History DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu / Comicbooks

** In a similar vein, though on a smaller scale, [[Characters/GreenArrow Count Vertigo]] was able to defeat and nearly kill Kanto, Darkseid's master assassin, in the pages of ComicBook/SuicideSquad.

** In ''ComicBook/UncannyAvengers'' Annual 1# Johnny Blaze runs fowl of the heroes and gets into a fight with PhysicalGod Thor, GR proceeds to kick the God of Thunder's ass and knocks him out in front of the rest of Avengers.

** ComicBook/{{Onslaught}} was a powerful [[TwoBeingsOneBody fusion]] of Professor X and Magneto's conscious into a Psychic Entity who had the power of other Omega-Level mutants such as Franklin Richards and Nate Gray and could create a sun from nothing. A InvincibleVillain for Marvel's heroes... until ComicBook/JeanGrey removed Bruce Banner's conscious from Hulk - que one very, very, very angry MegatonPunch and Onslaught's physical form is destroyed. Unfortunatly, this also had the side effect of opening a dimensional rift.

** Played straight earlier when Spidey makes of the ComicBook/XMen look like complete amateurs by clobbering Wolverine, Cyclops, Colossus, wrapping up Rogue and Nightcrawler before bitchslapping Wolverine across the room all in about ''two pages''. ComicBook/TheWasp aka Janet Van Dyne does the same thing not long after but also kicks ''Magneto'''s ass, too.

** Thor has defeated the Destroyer which was built to fight the Celestial, the makers of the Multiverse.
** Thor once delivered TheWorfEffect to the Phoenix Force a being that existed since the dawn of time (see below in the X-Men examples).

* Who could forget that moment in ''ComicBook/FiftyTwo'' when ComicBook/BlackAdam ''killed death?'' (To be fair, it was really a genetic-plague science experiment created by a cult, but still.) Dr. Cale probably summed it up best:

* Surprisingly, even ComicBook/{{Galactus}} has done this. After getting a new purpose and a power boost thanks to the [[ComicBook/TheUltimates2015 Ultimates]], he successfully defeated Master Order and Lord Chaos. Bonus points for literally (well, sort of) punching Master Order in the process.

** In one issue, [[https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Buzzsaw_(G1) Buzzsaw]] disabled [[https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Omega_Supreme_(G1) Omega Supreme]]!!!

