History Main / AlmightyJanitor

* ''Franchise/StarWars'' ''Film/TheForceAwakens'': Finn admits that "sanitation" was his sole duty on Starkiller Base before his first combat assignment. [[spoiler:His knowledge of the installation is invaluable to the Resistance when they need to blow it up.]]

*** He was a world-class hurdler when he was 19 years old and could have gotten a college scholarship if he hadn't had sex with the president's daughter. The daughter of the President of the United States that is. In his fourties, he does a 100m hurdle run in less than 10 seconds, calling it "not even world-record pace." In fact, it beats the world-record by ''a lot''!

** There was an episode where Turk was in charge of some interns and one of them (a big buff Eastern European) was being somewhat of a InsufferableGenius. Turns out he was a surgeon with a few years experience back home but had to become an intern again when he came to Sacred Heart.

** Depending on just how much you can trust his word, Mycroft. It's not just in ''Sherlock''; Mycroft's minor/notable position is actually canon from the original Literature/SherlockHolmes books by [[Creator/ArthurConanDoyle Conan Doyle]]. "He ''is'' the British Government" was lifted word-for-word from "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans".

** Then we have the nameless and diligent postman from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' who is able to travel all over the monster-infested world that's on the brink of apocalypse... completely unarmed. Not only is he not afraid of Link's wolf form, but he ''recognizes it'' as a ForcedTransformation form and will gleefully greet it as Mr. Link and run up to it. And, if that's all enough, this guy was able to clear the entire [[BonusDungeon Cave Of Ordeals]], unarmed, without any of the tools Link needed to get there, and ''on the second time when the cave is harder''. [[UnstoppableMailman Just to deliver a letter]].

** Then we have the nameless and diligent postman from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' who is able to travel all over the monster-infested world that's on the brink of apocalypse... completely unarmed. Not only is he not afraid of Link's wolf form, but he ''recognizes it'' as a BalefulPolymorph form and will gleefully greet it as Mr. Link and run up to it. And, if that's all enough, this guy was able to clear the entire [[BonusDungeon Cave Of Ordeals]], unarmed, without any of the tools Link needed to get there, and ''on the second time when the cave is harder''. [[UnstoppableMailman Just to deliver a letter]].

* ''VideoGame/AstraHunterZosma'': Although Zosma is a fairly capable fighter, he's ranked dead last as an Astra Hunter. He later states that it's because he plays it too safe by only taking on easy ruins, which have already been scoured clean by other hunters. Depending Zosma's treasure count, [[spoiler:he can end up in 99th (last), 50th, 10th, or 1st place in the guild rankings in the ending, though his combat prowess is undeniable considering he and his slime companion defeated Deneb, the former top Astra Hunter]].

* Chief Baker Charles Joughin in ''Film/Titanic1997''. His portrayal in the movie showed him being one of about five people to climb to the top of the stern... and literally ''rode the stern of the titanic'' down, making him the last person to have exited the ship. It may look a bit like SpecialEffectFailure that he just stood on top of it like he was in an elevator, but this is actually TruthInTelevision. When Rose mentions that only six out of 1500+ people were rescued from the water, it's ''very'' likely that she included him. See his section in RealLife.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': [[Characters/FuturamaPhilipJFry Philip J. Fry]] [[DisabilityImmunity lacks the ability to produce delta brainwaves]], making him the only being alive who can defeat the Brain Spawn and has in fact done so twice, saving every living creature in the universe. [[TheGreatestStoryNeverTold Almost no one is aware of this]], though, and Fry continues to cheerfully work a low-paying job on an interstellar delivery crew, living a relatively mundane existence by 31st-century standards.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': [[Characters/FuturamaPhilipJFry Philip J. Fry]]. [DisabilityImmunity lacks the ability to produce delta brainwaves]], making him the only being alive who can defeat the Brain Spawn and has in fact done so twice, saving every living creature in the universe. [[TheGreatestStoryNeverTold Almost no one is aware of this]], though, and Fry continues to cheerfully work a low-paying job on an interstellar delivery crew, living a relatively mundane existence by 31st-century standards.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'':
** "Scruffy. The Janitor." Who is really not almighty at all, but just as lazy and incompetent as the rest of the crew, but owns four times as much stock in Planet Express as any other employee except for Dr. Zoidberg. He also has one ''hell'' of a BadassBoast when the possibility of firing him pops up: without looking up from his porno magazine, he darkly says he keeps the boilers and the toilets running and to ''fire him at their peril''.
--->"My job? Toilets 'n boilers, boilers 'n toilets, plus that one boilin' toilet. ''Fire me if'n you dare''."
** [[Characters/FuturamaPhilipJFry Philip J. Fry]] is an off-the-wall example in his own right. Because he [[DisabilityImmunity lacks the ability to produce delta brainwaves]], he's the only being alive who can defeat the Brain Spawn and has in fact done so twice, saving every living creature in the universe. [[TheGreatestStoryNeverTold Almost no one is aware of this]], though, and Fry continues to cheerfully work a low-paying job on an interstellar delivery crew, living a relatively mundane existence by 31st-century standards.

