History Main / DisposableSuperheroMaker

** One [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}''/''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' crossover in ''ComicBook/WorldsFinest1941'' had a MadScientist invent a device that would give anyone a copy of Superman's powers for one day, and a second device that would negate Superman's powers. Naturally, Batman ends up getting the superpowers while Superman is BroughtDownToNormal. In a subversion of NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup, the criminal works on building another copy of the superpower machine after the first is accidentally destroyed... but it's still never mentioned again after that story.

** One [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}''/''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' crossover in ''ComicBook/WorldsFinest1941'' had a MadScientist invent a device that would give anyone a copy of Superman's powers for one day, and a second device that would negate Superman's powers. Naturally, Batman ends up getting the superpowers while Superman is BroughtDownToNormal. In a small aversion of NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup, the criminal works on building another copy of the superpower machine after the first is accidentally destroyed... but it's still never mentioned again after that story.

*** Writers have to come up with reasons why more Kryptonians didn't leave their dying planet and find another one with a yellow sun that would give them FlyingBrick powers: Pre-Crisis said that they'd been so busy developing other science that they neglected space travel; It was later said that space travel was banned after Jax-Ur blew up a lunar colony. ComicBook/PostCrisis had a device called the Eradicator that killed all alien invaders that set foot on Krypton with a side effect of killing Kryptonians who left the planet (Baby Kal-El was only able to leave because Jor-El had undergone genetic treatments he devised himself to remove that particular anomaly from his genetic makeup). The ''ComicBook/New52'' said that it was near impossible for spaceships to leave Krypton due to its high gravity.

* A repeated trope in ''ComicBook/AstroCity''. Variations include a superpower-making scientist's body being recovered after being killed by a darkness-powered hero, Steeljack's superpowered vending machine wanting to keep to individual and unique results, Mock Turtle being the crazed mad scientist who finds out it'd be better to keep his work to himself...

** This is {{subverted|Trope}} with ComicBook/TheFlash, who originally got his powers in a [[FreakLabAccident one-in-a-million accident]] ([[LightningCanDoAnything lightning striking]] [[ChemistryCanDoAnything a cabinet full of chemicals that sprayed on him]]). The ''exact same accident'' happened to his nephew Wally, ''right when Barry was telling him about it!'' Years later, this was {{retcon}}ned as being [[DoingInTheScientist a manifestation of a cosmic force called the Speed Force]].
*** However, on two occasions, the Flash has lost his powers and attempted to replicate the accident to regain them, with mixed results. In the first case, Wally West got the SuperSpeed, [[RequiredSecondaryPowers but not]] [[SuperReflexes the necessary reflexes to maneuver]], blasting a trail of destruction across the country in the split-second before he could stop running. In the second case, during ''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'', [[spoiler:Barry Allen suffers [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome the real-life consequences]] of being struck by a bolt of lightning while being doused with dangerous chemicals, and has to fry himself ''two more times'' before it works]].

*** Arguably, the missing ingredient is the mindset of the volunteer -- the comic implies that Manhattan gained the powers as a side-effect of learning how to [[SelfConstructedBeing piece himself back together]], which required his knowledge of particle physics ''and'' his painstakingly careful [[TheWatchmaker watchmaker's attitude]] to the process.
** One [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}''/''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' crossover in ''World's Finest Comics'' had a MadScientist invent a device that would give anyone a copy of Superman's powers for one day, and a second device that would negate Superman's powers. Naturally, Batman ends up getting the superpowers while Superman is BroughtDownToNormal. In a small aversion of NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup, the criminal works on building another copy of the superpower machine after the first is accidentally destroyed... but it's still never mentioned again after that story.

