History IJustWantToBeNormal / ComicBooks

** Astra Furst has an example similar to Ben Grimm. She knows she's a super-powered EnergyBeing, and a member of a superhero family, and has absolutely no problem with joining in to save the world when needed. It's what happens between world-saving that gets to her, like being home-schooled and never meeting anyone her age, having to keep a special diet which usually tastes like crap (Manganese-flavoured breakfast cereal, anyone?), being restricted in her romantic life and not really having any career choices other than the FamilyBusiness...

** Then there's Sticks, who wants nothing more than to be the drummer in a rock 'n roll band. Unfortunately, he's constantly being pursued by super-villains who want to recruit (or enslave) a hyper-intelligent six-foot-plus silverback gorilla into their ranks...

* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'': Astra has an example similar to Ben Grimm. She knows she's a super-powered EnergyBeing, and a member of a superhero family, and has absolutely no problem with joining in to save the world when needed. It's what happens between world-saving that gets to her, like being home-schooled and never meeting anyone her age, having to keep a special diet which usually tastes like crap (Manganese-flavoured breakfast cereal, anyone?), being restricted in her romantic life and not really having any career choices other than the FamilyBusiness...

** The main page image was only his ''first'' attempt to quit, done in issue #50. He'd try again and again during his career, one attempt resulting in the infamous "six-armed saga" when his attempt to cure himself of his powers only made him ''more'' spider-like. (Oddly enough, the ''ComicBook/WhatIf'' tie in where he ''keeps'' the six arms as Spider-Man actually has his life turn out okay, a rarity for that series.)

** Later member Klara Plast initially refused to join with the group when they ended up in the early 1900s. However, Karolina and Molly's well-meaning attempts to help her escape from an abusive guardian ended up creating a situation where her only options were joining the Runaways or dying, due to being a mutant who can [[GreenThumb control plants]] which has led to indiscrimination). Despite her initial fatalism, she decides she very much wants to live. She is a lot more comfortable in doing mundane things with the group and is grateful for taking her in and trying to help her, as well as being able to use her powers in relative peace. By Rainbow Rowell's run, we learn that when the group split off, she ended up in social services. When the group tracked her down, we discover that she is actually HappilyAdopted and [[HasTwoMommies with two dads no less]] (a far cry from her initialy disgust at same sex couples, though that was attributed to growing up in early 1900s in a conservative religious background). She still cares for them greatly and sees them as her friends, but she declines their invitation to be a Runaway as she's finally in a stable place. They sadly say their good-byes to her (she does make a return to help them save Molly from her grandmother though).

* This was the whole point of the short-lived series ''ComicBook/MajorBummer'', which centered around Lou Martin, a slacker and average Joe who was accidentally given super strength and intelligence by aliens who confused him with a Martin Louis. He's {{Superman}}'s equal in terms of strength and smart enough to cure cancer, and could be a powerful super-hero if he had the motivation or the inspiration; the problem is, he has neither; he just doesn't think such things are worth his time, preferring to use his super-intelligence to steal cable. In fact, when the two aliens show up at his house, what he's most upset about is that they ate the last of his macaroni and cheese.

** At least She-Hulk only suffers this briefly since she has the luxury of turning back to mousy Jennifer at will. [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk Bruce Banner]] never catches a break; even when he had an integrated personality and leadership of an international crime-fighting army, there's always [[InterruptedCooldownHug someone who just has to poke him with a stick]].

* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'': Astra has an example similar to Ben Grimm. She knows she's a super-powered EnergyBeing, and a member of a superhero family, and has absolutely no problem with joining in to save the world when needed. It's what happens between world-saving that gets to her, like being home-schooled and never meeting anyone her age, having to keep a special diet which usually tastes like crap (manganese-flavoured breakfast cereal, anyone?), being restricted in her romantic life and not really having any career choices other than the FamilyBusiness...

* In ''ComicBook/AvengersTheInitiative'', Abigail Boylen, a.k.a. Cloud 9, had no aspirations toward being a superhero, despite possessing the ability to fly by generating a gaseous cloud she could ride on like a surfboard. Due to the [[SuperRegistrationAct Super Human Registration Act]] she was essentially conscripted into the Avengers training program. After several issues of BreakTheCutie, followed by [[Comicbook/DarkReign Norman Osborn's takeover of SHIELD]], ComicBook/CaptainAmerica met with Abigail, announcing that the SHRA was repealed. Her first action was to tear up her registration card, drop her uniform at the Captain's feet, and embrace having a relatively normal life. She later took up the mantle of superhero during ''Comicbook/FearItself'', but on her own terms.

