History Main / StickyBomb

** Ironically, despite the Sticky Bomb being too sticky with its user and getting caught on their clothes or equipment, it was ''not sticky enough'' when it was actually used on the enemy. The explosive had trouble sticking to enemy tanks or vehicles whenever they were dirty - which was pretty much was the universal case in battlefield conditions. It wasn't uncommon for sticky bombs to only stick on a vehicle for a second or two before falling right off; this wouldn't be much of a problem if the enemy was stationary and the bomb could still damage the tracks, but when moving they literally drive away from the explosion.

** Ironically, despite the Sticky Bomb being too sticky with its user and getting caught on their clothes or equipment, it was ''not sticky enough'' when it was actually used on the enemy. The explosive had trouble sticking to enemy tanks or vehicles whenever they were dirty - which was pretty much was the universal case in battlefield conditions. It wasn't uncommon for sticky bombs to only stick on a vehicle for a second or two before falling right off; this wouldn't have been much of a problem if the enemy was stationary and the bomb could still damage the tracks, but when moving they literally drive away from the explosion.

** Ironically, despite the Sticky Bomb being too sticky with its user and getting caught on their clothes or equipment, it was ''not sticky enough'' when it was actually used on the enemy. The explosive had trouble sticking to enemy tanks or vehicles whenever they were dirty - which was pretty much was the universal case in battlefield conditions. As such, soldiers were urged to run up to the tank and place it by hand, rather than throw it, which is more hazardous for users since they only had a few seconds to get away and/or take cover from the explosion.

** Nearly everyone prior to [=WW2=] had some kind of magnetic mine designed to be thrown a short distance onto a tank. As they were uniformly bad at sticking and required getting within a few feet of an active tank, most nations quickly phased them out a few days after they first tried to actually use them in combat. On the other hand, magnetic mines for naval use are more effective (these however don't stick to a ship -- they're just exploded by its magnetic field).

** Not surprisingly, the Sticky Bombs were quickly replaced with more reliable Anti-Tank weapons, like the Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank (PIAT) Spigot Mortar. And given the [[ScrappyWeapon major shortcomings]] of the PIAT (cocking the weapon required considerable strength, especially if done while prone to avoid detection; the projectile would fall out of the tube if it was aimed downwards, and if improperly braced when fired the recoil could potentially dislocate the soldier's shoulder!), that should tell you how bad the sticky bomb was.

* During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, the British developed an anti-tank grenade that was little more than a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sticky_bomb bottle of nitroglycerine coated with glue]]. The user was expected to run up to an enemy tank, smack the grenade onto the armour, and hope to make it to a safe distance before it went off. Although the whole idea was clearly insane, the "sticky bomb" was nevertheless cheap and quick to manufacture - important advantages, given that the British were expecting an [[LastStand imminent Nazi invasion]] and had been forced to abandon most of their anti-tank guns during the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk_evacuation Dunkirk evacuation]]. The main drawback was that it was terrifyingly easy for the user to get an [[OhCrap armed grenade stuck to themselves]]. In the [[http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/93/a2159093.shtml words]] of one [[UsefulNotes/TheHomeFront Home Guard]] volunteer:

* In ''Film/{{Stalingrad|1993}}'' (1993), German infantry in foxholes have to wait for tanks to drive over them so they can stick magnetic bombs on their undersides. Some of the soldiers come to [[IncrediblyLamePun sticky ends]].

* Limpet Mines from ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}: Ultra-Tech'' work this way. They even came up with good reasons to stick them to yourself.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' has Krak Grenades, Meltabombs, EMP Grenades, and various similar weapons to give ordinary infantry a chance against tanks. Not to be confused with ork stikkbombs, bombs-on-a-stick they use as grenades.

* [=IEDs=] in ''VideoGame/FarCry2'' and both C4 and mines in ''VideoGame/FarCry3'' can be stuck onto walls or vehicles by standing right up next to them before placing them, though [[GuideDangIt the game never explicitly tells you this]]. In ''VideoGame/FarCry4'' it's available as a purchased and toggle-able upgrade, allowing it to stick to whatever you toss it at instead of having to stand next to what you're trying to place it on.

* ''VideoGame/{{Mousehunt}}'': One of the various mice types in the Iceberg area is the Stickybomber mouse, who uses these as weaponry. If the player manages to catch them with the [[PineappleSurprise Remote Detonator Base]], it will cause their bomb to explode prematurely and advance the player further into the iceberg.

TruthInTelevision, as during WWII, the British army developed a sticky bomb that could be used if Nazi Germany did a land invasion. As one can imagine, the combination of "really sticky container" and "bomb" was as unsafe to the user as the enemy.

** ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare 2'' and ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' have Semtex grenades, which [[IncrediblyObviousBomb loudly beep for about two seconds]] before detonating on whatever - or whoever - they first impacted with and stuck to. However, by [[LeeroyJenkins charging the enemy in your last few seconds of life]], you can often [[HoistByHisOwnPetard take the guy who threw the bomb with you]], or at least [[HeroicSacrifice ensure said guy doesn't get more than one kill]]. It should be noted that Semtex in real life is more akin to C4 rather than being scrunched into a ball, having some electronics wired onto them and forcibly called "grenades"; in fact, though it's still shown in its grenade-like ball shape, one level of ''Black Ops'' actually does have it be used in the same manner as C4, complete with remote detonation rather than a timer.
** The ''Modern Warfare'' and ''Black Ops'' games also have blocks of C4, which are thrown at shorter distances and can't stick to enemies but can still be stuck on walls and ceilings and detonated at will to ambush enemies. In the respective first games of those two series, they're treated as separate pieces of equipment (allowing you to carry two of each, but having a slower time to equip the detonator before you can toss them), but in their respective sequels, they act as an actual substitute for lethal grenades.