* The ''Psycho'' limited series takes place in a universe where there is a superhero arms race rather than a nuclear arms race. Taking the drug to become a superhero still has a high failure rate, usually resulting in death.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'': Vector Sigma is ancient Cybertronian supercomputer [[AnimatingArtifact capable of imbuing new Transformers with sentience]], with the potential to create armies of new Transformers. It's only ever used to create the Stunticons and Aerialbots and never any more, due to its key being stolen and later destroyed. The Autobots could only reactivate Vector Sigma once without the key due to Alpha Trion performing a HeroicSacrifice.

*** Note, however, that the Marvel Universe has a number of people who have [[ILoveNuclearPower gained powers through exposure to gamma radiation]], including the Hulk, the Abomination, the Leader and Doc Samson. However, this is not universal, and most people will have the same reaction to extreme gamma-ray exposure as people in real life do -- that is, radiation poisoning and/or cancer. One explanation offered was that all gamma-mutates have a certain mutant genetic code that allows them to gain powers from radiation exposure, with the stated conclusion that they all had a common ancestor -- in other words, it is not so much the properties of the gamma rays themselves that are different from real life but how certain organic beings make use of them. However, ''ComicBook/ImmortalHulk'' offers a different explanation, that while real-life gamma radiation can manifest as both a wave and a particle, Marvel Universe gamma radiation can manifest as a wave, a particle, or a mutagenic third form [[DoingInTheScientist that is supernatural in nature]].

*** The [[ILoveNuclearPower radioactive spider]] that turned Peter Parker into Spider-Man died from radiation poisoning shortly after biting him, but not before it bit [[ComicBook/SilkMarvelComics one other person]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'': Vector Sigma is ancient Cybertronian supercomputer [[AnimatingArtifact capable of imbuing new Transformers with sentience]], with the potential to create armies of new Transformers. It's only ever used to create the Stunticons and Aerialbots and never used again, due to the key to activate it being stolen and later destroyed. The Autobots could only reactivate Vectot Sigma once without the key due to Alpha Trion performing a HeroicSacrifice.

** Back in the 1950s, when Slade Wilson ([[Characters/BatmanDeathstroke Deathstroke]]) volunteered for the experiments that gave him his superhuman abilities, the serum eventually plunged him into a coma. The scientists decided to destroy the serum formula. Months later, Slade Wilson woke up with superhuman powers.

*** Writers have to come up with reasons why more Kryptonians didn't leave their dying planet and find another one with a yellow sun that would give them FlyingBrick powers: Pre-Crisis said that they'd been so busy developing other science that they neglected space travel; It was later said that space travel was banned after Jax-Ur blew up a lunar colony. ComicBook/PostCrisis had a device called the Eradicator that killed all alien invaders that set foot on Krypton with a side effect of killing Kryptonians who left the planet. (Baby Kal-El left when he was too young for it to affect him.) The ''ComicBook/New52'' said that it was near impossible for spaceships to leave Krypton due to its high gravity.

** ''ComicBook/{{Invasion}}'' {{retcon}}s a lot of DC's heroes into [[MetaOrigin having a "metagene" that gives people powers when exposed to radiation or similar stresses]], implying that most people would have died if exposed to {{Freak Lab Accident}}s or other superhero origins.

'''Shaman:''' Yes, so when it comes time for another king, we’ll be ready.\\

'''Shaman:''' My king, we cannot do that. It is our tradition—\\
''[Killmonger neck lifts and chokes Shaman]''\\

-->-- ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}''