** Which by this point is probably more because of the whole "Idol of Millions" thing than because of his appearance. Though in Ben's case, his desire for normalcy comes from the fact that being a large, heavy and dense rock monster comes with plenty of inconveniences in day-to-day life on Earth (he can't take most elevators, he could crush plenty of structures on accident, etc) along with being unable to enjoy some of the simple pleasures in life. Ultimately, as Reed put it, he has his "good days and bad days."

** Later member Klara Plast initially refused to join with the group when they ended up in the early 1900s. However, Karolina and Molly's well-meaning attempts to help her escape from an abusive guardian ended up creating a situation where her only options were joining the Runaways or dying, due to being a mutant who can [[GreenThumb control plants]] which has led to indiscrimination). Despite her initial fatalism, she decides she very much wants to live. She is a lot more comfortable in doing mundane things with the group and is grateful for taking her in and trying to help her, as well as being able to use her powers in relative peace. By Rainbow Rowell's run, we learn that when the group split off, she ended up in social services. When the group tracked her down, we discover that she is actually HappilyAdopted and [[HasTwoMommies with two dads no less]] (a far cry from her initialy disgust at same sex couples, though that was attributed to growing up in early 1900s in a conservative religious background.) She still cares for them greatly and sees them as her friends, but she declines their invitation to be a Runaway as she's finally in a stable place. They sadly say their good-byes to her (she does make a return to help them save Molly from her grandmother though.)

*** Banner's case is even worse since his real problem isn't actually his gamma mutate powers, [[spoiler:it's the psychological disorder born from his horrific childhood thanks to his murderous abusive father.]] Bruce wasn't "normal" even before he was exposed to gamma radiation.

--->''They, "society," hate you because they don't want your help. You remind them of how weak-willed and sheep-like and unspecial they are. How gleeful they are, deep down, to be ordinary. They don't want heroes. They don't want special people around them. Because if there are special people and they aren't one of them-- well, who wants that? Who wants a constant reminder that they aren't even trying to be special? See, the difference between you and I is that you really are just a child. You benefit from the wide-eyed optimism of youth. I do envy that, somewhat. But... like many of your decisions in life... it's just naive. And I don't envy that harsh cold slap of reality that will come your way soon enough. But I guess it's inevitable. People don't want to be special. I do think that.It is my philosophy. They-- people want to be told what to do and how to live and they want men like me to tell them. They want to go to work and do as little as they can possibly get away with, and they want a big cookie at the end of the day for doing it. And they want men like me to give it to them."

** After his resurrection during ''ComicBook/SpiderIsland'', Kaine, Peter's morally ambiguous clone, decided and regularly proclaimed that he wanted nothing more to move to Mexico, sit on the beach and drink margaritas for the rest of his life, on the grounds that he'd spent most of his life, such as it was, dying. However, he ends up stopping at Houston and reluctantly taking up the mantle of the ComicBook/ScarletSpider, taking in [[MoralityPet Aracely]] and doing the hero thing, albeit grumpily, [[SociopathicHero violently]] and constantly wondering why, with the consistent belief that he's a monster. After he transforms into [[SuperPoweredEvilSide the]] [[HumanoidAbomination Other]] to save Houston from Shathra and is rejected by the thoroughly freaked out Houston residents, including his girlfriend, he simply tells [[WideEyedIdealist Aracely]] to stop ShamingTheMob and [[DownerEnding just let it go, before trying to re-enact the famous ditching of the costume.]] Later, he and Aracely end up dragged into the reformed ComicBook/NewWarriors, much to his displeasure, but, after a return to Houston and a pep talk from Justice, who points out that if he believes that he's a monster just waiting to happen, he should hang around those who force him to be better, after which Kaine finally seems to accept the heroic legacy. [[DroppedABridgeOnHim Then he's seemingly killed during]] ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse.''

** ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'': Jordan Elliot is ecstatic to be normal, changing diapers and what-not. He sneers at Superman as being "too wrapped up in himself" and "thought the world couldn't get by without him."

** ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} often expressed this desire during the Bronze Age. Unlike her cousin, Kara remembers having a normal life back on Argo City, when she was a normal teenager. After growing into adulthood, she was torn between her desire to have the life of a normal woman and the responsibilities that come with her powers. In ''Superman vol 1 #282'' [[https://maidofmight.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/superman-282_01.jpg she explains her cousin]] that she is thinking of giving up her Supergirl identity because she wants a normal life:
--->'''Superman''': Still thinking about giving up your Supergirl identity, Kara?\\

--->'''Beast Boy:''' Why can't [[ResetButton things just go back to the way they were?]] You were so happy then.

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: Both [[TimeMaster Lana Kurree]] and [[{{Telepathy}} Gail Young]] find their status as [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual New-Humans]] undesirable due to their [[PowerIncontinence lack of control]]. Lana Kurree is essentially doing her best to live out a normal life and never use her powers while Gail Young cannot turn her telepathy off and is constantly haunted by the indistinct and often violent murmurs she gets from other people's thoughts, especially since it takes a lot of concentration for her to match thoughts to their owners and she usually cannot.

* Mild subversion in ''ComicBook/{{WITCH}}'': Cornelia has admitted twice she'd love to return being a normal girl, but only after [[LegacyCharacter passing her powers to the next generation of Guardians]] (those times she had been BroughtDownToNormal by a power-stealing villain she did anything she could to take back her powers to prevent abuse), and [[spoiler: when she was finally given the occasion to pass her powers to the next generation the others convinced her to face the tasks to keep them.]]

* Bruce Banner turns into the Hulk, a destructive monster, and has no control over his own actions when he does so. Even worse, thanks to retcons, there are ''several'' Hulks inside him, all fighting with him and between themselves to take control. When he gets back to normal, he can be in the middle of nowhere, unsure of what he did while Hulked out, if he destroyed something or killed someone, with his clothes ravaged by the change... And even if he manages to avoid turning into the Hulk for some time, he would still have to live on the run, with the military on his back trying to capture him, kill him, clone him, experiment with him and kill him again. The very idea of being "normal" is just a far away vague dream.

* In ''[[ComicBook/SevenSoldiers The Bulleteer]]'', both Alix and her "archnemesis" Sally Sonic wish they were normal people; It was this intense desire to live a normal life that led Sally to provoke Alix's husband to killing himself, because she so wanted to be in her place and be genuinely loved by a normal man.
** Alix also can't stop meeting up with people who are [[IJustWantToBeSpecial the opposite]], especially the uber-pathetic Mind Grabber Man.

** In ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman turn to Mister Miracle and Big Barda when they need to go after Darkseid. Both New Gods are living in a neighborhood, trying to lead normal lives.

* PlayedForLaughs in the nineties comic ''The Trouble With Girls'' which is about Lester Girls, a man "cursed", so he feels, with a James Bond lifestyle who yearns for a Ward Cleaver one.

** Further explored with the sideliners, people who have powers that would be useful if they chose to be heroes (or villains) but who for various reasons prefer to lead ordinary lives. Occasionally some villain will get it into their head that to capture one of these people and try to force them into service, but such villains are typically in for a rude awakening; the sideliners keep in contact with each other for just such an occasion, and while they don't like to fight, many of them can and will throw down to rescue each other when necessary.

* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': Peter Parker has attempted to give up the SuperHero life several times, only to come back when someone is in need. Such an attempt was the foundation of the second movie's plot.
** The main page image was only his ''first'' attempt to quit, done in issue #50. He'd try again and again during his career, one attempt resulting in the infamous "six-armed saga" when his attempt to cure himself of his powers only made him ''more'' spider-like. (Oddly enough, the ''ComicBook/WhatIf'' tie in where he ''keeps'' the six arms as Spider-Man actually has his life turn out okay, a rarity for that series.)
** The Kingpin ties this into TallPoppySyndrome and MugglePower in a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.
--->''They, "society," hate you because they don't want your help. You remind them of how weak-willed and sheep-like and unspecial they are. How gleeful they are, deep down, to be ordinary. They don't want heroes. They don't want special people around them. Because if there are special people and they aren't one of them-- well, who wants that? Who wants a constant reminder that they aren't even trying to be special? See, the difference between you and I is that you really are just a child. You benefit from the wide-eyed optimism of youth. I do envy that, somewhat. But... like many of your decisions in life... it's just naive. And I don't envy that harsh cold slap of reality that will come your way soon enough. But I guess it's inevitable. People don't want to be special. I do think that.It is my philosophy. They-- people want to be told what to do and how to live and they want men like me to tell them. They want to go to work and do as little as they can possibly get away with, and they want a big cookie at the end of the day for doing it. And they want men like me to give it to them."
---->-- '''Kingpin to Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man #80'''
** It is important to note that Ultimate Peter Parker is not a reluctant superhero. Although due to comic book time, he only wore the alias for a year and a half.
** It seems there is truly no way out for Peter. In the ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan'' series, [[spoiler:ComicBook/DoctorOctopus [[GrandTheftMe took over his body]], and for a while, Peter's personality was believed obliterated, DeaderThanDead. No such luck, Pete. After Doc Ock realized he was a poor replacement, Peter re-emerges when Ock deletes himself.]]
** This also happens to ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan Miles Morales after [[spoiler:the new Venom killed his mom.]]
** After his resurrection during ''ComicBook/SpiderIsland'', Kaine, Peter's morally ambiguous clone, decided and regularly proclaimed that he wanted nothing more to move to Mexico, sit on the beach and drink margaritas for the rest of his life, on the grounds that he'd spent most of his life, such as it was, dying. However, he ends up stopping at Houston and reluctantly taking up the mantle of the ComicBook/ScarletSpider, taking in [[MoralityPet Aracely]] and doing the hero thing, albeit grumpily, [[SociopathicHero violently]] and constantly wondering why, with the consistent belief that he's a monster. After he transforms into [[SuperPoweredEvilSide the]] [[HumanoidAbomination Other]] to save Houston from Shathra and is rejected by the thoroughly freaked out Houston residents, including his girlfriend, he simply tells [[WideEyedIdealist Aracely]] to stop ShamingTheMob and [[DownerEnding just let it go, before trying to re-enact the famous ditching of the costume.]] Later, he and Aracely end up dragged into the reformed ComicBook/NewWarriors, much to his displeasure, but, after a return to Houston and a pep talk from Justice, who points out that if he believes that he's a monster just waiting to happen, he should hang around those who force him to be better, after which Kaine finally seems to accept the heroic legacy. [[DroppedABridgeOnHim Then he's seemingly killed during]] ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse.''
** At the end of ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan'', Mary Jane decides she's had enough of New York and moves away so she can have a normal life away from super heroics. When we next see her in the ''ComicBook/AllNewAllDifferentMarvel'' reboot of ''The Invincible ComicBook/IronMan'', she's started up a new life as a club owner in an entirely different city... and she ''still'' can't get away from the hustle and bustle.
* In the new ''ComicBook/SpiderWoman'' comic, Jessica wants very much and tries very hard to give up the super-hero thing for good, for the sake of her baby. Unfortunately, trouble is drawn to her like a magnet, as is temptation and boredom. Eventually, she checks into a max-security alien hospital recommended by Carol and ComicBook/AlphaFlight, but it only gets worse, as a renegade gang of Skrulls manage to break into the place, requiring Jess to go into action again, going into labor halfway through, and fighting the bad guys after doctors deliver her baby with an emergency C-section. (The baby's okay, but on the final page, Jess and Carol ''laugh'' at the thought that she can ''ever'' be normal again.)
* The ''Comicbook/TeenTitans'' comic inverted this, with Beast Boy losing his powers in a particular StoryArc. Everyone assumes that he'll be happy about being normal again, until he states that he ''never'' wanted to be normal.
** While ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' the animated series plays it [[BittersweetEnding painfully straight...]]
--->'''Beast Boy:''' Why can't [[ResetButton things just go back to the way they were?]] You were so happy then.
--->'''"The Schoolgirl":''' [[MisaimedFandom Things were never the way you remember.]] Now just leave me alone.
** The Titans comic also played it as straight as can be with Beast Boy's best friend ComicBook/{{Cyborg}}. Half-human half-machine Vic Stone has struggled with IJustWantToBeNormal for decades.
** Titans supporting character Frances Kane has tried very hard to be normal over the years; unfortunately, a combination of SuperpoweredEvilSide and the writers' desire for a ChewToy tends to get in the way.
* And before the Titans, there was ''ComicBook/DoomPatrol''. Robotman, in particular, was unhappy about his BlessedWithSuck condition (more extreme than Vic Stone's). However, the comic's premise is that, by the time you get to the Patrol, you're too far gone to even come ''near'' normal again. After a few disastrous attempts, he's more or less resigned to his condition.
** Somewhat subverted with Crazy Jane, who during her initial run sought therapy to re-integrate her 64 personalities. Altough merging Babydoll and Scarlet harlot to result in "Baby Harlot" is a bit squicky.

