History Main / HyperSpaceMallet

-->'''Edd:''' ...What is that, Rolf?\\
'''Rolf:''' The Hat of Discipline. DO YOU LIVE IN A CAVE?!

[[folder Literature]]

* The classic WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes shorts are probably the TropeMaker or at least TropeCodifier. It seems to be a fundamental law of physics in the WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes world that mallets will always and only exist in situations when someone deserves to be hit with one. Mind you, the WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes can pull ''[[HyperspaceArsenal anything]]'' [[HammerSpace from behind their backs]] [[RuleOfFunny if it would be amusing at the time.]]

* Ren sometimes pulled a mallet out of nowhere to hit Stimpy with in WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow when he annoyed him, and once while imitating his hero Muddy Mudskipper Stimpy pulled one out to hit himself on the head with.

* Kaori in ''Manga/CityHunter''; She pulls an over 100t iron hammer out of nowhere to beat Ryo up. In one of the anime episodes, Kaori is shown to have purchased a new hammer at a boutique before the action of the episode started.

* ''LightNovel/BludgeoningAngelDokuroChan'' uses this as one of its central gags; the whole focal point of the anime is the title character producing a giant spiky club from nowhere and brutally killing the protagonist, only to revive him seconds later. She also appears to take a hologram-phone device from her panties at some points.

* ''Anime/SonicX'': Thanking to the CharacterExaggeration, Amy Rose uses (or at least tries to use) this on everyone who is pissing her off ([[SelfProclaimedLoveInterest mostly on Sonic]]). And, thanking again to the CharacterExaggeration, she has a HairTriggerTemper in this continuty and uses her hammer practically her every screen moment.

* ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler'' characters seem to love this one, most often with [[TheIdiotFromOsaka Sakuya]] pulling out her paper fan to smack people. Nagi pulls out a spiked hammer when Hayate annoys her.
* [[{{Tsundere}} Momoka]] from ''Eroge! H mo Game mo Kaihatsu Zanmai'' utilizes this against the ThisLoserIsYou protagonist in one episode for comedy. To be precise, she manages to lift a huge gray ''one ton'' hammer above her head.
-->'''Tomoya:''' ''(trying to calm Momoka)'' Anyway, put the hammer down.

* In ''[[VideoGame/PuyoPuyo Puyo Pop Fever]]'', Ms. Accord grabs a giant mallet out of nowhere to hit [[spoiler:Raffina, whom she doesn't want remembering the battle with Popoi she just had, or the fact that Accord set up the flying cane search]].

* Parodied in [[http://narbonic.com/comic/november-6-11-2006/ the second strip featured here]] of ''Webcomic/{{Narbonic}}''.

%%* In ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes'',
%%** Carrie is an expert with hammers. Demonstrated [[http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/1888402/hair-care/ here]] and [[http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/1923190/who-to-watch-for/ here.]]
%%** Summer isn't allowed to use a hammer, due to her super strength, so she finds a handy [[http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/1923192/swats-up/ substitute.]]

%%* Shinobu and others in ''Manga/UruseiYatsura''.

* The BeachEpisode of ''Anime/MaiOtome'' shows Mashiro whipping out a squeaky mallet with which to assault Nagi.

* ''Manga/KodomoNoOmocha'' parodies the mallet cliché by having its characters use squeaky plastic mallets with collapsible heads. From Hayama asking Sana to take out her hammer (and then stealing it and hitting her with it) to Hayama showing off his martial arts skills by dodging it (prompting Sana to pull out ''another'' one and smack him with it with an obligatory "Too slow!").

* Franchise/{{Pokemon}}:

* ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn'' apparently uses this several times:

[[folder:Advertising]]
* On a commercial for the Creator/CartoonNetwork, a man being stalked by a mugger calls Cartoon 911 and is advised to reach behind his back and pull out a giant hammer.
[[/folder]]

** So pervasive and insidious is the view that Akane is a "hammer girl" (the "WeaponOfChoice" kind, not the "[[SuperDrowningSkills No Natural Buoyancy]]" kind) that many of the ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' video games actually give her a huge wooden mallet as a legitimate attack.
* Shinobu and others in ''Manga/UruseiYatsura''.
* ''Manga/KodomoNoOmocha'' parodies the mallet cliché by having its characters use squeaky plastic mallets with collapsible heads.
** Parodies it mercilessly on many occasions, from Hayama asking Sana to take out her hammer (and then stealing it and hitting her with it) to Hayama showing off his martial arts skills by dodging it (prompting Sana to pull out ''another'' one and smack him with it with an obligatory "Too slow!").

