Line #17 ComicBook/Powerless


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Powerless_Vol_1_1_7199.jpg]]
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3	Marvel's ''Powerless'' is a 6-issue miniseries (August, 2004-January, 2005). It was co-written by Matt Cherniss and Peter Johnson. The art was done by Michael Gaydos. The setting, in a nutshell, is a re-imagining of the whole Franchise/MarvelUniverse, with the hook being the lack of any superpowers at all. As such, the genre changes from standard superhero fare to a down-to-earth thriller.
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5	People such as [[ComicBook/{{Daredevil}} Matt Murdock]], [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Peter Parker]], [[ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} Logan]], [[ComicBook/ThePunisher Frank Castle]], [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Bruce Banner]] and the like are all connected to their therapist, Doctor William Watts. After he awakens from a three-day coma spent dreaming of the main Marvel universe, Watts begins [[MythologyGag hallucinating said people's Earth-616 analogues]] as soon as their name is mentioned, and tries to connect the strange happenings with the increasingly sinister events happening around him.
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7	In this universe, when Peter Parker isn't bullied by a JerkJock, he's threatened by Norman Osborn simply for working for [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]] instead. And instead of getting superpowers, the spider-bite only made his right arm almost useless.
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9	In this universe, Logan... well... [[BrainwashedAndCrazy has the same problems as usual.]]
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11	In this universe, Matt Murdock is a blind, yet brilliant, attorney, whose struggle against Wilson Fisk seems to be {{Unwinnable}} due to the latter having blackmailed a MisBlamed Frank Castle into admitting a crime he didn't commit, in order to get away with it. A [[TraumaCongaLine particularly traumatic experience]] is only [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished the first price the man will pay for doing his job.]]
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13	In this universe, Bruce Banner is simply held captive in an asylum due to... [[HulkingOut well, you know]].
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15	Essentially, this is what would happen if Creator/{{Christopher Nolan}} were to reimagine the Marvel Universe in the vein of ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy''.
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17	See also ''ComicBook/BulletPoints'' for a series that similarly turns the Marvel Universe on its head, and as such, for example, in Italy got reprinted together with Powerless in a single book. The ''ComicBook/MarvelNoir'' books also tread a lot of the same ground but transfer the setting to the 1930s.
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19	Unrelated to the TV series ''Series/{{Powerless 2017}}'', about a non-powered R&D department for Wayne Securities in [[Franchise/DCUniverse The DC TV Universe]].
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21	----
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23	!!This series provides examples of:
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25	* AdaptationalNationality: All of the characters undergo massive status quo changes from their mainstream counterparts, but ComicBook/{{Magneto}} is one of the most drastic examples. Instead of an elderly European Holocaust survivor named Erik Lensherr (born Max Eisenhardt), he's a middle-aged American politician named Eric Magnus.
26	* AgeLift: Since he lacks slowed aging or a {{Healing Factor}}s in this continuity, it's safe to assume Logan [[OlderThanTheyLook wasn't born in the 1800's here]].
27	* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Peter manages to save Gwen from Norman (who dies), causing his outlook on life to change for the better. However, Matt Murdock is killed, and even though Frank successfully avenges him, it won't bring him back. And while Logan manages to kill Eric and take back his life, he's likely going to be a fugitive for the rest of his days]].
28	* ButtMonkey: While, for once, [[spoiler: Peter Parker]] comes out of the crap he's been put through pretty well, [[spoiler: Matt Murdock]] isn't so lucky.
29	* TheCameo: Issue #5 has Creator/BrianMichaelBendis (or a NoCelebritiesWereHarmed version thereof) talking to Dr. Watts about the ideas for a comic he wants to write-- "... this one idea called Jinx that I've had in my head forever..."
30	* CassandraTruth: Gwen just won't believe Peter about [[spoiler: Osborn]]'s blackmailing.
31	* ComesGreatResponsibility: Referenced by Peter, [[MythologyGag when he tells Watts about something his uncle Ben said before dying]].
32	* CrapsackWorld: This series shows ''very well'' what living in the same city where either Osborn or Fisk, in a real world without superpowers, is like. But with this being the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, this is a given.
33	* DeathByAdaptation: Quite a few:
34	** Logan's plot is kicked off by the murder of [[Comicbook/{{Professor X}} Charles Xavier]].
35	** Frank is on trial for killing Leland Owlsley. [[spoiler: He was actually framed by Wilson Fisk.]]
36	** [[spoiler: Logan kills Comicbook/{{Mystique}} after she tries to report back to her superiors, and then [[DisposingOfABody disposes of her body]]]].
37	** [[spoiler: It's unclear, but it's possible Mort (Toad) was killed in the car accident Logan caused since he's [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse never seen or mentioned again]]]].
