History Main / AreTheseWiresImportant

* It happens in [[http://drmcninja.com/page.php?pageNum=47&issue=14 this issue]] of ''TheAdventuresOfDoctorMcNinja''.

* BadassNormal Robin did this to a squid-shaped robot in an early episode of ''Series/TeenTitans''. As ''TeenTitansAbridged'' points out, he was somehow able to punch through the robot's armor despite Starfire's laser blasts having absolutely no effect.

* ''Film/IronMan''. During the final fight with the BigBad, [[spoiler:Obadiah Stane]], Tony Stark does this against the Iron Monger suit, and uses the quote as a quip. This is a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]], though, in that it doesn't result in completely shutting down the suit. Rather, it shuts down the villain's targeting system. This allows [[spoiler:JeffBridges (the actor playing Stane)]] to get face time, gives him a chance for a HannibalLecture, and simultaneously gives him an excuse for [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy missing Stark repeatedly]].

* ''Film/IronMan''. During the final fight with the BigBad, Obadiah Stane, Tony Stark does this against the Iron Monger suit, and uses the quote as a quip. This is a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]], though, in that it doesn't result in completely shutting down Stane's suit. Rather, it shuts down the villain's targeting system. This allows JeffBridges (the actor playing Stane) to get face time, gives Stane enough for a HannibalLecture, and simultaneously gives him an excuse for [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy missing Stark repeatedly]].

** And it's worth noting that, [[GadgeteerGenius Tony being Tony]], he probably ''could'' tell what looked important, as opposed to pulling wires at random.
*** The scene explicitly (albeit shakily) shows that Tony's helmet (with the built-in AI) is highlighting the component he rips out.

* Ms. Brisby and her neighbor do this to a rampaging tractor by cutting random wires in ''The Rats of NIMH''.
** Not random wires, but the fuel line of the machine. They were aiming it with such deliberateness that they seemed to fully understand what it was, or at least that it was critical part of the machinery.

* In ''{{Battletech}}'', this is a favored attack method of battle armor with a battle claw and jumpjets.
** That is to say, they jump up to a [[HumongousMecha Battlemech]], grab hold and generally start shooting holes in delicate looking things. It's not a battle armour specialty, either; there's [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Anti-'Mech Infantry]] who do exactly the same thing [[CrazyAwesome with nothing but their bare hands, a combat rifle and satchel charges.]] Of course, they [[WeHaveReserves tend to take]] [[RealityEnsues tremendous casualties]] in the process, given that they're chasing after a multi-story war machine's feet trying to climb up, normally while it's moving. Pretty much [[SuicideAttack suicidal]], but for underequipped units that can't take on a 'mech in direct combat it's better to take a chance of having half the army smeared over the landscape than to [[RapePillageAndBurn just allow the things to do whatever they want.]] Especially against the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Clans,]] who don't consider the lives of 'Freebirths' to be worth very much. [[FridgeLogic How they survive the machine smashing to the ground after they break everything they can get at is never explained.]]

* In the ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' episode "Flash and Substance", the Flash does this to the giant, rocket-powered boomerang Captain Boomerang catches Flash with.
** Flash likes this. He earlier did something similar to Grodd's mind control helmet, at super speed, while making it look like he was just slapping his head repeatedly.

* BadassNormal Robin did this to a squid-shaped robot in an early episode of ''TeenTitans''. As ''TeenTitansAbridged'' points out, he was somehow able to punch through the robot's armor despite Starfire's laser blasts having absolutely no effect.

* Ms. Brisby and her neighbor do this to a rampaging tractor by cutting random wires in ''The Rats of NIMH''.

* ''TheAvengers''. Steed rips the guts out of one of Sir August's robot insects after it crashes into Mrs. Peel's car.

----

* ''Film/IronMan''. During the final fight with the BigBad, Obadiah Stane, Tony Stark does this against the Iron Monger suit, and uses the quote as a quip. This is a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]], though, in that it doesn't result in completely shutting down Stane's suit. Rather, it shuts down the villain's targeting system. This allows Jeff Bridges (the actor playing Stane) to get face time, gives Stane enough for a HannibalLecture, and simultaneously gives him an excuse for [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy missing Stark repeatedly]].

** In the movie remake, John Lithgow goes toe-to-toe with the gremlin.

->"This looks important!" *remove*

* ''Film/IronMan''. During the final fight with the BigBad, Obadiah Stane, Tony Stark does this against the Iron Monger suit, and uses the quote as a quip. This is a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]], though, in that it doesn't result in completely shutting down Stane's suit. Rather, it shuts down the villain's targeting system. This allows Jeff Bridges (the actor playing Stane) to get face time, gives Stane enough for a HannibalLecture, and simultaneously gives him an excuse for [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy missing Stark repeatedly]].

