History Main / Superzeroes

** An episode with this trope title has the girls decide to adopt identities based on the superheroes in their favorite comics. Blossom becomes [[ComicBook/WonderWoman Liberty Belle]], but since [[FridgeLogic she now drives the "Morality Mobile"]], she gets stuck in traffic. Bubbles becomes [[{{Manga}} Harmony Bunny]] who travels by pogo stick and attacks by throwing stickers. Buttercup as [[ComicBook/{{Spawn}} Mange]] won't do anything because of the [[WeaksauceWeakness sunlight]]. They take an extremely long time to actually get to where a monster is attacking, and their attacks have no effect. The monster eventually gets fed up and tells them to lose the identities.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'':

Many people feel that the SuperHero is an inherently silly concept. And certainly, many of the genre's conventions -- such as the use of strange, skintight costumes, SomethingPerson names, and [[PaperThinDisguise paper-thin]] SecretIdentity disguises -- might look silly in RealLife. However, within their own setting, superheroes are usually accepted and admired.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'':
** An episode with this trope title has the girls decide to adopt identities based on the superheroes in their favorite comics. Blossom becomes [[Franchise/WonderWoman Liberty Belle]], but since [[FridgeLogic she now drives the "Morality Mobile"]], she gets stuck in traffic. Bubbles becomes [[{{Manga}} Harmony Bunny]] who travels by pogo stick and attacks by throwing stickers. Buttercup as [[ComicBook/{{Spawn}} Mange]] won't do anything because of the [[WeaksauceWeakness sunlight]]. They take an extremely long time to actually get to where a monster is attacking, and their attacks have no effect. The monster eventually gets fed up and tells them to lose the identities.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'': One of the characters in the TerribleIntervieweesMontage for the Revenge Society in "Bright Lights, Dean City" is Brick Frog, who appears to be just a guy in a frog costume armed with a satchel of bricks. Despite having no abilities other than "brick-throwing and frog-being", he's shown to be a member of the Guild of Calamitous Intent in later episodes. However, in the FinaleMovie "Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart" Brick Frog defects from the GCI to join the new supervillain start-up ARCH and receives far greater tech and resources than he did before, turning him into a credible threat.

* Hindsight Lad of the ''ComicBook/NewWarriors'' starts out like this, takes a brief ([[AuthorAvatar not entirely inexplicable]]) turn for the competent, then [[FaceHeelTurn ends up outing all his former teammates online]] during the ComicBook/CivilWar.

* ''WesternAnimation/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' has an episode featuring the Legion of Substitute Heroes, mentioned above. Includes Chlorophyll Kid ([[GreenThumb who can make plants grow to an enormous size]], but cannot control them), Porcupine Pete (who can generate and fire sharp growths from his body, but they're not very strong), Infectious Lass (who can manipulate diseases, but cannot inflict anything worse than a cold), Stone Boy (who can turn into NighInvulnerable stone, but cannot move in this form), and Color Kid (who can make anything change color, and nothing else).

* The Inferior Five from Franchise/TheDCU, who were forced to become heroes by their super [[StageMom Stage Parents]]. Team leader Merryman comes from a long line of {{Badass Normal}}s, but he is a weakling and a fatalist. The Blimp shares his father's ability to fly but did not inherit his super speed, giving him the ability to fly about as fast as he can walk. As he is rather fat, that is not very fast. Awkwardman has incredible strength and can survive indefinitely underwater, but is so clumsy he is more a danger to his friends than his foes. Dumb Bunny is even more powerful than Awkwardman but is [[DumbMuscle so lacking]] [[DumbBlonde in intelligence]] she is usually even less helpful. Finally, the White Feather is an ace marksman and glamour photographer... when he is alone, at least; Whenever he even thinks someone else might be around, his skills go to crap and his cowardly streak emerges. When trouble arrives, Police Chief Geronimo will call them on the Lukewarm Line and they will be there to make it worse; they never fail to fail.

** In ''Amazing Spider-Man'' #247, The Toad, Frog-Man, and The Spectacular Spider-Kid were all vying to become Spider-Man's partner, much to his consternation. In the end the three Super Zeroes form their own super-team, the Misfits.

* Wario-Man from ''VideoGame/WarioWare'' and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' Already PlayedForLaughs in all versions, it comes more under this in ''Touched'' where after a rather silly theme song, flying an inch off the ground and what not, he tries to stop a train and fails miserably (ATwinkleInTheSky). Heck, it's even called "Super Zero" in game! And now the top example of this on the page: in ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOIRExwW9dU DIY Showcase]]'', he has to open jammed toilet doors for people and fly about an inch off the ground. Though somewhat subverted/averted in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' where he is a legitimate [[LimitBreak Final]] [[OneWingedAngel Smash]] for Wario, with massively increased power and speed, invulnerability, ElementalPowers and what have you.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'': One of the characters in the TerribleIntervieweesMontage for the Revenge Society in "Bright Lights, Dean City" is Brick Frog, who appears to be just a guy in a frog costume armed with a satchel of bricks. Despite having no abilities other than "brick-throwing and frog-being", he's shown to be a member of the Guilt of Calamitous Intent in later episodes.