* ''Comicbook/{{Runaways}}'' character Karolina Dean would rather be a normal Hollywood teenager, rather than the lesbian child of two alien criminals. Although only when things go wrong, as when she tried to kiss Nico and turned out she wasn't interested. At the end of the first series she was the first one who ran out of her foster house and contacted everyone, as she wanted to "fly again".
** Most of the main characters in ''Runaways'' experience this to some degree or another. Molly has a [[TearJerker really heart wrenching]] dream in which her parents are still alive and she believes that she imagined all of the previous events. Chase tries to destroy Nico's Staff of One so she can have a normal life. Victor yells at Gert to go back in time with her parents' time machine to save his mother. Of course, given that the group are fugitives from both Social Services and the law and that several members have been killed or lost over the course of the series, it makes sense that they'd want to go back to their old lives at some points.
** Later member Klara Plast initially refused to join with the group when they ended up in the early 1900s. However, Karolina and Molly's well-meaning attempts to help her escape from an abusive guardian ended up creating a situation where her only options were joining the Runaways or dying, due to being a mutant who can [[GreenThumb control plants]] which has led to indiscrimination). Despite her initial fatalism, she decides she very much wants to live. She is a lot more comfortable in doing mundane things with the group and is grateful for taking her in and trying to help her, as well as being able to use her powers in relative peace. By Rainbow Rowell's run, we learn that when the group split off, she ended up in social services. When the group tracked her down, we discover that she is actually HappilyAdopted and [[HasTwoMommies with two dads no less]] (a far cry from her initialy disgust at same sex couples, though that was attributed to growing up in early 1900s in a conservative religious background.) She still cares for them greatly and sees them as her friends, but she declines their invitation to be a Runaway as she's finally in a stable place. They sadly say their good-byes to her (she does make a return to help them save Molly from her grandmother though.)

* In ''[[ComicBook/SevenSoldiers The Bulleteer]]'', both Alix and her "archnemesis" Sally Sonic wish they were normal people; It was this intense desire to live a normal life that led Sally to provoke Alix's husband to killing himself, because she so wanted to be in her place and be genuinely loved by a normal man.
** Alix also can't stop meeting up with people who are [[IJustWantToBeSpecial the opposite]], especially the uber-pathetic Mind Grabber Man.

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':
** The Dark Knight has been shown to be willing to give up ever becoming Batman if he could live as Bruce Wayne with his parents instead. This was actually a plot point when Clark and Bruce traveled through time, and Bruce stopped his parents from dying.
** Some of his Rouges would also qualify, most notably Killer Croc, who, [[DependingOnTheWriter regardless of what interpretation of him it is]], typically has wanting to find a cure for his mutation as a core character trait.
** [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]] is a notable ''aversion''. Even though his parents died in front of him as well, and it was also sort of his fault, he's said that he wouldn't give up his life as a superhero for anything.
* In the second issue of Dan Slott's run on ''ComicBook/SheHulk'', Jennifer Walters represents Dan Jermain, alias [[StevenUlyssesPerhero Danger Man]], a mild-mannered industrial worker and family man turned into a superhuman paragon of might in an on-the-job accident. He's suing his employers in the Roxxon Corporation because [[HeroicBuild looking like Mr. Olympia]] and being stronger than a stampeding elephant herd has caused him nothing but pain. He tears his clothes with the slightest sudden movement. He doesn't need to eat, frequently damages his property by accident; he rolls over in bed and nearly crushes his wife, who worries that he'll leave her to become a superhero and 'team up' with a more attractive heroine. People stare at him on the subway, but the people who pretend to not look are worse, since now he has super hearing and knows they are jut waiting for him to turn into a hero or villain. The climax of the issue sees Danger Man using his atomic powers to have a literal meltdown, because then at least his family will get to collect on his life insurance, before being talked down by Jennifer (in human form). They won the lawsuit; Danger Man received nearly a hundred million to go to family counseling and, hopefully, find some sort of cure. If he ever ''was'' cured, the reader was never told, though.
** As it happens, this is a fairly interesting aversion to ComesGreatResponsibility; at no point does anyone try to tell Danger Man it's his duty to put on long johns and beat up bad guys now.
** At least She-Hulk only suffers this briefly since she has the luxury of turning back to mousy Jennifer at will. [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk Bruce Banner]] never catches a break; even when he had an integrated personality and leadership of an international crime-fighting army, there's always [[InterruptedCooldownHug someone who just has to poke him with a stick]].
*** Banner's case is even worse since his real problem isn't actually his gamma mutate powers, [[spoiler:it's the psychological disorder born from his horrific childhood thanks to his murderous abusive father.]] Bruce wasn't "normal" even before he was exposed to gamma radiation.

