History Main / PureAwesomeness

[[quoteright:300:[[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kung_fu_panda_intro.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:300:Legend tells of a [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment legendary]] warrior whose kung fu skills were [[ShapedLikeItself the stuff of legend]].]]

->'''Nick:''' "How can you make rainbows come out of zombies?"
->'''Juliet:''' "From awesome!"
-->-- ''VideoGame/LollipopChainsaw''

Normally, in order for someone to be considered awesome, that someone will have to do something. Even if it's something as mundane as [[MundaneMadeAwesome eating a]] [[Manga/DeathNote potato chip]]. Sometimes, however, a character is so overflowing with the awesome that they don't actually have to ''do'' anything. All they have to do is walk into the room, or in in the most extreme cases, ''stand there''. Their simple existence alone irradiates an effect of awesomeness that causes tangible physical harm to their enemies, and makes men and women fall in love with them. And all we can do is watch.

"Whoa, Dude... that guy is awesome..."\\
"What do you mean? He isn't ''doing'' anything- whoa, he ''is'' awesome..."

Characters can be made of it. Groups can be made of it. Scenes can be made of it. Entire movies can be made of it. If Pure Awesomeness didn't exist, how could anything ever be so cool it can be used as a laxative?

This trope (in case the multiple uses of the word "awesome" as if it has an objective meaning didn't tip you off) is by its very nature almost completely irrational and often used for comedy. Do ''not'' try to ruminate over the meaning of this trope. Either accept the physical manifestation of RuleOfCool, or watch a more logical show.

Not to be confused with [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome something awesome happening off-screen]], where the awesomeness's effect was probably justified by something tangible actually happening.

A SubTrope of ItRunsOnNonsenseoleum.

