Misused: Hyperspace Mallet

iwantedtoaddsomething from Nowhere (and you should go there!) Since: Feb, 2015

#1: Aug 10th 2020 at 11:46:23 PM

Per the description (emphasis mine):

"Strictly speaking, the mallet is a metaphor for yelling at someone. This is why it comes out of nowhere and doesn't materially affect the story, because it's not real."

In practice, this trope is used more for generic slapstick involving Hammerspace, or even just Hammerspace but More Specific (mallets in particular). Did a check on the examples list (Any comment not containing "OK" or "unsure/might qualify" signifies misuse):

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On a commercial for the Cartoon Network, a man being stalked by a mugger calls Cartoon 911 and is advised to reach behind his back and pull out a giant hammer. Hammerspace slapstick

Anime & Manga

Kaori in City Hunter; She pulls an over 100t iron hammer out of nowhere to beat Ryo up. In one of the anime episodes, Kaori is shown to have purchased a new hammer at a boutique before the action of the episode started. Seems OK
In the alternate timeline of Angel Heart, Shanin picks up this ability from Kaori's heart inside her. We later find that Kaori's sister can also do it. Unclear whether it's just used as an actual power
Ranma ½ uses it on occasion.
- Fanon makes it far more prominent and always has Akane Tendō to be the one to use it; this actually varies depending on continuity. In the anime, Akane only uses a hammer four times: the 3rd and 5th season episodes "Ryōga's Miracle Cure!" and "Into the Darkness" respectively, the OAV "Team Ranma vs. The Legendary Phoenix", and the 1st movie "Big Trouble in Nekonron, China". It's only slightly more prominent in the manga, and just about everyone has used it, from Kodachi (the first person to wield it) to Sōun Tendō to Happōsai to Ranma Saotome himself. OK
- In the manga Akane most frequently uses her fists, samurai weaponry such as shinai and bokken, or usually any blunt object at hand. She doesn't really use a mallet more than anyone else. OK, seems to follow "character is beaten up as shorthand for being yelled at"
- In the manga, Ranma actually uses one too — on Ryōga, when this one is trying to get rid of a powerful, yet shameful painting on his tummy. Hammerspace but more specific
- So pervasive and insidious is the view that Akane is a "hammer girl" (the "Weapon Of Choice" kind, not the "No Natural Buoyancy" kind) that many of the Ranma ½ video games actually give her a huge wooden mallet as a legitimate attack. The "weapon of choice" part sounds like it's used as an actual weapon
Shinobu and others in Urusei Yatsura. ZCE, can't tell
Kodomo no Omocha parodies the mallet cliché by having its characters use squeaky plastic mallets with collapsible heads. OK
- Parodies it mercilessly on many occasions, from Hayama asking Sana to take out her hammer (and then stealing it and hitting her with it) to Hayama showing off his martial arts skills by dodging it (prompting Sana to pull out another one and smack him with it with an obligatory "Too slow!"). Deconstruction/parody, OK
The Beach Episode of Mai-Otome shows Mashiro whipping out a squeaky mallet with which to assault Nagi. OK
Amy Rose in Sonic X has the ability to pull her Piko Piko Hammer out of nowhere. She has this ability in most depictions; however, this is the depiction which most frequently shows her using her hammer for comedic purposes instead of just using it in fights against her actual enemies. She can even use multiple hammers if one gets destroyed, and use them while in her spaceship in the third season. You can even watch the hammers materialize out of thin air on some occasions. It gets lampshaded. OK
Sunako in The Wallflower has the ability to materialise a Grim Reaper's scythe in times of... fragile sanity. It isn't metaphorical either — she occasionally uses it as a tool and other characters react somewhat understandably when the already scary Sunako is suddenly holding a scythe that's taller than she is.◊ OK if still periodically used as a metaphor
- This is apparently a genetic trait, as Sunako's father also materialises a wooden sword in a lightning bolt when he is angry. Unsure
Carerra Marker from Karin manifests her deadly slipper from hyperspace, complete with Battle Aura. Unsure
- A better example is when Winner pulls out a spear taller than himself while proclaiming his intent to protect Karin. Lampshaded when she replies "....Where did you get that from?" Seems more slapstick
In the Kirby anime, much like in the games, King Dedede has a hammer like this. However, it's far more likely to be used for comedy in the anime than the games. OK if still periodically used as a metaphor
