History Main / RocketPunch

* One of Moon Girl's signature weapons in ''WesternAnimation/MoonGirlAndDevilDinosaur2023'' is a RedBoxingGlove that she can rapid-fire right off her fists.

** The Coustwell from ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsJudgment'' launches fists made of HardLight. Its upgraded form Brachium makes copies of itself to fire three huge ones.

The HumongousMecha isn't so much a speculation of practical weapon design as a convenient visual metaphor for the character(s) who pilot it. Steed, sword, and shining armor in one unified package. Extending that metaphor, it may be more satisfying if the hero's final blow ForGreatJustice is dealt with "his" own right hand across the villain's jaw.

* ''Manga/PopTeamEpic'': Parodied in one strip, where Pokupo gets a robot to do a rocket punch, then [[ItAmusedMe mocks him]] when he ends up having to chase down his wayward hand as it flies away.

[-[[caption-width-right:350:"[[GratuitousEnglish ROKETTO PANCHI!]]"]]-]

The HumongousMecha isn't so much a speculation of practical weapon design as a convenient visual metaphor for the character(s) who pilot it. Steed, sword, and shining armor in one unified package. Extending that metaphor, it may be more satisfying if the hero's final blow for justice is dealt with "his" own right hand across the villain's jaw.

* In ''Anime/{{Scryed}}'', Kazuma's primary attack is a Rocket Punch... only the fist doesn't detach, so... I guess it's more like a [[{{Pun}} Rocket Man]]?

* ''Animation/SatelliteGirlAndMilkCow'': [=KITSAT=]-1 has a detachable forearm that can rocket foreward with the hand in a fist as an attack.

** ''Series/KamenRiderZeroOne'' shows that this might be a standard for gorilla-based Riders, as Kamen Rider Vulcan's Punching Kong form can perform much the same move; its FinishingMove even involves using his CoolGun to "fire" the gauntlets.

* The original ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' has the Zeong, essentially the FinalBoss of the series, which is equipped with a pair of wire-guided, rocket-propelled, detachable forearms. They're rarely used for punching in the series proper, as each one is equipped with particle beam canons housed in its [[FingerFirearms fingertips]], but this is a common attack in its many video game appearances.

* In ''Anime/{{Scryed}}'', Kazuma's primary attack is a Rocket Punch... only the fist doesn't detach, so... I guess it's more like a [[IncrediblyLamePun Rocket Man]]?

* ''Manga/OnePiece'' has the following characters:

** In a mail, a reader suggested a new move for the protagonist: when he throws one of his elongated super-punch, the swordman Zoro cuts the arm. As the reader noted, "It works only twice". The author was not enthusiastic about this idea.

* [[ShapeshifterWeapon Rex]] is temporarely capable of doing this during the crossover ''WesternAnimation/Ben10GeneratorRexHeroesUnited'' thanks to [[spoiler:fusing with Upgrade.]]

** OlderThanTheyThink The original 1967 manga of ''Manga/GiantRobo'' featured the mecha GR2 who could shoot rocket punches as a means of naval combat and a way of knocking around the titular mecha

%%* An antagonistic version in ''Anime/GiantRoboTheDayTheEarthStoodStill'' with GR-2.

* Not rocket-powered, but Creator/DCComics has a couple of characters that use the same basic principle. ComicBook/GreenLantern Hal Jordan is famous for using his ring to create a giant boxing glove, and ComicBook/GreenArrow often uses [[TrickArrow boxing glove arrows]]. Cyborg has a for-some-reason detachable arm with a rocket in it, but never uses it as such (only using the rocket to retrieve/move he arm for surveillance) in the ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'' animated series, but not in [[ComicBook/TeenTitans the original comics]] -- ([[CanonImmigrant yet]]).

* In ''ComicBook/TheBigGuyAndRustyTheBoyRobot'', Big Guy sometimes uses explosive rocket punches, when he has a spare arm handy.

* Not rocket-powered, but Creator/DCComics has a couple of characters that use the same basic principle. ComicBook/GreenLantern Hal Jordan is famous for using his ring to create a giant boxing glove, and ComicBook/GreenArrow often uses boxing glove arrows. Cyborg has a for-some-reason detachable arm with a rocket in it, but never used it as such (only using the rocket to retrieve/move he arm for surveillance) in the ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'' animated series, but not in [[ComicBook/TeenTitans the original comics]]. ([[CanonImmigrant Yet]].)
* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' has a villain who later turned hero named "Rocket Racer" who has this via rocket-powered gloves. They don't detach, though; he has mini-missiles for ranged attacks.