Compare AwesomenessIsVolatile.
----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:{{Anime}} & {{Manga}}]]
* In ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann'', Gurren Lagann [[spoiler:(piloted by Simon and Viral)]] arrives [[BigDamnHeroes just in time]] to save the day. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome All nearby enemies are destroyed by the awesomeness of its arrival.]]
** [[RuleOfCool Spiral Energy]] in general allows the heroes' hot-bloodedness to manifest itself as anything from giant drills to [[spoiler: galaxy-sized giant robots]]. Essentially, Pure Awesomeness is a law of physics. [[spoiler:Which is why the Anti-Spirals are against the use of Spiral Energy: the universe [[AwesomenessIsVolatile won't be able to handle so much awesome and, as such, collapse.]]]]
* ''KongouBanchou'' invokes this trope in front of every normal person he meets.
* In ''OnePiece'', especially powerful individuals can strike weaker ones unconscious through their mere presence, through the power of "Haki" (Ambition). Two other types of Haki enable users to gain split-second precognition and harden their defenses or strengthen attacks to harm immaterial or Haki-using enemies, but only one in a million [[BadAss inherently awesome people]] can use the Conqueror's Haki.
** Whitebeard is also a walking 18-foot tall pile of refined, 101% awesomeness.
* ''KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'' does this on occasion such as [[http://www.mangafox.com/manga/history_s_strongest_disciple_kenichi/v05/c038/5.html this instance]], which actually [[http://www.mangafox.com/manga/history_s_strongest_disciple_kenichi/v05/c038/6.html knocks Kenichi unconscious]], just because his masters are that awesome.
** The Elder can destroy the massive gate to Ryozanpaku, which most people can't even budge, without even touching it. The Elder is just that BadAss.
* In ''{{Naruto}}'', a number of strong ninja, like Zabuza, Orochimaru, and [[spoiler:Sasuke with Orochimaru's power]], are capable of giving off a "killing intent" so strong that it paralyzes weaker enemies, despite apparently not being an actual jutsu of any kind. This is taken to ridiculous levels with [[spoiler:the First Hokage, who can literally cause the room he's standing in to crack just by flaring his chakra.]]
* ''MedakaBox'' has [[spoiler:Hinokage Kudo, who no one knows, remembers, or even notices despite his large size. Why does no one notice him? Because he's so damn powerful people subconsciously repress the memory of his existence out of absolute fear. His unnotability has not earned him the nickname "Mr.Unknown." He hasn't earned this nickname 'cos no one knows who he is and therefore can't address him as anything in the first place.]]
** [[spoiler: Except Zenkichi for some weird reason.]]
* In ''HunterxHunter'', Nen users can kill non-users through sheer force of [[strike:awesome]] Nen.
* Gildartz from ''Manga/FairyTail'' has this and it bring [[spoiler:Natsu]] to tears.
* Prussia from ''AxisPowersHetalia'' seems to only ''think'' that he's too awesome. Though given his BloodKnight tendencies and refusal to die despite not technically being a country anymore, it's not ''entirely'' groundless.
* In ''{{Toriko}}'', certain powerful characters can frighten aware weaker ones with a power called 'Intimidation.' It usually personified as a horrific monster, though the actually appearence varies from person to person. Toriko's looks like some kind of leering ogre, while Tommyrod of the Bishokukai's looks like it'd be more at home in Cthulu mythos.
* Played for laughs in ''Manga/KaitouSaintTail'': when Asuka jr. bragged he had been assigned to capture Saint Tail by the mayor himself and Rina shouldn't butt in, her pointing out she's the mayor's niece caused her to be surrounded by an aura of awesomeness that blinded the presents.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''{{Hellblazer}}'' - In issue #250, a large goat humanoid demon pins the protagonist John Constantine. All John did was to look at it, and it [[InvisibleMeansUndodgeable spontaneously exploded]] due to obvious badass reasons.
** Signified more in ''ComicBook/TheBooksOfMagic''. When Timothy Hunter and {{Zatanna}} got themselves surrounded by the Cult of Cold Flame, John came to the rescue. All he did was give a wisecrack, and the cult and others pissed their pants fled from his presence. Zatanna was confused on how he did it, John says its his "reputation".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]
* The TropeNamer is ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', from the quote above, where the legendary warrior's pure awesomeness alone is sufficient to blind enemies. [[AllJustADream At least in his dreams]]. Also, the Sword of Heroes is [[AbsurdlySharpBlade so sharp]] you can get cut just by looking at it. An extreme case of AudibleSharpness.
* In ''Film/TronLegacy'', during the battle at the End Of Line club, the good guys are getting thoroughly trounced by Clu's [[EliteMooks Black Guards]]. At least until [[spoiler:[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY5ecnUA5dc#t=01m59s Kevin Flynn walks into the room, kneels and touches the floor.]]]] Simply ''being there'' is enough for [[spoiler: Kevin to completely turn the tide, thanks to his PhysicalGod status in the Grid, by being a User with possession of the master disk.]]
** As they are leaving, several programs are shown on their knees, praying, and [[spoiler:Kevin Flynn]] walking out, holding his hands in a Christ-like manner.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* A somewhat subtler form of this exists in ''TheLordOfTheRings'' and ''TheSilmarillion''. Middle-Earth in general was heavily inspired by folklore and heroic sagas. The characters' abilities have less to do with tangible physical characteristics like strength, endurance or skill and more to do with a more amorphous concepts such as "might" or "countenance." Hence, the greatest elves of the elder days could stand against balrogs and dragons simply because they possessed the might to do so. The actual tactics and details of the battles were irrelevant, the outcome was decided by a direct conflict of might.
** In one nice example, Finrod and Sauron "duel in songs of power." Finrod does pretty well for himself, but in the end, Sauron wins.
* The WheelOfTime has the Ta'veren, who bend probability and to some extent even ''reality'', just by existing. The Dragon Reborn, the strongest Ta'veren in the whole of the reincarnating Pattern, eventually becomes able to do it ''intentionally''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* In the 3rd edition of ''DungeonsAndDragons'', many powers have the mechanical effect of bolstering allies or hindering enemies through the awesomeness of the power or the character using it.
