History Main / BoisterousWeakling

* Self-proclaimed "strongest in Gensokyo" Cirno from ''Franchise/TouhouProject'', a stage 2 boss on a good day and a stage 1 miniboss on a bad one (in a game that usually has seven stages). Not entirely a "weakling" (considering that she is a [[RedShirt fai]][[{{Mooks}} ry]]), but not hot stuff by any means either. Fans will often take this UpToEleven and make her even weaker than she is depicted in canon (others go the other way and make her a MemeticBadass).

This character is just as loud and doesn't like to be ordered around. But despite acting with the confidence of a BoisterousBruiser, he doesn't really have much to back it up. He is physically (and maybe emotionally) weak but that doesn't stop him from constantly calling out those who glower at him (or so he thinks). Sure he may pick on people weaker than him, but if he happens to realize his opponent can effectively kick his ass, either he will find a lame excuse to get out of it, or he'll stubbornly refuse to back down and ''get'' his ass kicked just for the sake of form. Don't expect that to make him think twice the next time, though: the Boisterous Weakling shows an astounding inability to acknowledge his own impotence. Even if he tries to bite, he has no fangs. Every once in a while, you'll encounter ones who do ''not'' back down as long as they have an unfair advantage, usually in the form of weapons or a group of buddies whom they can set loose on their target.

Can overlap with FearlessFool, MilesGloriosus, SmallNameBigEgo, DirtyCoward, or SuperLoser. They may also be a KidSamurai or YoungGun who knows how to talk themselves up just enough to get themselves into serious trouble. Compare FakeUltimateHero and FeetOfClay, when the character is ''alleged'' to be strong by other people. Contrast GentleGiant, CowardlyLion, and TheSoCalledCoward. Also contrast the SmugSuper, who will usually have very good reasons to be smug, as well as the AwesomeEgo.

** Of the Axis powers, Italy under ''Il Duce'' UsefulNotes/BenitoMussolini is the biggest example. While Mussolini talked a big game about rebuilding the Roman empire, Italy was never able to back up his lofty aspirations. Italy's industrial capability was just a fourth of Germany's and couldn't take advantage of its own meager natural resources.[[note]]For example, while Italy had mammoth stores of raw Aluminum, Germany produced three times as much in refined Aluminum.[[/note]] Although Mussolini bragged about Italian military prowess, he privately confided to Hitler that his nation wouldn't be able to wage war until 1943. Italy's invasions of North Africa and the Balkans were fiascos that only succeeded with support from Germany. Subsequently, all the major powers of World War 2, including the other Axis nations, viewed the Italy as a joke.

** He does finally get the message as of the end of the Kid Buu arc, as in [[AlternateUniverse G]][[Anime/DragonBallGT T]] and in [[Anime/DragonBallSuper Super,]] he's much more humble around the heroes, especially Goku. Even goes as far in Super as to give Goku all the reward money he got for "defeating Buu" because he knows Goku was much more deserving of it.

* In ''VideoGame/CaveStory'' the protagonist goes in search of Sue and finds her at the end of the Egg Corridor, where she seems to be starting a BossBattle with a huge monster. She tells the mutant beast to bring it on and boasts "even [[GeekPhysique my brother's]] never beaten me!" The monster shuffles forward and hits her once, whereupon Sue gives up and desperately apologizes.

* ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion3'': For as cocky and macho as he acts, Johnny Deepend's one of the weakest enemies in the entire game. He only has two moves that can actually deal damage, he's almost completely defenseless once the pool is drained and to hammer the point home, he has less health than a ''[[{{Mook}} Goob]]''. It's pretty telling, considering how late in the game he's fought.

** He does finally get the message as of the end of the Kid Buu arc, as in [[AlternateUniverse G]][[Anime/DragonBallGT T]] And in [[Anime/DragonBallSuper Super,]] he's much more humble around the heroes, especially Goku. Even going as far in Super as to give Goku all the prize money he got for "beating Buu", Goku was much more deserving of it.

** He does finally get the message as of the end of the Kid Buu arc, as in [[AlternateUniverse G]][[DragonBallGT T]] And in [[DragonBallSuper Super,]] he's much more humble around the heroes, especially Goku. Even going as far in Super as to give Goku all the prize money he got for "beating Buu", Goku was much more deserving of it.

* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse: When "Happy" Hogan and the Black Widow infiltrate Ivan Vanko's hideout in ''Film/IronMan2'', Happy comes off as this in comparison to the more skilled Natasha; he wins his fistfight with a single Mook, but she easily takes down the other dozen or so in the meantime. Though to be fair to Happy, it's more an example of OvershadowedByAwesome, as he ''is'' a competent boxer in his own right.