* Carerra Marker from ''Manga/{{Karin}}'' manifests her deadly slipper from hyperspace, complete with BattleAura.
** A better example is when Winner pulls out a spear taller than himself while proclaiming his intent to protect Karin. Lampshaded when she replies "....Where did you get that from?"

* ''Manga/OnePiece'', in Usopp's fight against Mr. 4 he uses a gigantic 5-Ton hammer. But it turns out that the hammer is actually fake and can collapse for storage, and weighs about four pounds.
** Likewise, he uses a 10-Ton Hammer against GothicLolita Perona (one of the three CoDragons of the arc), successfully terrifying her so much that she passes out. This time, it wasn't even a real weapon; it was a freaking ''balloon''.
** In a straighter example of the trope, one of Whitebeard's commanders can pull a giant hammer out of a small compartment in his chin.

** The unnamed TV reporter from ''Manga/PokemonDiamondAndPearlAdventure'' pulled one out when she was aggravated with Hareta; however, the entire gag was that he was popping out of holes in the ground like a game of Whack-A-Mole.

* In one episode of ''Manga/PrincessResurrection'', the main characters are fleeing from their enemies on a jet ski. During one cut back to the heroes, Hime is suddenly wielding a giant metal hammer.
* Eve from ''Manga/BlackCat'' averts this trope, as she just needs to [[{{Nanomachines}} change her hand into a mallet]].
* Variant: Maka from ''Manga/SoulEater'' has a heavy book that follows all the conventions of this trope, barring its shape.
** Also Shinigami and his gigantic hands. Students or staff pissing you off? Smack them on the head. Also good for punishing Big Bads and evil witches.
** Tsubaki also attacked Black*Star with shurikens to the forehead in early chapters/episodes.
* Guchuko, the feral mochi-mochi in ''Anime/{{Potemayo}}'', has a portal into hammerspace inside her pants. She keeps her axe in there, for one thing, but at other times she variously keeps a snake and a pile of corn cobs. That may have been how she transported the carcass of a cow into Kyo's yard. (Quite a feat considering that Guchuko is about the size of a cat.)

** Although not a hammer, Hinagiku pulls her borrowed wooden sword out of nowhere. Sometimes this even surprises her.
*** Should be noted that this was explained and is a plot point, while the Sakuya and Nagi examples are played for laughs.
* [[{{Tsundere}} Momoka]] from ''Eroge! H mo Game mo Kaihatsu Zanmai'' utilizes this against the ThisLoserIsYou protagonist in one episode. To be precise, she manages to lift a huge gray ''one ton'' hammer above her head.

* ''ComicBook/TheAwesomeSlapstick'': This is Slapstick's primary method of attack.

%%* If someone knows, please fill in the name here. One short-lived character invoked this trope literally. Whenever he wanted something, he'd call out "Warp: Item X" where X was the item's number (such as 1 for a gun). If it was armor or something else worn, it would usually just appear on his body. Otherwise he'd reach out and his hand would vanish into a glowing portal in midair and when he pulled his hand out, it would be holding the item he'd called for.

* ''Film/{{Highlander}}'' and, particularly its spinoffs, makes little to no effort to explain where the immortals pull their swords from. While early on, they'd have characters wearing long coats, later on they'll have characters (particularly females) pull out swords while wearing form-fitting clothing.
* While being less a Mallet and more a [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Megaton Hammer]], Ramona Flowers uses one in Film/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld to fight her ex-girlfriend.
** As mentioned in the Comics section above, Ramona pulls this full-length sledgehammer out of a handbag that looks small enough to have difficulty containing Scott's self-respect.

[[folder:Literature]]
* In the Tom Holt novel ''Grailblazers'', one of the knights has an hereditary power -- that any male of his line can, when reaching vaguely behind them, always grab a weapon of some sort.

[[folder:Mythology & Religion]]
* In NorseMythology, Thor's hammer Mjolnir would work like this according to some tales, ''literally'' hiding inside of his shirt and then growing to whatever size he chose as he drew it. Which makes this an UrExample.

