History Main / MuggingTheMonster

* ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'': Garlic Jr. and his henchmen try to take over the Lookout while Mr. Popo is running it. After refusing to "clean that up", Garlic Jr. tries to monologue to Popo about who he is, which results in the latter "assimilating" him and his minions.

* ''Fanfic/ADarkerPath'': Sophia ignores Taylor's ImpliedDeathThreat and decides to "show her her place". Taylor quickly proves both willing and able to follow through with her new "Path to Ending" power, using CombatClairvoyance to brutally kill Sophia without taking even slight damage in return.

* In ''[[http://www.thevalkyrie.com/stories/wonder/wantnail.txt For want of a Nail,]]'' ({{NSFW}}) protagonist/supersoldier turned professional comedian Jason Thorn makes a joke about a mugger accidentally picking Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} for a victim, backing off with "Oh... excuse me, I thought you were someone else...". In the audience, Wonder Woman confides to a friend "Someone actually used that line once...".

** During their match up, [[Series/{{The Boys|2019}} Homelander]] provokes [[WesternAnimation/{{Invincible}} Omni-Man]] via breaking into his home and killing his wife, assuming that he could just intimidate Omni-Man into obeying his demands to leave. Omni-Man, however, is barely phased by Homelander's threats and quickly shows the Number One Supe just how outclassed he in one of [[CurbStompBattle the shortest fights of the show's history]], which results in a [[CruelAndUnusualDeath very nasty death]] for Homelander, who only realizes how royally he screwed up seconds before Omni-Man ends him. The hosts point this out in the post-fight analysis, comparing the fight to a bully picking a fight with a trained soldier. Also doubles as BullyingADragon, as Homelander was aware that Omni-Man was powerful but falsely believed his own powers were superior.

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3564662/1/An-Open-and-Frank-Discussion An Open and Frank Discussion]]'' by Adrian Tullberg, [[ComicBook/CivilWar Civil War-era]] ComicBook/IronMan and his various allies encounter a super-powered visitor to their world from another dimension and try to force her to abide the Superhuman Registration Act or face imprisonment in the Negative Zone. Unfortunately for them, the super-powered visitor in question turns out to be ComicBook/WonderWoman, who proves capable of not only handing each of them their asses, but also of offering an intellectual deconstruction of the numerous constitutional failings of the Registration Act once she's done so.

* There is also a famous story under Aikikai (practitioners of Aikido) that one of Osensei's original students was nearly robbed in the Paris subway... emphasis on the "nearly." Imagine a seventy-something year old Japanese sitting alone in the subway, when three would-be muggers showed up with knives, demanding his money. Then imagine the old frail man simply snapping their wrists in precise, efficent motions.

* UnderestimatingBadassery: A character's combat skills are underestimated.
* YouHaveNoIdeaWhoYoureDealingWith: Maybe the Monster is feeling merciful, or maybe they are a MartialPacifist who would prefer to avoid a fight if possible. They give a clear warning that attacking them was a big mistake and offer a chance to back down. If the attackers ignore the warning, they prove themselves TooDumbToLive.

Basically this is when some [[BitPartBadGuys random crook]] (and often a [[StupidCrooks pretty stupid one]] at that) has the misfortune of targeting someone a lot StrongerThanTheyLook. When the SuperHero/monster/alien assassin/robot/SorcerousOverlord from the future/[[MageInManhattan other world]]/[[GalacticConqueror space]] appears, the criminal acts as a [[MonsterMunch disposable victim]] they can [[TheWorfEffect demonstrate their powers on for the benefit of the audience]]. Alternatively, TheHero is held up while going about their business. If they have a SecretIdentity, then it can lead to a BruceWayneHeldHostage scenario, but if the [[IdiotBall criminal attacked them in costume]] or the hero is just some badass WalkingTheEarth, then it typically just serves as an introduction. Bonus points if the would-be victim looks particularly vulnerable.

** During their match up, [[Series/TheBoys Homelander]] provokes [[WesternAnimation/{{Invincible}} Omni-Man]] via breaking into his home and killing his wife, assuming that he could just intimidate Omni-Man into obeying his demands to leave. Omni-Man, however, is barely phased by Homelander's threats and quickly shows the Number One Supe just how outclassed he in one of [[CurbStompBattle the shortest fights of the show's history]], which results in a [[CruelAndUnusualDeath very nasty death]] for Homelander, who only realizes how royally he screwed up seconds before Omni-Man ends him. The hosts point this out in the post-fight analysis, comparing the fight to a bully picking a fight with a trained soldier. Also doubles as BullyingADragon, as Homelander was aware that Omni-Man was powerful but falsely believed his own powers were superior.