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* One [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] {{Franchise/Batman}}/{{Franchise/Superman}} crossover had a MadScientist invent a device that would give anyone a copy of Superman's power's for one day, and a second device that would negate Superman's powers. Naturally, Batman ends up getting the superpowers while Superman is reduced to a BadassNormal. In a small aversion of NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup, the criminal works on building another copy of the superpower machine after the first is accidentally destroyed... but it's still never mentioned again after that story.
* ''{{Franchise/Superman}}'':
** Superman writers have to come up with reasons why more Kryptonians didn't leave their dying planet and find another one with a yellow sun that would give them FlyingBrick powers: Pre-Crisis said that they'd been so busy developing other science that they neglected space travel; It was later said that space travel was banned after Jax-Ur blew up a lunar colony. Post-Crisis had a device called the Eradicator that killed all alien invaders that set foot on Krypton with a side effect of killing Kryptonians who left the planet. (Baby Kal-El left when he was too young for it to affect him). ''ComicBook/New52'' said it was near impossible for spaceships to leave Krypton due to its high gravity.
** ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'s super-villain Shyla Kor-Onn created a device that can drain Supergirl's powers in ''ComicBook/StrangersAtTheHeartsCore''. You would expect that more villains would try to build a copy of Shyla's machine in order to steal the powers of Superman or Supergirl, but it was never mentioned again.
* The SuperSerum that created ComicBook/CaptainAmerica is an obvious example... in various continuities and at various times, there have been given different explanations for why Cap was the only one produced - and several other heroes and villains have been produced with the same Serum, or various further-developed variants/PsychoSerum knockoffs. In the original story, a Nazi spy destroyed the machine, all the data, and killed the scientist responsible for it, just moments after Steve Rogers had become Captain America. (One might wonder why he didn't do it a bit ''earlier'', and save the Nazis a load of trouble...) But the serum keeps popping up, with various effects, although it's rarely used to its fullest.
** The scientist who invented the Super Soldier serum intentionally kept part of the process in his head so it couldn't be used without his approval. His death caused the full formula to be lost.
*** However ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'' has a different explanation. [[spoiler: The spy did kill the doctor, but a thief hired by other Nazis had a complete copy in his photographic memory before it was destroyed. He turned out to be ComicBook/BlackCat's estranged father, captured by SHIELD to protect the secret and then broken out by [[ComicBook/TheKingpin Wilson Fisk]]. Then it got complicated.]]
*** Nightcrawler asks [[ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} Logan]] this question in ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution''. The answer is that the procedure caused cellular breakdown in ''normal'' humans, but worked fine for mutants. Wolverine and Captain America blew up the device, but there ''was'' a backup. In the present Wolverine destroys that one, but not before it's utilized by ComicBook/{{Magneto}} to restore his youth and vitality. Captain America's body is in [[KingInTheMountain cryogenic sleep]] until a cure is found.
** The Army [[strike:first]] later tested the Super Soldier Serum on black soldiers in an analogue to the Tuskegee Experiments, only one of which survived with no negative side effects, Isaiah Bradley. Josiah X, Isaiah's son, retained the powers through his blood. Then Isaiah's grandson Eli (whose mother was conceived before Isaiah was experimented on) went on to become Patriot of the ''ComicBook/YoungAvengers'', using [[PsychoSerum Mutant Growth Hormone]] to replicate the super soldier abilities until his grandfather provided a blood transfusion that acted as a SuperSerum. The writers' intention was that this was done before Captain America was created, but they got the dates wrong in the story and later issues have clarified that Steve Rogers was dosed [[RetCon before Isaiah Bradley.]]
** Protocide, a soldier with a record for disobedience, was spared charges in exchange for him willingly becoming a subject of the Super Soldier program, since the general in charge didn't like the scrawny, underweight, and untrained Steve Rogers being initially chosen.
** ComicBook/ManThing was created partly due to an attempt to recreate Cap's serum (plus the magic of a cursed swamp).
