Automoderated users, Autopatrolled users, Bureaucrats, Comment administrators, Confirmed users, Moderators, Rollbackers, Administrators
213,943
edits
prefix>Import Bot (Import from TV Tropes TVT:Main.WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys 2012-07-01, editor history TVTH:Main.WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys, CC-BY-SA 3.0 Unported license) |
m (collapsed three "Fridge Brilliance" links in a row down to one link) |
||
(25 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{trope}}
{{quote|''Where does Chicago get all that meat?''
''How does Venezuela get all of that heat?''
''And where does Adidas find all their feet?''
''You'd like to know the answers now, wouldn't you boys''
''So tell me [[Trope Namer|where does he get all those wonderful toys?]]''
|'''[[The Joker]]''' (as sung by [[Jim Steinman]]), ''[[Batman: The Musical]]''}}
{{quote|''He has a magic gun; where'd he purchase that?''
|[[Atop the Fourth Wall|Linkara's]] theme song}}
Not every [[Superhero]] has a headquarters; some of them don't seem to have an apartment. But for those who do, there is a compulsion to ask, "Where did all this ''stuff'' come from?" Where are the architects, the carpenters, the masons, the cablers, the plumbers, the electricians, the welders, the tailors?
Sometimes, this question is just left up in the air, with the writers hoping it'll stay as [[Fridge Logic]]. Other times, they take it head-on, providing an in-character
At least, use the [[Applied Phlebotinum]] on screen for verisimilitude.
Line 18 ⟶ 20:
[[Trope Co|We also sell some of our own.]]
Not to be confused with [[How Can Santa Deliver All Those Toys?]].
{{examples|Examples:}}▼
== Advertising ==
* Somewhat spoofed in a Volvo C70 commercial tying in with the 1997 ''[[The Saint|Saint]]'' film-upon repairing Simon Templar's car, someone says "Mr. Templar, we have to wonder about your lifestyle".
== Anime and Manga ==
* Subverted in ''[[
** What's not explained is how Roger's ownership of the Big O can be kept a secret when he has that many people working on it.
*** Security clearances and background vetting. For example, how many people work at Area 51? And how often have you heard of a secret being broken there?
* ''[[Code Geass]]'': Lelouch Geasses people into making/storing/etc. his stuff. Since part of his [[Evil Eye]] is that they forget his orders, it's a fairly good deal. Anything he can't get with his Geass, he gets with his silver tongue.
* ''[[Bubblegum Crisis]]'' is a one of the early examples. Sylia's "Silky Doll" lingerie shop and [[Mr. Fixit|Dr.Raven's]] garage are fine, but it still doesn't explain where she gets the money and supplies for all that Knight Sabers business. In all faith, she really couldn't have built all that stuff in her shop, it's simply not that big. [[Fanon]] half-jokingly explains it by the fact that she's a [[Mega Corp|
** She was probably bought out after the death of her father, and got a huge nest egg as a result. Also, in the original series, she charges exorbitant sums for the services of the Knight Sabers; they double as mercenaries with ethics when they aren't fighting
* ''[[Hellsing]]'' has a pretty good example of this, what with Alucard using custom made big bore [[Bottomless Magazines]] pistols and Seras Victoria using a frickin' BFG [[Up to Eleven|Taken Up To Eleven]]! And all supplied by the [[Battle Butler]] Walter... {{spoiler|but it is implied that Doc and Millennium had a hand in their creation.}}
* The Magdalan Order in ''[[Chrono Crusade]]'' has its own R&D department to make wonderful toys for them. The only named member of this unit is Edgar Hamilton, more commonly known as The Elder.
* ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist (
* [[Ragtag Bunch of Misfits|Space Angels]] in ''[[Gunnm]]: Last Order'' should've realistically survived only because they're [[Cyborg
* The titular character of ''[[Serial Experiments Lain]]''. Where does an eighth-grader get thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment ([[Everyone Owns a Mac|all Mac, of course]]) indeed? It's implied to be from her father, who works with computers, but it's not like her parents are incredibly wealthy or anything.
** [[Mind Screw|Given that the computer thingies in her room seem to be growing around her like living vines...]] [[WMG|One could make a point]] that since Lain {{spoiler|is an [[Artificial Human]] intended to be an interface between The Wired and the real world}} ([[Mind Screw|or something]]), that could be just one of the many [[Reality Warper|reality warping effects]] [[Deus Est Machina|of the virtual world over the real one]].
== Comic Books ==
* [[
== Comics ==▼
** Writer
▲* [[Batman (Comic Book)|Batman]] in nearly ''any'' incarnation (and indeed the [[Trope Namer]]): The Batcave is furnished with the latest science and computer equipment; not to mention the secret passages leading to it from Wayne Manor. ...and yet, no one seems to know about, much less have participated in, the planning and labor that went into all this ''stuff!'' Sure, Alfred may dust and even tinker on gadgets, but being the Wayne caretaker surely doesn't give him time for Research and Development while Master Bruce is batting about.
▲** Writer [[Denny O]]'Neil may have been the first comics scripter to work this into a storyline. During his initial encounter with Ra's al Ghul (''Batman #232'', 1971), Bruce Wayne is surprised by Ra's in the Batcave. He attempts to bluff it off until Ra's reminds him that ''someone'' had to buy the materials for the Batman's various gadgets... and that "someone" could be traced. Wayne concedes the point and removes his cowl to address Ra's man-to-man.
