History Main / SelfMadeSuperpowers

** [[MadScientist Mayuri Kurotsuchi]] takes this a step further. Being a scientist first and foremost but needing combat prowess he used his brilliant mind to upgrade his Shinigami abilities. As Urahara Kisuke's successor as the Head of Shinigami Research Institute, he gave himself the ability to liquefy and make himself immune to any attack, a grappling hook in his arm and a scythe that extends from his ear. He also created something that allowed him to achieve Bankai the non-traditional way. Additionally, he installed a censor on his sword that can perfectly block any attack, making up for his lack of swordsmanship skills.

* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan2099'': In the 2019 reboot, unlike the original, Miguel, who is an Alchemax geneticist, gives himself his spider abilities on his own accord. [[spoiler:That's because of the urging of the original Miguel and the death of his brother Gabriel]].

* ''Anime/{{Naruto}}'':
** Orochimaru, the BigBad of Part I and a brilliant scientist, [[BioAugmentation modified his body]] to be very [[VoluntaryShapeshifting malleable]] and snakelike, a power he refers to as the Power of the White Snake. He gains a HealingFactor, the ability to reconnect body parts via snakes, the ability to shed his skin to regurgitate a new body free from all damage, etc. Most importantly, he gains the power to use Living Corpse Reincarnation, his path to immortality that allows him to [[GrandTheftMe transfer his consciousness to another body]]. He can store his consciousness within the cursed seals he brands others with, allowing him to revive himself, albeit with some outside help, even after being sealed by Itachi Uchiha's extremely powerful sealing jutsu.
** Orochimaru's right-hand man and highly skilled spy and CombatMedic, Yakushi Kabuto, integrated multiple Kekkei Genkai (unique abilities) into himself, granting him among other powers, a powerful HealingFactor, ability to liquefy, creating a clone, use a SuperMode indefinitely along with becoming a MasterOfIllusion capable of overcoming Itachi and Sauske Uchiha simultaneously.
** Madara Uchiha, unlike his rival Senju Hashirama, is a brilliant scientist and to surpass him, integrated Hashirama's DNA in him, granting himself his rival's signature Wood Release technique and most importantly, the eyes of the God of Shinobi. See his page for the full list.
** Obito Uchiha is a skilled surgeon and well-versed with genetics and transplants. He made up for his lack of natural talent by mastering Hashirama's cells, allowing him to phase through all attacks for 10 minutes with 1 Sharingan, and later transplants a Rinnegan stolen from Nagato's corpse.

* ''Manga/KenganAshura'' gives us Hanafusa Hajime, a CombatMedic who modified his body to have WolverineClaws, air canisters in his heels to increase the speed and power of his kicks, [[FeelNoPain immunity to pain]], a device to prevent his heart from stopping, and several others.
* ''Manga/OnePiece'': Franky performed self-surgery on himself twice and turned himself into a {{cyborg}}, despite not specializing in it (he is a shipwright), and displays superhuman strength, durability, and hearing. His cyborg body also has its own arsenal.
* Giovanni of ''Manga/FireForce'' modified his body to be able to transform into countless firebugs, gaining insect-like traits to increase his strength even further. Even when decapitated, he still survives as his head can move according to his thoughts.
* ''Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex'':
** As a Side Effect of being the creator and controller of Level Upper, Kiyama Harumi gains multi-skill, the ability to use the skills and powers of its over 10,000 users.
** Kihara Gensei later creates his own version and reveals gave Kiyama Harumi the idea. He doesn't possess the sheer quantity of Kiyama but makes up for it by choosing the abilities needed to reach Exterior.

* In ''ComicBook/DarkNightsMetal'', The Drowned modified her body to give herself the superhuman abilities of an Atlantean. She uses them to murder Aquawoman in cold blood, supposedly to stop an inevitable Atlantean invasion, out of her paranoia against metahumans. This is despite being [[YouAreWhatYouHate a metahuman herself]].

* In ''ComicBook/TheWildStorm'', genius Dr. Angela Spica accidentally kicks off an arms race between two clandestine organizations when she manages to create a "transdermal drysuit" -- essentially a retractable suit of armor housed in pieces beneath her skin -- by reverse-engineering technology she had observed in an alien ship.
* [[Characters/TheFlashEobardThawne Eobard Thawne]] of ''ComicBook/TheFlash'' is a brilliant scientist who recreated the FreakLabAccident that gave the Flash his powers.

* ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManRenewYourVows'': The BigBad of the story captures every single powered individual he can find and uses his scientific prowess to [[PowerParasite absorb their abilities]]. They die after that.

* [[Characters/MarvelComicsThanos Thanos]] uses his considerable intellect to argument his powers through bionic modifications.

* ''Series/TheTomorrowPeople2013'': Jedikiah Price, an EvilutionaryBiologist, narrows down the superhuman gene and artificially "breaks out", gaining considerable psychic powers.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ZigZagged in ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' with a few variations. For starters, a number of characters have the ability to expand their powers through various means as an explicit powerset. The Tinker category, whose powers make them an ImpossibleGenius in the engineering facets of a particular (often oddly specific or [[SemanticSuperpower abstract]]) subject, are especially prone to this ala ProfessorGuineaPig, but examples can also be found among other categories like Thinkers and Changers who use indirect powers to bootstrap themselves into abilities with more direct applications.
** Armsmaster, as Defiant, replaced his internal organs and parts of his brain with artificial equivalents, reducing his need to [[TheSleepless sleep]], eat, and eliminate waste to less than fifteen minutes a day.
** Mannequin, who specializes in sustaining life, modified himself to have inhuman reflexes, [[BladeBelowTheShoulder blades built into his body]], an internal rifle, [[MultiArmedAndDangerous multiple arms]], and various types of lethal gas.
** Bonesaw has performed extensive surgery on herself, giving herself enhancements such as the ability to [[FeelNoPain turn off her pain response]], [[MadeOfIron survive huge amounts of damage]], [[PeoplePuppets hijack people's bodies in order to do her bidding]], and to [[PoisonousPerson emit deadly toxins and poisons from her body]]. She is immune to her own poisons and other diseases.
** The Cauldron organization traffics superpowers in serum form in a more direct but somewhat uncontrolled manner, thanks to their research into a spoiler-heavy asset.
[[/folder]]

* Rick Sanchez of ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' fame grafts [[{{Cyborg}} cybernetic parts]] into himself, though the exact effects remain unknown.
* Professor Membrane from ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' replaced his arms with cybernetics of his own inventions capable of firing energy blasts.

* ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'':

-->-- '''Incredi-boy''' to '''Mr. Incredible''', ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles''

->''"Well, not every superhero has powers, you know. You can be super without them. I invented these. I can fly. Can you fly?"''

* ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' includes a number of characters who use their technology-based superpowers to improve themselves:

** Mannequin, a [[GadgeteerGenius tinker]] who specialized in sustaining life, modified himself to have inhuman reflexes, [[BladeBelowTheShoulder blades built into his body]], an internal rifle, [[MultiArmedAndDangerous multiple arms]], and various types of lethal gas.
** Bonesaw has performed extensive surgery on herself, giving herself enhancements such as the ability to [[FeelNoPain turn off her pain response]], [[MadeOfIron survive huge amounts of damage]], [[PeoplePuppets hijack people's bodies in order to do her bidding]], and to [[PoisonousPerson emit deadly toxins and poisons from her body]]. She is immune to her own poisons and other diseases.

* In the third season premiere of ''Series/{{Heroes}}'', Mohinder Suresh takes a syringe of Maya's blood/DNA/super-powered-AppliedPhlebotinum out onto a dock all by himself and injects it into himself, becoming a case of ProfessorGuineaPig. He gets insect-like super-strength, agility, and wall-climbing ability, and cocoon generation, but as a side effect appears to be mutating uncontrollably. Once the perfected formula he develops washes over him, he gains superhuman strength but loses the other powers and detriments.

* ''Manga/KenganAsura'' gives us Hanafusa Hajime, a CombatMedic who modified his body to have WolverineClaws, air canisters in his heels to increase the speed and power of his kicks, [[FeelNoPain immunity to pain]], a device to prevent his heart from stopping, and several others.

* ''ComicBook/RenewYourVows'': The BigBad of the story captures every single powered individual he can find and uses his scientific prowess to [[PowerParasite absorb their abilities]]. They die after that.

* ''Literature/{{Worm}}'':

The solution is simple. Use your incredibly advanced mind to give yourself powers. Do some self-BioAugmentation. Give yourself an ArtificialLimb or [[{{Cyborg}} more]]. Create a ritual because it's TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential that only the ChosenOne is entitled to. Build a device to [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke mutate your genes]] into that of the resident RealityWarper. Integrate the {{Magitek}} you have stolen to your brain. Develop a SuperSerum to give yourself TheGift and become an InstantExpert.

