History BadassNormal / TheDCU

* Terry [=McGinnis=] in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''. Yes, he has the suit. But he has taken on explicitly superpowered villains without it, including psychics, shapeshifters, aliens, and mix-and-match creatures, even when he is at a distinct disadvantage. And won. He, armed only with one of his mentor's utility belts, also went up against his own suit when it was taken over by a rogue AI. He won that, too.
** It's been stated in series that Terry is a '''better''' Batman than Bruce.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', we have Batman and The Joker as a heroic and villainous example respectively both of whom have superpowered allies and enemies ''alike'' intimidated by and afraid of them. For good reason, too: they both regularly take down said superpowered individuals with nothing more than cunning, intelligence, and some gadgets. So much so that in one special when Joker shifts his attention from Batman to Superman, he refers to it as "playing on ''[[BadassBoast easy mode for a change]]''."
** Justice League'' made sure the normals were all badass in their own way. Though it was a sore spot for Wildcat, believing that just with no superpowers besides being an excellent fighter made him obsolete in the League. He even said that while Black Canary FightsLikeANormal, the fact she had the canary cry sonic scream made her much more useful to the team.
** The Question, who is often nearly as many mental steps ahead of everyone as Batman. He's a consistently paranoid conspiracy theorist, but he lives in a world where conspiracies are a lot more likely.

** In the episode "Tabula Rasa" of ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', the Justice League battle Amazo, an android with [[PowerCopying the ability to copy any superpower]]. He defeats the Justice League one by one. Possessing Superman's powers, he turns to Batman to scan him:

* Robin from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'', though it frequently escalates into the CharlesAtlasSuperpower level. Slade is a villainous subversion of BadassNormal, WordOfGod clarifies that he is actually [[EmpoweredBadassNormal enhanced]] just like in the comics, while in the fourth season an intergalactic demon [[BackFromTheDead resurrects him]] grants him fire powers, until his powers are removed again. He returns to EmpoweredBadassNormal status by ''killing a flaming-axe-wielding guardian of the underworld'', but prefers to [[FightsLikeANormal fight like a normal]] using nothing but tactics and martial arts.

* While it wouldn't normally qualify, since most of his opponents are normal humans, Oliver Queen (AKA Arrow) is this in ''Series/{{Arrow}}''. Many of his allies also, as well as some enemies. With the start of ''Series/TheFlash2014'', any crossover between the series that involves Oliver facing off against a meta-human frequently has him able to, at least, hold his own due to training and planning. When Roy G. Bivolo causes Barry to temporarily go insane, Oliver tries to stop him from doing anything bad. Amazingly, Oliver manages to survive for several minutes before Joe and Wells manage to snap Barry out of it, although he obviously suffers a lot of bruises after Barry unleashes his RapidFireFisticuffs at superspeed.

* Col. Hardy in ''Film/ManOfSteel''. He shows no fear in fighting the Kryptonians and does his level best to kick some ass. Even the [[WorthyOpponent Kryptonians are impressed]].
* Batman in ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', as per tradition. He's a normal human in peak condition who relies on intelligence and prepared traps to fight his enemies, and with the right weaponry actually go toe-to-toe with the FlyingBrick that is Superman. He also manages to not only survive the battle against Doomsday, but with quick thinking, out-maneuver the creature and assist in killing it. Also in ''{{Film/Justice League|2017}}'', he defeats a Parademon with just martial arts and takes part in the battle against Steppenwolf.
* Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, Rick Flagg and Katana from ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' all Badass Normals who take down two EldritchAbomination in form of the Enchantress and her brother Incubus. Granted they still needed one genuine metahuman (El Diablo) on the team to win.
* ''Film/WonderWoman2017'': Steve is a World War I pilot, spy, and saboteur and skilled in his own right, he just isn't a demi-goddess with SuperStrength, divine armor, and weapons. His aim with a gun is enough to provide cover fire.
* In ''Film/BirdsOfPrey2020'' most of the cast (with the exceptions of actual metahuman Black Canary and TagAlongKid Cassandra Cain) are this, but Helena Bertinelli aka Huntress takes home the gold being a MookHorrorShow as seen by the climax. Even Harely acknowdeges how badass she is.
* ''Film/TheSuicideSquad'' has Peacemaker and Bloodsport who would both give Batman and Captain Amercia a run for their money being CrazyPrepared super soldiers who despite lacking superpowers plow through armies of armed mooks and Bloodsport in particualr helps take down Starro in the end. Harely is very noteworthy with her OneWomanArmy moment escaping prison and especially pentrating Starro's eye with a javilan in the climax.

