While most heroes tend to contribute to the betterment of civilization with their powers, others are more of a hindrance than a help.

One major appeal of superheroes is the variety of their abilities, which are often used for the good of humanity. Some of these abilities are supernatural while others are learned or practiced. The uniqueness of each ability helps viewers identify with heroes and root for them in their fight against a common enemy.

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While most heroes tend to contribute to the betterment of civilization with their powers, others are more of a hindrance than a help. Sometimes there are characters whose abilities even contribute to the plight of civilians, or worse, directly aid the very force of evil they're trying to defeat.

Selecting the perfect shade of lipstick might be crucial for a night out, but it isn't a skill in high demand when it comes to spying. In Totally Spies, Clover is certainly crafty with her gadgets, but her need to accessorize often lands her and her team in more sticky situations than is called for on top-secret missions.

From getting distracted from the task at hand to sometimes fully exposing the team on a recon assignment, Clover's fashionista tendencies are definitely not suited for undercover life. Compared to her teammates' mental and physical contributions, her desire to accessorize is rarely, ironically, a fashionable asset.

While Shippo has a fierce heart and an abundance of determination for a fox demon child, sometimes it seems like that's all he has to offer his team in the anime, Inuyasha. His main asset is his ability to transform via his foxfire magic, which isn't much more than a bag of tricks.

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Most of the time, when Shippo tries to use his magic, one of his older friends comes to his aid before a larger more powerful demon can devour him. Even though he can change his appearance to trick his enemies, his transformations are usually exposed within minutes...which is also how long his magic lasts.

Turning into a material as hard as crystal sounds impressive, but it's far less so when it renders the individual immobile. In Teen Titans, Kole's ability to change into an organic crystal could technically work as a shield, but she's only able to become a weapon if someone is strong enough to wield her like a hammer.

In her crystal form, Kole also lacks the means to communicate, increasing the potential for confusion in the heat of battle. Her power is only helpful under very specific circumstances. So, in most situations, she's a sitting duck or a literal roadblock.

In She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, there's no shortage of powerful royals with extraordinary capabilities. Despite the competition, Captain Sea Hawk still finds a way to burn brightly... but that's exactly the problem. While intimidating, Sea Hawk's fire-wielding abilities end up burning far more than his foes.

Due to his clumsy nature, the captain's fire-based combat frequently results in him setting fire to his own ships. While Sea Hawk assures his comrades the practice is intentional, it's difficult to form a convincing argument when the characters' one method of escape goes up in smoke.

In The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, super speed might seem like a blast, unless you have to pump the brakes every few seconds. That's exactly the plight of Sheen Estevez in the episode, "The N Men." His alter ego, Vibrating Lad, must constantly stop his high-speed racing to take a bathroom break.

It's definitely not an optimal time to visit the restroom when facing off against a villain in a high-stakes battle. Sheen proves how even the strongest of bladders are terrible assets when the need to frequently relieve oneself requires abandoning comrades.

Squidward's alter ego, Krakatoa, might have a lot of firepower in Spongebob Squarepants, but that power proves detrimental when it isn't controlled. The ability to spout volcanic lava from the top of one's head will surely frighten enemies, but it can also severely injure allies.

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Squidward's hot-headed capability proves exactly that in the episode, "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V," when the steaming squid literally melts Spongebob down to his boots. With results like that, it's an ability successful hero teams wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole.

The ability to manipulate air sounds cool, but Kosei Tsuburaba's powers in My Hero Academia reveal it's definitely not a breeze. The hero-in-training can create solid walls by manipulating the air with his breath. However, the ability doesn't lend itself to offensive advantages, and to make matters worse, it barely holds as a defense either.

Tsuburaba's walls prove little more than air traffic, being easily shattered with a well-timed attack. During the U.A. school sports festival, fellow student Bakugou shatters Tsuburaba's shield with minimal effort, rendering him and his allies defenseless. With a shield like that, a hero is really only blowing hot air.

While Catman thinks he's only a whisker away from being a true hero, the items in his utility belt are stepping on his own tail. In The Fairly Oddparents, the aspiring crime-fighter often gets Timmy and his fairies into hairy situations with his unhelpful bag of tricks, which include absorbent kitty litter.

While Catman undoubtedly means well in his heroic endeavors, something as messy and mundane as litter is unlikely to serve as the fatal blow against a tough opponent. The neighborhood cats may appreciate this gadget, but when it comes to fighting evil, Catman will most certainly be killed without curiosity.

Being compared to a sibling is never fun, but it isn't even a contest when it comes to the Wonder Twins' superhuman abilities in Teen Titans Go!. One member of the duo, Jayna, can transform into any animal, while Zan can only change into a state of matter. Becoming a solid, liquid, or gas might be considered supernatural, but it's also super unhelpful in battle.

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In the episode "You're Fired!", the Titans begrudgingly recruit Zan because he and his sister are a package deal. While Jayna is off fighting crime, the team finds Zan's abilities are more suited to secretarial work.

Changing one's size could come in handy for evading projectiles in battle, but it's far less desirable when it's all a hero can offer. Tatami Nakagame's telescopic power in My Hero Academia allows her to withdraw her limbs into her body... but that's it. Even when she withdraws, it takes a solid minute for her to return to her original form, leaving her and her team wide open for more blows.

Tatami would undoubtedly be the first pick in a game of dodgeball, but certainly not in the field of battle. An ability like hers is a nuisance on the best of days and a liability on the worst.

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Alexandra Phillips is a freelance and full-time writer for entertainment and business news. She is an avid fan of all things animation, but since she has debatable talent with a sketchbook, she hopes to instead make her mark through her love of storytelling.

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