** Orochimaru, the BigBad of Part I and a brilliant scientist, [[BioAugmentation modified his body]] to be very [[VoluntaryShapeshifting malleable]] and snakelike, a power he refers to as the Power of the White Snake. He gains a HealingFactor, ability to reconnect body parts via snakes, shed his skin to regurgitate a new body free from all damage, etc. Most importantly, he gains the power to use Living Corpse Reincarnation, his path to immortality that allows him to [[GrandTheftMe transfer his consciousness to another body]]. He can store his consciousness within the cursed seals he brands others with, allowing him to revive himself, albeit with some outside help, even after being sealed by Itachi Uchiha's extremely powerful sealing jutsu.
** Orochimaru's right-hand man and highly skilled spy and CombatMedic, Yakushi Kabuto, integrated multiple Kekkei Genkai (unique abilities) into himself, granting him among other powers, a powerful HealingFactor, ability to liquefy, creating a clone, use a SuperMode indefinitely along with becoming a MasterOfIllusion capable of overcoming Itachi and Sauske Uchiha simultaneously.
** Madara Uchiha, unlike his rival Senju Hashirama, is a brilliant scientist and to surpass him, integrated Hashirama's DNA in him, granting himself his rival's signature Wood Release technique and most importantly, the eyes of the God of Shinobi. See his page for the full list.
** Obito Uchiha is a skilled surgeon and well-versed with genetics and transplants. He made up for his lack of natural talent by mastering Hashirama's cells, allowing him to phase through all attacks for 10 minutes with 1 Sharingan, and later transplants a Rinnegan stolen from Nagato's corpse.

** Mayuri Kurotsuchi, a MadScientist takes this a step further. Being a scientist first and foremost but needing combat prowess he used his brilliant mind to upgrade his Shinigami abilities. As Urahara Kisuke's successor as the Head of Shinigami Research Institute, he gave himself the ability to liquefy and make himself immune to any attack, a grappling hook in his arm and a scythe that extends from his ear. He also created something that allowed him to achieve Bankai the non-traditional way. Additionally, he installed a censor on his sword that can perfectly block any attack, making up for his lack of swordsmanship skills.

** Oko Yushima is another brilliant scientist and [[spoiler: is also a [[TheChessMaster chess master]] who invented the mod-soul and Regai Technology. He later turns himself into a mod-soul through a series of convoluted schemes and gains access to the full extent of his power.]]

** Dr. Gero is so brilliant that he creates multiple cyborgs and Android more powerful than the second strongest being in the universe, Freeza, and the strongest Super Saiyans ''without ever leaving the Earth'', a very remote and weak planet. He then converts himself into a cyborg.

* ''Manga/KenganAsura'' gives us Hanafusa Hajime, a CombatMedic who modified his body to have wolverine-style claws, air canisters in his foot to increase speed and power of his kicks, immunity to pain, a device to prevent his heart from stopping, and several others.
* ''Manga/OnePiece'': Franky performed self-surgery on himself twice and turned himself into a cyborg, despite not specializing in it (he is a shipwright), and displays superhuman strength, durability, and hearing. His cyborg body also has its own arsenal.

* In ''ComicBook/DarkNightsMetal'', The Drowned modified her body to give herself the superhuman abilities of an Atlantean. She uses them to murder Aquawoman in cold blood, supposedly to stop an inevitable Atlantean invasion, out of her paranoia against metahumans. This is despite being [[YouAreWhatYouHate a metahuman herself.]]
* In ''ComicBook/FiftyTwo'', ComicBook/LexLuthor's "Everyman" initiative is ultimately revealed to be a trial run for giving himself superpowers.
* In ''ComicBook/TheWildStorm'', genius Dr. Angela Spica accidentally kicks off an arms race between two clandestine organizations when she manages to create a "transdermal drysuit" - essentially a retractable suit of armor housed in pieces beneath her skin - by reverse-engineering technology she had observed in an alien ship.
* ComicBook/EobardThawne of ''ComicBook/TheFlash'' is a brilliant scientist who recreated the incident that gave the Flash his powers.
** The first Kid Flash, ComicBook/WallyWest, did the same thing to gain his.

