Fanservice Tropes Cleanup Thread

Admit it, you're staring. ^note  Men, you're not excluded from this. The image caption feels weirdly gushy, that could just be me overreacting though.

• Dick Grayson. There's a reason why he always ends up parading around shirtless or in his underwear, and his tendency to get tied up... often while shirtless or in his underwear. It's because Nightwing makes female Bat-fans. He also tends to suffer extensive Clothing Damage and gratuitous shots of his lovingly rendered ass (such as the one viewable to the right). While this example is valid, it feels very gushy. That pause makes me worry about this being troped with one hand.
  • Especially in Grayson in which he becomes a sexy spy. Characters in-universe refer to his good looks & physique often. One recurring Anti-Villain, because of perception-scrambling implants obscuring Dick's face, is able to identify him solely by his ass. Seems legit, although I think this would fit better under Chick Magnet and maybe Even the Guys Want Him, I don't think Mr. Fanservice can be in-universe. Also, incorrect indentation, if this is valid then it can be merged with the first bullet.
  • All the male Robins. You've got Jason, who has a dark and troubled past and a tendency to wear leather jackets. Tim, a dork with his tendency to ponder his next move and life situation in gratuitous shower scenes. Even Damian has his fangirls. Not sure why these can't be moved into separate examples under the same franchise. Jason doesn't sound like a Mr. Fanservice, just a bad boy. If he is intended for fanservice, then the entry doesn't really get that across. Tim sounds like an Adorkable nerd who has Shirtless Scenes, it doesn't mention anything about his appearance. The Damian example is gushy on top of being a ZCE. Personality has nothing to do with this trope anyway.

• Superman himself isn't immune to this treatment, even if it's rarely focused on. By sheer dint of his looks and Heroic Build, and his general adorableness and Nice Guy personality, the Man of Steel has been subjected to his share of Shirtless Scenes. The New 52 had his first panel in one issue benchpressing the equivalent of the Earth's weight. In nothing but his boxers. It also extends to the actors cast to play him in just about every live action adaptation. Personality isn't needed. Also, Is mentioning the attractiveness of the actors really necessary?
  • Then there's the Kon-El Superboy, specifically designed to be a younger hotter Superman visually with bad boy imagery included by way of his leather jacket, shades and earring to go with his upbeat too cool for school Fun Personified personality. Personality has nothing to do with fanservice. He doesn't sound like a Mr. Fanservice, just a bad boy that the troper found hot.

• The Spirit. Although there may be an entirely plausible, plot-related reason for why he's Bound and Gagged so damn much... and undressed... in consecutive splash pages. Or maybe not. This sounds like it was troped with one hand. Other than that, it seems valid.

• Witchblade has Ian Nottingham. Often drawn shirtless due to fannish demand. (Not that Kenneth Irons was half bad, but he spent less time half naked.) And we shouldn't forget The Darkness' Jackie Estacado, either... although he does have a slight impediment for estrogen fun. Ian sounds like the only valid example, everything else is an excuse to gush. If the other characters are valid examples, then this needs a rewrite.

• X-Men:
  • Gambit (especially in the '90s): The dark, brooding and mysterious guy with a horrible past and a dark secret, a cool gimmick, a trenchcoat... and the playful nature of playing basketball shirtless. Or showing his magnificent butt to the 'camera' (i.e. boathouse scene or the arrival in the Onslaught-aftermath issue of Uncanny X-Men). Seems legit, his characterization is irrelevant though. "Magnificent butt" feels gushy, although it could just be a description.
  • Before Gambit, Longshot played a similar role, both in his own mini-series and as a member of the X-Men. The main differences are that he didn't have a longcoat (though his leather clothes certainly were meant to invoke '80s cool, just like Gambit's clothes invoked '90s cool), and instead of being a brooding yet loveable rogue he was a naive (due to being an amnesiac alien from another dimension) yet loveable rogue. He was also co-created by a female writer. This feels like an excuse to gush. It doesn't mention anything about his build. "He was also co-created by a female writer" Yeah, and? She didn't work on the art, so there likely aren't any gratuitous shots of his ass or anything, and that detail is irrelevant if he isn't intended for fanservice.
  • Sunspot from the New Mutants. A handsome, flirtatious Latino who constantly finds himself without a shirt and showing off his muscled physique. One X-Force cover had him shirtless and in chains, which is not the only time that's happened to him. Seems valid.
  • Colossus being tall, handsome and muscular. His costumes, to show off his armoured form, usually don't cover much. When he was resurrected in Astonishing X-Men he spent the first 3 issues of his reappearance wearing nothing but a pair of tight red boxer shorts. Seems valid.

• Savant, from Birds of Prey, was designed to be a hot one shot villain but became popular. ZCE. Also mentions out-of-universe attraction. Also, is "hot one shot villain" subjective, or was that the actual intention?

• Captain America: James "Bucky" Barnes becomes thoroughly baited when he makes his comeback as the Winter Soldier.◊ Steve Rogers (the Captain himself) can qualify as well. The only context for this is a link that's dead. The Steve Rogers example feels like it mentions out-of-universe attraction, as well as violating Examples Are Not Arguable.