* In one battle of the Combiner Wars story in IDW's ''Franchise/TheTransformers'', Defensor takes Devastator down by transforming Blades, [[CombiningMecha the robot who makes up his right arm]] into helicopter mode and shooting him through the Decepticon's back.
* As a nod to the interchangeability of the original toys, IDW's version of [[ComicBook/MicronautsIDW Baron Karza]] is capable of launching his hands and fingers as missiles.

'''Serenity:''' But that wasn't one of the optio— ''(gets hit by Nesbitt's rocket-powered fist)'' Bdaaaaaaaahh! I stand corrected...

* In ''Comicbook/TheBigGuyAndRustyTheBoyRobot'', Big Guy sometimes uses explosive rocket punches, when he has a spare arm handy.

* Not rocket-powered, but Creator/DCComics has a couple of characters that use the same basic principle. ComicBook/GreenLantern Hal Jordan is famous for using his ring to create a giant boxing glove, and ComicBook/GreenArrow often uses boxing glove arrows. Cyborg has a for-some-reason detachable arm with a rocket in it, but never used it as such (only using the rocket to retrieve/move he arm for surveillance) in the ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' animated series, but not in [[ComicBook/TeenTitans the original comics]]. ([[CanonImmigrant Yet]].)
** S.T.R.I.P.E. in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited'' uses this in the episode "Chaos at the Earth's Core.''
*** He uses it in his own book as well.
* ComicBook/SpiderMan has a villain who later turned hero named "Rocket Racer" who has this via rocket powered gloves. They don't detach though; he has mini missiles for ranged attacks.

* Series/{{Ultraman}}-ripoff Inframan in ''Film/TheSuperInframan'' receives a new weapon called "Thunderball Fists" before the final confrontation in his self-titled film. Two guesses what they do. Strangely, the original Ultraman didn't have a rocket punch, and isn't exactly a robot either.
* In the Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger film ''Film/JingleAllTheWay'' there is a parade based on a show themed after a Sentai show, where both the protagonist and antagonist steal (for some reason fully functional) outfits of the corresponding characters. The antagonist gets a rocket punch amongst his abilities, which surprises both of them when he uses it.
--> "TA TA, Turtleman!"
* ''Film/RobotJox''. Especially the climactic fight scene after our hero is ejected from his HumongousMecha. He proceeds on foot to hotwire the rocket fist from a fallen piece of his opponent, defeating the enemy mech with ''its own severed arm.''
* And let's not forget the fist bazooka in ''Film/HotShotsPartDeux''.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'': Cyborg's arms worked somewhere between this trope and AttackDrone when he launched them.

THE most famous SuperRobot weapon, even more so than [[ThisIsADrill drills]]. So much so that many old SuperRobot toys would include a firing-fist gimmick even if the actual show never used it.

* The Aestivalis from ''Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico'' could fire their fists, retracting them with the cables trailing back to the mecha. AscendedFanboy main character Akito sometimes refers to this as "Gekigan Punch" after the Rocket Punch move used by his favorite anime SuperRobot, Anime/{{Gekiganger 3}} (itself a none-too-subtle [[AffectionateParody pastiche]] of ''Anime/MazingerZ'', ''Manga/GetterRobo'', the ''Anime/RobotRomanceTrilogy'' and other series).

** UnbuiltTrope: The Mazinger's design also kept in mind several things later shows neglected: the mechanisms of launching AND retrieval were clearly visible, Mazinger was built to be able to use all of its other weapons even if it was missing its arms (hence, Kouji was not hindered when a {{Robeast}} picked up, disabled or shattered Mazinger's fists, which happened very often like you would expect), and Prof. Yumi ensured there always was at least a pair of Mazinger's spare fists in the Institute to launch at Mazinger in case Kouji needed them urgently.
** DeconstructedTrope: Ironically, the Trope Maker series also deconstructed the trope. In one episode, Boss cajoles Prof. Yumi's assistants to build him his own HumongousMecha (Boss Borot)... using junk. When he eagerly asked if Boss Borot will have a RocketPunch, Prof. Morimori's answer was: "Are you out of your mind? Your robot is made of SCRAP METAL. The fist would shatter upon impact."

** ''Manga/MazingerAngels'': The {{Fem Bot}}s of Sayaka and her team combine their traditional TorpedoTits attacks with the RocketPunch of the series where the characters piloting them were introduced (Sayaka's Aphrodite A combines its Photon Missiles with Iron Cutter, and so on). Minerva X is the exception, wielding a regular Rocket Punch.

*** More than halfway through the series, PhysicalGod Zeus (Yes, ''that'' Zeus) sees Mazinger Z pull off a RocketPunch and decides that it's so awesome that he should do it as well... By chucking [[GrievousHarmWithABody his own severed hand/forearm at an evil God]]. It works.