** Notably, this same experiment also happened in the Franchise/TheDCU as well as Marvel; the difference is, rather than being tested on a human during and then destroyed, it was tested on a dog and then destroyed. The dog went on to become ''ComicBook/RexTheWonderdog'', and the serum was never heard from again. The story in which this happened was written in 1990 and is very parodic (the scientist "forgot" to write the formula down) but Rex was never given any other origin, so it's canon.
* Norman Osborn's "Goblin Serum" was an intelligence-enhancing serum that ended up giving him SuperStrength and driving him insane, and has been utilized by several Goblin-themed villains over the years, Norman included. In one storyline during ''Comicbook/DarkReign'', Osborn tried to combine the Goblin and Super Soldier serums into one, perfect soldier, with... less than satisfactory results.
* ''{{Comicbook/Watchmen}}'': Dr. Manhattan was created by a botched experiment. All attempts to recreate the circumstances have resulted only in dead test subjects. Naturally, there haven't been very many attempts, since it gets progressively harder to find suitable volunteers for an experiment with such a high mortality rate, and you can't exactly use {{condemned c|ontestant}}riminals when there's a chance they could gain godlike power. Manhattan himself says that such attempts will never succeed, though he does not say why. The reader is left to wonder whether this is because of the nature of the universe, or some random circumstance of the first incident, or whether Dr. M is using his own godlike powers to prevent the creation of others like him. Or if his ability to perceive time differently means that he just ''knows'' that the attempts will continue to fail.
** Arguably, the missing ingredient is the mindset of the volunteer--the comic implies that Manhattan gained the powers as a side-effect of learning how to piece himself back together, which required his knowledge of particle physics ''and'' his painstakingly careful watch-maker's attitude to the process.
* This is subverted with Franchise/TheFlash, who originally got his powers in a one-in-a-million accident (lightning striking a cabinet full of chemicals that sprayed on him.) The ''exact same accident'' happened to his nephew Wally, ''right when Barry was telling him about it!'' Years later this was [[DoingInTheScientist retconned as being a manifestation of a cosmic force]] called the Speed Force.
* A Canadian tried to recreate [[Comicbook/TheIncredibleHulk Bruce Banner's accident]] but an EldritchAbomination interfered and he ended up with a fraction of the creature's power instead, turning him into the hero [[ComicBook/AlphaFlight Sasquatch]].
** Note, however, that the Hulk's powers come from gamma rays, which are produced in-setting in the same way that they're produced in real life, albeit with very different properties ([[ILoveNuclearPower as in, there's a chance they'll give you superpowers instead of just killing you.]]) This means that several characters, like Doc Samson and the Abomination, ''have'' obtained abilities from the same source.
*** Arguably it is not so much the properties of the gamma rays themselves that are different from real life but how certain organic beings make use of them.
** It was later revealed that those who received the Gamma-mutations all have a certain mutant genetic code, with the stated conclusion that they all had a common ancestor.
** In the runup to ''ComicBook/FallOfTheHulks'', the Leader and ComicBook/{{MODOK}} discovered how to combine gamma radiation and cosmic energy so that anyone could be given Hulk-like powers. However, if not properly calibrated, the process leads to [[PowerDegeneration total physiological meltdown]] within 24 hours.
* ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk's enemies, the U-Foes, were created as a deliberate attempt to recreate the same accident that created the ComicBook/FantasticFour. One of the Comicbook/FantasticFour's own foes, a Russian scientist by the name of Ivan Kragoff, also managed to get superpowers by recreating their circumstances. He took three apes and went into space with an unshielded ship. Thus was born the Red Ghost and his Super-Apes!
* Comicbook/XMen villains the U-Men are a group of people who don't think it's fair that some people are born with superpowers and abilities, and they weren't. [[MugglePower So they wear special suits, grab loads of mutant neutralizing gear, hunt them down, kidnap them, and dissect them in the back of their special vans.]] They then take the parts from dead mutants that the powers are related to (For example, they'd cut out Comicbook/{{Cyclops}}' eyes, or Angel's wings) and then transplant the part into themselves to use the powers. That's right, they want to cut out Cyclops' eyes, remove their own eyes so they can implant his eyes, so they can have energy blast vision. The procedure is not without risk; if the graft is rejected, tissue necrosis of the transplanted part sets in and the recipient dies of blood poisoning.

