History SuperStrength / Literature

* Eponymous character in ''Literature/{{Aatomik}}'' has super strength as his main power.

* [[DishingOutDirt Earthcrafters]] in ''Literature/CodexAlera'' can give themselves super strength by using their furies. Particularly powerful ones tend to wade into battle wielding ''huge'' {{BFS}}s and warhammers to get the most out of this ability.
* ''Literature/CradleSeries'': Anyone with an Iron body has superhuman strength and durability--and since most people get an Iron body before their teenage years, this means ''everyone'' is like this. However, Iron bodies have various specializations; Lindon's Bloodforged Iron body has a ridiculously overpowered HealingFactor, and Eithan's Raindrop Iron body gives him super reflexes. It's Yerin's Steelforged Iron body that is supposed to be the absolute best in terms of raw strength.

* Numerous races in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' are super strong. Most notable are the golems and trolls thanks to being mainly made of rock and clay, one Troll in particular Detritus in ''Literature/TheFifthElephant'' easily wields the “Piecemaker” a [[{{BFG}} massive]] modified [[AutomaticCrossbows siege crossbow]] that fires six-foot-long arrows that can destroy buildings. Humans in Discworld are also ludicrous strong compared to normal standards, Carrot who was raised in a dwarf mine and “[[HeroicBuild built like a god]]” is able to stop a fleeing crook by holding his arm out with the same effect as running into a steel girder, Carrot can also knock out ''trolls'' with his punches and put a sword through stone pillar and the villain standing in front of it. Vimes is no slouch either able lift The Librarian (a 100kg orangutang) off the ground.
* The titular ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' has incredible strength with Professor Helsing confirming that the count has [[TheStrengthOfTenMen strength of at least twenty men]]. At the start of the novel Jonathan describes Dracula's "grip of steel" and later on The Count actually kills Renfield by throwing him to the ground so hard that his bones shatter. Being the TropeCodifier for [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Vampires]] Drac likely set the standard for Vampire's super strength in fiction.

* Most nonhuman creatures in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', especially when compared with [[PunyEarthling puny humans.]]
* ''Literature/{{Fearless}}'' plays with this: Gaia is technically super strong, but only in comparison to other humans (in a hypothetical battle against, say, ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'', she would get [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomped]]). This is because she doesn't feel fear and therefore isn't held back from unleashing everything she's got when she fights, like most people are.

* ''Literature/HarryPotter''
** Rubeus Hagrid might be a GentleGiant but he still twisted Uncle Vernon's gun like it was rubber, tamed several massive super beasts by hand, knocked out several Aurors by punching them and apparently wrestled trolls in the Forbidden Forest as a boy. Hagrid's strength is also a hassle for [[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength his friends]] too as Hagrid's [[SmackOnTheBack pats on the back]] and [[BearHug hugs]] can be incredibly painful.
*** Giants naturally have strength in abundance, Hagrid's brother Gwarp and the other giants wreck Hogwarts in the FinalBattle.
** Fenrir Greyback has this due to being a Werewolf and acting like a Werewolf ''even when not transformed'', in his first appearance Greyback overpowered Harry and Bill effortlessly. Greyback can also walk off getting hit with a triple stunning spell from Harry.
** Wormtail's aka Peter Pettigrew's [[ArtificialLimbs sliver hand]] could reduce a twig to powder, Harry almost got choked out till he reminded Wormtail of the life debt the former owed him.
** Wizards appear to have some relative super strength compared to {{Muggles}}, e.g Dumbledore despite being in [[LongLived his 100s]] could lift a fourteen year old Harry off the ground easily and a book later swims the breaststroke in a storm. Quidditch players namely Beaters invoke this strongly given they have to knock back Bludgers (which are ''made of iron'' and weigh approximately '''149 pounds''') with clubs.
** There's also a [[SuperSerum strengthening Solution]] from the sixth book that Umbridge admonished Snape for teaching, due her (and the Ministry's fears) of a rebellion. Sadly nobody takes the solution in the books, but in ''VideoGame/LEGOHarryPotter'' it's used to solve puzzles when Hagrid isn't around.
* The [[HalfHumanHybrid demigods]] in ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'' also qualify for it. They are different in strength, depending on who their [[DivineParentage divine parent]] is. The children of the "big three" (Poseidon and Zeus and Hades) and the children of Ares are usually much stronger than the other demigods. In general, demigods who have the same divine parent, about the same strength as their siblings, but sometimes there are exceptions. However, every demigod is still stronger than an ordinary human.