- Additionally, in one episode of the anime, a group known as the Otakings decide to create a Show Within a Show about Fumu (aka Tiff). The show in question is intensely Fanservice-laden, creeping everyone out. True to this trope, Fumu is so uncomfortable with the show (as well as the fact that they followed her around and recorded her actual voice in order to take phrases out of context and use them for the show) that she pulls a large hammer out of nowhere and chases the Otakings with it. ...misplaced example for another trope?
A variation in Love Hina, Episode 18; Sarah MacDougal, who has a history of throwing and/or breaking pottery, does so this time by seemingly pulling them out of nowhere. OK
One Piece, in Usopp's fight against Mr. 4 he uses a gigantic 5-Ton hammer. But it turns out that the hammer is actually fake and can collapse for storage, and weighs about four pounds. Seems like actual hammer
- Likewise, he uses a 10-Ton Hammer against Gothic Lolita Perona (one of the three Co-Dragons of the arc), successfully terrifying her so much that she passes out. This time, it wasn't even a real weapon; it was a freaking balloon. Seems OK
- In a straighter example of the trope, one of Whitebeard's commanders can pull a giant hammer out of a small compartment in his chin. Seems like actual hammer
Pokémon:
- Misty used such a mallet in a few occasions in Pokémon, especially on Brock. She seems to be particularly talented, as she once even produced a gong to wake Ash and Pikachu up. OK
- In the Pokémon Adventures manga, the Gold/Silver/Crystal arc main character Gold can conjure a billiards stick out of seemingly nowhere, despite the fact that it looks about as tall as he is. Jessie has also pulled mallets out of hyperspace, as well as frying pans. OK
- The unnamed TV reporter from Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl Adventure! pulled one out when she was aggravated with Hareta; however, the entire gag was that he was popping out of holes in the ground like a game of Whack-A-Mole. OK, mixed with slapstick
Kaname from Full Metal Panic often uses a hyperspace Paper Fan of Doom to punish Sousuke. (Actually, she can be seen sometimes in Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu actually carrying said Paper Fan of Doom in her school portfolio.) OK
Katekyō Hitman Reborn! apparently uses this several times:
- Reborn's shape-shifting chameleon turns into a mallet which he hits people with (most notably Tsuna and Lambo) when they don't answer his questions correctly, or when he's technically annoyed with them. Seems OK
- He's also done that to the Arcobaleno Skull, too, when in the filler arc, Skull screwed up his Trial, and Reborn ticked off about that Don't forget that Colonello added his fists into this, and the Skull asks for Lal's mercy, and she just simply gives the cold shoulder. Seems OK
In one episode of Princess Resurrection, the main characters are fleeing from their enemies on a jet ski. During one cut back to the heroes, Hime is suddenly wielding a giant metal hammer. Not enough context to tell
Eve from Black Cat averts this trope, as she just needs to change her hand into a mallet. Not enough context to tell
Variant: Maka from Soul Eater has a heavy book that follows all the conventions of this trope, barring its shape. OK
- Also Shinigami and his gigantic hands. Students or staff pissing you off? Smack them on the head. Also good for punishing Big Bads and evil witches. Unsure
- Tsubaki also attacked Black*Star with shurikens to the forehead in early chapters/episodes. Not enoug context
Guchuko, the feral mochi-mochi in Potemayo, has a portal into hammerspace inside her pants. She keeps her axe in there, for one thing, but at other times she variously keeps a snake and a pile of corn cobs. That may have been how she transported the carcass of a cow into Kyo's yard. (Quite a feat considering that Guchuko is about the size of a cat.) Hammerspace but more specific
Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro Chan uses this as one of its central gags; the whole focal point of the anime is the title character producing a giant spiky club from nowhere and brutally killing the protagonist, only to revive him seconds later. She also appears to take a hologram-phone device from her panties at some points. Unsure
Hayate the Combat Butler characters seem to love this one, most often with Sakuya pulling out her paper fan to smack people. Nagi pulls out a spiked hammer when Hayate annoys her. OK
- Although not a hammer, Hinagiku pulls her borrowed wooden sword out of nowhere. Sometimes this even surprises her. Hammerspace but more specific, as clarified below
  - Should be noted that this was explained and is a plot point, while the Sakuya and Nagi examples are played for laughs.
Momoka from Eroge! H mo Game mo Kaihatsu Zanmai utilizes this against the This Loser Is You protagonist in one episode. To be precise, she manages to lift a huge gray one ton hammer above her head. Seems OK

