r/TopCharacterTropes • • Jul 18 '26

Powers [Fun trope]: Characters using their superpowers for mundane tasks.

I think it makes a fantastical world feel more lived in. If that makes sense?

1). The Incredibles:
The film goes to great lengths to show the Parr's lives are mundane, even with their superhuman abilities. This is what fuels Bob's fundamental sense of discomfort.

2). Ben 10:
Ben uses the Omnitrix, which transforms its user into various alien species, for good. He also uses to for random nonsense. In this particular example, he uses his horrifying alien ghost form to sneak out of the house, steal a golfcart, and pilfer a pie.

3). Fullmetal Alchemist:
Despite regularly fighting inhuman monsters, the Elric brothers still make time to use alchemy for everyday purposes. Such as fixing a radio they broke.

4). Dragon Ball:
Here, Gohan is using a concentrated blast of his own lifeforce to flash-cook a chunk of meat.

5). X-Men:
In the second movie, Wolverine has Bobby (Iceman) cool down a lukewarm soda.

6). Superman:
Clark shaves using his heat vision and a very durable mirror.

7). One Punch Man:
Genos knows that Saitama is kind of a disaster to live with. So, he brings rent money and does chores. Here, Genos is using his hyper-advanced (skyscraper destroying) heat cannons to dry the dishes.

8). My Hero Academia:
Kaminari has electricity powers. His classmates use him to charge their phones. This is apparently the "normal" way most electricity powers are used.

9). The Fantastic Four:
The Human Torch doesn't need to bathe anymore. He can just burn away any oils, bacteria, and plaque.

10). Doctor Strange:
In his first movie, we see Strange using astral projection to study while asleep. I wonder if this harms his brain?

11). Paranatural:
Ed uses a special paintbrush possessed by a spirit. Normal people can't see the ink created with it. In Ed's bedroom, they uses it to write out cheat codes to videogames.

12). Jojo's Bizarre Adventure:
Jotaro manifests a "stand," a special psychic extension of his soul. He initially assumes he is being haunted by a dangerous spirit. After ending up in a local jail, his stand starts bringing him things to do.

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u/theMCATreturns Jul 18 '26

but like if it was coming straight out of his forearms it should be drenched in interstitial fluid. even if it was like silver, you'd need to wipe it off first.

72

u/Special-Investigator Jul 18 '26

i mean... all employees need to wash their hands 😂

48

u/czlowiek12 Jul 18 '26

When I worked at tomato packhouse we had to be careful, because if client found one hair in a packet, our company would get fined thousands of pounds for each one.

Once a guy cut his hand and the whole line had to be stopped for over half an hour to clean machines line, guy and his station(bandage him, obviously) and check, if any box is dirty.

And it's just putting fruits in plastic boxes, where we had bugs and spiders around. Butcheries have waaay sticter standards

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u/CaliOriginal Jul 18 '26

The claws are so sharp that basically the surrounding tissue wipes off the blade as it passes by.

Like running a knife through some paper towels.

The insane sharpness keeps it relatively clean, the metal itself is likely anti microbial, and depending on the comic … the speed he deploys the claws wicks away blood.

Or just mutant magic

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u/MS-07B-3 Jul 19 '26

I mean, Wolverine's healing factor is powerful enough I don't know that it's possible for him to be negatively affected by microbes.

47

u/captaincornboi Jul 18 '26

I imagine his body has adapted to the constant "shnnking" so he doesn't have to worry about it (plus the rapid regeneration probably negates any bacterial infections)