* A random {{Muggle}} in ''Fanfic/TheEyesHaveIt'' throws a can of paint at [[Manga/{{Naruto}} Sakura's]] group, thinking them "fancy-shmancy samurai". Sakura compares to seeing a drunk kicking a sleeping bear.

* In ''Fanfic/CyclesUponCycles'', a group of mostly [[Franchise/MassEffect Batarian]] mercenaries try to attack a [[VideoGame/StarCraft Terran]] colony with plans to enslave the inhabitants and sell off their technology. Unfortunately for them, the Koprulu sector is such a [[CrapSackWorld hostile place]] that Terrans always set up their military first before allowing civilians on a new colony.

* A random {{Muggle}} tries to slip Gia a date rape drug in ''[[https://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-31640-10/TattleTail%2BMy%2BCopy.htm My Copy,]]'' having no idea she's an OppositeSexClone of Batroc the Leaper. Worse is that she's accompanied by [[OppositeSexClone Opposite Sex Clones]] of Trickshot, Forge, and ''Rhino''. The would-be rapist has to have several ribs and a shoulder ''replaced''.

* ''Fanfic/ItsAlwaysTheQuietOnes'': Suffice to say, Marietta and her fellow bully would never have picked on Luna if they knew she could summon [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abominations]] from the deep with her mother's family spell.

Basically this is when some [[BitPartBadGuys random crook]] (and often a [[StupidCrooks pretty stupid one]] at that) has the misfortune of targeting someone a lot StrongerThanTheyLook. When the SuperHero/monster/alien assassin/robot/SorcerousOverlord from the future/[[MageInManhattan other world]]/[[GalacticConqueror space]] appears, the criminal acts as a [[AcceptableTarget disposable]] [[MonsterMunch victim]] they can [[TheWorfEffect demonstrate their powers on for the benefit of the audience]]. Alternatively, TheHero is held up while going about their business. If they have a SecretIdentity, then it can lead to a BruceWayneHeldHostage scenario, but if the [[IdiotBall criminal attacked them in costume]] or the hero is just some badass WalkingTheEarth, then it typically just serves as an introduction. Bonus points if the would-be victim looks particularly vulnerable.

Tends to make a good EstablishingCharacterMoment, depending on how (and [[CurbstompBattle how easily]]) the crooks are dealt with. It can be particularly useful for more heroic or sympathetic characters, as it enables them to demonstrate how effective they are in a fight without being the ones to start it, as well as criminals and bullies being an easily and quickly established AcceptableTarget. Occasionally this can [[DefeatMeansFriendship lead to them recruiting a sidekick]] or other allies. Can be deeply satisfying. When the person looks vulnerable due to chronological endowment, it's likely a [[RetiredBadass mighty]] [[OldSoldier old]] [[OldMaster person]].

[[quoteright:350:[[Film/CrocodileDundee https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crocodile_dundee_knife1.jpg]]]]

* In the ''Literature/LoneWolf'' series, when in "civilized" parts of the world rather than evil fortresses or the wilderness, various rogues trying to mug the hero is a common type of fight encounter. It rarely ends well for them. In later books, some of those fights aren't even played out — there is just an off-hand mention of Lone Wolf leaving a few dead brigands behind.

** There are innumerable versions of this, usually jokes on neighboring countries. The most popular tends to be a battleship or carrier from a country of the teller's choice vs. a mysterious intruder off the teller's own coast. The carrier declares its credentials, lists its wide variety of fire- and airpower, and demands the intruder move aside before it is run down. The response: "This is a lighthouse. Your move." So many versions of this were told about [[{{Eagleland}} the US Navy]] that [[http://web.archive.org/web/20190202201537/https://www.navy.mil/navydata/questions/litehuse.html the Navy's website used to have a page debunking it.]]

* In ''Literature/DeadWest'', this sometimes happens. Nice examples include [[NoodleIncident a bunch of thugs attacking]] [[PsychicPowers a group of arictocrat doctors-in-training]] on a charity night (they were making rounds in the worst part of Paris, treating everyone who needed their services). Most of the group were harmless enough, but on that particular night the [[CombatMedic Porcelain Doctor]], [[PeoplePuppet a Hungarian amateur]], and a [[MoreDakka firegun enthusiast engineer student]] decided to tag along (and the former two had bodyguards nearby). The incident ended with the "Soft" members of the team patching up their attackers, but we never get a full recount of the action. Usually, some idiots try to harrass the Porcelain Doctor, since he is a bit [[DudeLooksLikeALady effeminate]], and doesn't look really menancing (he is very short for an aristocrat, but average for a commoner, and has a very slim build). The wanna-be-muggers sometimes are able to get off with a warning, but several times it ends badly for them, as Niall has a pretty short fuse, and he is armed with a sword-cane and PsychicPowers.

--->"Well, I’m HIS superior, and as soon as I'm out of here, I’ll make sure he lights your a** up."