Comic Books

The title character of Léonard le Génie often pulls hammers, anvils and other heavy, blunt objects from his beard to punish his clumsy assistant Basile. Seems OK
A modern western example / subversion / Shout-Out can be found in the Scott Pilgrim books where Ramona Flowers will often pull large weapons out of her subspace handbag. Including a hammer (+2 against girls!). Actual hammer
The Awesome Slapstick: This is Slapstick's primary method of attack. Hammerspace slapstick
In one strip of the Italian Comic Lupo Alberto, one of the two characters starts talking about old comics and their "special effects", until the other one, annoyed, reminds him the last one, A.K.A. said "Mallet that popped out of nowhere used to punish the bad guys". Unsure if actually weapon
Harley Quinn would often use a giant cartoony mallet on her victims. Unsure if actual weapon

Commented out:

If someone knows, please fill in the name here. One short-lived character invoked this trope literally. Whenever he wanted something, he'd call out "Warp: Item X" where X was the item's number (such as 1 for a gun). If it was armor or something else worn, it would usually just appear on his body. Otherwise he'd reach out and his hand would vanish into a glowing portal in midair and when he pulled his hand out, it would be holding the item he'd called for. Plain hammerspace

Comic Strips

In Pearls Before Swine, Rat once had a "Mallet o' Understanding" which he'd whip out to use on other characters who displeased him. Slapstick, but may qualify
Baby Blues: To make fun of the mallet that's in the WB cartoons, they use baseball bats, teddy bears or newspapers instead. The mallet DID appear in one comic, but one of the kids (Hammie) is taliking about Tom and Jerry. Unsure

Fan Works

Second Wind: In Chapter 10, Usopp, Johnny, Yosaku, and Nojiko all use these to hit Zoro when he makes his intention to fight the fishmen clear. Zoro is not amused, especially when he remembers how he was captured last time; the Death Glare and Slasher Smile he gives them in response are terrifying. Unsure
In New Life and New Battles Lily Potter hits James with one when he complains that Harry is drawing female attention earlier than he ever did. OK
In its first appearance in Ranma ½: The Abridged Chronicles, Kodachi calls out "Hyperspace mallet!" as she attacks with it. Seems OK

Films — Animation

Gideon from Pinocchio at least twice pulls a mallet, the second time we see he pulls it out of his sleeve. Unsure if actual weapon
Jose Carioca pulls one out from behind his back in The Three Caballeros. Unsure if actual weapon
In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Spider-Ham, being a living cartoon character, uses one to dish out one heck of a Curb-Stomp Battle on the Scorpion. He even gives it to Miles as a keepsake before returning to his home dimension, saying it'll always fit in his pocket. Hammerspace slapstick

Films — Live-Action

In the 1992 Marx Brothers homage Brain Donors, Harpo-equivalent Jacques pulls a huge wooden sledgehammer out of nowhere when the decision is made to "take care of" egotistical ballet star Volare. He is, unfortunately, restrained from actually using it. Seems OK
In one scene in The Mask, the title character pulls an enormous mallet out of his pocket in order to smash an alarm clock. Hammerspace slapstick
Highlander and, particularly its spinoffs, makes little to no effort to explain where the immortals pull their swords from. While early on, they'd have characters wearing long coats, later on they'll have characters (particularly females) pull out swords while wearing form-fitting clothing. Plain hammerspace
While being less a Mallet and more a Megaton Hammer, Ramona Flowers uses one in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World to fight her ex-girlfriend. Again, actual hammer

Live-Action TV

At one point on Mystery Science Theater 3000, Mike bumps his head and believes he's James Lipton from Inside the Actors' Studio. Crow gleefully whacks him on the head with a giant "Clown Hammer" to snap him out of it. Seems OK

