Line #47 Main/TheTeamNormal


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5	[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/ElGoonishShive https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/feawhky.png]]]]
6	[[caption-width-right:350:[[{{Irony}} Remarkably normal.]]]]
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11	->''"All you guys can do this awesome bending stuff, like putting out forest fires, and flying around, and... making other stuff fly around. I can't fly around, okay? ... I'm just the guy in the group who's regular."''
12	-->-- '''Sokka''', ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''
13
14	In a nutshell, any team of superpowered people will often have members without powers.
15
16	So when the majority of the members are a FlyingBrick, have mystical skills, wear PoweredArmor, wear a RingOfPower, have a CharlesAtlasSuperpower, or even [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway heart]], The Team Normal has nothing. Okay, they can be really smart and have gadgets, but nothing that could confuse them for superpowered people [[ClarksThirdLaw (at least not unless that's what they want you to think).]]
17
18	These {{Sister Trope}}s are the most common ways this character is part of a team (just not the only ways):
19	* The BadassNormal: This character doesn't have to be part of a team, but when they are, being badass is often the best way to keep up. Often, a normal will [[TookALevelInBadass take a level in badass]] to become this.
20	* TheLeader or TheStrategist: Since this character doesn't have their own superpower, they can keep the big picture in mind and build/organize plans for the rest of the team to follow.
21	* The opposite is BroughtDownToNormal, when a character with powers loses their powers (and stays a member of the team). It helps if they are also BroughtDownToBadass.
22	* MissionControl: Rather than getting into fights themselves, the normal character is watching things back at the base, a job that doesn't require superpowers (other than those of the [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower Charles Atlas kind]]) to be good at.
23	* TheFace: If the team lives in DysfunctionJunction, then exceptional social skills ''are'' a superpower.
24	* An UnfazedEveryman: If the character joins a superpowered team instead of just hanging out with people in a wacky world.
25	* MuggleBornOfMages: The Team Normal may become bitter from being a {{Muggle}} among the superpowered.
26	* TheTeamWannabe: Someone just wants to be in the group, but lacking powers is often the reason they aren't allowed in yet.
27	** TheTeam has a TagalongKid who tries to help, but more often becomes TheLoad. There can be several InUniverse reasons for why this power-less character is included, but often [[EnforcedTrope the out of universe reason]] is to appeal to the kids watching (when those kids are watching for the superheroes in the first place). This character often becomes TheScrappy unless they get significant CharacterDevelopment.
28
29	Again, in order to count for this trope, a character has to be part of a team, and the majority of the team has to have some kind of powers.
30
31	Compare TeamPet, TeamMom, TeamDad, {{Muggle\|s}}, WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway (when the character has powers on the team, just the weakest), StoryBreakerTeamUp (all members of a team-up have superpowers, but one is so strong, the rest might as well be normal) and TheOneWithAPersonalLife. Inverse trope to TokenSuper.
32
33	!!Examples:
34
35	[[foldercontrol]]
36
37	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
38	* ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'':
39	** Huang is TheHandler and resident BadassNormal of a team that otherwise consists of a superpowered ninja, a clairvoyant ExtremeDoormat, and a [[IntellectualAnimal talking cat]].
40	** In the second season, the Section 3 team consists of [[TheStoic two]] [[FauxAffablyEvil ruthless]] [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual Contractors]], a BadassNormal [[TokenGoodTeammate former cop]], and [[{{Moe}} adorable]] normal MissionControl Youko. She quickly gets a lot less cute after [[ForScience gleefully trying out]] a painful new anti-Contractor weapon on the protagonist.
41	* Rebecca from ''Manga/EdensZero'' is the only member of the main cast who either doesn't have [[MagicByAnyOtherName Ether Gear]] or isn't an android with {{Magitek}} functions. However, she still holds her own as TheGunslinger with ImprobableAimingSkills and is repeatedly said to have the potential to [[EmpoweredBadassNormal learn her own Ether Gear]].
42	* "I'm the only normal person in this freakshow!" {{lampshade\|Hanging}}s Maes Hughes from ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''.
43	* Togusa in the ''Franchise/GhostInTheShell'' series has none of the cybernetic limb upgrades his other Section 9 teammates have. The Major says that he's on the team because they needed someone with a "normal person's perspective." He is also BadassNormal (getting shot multiple times and still carries on) and CrazyPrepared (his secret arsenals in "Drive Space Part 1").
44	* Kyon from ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'' is the only normal human in a group made up of a RealityWarper, an alien, a time traveler, and an esper. That is, unless some hints and WildMassGuessing is correct.
45	* [[BadassNormal Sango]] from ''Manga/InuYasha'' is the only one in the team that doesn't have either demonic or spiritual powers.
46	* Downplayed in ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'' since EveryoneIsASuper. Teana has, at best, slightly above-average magical potential and is on a team consisting of people with unique abilities and some of the most powerful mages in the multiverse. [[PlayedForDrama This does not help her already fragile self confidence]]. [[TheSmartGuy She]] [[TheAce gets]] [[TookALevelInBadass better]].
47	* Boss and his gang -- Nuke and Mucha -- were PluckyComicRelief characters and the tean normal of ''Anime/MazingerZ'' and ''Anime/GreatMazinger''. They had no special abilities and they were not the offspring of some scientist, and as the heroes had cool {{Humongous Mecha}}s MadeOfIndestructium and loaded with dozens of awesome weapons (RocketPunch, ChestBlaster, EyeBeam, TorpedoTits, BFS, ArmedLegs...) [[MidSeasonUpgrade got periodical upgrades]], they controlled a HumongousMecha made with garbage, had no weapons, was quite fragile and was easily ripped apart in every fight.