* The trio of bullies that torment Taylor in ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' would probably reconsider what they're doing if they knew that she was secretly a supervillain with a reputation for ruthlessness. [[spoiler:Well, two of them would.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:"ha ha ha That's not a knife... '''that's''' a knife." RRRIIIPPP!!!]]

[[folder:Films — Animation]]

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAndHarleyQuinn'': Harley has been keeping a low profile by working at "Superbabes", a diner with [[FanServiceWithASmile waitresses dressed in]] [[SexyWhateverOutfit sexed-up versions of superheroine/villainess costumes]], wearing a skimpy version of her own outfit. A customer decides to cop a feel, and finds out the hard way that she's the real Harley Quinn.

* ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'': Most of these fights occur with the loser seriously underestimating their opponent. They paid the price with their lives.

** During their match up, [[Series/TheBoys Homelander]] provokes [[WesternAnimation/{{Invincible}} Omni-Man]] via breaking into his home and killing his wife, assuming that he could just intimidate Omni-Man into obeying his demands to leave. Omni-Man, however, is barely phased by Homelander's threats and quickly shows the Number One Supe just how outclassed he in one of [[CurbStompBattle the shortest fights of the show's history]], which results in a [[CruelAndUnusualDeath very nasty death]] for Homelander, who only realizes how royally he screwed up seconds before Omni-Man ends him. The hosts point this out in the post-fight analysis, comparing the fight to a bully picking a fight with a trained soldier.
** After pulling a KillSteal on him, [[Franchise/{{Halloween}} Michael Myers]] attempts to make [[Franchise/FridayThe13th Jason Voorhees]] his next victim. As he quickly learns, however, Jason is borderline unkillable and has zero problems matching Michael in both strength and speed. In the end, Jason winds up making Michael his own victim.

Basically this is when some [[BitPartBadGuys random crook]], and occasionally [[StupidCrooks a pretty stupid one]] at that, has the misfortune of targeting someone [[StrongerThanTheyLook much more powerful than he assumed]]. When the SuperHero/monster/alien assassin/robot/[[SorcerousOverlord sorcerer]] from the future/[[MageInManhattan other world]]/[[GalacticConqueror space]] appears, the criminal acts as a [[AcceptableTarget disposable]] [[MonsterMunch victim]] they can [[TheWorfEffect demonstrate their powers on for the benefit of the audience]]. Alternatively, TheHero is held up while going about their business. If they have a SecretIdentity, then it can lead to a BruceWayneHeldHostage scenario, but if the [[IdiotBall criminal attacked them in costume]] or the hero is just some badass WalkingTheEarth, then it typically just serves as an introduction. Bonus points if the would-be victim looks particularly vulnerable.

* PaperTiger: An inversion (although [[CorneredRattlesnake even the Paper Tiger can be dangerous if pushed hard enough]]).

* In ''Fanfic/CrasVivereParaBellum'', Izuku and Katsuki get kidnapped by human traffickers. Unfortunately for the latter, Izuku just so happens to be the reincarnation of Franchise/JohnWick.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12614436/1/Hermione-Granger-Demonologist Hermione Granger, Demonologist,]]'' Hermione Granger summons her first demon at age eight, being a bright, lonely little girl who wants some friends. By the time she hits Hogwarts, she's got quite a few demonic friends. Her Slytherin housemates try to bully her, and she [[BewareTheNiceOnes puts up with it for a while.]] Eventually, they push her too far...and HilarityEnsues.
--> '''Hermione:''' I have ''other'' friends! And I think it's time you met them!
* In [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4506768/1/His-Honor-The-Mayor-Drew-Lipsky His honor the mayor, Drew Lipsky,]] two thugs try to threaten Drakken and later Ron. They know who they're dealing with due to the cartoon being a VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory ShowWithinAShow, but are EntertaininglyWrong about [[BewareTheSillyOnes which parts are made up and which are real.]]
* In ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'', Garlic Jr. and his henchmen try to take over the Lookout while Mr. Popo is running it. After refusing to "clean that up", Garlic Jr. tries to monologue to Popo about who he is, which results in the latter "assimilating" him and his minions.

* Because he's out of the loop, V.V. in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10448834/1/Six-Paths-of-Rebellion Six Paths of Rebellion]]'' goes to kidnap Nunnally much like canon. Unfortunately for him, her blindness and inability to walk have both been cured months prior and Nunnally has turned into quite the athlete, ''and'' her NinjaMaid is present as well. On top of this, both Sayoko and Nunnally have been given the [[Manga/{{Naruto}} Rinnegan]] by C.C., leaving V.V. confronting two outright superhumans while in the body of a ten year old boy. Nunnally makes him suffer immensely before allowing C.C. to kill him.