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}} Mecha,'' which covers quite a bit of {{anime}} material (because that's where a lot of {{mecha}} appear), has rules for this trope, which it refers to as "[[ShoujoDemographic Shojo]] Mallet". The ability to produce such a mallet is only available to female characters.
* In ''TabletopGame/TeenagersFromOuterSpace'', the Hyperdimensional Hammer is available to any student who pays a sum of $10.
* In ''TabletopGame/{{Brikwars}}'', the Hammer of Punishment and the Hammer of Discipline fall under this trope.

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Overlaps with HyperspaceArsenal, but a vast number of video games incorporate the ability for characters to draw a weapon (or similar tool) at will from nowhere.
* In the ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise, Amy Rose's signature weapon is the Piko Piko Hammer, a mallet that shows up out of nowhere. There's not a single video game (besides VideoGame/SonicCD) she shows up in either in which she doesn't have the hammer at all (since VideoGame/SonicAdventure) or in which she keeps the hammer in a logical place.
* Literally in the game ''VideoGame/{{Patapon}} 2''. Ormen Karmen, the Karmen chief and the Penultimate Boss, has one attack where a gigantic hammer appears in his hands and he crashes it down on the patapons. When he finishes attacking, the hammer shrinks back into the void.
* In the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series, one of Peach's attacks strikes the target with a random blunt object from out of nowhere, such as a golf club. Similarly, Ness swings a baseball bat out of thin air for his smash attack, after which the bat disappears again.
** In ''[=3DS/Wii U=]'', [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Robin's]] victory movie shows a short clip of female Robin chasing her male counterpart with the hammer from ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong''.
* While most of [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Link's]] equipment would fall under the HyperspaceArsenal trope, he does acquire oversized-hammer weapons in various games, such as the Megaton Hammer from ''Ocarina of Time'' or the Skull Hammer from ''Wind Waker''.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
** Prior to ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'', equipped items do not appear on character models until they are drawn. This can lead to a seemingly unarmed character pulling a gigantic warhammer from thin air over his shoulder upon being agro'd.
** A serious example are the Bound Weapon/Armor spells available throughout the series. Crossing over with SpontaneousWeaponCreation, the spell essentially uses magic to create a temporary SpectralWeaponCopy out of thin air. (The Bound item usually has no weight and shares its stats with Daedric level equipment, typically the most powerful generic crafting material available in the series.)
* In ''VideoGame/LegoBatman'', Harley Quinn can pull a mallet out of nowhere and bludgeon the enemy with it. This is one of the most effective melee attacks in the game.
* In Samurai Showdown V, Rimururu has a finishing move that involves freezing her opponent before smashing them with a gigantic ice mallet (which she of course summons out of nowhere.)
* [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario and Luigi]] use hammers fairly often. There has never been a logical place that they could be kept. Mario has even reached into the air, have a solid iron hammer the size of a garden shed appear in a puff of smoke (No, I am not kidding), which then proceeds to disappear.
* Peacock from ''VideoGame/{{Skullgirls}}'' can pull a hammer out of nowhere to whack an enemy with. The creepy part about this is that when she's done with the hammer, where does she put it? ''She shoves it into one of her empty eye sockets.''
* Some of the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games feature an attack called Magic Hammer, where the hammer literally appears out of nowhere and smacks the target on the head.
** So do the variations of ''Pow Hammer/Pikohan'' in the ''VideoGame/TalesOf'' franchise, which healers love to spam [[ArtificialStupidity even if it doesn't work.]]
* The [[TokenMiniMoe Tinkerer]] in ''VideoGame/DragonNest'' has this as one of her skills. Sadly, it only works against stunned enemies, not ignornant teammates.
* [[BadassNormal In lieu of superpowers]], Harley Quinn in ''VideoGame/Injustice2'' gets a hyperspace mallet (and baseball bat, and copious amounts of explosives) as part of her moveset to take on her often-superpowered foes.

