History Main / BadassNormal

They notably have none of the fantastic enhancements, magic or special powers that others do. It might even be [[MugglePower a sore point for them]], but that just makes us encourage them more. Female versions are usually {{Action Girl}}s with a GirlPosse or LovelyAngels.

[[InAWorld In a world]] with supernatural dealings or superpowers, this character is the one who is able to keep being useful through [[BadassBookworm intellect]], martial arts abilities, [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty general]] [[CombatPragmatist ruthlessness]], or just being CrazyPrepared.

->'''ComicBook/LexLuthor''': What makes you think you can kill Franchise/{{Superman}} when you can't even handle a mere mortal in a Halloween costume?
->'''ComicBook/TheJoker''': There's nothing "mere" about ''that'' mortal.

It's become increasingly common for the Badass Normal to be a protagonist, as he is [[ThisLoserIsYou easier to relate to for us ordinary muggles]] in contrast to the often-unrealistic ideal lead. If they are in TheTeam, then they are usually TheLeader, or at least [[TheSmartGuy the brains of the outfit]], to compensate.

->'''ComicBook/TheJoker''': There's nothing "mere" about that mortal.

[[quoteright:300:[[ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/batman_vs_superman_wallpaper-300x225.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:300:[[{{Franchise/Batman}} He]] doesn't need powers!\\
[[MemeticMutation He's the goddamn Batman!]]]]

If a Badass Normal is capable of things that should only be superhuman, then they have a CharlesAtlasSuperpower. If Badass runs in their family, it's because LamarckWasRight. If they are given superpowers after being non-powered for a while , you get an EmpoweredBadassNormal. If they only lost powers they actually used to have, they've been BroughtDownToBadass.

Compare MugglesDoItBetter, UnfazedEveryman, WeakButSkilled, PunyEarthlings. A HunterOfMonsters frequently is one, though there are just as many HunterOfHisOwnKind or FurAgainstFang variants.

Compare MugglesDoItBetter, UnfazedEveryman, WeakButSkilled, PunyEarthlings. TheHunter frequently is one, though there are just as many HunterOfHisOwnKind or FurAgainstFang variants.

[[InAWorld In a world]] with supernatural dealings or superpowers, this character is the one who is able to keep being useful through [[BadassBookworm intellect]], martial arts abilities, [[FightingDirty general ruthlessness]], or just being CrazyPrepared.

Contrast with OvershadowedByAwesome, where a character is by reasonable means strong compared to regular people or even superpowerful, but can only be considered "normal" when compared to the people they hang out with, who are vastly stronger. Because of this they often CantCatchUp. Also contrast SuperLoser, for characters who are anything but badass despite having superpowers. BroughtDownToNormal arcs can show a super powered individual can be badass without their powers but that does not qualify them for this trope. This is a character type, not a plot trope.

InAWorld with supernatural dealings or superpowers, this character is the one who is able to keep being useful through [[BadassBookworm intellect]], martial arts abilities, [[FightingDirty general ruthlessness]], or just being CrazyPrepared.

A SubTrope of {{Badass}}. SuperTrope of BadassBystander. By definition always on level 1 in SuperWeight.

Contrast with OvershadowedByAwesome, where a character is by reasonable means strong compared to regular people or even superpowerful, but can only be considered "normal" when compared to the people they hang out with, who are vastly stronger. Because of this they often CantCatchUp. Also contrast SuperLoser, for characters who are anything but {{badass}} despite having superpowers. BroughtDownToNormal arcs can show a super powered individual can be bad ass without their powers but that does not qualify them for this trope. This is a character type, not a plot trope.

'''Note for Tropers:''' This trope '''only''' applies if the setting possesses a significant number of characters with superpowers. In a setting where superpowers are very uncommon or nonexistent, {{Badass}} characters without superpowers [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment are just badass]]. If you encounter an instance of a character in a setting without superpowers being called a Badass Normal, please remove or change it. For average people that are forced to be a badass by the situation, see ActionSurvivor. For costumed heroes without superpowers in general, see NonPoweredCostumedHero. Anyone from a WitchSpecies who can't be defined as a MuggleBornOfMages is disqualified.

->'''ComicBook/LexLuthor''': What makes you think you can kill Franchise/{{Superman}} when you can't even handle [[Franchise/{{Batman}} a mere mortal in a Halloween costume?]]

-->-- ''[[WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries Batman/Superman: World's Finest]]''

->'''SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker''': There's nothing "mere" about that mortal.

->'''SelfDemonstrating/LexLuthor''': What makes you think you can kill Franchise/{{Superman}} when you can't even handle [[Franchise/{{Batman}} a mere mortal in a Halloween costume?]]

->'''SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker''': There's nothing "mere" about Bat Mortal.

->'''SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker''': There's nothing "mere" about ''that'' mortal.

It's become increasingly common for the Badass Normal to be a protagonist, as he is [[ThisLoserIsYou easier to relate to for us ordinary muggles]] in contrast to the often-unrealistic ideal lead. However, in {{ensembles}}, they are usually the leader, or at least [[TheSmartGuy the brains of the outfit]], to compensate.