** The series always had rankings, but it isn't until ''Armored Core: Master of Arena'' that you can fight each other. In that game, the lowest-ranking ones, even after the post-story unlockables are very weak. Along came ''Armored Core 2'' and ''Armored Core 3''. In ''Armored Core 3'' and the sequel ''Silent Line,'' the arena also features a post-story unlockable enemies. The catch is that the lower in the rank they go, ''the tougher they are'', so much so that in ''Armored Core 3,'' there's an email challenging you to defeat the bottom-most opponent, Exile, while giving you the GameBreaker OP-I (albeit you need to train it properly first) just to give you a slight, repeat, ''slight'' edge over the opponent. To further hammer the point home, the email added "you may be considered unfair should you choose to use the equipment I provided."
** Another example would be ''Armored Core 2'''s Werehound. He apparently stays at a relatively low rank specifically because he enjoys wrecking the confidence of hopeful new ravens. Too bad that one can simply evade all of his weapons to the point that he has no method of attack whatsoever.
** The Almighty Janitor in ''Armored Core 2'' is known as Mattheas. He pales in comparison to ''Armored Core 3'''s janitor, Exile, but is far and away the most skilled A.I. Raven you'll face in the game. He packs two of the most powerful weapons available.
** In ''Armored Core 4'', YOU stay at the bottom rank no matter how many opponents you trash. By time ''For Answer'' rolls around, and ''4''[='s=] protagonist goes [[RogueProtagonist rogue]], he's risen in rank--to Rank 9. In-story, the League is so afraid of him and his mech (as well as Fiona Jarnefeldt), that they send in the Rank 1... with backup, because alone, well...

*** Also in ''Armored Core: For Answer'': You, once again. Even though you're given the option to advance this time, nothing's really forcing you to, and you can destroy any number of other [=NEXTs=] and Arms Forts, and still be placed behind the guy who uses a mech speced for construction work instead of combat.

*** Like White Glint in ''for Answer'', the Arquebus Vesper V.IV Rusty holds the infamous rank 9 in the arena, and proves to be much more than mere numbers would suggest. [[spoiler: After [[DefectorFromDecadence defecting from Arquebus]] and getting his own MidSeasonUpgrade to Steel Haze ORTUS, Rusty becomes either the penultimate boss of the Fires of Raven route (notably ''after'' you fought the top-ranked V.I Freud), or [[TheLancer the player's support]] in the Liberator of Rubicon route, [[OneManArmy taking out an entire fleet]] of Arquebus' warships [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome off-screen]] while you deal with his old boss V.II Snail and the Xylem.]]

** [[spoiler:TheMovie has a ShoutOut to this when "The Kid" is ordered to fire on civilians, refuses, and is promptly shot in the brain pan.]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Geneforge}} 2'': Among the Shapers, AsskickingLeadsToLeadership is ''not'' in effect. No matter how many people and {{Mons}} you kill, you're still a mere apprentice magician as far as the [=NPCs=] are concerned, until you get back home and can have your status re-evaluated. And if you gained your powers through use of an UpgradeArtifact, you ''won't'' be climbing the ranks.