** The movie ''Batman Begins'' has the various gadgets as "dead end" offshoots of WayneTech R&D, donated by Lucius Fox, one of the few board members to remain loyal to Bruce during his overseas trip.▼
*** One scene showed how other items are purchased in bulk as anonymous components from multiple manufacturers, and assembled into their final form by Bruce and Alfred. (Upon learning that he has to order at least 10,000 ears for his cowl, Bruce comments, "Well, at least we'll have spares.")▼
*** Similarly, it explains the secret passages to the caves underneath Stately Wayne Manor as dating back to the Civil War and the Wayne family's involvement with the Underground Railroad.▼
*** Also, the film implies that the construction of the revamped Batcave will be disguised as part of the restoration of Bruce's destroyed manor.▼
*** However, the trope is subverted in ''The Dark Knight'' when an accountant that works for Wayne actually does notice that company property is missing and discovers to the blueprints to the Batmobile. However, Fox <s>and Bruce</s> manage to convince him to stay quiet about it.▼
{{quote| "Let me get this straight: You think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands. And your plan is to '''blackmail''' this person? Good luck."}}▼
*** His [[Trope Namer|iconic]] line was the basis for [http://www.4shared.com/file/15260005/7d8a0d68/jokerssong.html a song] in the unfinished ''Batman: [[The Musical]]''.▼
** The comics have also established that since Bruce Wayne owns Wayne Enterprises, he depends on Lucius Fox to make the money to pay for his operations while diverting useful materials from his business as needed.
*** And who does the job of customising that material to his personal needs, say, by building
**** Ordering the still functioning Military R & D department to create some specific combat suits and lose the prototype? He could certainly do that.
***** Sure. "And by the way, Mr. Wayne wants you to put little Bat-fins and Bat-logos on the suit. Just to make our soldiers more badass, you see."
****** It's not that hard to weld or sew on the bat-motifs yourself after the workers have gone home, you know?
***** Or just claim that an
***** Why so complicated? Simply ship one version (of multiple) to a fake military contact (or what have you) while the others go to a real place. Or just send one version off to another location for additional R&D/testing... which is simply a dummy office.
** [[Incredibly Lame Pun|Toyed]] with in a storyline a few years back.{{when}} A foreign conglomerate had managed, through various financial tricks and wizardry, to buy out the independent companies which comprised Wayne Enterprise's R&D division right out from under Lucius and Bruce's noses. {{spoiler|Actually, it was revealed that Jason Todd orchestrated the whole thing.}} Along with the rather serious implications for Wayne Enterprises as a business, Bruce later reflects on the implications for Batman. He mentions several unique items used by Batman, saying that eventually those items will be made available in the public sector, while he will have no further access to new gadgets other than those he can create himself in his spare time. After Alfred remarks that he thinks that Batman has more than enough toys to last him for quite awhile, Bruce brings up the additional worry that someone will notice that Batman has been and is still using Wayne Enterprises proprietary technology and begin to put two and two together.
** In
** ''[[Batman the Animated Series]]'' introduces the character of Earl Cooper, the Batmobile's designer/mechanic who performs the necessary repairs that are beyond Batman's time or ability. The Penguin is able to find Cooper after he orders a series of dead-giveaway parts that could only be for the Batmobile, in his own name. Batman responds by setting up "dummy corporations" for Cooper to order from so that no one will track him down again. This may just be a euphemism for hiding more crimefighting behind Wayne Enterprises expenditures.▼
** In one of the ''Batman'' novels, it was stated that the Batcave was built by (well-paid) foreign workers, secretly assembled and transported to Gotham, who only worked outside the cave at night, never saw Bruce Wayne, and were flown home again, all without them having any idea where in the world they had been working.▼
▲** In "Under the Hood" it's made pretty certain that most of his stuff is attained through WayneTech's various R&D and subcompanies, thus allowing him to get power bombs, chemicals and gadget even before the military gets their hands on them.
▲** In one of the Batman novels, it was stated that the Batcave was built by (well-paid) foreign workers, secretly assembled and transported to Gotham, who only worked outside the cave at night, never saw Bruce Wayne, and were flown home again, all without them having any idea where in the world they had been working.
** Also, it wouldn't be very hard to fool the staffs who potentially work on this stuff, as it's not like defense contractors would broadcast the details of whatever black ops gadgets the U.S. government is paying them to develop. Thus, they might well not ''want'' to know who uses it once they get it up to the field testing stage.
** There's a character named Harold Allnut, a mute hunchback with a gift for technology that Batman took in to help with the Batcave's gadgetry. Of course it doesn't explain all the gadgets Batman had ''before'' he met Harold (maybe Alfred's just ''that'' good).
** Since Bruce Wayne's return from the events of ''[[Final Crisis]]'', Bruce has publicly gone on record saying that Wayne Enterprises has been funding Batman's war on crime through his gear and, to expand on that, has created a new organization: ''[[Batman Incorporated]]''.▼
*** In ''[[Gotham City Sirens]]'' it is revealed that there is a villainous real-estate broker who seems to supply hideouts for Batman's Rogues Gallery. ▼
*** An old story called ''Neutral Ground'' revealed that a good number of the unique gadgets used by both Batman and a portion of his [[Rogues Gallery]] are made to order by an old man that owns a hardware store.▼
▲** Since Bruce Wayne's return from the events of [[Final Crisis]], Bruce has publicly gone on record saying that Wayne Enterprises has been funding Batman's war on crime through his gear and, to expand on that, has created a new organization: ''[[Batman Incorporated]]''.