* Batman in ''Film/BatmanVersusSupermanDawnOfJustice'', as per tradition. He's a normal human in peak condition who relies on intelligence and prepared traps to fight his enemies, and with the right weaponry actually go toe-to-toe with the FlyingBrick that is Superman. He also manages to not only survive the battle against Doomsday, but with quick thinking, out-maneuver the creature and assist in killing it. Also in ''{{Film/Justice League|2017}}'', he defeats a Parademon with just martial arts and takes part in the battle against Steppenwolf.

* Batman, as per tradition. He's a normal human in peak condition who relies on intelligence and prepared traps to fight his enemies, and with the right weaponry actually go toe-to-toe with the FlyingBrick that is Superman. He also manages to not only survive the battle against Doomsday, but with quick thinking, out-maneuver the creature and assist in killing it. Also in ''{{Film/Justice League|2017}}'', he defeats a Parademon with just martial arts and takes part in the battle against Steppenwolf.

* In ''Film/BirdsOfPrey'' most of the cast (with the exceptions of actual metahuman Black Canary and TagAlongKid Cassandra Cain) are this, but Helena Bertinelli aka Huntress takes home the gold being a MookHorrorShow as seen by the climax. Even Harely acknowdeges how badass she is.

** Barbara Gordon is a baseline human. However she is a skilled fighter with an eidetic memory who fought for, and earned, her right to fight alongside the boys despite Batman's disapproval. After retiring from the role and then becoming paralyzed from the waist down she trained under ComicBook/RichardDragon and became a better martial artist. Babs does eventually regain the ability to walk in ''ComicBook/Batgirl2011'', and in later comic she even joins a team in rescuing Damien's corpse from '''Apokolips''' and survives. In ''ComicBook/ElseworldsFinestSupergirlAndBatgirl'', Barbara manages to keep the Justice Society out of Gotham, and she even came up with a way to neutralize ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} without damaging her.

* In every ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' continuity, Val Amorr, ComicBook/KarateKid, is the one member of the team without superpowers, beyond a low level of EnlightenmentSuperpowers theoretically available to any human in the DCU due to his training. However, his skill with martial arts is such that he can throw ComicBook/{{Superboy}} over his shoulder-- ''you'' tell him he's not good enough for the Legion.

** Barbara Gordon is a baseline human. However she is a skilled fighter with an eidetic memory who fought for, and earned, her right to fight alongside the boys despite Batman's disapproval. After retiring from the role and then becoming paralyzed from the waist down she trained under ComicBook/RichardDragon and became a better martial artist. Babs does eventually regain the ability to walk in ''ComicBook/Batgirl2011'', later comics and she even joins the team to rescue Damien's corpse from Apokolips and survives. In ''ComicBook/ElseworldsFinestSupergirlAndBatgirl'', Barbara manages to keep the Justice Society out of Gotham, and she even came up with a way to neutralize ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} without damaging her.

* ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} (the original Comicbook/{{Robin}}'s adult superhero identity) is likewise unpowered and is on par with Batman in most of Batman's skills. He surpasses him in leadership ability: he's about the only person in the world that every superhero would listen to without question. Nightwing actually [[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman became Batman]] for a time, so it comes full circle.

** [[Comicbook/SuicideSquad "Taskforce X"]] uses this trope to help make the {{Villain Protagonist}}s of the episode more sympathetic. Even if they are evil, watching four normal people (with a fifth as mission control) infiltrate the Watchtower and make off with a giant magical suit of armour is still sort of cool.

** The head of [[CapeBusters Cadmus]] Amanda Waller. Not only is she able to intimidate ''Batman'', she has absolutely no combat training, and yet still goes up against Brainthor along with the original seven with nothing but a handgun, even pulling a brief BackToBackBadasses with Comicbook/GreenLantern.

