Thanks to the advent of CGI, fight scenes like this one can now be 20% More Awesome, and even blast off into the Awesomesphere and beyond!
The Kung Fu Sonic Boom is a visual effect that serves to further emphasize just how strong a character is, accompanying especially powerful kinetic impacts like punches and kicks. Unlike its colorful, brighter, flashier cousin you'd see in more cartoonish works, it also serves to portray super-powered fights such as the above example more realistically, sometimes being potentially capable of inflicting collateral damage to surroundings. Anime in particular has its own distinct brand of Kung-Fu Sonic Booms; instead of the usual radial variant, it can also appear as a shockwave shooting out from behind a character like a shotgun blast, usually when said character happens to be the recipient of a Megaton Punch, as if 70% percent of the punch's raw kinetic force just travelled through them and turned their bones and innards into smooth purée.
Often combined with Adrenaline Time by alternating between the shockwave rapidly expanding and brief pauses, creating an effect as if there were actually multiple shockwaves from the same blow with each one being bigger than the one before.
The Shockwave Clap is a weaponized version of this trope. Has nothing to do with Guile's signature move from Street Fighter, or Sonic Boom set in ancient China.
Examples:
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Anime & Manga
- The Big O does this all the time. Often the robots will send off a shockwave by merely moving their limbs. The Big O mecha itself weaponizes this trope, instead of leaving it as mere spectacle (or collateral). Those giant pistons in its elbows crash down when it punches something, forcing air through the holes in its cuffs and into the innards of the hapless recipient. Stuff Blows Up in short order. There was at least one occasion where it missed its target and ended up blasting a near-perfect hole through several skyscrapers.
- Gerd of Blassreiter pulls this off first against a Demonized Jil, and the effect is repeated throughout the series.
- Bleach:
- An interesting version of this occurs during the final fight between Ichigo and Aizen. A parried sword strike from the latter levels a nearby mountain, which Aizen comments on, assuming his new One-Winged Angel form is just that strong. Turns out it was Ichigo's power that destroyed the mountain, not his.
- In the anime, during the fight between Ichigo and Grimmjow, a part of the battle is shown from the perspective of Orihime and Nel. The two combatants are moving at such speeds that they appear almost invisible, with the only evidence of their clashes being shockwaves occurring all over the place in the air.
- In Claymore, the repeated Kung-Fu Sonic Booms from two characters using Spam Attacks causes a nearby building to crumble.
- Dragon Ball:
- In the original Dragon Ball, Goku defeats Chi-Chi simply by punching the air in front of her, creating an air pressure strong enough to knock her out of the ring.
- Dragon Ball Z does this a lot. From the Freeza saga onward, major fights would often include stretches of huge midair shockwaves with no other sign of the characters. Near the end of Goku's fight with Cell, the punches that missed were still shattering boulders feet away from them.
- Exaggerated in Dragon Ball Super in the fight between Beerus and Goku, where their clashes produce shockwaves extending across interstellar distances.
- Many of the fights in Fairy Tail, especially between two Dragon Slayers, go this way quickly. Also appears in one of the openings - Natsu and Jellal fly at each other, impact, and the resulting explosion destroys the Etherion.
- Happens in Gaiking: Legend of Daiku Maryu during the Daiya vs. Nouza fight. Given that they're both Humongous Mecha, there's a lot of landscape damage.
- Jujutsu Kaisen: Takako's Cursed Technique, Thin-Ice Breaker, has her "shatter" the air like a fragile layer of glass by striking it millimeters from her opponent with a two-hand thrust, creating a sonic boom that throws the target backwards hard enough to shatter buidings and concrete roads.
- In Kill la Kill, several characters are strong enough to do this. The shock waves generated by Ryuko and Satsuki's sword clashes were strong enough to force all of the air out of the arena, causing a reverse Kung Fu Sonic Boom as it implosively rushed back; virtually destroying the arena in the process.
- Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha The MOVIE 2nd A's uses this to show off the power of the new Catridge System, with the shock wave from the clash between Fate's Bardiche Assault and Signum's Laevatein shattering all the windows of the buildings around them.
- The first time the reader sees All Might, the world's strongest hero from My Hero Academia fight an equally strong villain, this is the result. All Might tells his students to stand back, and their protests are quickly made irrelevant; the clash between the two opponents was so explosive that nobody could get close to them whether they wanted to or not.
- Some of All Might's super moves weaponize this, attacking villains with the wind created his movements. He can also redirect his own movements in mid-air in this manner. Once Deku is able to use One For All at a high enough level to create shockwaves with his movements, All Might teaches him how do weaponize it as well.
- All For One punches All Might with his Ultimate Quirk Combination. The anime adds an inverted colour effect around their fists, with reality itself seeming to glitch out for a second, before the whole area explodes.
- Naruto:
- Rock Lee and Gai can do this when they open their chakra gates. Best shown in the Chunin Exams where Lee turns Gaara into his punching bag.
- The Sixth Gate onwards weaponizes this, with a rapid punch attack that burns the air with friction and sends flames out in a spread, then with a tiger-shaped punch shockwave that rivals the Rasen-shuriken in destructive power, and then a series of 5 column-shaped shockwaves resembling an elephant's foot, powerful enough to dig a mile-deep tunnel in the earth, and then finally a dragon-shaped sonic boom kick infused with chakra and blood that travels so fast that it bends space.
- Also when Sasuke and Naruto collide with their Chidori and Rasengan. The initial arm clash between the god-powered Naruto and Sasuke creates a disk shockwave that tears into the earth.
- Rock Lee and Gai can do this when they open their chakra gates. Best shown in the Chunin Exams where Lee turns Gaara into his punching bag.
- Negima! Magister Negi Magi: Negi and Kotaro cause this to happen when performing a Fist Bump. Which Chisame promptly lampshades.
- Luffy vs. Rob Lucci in One Piece, when both initiate a Punch Parry. The resulting shockwave is so powerful◊, it knocks both of them back to both sides of the room.
- In the same arc Jabra and Sanji created a similar shockwave in their clash.
- This part of Whitebeard's Devil Fruit power as he can create shockwaves out of thin air, Blackbeard can do it now.
- The Chinjao Family's martial art Hasshoken is literally Kung Fu Sonic Booms. When Don Chinjao and Luffy had a Punch Parry the shockwave actually blew people out of the ring.◊
- Taken even further with Luffy and Katakuri's Punch Parry.
- The Yonkos are fond of this, see Shanks clashing with Whitebeard, Big Mom with Luffy, Kaido clashing with Luffy, Kaido clashing with Big Mom◊ and Whitebeard clashing with Roger.◊
- In the same arc Jabra and Sanji created a similar shockwave
- Saitama from One-Punch Man does this all the time, usually as less lethal method of taking out his enemies (although he was still capable of blowing a huge hole through a massive cliff merely with the shockwave of a pulled punch).
- Rebuild of Evangelion 2.0 has this two times, both performed by Unit 02: first against "Clockliel" then against Zeruel. Both were caused by Unit 02 freefalling onto and impacting the relevant Angel's AT-Field, causing a shockwave powerful enough to kick up dust kilometers away. It reminds you of a certain part of string theory.
- In Rurouni Kenshin, this is what makes the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu's ultimate technique, Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki, such a dangerous technique. The blow is so swift that should the opponent be skilled enough to block, their blade clashing with the user's will blow all of the air around them away...which causes it to come rushing back in to fill the void, trapping the opponent for a follow-up strike.
- Every single fight, without exception, from the Sengoku Basara anime. It's that kind of series.
- SPY×FAMILY: Loid manages to do this using a construction vehicle when fighting another construction vehicle who's operator had gone nuts and decided to start attacking people after being forced to work on his day off.
- Transformers: Cybertron: Megatron/Galvatron and Optimus Prime do this a few times. The Galvatron vs. Starscream fight especially.