** Funding aside, none of this explains how any of this stuff gets into the Batcave. Even today, mainframe computers and the associated storage arrays are very big and heavy. It's going to take more than two guys to move the equipment in.
** One could just as easily apply this question to many of Batman's villains, most notably the Penguin and [[The Joker]]. The Penguin is widely known for his use of trick umbrellas, while the Joker has used everything from acid-squirting flowers to electrified joybuzzers to razor-sharp playing cards.
▲*** In ''[[Gotham City Sirens]]'' it is revealed that there is a villainous real-estate broker who seems to supply hideouts for Batman's Rogues Gallery.
▲*** An old story called ''Neutral Ground'' revealed that a good number of the unique gadgets used by both Batman and a portion of his [[Rogues Gallery]] are made to order by an old man that owns a hardware store.
* ''[[Flash]]'' v1 #141, published in the [[Silver Age]], introduced tailor Paul Gambi, who made the costumes for all the villains in the Flash's [[Rogues Gallery]]; Gambi has continued to make appearances in this role.
* In the early years of ''[[Spider-Man (Comic Book)|Spider-Man]]'', there was a recurring character called "The Tinkerer" who was allegedly the source of much villainous gadgetry.
** In the new ''Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2'' {{spoiler|The Tinkerer is a major villain, both empowering a bunch of C
** Spidey himself built his web-shooters using parts he... scavenged... from his high school science lab.
*** It's not ''that'' odd; the early Lee/Ditko ''Spider-Man'' comics established Peter Parker as a teen prodigy, smart enough to invent his webbing formula (then [[Reed Richards Is Useless|keep it all to himself]], so no one else can take advantage of super-strong, sticky fibers [which, among other things, in a moment's notice can instantly knit a full parachute from a few centiliters of fluid]).
**** Which just proves only that he didn't try very hard, that one time he got mad at Jonah and tried to sell/license it to a chemical company, only to give up when they complain, "but it evaporates! You need to redesign it first."<re>Which is actually pretty close to [[Truth in Television]]. The adhesive used in Post-It Notes was sitting around for four years after being developed before someone got the idea to use it to create impromptu bookmarks, and another three after that before it was being sold anywhere.</ref>
** [[Ultimate Spider
*** Speaking of [[Ultimate Spider
▲** [[Ultimate Spider Man|Ultimate]] Spidey adapted them from devices he inherited from his scientist father's work on polymers.
▲*** Speaking of [[Ultimate Spider Man|Ultimate]] Spidey, his costume was given to him by his wrestling company. When Peter and Mary Jane broke up, he had no one to repair his costume or make him a new one leading him to asking various heroes and villians whenever he ran into them where they got their costumes made.
* In the '80s cartoon ''Spider-man and His Amazing Friends'', it's explained that the [[Ordinary High School Student]] is able to afford this stuff because they saved [[Iron Man|Tony Stark]] once and he keeps them hooked up.
* On a related issue, in the [[Marvel Universe]] there is a firm named [[Damage Control]], which has a contract with [[Big Applesauce|New York City]] to handle the [[Hero Insurance|cleanup and repairs following the many superhero battles]] which take place there. Leftover superweapons, battlesuits, and whatnot end up in [[Damage Control]]'s "Lost and Found" department...
* During [[J. Michael Straczynski]]'s run, [[Spider
** He's very careful to arrange heroes and villains on different days, so his shop doesn't become the site of a superhero battle.
** There was a story arc in the ''[[Deadpool]]'' comic, "Johnny Handsome", where Deadpool not only managed to enrage Loki enough to have his scarred face turned into a permanent Tom Cruise likeness (which led to several cases of mistaken identity later on), but also lost his costume, had to order a new one to be made and, for the duration of most of the arc, wore a mish-mash assortment of other characters' costumes (including Wolverine's pants and boots, Spider-Man's shirt and Dr. Octopus's arms).
* For health issues in the [[Marvel Universe]], there's the Night Nurse, who will patch up any injured do-gooder who stumbles into her clinic, thus explaining where a lot of superheroes get their medical care without compromising their secret identities.
** Along the same lines, the ''Nomad'' series introduced the Undergrounders, who provided discreet medical care to those on the fringes of society.
** There was an old Spider-Man comic where the titular hero was committed to hospital after several fractured bones. They ''never removed his suit'' while tending him! One nurse actually speculated whether the suit was sewn right on his skin. One has to only wonder if there's an anonymous medical insurance specifically aimed at superheroes.
** In a
** An ''X-Men'' character, Dr. Cecilia Reyes, was a mutant who briefly worked with the X-Men during the Zero Tolerance arc, and later on settled down as a private doctor offering anonymity to her powered patients. The list of her patients, aside from several X-Men and former X-men, also included Spider-Man and Daredevil.
