History Main / SuperheroSpeciation

** Dr. Vegapunk found a way to copy a portion of the light based devil-fruit powers of one of the admirals, and give them to the government's MechaMooks.

** Averted in the case Boa Hancock's Love-Love fruit. An artifical version of it was given to S-Snake, a Pacifista clone of Boa Hancock.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'': Many members of the large original cast have a power/gadget/weapon that's unique to them. PlayedWith in a few cases of characters sharing the same ability. Hound and Mirage are both hologram users, but the former only [[MasterOfIllusion creates illusions]] with it while latter specializes in hologram-based {{invisibility}} (but has created illusions on rare occasions when the plot requires it), making them functionally very different. While most if not all the Dinobots can [[BreathWeapon breathe fire]], it is only treated as Slag's "thing", with the others' more often using their own unique abilities (Sludge's ShockwaveStomp, Snarl's [[EnergyAbsorption energy-absorbing plates]], Swoop's [[TokenFlyer flight]]).

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' averted this when, in one episode, the Elongated Man complained bitterly that, although he had ''exactly the same powers as Plastic Man'' and was even an ''accredited detective'', he was still treated as a second-stringer to Plastic Man (who used to be a petty criminal, no less). The quote at the top of this article is what sets off his rant. Interestingly, later in the episode he proved himself when Plastic Man was taken out of action. On the other hand, if Plastic Man was as powerful as he is in the comics, this would have been petty whining.
** Averted more generally as Superman, Wonder Woman, and The Martian Manhunters were all {{flying brick}}s.
*** On the other hand, in a clear example of this trope, Martian Manhunter's Martian-vision and super-speed were removed, and his super strength was downplayed. His more unique powers - telepathy, shape-shifting, and phasing through matter - were emphasized instead.
** Most of the speciation didn't have to do with super-powers. Hawkgirl was used instead of Hawkman to balance out the gender ratio, the Green Lantern John Stewart was used to add some "color" to the team, and the Flash used was the playful Wally West instead of his more traditionally-heroic predecessors.
** Superman is rarely shown moving faster than walking speed, presumably so his Superspeed doesn't overshadow The Flash.
* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueCrisisOnTwoEarths'' has Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Franchise/GreenLantern Hal Jordan, and Flash Wally West face their [[EvilTwin Crime Syndicate counterparts]]. ComicBook/MartianManhunter, thinking President Wilson's daughter, Rose, would be targeted, follows her, and foils an attempt on her life. In a light [[MindlinkMates mind-meld]] we see Rose's mom had in flashback been killed by Ultraman's heat vision. So he fills the need for two heroes (Superman for his FlyingBrick role, Batman for his Detective role).
** Owlman even snarks to Batman for the final battle that Batman couldn't trust anyone else to fight it (though Batman knew how dirty and low he might have to go--and that the others might not--to beat Owlman).

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'': Many members of the large original cast have a power/gadget/weapon that's unique to them. PlayedWith in a few cases of characters sharing the same ability. Hound and Mirage are both hologram users, but the former only [[MasterOfIllusion creates illusions]] with it while latter specializes in hologram-based {{invisibility}} (but has created illusions on rare occasions when the plot requires it), making them functionally very different. While most if not all the Dinobots can [[BreathWeapon breathe fire]], it is only treated as Slag's "thing", with the others' more often using their own unique abilities (Sludge's ShockwaveStomp, Snarl's energy-absorbing plates, Swoop's [[TokenFlyer flight]]).

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'': Many members of the large original cast have a power/gadget/weapon that's unique to them. PlayedWith in a few cases of characters sharing the same ability. Hound and Mirage are both hologram users, but the former only [[MasterOfIllusion creates illusions]] with it while latter specializes in hologram-based {{invisibility}} (but has created illusions on rare occasions when the plot requires it), making them functionally very different. While most if not all the Dinobots can [[BreathWeapon breathe fire]], it is only treated as Slag's "thing", with the others possessing different signature abilities that they use more often than their fire-breath.

