Underwear of Power: Difference between revisions

[[File:Justice_LeagueJustice League.jpg|link=Justice League of America|frame|Let's put it this way, only one of them is wearing anything near conventional pants, and you can't see them anyway]]

{{quote| ''"If Batman is so smart, why does he wear his underwear ''over'' his pants?"''}}

[[Sister Trope]] to [[Leotard of Power]], [['''Underwear of Power]]''' is when a [[Superhero]] or a related type of character wears a speedo or something similar as part of their outfit. Speedos or briefs are usually used for this today. Initially used for nearly every hero (who didn't wear a full body suit) back when they looked like short pants or trunks instead of a speedo, this eventually became more associated with female characters, occasionally even going into bikinis, actual underwear, and thongs, although less often ([[Most Writers Are Male|and usually on women]]).

* Parodied by the manga ''[[Miracle Lingerie]]'', in which the heroine's powers derived from her [[Applied Phlebotinum]] underwear--whichunderwear—which didn't function if she wore anything over them.

** Hilariously, besides the heroine and her rival, there's a 3rd character with the magic bra and panties -- theirpanties—their principal, a giant burly ''man''. Who hides his identity by wearing a lady's stocking over his head.

* Similar to the above, the OVA series ''[[Arcade Gamer Fubuki]]'', wherein the title character's literal [[Underwear of Power]] would give Fubuki mad gaming skillz (but only when [[Panty Shot|she exposed them to the world at large]])

** [[Brain Bleach|* Glasses explode* ]]

* The [[Trope Maker]] (and also the [[Trope Codifier]] outside of the States) is likely ''[[The Phantom (Comiccomic Stripstrip)|The Phantom]]'': Red-and-black-striped underwear on blue/purple has been a constant (and much-mocked) part of his costume since his first appearance in 1936.

* [[Marvel Comics]] had this on several characters, including [[X -Men|Cyclops, Colossus, Wolverine]], [[Fantastic Four|The Thing]], Namor, several of Hank Pym's superhero identities, and a few others. While not as prevalent as in [[The DCU]], it's still prominent.

** Perhaps the silliest one in existence: [http://www.thefwoosh.com/picsold/albums/userpics/10003/Fin_Fang_Foom_001.jpg Fin Fang Foom]{{Dead link}}. A dragon. In underwear. Damn.

{{quote| '''[[Nextwave|Tabitha Smith:]]''' Oh my god. It's wearing underpants.}}

* The Spartan warriors of ''[[Three Hundred|300]]'' all wear little leather man-panties and opera capes. The panties are probably to avert a [[Full-Frontal Assault]].

* The Battlizer from ''[[Power Rangers SPD]]'' has a thong. [[Fan Nickname|Fan Nicknames]]s are extensive.

* Spoofed when [[The Goodies (TV)|The Goodies]] try to ward off an [[Alien Invasion]] by convincing the aliens that humans are a race of supermen. Graham exits a phone booth in his blue tights with underpants on the outside, followed by Tim wearing his [[Goofy Print Underwear]].

* The [[Heavy Mithril]] band Manowar often performs in [[Underwear of Power]].

{{quote| '''Superman:''' * snicker* <br />

'''Batman:''' "Did you see..."<br />

* The card game ''Super [[Munchkin (Tabletop Gamegame)|Munchkin]]'' has one card name "Underwear on the outside", that gives a free level to its player.

* The ''[[Mega Man Battle Network (Video Game)|Mega Man Battle Network]]'' incarnation of Roll also qualifies. Also a rare example of a female who gets a full-body suit for the Speedo to go over.

** [[Mega Man (Videovideo Gamegame)|Mega Man]] ([[BrentalflossBrental Floss|he's blue and cyan!]]), Proto Man (with added [[Scarf of Asskicking]]) and several Robot Masters have this look. Theirs even change color, based on the weapon in use.

* ''[[Soul Calibur]] 3'' and ''4'' allow you to do this in their character creation, and, in fact, you generally have to do this in ''Soul Calibur 4'', since [[Clothing Damage]] is almost assured anyway. The only four real options for underwear are [[Furry Loincloth|Furry Loincloths]]s (for men), [[Underwear of Power]] (for both) in all shapes in sizes (from actual thongs (for the guys) to a bottom and pantyhose (for the girls)), and a couple versions of [[Leotard of Power]].

* In ''[[F Zero|F-Zero]]'', Jody Summer and Mrs. Arrow wear what look like bikinis over tights, while Kate Alen has the bikini without the tights. On the male side, Pico, Octoman, Billy, Bio Rex, and Leon have briefs and bare legs, while Mr. EAD has briefs over tights.

* The Magic Bikini in ''[[Dragon Quest III (Video Game)|Dragon Quest III]]''. In the GBC version, there's also a Sacred Bikini.

** And in ''[[Dragon Quest IX (Video Game)|Dragon Quest IX]]'', now that legs are an equipment slot, there's a handful of underwear equipment choices for either gender.

* [[Death Spank (Video Game)|Death Spank]] wears naught but armored boots and a purple thong (called the "Thong of Justice") on his lower body.

* David Willis of ''[[Shortpacked (Webcomic)|Shortpacked]]!'' fame had a little fun explaining the Golden Age origins of this trope in one of his [http://www.shortpacked.com/2009/comic/book-10/02-i-am-also-batman/underwear-2/ notorious Batman Fillers]

* Pretty much every other superhero in the ''[[Global Guardians PBEM Universe]]'' wears [[Underwear of Power]]. Every other superheroine wears a [[Leotard of Power]] instead.

* ''[[He -Man and Thethe Masters of Thethe Universe (Animation)|He Man and The Masters of The Universe]]'', and, really, any barbarian hero/heroine wears a variant of this if they aren't using a loincloth.

** Loincloths are the male [[Underwear of Power]] today, usually with barbarian or [[Magical Native American]] types.

[[Category:Underwear Ofof Power]]