Literature

In the Tom Holt novel Grailblazers, one of the knights has an hereditary power — that any male of his line can, when reaching vaguely behind them, always grab a weapon of some sort. Actual hammerspace

Mythology & Religion

In Norse Mythology, Thor's hammer Mjolnir would work like this according to some tales, literally hiding inside of his shirt and then growing to whatever size he chose as he drew it. Which makes this an Ur-Example. Actual hammer

Tabletop Games

GURPS Mecha, which covers quite a bit of anime material (because that's where a lot of mecha appear), has rules for this trope, which it refers to as "Shojo Mallet". The ability to produce such a mallet is only available to female characters. OK
In Teenagers from Outer Space, the Hyperdimensional Hammer is available to any student who pays a sum of $10. Seems like actual weapon
In Brikwars, the Hammer of Punishment and the Hammer of Discipline fall under this trope. Unsure if actual weapon

Video Games

Overlaps with Hyperspace Arsenal, but a vast number of video games incorporate the ability for characters to draw a weapon (or similar tool) at will from nowhere. Actually is Hyperspace Arsenal
In the Sonic The Hedgehog franchise, Amy Rose's signature weapon is the Piko Piko Hammer, a mallet that shows up out of nowhere. There's not a single video game (besides Sonic CD) she shows up in either in which she doesn't have the hammer at all (since Sonic Adventure) or in which she keeps the hammer in a logical place. Unsure if used metaphorically like in the anime
Literally in the game Patapon 2. Ormen Karmen, the Karmen chief and the Penultimate Boss, has one attack where a gigantic hammer appears in his hands and he crashes it down on the patapons. When he finishes attacking, the hammer shrinks back into the void. Actual weapon
In the Super Smash Bros. series, one of Peach's attacks strikes the target with a random blunt object from out of nowhere, such as a golf club. Similarly, Ness swings a baseball bat out of thin air for his smash attack, after which the bat disappears again. Peach example sounds like homage and OK, Ness example is just Batter Up!
- In 3DS/Wii U, Robin's victory movie shows a short clip of female Robin chasing her male counterpart with the hammer from Donkey Kong. Actual hammer
While most of Link's equipment would fall under the Hyperspace Arsenal trope, he does acquire oversized-hammer weapons in various games, such as the Megaton Hammer from Ocarina of Time or the Skull Hammer from Wind Waker. Actual hammer
The Elder Scrolls:
- Prior to Oblivion, equipped items do not appear on character models until they are drawn. This can lead to a seemingly unarmed character pulling a gigantic warhammer from thin air over his shoulder upon being agro'd. Plain hammerspace
- A serious example are the Bound Weapon/Armor spells available throughout the series. Crossing over with Spontaneous Weapon Creation, the spell essentially uses magic to create a temporary Spectral Weapon Copy out of thin air. (The Bound item usually has no weight and shares its stats with Daedric level equipment, typically the most powerful generic crafting material available in the series.) Plain hammerspace
In LEGO Batman, Harley Quinn can pull a mallet out of nowhere and bludgeon the enemy with it. This is one of the most effective melee attacks in the game. Actual, probably not homage
In Samurai Showdown V, Rimururu has a finishing move that involves freezing her opponent before smashing them with a gigantic ice mallet (which she of course summons out of nowhere.) Actual hammer
Mario and Luigi use hammers fairly often. There has never been a logical place that they could be kept. Mario has even reached into the air, have a solid iron hammer the size of a garden shed appear in a puff of smoke (No, I am not kidding), which then proceeds to disappear. Actual hammer
Peacock from Skullgirls can pull a hammer out of nowhere to whack an enemy with. The creepy part about this is that when she's done with the hammer, where does she put it? She shoves it into one of her empty eye sockets. Actual hammer, unsure if homage
Some of the Final Fantasy games feature an attack called Magic Hammer, where the hammer literally appears out of nowhere and smacks the target on the head. Hammer slapstick
The Tinkerer in Dragon Nest has this as one of her skills. Sadly, it only works against stunned enemies, not ignornant teammates. OK, homage
In lieu of superpowers, Harley Quinn in Injustice 2 gets a hyperspace mallet (and baseball bat, and copious amounts of explosives) as part of her moveset to take on her often-superpowered foes. Actual weapons