- Versus (2022): After Jachi takes a punch from Ginbak and survives, the giant decides to put a little more force into his next attack, and hits Jachi so hard that the speed at which he's sent flying creates a Mach cone.
Comic Books
- Various bricks in Marvel and DC do this, especially against each other, and the shockwaves are often powerful enough to destroy large portions of the surrounding area.
- The climax of The Death of Superman arc is one of the most iconic uses of this trope: the Big Blue Boy Scout realizes he's literally on his last gasp and is praying that Doomsday is as well. Superman comes in a flying double axe handle, hitting Doomsday with an uppercut that could launch a space shuttle. The actual impact is a 2-page spread of a single panel, with numerous narration boxes talking about how some people remembered the sheer force of the impact creating a huge crater in the street, others how it shattered all the windows for blocks, or overturned cars and trucks. All of this was drawn in the most detail yet seen in a comic book. Truly a Dying Moment of Awesome, so much so that it was used in (obviously) Superman: Doomsday, as well as referenced in the Justice League cartoon.
- Considerably less frequent than the Hulk, but the Thing from the Fantastic Four has been known to use Shockwave Claps as well. Given their long-standing rivalry, he probably wouldn't admit to having copied that move from the Hulk. Ben even once took out Magneto with a Shockwave Clap.
- The Incredible Hulk:
- The Hulk has been known to do this deliberately to stun or deafen weak or evasive enemies, by slapping his own hands together.
- More than once, the Hulk has collided with an enemy possessing a comparable level of strength with enough force to wreck surrounding buildings. Notable instances include him clashing with Iron Man (wearing a Hulkbuster suit) in mid-air, blowing out the windows in every building for blocks in the World War Hulk storyline and a fight against Red She-Hulk that was causing tremors for miles around.
- Also from World War Hulk, Green Scar vs the Sentry. The impacts destroyed most of the surrounding buildings. And indeed, about half of Manhattan.
- Perhaps the most glorious post-WWH example is in The Immortal Hulk where the eponymous rage monster produces a Shockwave Clap so powerful it blows away his Archnemesis Dad and The One Below All.
- A literal "kung fu" example; an issue of Iron Fist has the title character and his arch-nemesis, both supremely skilled martial artists, strike each other with chi enhanced flying kicks. The resulting shockwave demolishes the office building they're inside.
- The Sentry does this◊ twice◊ when fighting She-Ultron.
Fan Works
- Fate/Harem Antics: Saber and Berserker's swords clashing creates a shockwave that nearly knocks Shirou off his feet.
- Fates Collide: When Bazett Fraga McRemitz catches Yang Xiao Long's punch, the shockwave cracks the wall.
- In Hellsister Trilogy, it happens every time two Flying Bricks like Supergirl and Satan Girl battle.
Grimly, Kara hurled herself forward. Her enemy was already within plain sight. <TearyoureyesoutandEATTHEM,> sent Satan Girl, not even conscious of her speech. <RipyouapartandseveryourINTESTINES.>
<Shut up shut up SHUT UP,> snarled Kara, and smashed into her. It was like the collision of two starships, at the very least. - Lost to Dust:
- Achilles' chariot crashing against Caenis' shield blows some of the buildings away.
- Penny's fists crashing against Oryou's fists and Bradamante's shield makes explosions.
- Pokémon Untamed: Mega Ledian's punches are so fast and powerful that they break the sound barrier as they land.
- Risk It All: Soul-Crushing Strike is always accompanied by a loud bang, regardless of whether or not Ren actually punched something. This emphasizes the bone-breaking force that accompanies it.
- Rosario Vampire: Brightest Darkness Act II: To throw off her Super-Power Meltdown, Kokoa attacks Tsukune's ghoul form with a Megaton Kick, the force of which blows apart the entire side of the house next to the group, turns the snow around them to steam, sends rocks and rubble flying, and knocks everybody flying.
