History Main / ImaginationBasedSuperpower

*** The ''ComicBook/LightsOut'' storyline reveals that these powers do have a serious limitation: [[spoiler:the source of their powers, the Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum, is ''finite''. Turns out the previous universe went dark since the "Lightsmiths" used them extensively and the sole survivor clearly doesn't want that to happen.]]
*** ''Rebirth'' reveals that focusing your will to create an object through them takes a ''huge'' amount of concentration and willpower. Green Arrow feels like he just ran a marathon after making a simple arrow with a ring. Kyle confirms that this happens every time he uses the ring. It's likely one of the reasons the rings are programmed to seek out badass determinators: they're the only ones who have the mental fortitude to even use the rings in the first place.
*** In several {{Elseworld}} stories Franchise/{{Batman}} gets a power ring, but while Batman is certainly the poster child for NervesOfSteel, he is still a deeply wounded man, and in at least one story, the ring reflects this as he has to [[JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind face his inner psyche]], with [[WhatDoTheyFearEpisode ring-made bats and a specter of his parents]] facing him down. He comes out of it with a lot more respect for Jordan than before.

* Deliciously subverted in Creator/GrantMorrison's ''ComicBook/DoomPatrol'' with the villain called the Quiz, who has "every superpower you hadn't thought of". Combating the Quiz consisted of listing as many superpowers one could summon up before she could come up with her Green Lantern's Ring effect.

* [[ComicBook/TeenTitans Beast Boy]], ComicBook/{{Vixen}} and ComicBook/AnimalMan's powers all revolve around either turning into or gaining the abilities of whatever animal they can think of. The thing is, what does and does not qualify as an animal is incredibly vague, meaning they have a good deal of variety, and can transform into/copy even other sentient species (how's a [[ComicBook/{{Superman}} Kryptonian]] strike your fancy? How about an [[ComicBook/NewGods Apokalypsian]]?). To make matters even more confusing, on at least one occasion when Vixen's powers were limited to "the human animal", her abilities allowed her to copy the powers of other superpowered humans, even those whose powers weren't natural... and Superman... and an actual ComicBook/GreenLantern (it was {{lampshade|Hanging}}d that this didn't make sense, though, and it eventually turned out to be the work of a RealityWarper).

* Ibis the Invincible, a character from the ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'' books, has the Ibistick, a staff that can do anything. [[RealityWarper Anything]]. The only limitation is that he has to ask the Ibistick aloud to do it. As a result, Ibis is [[VictoryIsBoring so bored with life]] that he spends most of his time in suspended animation.
* The ComicBook/New52's version of ComicBook/PhantomLady has [[TrickedOutGloves black light gloves]] that can manifest darkness into [[OminousFog black fog]], HardLight objects (like razors and shields) and [[LivingShadow living shadows]].

*** This seems to no longer be the case in comics either. In ''Green Lantern: Rebirth'', Hal Jordan narrates how John's architectural background influences his constructs; everything is meticulously detailed, even including individual screws and moving parts. Hal has specifically stated that "None of John's constructs are hollow." In fact, a recent scene had John Stewart attempting to recreate an entire planet with his ring, only for it to inform him that the willpower limit was exceeded. Just think about that for a second...

** Discord is a RealityWarper who works largely like this, often creating and/or warping things, landscapes, and people just ForTheLulz.

** Rarity gets this for real in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E23InspirationManifestation Inspiration Manifestation]]". Unfortunately, in an obvious allegory of drug addiction, it also comes with a side of BrainwashedAndCrazy: she stops eating and sleeping, and grows increasingly manic until she gets free of it.

* In ''Manga/FrierenBeyondJourneysEnd'', magic is powered in part by the caster's ability to visualize their spell succeeding. If a mage cannot imagine themselves being able to beat an opponent, they will be at a significant disadvantage from the outset. Übel is an extreme example of this as her signature cutting spell should be easily defeated by any defensive magic. However, she is able to cut through a seemingly invincible cloak and the enchanted hair of a first-class mage because she can visualize that cloth and hair are meant to be cut.