* In the Italian [[Disney Comics]], [[Donald Duck]] has a superheroic identity known as [[Paperinik]]: he originally acquired his costume and his first weapons from the heirloom of [[Gentleman Thief]] Fantomius, then shared his secret with Duckburg's inventor extraordinaire [[Gyro Gearloose]], who since then mantained his armory of less-than-lethal supergadgets. The "[[Ultimate Universe|Ultimates version]]" known as '''PK''' has him acquire a slew of much more powerful weapons and a Batman-esque lair from the possessions of mysterious billionaire ''Everett Ducklair'' (the authors of PK publicly stated that they aimed to make a very explicit parody of and homage to American comic books)
** It's a bit
** Well, sure, that's how it started, but since then, he's a respectable superhero fighting crime. His not so heroic past happened one or two decades (in real life) ago, at least in the "Donald Duck pocket books".
* In the ''[[
* In the 80s-90s ''Uncanny [[X-Men (Comic Book)|X-Men]]'' comic, the Mansion was equipped with Shi'ar technology from Xavier's lover, Majestrix Lilandra. The alien tech has rebuilt the mansion on the [frequent] occasion of its destruction. [[Damage Control]] also showed up a time or two.
* Totally averted for [[Superman]], of course. He did all his own work on the Fortress of Solitude. If he got lazy, his ''army of super-powered robot doubles'' could take up the slack just fine.
** And the movies, some prose stories and ''[[Smallville]]'' just have his fortress and costume provided courtesy of Kryptonian [[Magic From Technology|techno-magic]]. For everything else, he's stuck with Earth
* In the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel Universe]], some criminals buy their equipment from the Tinkerer, as mentioned above. Others get their equipment furnished by their employers ([[Iron Man]]'s enemy Justin Hammer often had his scientists construct specialized weapons for the supervillains he recruited), and at least one large company runs a highly profitable black market operation in selling deadly weapons and other equipment through the "Sharper Villain Catalogue."
* [[The Punisher]], of course, gets most of his weapons from the criminals that he kills. Or buys top of the line black-market military hardware, using money he gets from the criminals that he kills. He also had, for a long time, a weapons supplier/inventor named Microchip, who helped him get "special" equipment to go up against [[Super Villain|supervillains]] ...that he kills.
* Dan Dreiberg (Nite Owl II from ''[[Watchmen (
** He also made Rorschach's grappling gun, explaining how the vagabond had such a good gadget.
* Although an official policeman anyway, [[Dick Tracy]] did not get his two-way wrist radio (introduced in 1946) from the government, but from industrialist "Diet" Smith. Other than that, Tracy has relied on conventional weapons common to normal police forces, such as the night sight.
* Though he only appeared in one issue, ''[[Astro City]]'' has (had?) The Assemblyman, who apparently built weapons and gadgets for anyone with the cash. {{spoiler|He was contracted by El Hombre to manufacture a rampaging robot for the hero to defeat in a staged fight. El Hombre's reputation was ruined when the city-smashing robot was backtraced to him.}}
* The [[Justice Society of America]] has its medical personnel as key members of the
* The Omega Sector of ''[[The Mighty]]'' is funded by the sales of Alpha One toys, clothes, and other stuff. They have a huge headquarters.
* [[Madman (Comic Book)|Madman]] gets gadgets from Dr. Flem and sometimes... [[My Little Panzer|they really ''are'' toys.]]
* After Marvel's ''Civil War'' crossover, Speedball meets the guy who designs the costumes for most super heroes/villains.
* In ''Mad House Comic Digest'' #5, there's a story about a tailor who specialized in making superhero uniforms. He ended up in tears when an executive type from off the street asked him for a "normal charcoal-gray business suit," complaining that it was the first order he hadn't been able to fill.
* In [[Daniel Clowes]]' ''[[Black Nylon]]'', superheros are able to buy gadgets mail order, with many having to save up to buy one or two gimmick items before getting started in the business. The titular hero funds his exploits with a stipend from the government for his work. {{spoiler|Although it's probably public assistance money that the delusional Nylon thinks comes from heroing.}}
== Fan Fiction ==▼
* [http://catwoman-cattales.com/ct/master.html?http://catwoman-cattales.com/ct/11-wateringhole-01.htm Kittlemeier] in Chris Dee's [http://catwoman-cattales.com/files/ctindex.html Cat-Tales] is revealed to make pretty much everything for both hero and villain alike, and maintains strict rules on appointment times to keep any of them from running into each other. (How Batman became okay with giving business to someone who openly arms his enemies is never really explained).▼
** Kittlemeier actually debuted in a short story by Mike Resnick that was collected in "The Further Adventures of Batman" in [[The Eighties]]. So he is TM and copyright DC Comics / Bantam books, although ignored in regular DC canon.▼
▲* [http://catwoman-cattales.com/ct/master.html?http://catwoman-cattales.com/ct/11-wateringhole-01.htm Kittlemeier] in Chris Dee's ''[http://catwoman-cattales.com/files/ctindex.html Cat-Tales]'' is revealed to make pretty much everything for both hero and villain alike, and maintains strict rules on appointment times to keep any of them from running into each other. (How Batman became okay with giving business to someone who openly arms his enemies is never really explained).
▲** Kittlemeier actually debuted in a short story by Mike Resnick that was collected in
* While not providing equipment, the titular establishment in ''[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11779350/1/The-LunchCounter The LunchCounter]'' by Rob "Kenko" Haynie gives the [[Sailor Moon|Sailor Senshi]] an informal base where they can rest and recover from their latest battle before returning to their civilian identities, complete with free food and first aid gear.