* ''ComicBook/RenewYourVows'': The BigBad of the story captures every single powered individual he can find and uses his scientific prowess to absorb their abilities. They die after that.
* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan2099'': In the 2019 reboot, unlike the original, Miguel, who is an Alchemax geneticist, gives himself his spider abilities on his own accord. [[spoiler: That's because of the urging of the original Miguel and the death of his brother Gabriel]].
* ComicBook/{{Thanos}} uses his considerable intellect to argument his powers through bionic modifications.

** Henry [=McCoy=] (Earth-295), better known as Dark Beast, continuously experimented on himself and others and gained SuperStrength, slowed aging, etc. The full extent of his capability remains unknown as he continuously changes them. He also received cybernetic enhancements from Mr. Sinister.

* In the third season premiere of ''Series/{{Heroes}}'', Mohinder Suresh takes a syringe of Maya's blood/DNA/super-powered-{{Phlebotinum}} out onto a dock all by himself and injects it into himself, becoming a case of ProfessorGuineaPig. He gets insect-like super-strength, agility, and wall-climbing ability, and cocoon generation, but as a side effect appears to be mutating uncontrollably. Once the perfected formula he develops washes over him, he gains superhuman strength but loses the other powers and detriments.

** Armsmaster, as Defiant, replaced his internal organs and parts of his brain with artificial equivalents, reducing his need to sleep, eat and eliminate waste to less than fifteen minutes a day.
** Mannequin, a tinker who specialized in sustaining life, modified himself to have inhuman reflexes, an internal rifle, multiple arms, and various types of lethal gas.
** Bonesaw can emit deadly toxins and poisons from her body. She is immune to her own poisons and other diseases.

* Rick Sanchez of ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' fame grafts cybernetic parts into himself, though the exact effects remain unknown.

** Dr. Wheelo from the movie ''Anime/DragonBallZTheWorldsStrongest'' is much like Dr.Gero, a brilliant scientist. He transplanted his brain into a mecha. His goal is to take over Goku's body by transplanting his brain in it.

* ''ComicBook/IronMan'': During the "Extremis" six-issue arc, Tony Stark modified the titular virus to store his armor inside his body, directly interface with technology, use some of its powers without manifesting it, enhanced reflexes and regeneration of both his body and armor. He later develops Extremis 3.0, which grants him the ability to alter his appearance, HealingFactor, Enhanced Strength, Agility, and Reflexes. He also claimed it can make people immortal.

** Henry [=McCoy=](Earth-295), better known as Dark Beast, continuously experimented on himself and others and gained SuperStrength, slowed aging, etc. The full extent of his capability remains unknown as he continuously changes them. He also received cybernetic enhancements from Mr. Sinister.
** Doctor Nemesis has the mutant power of superintelligence and used it to devise further augmentations to his body such as enhanced eyesight. In an Age of Apocalypse universe, where he's allied with Sinister and Dark Beast, he also implanted the powers of multiple mutants within himself.

* In the third season premiere of ''Series/{{Heroes}}'', Mohinder Suresh takes a syringe of Maya's blood/DNA/super-powered-{{Phlebotinum}} out onto a dock all by himself and injects it into himself, becoming a case of ProfessorGuineaPig; He gets insect-like super-strength, agility, and wall-climbing ability, and cocoon generation, but as a side effect appears to be mutating uncontrollably. Once the perfected formula he develops washes over him, he gains superhuman strength but loses the other powers and detriments.

** Mannequin, a tinker who specialized in sustaining life, modified himself to have inhuman reflexes, Internal Rifle, Multiple arms, and various types of lethal gas.

* Doctor Nemesis has the mutant power of superintelligence and used it to devise further augmentations to his body such as enhanced eyesight. In an Age of Apocalypse universe, where he's allied with Sinister and Dark Beast, he also implanted the powers of multiple mutants within himself.

** Orochimaru's right-hand man and highly skilled spy and CombatMedic, Yakushi Kabuto, integrated multiple Kekkei Genkai (unique abilities) into himself, granting him among other powers, a powerful HealingFactor, ability to liquefy, create a clone, use a SuperMode indefinitely along with becoming a MasterOfIllusion capable of overcoming Itachi and Sauske Uchiha simultaneously.

** Mayuri Kurotsuchi, a MadScientist takes this a step further. Being a scientist first and foremost but needing combat prowess he used his brilliant mind to upgrade his Shinigami abilities. As Urahara Kisuke's successor as the Head of Shinigami Research Institute, he gave himself the ability to liquefy and make himself immune to any attack, a grappling hook in his arm and a scythe that extends from his ear. He also created something that allowed himself to achieve Bankai the non-traditional way. Additionally, he installed a censor on his sword that can perfectly block any attack, making up for his lack of swordsmanship skills.

