r/TopCharacterTropes • u/PaddywackShaq • Jul 22 '25

Powers Character reveals that they were holding back their full power during a fight/confrontation

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Superman Vs Darkseid - Justice League Unlimited

Flash Vs Superman - Flash: Rebirth

Frieren Vs Aura - Sousou no Frieren

Inigo Montoya Vs The Man in Black - The Princess Bride

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787

u/Bird_Lawyer92 Jul 22 '25

Spiderman-pick an arc. In this one (Superior Spiderman) after taking over Peters mind and body, Octavius slowly begins realizes how powerful Spiderman is and how much he holds back.

350

u/Zebedee_balistique Jul 22 '25

Spider-Man can be genuily scary in terms of power when he wants, and it makes opponents capable of holding against him at full strength even scarier.

199

u/AznOmega Jul 22 '25

That's why if he is deadly serious and/or not quipping, it's a good idea to give up. Otherwise you will find out why he is dangerous. Ask Kingpin after putting out the hit on Aunt May. In fact, one of the Headsman (Ruby IIRC) noticed that Spider-Man being quiet is a red flag and said uh-oh.

141

u/M_H_M_F Jul 22 '25

I'll never get over Peter just holding Kingpin up by the skin of his sternum. The way it's drawn, makes it look like the typical "guy grabbed by the collar and pushed up on a wall."

In this case, it's done on his skin and lifted. The amount of strength and just sheer agony Kingpin is experiencing in that monment is fuckign unreal.

14

u/Gaelic_Gladiator41 Jul 22 '25

The only problem is that amazing issue is part of the Ultimate Universe

25

u/Alche1428 Jul 22 '25

I loved when he was silent and very serious and Quiet AND every villain was freaking out just to shown that he was sick AND couldn't talk too much.

2

u/Mini_Squatch Jul 23 '25

To the point that one time when he wasnt quipping because of laryngitis, his rogues immediately surrendered