* Several of the heroes in [[The Teraverse]] are affiliated in various ways with the governments of the United States and/or United Kingdom, and are issued equipment accordingly, while most others are independently wealthy by various means. And, in at least two cases, they have personal connections to a [[Gadgeteer Genius|multi-millionaire software programmer, software company CEO, ''and'' electrical engineer]] who is willing to custom-build and install electronics (software ''and,'' to a limited extent, hardware), ''particularly'' communications gear, for them.
== Film ==
* Edna "E" Mode of ''[[The Incredibles]]'': a genius clothing designer responsible for the costumes of pretty much every superhero in the business. She knows the heroes all personally, by real name as well as moniker, and custom-designs their costumes to [[My Suit Is Also Super|fit their powers]] (for example, Violet's suit becomes invisible with her to avoid the problem of an [[Invisible Streaker]] in a Disney movie.)
** As well as being both flattering and stylish, dahling.
***
** Speaking of ''[[The Incredibles]]'', Syndrome's base on [[Stealth Pun|Nomanisan Island]] was largely [[Cut Lex Luthor a Check|financed by weapons deals that he had struck with various world governments]]. He even planned to sell all of his super gadgets after he had retired.
* While ''[[Death Wish 3]]'' had Paul Kersey using all manner of weapons with not a hint of explanation of where he got them or how he afforded them (remember, Kersey worked as a middle class architect, not possessing great wealth, emphasized in the next film in which he sees a mansion and says "This place alone costs more than I could make if I worked for the rest of my life"), in ''[[Death Wish 4 The Crackdown]],'' a man who discovered that Kersey operated as the vigilante agrees to fund his struggle with narcotics dealers and gives him the name of someone to provide him weapons.
* The Damon Wayans [[Affectionate Parody]] ''Blankman'' has the title hero build super-gadgets [[Homemade Inventions|out of junk]].
* ''[[Condorman]]'' toys with this trope in a scene where the [[Big Bad]], Krokov, is trying to figure out what the titular hero is doing with a heavily armed racecar/hydrofoil, among other gadgets, and realizes that he's getting the ideas from comic
* The
▲
** The Riddler has a whole freaking island fortress in ''[[
** It's not explained all that well (due to really horrible editing) but pay ''very'' close attention to the background scenery when Nygma gives his big press conference: behind him there is a huge sphere of green glass and a light-box bearing the NYGMATECH logo. It's obviously intended to be the beginning of the Nygmatech "corporate headquarters" located on Claw Island, built from the ill-gotten profits of the Riddler and Two-Face's crime spree. Later additions, such as the giant replica of the Box, are constructed as the Boxes are sold as consumer goods. This is made much clearer in the [[Peter David]] novelization.
▲** The movie ''[[Batman Begins]]'' has the various gadgets as "dead end" offshoots of WayneTech R&D, donated by Lucius Fox, one of the few board members to remain loyal to Bruce during his overseas trip.
* Arguably the most recognizable example outside of comic books; Q Branch(Q standing for 'Quartermaster') in the [[James Bond]] franchise. A [[Running Gag]] through the movies involves Q getting upset over Bond's frequent destruction of government property during the course of his adventures.▼
▲*** One scene showed how other items are purchased in bulk as anonymous components from multiple manufacturers, and assembled into their final form by Bruce and Alfred. (Upon learning that he has to order at least 10,000 ears for his cowl, Bruce wryly comments, "Well, at least we'll have spares.")
* In [[Megamind]], there's actually a "store in Romania" that deals in [[Super Villain]] paraphernalia.▼
▲*** Similarly, it explains the secret passages to the caves underneath Stately Wayne Manor as dating back to the Civil War and the Wayne family's involvement with the Underground Railroad.
* [[Kick-Ass]] apparently got all his gear off of Ebay.▼
▲*** Also, the film implies that the construction of the revamped Batcave will be disguised as part of the restoration of Bruce's destroyed manor.
▲*** However, the trope is subverted in ''[[The Dark Knight]]]'' when an accountant
▲{{quote|
▲* Arguably the most recognizable example outside of comic books; Q Branch (Q standing for 'Quartermaster') in the [[James Bond]] franchise. A [[Running Gag]] through the movies involves Q getting upset over Bond's frequent destruction of government property during the course of his adventures.
▲* In ''[[Megamind]]'', there's actually a "store in Romania" that deals in [[Super Villain]] paraphernalia.
▲* ''[[Kick-Ass]]'' apparently got all his gear off of Ebay.
** Big Daddy and Hit Girl bought a working {{spoiler|jetpack}} online.
* In ''[[Mystery Men]]'', the heroes decide they are underpowered, so
{{quote|
* In ''[[Mallrats]]'', Jay
== Literature ==
Line 140 ⟶ 135:
* In ''The Further Adventures of Batman'', an anthology of short Batman fiction published in 1989, the story "Neutral Ground" by Mike Resnick describes for the first time Kittlemeier's Shop, run by a little old Jewish tailor who provides the costumes and gadgetry for all of Gotham's heroes and villains. Since then, Kittlemeier's has been spotted in both [[Fanfic|fan fiction]] (see above) and [[Canon]] stories.
* ''The Spider'' often relied on Professor Brownlee for technological assistance.
* In the July 2009 novel ''No Mercy'' by John Gilstrap, the first in a prospective series, the protagonist, Jonathan Grave, using the codename Scorpion, works as an independent hostage rescuer without sanction of the law. The novel mentions using an auto repair garage used to handling "under the table" repairs". Grave has them fix up bullet holes and other incriminating traces of his missions.