** The Exemplar class lets you pick one skill which can be used to impress people, in a manner so awesome that everyone in 60 ft becomes undyingly loyal to him.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' overflows with characters that through their sheer presence can invigorate allies to near-invincibility, render enemies catatonic with fear or anything in between, ranging from Tau Ethereals (members of the ruling class), Space Marine Chaplains (SuperSoldier {{Badass Preacher}}s), and fiery incarnations of the Eldar god of War and Murder.
** And then there's [[FourStarBadass Creed]], [[MemeticMutation tactical genius]], who can use his [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower awesomeness]] to hide a [[TankGoodness Baneblade]] on open ground. Partially through camouflage, mostly through badassery. And the orks - the [[CrazyAwesome orks]] get this a lot.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* Motel Vontavious Porter was half man, half amazing and one half the tag team champions. The only man amazing enough to have three halves.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/BillyVsSNAKEMAN'', if a player manages to obtain trophies (ranging in difficulty from completing low-level plotlines to beating an insanely difficult, once a week minigame eleven times), Awesome points are given out which can be spent on bonus abilities. Also, certain levels of awesome are required for some quests.
** In the game's story, Awesome is ninja culture's name for the metaphysical source of free will.
* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' has a section where you are battling through an city filled with demons and undead with the main leader of your faction. Their presence alone makes you nigh invincible.
** This is echoed twice in the ''Cataclysm'' expansion; once in Gilneas with the Gilnean people fending off the Forsaken, and another time as you and four other people travel back in time and take part in the battle for the Well of Eternity, cutting through a swathe of demons thanks to the help of Tyrande and Illidan.
** Parodied by the game designers briefly during the ''Cataclysm'' beta. When fans complained that the Maelstrom (a whirlpool formed when the source of magic itself imploded) wasn't epic enough, Blizzard added ''a zombie playing a guitar, riding a tyrannosaurus rex that itself was riding a flying shark with a laser cannon.'' It was called "Epicus Maximus, Paragon of Epicosity".
* In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', the mere presence of the Servants has a little bit of this. And when a character like Lancer gets ''serious'', the pure awesome makes both you and the air freeze in fear. The most extreme example of this is Gilgamesh, who nearly makes [[TheHero Shirou]] shit himself without even showing any killing intent. Justified in the fact that [[{{Badass}} Gilgamesh]] is one of the most powerful beings in the {{Nasuverse}} and can defeat [[TheDreaded Berserker]] without even trying and is in possession of a weapon capable of [[EarthShatteringKaboom Earth Shattering Kabooms]].
* The characters of ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' regularly cause huge explosions from the presence of their sheer manly awesomeness. Yes, even the women.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comic]]
* [[BigBad DMK]] is finally defeated at the end of the MSPaintAdventures series ''ProblemSleuth'', solely due to the eponymous character's [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001760 glowing personal charm.]] Sepulchritude, the most powerful attack in the whole comic, runs on ''awesome''.
* In DarthsAndDroids, Artoo flying is [[http://darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0342.html so awesome]] that it gives everyone else a morale bonus just for watching.
** This ends up saving the characters, to [[KillerGM Pete's]] chagrin.
* King Radical's secret master plan in Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja turns out to hinge on this. [[spoiler:He's trying to make the Doctor's universe ''too awesome for lame people to exist'', thus sacrificing them to summon refugees from the dying Radical Lands.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* [[OverusedRunningGag Many]] of the ChuckNorrisFacts.
* In ''[[AVeryPotterMusical A Very Potter Sequel]]'', [[spoiler: Future!Draco]] describes time travel as being so awesome, you'll shit your pants. Ron actually does.
* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ji_lMIixFw&feature=related This video.]]
* ''SuburbanKnights'' has many instances of parodying this - the reviewers find they can do amazingly awesome things just because the character they're role-playing as (and in one case the actor playing the character they are role-playing as) possesses some form of Pure Awesomeness.
** Hell, it's ''broadcasted'' on Channel Awesome.
* According to {{Tobuscus}}' Literal Trailer for ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood'', this is how Ezio kills a guard (it's actually an arrow, but RuleOfFunny).
--> ''Guard says stop / Just kill him with your awesome.''
* In ''AHDotComTheSeries'', Super55 and [[ElvisPresley The King]] are characters of this type.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' has some undeniable moments of Pure Awesomeness with a few [[ChosenOne Chosen Ones]].
** In ''Imaginationland'', TheWoobie Butters Scotch brings an entire sub-universe back into existance after it is blasted into non-existence by a nuke. ''With nothing to work with but his own imagination.'' He even brought back his friends from '''''the real world.'''''
** In the two-parter "Pandemic", Craig Tucker saves the world from giant guinea-pigs by refusing to be a plaything of the universe and thinking for himself - he accidentally steps on a special tile and stands there ''shooting paralyzing lasers from his eyes.''
--> '''Craig:''' ''(with mild concern)'' Okay, now there are sparks shooting out of my eyes...
** In the movie, JerkAss Cartman ends up saving the world from an invasion by Hell when he takes control of the bullying V-Chip and ''shoots lightning from his entire body.''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* People used to lose their shit over Michael Jackson just standing on stage.
** And before him, Elvis. And before ''him'', Frank Sinatra.
*** Sinatra's early career subverted this, as the girls in his audience who were really, ''really'' losing their shit and fainting in the aisles were hired plants put there to create hype.
* A group of men once tried to rob a house, tying up the owner's wife. [[http://www.cracked.com/article_18751_6-insane-true-stories-too-awesome-chuck-norris-movie.html After taking one look at a picture]] of [[DolphLundgren the owner]], they dropped everything, untied her and ''ran''.
** This needs reiteration. They didn't even see the woman's husband. They saw a ''picture'' of him. And you can bet those men are spending the rest of their lives in a state of pure terror. Who was in the picture? Dolph "Ivan motherfucking Drago" Lundgren.
[[/folder]]

