History Main / LikeABadassOutOfHell

* {{Wolverine}} has been sent to Hell in the first story of his recent ongoing series. He managed to escape with the help of AlphaFlight member Puck, who was there for some reason. Puck ended up taking over Hell after he and Logan killed the devil. He later gives up his position to get back to life and save his teammates.

* Not sure what section to put the Church of the SubGenius in, but they had some books, so "Literature" it is. Their leader, JR "Bob" Dobbs, has died many times, and has escaped from Hell every time. How many times? He's returned to life so often, every day of the year is his birthday.

''[BeatPanel]''

->'''Black Mage:''' I'm dead, so this is some kind of egoscopic projection of my self?
->'''Lord of Hell:''' Correct, but I hardly see what--
->'''Black Mage:''' So without any fleshy meats to slow me down, how long do you '''really''' think it'll take me to usurp your entire kingdom?
->(BeatPanel)
->'''Lord of Hell:''' I have the entire legions of Hell at my command.
->'''Black Mage:''' [[PreAssKickingOneLiner Enjoy it while you can, skippy.]]
-->-- ''WebComic/EightBitTheater''

->'''Black Mage:''' Enjoy it while you can, skippy.

* In most ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' settings, Asmodeus is the Overlord of Hell, but some sourcebooks suggest that he was not the first. A few ''TabletopGame/{{Planescape}}'' sourcebooks about Hell mention the "Ancient Baatorians", creatures that ruled Hell before he came along and exterminated most of them. The ''Elder Evils'' sourcebook says that this was definitely the case, claiming that Asmodeus' predecessor was an EldritchAbomination named Zargon and giving playable statistics for him. (Which, given that it is possible for him to be killed by mortals, suggests that his power has greatly degenerated since Asmodeus kicked him out.

1) The guy is tough enough to simply [[VideoGame/{{Doom}} break himself out]], carving a bloody path through TheLegionsOfHell (and frequently [[TookALevelInBadass taking a level in badass]] on the way).

2) {{Satan}} recognizes the sheer badassery of the newest customer, and offers him a DealWithTheDevil -- usually by offering him a second chance if only the guy can do a few things for him, like pack and ship a few more souls for his collection (although sometimes the task is more [[CelestialBureaucracy bureaucratic]] in nature). This has a good chance of [[FaustianRebellion backfiring on the Devil]]... even though the devil [[GenreBlind should know better already]].

3) He's such a monster that even Beelzebub doesn't want him around ... and since {{Heaven}} obviously won't accept him, he's unceremoniously kicked out of {{Hell}} and BarredFromTheAfterlife. [[TheProblemWithFightingDeath This can result]] in a FlyingDutchman situation, but the stories where this happens rarely explore the consequences that far ahead.

4) Satan doesn't want the guy in Hell because the guy will freakin' TAKE OVER. Or maybe he already has -- Hell needed a change of leadership anyway, and this guy provides it! Exactly what happens to the previous boss often isn't explored, but whatever the case may be, the BigBad just got bigger.

5) The hero just wanted to get rid of the Ultimate BigBad, really. But in the spirit of HeWhoFightsMonsters and YouKillItYouBoughtIt, is seems that AsLongAsThereIsEvil demands that there always be an Ultimate BigBad. Thus, the next qualified applicant is the hero that slew the old one, whether they like it or not. Rarely, they TakeAThirdOption and go to breaking the laws of the universe. This would best be hit with a TheEnd to the story to save the FridgeLogic.

!!Examples:

!!'''Fought His Way Out'''

!!'''Got A Job'''

!!'''Kicked Out'''

!!'''Took Over'''

!!'''Other'''

* The man who would become the Saint of Killers from ''Comicbook/{{Preacher}}'' went to Hell for shooting through a hostage -- but his hatred was so cold that it froze the flames to ice. [[{{Determinator}} The Devil couldn't stop his hatred]] -- so instead, [[TheGrimReaper the Angel of Death]] who was never cut out for being The Reaper, makes a deal that this man: he'll become the Saint of Killers, take the Angel's job, and leave Hell in order to serve as Heaven's enforced. Thus, the Saint of Killers was born. Don't forget, using his newfound Angel of Death powers he [[spoiler: kills the Devil]]!
** As well as [[spoiler: all the angels in heaven, Genesis and the Almighty GOD]] to boot!