** ''Anime/PandaZ'' (or ''Robonimal Panda Z: The Robonimation''): This 2004 series of super robot parody shorts features Panda-Z, a cute, teddy-bear-proportioned pastiche of Mazinger's design elements. It pushes the RocketPunch into a massive case of AwesomeButImpractical: The mecha has rocket fists that don't return on their own, leaving the question of how to reattach them to its pilot Pan-Taron, who, utterly mystified, stands there in his armless robot staring down at the fists on the ground as the sun sets. Day turns into night, and we find the robot and its pilot still incapable to resolve the situation. One can only assume that the Photonic Research Laboratories sent someone out to get him when he didn't come home.

* ''Anime/TheBigO'': Big Fau uses its entire forearms as missiles in the GrandFinale. Since the Megadeus robots in Big O have forearms that are about as big as their torsos, this would seem like a more formidable attack than the typical super robots'. Fortunately, since it's piloted by the BigBad, it fails, resulting in Big Fau being literally disarmed. The Big O itself [[AvertedTrope averts this]] with its "Sudden Impact" punch, though, which is as RocketPunch-y as you can get without actually being a Rocket Punch, as it is more of a Main/PileBunker type of attack.

* ''Manga/{{Compiler}}'': In one story of this manga from Creator/KiaAsamiya, a humanoid robot appears that is a blatant ShoutOut to ''Anime/MazingerZ''. It has ALL its weapons (EyeBeams, ChestBlaster, missiles stored inside its midsection...), including a RocketPunch ([[AffectionateParody and even a Rocket Boot]]).

* ''Manga/GetterRobo'': Neo Getter Robo has the "Chain Knuckle", which as the name suggests, is a RocketPunch on a chain; inspired by Getter Robo Go, which had a normal Rocket Punch.

* The Aestivalis from ''Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico'' could fire their fists, retracting them with the cables trailing back to the mecha. AscendedFanboy main character Akito sometimes refers to this as "Gekigan Punch" after the RocketPunch move used by his favorite anime SuperRobot, Anime/{{Gekiganger 3}} (itself a none-too-subtle [[AffectionateParody pastiche]] of ''Anime/MazingerZ'', ''Manga/GetterRobo'', the ''Anime/RobotRomanceTrilogy'' and other series).

** ''Anime/VoltesV'', very similarly to ''Neo Manga/GetterRobo'', has the Chain Knuckle, a RocketPunch on a chain, but swapping the fist out for a nasty-looking mace.

* In ''Anime/{{Scryed}}'', Kazuma's primary attack is a RocketPunch... only the fist doesn't detach, so... I guess it's more like a [[IncrediblyLamePun Rocket Man]]?

* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'': In the second movie, ''Lagann-hen'', the title mecha has a RocketPunch function on both of its hands (can fire several shots over and over).

* ''Film/{{Interstellar}}'' has a weird [[AvertedTrope aversion]]. Two characters are shown using gauntlets which fire pressurized gas from the elbow in order to boost their jumps on a low-gravity planet. They later have a fist fight while still wearing them, yet neither of them use these gauntlets to RocketPunch the other. Its notable in that not only is it a huge missed moment of awesome, but the gauntlets don't seem to serve any purpose to the story other than to set a RocketPunch up and then not do it.

* Parodied in ''VideoGame/BlazBlue''. In the segment of ''Teach Me, Miss Litchi!'', Kokonoe installed a RocketPunch in Iron Tager (it's not part of his actual moveset). However, she's not satisfied with the result and was thinking to move it somewhere else. Maybe on his chest... or his -- '''GIGANTIC TAGER!!!!'''

* ''VideoGame/MetalWolfChaos'' has a ''literal'' RocketPunch, where [[spoiler:an imposter of]] the main character grabs a single missile out of a MacrossMissileMassacre, and ''punches his enemy in the face with it's back end''.

* Demolitions expert Araym from ''VideoGame/SepterraCore'' blew his arms off in the last war, and had them replaced with, essentially, big rocket arms. He gets very few attacks that aren't some form of RocketPunch.

* Precis Neuman from ''VideoGame/StarOceanTheSecondStory'' fights in a suit of self-made PoweredArmor, so naturally, a RocketPunch is included in one of her special attack sets.

* On episode of the ''WesternAnimation/MenInBlack'' TV Series had J shrunk down to the size of a small alien, and forced to use a robot suit built to look just like him. The robot suit in question could actually fire off its fists as RocketPunch attacks, which unfortunately bit J in the ass when he missed and set the arm way farther than he had the chance to get back to.
-->'''J''': I like that arm.