* The ''Psycho'' limited series takes place in a universe where there is a Superhero Arms race rather than a Nuclear Arms race. Taking the drug to become a Superhero still has a high failure rate usually resulting in death.
* The Franchise/MarvelUniverse actually has a company that sells SuperStrength, Power Broker, Inc. There's at least a 50% chance of severe physical and/or mental deformity, but that's not in the advertising brochure...
* The MU also has the Brand Corporation, a division of a corrupt oil company that manufactures supervillains either as enforcers for {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s, or in return for a cut of their profits.
* ComicBook/UltimateMarvel eventually reveals that ''all'' super-powers that are not alien in origin come from [[MetaOrigin various attempts]] to replicate or better the Comicbook/CaptainAmerica program. [[spoiler:Even the mutants.]]
** The Ultimates themselves subvert this whenever possible particularly in volume 2. The Giant man formula is used on a dozen or so marines (and he gives some to his ex-wife), Iron Man's earlier prototypes are reproduced to arm soldiers (and he builds a suit for Black Widow).
** ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'': ComicBook/NormanOsborn used a serum that was a derivative of Cap's Super Soldier Serum. The Marvel universe version had a different origin, however.
** ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'': the Super Soldier Serum wasn't totally lost during WWII. Problem is that it's invariably lethal, with only two exceptions besides Cap. The prototype turned out to be [[spoiler:ComicBook/NickFury]], leading Erskine to realize that it only works on {{Determinator}}s. Steve Rogers got picked the very next day, due to his relentless attempts to enlist despite his polio-damaged physique. The next success wouldn't be for over fifty years, [[spoiler:when Loki chooses an Iraqi youth whose father was killed by American soldiers]].
* Back in the 1950's, when Slade Wilson (ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}}) volunteered for the experiments that gave him his superhuman abilities, the serum eventually plunged him into a coma. The scientists decided to destroy the serum formula. Months later, Slade Wilson woke up with superhuman powers.
* It was revealed in "What If The Fantastic Four Had Different Super-Powers?" (''ComicBook/WhatIf'' v1 #6) that the cosmic radiation which gave the Comicbook/FantasticFour their powers [[PersonalityPowers affected them in a certain way based on their personalities]]. Mr. Fantastic developed stretching powers because of his desire to go to any [ethical] lengths to acquire scientific knowledge. The ComicBook/InvisibleWoman developed invisibility because she thought she was ignored by others. The ComicBook/HumanTorch's powers were a result of his "flame-headed" personality. The Thing became a super-strong, rocky-skinned person as a result of his tough guy personality. That issue also revealed an alternate version of the Fantastic Four composed of the same members, but whose powers were based on different aspects of their personalities: Reed "Big Brain" Richard's intelligence turned him into a disembodied brain with incredible psionic powers; Sue "Ultra-Woman" Richards' "pliable personality" gave her stretching powers like Mr. Fantastic; Johnny "Mandroid" Storm's interest in machinery gave him the power to turn his body into living metal; and Ben "Dragonfly" Grimm's love of flying caused him to grow a pair of dragon-like wings.
* The late ''ComicBook/{{Firestorm|DCComics}}''[=/=]''ComicBook/SuicideSquad'' villain Steel Wolf gained his super-strength through Soviet scientists' attempts to create an army of super-soldiers during World War II. Stalin didn't trust the idea of so many super-soldiers, so he had all the scientists killed.
* In Creator/GarthEnnis' ComicBook/TheBoys, all superpowers are derived from exposure to the V-Compound. At full power, the V-Compound costs $19 billion per person. With around 200,000 superhumans in this world, many of the superhumans got their superpowers from a watered-down version of the compound.
* ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'': Subverted in the first arc, where the evil dictator Kaizen Gamorra uses a bioreactor to pump out hundreds of superpowered clones (who have, at minimum, flight and heat vision abilities) every minute, launching them on Moscow, London and Los Angeles. Kaizen himself doesn't seem to have given himself any superpowers, so maybe there was a downside that doesn't get shown.
* Golden Age ''Comicbook/{{Shazam}}'' had a Disposable Superhero ''Sidekick'' Maker with Tawky Tawny, a [[TalkingAnimal talking tiger]] who likes to walk around in tweed suits. For a long time he had no backstory; when he finally got one, it came down to "some missionary's kid raised a tiger as a pet, then some random guy showed up for like two panels with a potion that made it sapient." It's never even explained if the potion was some kind of scientific or magical explanation. (For the record, ComicBook/PostCrisis stories either make Tawny a totally normal tiger or [[AdaptationSpeciesChange some kind of magical spirit]].)
* The radioactive spider that turned Peter Parker into ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' died from radiation poisoning shortly after biting him, but not before it bit [[ComicBook/{{Silk}} one other person]].
* ''ComicBook/{{Invasion}}'' retcons a lot of [=DC's=] heroes into having the metagene that gives people powers when exposed to radiation or similar stresses. Implying that most people would have died if exposed to [[FreakLabAccident Freak Lab Accidents]] or other superhero origins.