Webcomics

In El Goonish Shive not only do the currently female characters pull hammers out of nowhere, but Dr. Germahn, at one point, gives a lengthy, Techno Babble-laden explanation of the spatial anomalies that make this possible (in particular, only female characters can do it, and only in comedic scenes). Susan is particularly adept at using the hammers, having demonstrated (offscreen, admittedly) the ability to juggle 3 Hyperspace Mallets and a food-tray at the same time. Deconstructed, OK
Parodied in the second strip featured here of Narbonic. Actual hammer
The sweet pacifist healer White Mage of 8-Bit Theater carries a giant holy hammer (usually invisible) with which she smacks Black Mage around in response to his lewd pick-up lines. (Or when he kills people. Or when he suggests doing lewd things with dead people. Take your pick.) Unsure
The characters of Looking for Group use Hammerspace a lot for their weapons and other gear, because they certainly don't seem to carry around backpacks (despite changing their outfits from time to time) and their weapons are curiously absent when not in use. But they never pull a weapon from hammerspace just for a humorous toonish effect (not even Krunch, the huge minotaur scholar wielding a massive sledgehammer), so it's more a case of both audience and characters deliberately ignoring the question where the weapons go. Plain hammerspace
- The Warlock Richard, on the other hand, often manifests odd items from nowhere for humorous effect and Fourth Wall Breaking; at one point he explained that "[his] mind can make arrows", so his mind probably can make dice, too. Slapstick hammerspace
Eddie from Emergency Exit does this on occasion, despite being male. Of course, Eddie's completely nuts anyway, so nobody gives it a second thought. In a slight subversion, the mallet becomes a powerful weapon when combined with Eddie's coolness enhancer Unsure
Gwynn from Sluggy Freelance uses a baseball bat, but the principle is the same. Including pulling a bat out of a purse far too small to actually contain one. Seems OK
In Everyday Heroes, Carrie is an expert with hammers. Demonstrated here and here. Unsure
- Summer isn't allowed to use a hammer, due to her super strength, so she finds a handy substitute. Unsure
Girl Genius doesn't do this with hammers, but with every other tool that the well-equipped Mad Scientist might need. Can't tell how these strips use this trope
- Now, with real mallet! Actual hammer
Tsunami of Tsunami Channel one-ups most of these by using a hammer-chuck on Professor Hasegawa. Unsure
Lampshaded in this Badly Drawn Kitties strip. OK
In The Whiteboard, Doc occasionally pulls his signature mallet out of Hammerspace Not enough context
Barely comedic example in Suicide for Hire: where'd that bat come from? Unsure
In Kid Radd, after merging with a Superpowered Alter Ego from the sequel game, gains this ability, though we only ever see her use it to bonk Radd on the head for being stupid. OK

Web Original

PMS can be weaponized as a giant hammer! Seems OK

Western Animation

Wakko Warner from Animaniacs used a mallet as needed...of course, definitions of "as needed" are flexible on that show. Probably just slapstick in most casess
- The sizes of mallets he uses are also quite flexible, ranging from the semi-sensible, to the ridiculously-large. In one short, the Warners are filling in for Plotz's sick secretary and Wakko has trouble with the photocopier. His solution is to smash the offending machine with a mallet that's about half the size of the room. Slapstick hammer
Inspector Gadget had one in his hat, held aloft by a gloved mechanical arm. In the second live-action film, G2 did this as well. Unsure, likely slapstick or actual weapon
The classic Looney Tunes shorts are probably the Trope Maker or at least Trope Codifier. It seems to be a fundamental law of physics in the Looney Tunes world that mallets will always and only exist in situations when someone deserves to be hit with one. Mind you, the Looney Tunes can pull anything from behind their backs if it would be amusing at the time. Slapstick hammerspace
The Devil does this to Pluto several times during Pluto's trial in Hell in "Pluto's Judgement Day". Probably slapstick
Ed, Edd n Eddy: Rolf smacks Edd with the "Hat of Discipline," which is essentially a giant mallet-hat. Probably slapstick
Kaeloo: Where exactly do all those differently-sized mallets Mr. Cat uses come from? Slapstick hammerspace
In the Rocko's Modern Life episode "Tooth and Nail", Rocko buys the "12 steps" from Chuck and Leon. When he refuses to admit his nail-biting problem to them, one of them comes up to him, generates a mallet out of nowhere and bashes Rocko on the head with it. Might qualify