-->-- '''Description for Wario-Man''', ''VideoGame/WarioWare Touched''

** The Flander's Company is forced to engage some of those Super Zeroes in season 3, amongst them Recycle-Man (a former environmentalist hero who beats up people for not properly recycling), Emo-Man (an archetypical {{Emo}} whose superpower is to [[BloodyMurder bleed on his enemies]]) and Sweaty-Man (a portly man who sweats a lot when nervous, and yes that's his superpower).

* In ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003'' episode "The Unconvincing Turtle Titan", Michelangelo tries to emulate his hero, Silver Sentry - an archetypical costumed good guy - by making his own costume and calling himself Turtle Titan. Unfortunately, his attempts to do so are, as the episode name suggests, unconvincing, and when the Sentry becomes BrainwashedAndCrazy by his foe [[MadScientist Dr. Malignus]] (an archetypical CardCarryingVillain that guys like him typically fight) Mikey ditches the costume and saves the day (winning his hero's respect) ''his'' way, with his Ninjitsu skills.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003'' episode "The Unconvincing Turtle Titan", Michelangelo tries to emulate his hero, Silver Sentry - an atypical costumed good guy - by making his own costume and calling himself Turtle Titan. Unfortunately, his attempts to do so are, as the episode name suggests, unconvincing, and when the Sentry becomes BrainwashedAndCrazy by his foe [[MadScientist Dr. Malignus]] (an atypical CardCarryingVillain that guys like him typically fight) Mikey ditches the costume and saves the day (winning his hero's respect) ''his'' way, with his Ninjitsu skills.

* ''ComicBook/TheBoys'': Superduper is a team of severely underpowered heroes infiltrated by Hughie, many of which have some kind of AmbiguousDisorder or are outright mentally disabled. Where pretty much all other supers are smug, entitled, hedonistic assholes (or smug, entitled, hedonistic sociopaths and criminals), Superduper basically goes too far the other way. The only one with real powers is Malchemical (who gets [[ReassignedToAntarctica reassigned to them after committing rape by fraud on a teammate's girlfriend]]).

* Literature/WhateleyUniverse: A number of these exist, both on campus and out in the world:

** Bravo (who endlessly tries to be '[[CaptainSuperhero Captain Bravo]]', but is stymied by school rules against using a rank you haven't earned) comes across as a parody of the 'all-American hero', complete with an oversized LanternJawOfJustice, awkwardly disproportionate HeroicBuild, and a 'costume' consisting of a tee shirt with an iron-on symbol, and a safety-pinned cape.

* ''Manga/OnePunchMan'': The majority of C-class heroes fall under this category, many of them being nothing but fodder for the monsters and other villains, as they have no real powers or effective weapons, just weird costumes based on various gimmicks. In fact, the number 1 ranked C-class hero, Mumen Rider, just narrowly avoids falling into this category, as he may not be especially powerful or super competent, but he [[TheDeterminator never gives up and can take quite a beating]], and due to these qualities he actually has a few minor victories under his belt.

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'':

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':

* Bob Phantom from DC's short-lived ''Impact Comics'' line. Not even a hero as such, just a bumbling reporter who figured that ''dressing up'' as one would help him get a scoop on the real thing (the Comet, if memory serves) and quite by accident ended up helping save the day.
* Section 8 from ''ComicBook/{{Hitman}}''. The names say it all: [[TheAlcoholic Sixpack]], [[BlackComedyRape Bueno Excellente]], [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the Defenestrator, Dogwelder, Friendly Fire]], [[CaptainEthnic Jean de Baton-Baton]], [[NauseaFuel Phlegmgem]] and [[ConvulsiveSeizures Shakes]]. There's a reason their team is named after the clause for leaving the Army due to insanity.
** Dogwelder deserves special mention. Garth Ennis and his friends were in a bar one night and decided to come up with the worst possible superhero. Dogwelder was the first suggestion, and nobody could top it.
** Bueno Excellente (whose name was inspired by the Spanish subtitles in a PORN FILM, we kid you not) and who owns the "power of perversion" can be pretty scary. [[NoodleIncident Given]] Lobo himself once was the victim of his indignities, and chose to leave rather than kill him... Though that have might have something to do with the fact it was all filmed. [[ComeToGawk For the galaxy's]] [[{{Squick}} viewing pleasure]].