* In ''ComicBook/BazookaJules'', a micro-robotic weapon fuses with Jules giving her superpowers. It's illegal for super-powered individuals to not register as superheroes with the government, So Jules is pretty much forced into the superhero life. She does state if she had the option to safely remove the weapon she'd take it.

* PlayedForLaughs in the nineties comic ''The Trouble With Girls'' which is about Lester Girls, a man "cursed", so he feels, with a James Bond lifestyle who yearns for a Ward Cleaver one.
* In ''ComicBook/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheSearch'', Zuko is actually relieved when he finds the letter written by his mother that seemingly confirms that [[spoiler:he isn't really Ozai's son]] since it means [[spoiler:he can escape being the Firelord.]] In the end, [[spoiler:Zuko discovers that the letter was a lie and he really is Ozai's son]] and he accepts his responsibilities.
* The single motivation that has remained a constant throughout all of ComicBook/{{Morbius}}' appearances since his introduction is the desire to undo the scientific accident that made him a living vampire and become a normal human being once more.
* In ''ComicBook/AvengersTheInitiative'', Abigail Boylen, a.k.a. Cloud 9, had no aspirations toward being a superhero, despite possessing the ability to fly by generating a gaseous cloud she could ride on like a surfboard. Due to the [[SuperRegistrationAct Super Human Registration Act]] she was essentially conscripted into the Avengers training program. After several issues of BreakTheCutie, followed by [[Comicbook/DarkReign Norman Osborn's takeover of SHIELD]], ComicBook/CaptainAmerica met with Abigail, announcing that the SHRA was repealed. Her first action was to tear up her registration card, drop her uniform at the Captain's feet, and embrace having a relatively normal life. She later took up the mantle of superhero during ''Comicbook/FearItself'', but on her own terms.
* This was the whole point of the short-lived series ''ComicBook/MajorBummer'', which centered around Lou Martin, a slacker and average Joe who was accidentally given super strength and intelligence by aliens who confused him with a Martin Louis. He's {{Superman}}'s equal in terms of strength and smart enough to cure cancer, and could be a powerful super-hero if he had the motivation or the inspiration; the problem is, he has neither; he just doesn't think such things are worth his time, preferring to use his super-intelligence to steal cable. In fact, when the two aliens show up at his house, what he's most upset about is that they ate the last of his macaroni and cheese.
* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'': Astra has an example similar to Ben Grimm. She knows she's a super-powered EnergyBeing, and a member of a superhero family, and has absolutely no problem with joining in to save the world when needed. It's what happens between world-saving that gets to her, like being home-schooled and never meeting anyone her age, having to keep a special diet which usually tastes like crap (manganese-flavoured breakfast cereal, anyone?), being restricted in her romantic life and not really having any career choices other than the FamilyBusiness...
* In ''ComicBook/TalesOfTheJedi'', Nomi Sunrider is extremely reluctant to train in spite of her Force potential and her husband's encouragement. She's even more so after he's murdered on the way to his would-be Master Thon and she's forced to kill in self-defense. Though she does consent to training in the Force, she still refuses to pick up a lightsaber again and subject herself and her daughter to the dangerous, demanding path of the Jedi. Eventually she's forced to act as a Jedi to defend Thon and accepts it, and in the end winds up Grandmaster of the Order.
* [[ComicBook/TheFlash Wally West]] was this Pre-Crisis, but due to CosmicRetcon because one of the DC universe's greatest examples of JumpedAtTheCall after ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths''.
* [[ComicBook/MsMarvel2014 Kamala Khan]] went through this period thanks to ''ComicBook/CivilWarII''. Kamala was already feeling crummy after her BrokenPedestal moment with [[ComicBook/MsMarvel Carol Danvers]], losing her friendship with Bruno and having to watch Hawkeye kill the Hulk, but when other events happen, culminating in long-distance ally Red Dagger accidentally being interviewed, Kamala decided to walk away from everything - superheroics, her old school life, everything - and shove herself into a private academy so she can start anew. This worries both friends and a few allies and once trouble really starts brewing, she ends up being found and convinced to come back into action, allowing Kamala to make up with Carol.
* Bruce Banner turns into the Hulk, a destructive monster, and has no control over his own actions when he does so. Even worse, thanks to retcons, there are ''several'' Hulks inside him, all fighting with him and between themselves to take control. When he gets back to normal, he can be in the middle of nowhere, unsure of what he did while Hulked out, if he destroyed something or killed someone, with his clothes ravaged by the change... And even if he manages to avoid turning into the Hulk for some time, he would still have to live on the run, with the military on his back trying to capture him, kill him, clone him, experiment with him and kill him again. The very idea of being "normal" is just a far away vague dream.
** Same thing happens in ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'', at the ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'' universe. This started the action in the miniseries ''ComicBook/UltimateHuman''.
* ''ComicBook/AmethystPrincessOfGemworld'': After defeating Dark Opal, rather than sticking around and ruling Gemworld, Amethyst decides to go back to Earth and be plain old Amy Winston instead. Invoked again at the end of the second series because of her bitterness at Prince Topaz hooking up with another girl.
* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: Both [[TimeMaster Lana Kurree]] and [[{{Telepathy}} Gail Young]] find their status as [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual New-Humans]] undesirable due to their [[PowerIncontinence lack of control]]. Lana Kurree is essentially doing her best to live out a normal life and never use her powers while Gail Young cannot turn her telepathy off and is constantly haunted by the indistinct and often violent murmurs she gets from other people's thoughts, especially since it takes a lot of concentration for her to match thoughts to their owners and she usually cannot.

* [[Comicbook/FantasticFour Ben Grimm, The Thing]], is the poster boy for this trope. Despite his complaints about being an orange rock monster, every time he's been "cured", he finds a reason to become The Thing again. He actually enjoys being the FF's strong man and "The Idol of Millions", but just wishes he could walk down the street without being stared at.
** Which by this point is probably more because of the whole "Idol of Millions" thing than because of his appearance. Though in Ben's case, his desire for normalcy comes from the fact that being a large, heavy and dense rock monster comes with plenty of inconvienences in day-to-day life on Earth (he can't take most elevators, he could crush plenty of structures on accident, etc) along with being unable to enjoy some of the simple pleasures in life. Ultimately, as Reed put it, he has his "good days and bad days."

* Franchise/{{Superman}}: This is the accepted reason why The Big Blue maintains a civilian identity: There are things he can do as Clark that he can't do as Superman, like talking to people, or cooking your own food.
** In more recent works, Superman does cherish his Kryptonian heritage but thinks of himself as Clark Kent first. At one point, Mr. Mxyzptlk threatened to turn him into a powerless human who would have to live a normal life, but...

** ''Comicbook/KryptoniteNevermore'': Superman's powers are being drained by a strange force, and he seriously considers letting it happen, because he wants to be a normal person, deep down. He is talked him out of it.

** "The Strange Death of Superboy" from 1969's ''[[ComicBook/{{Superboy}} Superboy]]'' #161 is about teenaged Clark becoming sick of his double life and longing to be normal. He uses carefully controlled doses of kryptonite to bring himself down to a human level, and enjoys it briefly, only for disaster to strike and make him realize that Superboy is desperately needed, so he risks his life to get his powers back. By the end, he seems happily enough reconciled to how complicated his life will always have to be.
** ''ComicBook/ForTheManWhoHasEverything'', an absolutely brilliant story by Creator/AlanMoore that was [[PragmaticAdaptation adapted]] in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'', shows that he wouldn't mind a normal life on ''Krypton'' either.
** ''ComicBook/WhatEverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'': Jordan Elliot is ecstatic to be normal, changing diapers and what-not. He sneers at Superman as being "too wrapped up in himself" and "thought the world couldn't get by without him."

* Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}:
** The eponymous heroine often expressed this desire during the Bronze Age. Unlike her cousin, Kara remembers having a normal life back on Argo City, when she was a normal teenager. After growing into adulthood, she was torn between her desire to have the life of a normal woman and the responsibilities that come with her powers. In ''Superman vol 1 #282'' [[https://maidofmight.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/superman-282_01.jpg she explains her cousin]] that she is thinking of giving up her Supergirl identity because she wants a normal life:

** In ''Comicbook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman turn to Mister Miracle and Big Barda when they need to go after Darkseid. Both New Gods are living in a neighborhood, trying to lead normal lives.