* Team Kimba, in the Literature/WhateleyUniverse. They're a pack of high schoolers, rather than an established super-team, but they fit this model. Like the Franchise/{{Justice League|of America}}, they also have a wide range of power levels, ranging from Tennyo (so powerful there's a school rule against attacking her) down to Generator (can animate stuff, and now has regeneration too) and Bladedancer (BadassNormal with magic sword). The team has blasters, a PK superboy, a powerful mage, a [[ComicBook/TheAvengers Vision-like]] density-changer, healers, martial artists, and a fake deviser. And there's only seven of them.
** While Team Kimba has a fairly diverse lineup more or less by "chance," most of the teams in the Whateleyverse--both the school training teams and the professional super teams--are constructed this way intentionally. The philosophy seems to be that you want enough members to have a wide range of powers, but not so many that the group can't be fairly close-knit. Team Kimba is actually the biggest team in Team Tactics, with eight members counting Shroud. Whateleyverse policy on team lineup seems to be at least a brick, a blaster, and a gadgeteer or devisor, with maybe a speedster and a PDP to round things out, plus a couple more. And the more [[{{Flight}} flyers]], the better, of course.

** Averted in the case Boa Hancock's Love-Love fruit. An artifical version of it was given to S-Snake, a Pacifists clone of Boa Hancock.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'' has many kinds of power giving Devil Fruits, but there can never be two of the same fruit or people with the same power at the same time (a fruit's current user dying is what lets his/her fruit come back for someone else to use). However there are a few exceptions or semi-exceptions:
** Though Marine Scientist, Dr. Vegapunk found a way to copy a portion of the light based devil-fruit powers of one of the admirals, and give them to the government's MechaMooks.

** Miss Valentine and Machvise both have fruits that alter their own weight, Kilo-Kilo no Mi and Ton-Ton no Mi. Miss Valentine can lower her weight to float with her parasol and then increase it to drop on people. Machvise on the other hand has to get to higher ground without help of his fruit, but his weigh limit for the drops is much higher - by a thousand.

A big part of the reason that [[http://www.seanbaby.com/superfriends/superman.htm Superman did not work well]] in an ensemble for most of his history. (However, the comic book title ''Trinity'' has managed to turn Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman into a combination PowerTrio and ThreeAmigos.)

An unfortunate side effect is that if the ensemble is big enough, one of the heroes is going to get shafted, because WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway. Another unfortunate side effect is that if you have to replace someone with a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute, unlikely as it may seem, he may have to have the exact same powers as the character he replaces. This is an extreme case is OnePersonOnePower, where each super will have exactly one power, different from others (although some of those may be versatile in practice).

A SixthRanger is generally exempt. Contrast IdenticallyPoweredTeam. Sub-trope of CastSpeciation.

* Used to a certain point in ''Jason and the Argonauts''. Hercules -- god-like strength; Nestor -- superhuman vision; Orpheus -- MagicMusic; etc. The other 39 varied in individual skills and abilities.

* In ''Literature/AndreaVernonAndTheCorporationForUltraHumanProtection'', the Bronx CUP heroes consist of King Tiger (human-tiger mutant with SuperStrength and razor-sharp claws), Señora Fuego (WreathedInFlames), The Big Axe (8-foot tall guy with a big axe that can cut anything), Rabbi Diamond (a diamond-skinned alien with MindOverMattter powers who refuses to work on Shabbat), Lightning Hwang (can turn into lightning and owns Hwang's Hardware Store), Inspector Well Actually (a super genius who can only exhibit hit power when correcting someone), and Kitchen Sink (an ordinary woman in PoweredArmor). They also get a supervillain named Permafrost (AnIcePerson from Russia) from jail to help out. Later on they add Teleporter Joe (can teleport but only to the northern tip of Roosevelt Island and only when aroused) and Headstart (SuperSpeed). Actually, CUP employs dozens of superheroes all over the country, but has to get many of them to the Bronx to fight a global threat.

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* ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'': The Marvel Family (Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr.) are an example of a team whose members have the [[FlyingBrick exact same set of powers]]. They sometimes join other teams individually, however, usually fitting into this trope when they do. The problem with teaming them up with, say, Superman and not feeling redundant is addressed by emphasizing the magical, god-based nature of their powers. For instance, Superman is vulnerable to magic based attacks and is impressed how Captain Marvel is far more resistant.