History Main / HandbagOfHurt

* Kisarah Westfield from SNK's ''VideoGame/NeoGeoBattleColiseum'' is a schoolgirl who fights with her bookbag, which is a callback to the fighting game she originally comes from (''Aggressors of Dark Kombat'') where various weapons can be picked up and temporarily used.

The use of a purse or a briefcase/suitcase as an ImprovisedWeapon. The former may be related to WhenEldersAttack, while the latter to BriefcaseBlaster.

Often occurs in the CatFight and WimpFight. (Little note -- fights in football in Britain are often mere slap fights, and the commentators occasionally describe such a fight as "handbags", a shortened version of Handbags At Dawn.) One reason people should NeverMessWithGranny.

* A handbag is the first weapon you can give to Eileen in the EscortMission section of ''VideoGame/SilentHill4''. (Protip: Don't do it! Her AI will flip from "cower-and-hide" to "reckless enthusiasm" and she'll take damage. If you need the help, give her one of the better weapons you find later.)

* ''VideoGame/MapleStory'': a briefcase is a usable weapon for players.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/MegaMan'' cartoon, Ms. Lapierre swats at a shrunken Mega Man with her purse.

* In ''Manga/ShonanJunaiGumi'', both male and female delinquents beat others up with their school bags sometimes.

* Many Series/TheSentinel fanfics have Blair using his backpack this way.

* In ''VideoGame/TheSims 1 & 2'', the ambiguously wedded Mrs./Miss Crumplebottom carries a handbag that, while not murderous, is quite humiliating.

* In ''VideoGame/BanjoTooie'', after Banjo returns Groggy (the fat polar bear kid) to Mrs. Boggy, Groggy lies about Banjo forcing him to eat a hamburger (in actuality, he refused to let Banjo pick him up until after he ate it). Mrs. Boggy doesn't believe Groggy at all, and [[AbusiveParents she hits him with her purse several times]] in retaliation.

* In the opening sequence for ''Series/TheOddCouple'', Felix is shown trying to help an old lady cross the street. The lady hits him with her handbag and a Boy Scout punches him. It's just not Felix's day.

[[folder: Anime & Manga]]

[[folder: Comic Books]]

[[folder: Fan Works]]

[[folder: Films -- Animated]]

[[folder: Films -- Live-Action]]

[[folder: Literature]]

[[folder: Live Action TV]]

[[folder: Music]]

[[folder: New Media]]

[[folder: Professional Wrestling]]

[[folder: Satire]]

[[folder: Stand Up Comedy]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games ]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Web Animation]]

[[folder: Webcomics]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]

[[folder: Real Life]]

* In ''[[VideoGame/BanjoKazooie Banjo-Tooie]]'', after Banjo returns Groggy (the fat polar bear kid) to Mrs. Boggy, Groggy lies about Banjo forcing him to eat a hamburger (in actuality, he refused to let Banjo pick him up until after he ate it). Mrs. Boggy doesn't believe Groggy at all, and [[AbusiveParents she hits him with her purse several times]] in retaliation.

* On ''Series/TheXFiles'' a lizard man (unintentionally) attacks a {{Transgender}} prostitute, who fights back with her purse in this fashion. The encounter leaves a huge hole in her purse.

* ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' had one where Amy went to hit Bernadette with her purse, but she ducked and Amy accidentally hit Penny instead, breaking her nose in the process.
-->'''Penny''': What have you got in there?
-->'''Amy''': Just my wallet, keys and a coffee can full of change I was taking to the bank.

* In [[Creator/Mercedes Lackey]]'s [Literature/The Serpent's Shadow]], Dr. Maya carries a "miser's purse" full of led shot when she makes housecalls in dodgy parts of London, as well as an ubrella with a weighted handle and a solid steel shaft. When she becomes an adept-class Earth Mage she's even more formidable.

* Aunt Esther from ''Series/SanfordAndSon'' was (in)famous for this method of attack.

** ''Boston Quackie'', Quackie's girlfriend Mary clobbers the man in the green hat with her handbag. Of course, she is carrying an anvil in it...

* Handbags are a possible weapon (albeit a very ''weak'' one) for players to find in ''VideoGame/DeadRising''.
** It's definitely in the sequel as shown [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VyNJGpZggs here]].

Often occurs in the CatFight and WimpFight. (Little note - fights in football in Britain are often mere slap fights, and the commentators occasionally describe such a fight as "handbags", a shortened version of Handbags At Dawn.) One reason people should NeverMessWithGranny.