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With Great Power Comes Great Perks: Difference between revisions
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[[File:telek3_6648.jpg|link=My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|frame|Using telekinesis for truth and justice? Try fashion.]]
In fiction it's very common that a character's life drastically changes after they get superpowers. The first thing most people do (after dealing with the person bullying them throughout act 1), is strap on their shiniest [[The Cape (trope)|cape]] or nicest [[Kick the Dog|dog-kicking boots]] and become the local hero or villain. That's not the life for this character, though.
When this character gets superpowers, the first thing they do is... not much. They use their powers to marginally improve their lives, and simply do what they feel like. They don't care about the typical [[Good vs. Evil]] struggle [[The Call Knows Where You Live|(unless their mother gets kidnapped by the Evil League of Evil, or is staked by the local Knight Templar)]]. Their behavior is probably how most ordinary people would act if they got superpowers. They aren't particularly mean, nor especially kind. They are just ordinary people given extraordinary powers. Often this is how characters in shows on the center-right side of the [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]] act before the plot shows up.
If there are other characters that have chosen to become heroes or villains, they (more often than not) will tell this character that they are either [[You Could Have Used Your Powers for Good|selfish or wasting their potential]].
While plot-wise most characters are given superpowers for the purpose of beating up other guys with superpowers, this kind of characters can be used in [[Slice of Life]] situations and make a plot interesting without an antagonist that must be beaten.
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== Literature ==
* The [[Faust]] legend, and how it's depicted in ''[[Doctor Faustus]]'' is all about this, and would qualify as a darker take on this. After making his [[Deal with the Devil]], Faust behaves in a quiet similar manner to ''[[Bruce Almighty]]'' and uses his power to pull pranks and satisfy his whims of the moment. While this kind of thing makes the audience laugh, it amounts to him wasting the true potential of the deal and he ends up eternally damned without a lot to show for it.
** And also there are [[Those Two Guys|his apprentices]], who use his magic books for even wackier shenanigans.
* In ''[[Wearing the Cape]]'' even the superheroes are working for big paychecks, and the more successful ones are idolized, with their own merchandise lines, fan-clubs, even TV shows fictionalizing their adventures. This doesn't mean they're ''all'' in it for the perks--just that a superhero career can be financially remunerative.
* In ''The Scent Of Magic'' by Cliff McNish, when one girl gets magic all she does is read a book by the light of her spells shining from her eyes.
== Live Action TV ==
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== [[Tabletop Games]] ==
* In ''[[Trinity Universe (game)|Aberrant]]'', this is essentially what ''every'' nova does with their newfound powers. Granted, there are a few who use their powers in the classical superhero way, but even then they only do it for the fame or the money. Justified, as ''Aberrant'' is more or less a deconstruction of the superhero genre.
* Likewise, in the ''Paragons'' setting for ''[[Mutants and Masterminds]]'', you'll get just as many heroes who use their powers for personal fun times as do for altruistic aims. One sample NPC is Gourmand, who has the ability to teleport anywhere on Earth... and uses it to visit her favorite out-of-the-way restaurants across the globe (the fact that she has Immunities to gastric distress and weight gain help).
== [[Web Comics]] ==
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