48	* Zenkichi Hitoyoshi was the Team Normal of the Student Council in ''Manga/MedakaBox'' [[spoiler:until Ajimu turns him into an EmpoweredBadassNormal by giving him Parasite Eyes.]] Every other member is either a "Special" (Kikaijima, Akune), a "Plus" Abnormal (Medaka herself), or a "Minus" Abnormal [[spoiler:(Kumagawa)]]. In chapter 116 it turns out that Zenkichi's normality was apparently the only thing about him that really interested Medaka, which leads to a rift in their relationship [[spoiler:after the aforementioned loss of his normality and the induction of five Normal girls into the Council, also introduced by Ajimu]].
49	* In ''Anime/MyHeroAcademiaTwoHeroes'', the Quirkless Melissa Shields helps the U.A. students save the day through her in-depth knowledge of I-Island's facility and ability to restore the security systems to proper function.
50	* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
51	** Sakura Haruno starts out as this, as she has no kekkei genkei, signature ability, or anything that makes her stand out. She rarely has fight scenes in Part I, and when she does she mainly utilizes booby traps or generic taijutsu (martial arts). She recognizes this near the end of Part I, noticing that it makes her TheLoad among her team, and resolves to step up by training under Tsunade. By Part II, she has acquired both expertise in medical ninjutsu and CharlesAtlasSuperpower.
52	** Rock Lee literally cannot perform ninjutsu or genjutsu and must rely on strict taijutsu to function as a ninja. Despite the [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique Eight Gates]] being an apparent superpower, it's noted that anyone can do what he does because it merely strains your body to do more than it normally does, and requires no chakra.
53	* Usopp and Nami are this in ''Manga/OnePiece'', being the only characters in the crew without Devil Fruit powers or [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower impossible physical abilities]]. It actually causes some self-worth issues for Usopp at one point, though he eventually gets over it. As of time of writing, Nami is the only Straw Hat who lacks any sort of innate power, since even Usopp has learned to use [[KiManipulation Haki]].
54	* Gourry in ''Literature/{{Slayers}}'', save for his magic light sword, but it seems to be rarely useful enough to count as a superpower. He borders on CharlesAtlasSuperpower given the damage he can do with normal weapons.
55	* Futaba in ''Manga/ThereBeyondTheBeyond'' possesses neither the grandiose magic powers nor the homicidal insanity that make his groupmates special; he's just a kid TrappedInAnotherWorld.
56	* Rua in ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds'' is this to the majority of the cast. While [[TheHero Yuusei]], [[TheLancer Jack]], [[TheBigGuy Crow]], [[DarkMagicalGirl Aki]], and even his twin sister Ruka are all backed by the Crimson Dragon's powers, he tends to be the most normal member of the group in the TagalongKid variety. Eventually subverted when he gets a Signer mark. Bruno would count, but [[spoiler: Being Dark Glass -- a rider who's got the ability to pull off the ultimate Synchro Summon]] tends to disqualify him from that role. Crow was the BadassNormal until Season 2's finale, where he got [[SixthRanger upgraded to Signer status]].
57	[[/folder]]
58
59	[[folder:Comic Books]]
60	%%* ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'': Usually, [[Characters/MarvelComicsClintBarton Hawkeye]] or Characters/{{Black Widow\|TitleCharacter}} take the role. %%How are they NORMAL?
61	* ''ComicBook/ElfQuest'': The series has quite a few, but Kahvi is the trope's poster girl. When she joins the main tribe, she seemingly isn't even capable of telepathy. She kicks ass regardless. %%Later on, during the Shards war, the two troll characters very much fit this trope.
62	%%* ''ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}'': Several for the ''ComicBook/{{BPRD}}'', most notably Kate Corrigan.
63	* ''ComicBook/{{Justice League\|of America}}'':
64	** There have been several, including Characters/{{Batman\|TheCharacter}}, [[Characters/GreenArrowOliverQueen Green Arrow]], and Characters/BlueBeetle (Ted Kord, not Jaime Reyes).
65	** The original Silver Age version of the League, in addition to a handful of BadassNormal characters (namely Batman and later also Green Arrow), had the genuinely-normal Snapper Carr, an enthusiastic teenager who the League let hang around their base and act as record-keeper for their adventures. Notably, he was less a TagalongKid (trouble tended to find him whenever he got into trouble at all, and he saved the team about as often as that happened), and closer to something between TheWatson and the TeamPet.
66	** The Characters/{{Hawk\|man}}persons have been through several incarnations, but some versions of Carter and/or Sheila Hall have been more or less of the BadassNormal variety who just happen to have some cool gadgets like the wing harnesses they take their name from.
67	* ''ComicBook/NewWarriors'': Night Thrasher is the only one of the original New Warriors who doesn't have any superpowers, instead relying on his skill in martial arts and engineering.
68	* ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'':
69	** Technically, half the original cast doesn't have powers, but Alex is the most obvious of the six, having been born to the most mundane family of the Pride. Nico is a witch, Molly is a mutant with SuperStrength, Karolina is an alien with FlyingFirepower, and the other normals Chase and Gert have super-advanced technology and telepathic links to dinosaurs to compensate. Alex only has his wits to rely on in comparison.