[[folder: Film -- Animated ]]
* Averted in ''WesternAnimation/{{Nine}}'', where the scientist uses his machine to make not just one, but nine different ragdoll androids, each one containing a separate piece of his soul. Of course, the device used to power that machine ''also'' powers the evil machine that manufactures more evil robots (and sucks out the dolls' souls for more power). Kind of a problem there.
* In ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'', Miles swats and kills the spider after it bites him. When he goes back to examine the dead spider the next day, it does an OminousVisualGlitch which implies that it was accidentally pulled into this dimension by Kingpin's particle collider. Liv confirms that dimensional travellers degrade after a few days.

[[folder: Film -- Live-Action]]
* In ''Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}'', the group responsible for giving Wade his powers utilize chemical solutions to activate "dormant mutant genes" that are (apparently) in all people, and exposing the subject's body to increasing levels of "stress" -- which amounts to pumping a person full of experimental drugs, then torturing them until either ''noticeable'' super-power spontaneously generate, or the subject dies.

* Accidentally averted in the ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy''. [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke Here Peter is not bitten by a spider that has accidentally become radioactive, but rather by a genetically engineered spider.]] The writers don't seem to have noticed the FridgeLogic, so it is unlikely that this will ever be revisited.
* Justified in ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderman2''. Turns out that the spider only works on people who are related to Peter Parker's dad, as it's gene-coded. Using it when not related leads to... issues. Specifically, the {{Lizard|Folk}} and [[EvilMakesYouUgly Green Goblin]]. So it's perfectly repeatable, just really dangerous.
* Averted in the finale of ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'', when Captain Jack Sparrow [[spoiler: takes a piece of the gold to become undead himself to help defeat Barbossa]].

** Justified in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'': HYDRA had sabotaged the super-soldier project from the start. Their goal was to see if this project would actually work as intended. When it did, the HYDRA moles then destroyed everything and killed everyone related to the project, including themselves. Well, except for the man who would become Captain America anyway.
** Averted in ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'': A side plot involves Cap and Bucky racing to Siberia before Baron Zemo can unleash the five other Winter Soldiers that were created after the success of Bucky. It wasn't a perfect process, though - what we see of the other Winter Soldiers shows that they were far more aggressive and less obedient than Bucky.

** After passing in and out of [[EldritchLocation the Hex]] multiple times in ''Series/WandaVision'', Monica Rambeau ends up with permanently altered physiology and energy-based superpowers. Before anyone else can repeat this, the Hex disappears and it's left very unlikely that something like it would be created again.
** ''Series/TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier'': After decades of scientists trying and failing, Dr. Nagel finally managed to recreate and in fact ''perfect'' the super-soldier serum, which he began distributing to terrorist groups. Zemo - who hates supers - kills him and destroys all of the remaining doses, then [[spoiler:hires an assassin to kill all the remaining super soldiers save John Walker before they can be experimented on]].