* Robin from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'', though it frequently escalates into the CharlesAtlasSuperpower level. Slade is a villainous subversion of BadassNormal, WordOfGod clarifies that he is actually [[EmpoweredBadassNormal enhanced]] just like in the comics, while in the fourth season an intergalactic demon [[BackFromTheDead resurrects him]] grants him fire powers, until his powers are removed again. He returns to EmpoweredBadassNormal status by ''killing a flaming-axe-wielding guardian of the underworld'', but prefers to [[FightsLikeANormal fight like a normal]] using nothing but tactics and martial arts.

* WesternAnimation/YoungJustice has many, but a special mention has to go out to Artemis and Robin I/Dick/Nightwing. They turn fight scenes into an art form. When they were fighting together in ''Homefront'', they worked seamlessly together against androids that had taken out their superpowered friends.

* On the topic of ''ComicBook/SuicideSquad'', [[Characters/SuicideSquadOperatives Rick Flag Jr]] the ColonelBadass of Task Force X is epitome of this. He’s a mortal man on a team full of often AxCrazy superpowered individuals but still manages to be badass enough to survive getting transported into another dimension, take on and kill numerous metahumans and even held his own against Batman in one on one fight.

* Comicbook/{{Batgirl}} I/ComicBook/{{Oracle}}: Barbara Gordon is a baseline human. However she is a skilled fighter with an eidetic memory who fought for, and earned, her right to fight alongside the boys despite Batman's disapproval. After retiring from the role and then becoming paralyzed from the waist down she trained under ComicBook/RichardDragon and became an even better martial artist than she'd been while she still had use of her legs. Babs does eventually regain the ability to walk in later comics and becomes Batgirl again, in ComicBook/TheNew52 Barbara even joins the team to rescue Damien’s corpse from goddamn [[Characters/NewGodsApokolips Apokolips]] '''and survives!'''
** In ''ComicBook/ElseworldsFinestSupergirlAndBatgirl'', Batgirl, a non-powered human, manages to keep the Justice Society out of Gotham, and she even came up with a way to neutralize ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'' without damaging her.
* [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2000}} Cassandra Cain, Batgirl II]]. Through physical conditioning alone, she can perfectly read body language and anticipate her opponent's next move. She's been trained by Batman, and is in fact a superior fighter, having beaten the best martial artist in the DC Universe, ComicBook/LadyShiva.
* Stephanie Brown originally [[OvershadowedByAwesome put the 'normal' in Badass Normal]], as her tenure as the Spoiler and then Robin were not overwhelming successes and she never quite earned the acceptance of Batman and the rest of the hero community. Then, [[LegacyCharacter when she assumed the mantle of]] [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2009}} Batgirl]] from [[Comicbook/{{Batgirl2000}} Cassandra Cain]] she [[TookALevelInBadass improved her combat and detective skills]] until she earned the respect of original Batgirl Barbara Gordon and eventually Batman himself.
* The Franchise/{{Batman}} mythos tends to collect these. Most notably, of course, being [[TropeCodifier Batman]] himself. He fills this role when he's required to be in an ensemble. Despite having no inherent superpowers, he's earned a spot in the inner circle of the ''Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'', fighting alongside the likes of Franchise/{{Superman}} courtesy of a [[TheSmartGuy steel-trap intellect]] combined with a bit of a mean streak that means he can consider plans other members can't, and consider them well.

* The original Golden Age ComicBook/BlackCanary was this. Unlike her more well-known [[LegacyCharacter successor]] [[BadassFamily daughter]], Dinah Drake didn't have any superpowers to speak of. She simply used her fists and wits to fight. Her daughter, Dinah Lance (though, as of the ComicBook/New52 they've been made into a CompositeCharacter known as "Dinah Drake"), spends most of her time [[FightsLikeANormal using her normal strength as well]], but also has a supersonic screaming power. One issue had a middle-aged Dinah Drake forcibly come out of retirement due to mind-control, and even after having a 20+ year old daughter she's still perfectly fit to fight. Unsurprisingly, Dinah Drake was a member of the Justice Society of America.

* ''Comicbook/TeenTitans'' rogue [[Characters/TeenTitansCheshire Cheshire]] doesn't have any powers, relying on her [[SheFu acrobatics]], martial arts and [[MasterPoisoner mastery of poison]] to fight. She is still formidable enough to fight and take down many powerful heroes, such as ComicBook/{{Starfire}} and ComicBook/WonderWoman.
* Comicbook/{{Deadshot}} is a man with no powers other than being an [[ImprobableAimingSkills inhumanly good marksman]], hence his name.