70	** Later on, there's a reshuffle that leaves Chase as the ''only'' one with no powers. [[spoiler:Alex and Gert both die, and they get two new members in the form of Victor and Xavin, the former being the cyborg son of [[Characters/MarvelComicsUltron Ultron]] and the latter a Skrull. They even gain an additional member for a while with Klara, who has a GreenThumb, which only highlights this more. He does inherit Gert's telepathic link to Old Lace, though.]]
71	* ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'': In the core line-up, in most of their (squillions of) rosters, is built around Robin, Kid Flash, and Wonder Girl, plus a variety of other characters who almost all have some flavour of superpower. Robin is the Team Normal (BadassNormal variety), although he's sometimes joined by a Speedy, mirroring the Batman and Green Arrow roles in the Justice League.
72	** [[Characters/NightwingDickGrayson Dick Grayson]] was the Robin for the original Teen Titans and all 20th century, as well as the 80s New Teen Titans. (He does shift identity to ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} somewhere in there.) Roy Harper was Speedy on and off, depending on how addicted to heroin he was at the time.
73	** [[Characters/RobinTimDrake Tim Drake]] was the Robin for the 2003 Teen Titans revival, and was joined briefly by Mia Dearden as Speedy. (He was also the Team Normal for ''Comicbook/YoungJustice'', which had a very similar core lineup to the 2003 Teen Titans, before and after Cissie King-Jones' tenure as Arrowette.)
74	** After Tim quits, [[spoiler:the team is without a BadassNormal for awhile until [[Characters/RobinDamianWayne Damian Wayne]], the latest Robin, joins the Teen Titans -- on the advice of his mentor and founding member, Dick Grayson.]]
75	* ''ComicBook/TheUmbrellaAcademy'': Vanya Hargreeves is introduced as the sole member of the titular academy without superpowers, which unfortunately led to her being treated like an outsider. [[spoiler:Then she finds out she [[SubvertedTrope does have powers]], and things go downhill from there]].
76	* ''ComicBook/XMen'': [[Characters/MarvelComicsStorm Storm]] was this when she was BroughtDownToNormal for a time.
77	* ''ComicBook/YoungAvengers'': [[Characters/MarvelComicsKateBishop Kate Bishop]] is a BadassNormal on a team that includes a super-soldier, a Kree-Skrull hybrid, a robot, a speedster, a SizeShifter, and a wizard. Volume two adds Prodigy, who used to be a mutant but now "just" has the enormous amount of info his power let him absorb (plus his own smarts).
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Fan Works]]
81	* In ''Fanfic/DekuIThinkHesSomePro'', [[WhatIf Izuku Midoriya remains Quirkless]] and gets into UA's Hero Course by impressing several Underground Heroes with his [[AwesomeByAnalysis analysis]] and [[TheStrategist strategy]] skills. As a result, he becomes this for Class 1-A.
82	* ''Fanfic/APosseAdEsse'' makes this an InvokedTrope in the form of Dub. [[spoiler:While he initially appeared to not have superpowers, he discovers in Chapter 2 that he can [[TimeStandsStill pause time for thirty seconds with his stopwatch]]. Since the one who established who had what on the power scale, and the recently established villain, is not there for this discovery, Dolly decides that this can be utilized as a secret weapon: Dub '''appearing''' to be the Team Normal and using his power covertly to get better attack angles and escape routes.]]
83	* The title character of ''Fanfic/ThePrivateDiaryOfElizabethQuatermain'' is this for Film/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen, whose members include a vampire chemist, a shapeshifting physician, an invisible man, a GadgeteerGenius prince, and a Secret Service marksman. Elizabeth... is really good at gardening.
84	* Tensai in ''Fanfic/ProtectingThePast'' is the only one of Izuku's kids who was born Quirkless like Izuku himself had been. He still fights evil, but in PoweredArmor he designed with help from his mom Mei.
85	* ''Fanfic/RainbowDoubleDashsLunaverse:'' Carrot Top. Of the Element Bearers, she's the most normal, having no special powers, chequered past, or connections to important personages. She also generally lacks any specific quirks or character flaws, beyond being a bit of a doormat, at least in the first season.
86	* In "[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2047368/1/Roaring-On-the-Wind Roaring on the Wind]]", when Tommy Oliver uses the 'Red Ranger Distress Call' created during "[[Recap/PowerRangersWildForceForeverRed Forever Red]]" to call the other eight Earth-based Red Rangers for help in facing Mesogog, Cole is the only member of the group who no longer has powers, as he returned his morpher to Princess Shayla after Master Org's defeat.
87	* Mr. Chapman, a normal human, spends the first half of ''[[Fanfic/{{Eleutherophobia}} The Thing from Another World]]'' helping the [[VoluntaryShapeshifting morph-capable]] teenagers navigate the Skrit Na ship.
88	* So far out of all the Heroes in ''Fanfic/TransformersMHA'', [[spoiler: Snake Eyes]] is the only hero to be [[UnSorcerer Quirkless]]. [[BadassNormal This doesn't stop him from kicking villain and Decepticon ass though]], as he was shown to be capable of moving at superhuman levels though pure training alone and [[KiManipulation can enhance the strength of his strikes with his chi through the use of a meditation technique]].