** ''ComicBook/{{Excalibur}}'' has ComicBook/RachelSummers quite literally beat Galactus ''in her sleep'', and she literally punches out an alternate-universe version of him once as well. {{Justified|Trope}} because, being the Phoenix at the time, she's just as much of a cosmic power as he is. That being said, Galactus won the moral victory, because he pointed out that while the Phoenix overpowered him and he did, indeed, eat planets, the Phoenix's power came from the potential life of beings as yet unborn/created and asked who was the greater evil - him, who essentially mopped up after a civilisation/world that was dying, or her, who denied life to those as yet unborn. The Phoenix, still very naive as to the consequences of her actions, fled in horror. Also, Galactus was hungry when she overpowered him, and his power (while also tremendous) fluctuates based on how recently he's fed. [[FridgeLogic Meaning that all of the planets whose defenses have been overcome by Galactus faced him at his]] ''[[FridgeLogic weakest]]''.
** Speaking of the Phoenix, very few things can threaten such an entity, and they're usually cosmic beings in their own right. We are, after all, talking about a being that has saved and destroyed galaxies and can do the same to universes, taking actions with multiversal consequences. The most notable character that the Phoenix is actually afraid of? [[ComicBook/ProfessorX Charles Xavier]]. As she relates in issue 52 of ''Excalibur'' (about ''ComicBook/TheDarkPhoenixSaga''), "I was out of control. Nothing could oppose me. Or so I thought, until I was confronted with the indomitable will and terrifying skill of Professor Charles Xavier." That's right. Not even the strongest psychic on Earth (not even in the top 5, on raw power, with ComicBook/JeanGrey, ComicBook/RachelSummers, ComicBook/{{Cable}} (depending on the state of his techno-organic virus), [[ComicBook/XMan Nate Grey]], and ComicBook/{{Legion|MarvelComics}} all having more to work with), relatively WeakButSkilled by the standards of those he's taught, and he scares the crap out of something than scares {{Eldritch Abomination}}s witless.
** More Phoenix related stuff; during the Necrom arc of ''Excalibur'', Necrom (an immortal EvilSorcerer of immense power, so strong and so dangerous that Merlyn opted to fake his death as part of a gambit to defeat him) was 'the Anti-Phoenix', wielding a fragment of the Phoenix's power. Kylun, a guy with no powers other than a cat-like appearance and the ability to perfectly replicate any sound he hears, goes toe to toe with him and [[EyeScream cuts out one of his eyes]]. Sure, he was wielding magic swords, but considering that Necrom, after going several rounds with Excalibur, Micromax (a size-shifter who performed a ColonyDrop on him) and Feron (a powerful sorcerer), and eventually takes Rachel going full Phoenix to defeat, after a bruising cosmic battle that left her in a coma, this is incredibly impressive. Oh, and he'd been fighting Necrom for ''years'', beforehand, and very nearly killed him at least once before.
** On a more physical level The Phoenix Force itself [[https://i.pinimg.com/736x/be/4c/b1/be4cb1d610571f07a128ff8b15d95138.jpg got literally hammered by Thor]] in ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'' proving a big fiery space bird doesn't frighten the Son of Odin. However this quickly turned into NiceJobBreakingItHero as the Phoenix Force split apart and possessed Cyclops, Emma Frost, Namor, Colossus, and Magick.

** Everytime Gladiator (who's a [[FlyingBrick powerful]] [[SupermanSubstitute Superman-expy]]) gets his ass beat by someone weaker than Hulk or Thor e.g [[https://i.pinimg.com/originals/be/c9/62/bec9624ad439e9e2dbf13ee272700d09.jpg Storm, Angel]], [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQjLA4rd9QS8UEI3f9AARjvQFMv9b3wObnfZw&usqp=CAU Mr Fantastic]], [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQX77SmqPpOYeX3OQiKdmwTan36cxkCyUlwwg&usqp=CAU Gambit]] ([[https://i.imgur.com/kI18KdZ.jpg twice]]), Deathbird, [[https://66.media.tumblr.com/9f6423af63f03a45ac2ab06534b3f649/tumblr_n7m5pkHuDI1rvm5qqo3_1280.jpg Cannonball]], [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/BexRTkyIWQPtV870WspJcwbxCjGx-OTRWatjAuf2_3NfLD4D3QXX9ogoGf_9B3Wb8yGrgvLZsV4=s0 Rogue]] and [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRMi7gPe3S0wjhL98XEof7nmppzei1XuoomDg&usqp=CAU Wolverine]] this trope is invoked.
** Black Bolt, Onslaught, Kang the Conqueror, an evil alternate Professor X, Magneto, Stryfe and even Rogue have all kicked ComicBook/{{Apocalypse}} (the oldest and one of the most powerful mutants in existence, who's powered by Celestial technology)'s ass. Rogue in particular despite being weak compared to the likes Black Bolt, Onslaught and Stryfe outright killed Apocalypse with her TouchOfDeath in ''ComicBook/Excalibur2019'', and ComicBook/HopeSummers had to resurrect him.

* The Franchise/{{Batman}} does this to Metron, one of the ComicBook/NewGods. He tells Metron that he knows more than him because of his human form. Metron shapeshifts to a Human and says "What's so special about THIS?". Batman punches him. Pow!

** Earth-2 Franchise/{{Superman}} completely beats the Anti-Monitor in the finale by [[spoiler:'''''punching the flaming, shrieking, enraged head that's left of him''''']].