* Any human Franchise/GreenLantern, deprived of his/her ring, becomes this by default.

* In every ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' continuity, Val Amorr, ComicBook/KarateKid, is the one member of the team without superpowers, beyond a low level of EnlightenmentSuperpowers theoretically available to any human in the DCU due to his training. However, his skill with martial arts is such that he can fight ComicBook/{{Superboy}} to a standstill -- ''you'' tell him he's not good enough for the Legion.
* Superman's ArchEnemy ComicBook/LexLuthor glides under the radar on this one, but gets his due from time to time. ''ComicBook/SupermanRedSon'' outlines his whole get-up rather neatly: "What was the point of Lex Luthor? A human who dared challenge a [[PhysicalGod god]], surely he was the greatest of his kind." Of course this hasn’t stopped multiple writers (usually temporarily) giving Lex a Kryptonite SuperSerum or turning him into a HalfHumanHybrid making it difficult to classify him as a regular man.
** Creator/GrantMorrison, in [[http://www.newsarama.com/comics/100827-Morrison-Superman-05.html this]] exit interview for ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman'', said of Luthor: "It’s essential to [[RootingForTheEmpire find yourself rooting]] for Lex, at least a little bit, when he goes up against a man-god armed only with his bloody-minded arrogance and cleverness."
* Post-Crisis ComicBook/LoisLane as well. A few abilities are due to her exposure to a lot of weapons and physical skills while growing up on military bases and all, but for the most part it's just that she apparently has cojones the size of Metropolis. Who has the luxury of being incinerated by that alien overlord or getting gunned down by a gang of mob members when you promised Perry White you'd get back to the ''Daily Planet'' with a front-page story before 8:00?
** In ComicBook/DCRebirth Lois pilots the [[PoweredArmor Hellbat suit]] to protect her son Jonathan from Eradicator, making her the only person besides the goddamn Batman himself to wear that thing.

* Comicbook/RedHood (Robin II) is what happens when someone with Batman's training drops the no-guns/no-killing policy. He's both ruthless and effective when he's not distracted by his vendetta against Bruce, as anger and jealously makes him his own worst enemy. Averted in ComicBook/TheNew52 when Jason uses the Venom steroid like Bane and becomes a EmpoweredBadassNormal, though out of newly retained loyalty to Bruce, he eventually stops using it.
* [[Comicbook/RobinSeries Tim Drake, Robin III]], while being the most [[AudienceSurrogate relatable]] of the Robins before Stephanie's brief tenure, was a HyperCompetentSidekick to begin with as was needed to explain why Batman would take on another Robin after Jason Todd's death. When Dick took the mantle of Robin from him Tim TookALevelInBadass as Comicbook/RedRobin becoming a coolly efficient detective and one of the most skilled staff fighters in the DCU.
* ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'' is usually a virtual PhysicalGod. However, when she is depowered, her enemies find out two facts about her: she practices some style of Kryptonian martial arts (Torquasm Rao and Torquasm Vo in the pre-Crisis universe; Klurkor in the post-Crisis continuity); and post-Crisis Kara was trained by both Batman ''and'' Wonder Woman.
* Franchise/{{Superman}}:
** ''Comicbook/KryptoniteNevermore'': Weakened, injured and underpowered, Superman defeats three armed thugs. He really likes the feeling of winning without resorting to super-powers.

** The '''''original''''' Nightwing, who was Franchise/{{Superman}} BroughtDownToNormal. In fact, in every instance Supes has no powers (often from being under a red sun), he shows off his own badassery without needing his powers - one only needs to see the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' episode "Hereafter", in which a depowered Superman single-handedly takes over a dire wolf pack, with just a sword, then wears the wolfpack's leader's hide as a ''cloak''.
** Played with in the case of Clark Kent. Yeah, sure, he's actually Franchise/{{Superman}}, but to the world at large Clark Kent is just a mild-mannered reporter who ''dares'' to muckrake around Lexcorp and Intergang. In the One Year Later arc, Clark actually loses his powers for a period of time and ''still'' manages to infiltrate Lex's operations, Intergang, and anywhere else you'd expect an intrepid investigative reporter to go. And, according to Perry White, is a BETTER reporter that year than he's ever been. Apparently Clark Kent is just plain badass.

* Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, Rick Flagg and Katana from ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' all Badass Normals who take down a EldritchAbomination in form of the Enchantress. Granted they still needed one genuine metahuman

** ComicBook/LadyShiva and the whole League of Assassins. Some are EmpoweredBadassNormal, but most stick with this.

* ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} is DC's best known female Badass Normal. What she lacks in Batman's wealth and Nightwing's charisma, she compensates in resourcefulness and [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor knowing which side to be on at the right time]].

** Played with in the case of Clark Kent. Yeah, sure, he's actually Franchise/{{Superman}}, but to the world at large Clark Kent is just a mild mannered reporter who ''dares'' to muckrake around Lexcorp and Intergang. In the One Year Later arc, Clark actually loses his powers for a period of time and ''still'' manages to infiltrate Lex's operations, Intergang, and anywhere else you'd expect an intrepid investigative reporter to go. And, according to Perry White, is a BETTER reporter that year than he's ever been. Apparently Clark Kent is just plain badass.

* Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, Rick Flagg and Katana from ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' all Badass Normals who take down a EldritchAbomination in form of the Enchantress. Granted they still needed one genuine metahuman El Diablo to do the heavy lifting towards the end of the film. Harley in particular would go onto have more BadassNormal OneWomanArmy moments in ''Film/BirdsOfPrey'' and ''Film/TheSuicideSquad''.

* ''Film/BirdsOfPrey'' has Huntress and Renee Montoya, the former of whom even Harley admits is extremely badass.
* ''Film/TheSuicideSquad'' has Peacemaker and Bloodsport both of whom would give even Batman and Deathstroke a run for their money in the CrazyPrepared BadassNormal camp. There’s also Rick Flagg who taking a TakingALevelInBadass from his previous film appearance is able to equal and briefly overpower Peacemaker in a fight.

* Comicbook/{{Batgirl}} I/ComicBook/{{Oracle}}: Barbara Gordon is a baseline human. However she is a skilled fighter with an eidetic memory who fought for, and earned, her right to fight alongside the boys despite Batman's disapproval. After retiring from the role and then becoming paralyzed from the waist down she trained under ComicBook/RichardDragon and became an even better martial artist than she'd been while she still had use of her legs.

** DependingOnTheWriter, ComicBook/TheJoker qualifies as either this or a ''slightly'' EmpoweredBadassNormal. Some forms of media portray him as completely insane after falling into a toxic vat in Ace Chemicals, though that and a deal of FacialHorror is about the only 'power' he has. Other media omit this, making him out to be just an extremely cunning psychopath. Regardless, Joker always stands out as the single greatest enemy Batman has ever fought. He earns this reputation simply by having a wickedly magnificent intellect, a monstrously sadistic personality, and a penchant for lethal party-gag themed weapons and other trinkets.

* Superman's ArchEnemy ComicBook/LexLuthor glides under the radar on this one, but gets his due from time to time. ''ComicBook/SupermanRedSon'' outlines his whole get-up rather neatly: "What was the point of Lex Luthor? A human who dared challenge a [[PhysicalGod god]], surely he was the greatest of his kind."

* Comicbook/RedHood (Robin II) is what happens when someone with Batman's training drops the no-guns/no-killing policy. He's both ruthless and effective when he's not distracted by his vendetta against Bruce, as anger and jealously makes him his own worst enemy.

!!Franchise/TheDCU

** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'' Natasha Teranova was a cosmonaut who joined Diana's crew of {{Space Pirate|s}} Revolutionaries after being captured by the Sangtee Empire as one of the best, and trickiest fighters in the crew. She personally slipped her bonds and took out her kreel captors in the final battle which forced the Empire to abolish slavery.

* In every ''ComicBook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}'' continuity, Val Amorr, ComicBook/KarateKid, is the one member of the team without superpowers, beyond a low level of EnlightenmentSuperpowers theoretically available to any human in the DCU due to his training. However, his skill with martial arts is such that he can fight ComicBook/{{Superboy}} to a standstill -- ''you'' tell him he's not good enough for the Legion.