* Manga/{{Rurouni Kenshin}} uses this trope a lot with its {{Mook}} characters to contrast with the titular protagonist and his allies. The protagonist Kenshin is a smaller man than most of his opponents but is a nearly unrivaled {{Master Swordsman}}. Gohei Hiruma in particular fits this trope, while Gohei is a big and burly man strong enough to defeat Kaoru and Yahiko, he is no match for Kenshin or his {{Lancer}} Sanosuke and later becomes somewhat of a joke later in the series.

* The Neo-Nazis from ''Manga/BlackLagoon''. When Revy and Dutch annihilated them in their ship, the Neo-Nazis end up killed [[CurbStompBattle without shooting a single bullet]].

* Normally, getting angry turns the scrawny geek Dr. Banner into the [[HulkingOut savage brute]] called The ComicBook/IncredibleHulk. When he becomes the GeniusBruiser Professor Hulk, getting too angry shifts him into a savage ''Banner''. He has all of the Hulk's usual aggression, but he's back to being a scrawny geek.

* Normally, getting angry turns the scrawny geek Dr. Banner into the [[HulkingOut savage beast]], The ComicBook/IncredibleHulk. But when he becomes the GeniusBruiser Professor Hulk, getting too angry shifts him into a savage ''Banner'', who's crazy enough to try to do things the Hulk would do.

** First we have [[TheBully Draco Malfoy]] he talks big game but has been unable to defeat Harry at anything, he is usually humiliated at Quidditch and the one time they faced of in a duel, Harry nearly kills him. And even when bullying people like Neville he ends up humiliated when the shy boy fights back and that was before Neville TookALevelInBadAss.

Can overlap with FearlessFool, MilesGloriosus, SmallNameBigEgo, DirtyCoward or SuperLoser. They may also be a KidSamurai or YoungGun who knows how to talk themselves up just enough to get themselves into serious trouble. Compare FakeUltimateHero and FeetOfClay, when the character is ''alleged'' to be strong by other people. Contrast GentleGiant, CowardlyLion, and TheSoCalledCoward. Also contrast the SmugSuper, who will usually have very good reasons to be smug, as well as the AwesomeEgo.

** Kelly Funk of the Dressrosa Arc is also this, though in a bit of a subversion, his Jacket-Jacket Fruit powers allow him to take over the form of his [[GentleGiant meek, but genuinely powerful brother Bobby Funk]], upgrading him to an actual threat, albeit one that's still quickly [[TheWorfEffect worfed]].

* Kuroda in ''Manga/AngelDensetsu'' is a shining example of people who only pick on people weaker than them. {{Irony}} bites because he *is* strong, big and tough but too stupid and cowardly to capitalize on his advantages.

--->The name is "Bokorare-Guma series". He likes fight and has a loose temper, but is weak. He gets bashed up all the time, so you can see why he wears bandages in so many different places.

** Tatsufusa Enjoji. He's the third seat of Squad 8, making him the third strongest member, and hammily challenges Chad to a fight when Chad passes by his territory. Despite that, he can only fight by wildly flailing his sword, and Chad defeats him in one punch. In stark contrast to him, his boss, Shunsui Kyoraku, is an unassuming fellow who turns out to be one of the strongest captains, and easily defeats Chad.
* ''Anime/ZombieLandSaga'' has Maria Amabuki, the daughter of Saki's old motorcycle gang leader Reiko Amabuki (nee Kirishima). Maria wants to inherit leadership of her mother's gang, and feels that her mother has lost her nerve, but despite talking a big game, doesn't have the toughness to back it up. When Maria's gang of herself and two friends who merely seem to be along for the ride attracts the attention of the tougher leader of a much larger gang, Saki and Reiko become extremely concerned.
* The protagonist of ''[[Manga/KenganAshura Kengan Omega]]'', Koga Narushima, is hardly a bad martial artist early on: he's definitely good enough to win a street fight or take on the master of a local dojo. However, he ''thinks'' he's one of the greatest fighters in the world, and an absolute master of combat who could take on just about anything. Whenever he takes on an actual professional fighter, he invariably mocks them as an inferior, then gets his ass kicked. He finally gets his wakeup call when he fights Jose Kanasaki, a wrestler who decides to simply stand still and NoSell every single attack Koga throws at him.

* Manga/{{Rurouni Kenshin}} uses this trope alot with its {{Mook}} characters to contrast with the titular protagonist and his allies. The protagonist Kenshin is a smaller man then most of his opponents, but is a nearly unrivaled {{Master Swordsman}}. Gohei Hiruma in particular fits this trope, while Gohei is a big and burly man strong enough to defeat Kaoru and Yahiko, he is no match for Kenshin or his {{Lancer}} Sanosuke and later becomes somewhat of a joke later in the series.

* ''WesternAnimation/CatsDontDance'' has Pudge. He is an adorable young Penguin who is ready to fight anyone and anything that hurts his friends. His excuse for not fighting the [[BigBad Big Bad's]] henchman? "I didn't wanna to hurt the guy." Nevermind the fact that said henchman is a hulking gorilla who is at least six feet taller than Pudge. To his credit, he does try to fight the film's Big Bad during her much deserved HumiliationConga, but she beats him with one swing of her arm.