• For the furries out there we have The Astounding Wolf-Man, who often suffers clothing damage and frequently ends up shirtless. Seems valid.

• Empowereds boyfriend ThugBoy. Lessee... Half German/Italian, half Japanese (for the all-important manga eyes and long, silky black hair), blessed in the lunchbox, really buff, more likely to be shirtless than not, more likely to be trouserless than not, more of a Dark and Troubled Past than a third of the other examples, a prime example of Love Redeems... and loves his Cool Shades. Nationality isn't relevant in this case, neither of them are used for fanservice, especially not German. Characterization is irrelevant. What do shades have to do with fanservice?

• Most, if not all of the male elves in Elf Quest. When Wendy Pini did a pinup calendar (for 1998), half the plates showed guys. The one of Strongbow was reused for a cover later◊. ZCE.

• Steelgrip Starkey and the All-Purpose Power Tool: Inevitably done with Steelgrip Starkey, given that he spends almost all his time wearing a red short-sleeved shirt that shows off his muscled arms and washboard abs. Justified in that one reason he was selected was because he matched the archetype of a hard-working American hero. Eeeeh. I guess?

• Asterix The Gaul gives us Tragicomix, who is blonde, handsome, and never wears a shirt so as to allow viewers to see his very nicely built chest. The "very nicely built" part feels gushy. It could just be a description though.

• Booster Gold was made for this trope. Tall, blonde, muscular, pretty, form-fitting outfit that gets shredded a lot, and a great ass. His character development from money-grubbing media whore to tragic genuine hero doesn't hurt either. What does his characterization have to do with fanservice? Also, "X was made for this trope" is Word Cruft.

• While Sin City is mostly known for its women, Frank Miller adds plenty of Male Frontal Nudity from all of its male protagonists (with the exception of Marv). Dwight was even shirtless for the entire Big Fat Kill miniseries. Seems valid.

• In the Den series, Den and any other male human becomes this upon arrival in Neverwhere, naked, muscled and hung, albeit bald. Seems legit.

• Tony Stark could have very well made his fortune by getting a nickel for every time he ends up naked, tied up, brainwashed, imperiled, or otherwise put into situations that give the fangirls squee-fodder. There is at least one blog solely dedicated to all the times the various incarnations of Tony end up at least half-nude, and it's quite large. The "give fangirls squee fodder" is unnecessary gushing. I don't think the blog mention is needed either. What's fanservice-y about being brainwashed and imperiled???

• Coming along in the wake of Tom Hiddleston's popularity in the Marvel Films, Loki got a very Hiddleston-esque makeover and became one◊ in his new solo series, Loki: Agent of Asgard. The people in charge, knowing where their bread was buttered, had him naked in the shower on the second page◊. (All this is in sharp contrast to his rather Gonk-ish appearance in the early days of The Mighty Thor.) Eeeeeh. Seems legit considering they based his appearance on Tom Hiddleston's popularity.
  • His previous portrayals were heavily Depending on the Artist; he was already being depicted before the movies in some of the pre-Siege comics as a Pretty Boy in Painted-On Pants with a shirtless Forging Scene. Seems legit, should be merged with the first example though.

• In Warlord of Mars most Martians men could count (with the exception of the Green People) since just like their females, they are half-naked space hunks adorned in the male equivalent to Chainmail Bikini. John Carter stands among them due to also appearing completely naked at certain points, albeit with Hand-or-Object Underwear and Barbie Doll Anatomy. This sounds like an arguable example. Other than that it feels fine, the Barbie Doll Anatomy has me doubting the validity of this example though.

• Namor Mc Kenzie aka Sub-Mariner has spent most of his publication history running around in nothing more than swimming trunks (and sometimes NOTHING), showing off his Heroic Build. He's dressed up some since then but he still likes to show off his arms and chest. Seems legit.

• Of the Flashes, Wally is usually the one who gets the most female attention, and for good reason. K, Why though? This entry also comes off as mentioning out-of-universe attraction, which isn't what this trope is. Mr/Ms Fanservice is for characters themed around fanservice, not just characters that the fanbase finds hot. Some parts of fandoms will want to fornicate with anything, that doesn't make that character a Mr/Ms Fanservice.

• Thorgal has a lot of Shirtless Scenes where he shows his Carpet of Virility. In particular, he spent almost the entirety of City of the Lost God and The Sun-sword wearing just briefs. Seems legit.

• In Lanfeust, the title character is a pretty muscular red haired boy but, oddly enough, his nemesis Thanos also qualifies. He can teleport instantly to any location he memorized but always ends up naked! Seems legit. Evil Is Sexy is YMMV and the pothole to it is unnecessary gushing.

• Steve Trevor's depictions have varied over the years and continuities, but Wonder Woman's boyfriend and oft husband is always a good looking military man who is respectful of women. In Wonder Woman (Rebirth) he's a noted hunk who ends up frequently shirtless, and in The Legend of Wonder Woman (2016) he's a humble Ace Pilot with significant clothing damage in his first few appearances and whose beautiful eyes and gentlemanly ways are commented on by many characters. Seems legit. Mentioning his gentlemanliness feels unnecessary though because Fanservice doesn't involve characterization. Pretty sure his attractiveness being mentioned by other characters should be moved to other tropes.