89	[[/folder]]
90
91	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
92	* ''Film/TheAdventuresOfBaronMunchausen'': Other than his wit and charisma, the Baron himself is normal whilst his servants have superspeed, superhearing and superbreath, supervision, and super strength.
93	* ''Film/{{The Avengers\|2012}}'' have two: Black Widow and Hawkeye, both highly-trained [=SHIELD=] agents armed with various gadgets (Hawkeye's [[TrickArrow trick arrows]], Widow's stunners and high-tech tonfas).
94	* Myers, in the ''Film/{{Hellboy\|2004}}'' films. And then he gets [[spoiler:[[PutOnABus transferred to Antarctica]] in the [[Film/HellboyIITheGoldenArmy second movie]]!]]
95	* ''Film/{{Justice\|League 2017}} [[Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague League]]'' has, unsurprisingly, Batman.
96	-->'''Barry Allen:''' What are your super-powers, again?\
97	'''Bruce Wayne:''' [[CrimefightingWithCash I'm rich]].
98	* In the [[Franchise/HarryPotter Wizarding World franchise]]:
99	** Mr. Filch in the ''Film/HarryPotter'' film series (see literature section), the MuggleBornOfMages caretaker at Hogwarts.
100	** Jacob Kowalski in the ''Film/FantasticBeasts'' film series, Jacob is a Nomaj or {{Muggle\|s}} (a non-magical person) working with a team of wizards.
101	[[/folder]]
102
103	[[folder:Literature]]
104	* ''Literature/CodexAlera'' has Tavi, who is the only person in Alera not to have control over [[ElementalPowers furies]]. He makes up for it [[GuileHero in other ways]]. [[spoiler:And then he gets control over furies, and oh boy...]]
105	* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
106	** Argus Filch, the cranky caretaker of Hogwarts. Filch is a Squib, [[MuggleBornOfMages someone from a magical family with no magical powers at all]]. He has an antagonistic role against Harry during most of the books but is, at the end, part of the team as he's part of the Hogwarts staff and collaborates (to most of his abilities) in both the defense of Hogwarts and the fight against [[BigBad Voldemort]]. In the movies, he's even the one in charge of taking the Slytherin kids to a dungeon despite the fact that he technically has no way to defend himself against them.
107	** Arabella Figg is also a Squib, making her the only non-magical member of the Order of the Phoenix. She was sent by Dumbledore to keep an eye on Harry at Little Whinging, but not making him too much comfortable with her so he will always stay with the Dursleys (as he is secretly being kept safe from Voldemort by living in Aunt Petunia's orbit).
108	* Annabeth is the only one of the Seven without overt magical powers in ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'', unless you count her being able do weave really well without having any training. She more than makes up for this with her [[TeenGenius divinely-inherited intelligence]] and strategic knowledge.
109	* ''Literature/HiddenTalents'': Martin realizes that he's the only member of his group of friends at the Edgeville DustbinSchool without a superpower, even helping some of them come out of denial about their own [[PowerIncontinence undeveloped, unrestrained]] abilities. He helps them train their powers but feels the absence keenly. [[spoiler:{{Subverted\|Trope}} when the others help ''him'' realize he's TheEmpath, which comes with a dose of HeartIsAnAwesomePower.]]
110	* ''Literature/TheKingBeyondTheGate'' features a band of psychic {{Warrior Monk}}s called The Thirty. Decado, despite having no psychic abilities whatsoever, becomes (against his will) the Voice of The Thirty [[TheChosenOne because all the usual signs indicate that he should]]. He does an excellent job despite this setback, in one scene winning a duel with a psychic opponent (capable of reading his mind to predict attacks) because he was simply so quick that it didn't matter. And then [[TookALevelInBadass he actually does gain]] [[EmpoweredBadassNormal psychic abilities towards the end of the book]].
111	* The ''Literature/MediochreQSethSeries'' has Charlotte, the [[UnfazedEveryman unfazed]] OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent in a team otherwise consisting of a [[HealingFactor nigh-immortal]] [[AwesomenessByAnalysis super-genius]], a MadeOfIron former TeenGenius with ImprobableAimingSkills, and a {{Dhampyr}}.
112	* In ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'', Simon starts like this. He is an [[{{Muggles}} mundane]], while all others are [[{{Nephilim}} shadowhunters]]. In fact, he even leads his first fight as mundane and indirectly destroys a demon by firing his bow and arrow for the first time. But in the middle of the second book in the series, he finally becomes a vampire, and shortly thereafter one who [[DaywalkingVampire does not mind the sunlight]].
113	* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' has Han Solo, the only non-Force-sensitive member of the Jedi Order.
114	* ''Literature/WarsOfTheRealm'': Validus assembles a team of the most skilled angels in the Warrior order, most of whom have {{Charles Atlas Superpower}}s such as [[SuperSpeed exceptional movement speed]], [[MasterOfDisguise perfect mastery of the angelic disguise system]], or skill with every type of weapon known to man. And in the middle of them all is Validus' original second-in-command, Tren, a [[GuardianAngel Guardian]] who is a fairly normal angel with no particular specializations.
115	** To a lesser extent, Sydney Carlyle is the Team Normal in Drew Carter's counterterrorist team. Everyone else is either a veteran soldier or a tech wizard, while all Sydney contributes is [[spoiler:her master's degree in microbiology]]--helpful, but hardly a superpower.
