History Main / ManOfSteelWomanOfKleenex

Regardless of the trope title, any gender combo can be involved, though the Steel/Kleenex problem generally comes up in pairings where the [[AccidentalPun'steel' member is male]]. 'Man of Kleenex, Woman of Steel' usually isn't considered as much of an issue.

Regardless of the trope title, any gender combo can be involved, though the Steel/Kleenex problem generally comes up in pairings where the [[AccidentalPun]]'steel' member is male]]. 'Man of Kleenex, Woman of Steel' usually isn't considered as much of an issue.

Regardless of the trope title, any gender combo can be involved, though the Steel/Kleenex problem generally comes up in pairings where the 'steel' member is male. 'Man of Kleenex, Woman of Steel' usually isn't considered as much of an issue.

* A minor example from ''MassEffect2'': Female Shepard can [[RomanceSidequest romance]] and have sex with Garrus, a Turian squad member. Turians are an alien species adapted to a much harsher world than Terrans, leading to such lovely features as razor-sharp teeth and pointy bones protruding out of their skin. When the crew doctor, Prof. Mordin, catches wind of this, he immediately offers helpful advice on "positions comfortable for both species", as well as "oils and ointments to reduce discomfort". (It might help that Shepard is at this point a cyborg with bullet-resistant skin and nearly unbreakable bones.)

** And then there's Fem!Shep flirting with Joker in ''MassEffect3''. Joker proceeds to lampshade the trope immediately.

* Intentionally averted in ''TheIncredibles'', in an interesting manner. In this case, [[SuperStrength super-strong Mr. Incredible]] is married to a fellow superhero Elastigirl, but as her name suggests, the aversion has nothing to do with her being on the same level of SuperStrength and SuperToughness as her husband. It's more a case of her powers ''complementing'' his, and she's apparently just [[RubberMan stretchy and flexible]] enough to "survive" super-strength sex and thus conceive their three children.

* Intentionally averted in ''TheIncredibles'', where [[SuperStrength super-strong Mr. Incredible]] is married to superheroine [[RubberMan Elastigirl]]. As such, it makes perfect sense that they were able to have kids (though it's never explicitly mentioned in the movie).

--> '''Larry Niven''',(1971).

** Lois and Clark have been shown to have sex, even on panel (though non-explicit, of course). It's generally just assumed that Superman has enough muscular control that he can basically turn his powers off, save invulnerability, even during orgasm.

** Invoked almost word for word in {{Superman: Earth One}} Volume Two, when Pa Kent has "the talk" with Clark and tells him that since he's different from normal people... "well, man of steel, woman of tissue, that's all I'm saying"

--> '''Larry Niven''', opening of the TropeNamer [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_of_Steel,_Woman_of_Kleenex essay]] (1971).

Whenever a character with the Powers of a God[[superscript:[--[[{{Tradesnark}} TM]]--] ]] hooks up with a mere mortal, there is nearly always a bit of lurking FridgeLogic which may or may not get addressed in the show itself, especially not if the show is aimed at kids. (Expect fanfic to address it, quite a bit, regardless of who the show is aimed at.) Namely, there is a very wide gap between one partner's physical strength and the resilience of the other's flesh, which can be an important factor during particularly, hm, intimate encounters between the two.

** Especially what with the (now dispensed with) sixty second rule...

* ''Manga/DanceInTheVampireBund'' has a mental illness example. The only way for a lycanthrope father to guarantee his son will also be a lycanthrope is to have sex with his wife while transformed. Sannin's mother was driven insane by the experience coupled with the sight of the newborn "hairy, inhuman ''thing''".
** Akira's mother didn't get off much better. Though she wasn't driven insane, she did end up wheelchair-bound after delivering a second werewolf son.

* ''Film/SupermanII''. The title character gave up his powers in order to romance Lois Lane, which caused problems when the three Kryptonian super villains showed up.
** In the Richard Donner cut of the film, Superman and Lois Lane hook up and go to bed together ''before'' Superman gives up his powers. Perhaps they attempted coitus and Supes had to back off before the Steel/Kleenex problem killed her, and that's what motivated him to become mortal.

** Narrowly averted in ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' and ''Film/TheAvengers'', where it's made clear it's Banner's anger that transforms him.

** Not completely averted; he seemed to be at least flirting with Mirage.

* ''{{Smallville}}'s'' version of Clark had the typical problem with his first love interest Lana Lang. The problem was eventually resolved when Clark was de-powered for an episode. But when his powers return, he actually complains to Chloe about his sex life.
** By the end of the show's run, he has gained enough control over his abilities that the problem no longer exists.
*** He outright stated that his training at the Fortress of Solitude included learning exactly that sort of control. Apparently Jor-El never expected his son to remain a virgin for life.

*** In both the cases mentioned above, there is also the question of amino-acid chirality. The difference in protein structure means that exchanging bodily fluids in any way could lead to both parties dying from anaphylactic shock.

Regardless of the trope title, any gender combo can be involved, though the Steel/Kleenex problem generally comes up in pairings where the 'steel' member is male. 'Man of Kleenex, Woman of Steel' usually isn't considered as much of an issue, possibly because it is handwaved or they were gentle.

Whenever a character with the Powers of a God[[superscript:[--[[{{Tradesnark}} TM]]--]]] hooks up with a mere mortal, there is nearly always a bit of lurking FridgeLogic which may or may not get addressed in the show itself, especially not if the show is aimed at kids. (Expect fanfic to address it, quite a bit, regardless of who the show is aimed at.) Namely, there is a very wide gap between one partner's physical strength and the resilience of the other's flesh, which can be an important factor during particularly, hm, intimate encounters between the two.

Whenever a character with the Powers of a God[[superscript:[[{{Tradesnark}} TM]]]] hooks up with a mere mortal, there is nearly always a bit of lurking FridgeLogic which may or may not get addressed in the show itself, especially not if the show is aimed at kids. (Expect fanfic to address it, quite a bit, regardless of who the show is aimed at.) Namely, there is a very wide gap between one partner's physical strength and the resilience of the other's flesh, which can be an important factor during particularly, hm, intimate encounters between the two.

Whenever a character with the Powers Of A God (tm) hooks up with a mere mortal, there is nearly always a bit of lurking FridgeLogic which may or may not get addressed in the show itself, especially not if the show is aimed at kids. (Expect fanfic to address it, quite a bit, regardless of who the show is aimed at.) Namely, there is a very wide gap between one partner's physical strength and the resilience of the other's flesh, which can be an important factor during particularly, hm, intimate encounters between the two.

* Many fans shudder at the logistics involved in [[FantasticFour Alicia Masters and Ben Grimm consummating their love]]. Many fans claim that their love, while romantic, is non-sexual.

* A minor example from ''MassEffect2'': Female Shepard can [[RomanceSidequest romance]] and have sex with Garrus, a Turian squad member. Turians are an alien species adapted to a much harsher world than Terrans, leading to such lovely features as razor-sharp teeth and pointy bones protruding out of their skin. When the crew doctor, Prof. Mordin, catches wind of this, he immediately offers helpful advice on "positions comfortable for both species", as well as "oils and ointments to reduce discomfort".

* ''{{Smallville}}'s'' version of Clark had the typical problem with his first love interest Lana Lang. The problem was eventually resolved when Clark was de-powered for an episode.

* Referenced in a strip of ''ItsWalky'', although it's more a case of straight-up DestructoNookie.