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' not only do the [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-06-20 currently]] female characters pull hammers out of nowhere, but Dr. Germahn, at one point, gives a lengthy, TechnoBabble-laden explanation of the spatial anomalies that make this possible (in particular, only female characters can do it, and only in comedic scenes). Susan is particularly adept at using the hammers, having [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-06-26 demonstrated]] (offscreen, admittedly) the ability to juggle 3 Hyperspace Mallets and a food-tray at the same time.
** In one twist of the trope, Susan once [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-04-29 hammered]] the local JerkJock not because he did something to her, but because he pushed aside Tedd. Elliot and Sarah are left wondering why she was able to do so. "He's just ''[[DudeLooksLikeALady that]]'' androgynous."
** In a later [[CerebusRetcon more serious turn]] Susan told she was taught how to use the hammers in more dangerous circumstances (though non-lethal, it's still a [[DepletedPhlebotinumShells magical weapon]]). And later was rather surprised to discover their original purpose. [[spoiler: During that revelation it was revealed [[ItMakesSenseInContext Hyperspace Mallets would henceforth no longer be accessible but Susan could still access special versions of them using her own magical abilities]].]]
* Parodied in [[http://narbonic.com/comic/november-6-11-2006/ the second strip featured here]] of ''Webcomic/{{Narbonic}}''.
* The sweet pacifist healer White Mage of ''WebComic/EightBitTheater'' carries a giant holy hammer (usually invisible) with which she smacks Black Mage around in response to his lewd pick-up lines. (Or when he kills people. [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs Or when]] he suggests [[ILoveTheDead doing lewd things with dead people]]. Take your pick.)
* The characters of ''WebComic/LookingForGroup'' use {{Hammerspace}} a lot for their weapons and other gear, because they certainly don't seem to carry around backpacks (despite changing their outfits from time to time) and their weapons are curiously absent when not in use. But they never pull a weapon from hammerspace just for a humorous toonish effect (not even Krunch, the huge minotaur scholar wielding a massive sledgehammer), so it's more a case of both audience and characters deliberately ignoring the question where the weapons go.
** The Warlock Richard, on the other hand, often manifests odd items from nowhere for humorous effect and Fourth Wall Breaking; at one point he explained that "[his] mind can make arrows", so his mind probably can make dice, too.
* Eddie from ''Webcomic/EmergencyExit'' does this on occasion, despite being male. Of course, Eddie's [[CloudCuckooLander completely nuts anyway]], so nobody gives it a second thought. In a slight subversion, the mallet becomes a powerful weapon when combined with Eddie's coolness enhancer
** In another unusual twist, [[spoiler: it explains ''how'' he's able to do it.]] Sorta.
* Gwynn from ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' uses a baseball bat, but the principle is the same. Including [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=981114 pulling a bat out of a purse]] far too [[{{Hammerspace}} small to actually contain one]].
* In ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes'', Carrie is an expert with hammers. Demonstrated [[http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/1888402/hair-care/ here]] and [[http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/1923190/who-to-watch-for/ here.]]
** Summer isn't allowed to use a hammer, due to her super strength, so she finds a handy [[http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/1923192/swats-up/ substitute.]]
* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' doesn't do this with hammers, but with [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071005 every]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081024 other]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081015 tool]] that the well-equipped Mad Scientist might need.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091002 Now, with real mallet!]]
* Tsunami of ''Webcomic/TsunamiChannel'' one-ups most of these by using a ''[[Webcomic/EightBitTheater hammer-chuck]]'' [[http://www.tsunamichannel.com/index.php?date=2002-07-10&comic=ExCoKo on Professor Hasegawa.]]
* Lampshaded in [[http://www.badlydrawnkitties.com/new/129.html this]] ''Webcomic/BadlyDrawnKitties'' strip.
* In ''Webcomic/TheWhiteboard'', Doc occasionally pulls his signature mallet out of {{Hammerspace}}
* Barely comedic example in ''Webcomic/SuicideForHire:'' [[http://suicideforhire.comicgenesis.com/d/20061101.html where'd that bat come from?]]
* In ''Webcomic/KidRadd'', after merging with a SuperpoweredAlterEgo from the sequel game, gains this ability, though we only ever see her use it to bonk Radd on the head for being stupid.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* [[AllPeriodsArePMS PMS]] can be weaponized [[https://www.deviantart.com/otakukitty/art/Bring-it-on-bitch-5965242 as a giant hammer!]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Wakko Warner from ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' used a mallet as needed...of course, definitions of "as needed" are flexible on that show.
** The sizes of mallets he uses are also quite flexible, ranging from the semi-sensible, to the ridiculously-large. In one short, the Warners are filling in for Plotz's sick secretary and Wakko has trouble with the photocopier. His solution is to smash the offending machine with a mallet that's about ''half the size of the room''.
* WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget had one in his hat, held aloft by a gloved mechanical arm. In [[Film/InspectorGadget2 the second live-action film]], G2 did this as well.
* The classic WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes shorts are probably the TropeMaker or at least TropeCodifier. It seems to be a fundamental law of physics in the WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes world that mallets will always and only exist in situations when someone deserves to be hit with one. Mind you, the WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes can pull ''[[HyperspaceArsenal anything]]'' [[HammerSpace from behind their backs]] [[RuleOfFunny if it would be amusing at the time.]]
* The Devil does this to [[WesternAnimation/PlutoThePup Pluto]] several times during Pluto's trial in Hell in "WesternAnimation/PlutosJudgementDay".
* ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy:'' Rolf smacks Edd with the "Hat of Discipline," which is essentially a giant mallet-hat.
-->'''Edd:''' ...What is that, Rolf?\\
'''Rolf:''' The Hat of Discipline. DO YOU LIVE IN A CAVE?!
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'': Where exactly do all those differently-sized mallets Mr. Cat uses come from?
* In the ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'' episode "Tooth and Nail", Rocko buys the "12 steps" from Chuck and Leon. When he refuses to admit his nail-biting problem to them, one of them comes up to him, generates a mallet out of nowhere and bashes Rocko on the head with it.
[[/folder]]