[[folder: Literature ]]
* {{Subverted|Trope}} in ''{{Literature/Animorphs}}''--their powers come from Elfangor's Escafil Device, but shortly afterward he is killed and all the wreckage of his ship destroyed by the [[PuppeteerParasite Yeerks]]. However, twenty books later a random kid named David finds the device at the site where Elfangor crashed, and the Animorphs get it back. This would have major repercussions for the series, especially when [[spoiler:they use it to create an army of Auxiliary Animorphs]] and [[spoiler:the Yeerks get the device]].
* David Brin's ''Literature/ThePostman'' averts this trope. [[spoiler: The super-soldier villain (subjects were chosen for aggression and willpower rather than mental stability) is eventually defeated by a super-duper-soldier hero who was created specifically to counter the super-soldier threat. The novel implies that many soldiers of both types were created pre-apocalypse.]]
* Completely subverted in ''Literature/FineStructure'', where a major ongoing problem is that FlyingBrick superheroes are created, at random, once a year. And each Power is twice as powerful as the last one. And they're Born violently insane, at least temporarily. Turns out you can kill a lot of people if you're as fast as the Flash and as strong as Superman. Later on, the Americans figure out how to create arbitrary numbers of 6th and 7th level Powers by [[spoiler: tapping some of Xio's power]].

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]
* The 1950s British ''Invisible Man'' series subverted it. They knew it was possible to create more invisible humans (and they created invisible experimental rabbits) but since they could not yet make the subjects visible again...

* In many Showa era ''Franchise/KamenRider'' series, the villainous organizations attempt to create another Rider to take out the hero. The [[Series/KamenRider original series]] had [[NebulousEvilOrganisation Shocker]] create a stronger version of Kamen Rider to eliminate him. The plan is ruined when Kamen Rider shows up and rescues the newly created cyborg before he could be brainwashed, [[NiceJobFixingItVillain effectively doubling Shocker's problems!]]
** Also, actually justified. Rider technology, is pretty much the same as the technology used to use the mooks...just with minor differences. So, they ARE using the tech, just not in the same way.
* In the universe of ''Series/TheSixMillionDollarMan'', only five or six people in history have been fitted with bionic limbs, despite the thousands of amputees and paraplegics that could benefit from such technology. The excuses are that (A) bionic parts are horrifically expensive, and (B) the technology is still a closely-guarded government secret.
* The knowledge to make a quicksilver gland in ''Series/TheInvisibleMan'' died with its creator, the protagonist's brother. However, the BigBad Arnaud, who helped create the original, is eventually able to make another for himself, although it doesn't quite work as intended (he's permanently invisible). Slightly subverted in another episode where it's implied that [[spoiler:the gland was originally reverse-engineered from an invisible bigfoot]].

[[folder: Video Games ]]
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', where the machines in the Magitek Research Facility are used to grant magical powers to pretty much the entire Imperial Army, until the ''heroes'' destroy the machines for [[PoweredByAForsakenChild ethical reasons]]. This makes things [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt much, much worse.]]
* In the ''[[VideoGame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon F.E.A.R.]]'' universe it seem super reactions can be gained though a certain procedure, but given what happened afterwards...
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/LuminousArc2'', where the prototype [[MagicFromTechnology Runic Engine]] works fine (except the bit where it becomes fused to the main character's hand right at the start and continues to do so throughout the game, but the more powerful copies mass-produced for an [[SuperSoldier entire battalion of soldiers]] using its data slowly [[spoiler: [[PowerDegeneration corrupts the user's body due to their lack of ability to control it and eventually crystallises them]]]].
* Justified in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', where [[spoiler:a drop of an Archdemon's blood]] is required for the Joining, and the Ferelden Grey Wardens are fresh out of it.

** Justified in the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series, where main characters X and Zero are "relics" created by the long-dead Dr. Light and [[spoiler:Dr. Wily]], respectively. The Reploids of the future are -- as the name implies -- imperfect '''repl'''icas that are vastly less powerful and subject to [[AIIsACrapshoot going murderously insane]].

