History Main / SingleSubstanceManipulation

* In ''Franchise/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', benders are only able to manipulate one specific element. Waterbenders can only control forms of water, earthbenders can only control forms of earth, and so on. However, particularly creative benders are able to manipulate more unusual forms of their element. For instance, earthbenders are able to sense the impurities within metal to bend it. The only person able to bend multiple elements is the Avatar, which grants a fully trained Avatar unparalleled power compared to a normal bender.

* ''Franchise/OnePiece'': Many Paramecia, some Zoan, and all Logia Devil Fruits have abilities that allow their users to manipulate a specific substance. In addition, the users aren't restricted to the literal effects of the substance in question as they can imbue their substance specific properties the natural substance doesn't have such as bubbles being able to sap strength or cream that can burn people.

* ''Film/MissPeregrinesHomeForPeculiarChildren'' has the AdaptationalSuperpowerChange aerokinetic, previously pyrokinetic, Emma Bloom, who can manipulate air (such as making air bubbles to breathe underwater, or blowing powerful wind gusts). A side effect of her power is her body is lighter than air, and she would float away helplessly without a pair of heavy iron boots to weigh her down.

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' villain [[Characters/SpiderManCentralRoguesGallery Sandman]] has very limited telekinetic abilities over sand. He can draw sand from his immediate area towards himself, and then absorb it to increase his mass and strength.

* ''Series/{{Angel}}'' has a unique example in MonsterOfTheWeek Ronald Meltzer, who is ''autokinetic'': learning to detach his own body parts and manipulate them from a distance, allowing him to stalk a young woman by sending his eyes and hands to her bedroom. During a fight with Angel he attacks the vampire by detaching his own teeth as a flying weapon.

[[folder: Western Animation]]

This overlaps with SinglePowerSuperheroes if this is, well, the only power that they have. And could overlap with ShapingYourAttacks, if it's used to make attacks have clearly defined shapes, like axes of an element or such.

* AshesToAshes: For when the substance is ash.
* ExtraOreDinary: or when the substance is metal.
* MasterOfThreads: For when the substance is thread and/or fabric.
* PaperMaster: For when the substance is paper.
* PetalPower: For when the substance is flower petals.
* ThePowerOfGlass: For when the substance is glass; even though the trope name sounds broader, it has been restricted to this.
* SandBlaster: For when the substance is sand.

* MagnetismManipulation: For when the substance is magnetic fields.

* ThePowerOfGlass: For when the substance is glass, even though the name sounds broader, it has been restricted to this.

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* ''Webcomic/TheLeagueOfSuperRedundantHeroes'': Cat-a-Pult has the ability to telekinetically move cats. It becomes a lot more useful when he figures out strapping cats to his body effectively gives him NotQuiteFlight, and veers into SemanticSuperpower territory when it turns out he can also levitate attractive older women (aka cougars).

* In ''ComicBook/ApamaTheUndiscoveredAnimal'', Lawn Mower Man had the power to manipulate [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_(optical phenomenon) flying rods]].

* In ''ComicBook/ApamaTheUndiscoveredAnimal'', Lawn Mower Man had the power to manipulate [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_(ufology) flying rods]].
* ''ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}'': Sylph can mentally manipulate an experimental prehensile cloth, the murder of its creator has made it so that the intended method for normal people controlling it is all but lost.

* ''Film/MissPeregrinesHomeForPeculiarChildren'' has the aerokinetic Emma Bloom, who can manipulate air (such as making air bubbles to breathe underwater, or blowing powerful wind gusts). A side effect of her power is her body is lighter than air, and she would float away helplessly without a pair of heavy iron boots to weigh her down.

* ''WesternAnimation/KuboAndTheTwoStrings'': Kubo is papyrokinetic, able to control paper while playing music with his shamisen. He uses his power to tell stories in his home village, making origami puppets that move on their own.

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' villain [[Characters/SpiderManRoguesGalleryIToZ The Sandman]] has very limited telekinetic abilities over sand. He can draw sand from his immediate area into himself to increase his mass and strength.

** Pro Hero Best Jeanist has the quirk "Fiber Control" which allows him to manipulate the threads and fabrics of people's outfits. Denim is easiest to control, so his costume is a jeans bodysuit covering him from head to toe.

** In [[Manga/StardustCrusaders Part 3]], Iggy is a Boston Terrier whose [[FightingSpirit Stand]], The Fool, lets him manipulate [[SandBlaster sand]]. He can create various things out of sand such as hang-gliders, shields, and even clones of other people. He's brought to Egypt late in the story to join the heroes, since the desert environment means there's no shortage of sand for him to use.