• In Wonder Woman (1987) Hermes is a smiley hunk who essentially wears a skirt to hide his privates, which frequently does little to nothing to hide his derriere. Seems legit.

• In Spider-Man 2099, a woman (who does have a boyfriend) straight up says that Miguel O'Hara (in his suit) has the tightest ass she's ever seen. Even the villains comment on his attractiveness. For the record he's a 6'2" (that's 1.89 meters) half-Mexican with a Perma-Stubble, lean and muscled physique, and red eyes, and a bit of a Home Nudist. Pretty sure characters commenting on his attractiveness should be moved to other tropes. Height isn't needed, don't think nationality is either in this case.

• Daredevil has the reputation of being "the greatest himbo to have ever worn tights" and is indeed a huge Chick Magnet. Red-headed lean hunk, and you could even argue those milky eyes give him a strange allure. Mentions out-of-universe attractiveness. "You could even argue those milky eyes give him a strange allure", Examples Are Not Arguable.

• X-Wing Rogue Squadron: Two kinds in this◊ from the comics: half-naked attractive male pilots, and referencing a large usenet group's "Vote Wedge/Tycho For President" meme. Eh. Considering this example doesn't mention their names, I think they would fit better under Fanservice Extra, it feels like it needs more context though. Mentioning the meme is unnecessary.

From the Video Games page:

• Magician's Quest: Mysterious Times is known for being both an "Animal Crossing clone" and "an Animal Crossing clone where you can be gay." It might fit under something else but being gay isn't automatically fanservice.
• Overwatch:
  • Tracer is known for one of two things: her butt and controversy to it at pre-release; or being the head honcho of the titular Overwatch and a well-rounded character. Either way, nobody is complaining one bit about it... I'd cut the last sentence for sure, but this could probably use a general rewrite.
    • Also, the fact that she's a canonical lesbian got a lot of attention and generated even more controvery than her gameplay balance. Again this kind of comes off implying it's saying gay people are automatically fanservice. It's not properly indented anyway.
  • The other women in that game, like Widowmaker and D.Va, among others; also get caught up in a lot of risque fanart, with Blizzard seeming to taking notice of this. They did not take it well, removing videos of rule 34 Overwatch characters at it. Of course, they might as well attempt to stop a waterfall by standing at the bottom of and trying to push the water back with their hands; Overwatch is one of THE most heavily-eroticised games in the history of the medium despite only being out for a few years. Barely has anything to do with the game itself. As it stands it's "A lot of people draw porn of this," in that case you might as well say Sonic the Hedgehog and Pokémon fall under this trope for the same reason.
• Touhou is about a world of super-powered magical action girls (many of which are Cute Monster Girls who are Really 700 Years Old) who have interesting (but never romantic) relationships with each other, which can gives way to tons of fanart (cute, gorgeous or very risque) and awesome music. "Shoot em ups"? What's a "shoot 'em up"? ^note Unlike other examples on this page, the creator does lament that it's not best known as a shoot 'em up. In what way is any of this fanservice? It should probably be moved to Just Here for Godzilla or something.

On the main page:

• Danganronpa is a series of visual novels featuring a majority of attractive female characters in the overall cast, who cause most female followers of the series to become Les Yay in regards to them. Appealing character designs are including but not limited to Sayaka Maizono, Aoi Asahina, Celestia Ludenberg, Junko Enoshima, Ibuki Mioda, Chiaki Nanami, Mahiru Koizumi, and Komaru Naegi. These characters have either large thighs or a large bust to compensate for if they don't have a physically attractive face. Disclaimer, I'm not familiar with this series so it might by itself be a valid example, but this comes off as... like it's trying to gush over the characters than anything else. It doesn't say any actual fanservice, just that they're "attractive." I do know that there's some rather obsessive "waifu warring" going on in some parts of the fanbase and there are some actual "fanservice moments" in the series but I don't think I have seen anything about outsiders knowing the series more for fanservice than its actual premise. Speaking of which, this entry doesn't explain what the "fanservice" is overshadowing either, it's just a list of things people would find attractive.
• Ménage à 3 features a lot of boobies and sex scenes (both gay and straight), though no genitalia. Only describes the fanservice, doesn't say what's being overshadowed.
• If you were familiar with Wander over Yonder only through fanart, you could be forgiven for thinking Green-Skinned Space Babe villain Lord Dominator was the main character. She's a Knight of Cerebus to the main cast who is only introduced in the second of the show's two seasons. It helps that her Villain Song "I'm The Bad Guy" quickly became the show's Signature Scene. Is anyone here familiar with the series? How is the song a signature scene? Is it "fanservice?" (I know it's a kid's show so it's a given that it's going to be tame compared to what's geared at older people.) Again, "This character gets a lot of sexy fanart" does not count by itself, fanartists have a habit of sexualizing non-fanservice characters and that doesn't mean it overshadows the story.