* ''[[The Saint]]'' and the Domino Lady often "confiscated" funds from criminals who preyed on the public. The Arrow and the Avenger did much the same.
* Wealthy men funded the Hawker and the Expeditor.
* Played with in the ''[[Star Wars Expanded Universe]]'', specifically the Rogue and Wraith Squadron novels. One of the Rogues was a officer for Corellian Security; his astromech droid had special programming and hardware used to deal with issues thrown at them. A Wraith, on the other hand, had an "interesting childhood" as the daughter of a Old Republic security officer not even Vader could track down.
* [[I Have Many Names|Mr.]] [[Badass|Church]] Has a Friend in the Industry. Any Industry.
== Television ==
* Cosmo Kramer, resident [[Cloudcuckoolander]] of ''[[Seinfeld]]'', has said and been told on numerous occasions that he has no job whatsoever. Yet, somehow, he can afford a hot tub (and generator) the width of a room in a standard New York apartment complex, dozens of expensive-looking suits (and, on one occasion, a leather briefcase), a constant flow of high-grade Cuban cigars,and several tons of junk food.
* One really must wonder, where does the casts of ''[[
* ''[[
* Parodied in ''[[That Mitchell and Webb Look]]'', in which a [[Super Villain]] hires a contractor to construct his evil lair, including secret revolving walls and trap doors to dispose of troublesome minions. [[No OSHA Compliance|The contractor raises numerous health and safety objections]].
* In ''[[Good Eats]]'', Alton says this as a [[Shout
* [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] several times in ''[[Drake and Josh]]'' with Megan's various gadgets. Not even the parents seem to know where she gets the stuff. Though, she did say at least once "I know a guy."
* Sometimes you have to wonder how certain civilians/groups manage to get their own morphers, weapons, motorcycles, Zords, etc. to start up a [[Power Rangers]] team. Sure, to a certain extent, humans now have access to alien technology, but ''still''...
** Most do get some explanation. [[Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue|Many teams]] [[Power Rangers Time Force|have]] [[Power Rangers SPD|military]] [[Power Rangers RPM
* Shawn says this almost word for word in ''[[Psych]]'' when Despereaux escapes with a grapple gun.
== Video Games ==
* In the [[Game Cube]] [[
* The video game ''[[Mercenaries]]'' allows the player, via PDA, to purchase everything from jeeps to helicopters to ballistic missile strikes from an online store owned by the Russian Mafia (with free shipping nonetheless). In the sequel, players had to deal directly with representatives of the factions they wanted to purchase from, and
** Similarly, Bobby Ray's Guns and Things in ''[[Jagged Alliance]] 2'' will ship fully automatic weapons, disposable rocket launchers and other military hardware to any major airport in the world (although you can only ever use one, you can send them to a second you can access, but the stuff never comes.)
*** The second airport is there for one reason and one reason only: sending flowers to Psycho Bitch Deidranna. And then she slaps Elliot.
** In the same vein as ''Mercenaries'', ''[[Just Cause (
* In ''[[Persona 3]]'', the main characters buy their weapons and armor from Officer Kurosawa in the police station in Paulownia Mall. While the [[Backstory]] explains that he's a collector of rare antique weapons, this still doesn't explain how he also manages to get his hands on upgrades for Aigis, a secret Shadow-fighting robot developed by the Kirijo Group.
** It's also implied that he has connections, although it's never stated ''who'' exactly these connections are with.
*** Since your team has the total backing of said weapon developers it's not hard to imagine them finding ways to pass the technology down to the team. The better question is why you have to pay for it at all.
* An extreme version in the fighting game ''[[Tech Romancer]]'', which features Twinzam V, an [[Expy]] of ''[[Getter Robo]]'' piloted by two [[Ordinary High School Student|Ordinary Elementary School Students]]. In their own storyline, it seems to be [[All Just a Dream]], but when they appear in the others' storylines, no explanation is given for where the hell these kids got a [[Super Robot]].
* One level of ''[[
* ''[[
* In ''[[Batman: Arkham Asylum]]'', one of Riddler's patient session recordings has him ranting about Batman, and how he could possibly finance his operation. He quite wrongly assumes that he steals from villains he stops, and uses this to back his argument that Batman is the worst criminal of all. There is a minor explanation given in a chat with Oracle as to how Batman got a backup Batcave onto Arkham Island, but its security is notoriously lax.
** The detective mode reveals that the new security system with the forcefield doors are donated by Wayne Tech. That's how Bats got his Bat-cave in there.
* In ''[[Splinter Cell]]: Chaos Theory'', Sam meets with a colleague in charge of [[The Scrounger|"acquiring"]] transport and weaponry at each mission briefing.
* How does ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'''s Dr. Eggman afford all of his building materials? You'd think a villain would just steal the stuff, but he [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|rarely actually gets in trouble with the military]] and Vector once even commented that "Eggman must be really rich" and wondered if he'd hire them. Not to mention, in [[Sonic X]], he sends Decoe and Bocoe to a hardware store to stock up on supplies. Lots and ''lots'' of supplies.
{{quote|
'''Eggman:''' [[
** If the comics are taken as Canon (and Sega says they are), then Ivo had mines and production facilities all over Mobius to support his armies. It's reasonable to assume (and explicit in the comics) that Eggman took over these when he arrived. (Virtually) unlimited resources aren't that hard to come by when you run the planet.