** In the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series, X is consistently at Rank B due to [[ReluctantWarrior his general aversion towards fighting]] despite being the one to have handed Sigma his viral ass no less than ten times [[VideoGameLongRunners now]]. [[note]]This is counting all eight mainline installments plus the events of both ''[[VideoGame/MegaManXtreme Xtreme]]'' games.[[/note]] His rank can increase in-game starting with ''[[VideoGame/MegaManX5 X5]]'', but usually only in a case of GameplayAndStorySegregation since it doesn't stick story-wise until ''[[VideoGame/MegaManX8 X8]]''. Contrast Zero, who spends most games either blown to smithereens, providing support, or BrainwashedAndCrazy, yet is consistently classed at Rank S (or [[RankInflation Special A]], depending on the game). This is even subtly invoked as a plot point in ''X5'': [[spoiler:the battle between X and Zero always ends in [[DoubleKnockout a draw]], even in the non-canon scenario where Zero reawakens to [[SuperpoweredEvilSide his true nature]] after coming into contact with the original form of TheVirus.]] Finally averted come ''X8'' (and ''[[VideoGame/MegaManXCommandMission Command Mission]]''), where X is recognized as a Rank S Hunter alongside Zero and [[VideoGame/MegaManX7 Axl]]. Notably, this is after the much-maligned TenMinuteRetirement that sidelined X for most of ''X7'', with X less hesitant to pull the trigger [[ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer when necessary]] despite maintaining his characteristic MartialPacifist stance and weariness about the ongoing Maverick Wars.

* The twist ending of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidV'' reveals that [[spoiler:"Punished" Venom Snake, is not Big Boss, but the medic in the helicopter during the ''[[MetalGearSolidVGroundZeroes Ground Zeroes]]'' prologue to ''Phantom Pain'' that gets shot down. He is given plastic surgery to look like Big Boss [[BodyDouble as a distraction]] while the real Big Boss goes into hiding. Turns out despite being a medic, he had the military training and skills to equal that of Big Boss, making him a perfect double and would go on to form a powerful military army in his own right, which Solid Snake takes on in the original ''VideoGame/MetalGear1''.]]

* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda''
** Link. In fact in the beginning he is really just a kid, [[VideoGame/HyruleWarriors sometimes a]] [[VideoGame/HyruleWarriorsAgeOfCalamity soldier]]. As it turns out he's actually the legendary hero, [[TheChosenOne the only one worthy of wielding the Master Sword]]. Each game's Link gets stronger and earns the almighty title, and by the end of the game he's [[OneManArmy tearing through Ganon's Army like it's tissue paper]], before [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu throwing down with the King of Evil himself]]. [[TheGreatestStoryNeverTold Few people realise afterwards that Link is the person that saved everyone]].
** Then we have the nameless and diligent postman from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' who is able to travel all over the monster-infested world that's on the brink of apocalypse... completely unarmed. Not only is he not afraid of Link's wolf form, but he ''recognizes it'' as a BalefulPolymorph form and will gleefully greet it as Mr. Link and run up to it. And, if that's all enough, this guy was able to clear the entire [[BonusDungeon Cave Of Ordeals]], unarmed, without any of the tools Link needed to get there, and ''on the second time when the cave is harder''. [[UnstoppableMailman Just to deliver a letter]].

* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'': Jolee Bindo is a powerful Jedi with mastery of the force, and his idea of a soul-searching vacation is to spend a few decades in a forest so dangerous that most Wookies fear it. But due to both contentment with the ranking, and disillusionment with the Jedi Order in general, he's technically still only a Padawan after DecliningPromotion to Knight.

* ''Manga/BlackClover'': Though [[UnSorcerer Asta]] is a low-ranking rookie, his AntiMagic and assorted combat skills allow him to fight on par with more experienced magic knights, with even a few captains acknowledging his fighting strength and [[{{determinatot}} his determination to never give up]] to the point that they are willing to rely on him when facing particularly dangerous opponents.

*** Turns out the pilot you stole your license from was [[spoiler: (or rather, [[NotQuiteDead is]])]] also one of these, as BossBanter with the PCA's Cataphract unit reveals that despite their bottom-of-the-barrel arena rank, they were responsible for [[spoiler: leaking the intel that Coral was found again on Rubicon after the Fires of Ibis supposedly destroyed it, and they turn out to be quite the formidable pilot when they [[ConfrontingYourImposter confront you]] to see if you're worthy of taking the name "Raven," after all]].

*** Like White Glint in ''for Answer'', the Arquebus Vesper V.IV Rusty holds the infamous rank 9 in the arena, and proves to be much more than mere numbers would suggest. [[spoiler: After [[DefectorFromDecadence defecting from Arquebus]] and getting his own MidSeasonUpgrade to Steel Haze ORTUS, Rusty becomes either the penultimate boss of the Fires of Raven route, or [[TheLancer the player's support]] in the Liberator of Rubicon route, [[OneManArmy taking out an entire fleet]] of Arquebus' warships [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome off-screen]] while you deal with his old boss V.II Snail and the Xylem.]]