* ''Literature/JohnCarterOfMars'': John Carter had this in comparison to the Martians due to weaker gravity of Burroughs' Mars, along with an ability to leap incredible distances. Carter supposedly wound up being an inspiration for Superman's creators, as Earth's weaker gravity became one of the justifications for Superman's own great strength and invulnerability.
* Jean Valjean from ''Literature/LesMiserables'' is a classic literary example of this as despite being a seemly normal man he’s capable of tremendous feats of strength that easily hit the superhuman mark. During his time in the prison hulks, Valjean when paying out a cable or winding up capstan was “worth four man” and one time when a caryatid came loose Valjean was able to support the statue with his shoulders giving the workmen time to arrive and fix it earning Valjean the monicker of “Jean le Cric“. Later in the book Valjean when disguised as a mayor has InspectorJavert get suspicious of him when he sees “Monsieur Madeleine“ single handedly lift a massive cart off a crushed man, since Javert only knew one man, a convict who was that strong. Even when he’s well into his 60s Valjean can still break iron chains, knock a man out with a single punch and carry a wounded man for miles, apparently Valjean had this immense strength back when he was just a tree pruner as a young man.
* The German SF series ''Literature/{{Maddrax}}'' also has several examples.

* ''Literature/TheMermaidChronicles'': In ''Quest for Atlantis'', Wade is almost killed, but is revived with the Power of the Sea, which gives him super strength. He discovers his ability when he uses it to lug half the submersible back to the surface after it implodes.
* ''Literature/MissPeregrinesHomeForPeculiarChildren'': Bronwyn Bruntley, and her brother Victor have the shared peculiarity of super strength.

* Fezzik in ''Literature/ThePrincessBride'' being a Turkish GentleGiant has this, when it comes to strength nothing worries Fezzik, though [[DumbMuscle reading and writing]] makes him break out into a cold sweat. The real trick behind Fezzik’s strength is the ridiculous stamina in his arms, tell Fezzik to cut down a forest and the axe will break and his legs will give way before his arms get tired. With his arm strength alone Fezzik can climb the Cliffs of Despair and in the epilogue swim out of a massive whirlpool with his companions clinging to his back in both cases.

* In ''Literature/ShadowOfTheConqueror,'' this is one of the powers granted by Lifebinding. Daylen determines early on that he can use it to enhance his strength to about sixteen times his normal level. Lyrah achieves much greater levels of super strength as a result of her [[MasterOfOneMagic specialization]], and [[PoweredArmor sunforged armor]] doubles the user's strength as a secondary effect. This is also an explicit RequiredSecondaryPower of increasing one's mass, the point where Lifebinders can make themselves weigh several tons without slowing down.
* An interesting version shows up in Creator/JohnRidley's ''Literature/SoledadORoark'' books. People with [=superstrength=] tend to look scrawny and lack muscle tone because they are unable to strain their muscles enough to gain [[HeroicBuild visible musculature]].