Edited by iwantedtoaddsomething on Aug 10th 2020 at 2:48:34 PM

mwop

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu

#2: Aug 12th 2020 at 6:16:01 AM

Opening.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman

Berrenta How sweet it is from Texas Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love

How sweet it is

#3: Aug 12th 2020 at 7:15:04 AM

Edit: Looking at the examples you gave, and...hmmm, this is a tough one.

Edited by Berrenta on Aug 12th 2020 at 9:18:29 AM

she/her | TRS needs your help! | Contributor of Trope Report

GastonRabbit Cake's just a shot away. (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me

Cake's just a shot away. (he/him)

#4: Aug 15th 2020 at 3:26:51 PM

Are there enough good examples to make this distinct from Hammerspace? It doesn't help that the page quote, page image, and description can't seem to decide whether the hammer is metaphorical or is an actual hammer stored in an improbably small space.

Edit: Well, I looked at Hammerspace's description and it can be used for things other than hammers, but there's still Hyperspace Mallet's confusion over whether it's metaphorical or about actual hammers.

Edited by GastonRabbit on Aug 15th 2020 at 5:39:53 AM

You can't always get what you want.

FernandoLemon Nobody Here from Argentina (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: In season

Nobody Here

#5: Aug 15th 2020 at 5:37:48 PM

Then, if that's the problem, I vote to restict the trope to literal hammers. I do believe it's a common enough sub-trope from Hammerspace to merit its existance.

I'd like to apologize for all this.

GastonRabbit Cake's just a shot away. (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me

Cake's just a shot away. (he/him)

#6: Aug 16th 2020 at 3:41:43 AM

I've slept since writing my previous post, and I think I'm in favor definining this as a hammer-specific subtrope of Hammerspace (since Hammerspace isn't necessarily about hammers itself), but without the hammer needing to be a metaphor for yelling at someone. I don't think "a hammer stored in an improbably small space" and "a hammer stored in an improbably small space, except it's a metaphor for yelling at someone and not actually there" are distinct enough concepts from each other, but I do think they're distinct from Hammerspace.

Edited by GastonRabbit on Aug 16th 2020 at 5:43:17 AM

You can't always get what you want.

Spark9 Gentleman Troper! from Castle Wulfenbach Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords

Gentleman Troper!

#7: Aug 17th 2020 at 12:59:46 AM

Well, the line that it has to be a metaphor clearly has to go; more often than not, the audience of a work has no way of being certain about that.

I don't see how Hammerspace-but-for-any-object and Hammerspace-but-specifically-for-hammers are two distinct tropes, either. Bear in mind what Hammerspace is named after...

Rhetorical, eh? ... Eight!

Adept (Holding A Herring) Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu

#8: Aug 17th 2020 at 1:11:25 AM

So how is this trope related to Harsh Word Impact, considering that both tropes is supposedly used to visually represent a rebuke/insult using physical violence?

Edited by Adept on Aug 17th 2020 at 4:11:12 PM

Spark9 Gentleman Troper! from Castle Wulfenbach Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords

Gentleman Troper!

#9: Aug 17th 2020 at 4:29:06 AM

Good find, that is the trope where the damage is a metaphor instead of an actual physical object.

Rhetorical, eh? ... Eight!

GastonRabbit Cake's just a shot away. (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me

Cake's just a shot away. (he/him)

#10: Aug 17th 2020 at 10:39:45 AM

I think the "hammer as metaphor for yelling at someone" definition is The Same, but More Specific to that. While Harsh Word Impact focuses a lot on arrows, it does say it doesn't have to be an arrow.

Edited by GastonRabbit on Aug 17th 2020 at 12:41:09 PM

You can't always get what you want.

Berrenta How sweet it is from Texas Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love

How sweet it is

#11: Aug 21st 2020 at 6:18:01 AM

Exactly what I was thinking regarding "hammer as metaphor".

