Verbal Business Card

A character establishes their cachet by making a laconic self-statement, often in the form of a Badass Creed. This follows the formula:

"I am [Full Name]! I [Verb] [Nouns]]!"

A variation inserts the character's role or vocation:

"I am [Full Name]. I'm a [Job Tag]. I [Verb Nouns]."

This trope echoes the old military tradition of revealing nothing to your captors but "name, rank and serial number," as well as the poetry of saga.

See Badass Creed.

Examples:

Comic Books

• X Factor - "I'm Layla Miller. I know stuff."
• X-Men - I'm the Juggernaut, bitch!
• All Star Batman - "Who the hell do you think I am? I'm the goddamn Batman."

Film

• Pulp Fiction - "I'm Winston Wolf. I solve problems."
• The Doors: - "I'm the Lizard King. I can do anything."
• Public Enemies: - "I'm John Dillinger. I rob banks."
• Bonnie and Clyde: - "This here's Miss Bonnie Parker. I'm Clyde Barrow. We rob banks."
• Parodied a few times in Mystery Men.

I... am the Waffler. With my griddle of justice, I bash the enemy in the head, or I burn them like so! I also have some truth syrup, which is low in fat.

• The Prophecy - Christopher Walken, as Gabriel, has a great one.

I'm an angel. I kill firstborns while their mamas watch. I turn cities into salt. I even, when I feel like it, rip the souls from little girls. And from now till kingdom come, the only thing you can count on, in your existence, is never understanding why.

• Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome:

Max: Me Max.

• Apocalypto: - "My name is Jaguar Paw. I am a hunter."
• American Beauty : - "My name is Lester Burnham. This is my neighborhood. This is my street. This is my life."
• Shutter Island : - "My name is EDWARD DANIELS !"(twice). Later : - "My name is Andrew Laeddis. And I murdered my wife in the spring of fifty two".
• - My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of ...
• In A Fish Called Wanda, - "I'm Harvey Manfren-gen-sen-ten. I'm uh.. with the CIA".
  • And then, in Fierce Creatures - "My name is Rollo Lee ,and as of yesterday, I have assumed command of this zoo."
• The Rock :

Stanley Goodspeed : I'm an agent with the federal, FBI, well... I'm Stanley Goodspeed. John Mason : But of course you are.

• Lawrence of Arabia :

Auda : I am Auda Abu Tayi, does Auda serve ?! Lawrence : Lawrence. I've been seconded to the Arab Bureau.

Literature

• The Lorax: "I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees."

Live Action TV

• Danger Man varies the order a bit: "A messy job? That's when they usually call on me or someone like me. Oh, yes - my name is Drake. John Drake."
• Doctor Who:
  • - "I'm The Doctor. I make things better."
  • And "Harriet Jones, MP Flydale North," later "Prime Minister" and former Prime Minister.
• Dragnet: "My name's Friday. I carry a badge."
• Saturday Night Live: I am Lothar, of the Hill People. Much have I seen, and much have I done.
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - [threateningly] "Maybe you didn't read the crew roster, but my name is Dax, and I'm the new science officer on this garbage scow, and you were in my seat."
• Lost : - "My name is Benjamin Linus. I believe you're looking for me."

Video Games

• MadWorld: I'm Jack. I don't help people. I kill them.
• Monkey Island: "I'm Guybrush Threepwood, mighty pirate!"
• Team Fortress 2: "I am Heavy Weapons Guy. And this is my weapon."
  • "I'm an Engineer, that means I solve problems."
• Sam and Max: I'm Sam. This is Max. We bust punks.

Web Comics

• Eight Bit Theater: I am the Black Mage! I cast the spells that make the people fall down!
• Questionable Content - "My name is Hannelore Ellicott-Chatham. I end messes."
• Girl Genius: OTHAR TRYGGVASSEN, GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER!

Western Animation

• Megas XLR - "I am Ender. I end things."
• Transformers Animated - "I am Wreck-Gar. I dare to be stupid."
• DuckTales: "I. AM. ARMSTRONG. I. AM. YOUR FRIEND!!!"

Other

• That Guy With The Glasses: "Hello, I'm the nostalgia critic. I remember it so you don't have to."