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13545968/1/Wilhuff-Tarkin-Hero-of-the-Rebellion Wilhuff Tarkin, Hero of the Rebellion,]]'' the encounter between Tarkin and the coalition of Tusken tribes has three examples:

** Tarkin's plan initially goes well... Then the main Tusken's chief [[spoiler:pulls out a lightsaber, as he's actually the Tusken-born Jedi Master [[ComicBook/StarWarsLegacy A'sharad Hett]]]]. Tarkin quickly comes up with a way to deal with him, but it's implied that if plan b had failed he would have gone for the orbital bombardment route, and same if he had known about that surprise in the first place.

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13193683/1/Ere-we-go-Pluz-Ultra Ere we go, Pluz Ultra!]]'', a trio of random thugs attempt to mug Toshinori Yagi. Luckily for them, he's out of time for the day and can't transform into All-Might. Unluckily for them, Izuku is nearby and smashes them himself.

** Our ''heroes'' the Kamikaze Pirates actually fall afoul of this in chapter 18, when they pull a BlackTieInfiltration of the birthday party of an island governor who has recently beem promoted to the rank of Navy Commodore, having come to believe that the Navy are largely made up of corrupt, ineffectual weaklings. It turns out that the man they are intent on robbing, one Baron Sukumvit, is actually a proud scion of a family that has been [[HuntingTheMostDangerousGame hunting]] Grand Line beasts and [[{{Animorphism}} Zoan-using]] pirate captains for ''fun'' for generations, and he ''earned'' his rank [[AsskickingLeadsToLeadership the old-fashioned way]]. Ranma's only forewarning is when the Baron reacts to Ranma's declaration of being a pirate captain with the attitude of a kid getting a much-anticipated present before the Baron delivers a brutal CurbStompBattle that Ranma narrowly escapes from.
** In chapter 20, a young boy named Anaguma smuggles himself onto the Kamikaze Pirates' ship in hopes of taking one down for a bounty, as he thought they looked like the weakest crew gathered for the Dead End Race. The Kamikazes, at this point, include over half a dozen different {{Badass Normal}}s, an {{Animorphism}}-using EmpoweredBadassNormal in Shampoo, and Miriam. A [[GiantWoman giant]] [[SharkMan shark woman]] who is literally big enough to pick Anaguma up by the scruff of his neck between forefinger and thumb. Upon seeing her face to face, Anaguma immediately starts begging her not to eat him. And that's ''after'' Shampoo nonchalantly dodges Anaguma's attempt to shoot him and hauls him onto the deck like a bag of potatoes.

* ''WebAnimation/MoniRobo'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7fXp-5BqA0 Harumi]] kept bullying Takuya on her wedding day and bragging about her wealthy husband. However, Takuya's cousin Kenta revealed via loudspeaker that he is the grandson of Choten Mobile's CEO, and thus wealthier than the groom. Harumi tries to get back with him, only for his girlfriend Yurika to show up.

* ''Fanfic/TheHillOfSwords''. [[LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero Louise]] summons a version of [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Emiya Shirou]] who's well along the path to becoming [[FutureBadass Archer]]. Then, of course, Guiche challenges him to a duel.

* Sometime after [[LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero Louise]] summons [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Celestia]] is a familiar in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11376451/11/Celestia-takes-a-vacation Celestia Takes a Vacation,]]'' her older sister Eleanor comes to the academy and starts immediately antagonizing [[PhysicalGod Celestia]], comparing her to a common work horse. After a short magical duel, Eleanor is reduced to a talking bunny.

* In the ''Manga/SaintSeiya''/''LightNovel/TheRisingOfTheShieldHero'' crossover ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12451409/1/The-Hero-Melromarc-Needs-and-Deserves The Hero Melromarc Needs and Deserves,]]'' Malty tries on Naofumi's replacement the FalseRapeAccusation she successfully pulled off in canon. Problem is, she's doing it with Cancer Deathmask, [[StoryBreakerPower who's more than powerful enough to annihilate everything on the planet]] and [[SociopathicHero has a sketchy morality as a hero]]-and he takes offense at the set-up.

[[caption-width-right:350:"That's not a knife...''that's'' a knife!" RRRIIIPPP!!!]]

Tends to make a good EstablishingCharacterMoment, depending on how (and [[CurbstompBattle how easily]]) the crooks are dealt with. It can be particularly useful for more heroic or sympathetic characters, as it enables them to demonstrate how effective they are in a fight without being the ones to start it, as well as criminals being something of an AcceptableTarget. Occasionally this can [[DefeatMeansFriendship lead to them recruiting a sidekick]] or other allies. Can be deeply satisfying. When the person looks vulnerable due to chronological endowment, it's likely a [[RetiredBadass mighty]] [[OldSoldier old]] [[OldMaster person]].