->"This looks important!"

* In the ''AstroCity'' story "Glory Days", Supersonic is no longer able to think of clever schemes to defeat a rampaging robot due to his age. Instead, he resorts of simply pounding it repeatedly until he can reach and tear out some vital components.

There are many ways to stop a rampaging robot, a spider-tank, or even a huge mecha. Missiles, MoreDakka, or perhaps even another rampaging robot, spider-tank, or mecha! But the method that is most enjoyable, from a heroic perspective, is tearing a hole in the machine's armor, reaching an arm in, and simply yanking wires and components out until it stops moving.

The destructive opposite of PercussiveMaintenance.

** That is to say, they jump up to a [[HumongousMecha Battlemech]], grab hold and generally start shooting holes in delicate looking things. It's not a battle armour specialty, either; there's [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Anti-'Mech Infantry]] who do exactly the same thing [[CrazyAwesome with nothing but their bare hands and a combat rifle.]] Of course, they [[WeHaveReserves tend to take tremendous casualties]] in the process, given that they're chasing after a multi-story war machine's feet trying to climb up, normally while it's moving. Pretty much [[SuicideAttack suicidal]], but for underequipped units that can't take on a 'mech in direct combat it's better to take a chance of having half the army smeared over the landscape than to [[RapePillageAndBurn just allow the things to do whatever they want.]] Especially against the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Clans,]] who don't consider the lives of 'Freebirths' to be worth very much. [[FridgeLogic How they survive the machine smashing to the ground after they break everything they can get at is never explained.]]

* In an issue of Spectacular SpiderMan, Spidey lands on the Vulture's back mid-flight and begins ripping things out of the Vulture's wing-pack. The flight ends pretty quickly.

* In the ''TwilightZone'' episode, "Terror At 20,000 Feet", a gremlin is doing this to an airplane until stopped by an acrophobic WilliamShatner. Before his intervention, the thing was yanking wires and pieces out of the airplane's engines.
** In the movie remake, John Lithgow goes toe-to-toe with the gremlin.
* In ''Robocop 2'', Robocop puts a stop to the rampaging Robocop Mk. II by yanking out [[BrainInAJar the jar Cain's brain is housed in]] and smashing it on the ground.

* In the first [[Film/SpiderMan Spider-Man]] film, Spidey's first encounter with the Green Goblin ends when he reaches up and rips some wires out of the Goblin's glider, leading to it careening away leaking black smoke while the Goblin shouts "We'll meet again, Spider-Man!" as only [[LargeHam Willem Dafoe]] can.

* Ms. Brisby and her neighbor do this to a rampaging tractor by cutting random wires in the Rats of NIMH.

* D'argo does this to disconnect Moya's "control collar" in the first episode of ''{{Farscape}}''.

----

** That is to say they jump up to a [[HumongousMecha Battlemech]], grab hold and generally start shooting holes in delicate looking things. They can get removed, but generally that involves said 'Mech punching itself repeatedly or dropping to the ground and rolling like a dog with fleas.
It's not a battle armour specialty, either; there's [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Anti-'Mech Infantry]] who do exactly the same thing but [[CrazyAwesome with nothing but their bare hands and a combat rifle.]]
Of course, they [[WeHaveReserves tend to take tremendous casualties]] in the process, given that they're chasing after a multi-story war machine's feet trying to climb up, normally while it's moving. Pretty much a [[SuicideAttack]], but for underequipped units that can't take on a 'mech in direct combat it's better to take a chance of having half the army smeared over the landscape than to just allow the things to do whatever they want. Especially against the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Clans,]] who don't consider the lives of 'Freebirths' to be worth very much.

* Happened in ''Discworld/ReaperMan''. After all, who can be better expert in critical damage than {{Grim Reaper}} himself?

* Ben has used this technique a couple of times in ''Ben10''.

* ''Film/IronMan''. During the final fight with the BigBad, Obadiah Stane, Tony Stark does this against the Iron Monger suit, and uses the quote as a quip. This is a partial [[SubvertedTrope subversion]], though, in that it doesn't result in completely shutting down Stane's suit. Rather, it shuts down the villain's targeting system. This allows Jeff Bridges (the actor playing Stane) to get face time, gives Stane enough for a HannibalLecture, and simultaneously gives him an excuse for [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy missing Stark repeatedly]].