This is a subtrope of {{Hammerspace}} where the retrieved object is used for {{Slapstick}}. Hammers which don't disappear when not in use, or which inflict non-{{Amusing Injuries}}, are at DropTheHammer.

[[{{Hammerspace}} It comes from nowhere]], it strikes without mercy, and disappears again. It's a mallet the size of a circus sledgehammer, and it's evidence that {{anime}} characters watch too many WesternAnimation/BugsBunny cartoons or Film/TheThreeStooges shorts. An angry character -- usually but not restricted to [[{{Tsundere}} short-tempered schoolgirls]] -- can often whip out a massive hammer with which to slam the target (and cause) of her ire upside the head.

Strictly speaking, the mallet is a metaphor for yelling at someone. This is why it comes out of nowhere and doesn't materially affect the story, because it's not real. You're not going to see a YamatoNadeshiko or EmotionlessGirl using one, because they wouldn't normally bitch someone out. It's also not a very constructive way of communicating, so other than terrifying the hero, it's not really going to change their behavior. It's largely just the author going for laughs in a way that helps establish the character, plus it's a great shorthand way of telling the story.

In FanFic circles, the notional storage place for mallets when not in use is known as "{{Hammerspace}}" or "malletspace".

A recent variation is to have the character pull out a ''harisen'', a huge folded fan made out of paper or metal, a.k.a. the PaperFanOfDoom, and smack them with that. This is usually less painful-looking than the mallet, unless she uses it to deliver a MegatonPunch.

Ironically, this is now a DeadHorseTrope in the West, where it originated; modern Western examples are typically from shows invoking anime, which has added its own touches to the mix, or from homages to [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Warner Brothers cartoons]].

For characters that use hammers for purposes other than comedy, see DropTheHammer. If the actual reason the girl is supposed to be angry is missing from the context, see UnprovokedPervertPayback.

For more tropes on the spontaneous generation of matter, see ShapeShifterBaggage, ElementalBaggage, VariableLengthChain and TelescopingRobot.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Brikwars}}'', the Hammer of Punishmen and the Hammer of Discipline fall into this trope.

* In ''TabletopGameBrikwars'', the Hammer of Punishmen and the Hammer of Discipline fall into this trope.

* In the ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' anime universe, one of the character abilities is the non-damage-dealing ten-ton hammer that can be pulled out of nowhere. It is ONLY available for female characters.

* While being less a Mallet and more a [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Megaton Hammer]], Ramona Flowers uses one in Film/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld to fight her [[BiTheWay ex-girlfriend]].

* Gideon from ''Disney/{{Pinocchio}}'' at least twice pulls a mallet, the second time we see he pulls it out of his sleeve.

* Jose Carioca pulls one out from behind his back in ''Disney/TheThreeCaballeros''.

* The Devil does this to [[WesternAnimation/PlutoThePup Pluto]] several times during Pluto's trial in Hell in ''Disney/PlutosJudgementDay''.

* [[SuperMarioBros Mario and Luigi]] use hammers fairly often. There has never been a logical place that they could be kept. Mario has even reached into the air, have a solid iron hammer the size of a garden shed appear in a puff of smoke (No, I am not kidding), which then proceeds to disappear.