* Every superhero in the Franchise/DCUniverse has punched out the Evil [[ComicBook/NewGods New God]] ComicBook/{{Darkseid}}, the ruler of Apokolips including nonpowered {{Badass Normal}}s such as Franchise/{{Batman}} and ComicBook/GreenArrow. This probably explains why Darkseid hates Earth and its heroes, given that his superiority complex makes him believe that he ''should'' be able to beat them. He also hates Franchise/{{Superman}} with particularly obsessive hatred, possibly because Superman, whose personality is the exact opposite of Darkseid's beliefs in every possible way, manages to humiliate him again and again.

*** Darkseid has a history of keeping {{worthy opponent}}s alive if they've put up a good fight. This isn't BondVillainStupidity as it sounds, considering his "defeats" tend to be more that the opposition's just capable enough that the current plan's no longer worth the effort, and Darkseid has had no few occasions where he converts heroes into his footsoldiers. The trouble of when he [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashed]] ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} and when his underlings tried to use Franchise/{{Batman}} as a soldier template can attest to that.

** A lot of Creator/MarvelComics fans felt this when Franchise/{{Superman}} knocked out ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor.

--->"We're the Franchise/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}}. We've beaten up real gods and made them cry. You are nothing to us."

* ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} vs. a godlike Franchise/{{Batman}} with all of Superman's powers: '' '''[[http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1n5y96deG1qbqx4xo1_500.jpg "PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE!"]]''' '' 'Course, Batman beat the shit out of him afterwards, [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome but having the sheer moxie to do such a thing]] flummoxed Batman so much that he just stood there goggling and spluttering at Nightwing in an incoherent WhoDares fury for about a page.

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'':
** Spidey once took down one of Galactus' former heralds, Firelord (also one of his most powerful heralds ever). Without getting hit even once. Firelord got so angry he swore he would kill Spider-Man with his bare hands. Guess what. [[spoiler:He failed. Miserably. Only reason he was gonna use his bare hands at all was because Spidey destroyed his Firestaff.]] Although, technically this wouldn't be considered punching out Cthulhu, rather "Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu's Right Hand Man", which is a pretty big accomplishment in itself. This is an alien with so much raw power that ''he could conquer worlds and destroy planets with the slightest effort'', a alien chosen by Galactus (freaking ''GALACTUS'') to be his herald. And he's defeated by a human in a spandex spider-suit.

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'':

** Franchise/WonderWoman finally killed Ares the God of War in ''ComicBook/WonderWoman2006''. She didn't just "beat" him or "banish" him -- she ''killed'' him. ''By smashing in his skull with a battleaxe''. [[spoiler:Of course, Ares isn't completely out of the story yet. Even gods have a hell after all.]]

* ''Franchise/XMen'':

** Speaking of the Phoenix, very few things can threaten such an entity, and they're usually cosmic beings in their own right. We are, after all, talking about a being that has saved and destroyed galaxies and can do the same to universes, taking actions with multiversal consequences. The most notable character that the Phoenix is actually afraid of? [[ComicBook/ProfessorX Charles Xavier]]. As she relates in issue 52 of ''Excalibur'' (about ''ComicBook/TheDarkPhoenixSaga''), "I was out of control. Nothing could oppose me. Or so I thought, until I was confronted with the indomitable will and terrifying skill of Professor Charles Xavier." That's right. Not even the strongest psychic on Earth (not even in the top 5, on raw power, with ComicBook/JeanGrey, ComicBook/RachelSummers, ComicBook/{{Cable}} (depending on the state of his techno-organic virus), [[ComicBook/XMan Nate Grey]], and ComicBook/{{Legion}} all having more to work with), relatively WeakButSkilled by the standards of those he's taught, and he scares the crap out of something than scares {{Eldritch Abomination}}s witless.

* ComicBook/SquirrelGirl's [[MemeticBadass special ability]] appears to be punching out MarvelUniverse {{Big Bad}}s.