** Oko Yushima is another brilliant scientist and [[spoiler: is also a [[TheChessMaster chess master]] who invented the mod-soul and Regai Technology. He later turns himself in to a mod-soul through a series of convoluted schemes and gains access to the full extent of his power.]]

** Dr. Gero is so brilliant that he creates multiple cyborgs and Android more powerful than the second strongest being in the universe, Freeza and the strongest Super Saiyans ''without ever leaving the Earth'', a very remote and weak planet. He then converts himself into a cyborg.

** As a Side Effect of being the creator and controller of the Level Upper, Kiyama Harumi gains multi-skill, the ability to use the skills and powers of its over 10,000 users.
** Kihara Gensei later creates his own version and reveals gave Kiyama Harumi the idea. He doesn't posses the sheer quantity of Kiyama but makes up for it by choosing the abilities needed to reach Exterior.

** Minor villain Speed Demon managed to partially empower himself with the same method, but the process was so flawed that he needed life saving surgery that crippled him for life. He later used his expertise to restore Wally's powers when he was depowered, successfully if with a few hiccups.
* ''ComicBook/IronMan'': During the "Extremis" six-issue arc, Tony Stark modified the titular virus to store his armor inside his body, directly interface with technology, use some of its powers without manifesting it, enhanced reflexes and regeneration of both his body and armor. He later develops Extremis 3.0, which grants him the ability to alter his appearance, HealingFactor, Enhanced Strength, Agility and Reflexes. He also claimed it can make people immortal.

* Doctor Nemesis has the mutant power of super intelligence and used it to devise further augmentations to his body such as enhanced eyesight. In an Age of Apocalypse universe, where he's allied with Sinister and Dark Beast, he also implanted the powers of multiple mutants within himself.

* In the third season premiere of ''Series/{{Heroes}}'', Mohinder Suresh takes a syringe of Maya's blood/DNA/super-powered-{{Phlebotinum}} out onto a dock all by himself and injects it into himself, becoming a case of ProfessorGuineaPig; He gets insect-like super-strength, agility, and wall-climbing ability, and coocon generation, but as a side effect appears to be mutating uncontrollably. Once the perfected formula he develops washes over him, he gains superhuman strength, but loses the other powers and detriments.

* ''TabletopGame/BaseRaiders'': The disappearance of the world's superheroes and villains and subsequent looting of their secret bases has led to a wave of "DIY" superbeings who attempt to replicate the events that led someone to develop superpowers.

** Mannequin, a tinker who specialized in sustaining life, modified himself to have inhuman reflexes, Internal Rifle, Multiple arms and various types of lethal gas.

** Oko Yushima is another brilliant scientist and [[spoiler: is also a [[TheChessMaster chess master]] who invented the mod-soul and Regai Technology. He later turns himself in to a mod-soul through a series of convoluted schemes and gains access to the full extent of his KeystoneSuperpower.]]

* In the third season premiere of ''Series/{{Heroes}}'', Mohinder Suresh takes a syringe of Maya's blood/DNA/super-powered-{{Phlebotinum}} out onto a dock all by himself and injects it into himself, becoming a case of ProfessorGuineaPig; He gets insect-like super-strength, agility, and wall-climbing ability, and coocon generation, but as a side effect appears to be mutating uncontrollably. Once the perfected formula he develops washes over him, he gains superhuman strength.

** Level Six Shift was claimed by Kihara Gensei to used to give Aleister Crowley this, though it remains unknown whether it is true.

** Becoming a Magic God involves "mastering a path to the very end" and becoming a nigh-omnipotent RealityWarper.

** Dr. Wheelo from the movie ''Anime/DragonBallZTheWorldsStrongest'' is much like Dr.Gero, a brilliant scientist. He transplanted his brain into a mecha. His goal is to take over Goku's body by transplanting his brain in it..

* ''ComicBook/{{XMen}}'':

** Oko Yushima is another brilliant scientist and is also a [[TheChessMaster chess master who invented the mod-soul and Regai Technology. He later turns himself in to a mod-soul through a series of convoluted schemes and gains access to the full extent of his KeystoneSuperpower.]]

** Dr. Wheelo from the movie ''Anime/DragonBallZTheWorldsStrongest'' is much like Dr.Gero, a brilliant scientist. He transplanted his brain into a mecha. His goal is to take over Goku's body.