If a Badass Normal is capable of things that should only be superhuman, then they have a CharlesAtlasSuperpower. If Badass runs in their family, it's because LamarckWasRight. If they are given superfluous superpowers (especially in FanFiction), you get an EmpoweredBadassNormal. If they only lost powers they actually used to have, they've been BroughtDownToBadass.

Just because someone was able to kill one SuperSoldier out of ten in the world does not make them a badass normal. Likewise, this is not a character who is ill equipped with outdated technology, even if their enemies are top-of-the-line. Nor do they qualify if they're undertrained while dealing with a superior trained enemy (unless said training confers superpowers/artificial enhancements that the untrained lack). By all means it should be a topic of debate with ''anyone'' they deal with (enemy, ally or even themselves) if their lack of superpowers is an issue with their usefulness. Please remember this when you put your favourite character in this page.

You may want to distinguish your favourites from the typical {{Badass}}es, but it doesn't make them less badass if they don't qualify for this particular trope. If they have strange or superhuman abilities, they are ''not'' normal. There is no "relatively" when it comes to Badass Normal. It doesn't matter if you can "barely" lift a tank, your ki blasts can "only" level cities, your BioAugmentation is standard issue, or your ability to alter the fabric of reality isn't as developed as others; you're a [[CursedWithAwesome badass with superpowers]]. Not everyone can be the Franchise/{{Batman}} of the setting. However, if he avoids or cannot uses his powers for combat, he probably FightsLikeANormal.

->'''SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker''': [[WorthyOpponent There's nothing "mere"]] about ''that'' mortal.

Contrast with OvershadowedByAwesome, where a character is by reasonable means strong compared to regular people or even superpowerful, but can only be considered "normal" when compared to the people they hang out with, who are vastly stronger. Because of this they often CantCatchUp. BroughtDownToNormal arcs can show a super powered individual can be bad ass without their powers but that does not qualify them for this trope. This is a character type, not a plot trope.

->''"Though he wages war against a [[BugWar devouring hivemind]] or [[TheLegionsOfHell space demons]], a Guardsman is a man, just like you, though he grew up in another culture. He has no [[SuperSoldier millennia-old genetic engineering]], no [[WitchSpecies prophetic leader]], no [[ChurchMilitant miracles of faith]]. He has his [[BeamSpam lasgun]], his orders, and [[ZergRush his fellow soldiers]].\\
And he will [[HoldTheLine hold the line]].''
-->-- Anonymous, on the [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Imperial Guard]]

->'''SelfDemonstrating/LexLuthor''': What makes you think you can kill Franchise/{{Superman}} when you can't even handle [[Franchise/{{Batman}} a mere mortal in a Halloween costume?]]
->'''SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker''': [[WorthyOpponent There's nothing "mere"]] about ''that'' mortal.
-->-- ''[[WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries Batman/Superman: World's Finest]]''

->'''SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker''': There's nothing "mere" about ''that'' mortal.

'''Note for Tropers:''' This trope '''only''' applies if the setting possesses a significant number of characters with superpowers. In a setting where superpowers are very uncommon or nonexistent, {{Badass}} characters without superpowers [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment are just badass]]. If you encounter an instance of a character in a setting without superpowers being called a BadassNormal, please remove or change it. For average people that are forced to be a badass by the situation, see ActionSurvivor. For costumed heroes without superpowers in general, see NonPoweredCostumedHero. Anyone from a WitchSpecies who can't be defined as a MuggleBornOfMages is disqualified.

[[SisterTrope Often overlaps]] with CostumedNonsuperHero in superhero settings -- to the point that that trope page was made to help people avoid confusing the two concepts.

'''Note for Tropers:''' This trope '''only''' applies if the setting possesses a significant number of characters with superpowers. In a setting where superpowers are very uncommon or nonexistent, {{Badass}} characters without superpowers [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment are just badass]]. If you encounter an instance of a character in a setting without superpowers being called a BadassNormal, please remove or change it. For average people that are forced to be a badass by the situation, see ActionSurvivor. For costumed heroes without superpowers in general, see CostumedNonsuperHero. Anyone from a WitchSpecies who can't be defined as a MuggleBornOfMages is disqualified.

->'''SelfDemonstrating/LexLuthor''': What makes you think you can kill ComicBook/{{Superman}} when you can't even handle [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} a mere mortal in a Halloween costume?]]

You may want to distinguish your favourites from the typical {{Badass}}es, but it doesn't make them less badass if they don't qualify for this particular trope. If they have strange or superhuman abilities, they are ''not'' normal. There is no "relatively" when it comes to Badass Normal. It doesn't matter if you can "barely" lift a tank, your ki blasts can "only" level cities, your BioAugmentation is standard issue, or your ability to alter the fabric of reality isn't as developed as others; you're a [[CursedWithAwesome badass with superpowers]]. Not everyone can be the {{Batman}} of the setting. However, if he avoids or cannot uses his powers for combat, he probably FightsLikeANormal.