History Main / AdaptationalBadass

* Several characters in the ''[[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuyfhPMNRLMBtmPVU6xYmDA Shrek Reacts]]'' series are much better fighters than they are in canon. {{Franchise/Shrek}} can use his explosive breath as a weapon, is capable of OffScreenTeleportation and can punch missiles, [[WesternAnimation/MonstersInc Sulley]] is a capable hand-to-hand combatant who briefly puts Shrek on the defensive during their fight and [[WesternAnimation/MonstersInc Mike Wazowski]], a NonActionGuy in his home movie, not only manages to get the drop on Shrek but can ''[[PlayingWithFire breath fire]]''.

* ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'' gives this treatment to '''''every''''' character, no matter what franchise, as the general rule of thumb is that the RuleOfDrama and StrongAsTheyNeedToBe conventions are averted and all characters are used at their absoute best with none of the personal or narrative handicaps from their own stories. This also means the SuperWeight of the combatants is scaled to other characters within their universes, which gives a serious boost to various [[Franchise/TheDCU DC]], [[Franchise/MarvelUniverse Marvel]] and [[ShonenDemographic Shonen]] reps. For video game characters, all their tools and abilites from different games are given to them even if they were one time use. Expanded material is also used for franchises so long as it doesn't seriously contriadict the primary source material, this greatly helps ''Franchise/StarWars'' characters as EU feats put them on a far greater level of power than they usually display in the films and cartoons (barring ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsCloneWars Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003)]]'' of course).

* AdaptationalBadass/WebOriginal

** PlayedWith in "[[Recap/DeathBattleS09E12SpongeBobVSAquaman SpongeBob VS Aquaman]]" the fight affirms that ''WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}}'' Aquaman truly is the lamest version of the character [[spoiler:and doesn't stand a chance againist the god-like SpongeBob]] but regardless Aquaman still displays skills and power that he completely lacked in the cartoon [[labelnote:*]] mainy thanks to another universe Aquaman helping him out by giving him their trident [[/labelnote]] and is able to throw punches, something that wasn't even allowed in ''Superfriends''.

** ''AdaptationalBadass/MarvelCinematicUniverse'': Covers both ''Series/LukeCage2016'' and ''Series/IronFist2017''.

* ''WebAnimation/ToonSandwich'''s ''Super-Hero-Bowl and Super-Villain-Bowl'' as well as ''Fanfictasia'' gives this treatment to many characters alongside AdaptationalWimp, though it's mainly PlayedForLaughs.

* ''WebAnimation/ToonSandwich'''s ''[[TheUltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny Super-Hero-Bowl and Super-Villain-Bowl]]'' as well as ''Fanfictasia'' gives this treatment to many characters alongside AdaptationalWimp, though it's mainly PlayedForLaughs.

** PlayedWith in "[[Recap/DeathBattleS09E12SpongeBobVSAquaman Sponge Bob VS Aquaman]]" the fight affirms that ''WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}}'' Aquaman truly is the lamest version of the character [[spoiler:and doesn't stand a chance againist the god-like Spongebob]] but regardless Aquaman still displays skills and power that he completely lacked in the cartoon [[labelnote:*]] mainy thanks to another universe Aquaman helping him out by giving him their trident [[/labelnote]] and is able to throw punches, something that wasn't even allowed in ''Superfriends''.

** In "[[Recap/DEATHBATTLES08E11MachoManVSKoolAidMan Macho Man Vs Kool Aid Man]]", much like with Chuck Norris Wrestling/RandySavage's feats include [[Film/SpiderMan beating up Spider-Man]] and being able [[WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory to destroy planets as Rasslor]], which he (as far as we know) didn't perform in RealLife.

** Downplayed in [[Recap/DEATHBATTLES02E19ChuckNorrisVSSegataSanshiro Chuck Norris Vs Segata Sanshiro]] Creator/ChuckNorris as a RealLife person is plenty badass, it's that the fight takes into account the various MemeticBadass feats he has amassed over the years as well as feats from his movies and cartoons. This allows Chuck to roundhouse kick with the force of The Big Bang and punch with the third fist that is his chin.

** ''WebAnimation/TransformersWarForCybertronTrilogy'' sees [[WesterAnimation/BeastWars the Maximals and Predacons]] as equal size and on equal footing to the Autobots and Decepticons, as opposed to being smaller and weaker than them.

* This is widespread throughout the ''Nyctophobia'' books, but the most obvious case is [[Franchise/ThePhantomOfTheOpera Erik Garnier]]. In [[Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera Leroux's original work]], the Phantom/Erik is just a deformed man haunting a concert hall. In the series, he is ''[[HalfHumanHybrid half-demon]]'', more accurately half-incubus, and his iconically beautiful voice can either be [[CharmPerson compelling]] or it can [[MakeMeWannaShout shatter glass]].

* The ''Manga/OnePiece'' fan-comic ''Webcomic/ReturnToTheReverie'' applies the AuthorityEqualsAsskicking treatment to the Five Elder Stars, who are merely seen as old schemers in canon.

** The Wicked Witch of the West is a serious threat within ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' but not so much anywhere else, yet here she has an incredible kill streak taking down Bellatrix Lastrange, Scarecrow, Sabretooth ("Cowardly Lion"), and even goddamn Ultron ("Tinman").

* ''Webcomic/SweetLullaby'' gives unexpected moments of badassery to its characters, such as [[NonIronicClown Mime]] possessing magic powers, [[RascallyRaccoon Lifty and Shifty]]'s combat skills, [[BumblingDad Pop]] being a [[DadTheVeteran retired general]], [[spoiler:and [[TheSmartGuy Sniffles]] eating a part of an ant colony scaring away the ants]], among others. Considering the source material has all of them subjected to [[BloodyHilarious over-the-top gory injuries]] and even suffering [[TheyKilledKennyAgain gruesome deaths in a given episode]] for the ''[[MadeOfPlasticine slightest]]'' inconvenience, they're able to withstand much more this time around.

* ''Webcomic/SweetLullaby'' gives unexpected moments of badassery to its characters, such as [[EveryoneHatesMimes Mime]] possessing magic powers, [[SiblingsInCrime Lifty and Shifty]]'s combat skills, [[BumblingDad Pop]] being a [[DadTheVeteran retired general]], [[spoiler:and Sniffles eating a part of an ant colony scaring away the ants]], among others. Considering the source material has all of them subjected to [[BloodyHilarious over-the-top gory injuries]] and even suffering [[TheyKilledKennyAgain gruesome deaths in a given episode]] for the ''[[MadeOfPlasticine slightest]]'' inconvenience, they're able to withstand much more this time around.

* ''Webcomic/SweetLullaby'' gives unexpected moments of badassery to its characters, such as [[EveryoneHatesMimes Mime]] possessing magic powers, [[SiblingsInCrime Lifty and Shifty]]'s combat skills, [[BumblingDad Pop]] being a [[DadTheVeteran retired general]], among others. Considering the source material has all of them subjected to [[BloodyHilarious over-the-top gory injuries]] and even suffering [[TheyKilledKennyAgain gruesome deaths in a given episode]] for the ''[[MadeOfPlasticine slightest]]'' inconvenience, they're able to withstand much more this time around.