38	** [[spoiler: In a rather tragic turn, Matt Murdock is killed by Wilson Fisk after successfully foiling his plan to frame Frank]].
39	** [[spoiler: Fisk is then killed by Frank in retaliation, ending his reign of terror once and for all]].
40	** [[spoiler: It's heavily implied that Logan strangles Eric to death, though it isn't shown]].
41	** [[spoiler: Norman falls off a rooftop while trying to catch the documents on the Iron Man armor. And since he doesn't have a HealingFactor in this continuity, it means he's [[KilledOffForReal not coming back this time]]]].
42	* DemotedToExtra: [[Comicbook/FantasticFour Reed and Susan Richards]], the prison inmates (see Mythology Gag below), [[Comicbook/DoctorStrange Stephen Strange]], [[ComicBook/AntMan Henry Pym]], Comicbook/EmmaFrost, and to a lesser extent, Bruce Banner.
43	* DisneyVillainDeath: This time around, [[spoiler: [[{{Irony}} Norman Osborn is the one who suffers Gwen Stacy's fate]].]] Though [[DiesWideOpen you get to see the outcome instead of turning away]].
44	* DoingInTheWizard: In a world without magic, Stephen Strange makes a living as a street magician.
45	* {{Elseworld}}: No duh.
46	* InSpiteOfANail: [[spoiler:Even in a universe without superpowers, Wolverine is still Weapon X and Frank Castle still becomes the Punisher.]]
47	* HeroicBSOD: Poor Watts, when he saw the headlines announcing [[spoiler:Matt Murdock's assassination]], he didn't take it well. Doubles as OhCrap.
48	* ImportantHaircut: [[spoiler:More of an Important ''Mustache'' cut, but there you go. That's how Watts becomes a carbon copy of The Watcher (as noted below, see "The Watcher"), thus ending the series.]]
49	* KickTheDog: [[spoiler:Wilson Fisk torments Matt over his drug addiction out of spite before killing him]].
50	* KilledOffForReal: By the end of the miniseries, the body count is as follows: [[spoiler: [[TogetherInDeath Matt Murdock and Karen Page]], Wilson Fisk, Norman Osborn,]] and ''heavily'' implied with [[spoiler: Eric Magnus and Mystique.]]
51	* LampshadeHanging: Of a MythologyGag - when leaving Peter alone, fellow scientist Curt Connors says he has to do experiments with reptiles, about which he comments, "Don't ask".
52	* MiscarriageOfJustice: Frank Castle is almost put away for a crime he didn't commit, but confessed to.
53	* MythologyGag: ''All over the place''. This trope gets pulled off best when a panel shows a shot of various super-villains (another superimposed hallucination of Watts) and the next one shows their ''Powerless'' counterparts, who are simple jailbirds.
54	* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: [[spoiler: Matt Murdock]] is captured and beaten to death towards the end of the story.
55	* PreAssKickingOneLiner: [[spoiler: Frank Castle's "Consider yourself ''punished.''" line, and also Logan when he tells Eric Magnus, "but I was looking forward to meet ''you.''"]]
56	* RedRightHand: A whole right ''arm'' at that, but still, Peter Parker's epic ButtMonkey status has reached even this universe, this time with the spider not only [[ComesGreatResponsibility giving him problems as usual]], but even ''weakening him instead of giving him superpowers''. Poor boy, [[TheWoobie you'll just want to hug him]].
57	* ShootTheShaggyDog: [[spoiler: Fisk shamelessly teases Matt Murdock with photos depicting his drug addiction and how he pulled himself out of the slump right before killing him, rendering his recovery meaningless.]]
58	* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: It initially seems like history is going to repeat itself and Gwen is going to be killed by Norman Osborn. However, Peter manages to catch her before she falls off the roof]].
59	* TitleDrop: As remarked [[spoiler:by Watts in the very last panel of the whole series]], "Sometimes we're just powerless".
60	* VFormationTeamShot: The cover of the first issue, as shown above.
61	* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Wilson Fisk, to the point of having the ''balls'' to give [[spoiler: Matt Murdock, whom he killed without any regret]] ''an eulogy''.
62	* TheWatcher: [[spoiler:Quite fittingly, the audience discovers that Watts is an alternate version of The Watcher when [[TomatoInTheMirror he looks in the mirror]].]]
63	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The [[spoiler: Iron Man suit]] is never mentioned after it's first shown off.
64	* WhoopiEpiphanySpeech: Referenced by Peter Parker when he begs Watts to say something that will show him what to do when [[spoiler:Norman kidnaps Gwen]].

Context ComicBook / Powerless