* Syndrome, the villain in ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' started as one, but [[TookALevelInBadass became a]] [[NotSoHarmlessVillain dangerous villain]] later on.

* The main character of ''Film/{{Super}}'' is about a man who takes on the identity of "The Crimson Bolt", a guy who beats criminals/jerks bloody with a wrench in a campaign to save his wife from the drug dealer who stole her away from him.

** And the Franchise/{{Batman}} {{expy}} Fledermaus, who spends most of his time making failed passes at superheroines.

** Also from the show, one episode features a mayor auditioning for superheroes for her city only to find a series of this. The one exception is a FlyingBrick who is almost chosen, were it not for the fact that he's called "[[AtrociousAlias Superty-Duper Man]]". At the end, she decides to just do the job herself and proceeds to [[AuthorityGrantsAsskicking put on a cape and fly through the roof]].

* ''Anime/SailorMoon'': Even though the Sailor Guardians are for the most part (fairly) competent when battling bad guys, their immaturity, bickering, and personal desires to grab the spotlight make them fall into bumbling on occasion, still owing to the show's lighthearted and comedic [[SlapstickKnowsNoGender nature]]. [[TheKlutz Moon]] [[ButtMonkey herself]] tends to get this the worst. Its even lampshaded in an episode, where one of the villains of the season meets the girls and [[YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe is in utter disbelief]] as to how his plans get thwarted by them.

** Also from the show, one episode features a mayor auditioning for superheroes for her city only to find a series of this. The one exception is a FlyingBrick who is almost chosen, were it not for the fact that he's called "[[AtrociousAlias Superty-Duper Man]]". At the end, she decides to just do the job herself and proceeds to [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking put on a cape and fly through the roof.]]

* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' has the ShowWithinAShow featuring Impotent Rage, a BourgeoisBohemian and PsychopathicManchild with SuperStrength [[BlessedWithSuck (and erectile dysfunction)]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero whose attempts to make the world a better place just make it worse]].

* ''LightNovel/TheRisingOfTheShieldHero'' produces three losers, Ren Amaki, Motoyasu Kitamura and Itsuki Kawasumi. Despite having many advantages the protagonist Naofumi Iwatani lacks, such as powerful magical weapons with actual offensive power [[note]]Naofumi's "weapon" turns him into a StoneWall, so he relies on his teammates for offensive power[[/note]], parties of various specialized fighters, and the backing of the king, they all show themselves to be hilariously incompetent heroes. Their only noticeable accomplishment is defeating the boss of the first wave outside of the audience's view, leaving nothing else but a ''downright abysmal'' track record. Not helping their case is Naofumi frequently having to fix the messes they unwittingly make in their little solo adventures, how they proved to be highly ineffective against the boss of the second wave, got curbstomped by Glass ''in a single move'' (Naofumi also loses against her, but his defeat [[CurbStompCushion is far more dignified]]), [[RunningGag proved to be highly ineffective against the boss of the third wave]] (and to add insult to the injury, they expected to loot the boss' drops even though they literally did no damage from their attacks to the Wave Boss itself) and got curbstomped by [[spoiler:L'Arc]] ''in a single move, again''. It's no wonder that Glass and [[spoiler:L'Arc]] both see Naofumi as the only one of the four cardinal heroes worthy of any respect.

* ''Anime/SailorMoon'': Even though the Sailor Guardians are for the most part (fairly) competent when battling bad guys, they still fall into bumbling on occasion, still owing to the show's lighthearted and comedic [[SlapstickKnowsNoGender nature]]. [[TheKlutz Moon]] [[ButtMonkey herself]] tends to get this the worst. Its even lampshaded in an episode, where one of the villains of the season meets the girls and [[YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe is in utter disbelief]] as to how his plans get thwarted by them.

* '"Anime/SailorMoon'': Even though the Sailor Guardians are for the most part (fairly) competent when battling bad guys, they still fall into bumbling on occasion, still owing to the show's lighthearted and comedic [[SlapstickKnowsNoGender nature]]. [[TheKlutz Moon]] [[ButtMonkey herself]] tends to get this the worst. Its even lampshaded in an episode, where one of the villains of the season meets the girls and [[YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe is in utter disbelief]] as to how his plans get thwarted by them.

* Anime/SailorMoon: Even though the Sailor Guardians are for the most part (fairly) competent when battling bad guys, they still fall into bumbling on occasion, still owing to the show's lighthearted and comedic [[SlapstickKnowsNoGender nature]]. [[TheKlutz Moon]] [[ButtMonkey herself]] tends to get this the worst. Its even lampshaded in an episode, where one of the villains of the season meets the girls and [[YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe is in utter disbelief]] as to how his plans get thwarted by them.

* Seriously, Series/Batman1966 from 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 [[ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns kick off]] UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks.