History LetsGetDangerous / ComicBooks

* ''Comicbook/{{Empowered}}'' is a case of this happening to the main character. Four out of five times, poor [[FauxActionGirl Emp]] winds up [[BoundAndGagged tied up]], beat up, and/or [[TheWoobie humiliated]]. That fifth time, though, is generally a thing of beauty, up to and including the point where she imprisoned an unstoppable monster in a set of power-draining alien bondage gear after it tossed her more-powerful teammates around like rag dolls. Plus the fact that she uses her head, but she has a definite awesome moment in Volume 4 when she [[spoiler:introduces Fleshmaster/dWARF! to the true meaning of a CurbStompBattle.]]

* In the ''Comicbook/FantasticFour'', Susan Storm's powers were used mostly defensively, so she was more an obstacle to a villain than a threat. However, when she started [[TookALevelInBadass taking a level in badass]] in the '80s, villains soon found that beating up Reed Richards in front of his supposedly timid wife was a good way to get [[ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend suffocated, slashed, flattened, mercilessly squeezed, or slammed through walls by those pesky invisible force fields.]]This was brilliantly demonstrated in one battle where the Absorbing Man, and mind-controlled She-Hulk and Ben Grimm -- three of the most physically powerful beings in the Marvel universe -- are about to kill her daughter. Spider-Man, passing by, rushes in to help but is stopped by Reed Richards, who is cheerfully taking notes and monitoring the battle, because he regards it as a form of ''therapy'' so Sue can deal with the emotional issues she's had with Valeria. Spider-Man is awestruck at the utter curb-stomping and vows ''never'' to make Sue Storm angry.

* Many members of ComicBook/JusticeLeagueInternational are this as well, when they're not being {{Flanderized}}. These include Elongated Man Ralph Dibny, who had the same powers as the aforementioned Plastic Man, a woman who once commanded Darkseid's legions (Big Barda), a god-level genius who could get out of any trap ever devised (Mr. Miracle), an ice goddess (Ice), a woman with fire powers (Fire), one of the most skilled martial artists in the world (Black Canary), a man who could create things out of pure willpower ([[ComicBook/GreenLantern Guy Gardner]])...most of the time they were just hanging around trying to bumble their way through real world problems, but these were people who regularly teamed up with Comicbook/PowerGirl, ComicBook/MartianManhunter and ComicBook/{{Batman}} himself.

** In a ''Franchise/TeenTitans'' issue, ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} and Miss Martian come to blows. Kara thinks M'gann is not in her League until the Martian girl punches her hard. Supergirl then gets serious and fights Miss Martian hard.

* ComicBook/PlasticMan in the ''Franchise/{{Justice League| Of America}}'' comics was often this. Despite nominally being the comic relief, he kicked bad guy ass so often that Franchise/{{Batman}} classed him as possibly the most dangerous member of the League. At one point, someone writes Plastic Man off as a useless addition to the team, whereupon Batman points out that this is someone that has survived being shattered into millions of pieces and scattered on the ocean's floor for thousands of years, and is not to be trifled with. Notably, in Creator/FrankMiller's ''ComicBook/TheDarkKnightStrikesAgain'', one character refers to him as "Immeasurably powerful. Absolutely nuts," and asserts that he could kill them all with ease.

* Many members of ComicBook/JusticeLeagueInternational are this as well, when they're not being {{Flanderized}}. These include Elongated Man Ralph Dibny, who had the same powers as the aforementioned Plastic Man, a woman who once commanded Darkseid's legions (Big Barda), a god-level genius who could get out of any trap ever devised (Mr. Miracle), an ice goddess (Ice), a woman with fire powers (Fire), one of the most skilled martial artists in the world (Black Canary), a man who could create things out of pure willpower ([[Franchise/GreenLantern Guy Gardner]])...most of the time they were just hanging around trying to bumble their way through real world problems, but these were people who regularly teamed up with Comicbook/PowerGirl, ComicBook/MartianManhunter and Franchise/{{Batman}} himself.

* Many members of ComicBook/JusticeLeagueInternational are this as well, when they're not being {{Flanderized}}. These include Elongated Man Ralph Dibny, who had the same powers as the aforementioned Plastic Man, a woman who once commanded Darkseid's legions (Big Barda), a god-level genius who could get out of any trap ever devised (Mr. Miracle), an ice goddess (Ice), a woman with fire powers (Fire), one of the most skilled martial artists in the world (Black Canary), a man who could create things out of pure willpower ([[Franchise/GreenLantern Guy Gardner]])...most of the time they were just hanging around trying to bumble their why through real world problems, but these were people who regularly teamed up with Comicbook/PowerGirl, ComicBook/MartianManhunter and Franchise/{{Batman}} himself.

* Many members of ComicBook/JusticeLeagueInternational are this as well, when they're not being {{Flanderized}}. These include Elongated Man Ralph Dibny, who had the same powers as the aforementioned Plastic Man, a woman who once commanded Darkseid's legions (Big Barda), a god-level genius who could get out of any trap ever devised (Mr. Miracle), an ice goddess (Ice), a woman with fire powers (Fire), one of the most skilled martial artists in the world (Black Canary), a man who could create things out of pure willpower ([[Franchise/GreenLantern Guy Gardner]])...most of the time they were just hanging around trying to bumble their why through real world problems, but these were people who regularly teamed up with [[{{Superman}} Power Girl]], ComicBook/MartianManhunter and Franchise/{{Batman}} himself.

* In the ''Comicbook/FantasticFour'', Susan Storm's powers were used mostly defensively, so she was more an obstacle to a villain than a threat. However, when she started [[TookALevelInBadass taking a level in badass]] in the '80s, villains soon found that [[BerserkButton beating up Reed Richards in front of his supposedly timid wife]] was a good way to get [[ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend suffocated, slashed, flattened, mercilessly squeezed, or slammed through walls by those pesky invisible force fields.]]This was brilliantly demonstrated in one battle where the Absorbing Man, and mind-controlled She-Hulk and Ben Grimm -- three of the most physically powerful beings in the Marvel universe -- are about to kill her daughter. Spider-Man, passing by, rushes in to help but is stopped by Reed Richards, who is cheerfully taking notes and monitoring the battle, because he regards it as a form of ''therapy'' so Sue can deal with the emotional issues she's had with Valeria. Spider-Man is awestruck at the utter curb-stomping and vows ''never'' to make Sue Storm angry.

* Franchise/SpiderMan:

* In Creator/DonRosa's "The Magnificent Seven (Minus Four) Caballeros", the villain is leaving on the only canoe available to leave Donald Duck, José Carioca, and Panchito Pistoles trapped in an ancient ruin, to be eaten by a giant anaconda sooner or later. As the three despair of stopping him or ever getting out, Donald mentally hears everyone back home whose disrespectful attitudes he's effectively escaping on this adventure scolding him for failing again. He gets so angry that he swings on a liana over the piranha-infested river to reach the boat and viciously attack the (armed) villain. His example also inspires the other two to get dangerous and do things such as defeat the giant snake with an umbrella.
* In ''ComicBook/TheMightyThor'', Volstagg the Voluminous was originally known for being a [[BigFun fat and jolly]] goof with [[MilesGloriosus a penchant for bragging that belied his actual cowardice]]. Then it turns out that he's actually got a huge family of children, biological and adopted, one that he loves very much. So much so that when they get threatened, the cowardly braggart goes away and what's left is a [[StoutStrength fat but super-strong]] BoisterousBruiser who will not hesitate to kick ass for their sake. The man (well, Asgardian) once single-handedly kicked an ''army'' out of Asgard to protect his kids. Over the years, however, Volstagg has turned into more of a general BoisterousBruiser - though still one whose [[BigFun size, nature]], and [[BigEater appetite]] lead to people taking him less than seriously, meaning that it's still startling when he cuts loose. This peaks in Jason Aaron's ''Mighty Thor'' run to in horrifying and spectacular fashion, when Volstagg - who'd served as a primary supporting character and a friend and mentor to Jane Foster had [[spoiler: a group of Light Elf child refugees that he'd taken into his care (and essentially adopted) ''burned to ash in his arms'', during a Fire-Demon attack]], whereupon he ''snapped'', slaughtered [[spoiler: the Fire-Demons,]] and then as part of a RoaringRampageOfRevenge, [[spoiler: took up the hammer of the Ultimate Thor to become 'the War Thor', whereupon he ''almost destroyed Muspelheim''.]]
* During the climax of ''[[ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW The Return of Queen Chrysalis]]'', where Twilight's friends and the three Crusader fillies have been captured, and Chrysalis is [[FallenHero about to corrupt Twilight]] and gloats that [[TheDarkSideWillMakeYouForget she will destroy them herself after being turned to the dark side.]] Twilight gets pissed and immediately blasts a massive hole through ''a stone castle wall,'' leaving astonished {{Jaw Drop}}s all around.
* Disney Italy's creation of Paperinik years. The basic idea is WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck as either an avenger of himself, a SuperHero, or a combination of the two, DependingOnTheWriter (it was originally an avenger of himself, being inspired to freakin' ComicBook/{{Diabolik}}). ''Not'' depending on the writer, he's always awesome: a typical instance of avenging Paperinik is the first story, where he stole Scrooge's money-filled bed ''while he was sleeping on it'' (he [[LampshadeHanging pointed out stealing some of the money bags lying around the room would have been just as lucrative but not as awesome as he was doing it]]), humiliated the police multiple times, ran everyone through a merry chase, and (accidentally) framed Gladstone for all of this (you may understand why stories with the Avenging!Paperinik play him as TheDreaded); and a superhero, Paperinik is pretty much ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'', only somewhat goofier and a lot more ''workaholic'' (Batman doesn't visit crooks of other towns to scare them in staying out of his way, after all); and as a combination of the two... Well, one time the Beagle Boys organized a marathon with Paperinik's identity (that they didn't know) as the prize to successfully convince every single person in town to leave while they sacked it, and Paperinik's interference ended up getting them caught red-handed and beaten up by the ''entire population of Duckburg'' (he could have stopped them easily in other ways, but it wouldn't have been as punishing). ''Then'' Disney Italy decided Paperinik needed to TakeALevelInBadass, and created the series ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures''.

* Comes up occasionally in DC's ''Comicbook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' comic regarding the Legion of Substitute Heroes, a group of misfit heroes rejected for Legion membership because [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway their powers are lame]]. A particularly notable example appears in Creator/GailSimone's four-issue "[[http://legionabstract.blogspot.com/2006/12/legionnaires-for-no-better-reason.html For No Better Reason]]" storyline: after all hell breaks loose on Earth, Legion support staff member Chuck Taine sends the team the only backup he can find -- apparent CListFodder from the Legion Academy. Who proceed to kick butt and take names.
* Franchise/{{Superman}}:

** In the Silver Age Superman story ''ComicBook/SupermansPalJimmyOlsen #34: The Most Amazing Camera in the World'', a criminal, having gotten ahold of some Kryptonite, has the Man of Steel at his mercy. ComicBook/JimmyOlsen, observing this with horror, runs into the room, brings down the crook with a flying tackle to the knees, and relieves him of the Kryptonite.
** In a Franchise/TeenTitans issue, ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} and Miss Martian come to blows. Kara thinks M'gann is not in her League until the Martian girl punches her hard. Supergirl then gets serious and fights Miss Martian hard.
** In the third issue of [[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 "Girl Power"]], [[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders the Outsiders]] are training with a handicapped Supergirl. The team gang up on her until Kara gets fed up, breaks her chains shouting "No more games!" and starts fighting seriously.

* Disney Italy's creation of Paperinik years. The basic idea is WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck as either an avenger of himself, a SuperHero, or a combination of the two, DependingOnTheWriter (it was originally an avenger of himself, being inspired to freakin' ComicBook/{{Diabolik}}). ''Not'' depending on the writer, he's always awesome: a typical instance of avenging Paperinik is the first story, where he stole Scrooge's money-filled bed ''while he was sleeping on it'' (he [[LampshadeHanging pointed out stealing some of the money bags lying around the room would have been just as lucrative but not as awesome as he was doing it]]), humiliated the police multiple times, ran everyone through a merry chase, and (accidentally) framed Gladstone for all of this (you may understand why stories with the Avenging!Paperinik play him as TheDreaded); and a superhero, Paperinik is pretty much ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'', only somewhat goofier and a lot more ''workaholic'' (Batman doesn't visit crooks of other towns to scare them in staying out of his way, after all); and as a combination of the two... Well, one time the Beagle Boys organized a marathon with Paperinik's identity (that they didn't know) as the prize to successfully convince every single person in town to leave while they sacked it, and Paperinik's interference ended up getting them caught red-handed and beaten up by the ''entire population of Duckburg'' (he could have stopped them easily in other ways, but it wouldn't have been as punishing). ''[[UpToEleven Then]]'' [[UpToEleven Disney Italy decided Paperinik needed to]] TakeALevelInBadass, and created the series ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures''.

** ''ComicBook/RenewYourVows'': When Annie refuses to head for safety and ends up kicking the Sinister Six's ass in her first fight, Mary Jane decides now is the time to team up and save a captive Peter.

** In the Silver Age Superman story ''Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #34: The Most Amazing Camera in the World'', a criminal, having gotten ahold of some Kryptonite, has the Man of Steel at his mercy. ComicBook/JimmyOlsen, observing this with horror, runs into the room, brings down the crook with a flying tackle to the knees, and relieves him of the Kryptonite.

** Spidey himself is constantly underestimated. He's not the strongest or toughest guy, certainly not the most powerful, and makes endless jokes and is generally a goofball but his combination of powers and wits makes him surprisingly formidable especially when he gets serious. He's taken down all the X-men at the same time, tackled the Fantastic Four and beat a herald of Galactus when he finally decided to pull out all the stops.
** Spidey is well-known for his tendency to [[YouFightLikeACow make jokes and wisecracks while fighting]]. Most villains (and fellow heroes) often find this annoying. However, the alternative, [[TranquilFury when he stops joking]], will be a beating so severe that Spidey ''might'' forget not to ''beat the person to death''. He even does this by accident; Spidey had the Headsmen give up without a fight by saying nothing. He couldn't say anything at all due to his laryngitis.

** ''ComicBook/RenewYourVows'': When Annie refuses to head for safety and ends up kicking the Sinister Six's ass, Mary Jane decides now is the time to team up and save a captive Peter.

** Spidey himself is constantly underestimated. He's not the strongest or toughest guy, certainly not the most powerful, and makes endless jokes and is generally a goofball but his combination of powers and wits makes him surprisingly formidable especially when he gets serious. He's taken down all the X-men at the same time, tackled the Fantastic Four and beat the herald of Galactus when he finally decided to pull out all the stops.