Basic Trope: A supposed badass doesn't live up to their billing.
Heroic Version
- Straight: Prince Amazing is hailed as the most heroic of heroes, but when he goes to fight the forces of evil, he's useless, forcing the good guys to bail him out.
- Exaggerated: There isn't a man, woman, or child alive who doesn't know the legends of Prince Amazing and his many feats. He's considered the foremost example of what a man should be in their society. He's also killed immediately when he goes into battle.
- Downplayed: Prince Amazing is pretty brave when the chips are down, but he's nowhere near as good as the legends claim he is.
- Justified:
- The prince is very good at promoting himself, and since no one really bothers to check the legends, he gets away with it.
- Prince Robert Bartholomew Ranfster was "Amazing" as a kid, but few realize that he's not that kid anymore.
- People mistakenly believe that Prince Amazing I, II and III are one person, but the last has only earned the association by birthright.
- Inverted: The prince is The So-Called Coward.
- Subverted: The so-called Amazing Prince lost against a weak enemy, but only because he's sick.
- Double Subverted: He still can't accomplish much when he's well-rested.
- Parodied: Amazing Guy is hyped as a hero despite being a scrawny, stuttering geek who is as weak as he looks.
- Zig Zagged: ???
- Averted: No claims are made about the prince's awesomeness.
- Enforced: "We can't just have another 'I'm the perfect hero' Character. Let's have someone who's only treated like he's a Hero!"
- Lampshaded: "That's Prince Amazing? Wow, he's not as heroic as what the stories made him up to be!"
- Invoked: ???
- Exploited: The prince is actually in cahoots with the bad guys and is being used as a trap. Since the heroes know that he'll likely be exposed as a fraud, they'll have to come check him out...
- Defied: "Oh no, don't write that down. I was just playing around when I said I had the courage of a hundred men."
- Discussed: ???
- Conversed: ???
Villainous Version
- Straight: Emperor Evulz is considered one of the worst villains the world has to offer, but he's harmless when fought.
- Exaggerated: The emperor is feared far and wide as The Dreaded; no one wants to face him and he only needs to threaten a country to make them surrender. But when the heroes face him, he surrenders as soon as they draw their swords.
- Downplayed: It's clear that a lot of the fear around the Emperor is smoke and mirrors, but he's still semi-threatening.
- Justified: The Emperor is fairly lazy and idle, so he tries to rely more on having a threatening reputation than relying on brute force.
- Inverted: The Emperor is a Not-So-Harmless Villain.
- Subverted: The Emperor more than lives up to his fearsome reputation.
- Double Subverted: ...To an extent, anyway - he's committed a few atrocities, but that's about it.
- Parodied: The Emperor hires a bunch of mooks to go around the country saying that he's the most fearsome villain ever. The mooks are more terrifying than he is.
- Zig Zagged: ???
- Averted: The Emperor is frightening, but not overly so.
- Enforced: "We can't make him as evil as people think he is, that's just too unrealistic."
- Lampshaded: "He is surrendering? Al-Already?! Well... That was easy."
- Invoked: ???
- Exploited: The legitimately-threatening emperor plays up his dangerous reputation knowing that the heroes will assume it's a fraud and come investigate.
- Defied: Well aware of the disadvantage that represents having a weak body, the Emperor starts researching for methods to become stronger, so he doesn't fall in case he has to face the heroes personally.
- Discussed: ???
- Conversed: ???
Back to Feet of Clay. You know, I heard that trope page was so awesome but I don't think it lives up to the hype...