----

** Signified more in ''{{TheBooksofMagic}}''. When Timothy Hunter and {{Zatanna}} got themselves surrounded by the Cult of Cold Flame, John came to the rescue. All he did was give a wisecrack, and the cult and others pissed their pants fled from his presence. Zatanna was confused on how he did it, John says its his "reputation".

* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', the spiritual pressure of a soul reaper is enough to immobilize less powerful ones. Examples of this occur in the soul society arc: First when Kenpachi's spiritual pressure completely disables Hanatarô, and nearly incapacitates Ichigo, and then when Shunsui and Ukitake are facing off against Yamamoto. Nanao follows Shunsui and Ukitake intending to help and is literally rendered ''unable'' to move by Yamamoto's spiritual pressure alone. The symptoms of this are not pretty; people affected by an overly strong spiritual pressure begin to sweat profusely, cry uncontrollably, and start foaming at the mouth before falling unconscious.
** When [[spoiler:Aizen Sousuke and his army arrives in Fake Karakura Town]], their spiritual pressure is so strong that are disabling and even exploding lesser beings (such as simple hollows) that are in Kagamino City, 22 kilometers away. It also tends to make normal humans explode.
*** Coyote Starrk, Primera Espada, has such immense spiritual pressure that before becoming an Arrancar (and being allowed to [[PowerLimiter seal away]] most of his power) it would kill lesser hollows just by being in the vicinity.
** It can, of course, be hidden by the exceptionally powerful, however this just serves to make it more awesome when they finally [[LetsGetDangerous exert themselves.]]

* Dr. Diabolik of the WhateleyUniverse. When a long-range attack aimed at Cincinnati is spotted on radar, the U.S. Air Force goes into action. When they figure out it is Dr. Diabolik, the entire might of the U.S. military pretty much runs and hides under the covers.

Not to be confused with [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome something awesome happening off-screen]], where the awesomeness's effect was probably justified by something tangible actually happening. SubTrope to ItRunsOnNonsenseoleum.