* In ''Webcomic/DominicDeegan'', when The Infernomancer (aka 'TIM') is sent to Hell by the white magic of Gregory Deegan, he strikes a (new) deal with Karnak to return to the land of the living. Actually, Karnak was bluffing, but TIM didn't know that...
** Also, Lord Siegfried Gunther Aern Damaske von Callan (or Siggy) dies killing the Royal Seer and immediately becomes the lieutenant of Karnak, who had moments before killed every high level demon in Hell, so high-quality damned souls were in high demand.
** And let's not forget Karnak himself, who was a human who averted a war in hell by attacking the Demon of War. He was carried down to hell, became a Demon Lord and eventually after another hell war, King of Hell. The storyline has basically been ignored since then.
*** To be fair, the most recent storylines all involve cleaning up the ''fallout'' from the War of Hell. The Orc homeland is dying because its natural destruction magic is going overboard purging the land of its demonic poison (among other reasons) and [[spoiler: TIM, now a servant of an EldritchAbomination from beyond, has escaped from Limbo]] thanks to the events of the War.
*** He had another arc since the above entry, in which he and Siegfried had a hugely dramatic fight which he ended by doing GrievousHarmWithABody using Siggy as an EpicFlail and a devastating ShutUpHannibal HannibalLecture (really, both at once), after which Siggy was reduced to a scorched, weeping shell of a thing and Karnak had an epiphany marked by a paraphrase of Rorschach's famous "you're all trapped in here with me" line. There were great revelations and the first redemption of a soul from Hell in extant memory. As an ''unintended side effect'' of Karnak's big speech and provoking his epiphany.

* Jack, as in Jack O'Lantern. May not qualify, as it was cunning rather than fighting prowess and/or attitude, and he wasn't actually 'kicked out'; after being refused entrance to Heaven, the legend states that Jack tried to enter Hell, but for what he'd managed to do to the devil while alive, he was refused entry. (According to some versions of the legend, Satan was apparently scared he'd manage to trick his way into running the place.) Given that he's barred from both eternal destinations, he wanders the earth, his path lighted by a coal he takes from hell. (Usually is given, sort of 'here, take it, now GET OUT!') The coal, of course, is the light from the titular lantern.

* [[Minecraft Arguably happens whenever you venture into the Nether]]

** In ''Anime/DragonBallGT'', it happens again, this time thanks to Dr. Gero and Dr. Myuu opening a portal connecting Hell and the mortal world.

** In ''Anime/DragonBallGT'', there's a moment where most of the previous villains got out of Hell, by opening a portal connecting Hell and the mortal world, only to be sent again to Hell later.
*** The same exact thing happens in one of the movies, which was done before GT.

4) Or ... maybe Satan doesn't want the guy in Hell because the guy will freakin' TAKE OVER. Or maybe he already has -- Hell needed a change of leadership anyway, and this guy provides it! Exactly what happens to the previous boss often isn't explored, but whatever the case may be, the BigBad just got bigger.

2) {{Satan}} recognizes the sheer badassery of the newest customer, and offers him a DealWithTheDevil -- usually by offering him a second chance if only the guy can do a few things for him, like pack and ship a few more souls for his collection (although sometimes the task is more [[CelestialBureaucracy bureaucratic]] in nature). This has a good chance of [[FaustianRebellion backfiring on the Devil]] ... even though the devil [[GenreBlind should know better already]].

* The Saint of Killers from ''Comicbook/{{Preacher}}'' applies here as well. His hate-filled heart was so cold that it literally froze over the fires of Hell and the devil was unable to break him. He simultaneously got kicked out and got a job.

* In ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', [[spoiler:John Winchester]] seizes the opportunity to claw his way out of Hell when [[spoiler:the Hell Gate opens]].

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* In ''SpongeBobSquarePants'' The Flying Dutchman kicks [=SpongeBob=] out of Davy Jones' locker 30 seconds after arriving there, due to his constant blabbering.

* In ''SpongeBobSquarePants'' The Flying Dutchman kicks [=SpongeBob=] out of Davy Jones' locker after 30 seconds after arriving there, due to his constant blabbering.

* In ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' The Flying Dutchman kicks [=SpongeBob=] out of Davy Jone's locker about 12 seconds after arriving there, due to his constant blabbering.

* {{Lobo}}.

* A major part of the plot of Alan Campbell's ''DeepgateCodex'' trilogy.

** The second time - though this is isn't always agreed upon - was when he wrestled [[GrimReaper Thanatos]] to save the soul of Alcestis, a brave woman who sacrificed herself so her husband could live. (This may have actually happened on Earth and not the afterlife, but since the myth always claims that Thanatos had already taken Alcestis' soul, it is possible.) Whatever the case, Heracles was successful this time too.

* A way to do LevelGrinding in the old {{Mac}} game ''VideoGame/TaskMaker''. When you die, you have to make your way through a fiery maze in FireAndBrimstoneHell without your weapons back to the living, while avoiding respawning devils. ....however, you get sent to Hell [[WhatTheHellPlayer if you "cast a spell" with a swear word in it.]] (Or use an item like a Hell Scroll or Adam's Apple that RandomlyDrops). Ironically you get to keep your weapons in this case, and you ''can'' fire a weapon through the fire "walls" and the devils don't go through them. If you hit a devil with a boomerang enough times, they'll die....

* The Bannor in the ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}} 4'' mod ''FallFromHeaven'' have this as a backstory.