* In ''Literature/TalesOfAnMazingGirl'' Sarah can toss tanks around. But she also knows at least the rudements of Kung Fu.
* In ''Literature/TalesOfMU'' Puddy is easily the strongest character in the series, though how is unclear. In her first appearance, she pins Mack to the wall with ease, later on Mack (a half-demon) is shown to be strong enough to wrestle a half-ogre and dent concrete with her fists.
* Literature/{{Tarzan}} from the same [[Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs author]] as John Carter has some feats hit this mark. Growing up in the jungle Tarzan is able to wrestle and overpower 160 kg silverback gorillas and kill leopards, crocodiles and pythons. At one point after returning civilization as the gentleman Lord Greystroke he sees four burly sailors struggling to lift his shipping trunk (which likely weighs 700 lbs.), he then strolls over and casually lifts it himself to the shock of the sailors.
* In [[Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium J.R.R Tolkien]]'s works:
** The [[PhysicalGod Valar, Ainur]] and [[SemiDivine Maiar]] have ridiculous super strength compared to the other races e.g [[GreaterScopeVillain Melkor]] aka Morgoth in his fight with Fingolfin, at one point puts his foot the on the elf's throat: "Morgoth set his foot upon his neck, and the weight of it was like a fallen hill". In the same fight Melkor makes craters in the ground by [[DropTheHammer slamming his hammer down]] trying to hit Fingolfin. Then there’s [[BoisterousBruiser Tulkas]], who isn’t even the most powerful of the Valar but is so strong he easily overpowers Morgoth when he fights him and actually forces the dark lord [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere to flee]].
*** Gandalf despite his frail build still has super strength being one of the Maiar, best seen when he [[WreckedWeapon destroyed]] a Balrog's conjured fire sword with his CoolSword Glamdring.
** [[PlantPerson The Ents]] are likely the strongest race after the aforementioned divine ones, given they can crush steel and rock with just their fists and can flatten almost everything in their stride ([[LightningBruiser and they have a very fast stride]]). Isengard was reduced to a dismal ruin after the Ents went on a UnstoppableRage.
** Dwarves appear to have this as they make light of heavy burdens and can travel for for miles wearing full amour no problem. Gimli is the foremost example as seen in the [[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheTwoTowers second movie]] where Gimli could lift two wargs and orc off himself while trapped as well as NeckSnap the orc who tried to kill him.
** Men in Middle Earth have super strength compared to real life standards, Boromir for example in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' plows through a good mile of snow with a Hobbit on his back using nothing but ''his arms and legs''.
** Elves may have this too though it's not as [[DownplayedExample apparent]] as previous examples, the most blatant showcasing was in the [[Film/TheHobbitTheBattleOfTheFiveArmies third Hobbit movie]] where the willowy Galadriel does the BridalCarry to Gandalf.
** Can't forget Hobbits, sure they're much lesser compared to the rest but they still have a surprising amount of [[PintSizedPowerHouse hidden strength]]. Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin have all brought down foes much larger than themselves but the winner is Bandobras Took who knocked an orc's head clean off with his club, sending it flying into a rabbit hole and invented golf in Middle Earth.
* Literature/TrappedOnDraconica: All dragokin have this though it varies between them. Daniar may have the greatest but she's too honorable to use half of it on humans. Rana, however, is often stated as the strongest of the Dragonkin.
* ''Literature/TheTravelersGate'': If a Valinhall Traveler defeats the skeleton Benson and all his animated knights, they gain "Benson's steel," an incredible and long-lasting boost to strength. This is often the first power a Valinhall Traveler receives, and seemingly the one that they all share. You need steel to even wield Valinhall's [[OneHandedZweihander famous swords]] in combat.
* In ''Literature/VampireAcademy'', Strigoi have super strength which increases with age and the consumption of Moroi and dhampir blood. Isaiah, an ancient Moroi, was observed giving a light push which packed the force of a small car.

* In the ''Literature/WildCards'' franchise some degree of superhuman strength is relatively common among aces (Carnifex, the Harlem Hammer, Sharon Cream...) and even some jokers have it, like Troll, the Oddity or Drummer Boy. Golden Boy however takes the cake as tge strongest infectee ever.

* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' has the Hork-Bajirs. They are a species of friendly, peace-loving, and [[LizardFolk repiloid aliens]]. And they have blades all over, and are physically strong. They are among the strongest known species, which is why the Yeerks enslaved them, and use them as soldiers.

* ''Literature/IntoTheBrokenLands'': The [[ArtificialHuman mage-crafted]] HumanWeapon Nonee is strong enough to make LudicrousGibs of a human-sized monster with a thrown rock. In her free time, she built a stone wall around her new hometown -- singlehandedly.
* Literature/{{John Carter| of Mars}} had this in comparison to the Martians due to weaker gravity of Burroughs' Mars, along with an ability to leap incredible distances. Carter supposedly wound up being an inspiration for Superman's creators, as Earth's weaker gravity became one of the justifications for Superman's own great strength and invulnerability.

* In ''Literature/AndThenITurnedIntoAMermaid'', this is Margot's merpower - the unique ability all merfolk have - which she discovered when she picked up a speedboat with her thumb.

* In the ''Literature/WildCards'' franchise some degree of superhuman strenght is relatively common among aces (Carnifex, the Harlem Hammer, Sharon Cream...) and even some jokers have it, like Troll, the Oddity or Drummer Boy. Golden Boy however takes the cake as tge strongest infectee ever.