[[folder: Web Original ]]
* The origin story of Hive in the Literature/WhateleyUniverse: a one-of-a-kind nanite artificial intelligence is ready for testing, but criminals try to steal it first. The only survivor of the resulting battle and explosion is the night guard, Sam Everheart. The nanites survive by remaking his body. So... no surviving researchers, no surviving equipment, no surviving notes or records, and the rebuilt nanite body is ex-military who can't make nanites. Unfortunately for Hive, all other attempts at making nanite-superhumans have failed horribly, so now everyone is interested.
* Justified in Literature/{{Worm}}, where it is possible for someone to gain powers from an incredibly traumatic event. Not everyone who goes through such an event gets superpowers, and any further criteria is unknown. Anyone traumatizing someone to induce superpowers would wind up HoistByHisOwnPetard if they succeed with their victim. Averted with Cauldron, who have refined the process and sell the treatment.
** This is later revealed to be because [[spoiler: Scion had preselected humans to give powers to, which would only awaken during a suitably traumatic event. Cauldron's formulas are stripped from Scion's partner, who is now dead. This makes their formulas a finite resource as well]].

[[folder: Western Animation ]]
* ''Franchise/Ben10'': In every [[AlternateUniverse reality]] there's only one Omnitrix, and in most of them they belong to Ben. Justified in that Azmuth, the only being in 3-5 (exactly HOW many is up for debate in-universe) galaxies smart enough to build one, regrets having made the first when he's introduced. He only lets Ben keep the one he ''did'' make because Ben is TheChosenOne.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'':

** ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk2008'': The government tried to recreate the super-soldier serum that created Captain America. They tried it on Emil Blonsky, successfully making him stronger, faster, and giving him accelerated healing, allowing him to recover from near-fatal injuries in a day. However, he is still weaker that Captain America, and the serum makes him more deranged and bloodthirsty. Blonsky later tries to add the power of Hulk's blood, resulting in him becoming the Abomination.

* A Canadian tried to recreate [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk Bruce Banner's accident]] but an EldritchAbomination interfered and he ended up with a fraction of the creature's power instead, turning him into the hero [[ComicBook/AlphaFlight Sasquatch]].

* The Comicbook/IncredibleHulk's enemies, the U-Foes, were created as a deliberate attempt to recreate the same accident that created the Comicbook/FantasticFour. One of the Comicbook/FantasticFour's own foes, a Russian scientist by the name of Ivan Kragoff, also managed to get superpowers by recreating their circumstances. He took three apes and went into space with an unshielded ship. Thus was born the Red Ghost and his Super-Apes!

** ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'': The government tried to recreate the super-soldier serum that created Captain America. They tried it on Emil Blonsky, successfully making him stronger, faster, and giving him accelerated healing, allowing him to recover from near-fatal injuries in a day. However, he is still weaker that Captain America, and the serum makes him more deranged and bloodthirsty. Blonsky later tries to add the power of Hulk's blood, resulting in him becoming the Abomination.

* JUSTIFIED in ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderman2''. Turns out? The spider ONLY works on people who are related to Peter Parker's dad, as it's gene-coded. Using it when NOT related leads to...issues. Specifically? The Lizard and Green Goblin. So, it's perfectly repeatable. Just...really dangerous.

* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:''
** Justified in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'': HYDRA had sabotaged the supersoldier project from the start. Their goal was to see if this project would actually work as intended. When it did, the HYDRA moles then destroyed everything and killed everyone related to the project, including themselves. Well, except for the man who would become Captain America anyway.

** In ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', Ned asks Peter if the spider that gave him powers is still alive because he wants them too but Peter explains that it died afterwards, similar to the comics.

* The late ''ComicBook/{{Firestorm}}''[=/=]''ComicBook/SuicideSquad'' villain Steel Wolf gained his super-strength through Soviet scientists' attempts to create an army of super-soldiers during World War II. Stalin didn't trust the idea of so many super-soldiers, so he had all the scientists killed.