116	[[/folder]]
117
118	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
119
120	* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': The series had a rather interesting relationship with this trope. At the beginning, the main cast are a trio consisting of: Angel, a centuries-old vampire; Doyle, a [[HalfHumanHybrid half demon]] with [[{{Seers}} precognition]]; and Cordelia, who initially doesn't have powers or combat training. Midway through season 1, Doyle passes on his precognitive powers to Cordelia before making a HeroicSacrifice, and the role of team normal is filled by Wesley, a Watcher from [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy's show]]. Later on, Gunn, a demon hunter with no powers, and Fred, a physicist and inventor, are added to the group raising the number of normal humans on the good guys side to three. By the end of the series, Cordelia, Wesley, and Fred are dead, and Spike (another vampire) and Illyria (an [[TheOldGods Old One]]) have joined the team leaving Gunn as the only normal human among the main cast.
121	%%* The MC Bat Commander from ''Series/TheAquabatsSuperShow''.
122	* Xander in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. This was so obvious that even [[AlphaBitch Cordelia]] pointed it out by comparing him with [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Jimmy Olsen]]. He becomes an ActionSurvivor, and eventually something of a BadassNormal. This is also deconstructed, as part of Xander's StepfordSnarker nature clearly comes from the fact that he's got no special training or superpowers while living in a DeathWorld.
123
124	* ''Series/{{Eureka}}'' has Sheriff Jack Carter, the only person of average intelligence in a small town full of super-geniuses.
125	* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': As of Season 7, Sansa is the only surviving Stark who isn't tied to some supernatural phenomenon. Jon was brought BackFromTheDead by Melisandre's magic, Arya is a [[PhlebotinumRebel rogue]] Faceless Man (an assassin who can change her face), and Bran is the [[{{Seers}} Three-Eyed Raven]]. Sansa is grounded entirely in the political reality of Westeros, but [[GuileHero her grasp of the Game]] lets her still be a powerful asset nonetheless.
126	* Hank in ''Series/{{Grimm}}'' becomes this in the latter seasons as he is the only normal human in a team with Nick (a Grimm, DemonSlaying), Wu [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent some sort of ape-like lycanthrope]], Eve/Julliette and Adalind [[MageSpecies both Hexenbiests]], Rosalee [[AsianFoxSpirit a Fuchsbau]] and Monroe [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent a Blubat]]. Of course he's also BadassNormal.
127	* Noah Bennet from ''Series/{{Heroes}}''. This is actually a rule at his company, Primatech, that there can only be one normal partner and one metahuman partner per team. Naturally, this pretty much requires them to be BadassNormal.
128	* PlayedForLaughs with Marilyn in ''Series/TheMunsters'' as she looks like a normal human in a CreepyFamily made of [[MonsterMash classic monsters]]. From their perspective, ''she's'' the weirdo.
129	* ''Franchise/PowerRangers'':
130	** In the second season of ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', each of the Thunderzords has a special ability. The Dragon could transform and fight totally alone, the Unicorn could throw boulders, the Griffin could throw thunderbolts, and the Firebird could create whirlwinds. The Lion couldn't do anything other than combine with the rest of the bunch. In ''Dairanger,'' the Lion could create illusions, but since they didn't use the mythology aspect of the series, it was left as nothing but moving armor.
131	** ''Series/PowerRangersOperationOverdrive'': The anniversary team-up episode saw the heroes teaming up with a group consisting of veteran Rangers, each one from a previous season. All but one of these Rangers had a special superpower they could use in civilian mode. [[Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder Kira]] had a sonic scream, [[Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm Tori could control water]], [[Series/PowerRangersMysticForce Xander]] was a wizard with control over plants and [[Series/PowerRangersSPD Bridge]] had PsychicPowers. [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Adam]] had no civilian powers and was just a really good martial artist. It should be noted that the other four Rangers came from the Disney Era seasons which often gave the entire team powers to be accessed in human form while Adam came from the Saban Era where civilian powers were usually limited to one or two members of the team.
132	* Stiles in ''Series/TeenWolf'' is a normal, albeit very bright, human civilian among all manner of supernatural creatures including werewolves (Scott, Derek, Isaac and Liam), a kitsune (Kira), werecoyote (Malia) and banshee (Lydia). Even Allison, the only other human in the pack, is a werewolf hunter and therefore just as combat capable as any other creatures so Stiles is a case of the Team Normal rather than TokenHuman. He does, however, more than prove his worth as TheSmartGuy of the gang and takes to the supernatural world like a duck to water, and indeed jumps in more eagerly than most of his friends who actually have powers. It also helps that he and [[TheChosenOne Scott]] are [[UndyingLoyalty virtually never apart]], so he's in the middle of things more than almost any other character.
133	* ''Series/{{The Umbrella Academy\|2019}}'': Much like his comic book counterpart, [[AdaptationalGenderIdentity Viktor Hargreeves]] is the sole unpowered member of the titular SuperFamilyTeam, which only fed his massive inferiority complex. [[spoiler:Discovering [[SubvertedTrope his superpowers]] is yet but one step in his rapid downward spiral]].
134	* Matt from ''Series/TheVampireDiaries'', not a vampire or werewolf, although he does date one of the former.
