in the film ''Film/GhostDogTheWayOfTheSamurai''. The epynomous character is an assassin working for the mafia, but follows a code of ethics based on bushido, including not killing anyone but his targets.

%%* Anderson in ''Literature/TheWindupGirl''.

* Mifune, ''Manga/SoulEater'''s character, Infinite One-Sword Style practitioner, bodyguard and Black*Star's [[TheRival Rival]] was this in the past, working for a crime family. However, he quit when he was sent to capture or kill a witch that turned out to be a little girl; he released her and devoted his life to protecting her. He ends up working for ''another'' criminal organization, Arachnophobia, so they'll provide protection to her.

* John Nike in ''Literature/JenniferGovernment''.

* Dethklok's manager/lawyer/CFO Charles Foster Ofdensen in ''{{WesternAnimation/Metalocalypse}}''.

* From the same era as the A-Team, ''Series/TheEqualizer'' gives us Robert McCall. A former CIA field officer, he retired from the life after tiring of its moral ambiguity. He now offers these same skills to victimized people through ads in the newspaper's classified section. He hasn't completely cut off his ties to the CIA, however, and will still do favors for them from time to time while they, in turn, will oblige him when he occasionally needs help or information on one of his cases.

* ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' features several individuals who have a Corporate Samurai background and work for the Arasaka corporation, notably Goro Takemura, Sandayu Oda, and V themselves if you play the Corpo lifepath. The treachery of the corporate world is underscored by the fact that of these three, two end up being betrayed by their superiors and spending most of the game as either StreetSamurai who have left the corporate world for good or {{Ronin}} seeking revenge and a return to the good graces of the corporation.

* ''Literature/TheDogsOfWar''. Simon Endean is the chief hatchetman of British mining magnate Sir James Manson. Though he hires a LondonGangster as muscle when going to Africa, it's made clear that he's capable of handling the rough stuff himself when needed.

* ''Literature/TheDogsOfWar''. Endean is the chief hatchetman of British mining magnate Sir James Manson. Though he hires a LondonGangster as muscle when going to Africa, it's made clear that he's capable of handling the rough stuff himself when needed.

** Jack Sparrow is a borderline example, in that people keep trying to turn him into this despite his best wishes. Early on, he fulfills this role for Will and Elizabeth, people who are ''not'' experienced criminals, but need his help to navigate the Caribbean underworld when forced to interact with it (to rescue Elizabeth in the first movie, to retrieve the compass that Lord Cutler Beckett is blackmailing them for in the second one). Lord Cutler Beckett also tries to coerce him into a more conventional version of this role, first by offering him a job as a privateer for the East India Trading Company and then by trying to recruit him as his agent among the Pirate Lords, with much less success.

Corporate Samurai are similar to StreetSamurai. The biggest difference is that the Corporate Samurai are not {{Ronin}}, due to the fact that they are retained by or work for a corporation, or on contract in the Private Sector. The Corporate Samurai are often highly trained as {{Professional Killer}}s, {{Ninja}}, {{Assassin}}s, special ops, HiredGuns, PrivateMilitaryContractors, or former intelligence operatives. Like StreetSamurai, expect Corporate Samurai to be [[CyberNinja well-versed in espionage, technology and gadgetry.]] In {{Western}}s this person may work as a PinkertonDetective or for the Railroad.

* ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' features several individuals who have a Corporate Samurai background and work for the Arasaka corporation, notably Goro Takemura, Sandayu Oda, and V herself if you play the Corpo lifepath. The treachery of the corporate world is underscored by the fact that of these three, two end up being betrayed by their superiors and spending most of the game as either StreetSamurai who have left the corporate world for good or {{Ronin}} seeking revenge and a return to the good graces of the corporation.

* ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' features several individuals who have a corporate samurai background and work for the Arasaka corporation, notably Goro Takemura, Sandayu Oda, and V herself if you play the Corpo lifepath. The treachery of the corporate world is underscored by the fact that of these three, two end up being betrayed by their superiors and spending most of the game as either StreetSamurai who have left the corporate world for good or {{Ronin}} desperately trying to clear their name.

** Subverted later on by Red Grant, the SMERSH hitman in ''Literature/FromRussiaWithLove''. Failing to act professionally and indulging his class resentments and sociopathic nature instead is precisely what dooms him. Instead of [[WhyDontYaJustShootHim killing Bond quickly]] while he's still unsuspecting, he can't resist [[EvilGloating gloating]] and savoring his victory, and therefore gives Bond a chance to turn the tables on him.
** [[Characters/JamesBondBlofeld Ernst Stavro Blofeld]], of ''all'' people, actually qualifies. As the head of SPECTRE, there is literally no job too evil for him to do. However, he strongly believes in strictly honoring his agreements, not only with clients but with victims, and demands high self-discipline from his men. At the beginning of ''Literature/{{Thunderball}}'', it's brought to his attention that a girl he recently had kidnapped was raped while in his custody, despite his promising to return her unharmed. He reacts by refunding a portion of the ransom money to her parents, immediately executes the offending employee, and reminds the rest of the group that he demand self-control from all of them.

* Similar to Michael Western, the heroes of ''Series/{{Leverage}}'' are a crew of thieves that hire themselves out to those who have been victimized by people above the law (usually [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Corrupt Corporate Executives]] or [[SleazyPolitician Sleazy Politicians]]). In Season 3, however, they're coerced into being more classic Corporate Samurai for "the Italian," a very powerful woman whose motives and affiliation are unknown, who needs an underworld ally to bring down a seemingly untouchable criminal banker. In Season 4, corrupt businessman Jack Latimer tries to similarly coerce them into working for him, with much less success.

* Michael Westen in ''Series/BurnNotice''. He is a unique example of this as he doesn't work for the rich or powerful, usually, but rather the little guy the rich, powerful, and corrupt take advantage of. He aims to be discrete and limited in his collateral, but isn't above using explosives when things get rough. He aims to be dispassionate and disconnected, as he was trained as a spy, because when a guy might be shooting at you one day, the next he could be your ally. The major antagonists of the show all try to convince him, by either force or gentler methods, to be this on their side.

* The main characters in the film ''Film/BadCompany'' are in corporate espionage, hired to spy on a rival cosmetics company.

[[caption-width-right:350:The [[MegaCorp OCP]] has ''[=RoboCop=]. The [[JapanTakesOverTheWorld Kanemitsu Corporation]] has Otomo.]]