* An interesting version shows up in the Creator/JohnRidley books ''Those Who Walk In Darkness'' and ''What Fire Cannot Burn''. People with [=superstrength=] tend to look scrawny and lack muscle tone because they are unable to strain their muscles enough to gain [[HeroicBuild visible musculature]].

* ''Literature/TheNeanderthalParallax'': Neanderthals are, compared with ''homo sapiens'' incredibly strong, capable of easily killing or severely injuring people far more easily simply with their bare hands. It's stated in the past most assassinations in their society were simply down by walking up to a target and caving their skull in with the attacker's clenched fists. When the Neanderthal ambassador to Earth is attacked as well, she easily smashes her attacker's skull into a pulp, shocking her police bodyguards. It's affected their culture as they've taken extreme measures against this spreading, castrating not only any person convicted of violent crimes, but also immediate family members to prevent aggressive genes from being propagated and using Companion implants which constantly record the wearer for easily solving cases mostly (the recordings are only accessed when a formal accusation has been made however), with far less tolerance for violence generally (they lament that in their last war, about seven hundred people died, with it being over a thousand years back, which is treated as high-they're shocked by how violent ''homo sapiens'' are).

* Eponymous character in ''Aatomik'' has super strength as his main power.

* Numerous races in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' are super strong. Most notable are the golems and trolls thanks to being mainly made of rock and clay, one Troll in particular Detritus in ''Literature/TheFifthElephant'' easily wields the “Piecemaker” a [[{{BFG}} massive]] modified [[AutomaticCrossbows siege crossbow]] that fires six-foot-long arrows that can destroy buildings. Humans in Discworld are also ludicrous strong compared to normal standards, Carrot who was raised in a dwarf mine and “[[HeroicBuild build like a god]]” is able to stop a fleeing crook by holding his arm out with the same effect as running into a steel girder, Carrot can also knock out ''trolls'' with his punches and put a sword through stone pillar and the villain standing in front of it. Vimes is no slouch either able lift The Librarian (a 100kg orangutang) off the ground.

* Golden Boy in the ''Literature/WildCards'' franchise had super strength that the authors tried to portray realistically. If a speeding car or tank slammed into him, for instance, his super strength did nothing to anchor him to the ground and he'd get tossed around like a ragdoll--he had to drop down to the ground and let the tank run part of the way over him, then lift it up and hurl it aside.

* [[Literature/MrMen Mr Strong]] has this as his defining trait. One example of his strength involves him lifting a barn house over with his arms as if it was a flower, even after filling it up with water.

** However, it is inverted by the [[SquishyWizard warlocks and witches]]. They are [[HumanMomNonHumanDad half-demons]], but they are not much stronger than ordinary humans, but they often have magical powers.

** However, it is inverted by the [[WitchSpecies warlocks and witches]]. They are [[HumanMomNonHumanDad half-demons]], but they are not much stronger than ordinary humans, but they often have magical powers.

* Numerous races in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' are super strong. Most notable are the golems and trolls thanks to being mainly made of rock and clay, one Troll in particular Detritus in ''Literature/TheFifthElephant'' easily wields the “Piecemaker” a [[{{BFG}} massive]] modified [[AutomaticCrossbows siege crossbow]] that fires six-foot-long arrows that can destroy buildings. Humans in Discworld are also ludicrous strong compared to normal standards, Carrot who was raised in a dwarf mine and “[[HeroicBuild build like a god]]” is able to stop a fleeing crook by holding his arm out with the same effect as running into a steel girder, Carrot can also knock out ''trolls'' with his punches and put a sword through stone pillar and the villain standing in front of it. Vimes is no slouch either able lift The Librarian (a 100kg orangutang) off the ground, as well as wield the Piecemaker same as Detritus.

** The [[PhysicalGod Valar, Ainur]] and [[SemiDivine Maiar]] have ridiculous super strength compared to the other races e.g [[GreaterScopeVillain Melkor]] aka Morgoth in his fight with Fingolfin, at one point puts his foot the on the elf's throat: "Morgoth set his foot upon his neck, and the weight of it was like a fallen hill". In the same fight Melkor makes craters in the ground by [[DropTheHammer slamming his hammer down]] trying to hit Fingolfin.

** Can't forget Hobbits sure they're much lesser compared the rest but they still have a surprising amount of hidden strength. Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin have brought down foes much larger than themselves but the winner is Bandobras Took who knocked an orc's head clean off with his club, sending it flying into a rabbit hole and invented golf in Middle Earth.