135	[[/folder]]
136
137	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
138	* In many editions of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', classes like rogues or fighters will find themselves as the only member of the party with no magical abilities at all[[note]]Depending on edition, high-level rogues can use "caster-only" magic items, but the magic still comes from the item[[/note]]. Generally, at lower levels, they're actually a bit stronger their spell-casting teammates [[LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards but tend to quickly fall behind once casters get their more powerful spells]].
139	* In the ''TabletopGame/HeroesUnlimited'' adventure "Mall of Terror", Task Master (no relation to the Marvel Comics character) is a non-superpowered mercenary in a team consisting of himself, a super strong mutant who can shoot various kinds of energy blasts, and a guy who can control darkness. Despite his lack of powers, Task Master's military training and arsenal of weapons make him the deadliest of the three supervillains.
140	* The Beacon playbook in ''TabletopGame/MasksANewGeneration'' has this as its core mechanic. They can have abilities like martial arts training or gadgets, but the rules specifically say that if they have any supernatural powers, they're barely noticeable. Their central emotional issue for them to play out (or the game master to play into) is their insecurity about even deserving to be on their team even though they have no powers.
141	* The Mundane playbook in ''TabletopGame/MonsterOfTheWeek'' has this its main shtick, bringing no superhuman abilities to the table (except TheHeart) that all other playbooks sport. The rulebook even admits that it is based on Xander and Cordelia from ''Buffy''.
142	[[/folder]]
143
144	[[folder:Theatre]]
145	* ''Theatre/TheSpongebobMusical'': [=SpongeBob=] embodies this trope for the majority of the musical, pointing it out most obviously in "(Just a) Simple Sponge":
146	-->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' We'll be the best team ever! Sandy's brains, plus Patrick's brawn, plus myyyyyy.... I'm not sure what my thing is, but that won't stop me!
147	[[/folder]]
148
149	[[folder:Video Games]]
150	* ''VideoGame/{{ARMS}}'': Mechanica is the only character in the game that has no actual ARMS powers. Instead, she's just a regular girl fighting in a robotic suit she built herself, that has similar capabilities to ARMS.
151	* ''VideoGame/AvengersAcademy'' emphasizes ComicBook/TheFalcon as one. Some focus is put on how his only power is a JetPack.
152	* James is this for the ''VideoGame/DetectivesUnited'', although he has his moments of BadassNormal. His partners are a time-traveler and an invisible man, while he's a paranormal researcher.
153	* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'': Lady is the only playable character in the entire franchise with no demonic powers. She instead gets by with determination, skill, and a lot of bullets at her disposal.
154	* Jeff from ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'' has no psychic powers, but has a [[TeenGenius genius' IQ]] and MacGyvering skills to compensate. Also, he's the only one who can wield bottle rockets as weapons.
155
156
157	* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'', Thancred was left unable to manipulate aether following the events from the finale of ''A Realm Reborn'', making him the only member of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn without any magical powers. He gets by afterwards by acting as a spy who keeps an eye on the ongoings in the Garlean Empire using guile and cunning. In ''Shadowbringers'', he becomes a Gunbreaker, a tanky gunblade user. Because gunblades use aetherically-charged cartridges, he is reliant on the help of those magically inclined to provide his firepower.
158	* ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' games usually have CoolOldGuy [[TheMentor Kraden]] following the superpowered teen heroes around through dungeons and disasters, providing [[ExpositionFairy exposition]]. By ''Dark Dawn'', he's also something of a celebrity who can get the kids [[WhatsUpKingDude meetings with local leaders]] just by being Kraden.
159
160	* ''VideoGame/Injustice2'' has Robin/Nightwing (Damian Wayne) of the Regime remnants. In the company of four {{flying brick}}s and a technopath, he's the only one with no actual powers.
161	* Shingo Yabuki and Goro Daimon from ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' are the only characters in the recurring Japan Team without any special powers, though in ''2000'' Seth temporarily joins as a third Team Normal alongside PoisonousPerson Lin in the Benimaru Team. There are other entire teams made up of Team Normals, such as the Korea Team/Korea Justice Team, the Agents Team, and the American Sports Team.
162	* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
163	** ''VideoGame/MassEffect1:'' As Ashley Williams can point out to Shepard, on a team that includes three biotics, a badass turian sniper, and a quarian hacker, she... has an assault rifle, which isn't really much good against two kilometre high death machines, and she feels useless in the face of that. Actually subverted in that Ashley is actually a good substitute for Wrex in terms of tanking and dealing damage.
164	** ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda'': In a team comprising of a Pathfinder with [[BrainComputerInterface a symbiotically bound AI implanted in their brain]], a powerful [[MagicKnight biotic cross-trained in asari special forces tactics]], an asari [[MindOverMatter biotic]] academic specializing in Remnant technology, a [[WalkingTank krogan]] with [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld a millennium and a half's]] combat experience, a [[LaResistance resistance]] [[FriendlySniper sniper]] with bio electric powers and a smuggler/scrounger with PoweredArmor and MoreDakka, Liam Kosta is just an ordinary average guy with an assault rifle and Omni-blades with no specialized training or niche skills. Instead of the pluckiness seen in these kinds of characters, Liam becomes an OverzealousUnderling whose messes need to be cleaned up.
165	* Stryker is the only ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' hero with no special powers whatsoever. He compensates with lots and lots of police ordnance. Sonya also qualifies as she relies on weaponry and tools to fight, though in the original timeline, her Energy Rings have no clear explanation. In ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'', Jacqui Briggs is the only member of Cassie's team who doesn't have any magical abilities instead relying on her [[ArmCannon wrist-mounted guns.]]