* There is a joke about a small animal (told in Russia about a hedgehog) standing and shouting "I am strong! I am strong". A passing bear gives it a kick. The hedgehog flies a few meters, stands up, brushes itself off and shouts "I am light but strong!"

* A.E. Pessimal from Creator/TerryPratchett's ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' is described as a small, deferential accountant with very clean shoes, thrust onto the front lines of a barricade partly as a joke. He proceeds to attempt to attack a ''troll'' with his teeth in his first appearance in ''Literature/{{Thud}}''. After this he works for the watch full-time, mainly on paperwork, but every now and then getting the chance to walk the beat while staring down any troll he can see.

* Von Kaiser in both of his appearances in the ''VideoGame/PunchOut'' series, where despite acting like an imposing military man, he's only the second opponent, and is barely more challenging than Glass Joe. The Wii version ups the ante further, by showing that, as a boxing teacher, he got PTSD from getting beaten up and ridiculed by his students - who are ''children''. He can actually back it up a little in the Title Defense mode, though.

* Qing China from ''VideoGame/VictoriaAnEmpireUnderTheSun''. Huge population and equally enormous armies to draw on, as well as a huge territory to conquer, but they're technologically backwards with a mostly agrarian economy, and their government is quite poor as well. So, in any actual war, an equivalently-sized industrial superpower like the United States or UsefulNotes/TheBritishEmpire will roll them rather easily. [[TruthInTelevision The Opium Wars come to mind]]. In a similar vein, the Ottoman Empire. It starts out as a Great Power, up there with France, Britain and the US, but it's highly illiterate and conservative population often refuse to move forward like the rest of Europe and [[BadassDecay eventually they become pushovers]]. They act like a Great Power from beginning to end, however, which is potentially hilarious.

** Phillip Kim isn't actually strong at all, and instead relies on his [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney money]] to bribe stronger people into fighting for him. He still upkeeps the facade of being a tough guy, but is quick to crumple when he actually ends up in a fight.

* In ''WebVideo/DrHorriblesSingAlongBlog'', Captain Hammer is perfectly happy to beat up nonpowered folks. He's not actually that talented a fighter, continually lets his enemies escape, and once he's actually injured he [[MinorInjuryOverreaction becomes a blubbering mess.]] Well, said injury came in the form of an exploding death ray -- it's just that Captain Hammer was such an InvincibleHero that he'd never actually ''felt'' pain before. He's seen in the end-credits laying on a therapist's couch crying about the physical trauma, [[spoiler:blithely ignoring the death of his girlfriend]].

** During an argument over ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', Cartman fought Kyle again. The scene is set up as rather dramatic, saying "let this be out final battle!" It turns into a WimpFight when Kyle and Cartman just lightly push and slap each other for a few seconds.

* The Box Ghost from ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom''. Possessing the powers of [[WhatDidYouExpectWhenYouNamedIt box manipulation]], and Rob Paulsen's classic SimpletonVoice, the Box Ghost is little more than a SillySpook joke character compared to the other fearsome villians of the show. [[spoiler: That is untill he becomes a juxtaposed FutureBadass.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': When drunk, Peter Griffin boasts he can beat up Liam Neeson. Unsurprisingly when it happens, Liam Neeson [[CurbStompBattle beats the ever living shit out of the fatass]]. It wasn't even a fight, it was a one-sided beatdown.
* In her very first appearance, Trixie from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' proclaims to be a great magician and lies about having defeated the giant bear called Ursa Major. Later, when she actually has to face against Ursa Major, she doesn't stand a chance. To make things even more painful for her, at the end of the episode it is revealed that [[spoiler:the bear she tried to fight wasn't even Ursa Major, but Ursa Minor, which is several times smaller and weaker]].\\\

** Have you ever heard of the ''[[UsefulNotes/RedsWithRockets Sovietsky Soyuz]]''-[[UsefulNotes/RedsWithRockets class battleships]]? It was supposed to be quite a bit bigger than the ''Bismarck'', with bigger guns and thicker armor, but none of the four hulls were anywhere near completion by the time of the German invasion, and they were likely to be plagued by technical problems, since the Soviet Union was rebuilding its capital ship design school from scratch while permitting extreme size creep.
* On a much more general note, the entire credo of Axis powers in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII was this: Germany, Italy, Japan and [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor their ally of convenience the Soviet Union]] were unsatisfied by themselves having less power than the established colonial empires and the United States, so they started a war.

%% * Creator/MarvelComics' [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Volstagg]] is somewhere between this trope and MilesGloriosus DependingOnTheWriter.

* In ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo'', Anti-Madeline is the Evil Side of Madeline ThePaladin, and about three inches high. Can be extremely belligerent, though incapable of fighting just about any character.