History Main / Superzeroes

[[AC:ComicsBooks]]

[[AC:{{Comics}}]]

[[AC: Literature]]

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* ''MysteryMen'':
-->"We're not your classic superheroes. We're not the favorites. We're the other guys. We're the guys nobody ever bets on."
* ''TheSpecials''
* Most of the "Hero Support" students in ''SkyHigh''.
* Rod Rescueman, the bungling novice superhero from the animated film ''TwiceUponATime''.
* It seems pretty obvious that the titular character from the upcoming film ''[[http://kickass-themovie.com/ Kick-Ass]]'' is one. Too bad for him [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0lwLB-xAVw his opposition]] (warning: red-band trailer) appears to be ''very'' competent.
** He is not. Rather, he is BadassNormal who fares well '''until''' he runs into [[strike:actual supers]] [[strike: [[AntiHero AntiHeroes]]]] [[strike: [[NinetiesAntiHero NinetiesAntiHeroes]]]] [[JerkAss dicks.]]

[[AC: {{NewMedia}}]]

* ''Zeroes'', NBC's parody of its own ''{{Series/Heroes}}'' show, is all about hero wannabes with utterly useless talents, who manage only to creep each other out.

[[AC:{{Videogames}}]]

* The [[TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] RedTornado can be considered a subversion. While her costume design (long underwear "tights", saucepan "helmet" and blanket "cape") are obviously intended as a joke, within the context of her original appearances in Sheldon Meyer's ''Scribbly'', she was a very competent BadassNormal hero(ine), highly effective against the street-level racketeers and hoodlums that were her usual opponents. Indeed, a latter-day JusticeSocietyofAmerica adventure has none less than WonderWoman declaring her "a true Amazon."

** Well, Bueno Excellente (whose name was inspired by the spanish subtitles in a PORN FILM, I kid you not) and who owns the "power of Perversion" can be pretty scary in fact.

Which is to say, he can perform multiple backflips in rapid succession and knows how to pop a bad guy in the face -- he's just really ''bad'' at it.

[[AC:{{Anime}}]]

* Suprunaman from DoctorSlump.

* A ''{{Powerpuff Girls}}'' episode with this title has the girls decide to portray the superheroes in their favorite comics. Blossom becomes Liberty Belle but as [[FridgeLogic she now drives]] the Freedom Mobile, she gets stuck in traffic. Bubble becomes Harmony Bunny who attacks the monster by placing stickers on him. Buttercup as Mange won't do anything because of the [[WeaksauceWeakness sunlight]]. The monster eventually gets fed up and tells them to lose the identities.

->'''The Zookeeper:''' Ah, the superheroes. Or should I say super''zeroes''?
->'''Fry:''' That was uncalled for.
->-- ''{{Futurama}}''

->''Let's show 'em what a bunch of losers can do!''
->-- ''Johnny Guitar strikes a rallying cry for every has-been and never-was out there'', ''Avengers: The Initative''

Certain characters are so obtuse than even other superheroes view them as -- well, dumb. Some people tend to use the derisive name "Super Zeroes" for these.

There are several types of "super zeroes". There's the character who might actually make a good superhero... if he had [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway anything resembling useful powers or skills]]. Often their powers will also be (or make them) [[WhatMeasureIsANonCute bizarre or disgusting in appearance]]. Real heroes will try to [[NeverBeAHero dissuade them from fighting crime]], but usually they insist on trying anyway, getting themselves (and others) in danger. They usually end up scolded by other heroes and retiring after causing a particularly bad mess, though other times they continue being a thorn on an established hero's side, especially by trying to become that hero's {{sidekick}}. Often they [[TheWoobie inspire pity in fans]], and might even become an EnsembleDarkhorse. In such a case, they might actually get better with time, evolving into true heroes. DCComics's [[LegionOfSuperHeroes Legion Of Substitute Heroes]] is an example of this type.

* The Legion of Substitute Heroes from TheDCU consists of this, all of them being rejects from TheLegionOfSuperheroes. Considering that the Legion of Superheroes contains people like ''Matter Eater Lad'', this is saying something.

* The GoldenAge RedTornado can be considered a subversion. While her costume design (long underwear "tights", saucepan "helmet" and blanket "cape") are obviously intended as a joke, within the context of her original appearances in Sheldon Meyer's ''Scribbly'', she was a very competent BadassNormal hero(ine), highly effective against the street-level racketeers and hoodlums that were her usual opponents. Indeed, a latter-day JusticeSocietyofAmerica adventure has none less than WonderWoman declaring her "a true Amazon."

* Seriously, {{Batman}} of the '60s TV show, which has become a sort of non-canon DorkAge for the deadly serious comic books and movies of today. He may be just a BadassNormal, but in truth, Batman's superpower is to have the single greatest example of {{Camp}} ''ever'' and still be taken seriously enough to help [[TheDarkKnightReturns kick off]] the DarkAge.

* Another Marvel team, The League of Losers, made up of heroes not killed off by the bigbad because their comics were not successful enough for him to know about them.

* Illumina of ''SidekickGirl''. She can float and glow, but she looks the part and in her [[TheVerse Verse]], that's what matters. Luckily Val is her [[TheRadar Radar]]-- after she's already gotten several previous sidekicks killed with her incompetence.

* Illumina of ''Sidekick Girl''. She can float and glow, but she looks the part and in her [[TheVerse Verse]], that's what matters. Luckily Val is her [[TheRadar Radar]]-- after she's already gotten several previous sidekicks killed with her incompetence.

!!Examples:

* Section 8 from ''{{ComicBooks/Hitman}}''. The names say it all: Sixpack, Bueno Excellente, the Defenestrator, Dogwelder, Friendly Fire, Jean de Baton-Baton, Flemgem and Shakes. Friendly Fire shoots energy bolts...at his own side. The Defenestrator puts people through a window that he carries around with him. Jean hits people with a French loaf. Dogwelder welds dogs to people. You get the picture. There's a reason their team is named after the clause for leaving the Army due to insanity.

----
<<|ComedyTropes|>>
<<|{{Heroes}}|>>

* The Pharaoh from ''SoonIWillBeInvincible''.

* The GoldenAge RedTornado can be considered a subversion. While her costume design (long underwear "tights", saucepan "helmet" and blanket "cape") are obviously designed as a joke, within the context of her original appearances in Sheldon Meyer's ''Scribbly'', she was a very competent BadassNormal hero(ine), highly effective against the street-level racketeers and hoodlums that were her usual opponents. Indeed, a latter-day JusticeSocietyofAmerica adventure has none less than WonderWoman declaring her "a true Amazon."