Line #15 Main/MundaneUtility


1	!This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16767165250.29425900 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.
2	%% Image selected by Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1297231636046980100
3	%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
4	%%
5	[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/The_Incredibles_Mundane_Utility_6877.png]]]]
6	[[caption-width-right:350:[-SuperStrength and [[RubberMan Super Stretching]]: Great for crimefighting. Even better for housecleaning.-]]]
7
8	->'''Scott:''' Here, Jean, allow me to cut you a piece of cake in my own way.\
9	'''Jean:''' Why, thank you, Cyclops, but that's a bit like using an elephant gun to kill a house fly.
10	-->-- ''ComicBook/XMen'' #4
11
12	%%One Quote is sufficient. The rest go on the quotes page.
13
14
15	Awesomeness put to mundane use. Just let loose your [[PlayingWithFire fire-conjuring hands]] and... cook, or strap on your pair of [[JetPack rocket boots]] to reach the top cupboard shelf, or something. Hey, sometimes WithGreatPowerComesGreatPerks.
16
17	When you really get down to it, this is actually quite sensible — it's not like superheroes and superheroines are saving the world/fighting for their lives 24/7, [[PowerIncontinence and in most cases, it's not like they can simply "shut off" their powers]]. If it's more convenient, then why ''not'' make your life a little simpler? Call it "[[WaxOnWaxOff practice]]" if you have to justify it (or just ask them "[[MundaneMadeAwesome What do you mean, it's not awesome?]]"). Similarly, if EveryoneIsASuper, not everybody will be keen on fighting or committing crime. That doesn't mean they won't find some way to make use of their abilities.
18
19	Failure to see possible uses other than this one is a form of MisappliedPhlebotinum. Overpowered characters with a job description like this become SuperPoweredRobotMeterMaids. Characters who are outright omnipotent who fall to this trope are {{All Powerful Bystander}}s. MartialArtsForMundanePurposes is a subset of this trope, for when martial arts abilities are used for reasons other than fighting. SwordsToPlowshares also overlaps with this trope, for when combat weapons are intentionally repurposed for more utilitarian functions. Also an opposite of sorts to CutLexLuthorACheck, InverseLawOfUtilityAndLethality, ReedRichardsIsUseless and UselessSuperpowers. If this is applied to killing someone (such as, say, a gigantic nuke against a feeble human), it may become ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill.
20
21	Diametric opposite to JustThinkOfThePotential. For an adult variation, see PowerPerversionPotential. For a sister trope which takes this [[ExaggeratedTrope up to eleven]], see BoxingLessonsForSuperman. When done with wishes and boons, this might be a MundaneWish. If the mundane utility would make for a career in its own right, then JustForFun/TheseLookLikeJobsForTheSuperman. And if the mundane utility is used for sports, then it's MuggleSportsSuperAthletes (usually defied).
22
23	Also compare UtilityMagic, for when the primary purpose of something which is awesome (magic, in this case) is something mundane, and UtilityWeapon, for when something is designed to function as both a weapon and a tool. Compare PricelessPaperweight, which is using a priceless or important item for a mundane task, and ChoresWithoutPowers, which consciously defies this trope. See also {{Prop}}. See also BalkingSummonedSpirit.
24	----
25	!!Examples:
26	[[index]]
27	* MundaneUtility/AnimeAndManga
28	* MundaneUtility/ComicBooks
29	* MundaneUtility/ComicStrips
30	* MundaneUtility/FanWorks
31	* MundaneUtility/{{Film}}
32	* MundaneUtility/{{Literature}}
33	* MundaneUtility/LiveActionTV
34	* MundaneUtility/{{Music}}
35	* MundaneUtility/TabletopGames
36	* MundaneUtility/VideoGames
37	* MundaneUtility/{{Webcomics}}
38	* MundaneUtility/WebOriginal
39	* MundaneUtility/WesternAnimation
40	* MundaneUtility/OtherMedia
41	* MundaneUtility/RealLife
42	[[/index]]

Context Main / MundaneUtility