** ''VideoGame/ArmoredCoreVIFiresOfRubicon'' has... well, [[RunningGag you again,]] starting as just one of Handler Walter's nameless Hounds, having to steal your license to even operate on the planet from another unlucky pilot, eventually working up to decide the fate of Rubicon and its prized [[AppliedPhlebotinum Coral]].

*** Also in ''Armored Core: For Answers'': You, once again. Even though you're given the option to advance this time, nothing's really forcing you to, and you can destroy any number of other [=NEXTs=] and Arms Forts, and still be placed behind the guy who uses a mech speced for construction work instead of combat.

** Dilbert's garbageman, who ranks as the "World's Smartest Garbageman" and possibly world's smartest person. He's a GadgeteerGenius who can create a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion perpetual motion machine]] without any real effort, among other amazing feats including bringing Dilbert BackFromTheDead. Scott Adams has stated that if we can't understand why the world's smartest man is a garbageman, that is because ''we'' are not the world's smartest man.

* ''Fanfic/WitnessGoodNeighbors'' has [[Manga/MyHeroAcademia Izuku himself]] as one, as [[ForWantOfANail he attempted to take All Might's advice]] and tried to become a police officer instead of continuing his seemingly hopeless pursuit of a career in heroics. Despite doing incredibly well on the police exam, he still gets rejected due to his Quirklessness, even though police aren't authorized to use their Quirks anyway. The only job he's able to find is as a janitor, and he struggles with keeping his head above water for a time... before figuring out how to use the role to his advantage and help others anyway.

* Terry of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' qualifies. He is, after all, officially (and ''de facto'') Wayne's errand boy. Then from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', there's [[BattleButler Alfred, Wayne's butler...]]

** [[IdiotHero Philip J. Fry]] is an off-the-wall example in his own right. Because he [[DisabilityImmunity lacks the ability to produce delta brainwaves]], he's the only being alive who can defeat the Brain Spawn and has in fact done so twice, saving every living creature in the universe. [[TheGreatestStoryNeverTold Almost no one is aware of this]], though, and Fry continues to cheerfully work a low-paying job on an interstellar delivery crew, living a relatively mundane existence by 31st-century standards.

** Spike the dragon is often discounted by others for being rather immature and for being a baby, but he's still a baby ''dragon'': a fire-breathing creature that is MadeOfIron, can [[ExtremeOmnivore eat anything]], and routinely ''bathe in lava''. He may be the [[ButtMonkey butt of jokes]], serves only as Twilight Sparkle's assistant, and typically holds little the lowest rank imaginable such as not even having a position in her School of Friendship (he's described as "essentially being Twilight's executive assistant"). That said, he's also the reason the ponies made peace with dragons and changelings, has taken on both a massive Timberwolf King and King Sombra and ''won'', and once casually saved an entire stadium from a stadium-sized falling iceberg by melting it.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': [=SpongeBob=]'s fry cook status has occasionally granted him opportunities to cook for Neptune. Of course, StatusQuoIsGod and he enjoys his job at the Krusty Krab too much.

** The three top-ranked heroes of A-Class, B-Class, and C-Class are downplayed examples: They could all get promoted to the higher classes, but for various personal reasons, choose not to. Licenseless Rider (C-Class) considers himself unworthy of B-Class, Fubuki (B-Class) would rather be [[NormalFishInATinyPond the queen of B-Class than a middle-ranked A-Class]], and Sweet Mask (A-Class) views himself as being the buffer between A-Class and the prestigious S-Class.

** Similar to Goku, his father Bardock was born with a low power level and ranked accordingly. Although he gained a lot of combat experience and at the end of his life, his power rivaled that of Vegeta's father, he was still dismissed as a low-level.

* Ahti, the CloudCuckoolander [[FunnyForeigner Finnish]] janitor of the Federal Bureau of Control, in ''VideoGame/{{Control}}''. He can seemingly come and go anywhere he pleases, even the most secretive and tightly restricted areas. He also apparently just ''showed up'' one day soon after the FBC first moved into [[EldritchLocation the Oldest House]]. Nobody remembered hiring him, and he seemed to already know his way around the place better than anyone else. The FBC is so baffled by him that they just gave up on trying to figure him out, while Jesse offers a more mundane explanation: "the janitor always has the keys". Either way, it's clear that there's ''much'' more to him than meets the eye, with him possibly being [[spoiler:either an avatar of the Oldest House itself or the Finnish sea god he's named after. It's worth noting that the Finnish word for "janitor" translates literally to "man of the house", and Ahti frequently uses [[BluntMetaphorsTrauma Finnish metaphors translated literally into English]]]].