Films — Animation
- Superman is known to let loose with one of these when he isn't holding back. Enhanced by computer effects in the Superman: Doomsday animated movie.
- In Turning Red, when Mei headbutts Ming there is a visible white shockwave ring.
Films — Live-Action
- A large number of later Wuxia films love to add shockwaves whenever powerful fighters clash, like The Storm Riders.
- In Dragon Tiger Gate occurs a few times, usually when Shibumi gets serious.
- During the Final Battle of Man of Steel, General Zod rushes Superman, and the shock wave from their collision shatters and collapses the side of a concrete building. Every time◊ they punch each other, a concussive blast akin to an exploding grenade emanates from the impact zone.
- Marvel Cinematic Universe:
- In The Avengers, this is what we get when Thor's god-hammer Mjölnir hits Captain America's vibranium shield. It levels a good acre of forest.
- The city-smashing battle between Tony's Hulkbuster and Hulk in Avengers: Age of Ultron has a moment where their fists collide, creating a shockwave that actually blasts people clean off their feet, on top of pulverizing every window in the vicinity.
- In Thor: Ragnarok, the titular God of Thunder and Hulk create one of these◊ in their clash during the Gladiator Games.
- The Matrix Revolutions uses this effect in the battle between Neo and Smith, with raindrops revealing the wave.
Live-Action TV
- Happens in Crisis on Infinite Earths, when Lex Luthor uses the Book of Destiny to Mind Control the Kingdom Come Superman into fighting the Supergirl Superman. The windows in the skyscrapers around them blow out.
- In Kamen Rider Decade, Natsumi's Rider War dream sequence is capped off with Decade and Kuuga Ultimate Form throwing punches so strong that they cause an Earth-Shattering Kaboom; the spin-off video game Kamen Rider Climax Heroes uses this as the animation for clashes when one player tries to counter an opponent's Finishing Move.
- Power Rangers. However, a punch or kick generating a shockwave tends to indicate it's nearly a finisher-class blow. This'll stagger even the Big Bad.
- In Smallville, Clark has these when fighting kryptonians like Zod, Bizarro and Kara. Also Jeremiah.
Video Games
- ANNO: Mutationem: In their second battle, Ann and Absalom both deliver clashing punches that sends out a shockwave through the area.
- Asura's Wrath does this a lot as well, especially when characters start fighting each other.
- Sonic Boom is a powerup in Backyard Football; it makes all the enemies fall once they hear the sound.
- In the opening cinematic for BlazBlue: Continuum Shift II, this happens when Ragna and Hazama clash their blades.
- The Might power set in Champions Online also uses small versions as hit sparks, while the "Thunderclap" power is a Shockwave Clap.
- In City of Heroes, almost every attack with Super Strength creates a spherical shockwave.
- Halo's Gravity Hammer (first usable in Halo 3) gives off a boom when you use it (whilst it's charged anyway); this is actually what makes the hammer deadly as it can knock people several meters. It can also knock vehicles around - which can occasionally (if one's lucky) crush another player, effectively killing two birds with one stone.
- In Injustice: Gods Among Us, when the two fighters attack each other at a Wager, this happens in a short cinematic before it cuts back to the fight. Injustice 2 follows suit, in a different manner, since the fighters first clash against each other, forcing their fists/weapons against each other, then the shockwave happens.
- The Matrix: Path of Neo one of the last levels has the above The Matrix Revolutions example shown as a series of in-game cutscenes.
- In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, a Combination Attack Ground Pound causes one to emanate from each character once they hit the ground.
- Super Smash Bros.:
- Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U: In the Robin trailer, Lucina quickly learns why she shouldn't have brought a sword to a fist fight against Captain Falcon. As the Captain parries her sword strike with a kick creating a shockwave that blows her back.◊
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: The final shot of King K. Rool's reveal trailer features one of these courtesy of K. Rool and Donkey Kong connecting their punches (with a flying kick from Diddy Kong thrown in for good measure).
- Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U: In the Robin trailer, Lucina quickly learns why she shouldn't have brought a sword to a fist fight against Captain Falcon. As the Captain parries her sword strike with a kick creating a shockwave that blows her back.
- In the intro to Tekken 6, Bryan Fury's Mach Breaker and Paul Phoenix's Phoenix Smasher collide and the resultant effect of two Punched Across the Room-punches meeting fist-to-fist is this.
Web Animation
- DEATH BATTLE!:
- Exaggerated near the end of Goku and Superman's first clash, as their final attack, a collision between Goku's Dragon Fist and Superman's Infinite Mass Punch causes a double-shockwave, destroying the Earth in the process.
- The first time The Incredible Hulk and Doomsday clash fists, it makes a shockwave that blows people off their feet. When they clash fists again after Hulk has upgraded to Worldbreaker Hulk, it makes an explosion visible from space.
- When Balrog and TJ Combo clash fists, it cracks the boxing ring.
- Sauron's and the Lich King's weapons colliding create minor shockwaves.note
Webcomics
- In the superpowered boxing world of Star Impact, all of the action is drawn with tremendous force. Speed Lines smear with a thrown punch, Hit Sparks blend with the boxers' bodies, and clouds of turbulent air swirl around every move. Just take a look at when Dove socks Aster in Chapter 5.
Western Animation
- Amphibia: During the climactic battle of "All In", Anne and King Andrias collide their attacks with each other, letting loose a blast that disperses around the city.
- In Castlevania (2017), Dracula sends his son Alucard flying with a shockwave strike that makes a dust cloud, then both Dracula and Alucard have a mid-air fight with plenty of shockwaves that are strong enough to break the castle around them.
- Invincible (2021): In "DEAL WITH THE DEVIL", Mark punches a Reaniman so hard that the shockwave vaporizes it.
- Justice League Unlimited:
- Supergirl tries this against Amazo when the android is returning to Earth, creating a shock wave that is most likely visible for a hundred miles. It doesn't work. Then again, neither does anything else.
- In the first of Doomsday's two appearances, he fights Justice Lord Superman and the two of them recreate the "punching each other out" scene from the comics. The shockwave breaks the windows of every building around them and almost knocks a helicopter out of the air.
- Superman and Captain Marvel square off in an empty city. Their first punch shatters most of the town. Naturally, Lex Luthor videotapes all of it.
- Taken a step further by Flash. Think punches look awesome at Mach 1? Wait 'til you see them at light speed.
- Wade Eiling, having transformed into the show's "Shaggy Man" equivalent, does this while fighting S.T.R.I.P.E. Green Arrow has to duck under an awning to avoid all the broken glass.
- The Grand Finale shows that this is the perfect way to cap off a "No More Holding Back" Speech when Superman punches Darkseid.
- Hilariously used in The Simpsons episode "The Secret War of Lisa Simpson", where Bart lines up a whole bunch of megaphones and turns them on. As soon as he speaks into one, it creates an expanding shockwave of doom.
- Steven Universe: In "Steven the Sword Fighter", the first time Pearl and Holo-Pearl clash blades, it cause a blast of wind that knocks Steven off his seat and messes up Garnet's hair.
- Bulkhead and Breakdown also achieve a shockwave when their melee weapons collide in Transformers: Prime. Later on, Hardshell achieves this just by hitting Wheeljack hard enough.
- Young Justice (2010):
Real Life
- Several species of mantis and pistol shrimp can actually throw a punch so fast that it breaks the sound barrier, creating a shockwave that stuns their prey before they eat it.
- Bullwhips are another example; the famous crack is actually a miniature sonic boom caused by the tip reaching supersonic speed. As one might expect, the impact hurts. Scale this up and you get the tails of certain particularly huge sauropods, which are theorized to have been able to break the sound barrier. The resulting boom, as demonstrated with a robotic replica of the tail, would've been as loud as a naval gun—and the physical impact of that thing could presumably tear you in half.