* Franchise/{{Batman}} has been shown to be willing to give up ever becoming Batman if he could live as Bruce Wayne with his parents instead. This was actually a plot point when Clark and Bruce traveled through time, and Bruce stopped his parents from dying.

* In ComicBook/BazookaJules a micro-robotic weapon fuses with Jules giving her superpowers. It's illegal for super-powered individuals to not register as superheroes with the government, So Jules is pretty much forced into the superhero life. She does state if she had the option to safely remove the weapon she'd take it.

Special people [[IJustWantToBeNormal who wish they weren't]] in comic books.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Both [[TimeMaster Lana Kurree]] and [[{{Telepathy}} Gail Young]] find their status as [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual New-Humans]] undesirable due to their [[PowerIncontinence lack of control]]. Lana Kurree is essentially doing her best to live out a normal life and never use her powers while Gail Young cannot turn her telepathy off and is constantly haunted by the indistinct and often violent murmurs she gets from other people's thoughts, especially since it takes a lot of concentration for her to match thoughts to their owners and she usually cannot.

** Later member Klara Plast initially refused to join with the group when they ended up in the early 1900s. However, Karolina and Molly's well-meaning attempts to help her escape from an abusive guardian ended up creating a situation where her only options were joining the Runaways or dying. She is a lot more comfortable in doing mundane things with the group and is grateful for trying to help her and taking her in. By Rowell's run, we learn that when the group split off, she ended up in social services. When the group tracked her down, we discover that she is actually HappilyAdopted and [[HasTwoMommies with two dads no less]] (a far cry from her initialy disgust at same sex couples, though that was attributed to growing up in early 1900s in a conservative religious background.) She still cares for them greatly and sees them as her friends, but she has no intention of returning to the gang and they sadly say their good-byes to her (she does make a brief return to save Molly though.)

** Which by this point is probably more because of the whole "Idol of Millions" thing than because of his appearance. Though in Ben's case, his desire for normalcy comes from the fact that being an orange rock monster comes with plenty of inconvienences in day-to-day life (such as damaging structures and having to be cautious) along with the fact he's been robbed of being able to enjoy certain aspects of intimacy. Ultimately, as Reed put it, he has his "good days and bad days."

** Which by this point is probably more because of the whole "Idol of Millions" thing than because of his appearance, so he's got nothing to complain about. Apart from having non-reinforced floors give way under him, that is.

** Later member Klara wanted absolutely nothing to do with superheroics, coming as she did from a world where almost everyone with superpowers abused them, but Karolina and Molly's well-meaning attempts to help her escape from an abusive guardian ended up creating a situation where her only options were joining the Runaways or dying. In fact, when the Runaways came to get her, she was in a happy, loving family ([[HasTwoMommies with two dads, even!]]) and had no intention of returning to the group.

* This is also common for [[Comicbook/XMen mutants]] in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, who tend to become social pariahs if their status becomes public.

** Later member Klara wanted absolutely nothing to do with superheroics, coming as she did from a world where almost everyone with superpowers abused them, but Karolina and Molly's well-meaning attempts to help her escape from an abusive guardian ended up creating a situation where her only options were joining the Runaways or dying.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Both [[TimeMaster Lana Kurree]] and [{{Telepathy}} Gail Young]] find their status as [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual New-Humans]] undesirable due to their [[PowerIncontinence lack of control]]. Lana Kurree is essentially doing her best to live out a normal life and never use her powers while Gail Young cannot turn her telepathy off and is constantly haunted by the indistinct and often violent murmurs she gets from other people's thoughts, especially since it takes a lot of concentration for her to match thoughts to their owners and she usually cannot.

-->'''Clark:''' ''[between huffs of fear and exhaustion]'' Please... let me be ordinary... perfectly ordinary...

** The page image above was only his ''first'' attempt to quit, done in issue #50. He'd try again and again during his career, one attempt resulting in the infamous "six-armed saga" when his attempt to cure himself of his powers only made him ''more'' spider-like. (Oddly enough, the ''ComicBook/WhatIf'' tie in where he ''keeps'' the six arms as Spider-Man actually has his life turn out okay, a rarity for that series.)

---->-- '''Kingpin to SpiderMan, Ultimate Spider-Man #80'''