What about the non-metaphor type? Would that be covered by something else, too?

she/her | TRS needs your help! | Contributor of Trope Report

Spark9 Gentleman Troper! from Castle Wulfenbach Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords

Gentleman Troper!

#12: Aug 21st 2020 at 6:51:24 AM

Hitting people with a non-metaphorical hammer is Drop The Hammer.

So basically, all variations of this trope are already covered by other tropes.

Rhetorical, eh? ... Eight!

Berrenta How sweet it is from Texas Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love

How sweet it is

#13: Aug 21st 2020 at 7:38:37 AM

Well, looks like I have my decision, then.

Voting to cut + move examples to Harsh Word Impact, Drop The Hammer, or Hammerspace as appropriate.

Edited by Berrenta on Aug 21st 2020 at 9:39:00 AM

she/her | TRS needs your help! | Contributor of Trope Report

FernandoLemon Nobody Here from Argentina (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: In season

Nobody Here

#14: Aug 21st 2020 at 7:54:56 AM

Drop The Hammer is a bit different, as it focuses on the use of hammers as "real" weapons rather than the use of hammers in slapstick gags. I'm not sure if that's enough of a difference or not for the two tropes to be split.

Edited by FernandoLemon on Aug 21st 2020 at 11:55:37 AM

I'd like to apologize for all this.

Tabs Since: Jan, 2001

#15: Aug 21st 2020 at 8:40:48 AM

It's still used as a weapon, but moving it to Slapstick/Hammered into the Ground if not Drop The Hammer is fine, too.

naturalironist from The Information Superhighway Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life

#16: Aug 21st 2020 at 12:17:06 PM

If Hyperspace Mallet (the trope) is to be cut, I think it should be made a redirect to Hammerspace. They sound rather similar, the usage backs it up, and it's a good name.

"It's just a show; I should really just relax"

GastonRabbit Cake's just a shot away. (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me

Cake's just a shot away. (he/him)

#17: Aug 21st 2020 at 2:15:50 PM

Edit: Also, I'm fine with turning Hyperspace Mallet into a redirect to Hammerspace.

Edited by GastonRabbit on Aug 21st 2020 at 5:25:21 AM

You can't always get what you want.

FernandoLemon Nobody Here from Argentina (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: In season

Nobody Here

#18: Aug 21st 2020 at 3:03:57 PM

I'm not against that.

I'd like to apologize for all this.

Tabs Since: Jan, 2001

#19: Aug 21st 2020 at 3:09:50 PM

Especially since "Hyperspace Mallet" reads like "Hammerspace but in two words".

iwantedtoaddsomething from Nowhere (and you should go there!) Since: Feb, 2015

#20: Aug 21st 2020 at 3:33:50 PM

A more relevant redirect might be to Hyperspace Arsenal, which deals with weapons in hammerspace in general (including mallets)

mwop

GastonRabbit Cake's just a shot away. (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me

Cake's just a shot away. (he/him)

#21: Aug 21st 2020 at 6:14:47 PM

That would probably work, considering how many wicks for Hyperspace Mallet involve actual hammers instead of using the "metaphor for yelling" definition.

You can't always get what you want.

SeptimusHeap MOD from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu

#22: Sep 22nd 2020 at 1:38:22 AM

Clock is set.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman

JXZ groovin' Since: May, 2011

groovin'

#23: Sep 22nd 2020 at 11:37:26 AM

Proposals so far are:

Do nothing.
Move examples to other applicable tropes.
- Either make the page a redirect to one of them, or cut it.
Redefine the trope.
- Redefine as "Hammer pulled from Hammerspace for slapstick."
- Redefine as "Hammer as a metaphor for yelling."

"Other applicable tropes" include Hammerspace, Harsh Word Impact, Drop The Hammer, Slapstick, Hyperspace Arsenal, Amusing Injuries, etc.

I think it should be redefined as "Hammerspace used for Slapstick." That covers the correct use, as well as how editors are actually using it. It also more clearly allows non-hammer examples.

my brain is a computer with 4k of ram. this is a jokes wiki

naturalironist from The Information Superhighway Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life

#24: Sep 22nd 2020 at 12:01:20 PM

I can get behind this proposal.

"It's just a show; I should really just relax"

ImperialMajestyXO Since: Nov, 2015