* ''VideoGame/GoldenEye'' and SpiritualSuccessor ''VideoGame/PerfectDark'': all mines (timed, remote and proximity) can stick to walls. ''Perfect Dark'' added the ability to stick them on Shield-less people too. Having one on you make a DeadManWalking because there is no way to survive the explosion.
* ''VideoGame/GoldeneyeRogueAgent'' has the "Detonator," which worked a bit like Batman's goo-gun in ''Film/TheDarkKnight''. Since the game takes place in the somewhat-fantastical James Bond world, the explosion sends your foes flying but leaves them otherwise intact--no missing legs or anything.

** As mentioned in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' section, the Crash Bomb from ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'' clings to walls and explodes after about two seconds, and is required to defeat at least one boss in Dr. Wily's castle.

*** Snake's down special, C4, can stick to opponents if timed just right. These are hard to see and remote activated, meaning unsuspecting opponents may find themselves suddenly flying in the air after Snake triggers it. Like Gooey Bombs, these can be passed between players; giving the C4 back to Snake and watching him blow himself up can be surprisingly cathartic.
** ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'': Mega Man's side special, Crash Bomb, works almost exactly like the Gooey Bomb item, except that it's fired in a straight line rather than thrown. Like the other sticky bombs, these can turn on Mega Man if the player's not careful.

* In ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'', Donut gets one of Franchise/{{Halo}}'s Plasma Grenades stuck onto his head. However, as a member of the local RedShirtArmy, his teammates don't do anything but stand there trying to figure out what it is until it explodes. After that, it becomes his [[ForgotFlandersCouldDoThat rarely-occurring]] WeaponOfChoice.

** The Paladin simply lobs the Glyph like a grenade. It attaches to whatever it hits, including enemies, and detonates with a growing shockwave a fraction of a second later. Until he gets the [[AnAxeToGrind Axe]], these are his only ranged attack that doesn't rely on the [[AmplifierArtifact Tome of Power]].

* In ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', Batman uses a sticky-bomb launcher to blast his way into Lau's Hong Kong office, and later to stop the Gotham City SWAT team from killing the Joker's hostages.

* In ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'', Donut gets one of Franchise/{{Halo}}'s Plasma Grenades stuck onto his head. However, as a member of the local RedShirtArmy, his teammates don't do anything but stand there trying to figure out what it is until it explodes. After that, it becomes his [[ForgotFlandersCouldDoThat rarely-occurring]] WeaponOfChoice.

* The Magnusson Device in ''VideoGame/HalfLife2: Episode Two'', which is sent to you by mini-teleporters, and you have to launch it at Striders and quickly shoot the bombs with any of your weapons while making sure nothing nearby can destroy those bombs first. Needless to say, it's introduced in one of the hardest combat sequences of the series.

* ''Franchise/{{Splatoon}}'' has the Suction Bomb, an oddly shaped ink bomb with a suction cup under it. These bombs can stick to any surface and explode in a burst of ink after a few seconds, making them ideal to, say, place in the corner to surprise that player following you around. A few weapon sets in ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' grant a [[LimitBreak super weapon]] that allows the player to GrenadeSpam these for a limited time. Needless to say, players on the receiving end, stay away.

* ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'' has the Suction Bomb, an oddly shaped ink bomb with a suction cup under it. These bombs can stick to any surface and explode in a burst of ink after a few seconds, making them ideal to, say, using a bomb in the corner to surprise that player following you around. A few weapon sets grant a [[LimitBreak super weapon]] that allow the player to GrenadeSpam these for a limited time. Needless to say, players on the receiving end, stay away.

** Reintroduced in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'', with the ability to be both thrown as a short-range command-detonated grenade and placed on a vehicle, wall, or the ground. They also have the special property of blowing open armored car doors when placed directly on them, allowing you to steal the contents.

* ''VideoGame/{{Contagion}}'' has the IED, a block of C4 attached to an old Nokia phone. It has a bigger blast radius than the hand grenade and can wipe out dozens of zombies, but can't be thrown – instead, you attach it by contact to whatever surface you want, retreat, and call the phone.

** ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl Brawl]]'' adds Gooey Bombs to the item repertoire. These clingy suckers stick to either the terrain or a player after being thrown, exploding on their own after a few seconds. This bomb can be passed to someone else, including the one that launched it by running into them before it explodes, making for a silly-looking game of GrenadeTag.
** Snake's down special, C4, can stick to opponents if timed just right. These are hard to see and remote activated, meaning unsuspecting opponents may find themselves suddenly flying in the air after Snake triggers it. Like Gooey Bombs, these can be passed between players; giving the C4 back to Snake and watching him blow himself up can be surprisingly cathartic.
** Mega Man's side special, Crash Bomb, works almost exactly like the Gooey Bomb item, except that it's fired in a straight line rather than thrown. Like the other sticky bombs, these can turn on Mega Man if the player's not careful.

%%* The subject of a ''Webcomic/BrawlInTheFamily'' [[http://www.brawlinthefamily.com/?p=241 story arc]].