* In the video game of ''[[
* In ''[[Mass Effect 3]]'', Captain Kirrahe, if you ensured his survival in the first game, whips out a sticky grenade launching pistol and {{spoiler|decimates an entire Cerberus squad in 3 shots}}, to which Garrus replies: "Why don't I have one of those!?"
▲== Web Comics ==
* In ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]'' it was originally left unexplained how Riff, a guy with no apparent job, is able to get a hold of the materials for building his ray guns, giant robots, and nuclear reactors. It's eventually explained that {{spoiler|Riff was working as a freelance inventor for
** [[Dungeon Punk|E]][[Urban Fantasy|-]][[Magitek|bay]][[The Fairly Oddparents|?]]▼
▲* In ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]'' it was originally left unexplained how Riff, a guy with no apparent job, is able to get a hold of the materials for building his ray guns, giant robots, and nuclear reactors. It's eventually explained that {{spoiler|Riff was working as a freelance inventor for Hereti Corp, who supplied him with "the biggest, newest toys."}} Though that still doesn't explain how he happened to have the [[Tome of Eldritch Lore|Book of E-Ville]] lying around his house.
▲** [[Dungeon Punk|E]][[Urban Fantasy|-]][[Magitek|bay]][[Fairly Oddparents|?]]
* [http://thewotch.com/index.php?epDate=2006-08-16 Mentioned by name] in ''[[The Wotch]]''.
== Web Original ==
* In the ''[[Whateley Universe]]'', Phase has incredible amounts of
** [[Justified Trope|Justified]] in that Phase ''was'' one of the heirs to the Goodkind fortune, and the money he has now is explicitly stated to be what his father paid him as part of a settlement agreement. ''And'' it's equally explicitly stated that Ayla considers the money s/he got is a pittance, compared to the money he ''would'' have inherited, if he hadn't mutated.
** In Addition to Phase, tons of other characters, especially devisors and Gadgeteers, have all kinds of nifty tech gizmos... most of which they build themselves. Where do they get the money for this? Every single one of them has their own research expenses granted by the school so they can build stuff. it isn't made clear if they are expected to pay it back or not.
* [[Atop the Fourth Wall
** [[Harsher in Hindsight|Um, where
** His later weapons are outstripping even the gun by a large margin.
*** He ''is'' nominally a member of an organisation with easy access to planet-wrecking technology,<ref>[[Star Trek:
**** Now provides (part of) the page quote!
* [[Doctor Steel]] makes them himself, of course!
== Western Animation ==
* An episode in the third season of ''[[X-Men: Evolution]]'' showed the Xavier School mansion being rebuilt by [[Damage Control|a construction company with the slogan "We keep your secrets."]]
** In ''[[Ultimate X-Men]]'' it shows Xavier hiring a construction crew, but clouding their minds so that they cannot see the students.
* ''[[Kim Possible]]'' gets most of her stuff from her friend [[Mission Control|Wade]], who builds custom-made [[Shoe Phone|disguised spy-gear]] for the [[Action Girl]] on the go. Villains, however, buy direct from HenchCo: proud provider of henchmen and henchman accessories owned and operated by classic [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]] [[Steven Ulysses Perhero|Jack Hench]]. There are also trade magazines and conventions for villains, with well-stocked dealer rooms and catalogs. And, of course "Wacky Wally's Weather Machines" is the one stop shop for total control of the local climate. And, of course, Dr. Drakken sends Shego to steal from them all.
** There's also a reality show, ''Evil Eye for the Villain Guy'', an [[Expy]]/parody of ''[[Queer Eye
* The Guild of Calamitous Intent from ''[[The Venture Brothers]]'' offers logistical and legal support to its members, provided said members obey the rules of the Guild. They also offer super-scientists and heroes deals where they'll provide them with a selection of villains to pick an arch-nemesis from, much like a dating service.
** [[Foe Yay|Very much like a dating service.]]
** Failing that, the rogues gallery can just purchase their sundries from Dr. Venture himself. In the episode "Tag Sale, You're it" Venture, strapped for cash, has a yard sale to sell all of his father's old inventions. The complete rogues gallery shows up for this event.
* Come to think of it, who built the Tracy Island base in ''[[Thunderbirds]]''?
** ... and how did they get ''Thunderbird 5'' into orbit without anyone noticing?
*** [[Screw the Rules, I Have Money|They have money]].
**** [[Mad Scientist|and Brains]].
** Ah, now, this was explained in one of the '90s comics. Jeff Tracy, as well as being a former astronaut, is head of a company called Tracy Aerospace, a company that builds advanced air and spacecraft on a regular
* During the ''[[Powerpuff Girls]]'' movie, there is a scene where a veritable legion of mutated monkeys start to ape Mojo Jojo's style and unleash a variety of evil plans and doomsday weapons on Townsville, while Mojo stands there dully protesting. While it didn't make it into the final
* ''[[Danny Phantom]]'' where [[The Hero]] gets all his Fenton gadgets and doo-dads from his own basement which substitutes as a lab for ghost research. One episode shows his house also possesses a ''weapons vault'', a possible other source for ghost combat goodies.