166	* In the ''Kingmaker'' module for ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'' the PC is the only member of their party from the standard TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons character races while the rest of the party consists of an [[FlamingHair Azer warrior]], a [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent Wererat rogue]], a [[TheFairFolk Nymph druid]] and a [[CatFolk Rakshasa wizard]].
167	%%* Everyone in ''VideoGame/NexusClash'' starts as a Mortal with no supernatural powers whatsoever, and some people choose to ''stay'' this way as a form of SelfImposedChallenge. %% are they part of a TEAM?
168	* In ''VideoGame/{{Sonny}} 2'', Roald is the only party member who isn't a [[OurZombiesAreDifferent superpowered zombie]], but since he's still a heavily-equipped BadassNormal he holds his own just fine.
169	* Within the ATX Team from ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration'', team leader Kyosuke Nanbu is this. Similarly, while the rest of the SRX Team have PsychicPowers, Raidise F. Branstein in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha'' does not. In both cases, Kyosuke and Raidiese double as BadassNormal.
170	[[/folder]]
171
172	[[folder:Web Comics]]
173	* '' Webcomic/{{Distillum}}'' team has two regular psychic time mages, one not-so-regular psychic time mage and Jamie, who's more or less [[TakeALevelInBadass training to be their]] [[SwordAndSorcerer bodyguard]].
174	* Despite being aware of TheMasquerade and having a circle of friends who all have magical abilities, potential, or unusual skills, Sarah from ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' had none of those... at least at the time. Gets lampshaded in an early guest comic as [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1037 "Unremarkable Girl"]]. Later on, the team normal was Ashley... for about ten minutes before she became a wizard. But a "remarkably weak" one.
175	* In ''Webcomic/JupiterMen'', Nathan is the only non-superpowered member of the Jupiter-Men. He was supposed to inherit the Star Seed from his father, but it wound up in the hands of the Avalon twins instead. That said, he's perhaps the most consistently effective member of the team at fighting starstruck creatures because of his rigorous training and experience that the others don't have.
176	* ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'': "Normal" is relative in the setting, but Nyave is a BadassBookworm polymath and WrenchWench whose teammates are a {{Supernatural Martial Art\|s}}ist [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angel]], two [[OurDemonsAreDifferent devils]] (a PaperMaster sorceress and a hulking LightningBruiser), and a lady who's got the RealityWarping power of the Gods literally embedded in her forehead. [[spoiler:As of Book 4, they're housemates.]]
177	* ''Webcomic/M9Girls'': Simon becomes this when he permanently crosses into the M9 Universe. He is TheEngineer and security manager at the girls' headquarters.
178	* In ''Webcomic/{{Magellan}}'', Kaycee usually falls into this role, even if, as primary character, she sometimes has to go solo as a BadassNormal.
179	* Tyler in ''WebComic/PS238'' is the only non-powered kid in a school for metahumans. His parents [[MuggleBornOfMages two of the most powerful superheroes in the world]] sent him there in an attempt to force him to develop powers. Instead, he got apprenticed to the Revenent (a Batman expy) and is on his way to becoming a BadassNormal.
180	* In ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', Torg gets thrust into this role whenever the series does a ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' parody and sends him off to the [[{{Expy}} Hogglerynth school of magic]]. There he's surrounded by witches and wizards who can reshape reality with a few Latin words and a flick of their wands. His power? He's a full-grown, adult man surrounded by prepubescent children. Turns out that counts for a lot. There's also his wand: [[http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/080425 "a 26" Chrome plated .724" back bored barrel with a buckshot core"]].
181	[[/folder]]
182
183	[[folder:Web Original]]
184	* Creator/TaliesinJaffe of ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'' cheerfully refers to his character Percy as "the token human" of [[TrueCompanions Vox Machina]]. It does help that he's a BadassNormal [[TheGunslinger with a gun]] [[spoiler:and a side of demonic possession]].
185	* ''WebVideo/NewLifeSMP'': Katherine is the only non-superpowered, Human character who participates in the End raid. Scott compares her with "the random citizen that just got pulled into the fight" in a superhero story.
186	* Jaune starts out this way in ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}''. He's the only character with no prior combat training or experience, his weapon is merely a sword with none of the mechanical additions seen in nearly every other weapon in the series, and as he only learns what Aura is during his orientation, he has no Semblance, the unique superpower everyone on Remnant has which has to be unlocked through developing Aura and combat skills. As he [[TookALevelInBadass takes levels in badass]], he goes from ActionSurvivor to TheStrategist to, eventually, a combatant ''nearly'' as useful as his friends and teammates. He finds his Semblance near the end of Volume 5 and gains some gadgetry to supplement his weapons early in Volume 7, but he still comes off as comparatively normal, as he still has no ranged combat capabilities and his demeanor in combat lacks the confidence of his peers.
187	* In the intro to [[https://youtu.be/gafrd9rWGvQ?si=YncJe_WV1iFc_L7I his video on communication within the RPG group]], Creator/SethSkorkowsky made a spoof of the RememberTheNewGuy trope with new character, Kevin, who apparently has been playing with the regular group for three years and other players treating him as such. Except for Todd, who has no idea who he is and thinks other players are screwing with him. Seth would later accept as canon a comment saying Todd is the only memer of the group who cannot [[ISeeDeadPeople see ghosts]].