* ''SuburbanKnights'' has many instances of parodying this - the reviewers find they can do amazingly awesome things just because the character they're role-playing as (and in one case the actor playing the character they are role-playing as) possesses some form of PureAwesomeness.

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' has some undeniable moments of PureAwesomeness with a few [[ChosenOne Chosen Ones]].

** This needs reiteration. They didn't even see the woman's husband. They saw a ''picture'' of him. And you can bet those men are spending the rest of their lives in a state of pure terror. Who was in the picture? [[ChuckNorris Chuck F**king Norris]].

** This needs reiteration. They didn't even see the woman's husband. They saw a ''picture'' of him. And you can bet those men are spending the rest of their lives in a state of pure terror.

Not to be confused with [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome something awesome happening off-screen]], where the awesomeness's effect was probably justified by something tangible actually happening.

Might overlap with AwesomenessIsVolatile.

* It's rumored that a group of men once tried to rob a house, tying up the owner's wife. After taking one look at a picture of [[DolphLundgren the owner]], they dropped everything, untied her and ''ran''.

Normally, in order for a character to reach a CrowningMomentOfAwesome threshold, they have to do something. Even if it's something as mundane as [[MundaneMadeAwesome eating a]] [[Manga/DeathNote potato chip]]. Sometimes, however, a character is so overflowing with the awesome that they don't actually have to ''do'' anything. All they have to do is walk into the room, or in in the most extreme cases, ''stand there''. Their simple existence alone irradiates an effect of awesomeness that causes tangible physical harm to their enemies, and makes men and women fall in love with them. And all we can do is watch.

*** ChuckNorris can beat all those awesome people up. By blinking.

* It's never been explained in detail, but in ''{{Naruto}}'' Zabuza, Orochimaru, and [[spoiler:Sasuke with Orochimaru's power]] are capable of giving off a "killing intent" so strong that it paralyzes weaker enemies, despite not apparently being actual genjutsu (or any kind of jutsu). In FanFiction, this is often done with relatively strong ninja as a whole.

* In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', the mere presence of the Servants has a little bit of this. And when a character like Lancer gets ''serious'', the pure awesome makes both you and the air freeze in fear. The most extreme example of this is Gilgamesh, who nearly makes [[TheHero Shirou]] shit himself without even showing any killing intent. Justified in the fact that [[{{Badass}}Gilgamesh]] is one of the most powerful beings in the {{Nasuverse}} and can defeat [[TheDreaded Berserker]] without even trying and is in possession of a weapon capable of [[EarthShatteringKaboom Earth Shattering Kabooms]].

* In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', the mere presence of the Servants has a little bit of this. And when a character like Lancer gets ''serious'', the pure awesome makes both you and the air freeze in fear.

* ''{{Exalted}}'' uses this trope at times. For example, the Dawn caste [[BattleAura anima power]], which can automatically activate itself after a sufficiently large expenditure of Essence (though it can also be activated manually). The Dawn anima makes its Exalt appear blindingly shiny, huge, and terrifying to behold. Mooks who witness it must make a roll to resist fleeing in terror; named characters merely have to put up with an opponent who is too awesome to look at directly.
** The entire stunting system is an attempt to invoke this trope in gameplay.

* In ''{{Bleach}}'', the spiritual pressure of a soul reaper is enough to immobilize less powerful ones. Examples of this occur in the soul society arc: First when Kenpachi's spiritual pressure completely disables Hanatarô, and nearly incapacitates Ichigo, and then when Shunsui and Ukitake are facing off against Yamamoto. Nanao follows Shunsui and Ukitake intending to help and is literally rendered ''unable'' to move by Yamamoto's spiritual pressure alone. The symptoms of this are not pretty; people affected by an overly strong spiritual pressure begin to sweat profusely, cry uncontrollably, and start foaming at the mouth before falling unconscious.

* ''SouthPark'' has some undeniable moments of PureAwesomeness with a few [[ChosenOne Chosen Ones]].