* The protagonists of ''[[Captain Planet and
** It was mentioned [[All There in the Manual|somewhere, probably in some obscure supplemental material,]] that the implausible technology that the Planeteers had access to was [[Voodoo Shark|sent to them from the future]]. Seriously.
* In ''[[
** [[In a World]] full of [[Aliens and Monsters]], [[Mad Scientist]] and [[Super Villain]] types, and having a city that's attacked by same on a near-weekly basis, they probably really do need them.
* ''[[Freakazoid!]]'' has a fully equipped Freakalair after getting his powers, apparently without any construction work or expenses. [[No Fourth Wall|It's a cartoon]]. He can ''do'' that.
** In some episodes, he implies that the Freakalair is, in fact, located inside Dexter's head. This does not ''in the least'' explain how his mute butler Ingmar gets there.
*** That's the Freakazone, ''not'' to be confused with the Freakalair (Freakazoid even says that). The Freakalair can be located by taking a roller coaster in Dexter's closet.
Line 225 ⟶ 215:
*** This implies the place, even in universe, was built by the production crew.
*** The episode which introduces Jonesy has Freakazoid explain that Ingmar built the entire Freakalair himself.
* ''[[Justice League]]'', "Secret Origins": Superman asks Batman if his stockholders know about the newly-commissioned Watchtower, which Batman [[Hand Wave|handwaves]] with "hidden as a line item in the Space R&D budget." Sure, that hides the funding, but says nothing about assembly either pre-launch or in orbit. (Although with Superman available, Batman at least wouldn't need a launch
** One must also wonder about the much larger, much more advanced Watchtower seen in ''[[Justice League Unlimited]]'' (the one with the [[Kill Sat|Space Cannon]]).
*** With ''dozens'' of heroes, many of them Millionaire Playboys in their off hours, several powerful enough to move planets, including some [[Physical God
** In the ''[[Teen Titans (Comic Book)|Teen Titans]]'' comics, Robin was able to get a [[Cool Car|Batmobile]] shipped to San Francisco by [http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5sg9qiFAv1qbqx4xo1_500.jpg hiding it in the Batarang budget]. (It's bigger than you'd think.) And he would've gotten away with it too if not for Kid Flash...
▲** ''[[Batman:
* In ''[[Spider
* Gizmoduck from ''[[
** It should be noted that Darkwing worked on occasion for the government group S.H.U.S.H. -- a parody of S.H.I.E.L.D. from the Marvel Universe -- and may have received both his salary and access to technology from there.
* ''[[Inspector Gadget]]'' '''is''' a wonderful toy.
* In ''[[
** Further data he uses is age, gender, and people who'd have a motivation. This is basically the same method used by Bane in ''[[Knightfall]]''.
** One episode featured a politician who used his wealth to build a giant ship to forcibly take over Gotham. Someone remarked that only someone as rich as him could get all those toys. One then wonders how that remarker didn't connect Batman to Bruce Wayne after making that statement.
* [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] in ''[[Batman
{{quote|
* [[Looney Tunes|Wile E. Coyote]] has Acme, Inc to supply all his gadgets, but how does he ''pay for them''? Apply [[MST3K Mantra]] here.
** Or a good money back guarantee. Just send in a copy of your medical bill!
** Plus, he could [http://www.jamesfuqua.com/lawyers/jokes/coyote-acme.shtml sue them] for defective merchandise.
** Maybe he's Acme's beta tester?
** ''[[Looney Tunes
** According to [[Jon Stewart]]'s ''[[Earth
* Similar to the Wile E. Coyote example above: we see [[Phineas and Ferb]] buy their supplies, but what kind of allowance do their parents give them to afford this? (Of course, [[Fridge Logic|their mom
** The episode "Flop Starz" takes place relatively early in the series; we can assume that [[Fridge Brilliance|all the supplies for the rest of the summer were bought with the royalties from "Gitchi Gitchi Goo".]]
* ''[[
* The penguins in ''[[The Penguins of Madagascar]]'' have quite a few gadgets and an awful lot of heavy-duty weaponry. While some of it is fairly obviously stolen or constructed by Kowalski, one is still left wondering where they get their dynamite, grenades, and teeny-tiny little pink remote-control cars.
* ''[[The Fairly
** In "The Big Scoop", itself a [[Perspective Flip]] [[Lower Deck Episode]] of "A Wish Too Far", Chester and AJ are not fooled by Timmy's excuses for his new stuff and nearly stumble onto his godparents.
* The villain of ''[[My Goldfish
* Miss
** She's mentioned buying some of her gadgets from some kind of factory.
* ''[[Family Guy]]'''s Peter Griffin crashes both a customized "Peter-Copter", with his face on it, and a "Hinden-Peter" blimp, also with face, into his neighbour Joe Swanson's lawn and house respectively in the same episode. After the latter, Joe angrily asks "HOW CAN YOU AFFORD THESE THINGS?!"
* ''[[
** Well according to ''[[Fusion Fall]]'', they both sell inventions (or at least the patents to their inventions). Then again, ''Fusion Fall'' is set about five years after the series.
* In ''[[Static Shock]]'', Static's base is an
** The pair have been seen hanging out in [[Fridge Brilliance|a junkyard]]...
Line 262 ⟶ 253:
[[Category:Luxury Tropes]]
[[Category:Superhero Tropes]]
[[Category:The Utterly and Completely Definitive Guide
[[Category:Where Does He Get All Those Wonderful Toys?]]
[[Category:
|