188	* Lillian in ''Literature/{{Twig}}'' is the only member of the Lambsbridge Gang who hasn't had her brain altered in some way by the AcademyOfEvil. Instead, she has a lot of knowledge on medicine and various sciences, allowing her to function as TheMedic.
189	* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'' has Bugs of Team Kimba, their inventor who has no physical powers. She sits on the sidelines and dates one of the members, although she sometimes gets frustrated with the way stuff always comes up.
190	[[/folder]]
191
192	[[folder:Western Animation]]
193	* ''Franchise/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
194	** Sokka in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' is the only non-bender in Team Avatar. He starts off as something of a comic relief character, but as the series goes on, he proves himself to be both a competent warrior and clever strategist, qualifying him as BadassNormal. Later, [[spoiler:Suki joins the team as another BadassNormal.]]
195	** Asami Sato fills the role in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra''. She doesn't have bending abilities but still contributes to the team with effective martial arts skills and is by far the most capable person on the team when it comes to driving cars and motorcycles. She's also easily the smartest member of the team and has tons of resources in terms of gear and money that the team takes advantage of.
196	* Rook Blonko has this role in ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse''. Ironically, he also is the only protagonist in the entire franchise to be [[TokenNonHuman one hundred percent non-human]]; he just happens to be from an alien species with nothing qualifying as a super-power, while the other heroes are a [[HalfHumanHybrid an alien-human hybrid who inherited powers from her alien side]] [[FunctionalMagic and practice of magic]] (Gwen), [[{{Mutant}} a guy from a human subspecies with superpowers]] (Kevin) or a regular human using a TransformationTrinket (Ben).
197	* Elisa Maza on ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', though this actually became a superpower by comparison, especially during the World Tour arc. Being a normal human meant that Elisa could protect her friends when they turned to stone during the day.
198	* Noah from ''WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex'' is the only character of the FiveManBand who doesn't have superpowers, [[TheSmartGuy a Ph.D.]], or [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower skill and training]]. Fortunately, this character avoids being TheLoad (except for that one time) by [[NonActionGuy steering clear of the action]].
199	* The founding members of the DCAU ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' have Batman, as usual. This is the main source of tension in the season one story "Injustice For All". After a near-fatal poisoning, he [[ICanStillFight refuses to stay in sickbay]] and throws himself back into an investigation. J'onn tactfully suggests that besides his natural stubbornness, he doesn't want to show weakness in front of his super-powered teammates.
200	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
201	** Played with in a [[ShowWithinAShow Comic Within a Show]] with the Power Ponies. Each of the titular heroes is a mare with superpowers, except for character Humdrum, who was completely normal. When the Mane Six were transported to the comic world, Spike wound up being quite disappointed when he wound up playing Humdrum. Didn't stop him from saving the day, though.
202	** Applejack counts as this among the main six ponies in general. Twilight and Rarity (and Starlight whenever she tags along) can cast spells, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy can fly, and Pinkie has her Pinkie Sense and ToonPhysics. In contrast, Applejack is just a strong and hardworking Earth Pony in a cowboy hat.
203	* Daemona Prune from ''WesternAnimation/PhantomInvestigators'' is the only member of the titular team who doesn't possess any powers. This doesn't stop her from being a BadassNormal and a very competent leader, though.
204	* In Season 2 of ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', Connie starts learning how to swordfight, with the explicit goal of helping Steven and the Gems protect the planet. She uses Rose's sword, but the sword itself isn't magic at all. While she can [[FusionDance fuse with Steven]] to become the BadassAbnormal Stevonnie, she herself doesn't have any supernatural powers. She's just a regular human girl with a quick wit and a big-ass sword.
205	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}}'':
206	** Wendy, Marvin, and Wonder Dog in the 1973-74 season, with one exception. In the first episode "The Power Pirate" Marvin is able to levitate, which indicates he has burgeoning metahuman powers. This is never followed up in subsequent episodes (making it EarlyInstallmentWeirdness), and at the end of the season, they are all PutOnABus.
207	** Batman and Robin have no superpowers at all, just their gadgets and skills.
208	* [[MeaningfulName Eric]] [[StevenUlyssesPerhero Normal]] from ''WesternAnimation/SuperNormal''.
209	* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'': Robin, despite being the only member of the team with no powers is its leader. Of course, having been trained in hand-to-hand combat and detective work by Franchise/{{Batman}} himself may have had something to do with that... This is played up in ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'', where Robin being the only non-superpowered member serves as a major insecurity of his that the others take pleasure in mocking.
210	%%** Speedy serves this role on the Titans East.
211	* After two seasons of ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'', Caleb is the only member of the team who doesn't have superpowers, including the guy who started off not even knowing alternate universes existed. But he's a BadassNormal.
212	* In ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', [[BadassNormal both Artemis]] and [[PlayfulHacker Robin]] have no trouble keeping up with the Martian Manhunter's niece, Comicbook/{{Aquaman}}'s apprentice, [[ComicBook/TheFlash Kid Flash]] and a clone of Franchise/{{Superman}}. Speedy/Red Arrow could have been The Archer, but he got fed up with the SidekickGlassCeiling as he saw it. This concept was referenced in "Homefront" through Artemis, whose insecurities are hindering her ability to fight the villains, who took out her super-powered teammates.
213	[[/folder]]

Context Main / TheTeamNormal