* Anton Arcane from ''Comicbook/SwampThing''.
** He brought several other damned souls out with him, although it's unclear if they were likewise allowed to return, or just hitched a ride to ''sneak'' out.
* In ''[[JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]]: TheNail'', the Joker returns from Hell, complete with new infernal powers, to try to drag Batman back with him. He almost did, too, except... well, he's Franchise/{{Batman}}.

* LegendOfTheSeeker, unlike the [[SwordOfTruth source material]], has Banelings as dead people the Keeper allows back into the realm of the living, provided that they kill at least one person every day. The first day they don't, he takes them back.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'', during the events of the HorusHeresy, a World Eaters Space Marine [[http://uk.games-workshop.com/chaosspacemarines/kharn/ known as Khârn]] racked up an insane body count during the final siege of the Imperial Palace on Terra. He was killed during the battle, but Khorne, the Chaos God [[GodIsEvil of war, blood and carnage]], was so impressed by his showing that he brought Khârn back to life so he could continue to spill blood and collect skulls. It should probably also be mentioned that Khorne isn't particularly concerned about whose skulls Khârn collects, hence his nickname of "The Betrayer"

* {{Lobo}} was kicked out of hell for throwing wild parties and causing massive damage to demons and property. Heaven didn't want him either.
** Technically, he kicked the devil and all his demons out first.

* This is technically what ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'''s Crowley did, in incredibly slow motion with a few hundred years of bureaucracy, backstabbing and otherwise Machiavellian business after the 'get a job' one. He died, went to Hell, became a demon, worked his way up the ladder to head of purchases, survived the demises of pretty much every other major demon in Hell in the countdown to Apocalypse as all Lucifer's faithful raced into the fray to assure his victory...and then defected to Team Free Will and helped seal the [[TheDevil head honcho]] back in his cage and save the world. In the absence of significant competition he promptly established himself as King of Hell. Three seasons later, after angering pretty much every other being more powerful than himself that still ''exists,'' he still holds this position.

* In the videogame ''[[VideoGame/LaPucelle La Pucelle: Tactics]]'', Prier can become a Demon Overlord if she goes too far deep into the Netherworld and kills the present one. She appears as such in the Franchise/{{Disgaea}} series as a BonusBoss. This is apparently based on a legend in Japanese mythology where one will become a youkai (demon) if they "bathe in the blood of 1000 youkai."

* Beautifully subverted in ''VideoGame/BloodRayne'', the backstory of which says that Satan became the ruler of hell, by usurping the throne from the games villain Belial.

* When the [[TheLegionsOfHell Hidden Fun Stuff]] in ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'' gets unleashed, it usually spells the end of a fortress. But some fortresses not only beat back the demons, but take the next step and launch a full scale invasion of Hell and take the place over, such as what happened in {{LetsPlay/Waterburned}}, the succession game hosted on ThisVeryWiki.

* Tycho of ''WebComic/PennyArcade'' gives a very [[http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/04/10/ articulate description]] of how he will do this if Gabe continues to call ''VideoGame/WarhammerOnline'' a [[OlderThanTheyThink ripoff]] of ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''.
** And it was [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome awesome.]]

* ''Manga/NininGaShinobuden'' parodies [[IncrediblyLamePun the hell out of this]] in episode 5, simultaneously lampooning almost every aspect of this trope. Onsokumaru gets killed and sent to hell, where he meets some ninja ogres. He becomes their leader. They then attempt to invade heaven on the pretense of delivering a pizza, but the people in heaven are so annoyed by him that they kill him again, sending him back to earth.

[[folder: Tabletop RPGs ]]
* The escape of Lord Soth (formerly of {{Dragonlance}}) from TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}, is quite possibly the weirdest case of this trope ever. He escapes from Ravenloft (essentially, a trap for various 'darklords') '''by not giving a crap'''. To elaborate: Soth basically accepts that he deserves to be tormented by the Dark Powers and admits his failures. He refuses to rise to anything they present him with, be it despair or hope; eventually, realising that it's pointless to keep him around since he won't respond to anything they do, the Dark Powers release him from Ravenloft.

* In one ''Webcomic/SomethingPositive'' strip, R. K. Milholland drew [[http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp02132008.shtml what he thought might happen]] when {{the Grim Reaper}} comes to collect AlanMoore.

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* [[spoiler: Piccolo]] eventually takes up this fate in ''DragonBallGT'', after being forced to corrupt his soul by destroying heave to get sent to Hell to stop the Arc's villain, he's unable to leave without the dragonballs and doesn't want to anyway, so he takes up keeping the( now severely outclassed) villains from old Arcs like Cell and Frieza from causing trouble.

(BeatPanel)

->'''Lord of Hell:''' ...I have the entire legions of Hell at my command.

* This is how the second ''VideoGame/KidIcarus'' game starts -- Pit has fallen into Hades and must fight his way back up.