History Main / SuperPowersForADay

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' episode "Supersmurf", Brainy gets Superman-like powers through magic in order to get the food that Bigmouth has stolen back from the Smurfs, but the formula only lasts for a few hours.

* In one episode of ''Series/{{Stargate SG-1}}'' Jonas Quinn acquires precognitive abilities.

May overlap with SuperheroEpisode and with MuggleBestFriend. Contrast with BroughtDownToNormal

See also: SidekickGlassCeiling

* In ''[[RanmaOneHalf Ranma ½]]'' Akane (one of the more realistic martial artists) was given powers to match the rest of the cast twice, once with magic noodles (which also caused her to grow whiskers) and once with a magically-super-powered martial arts costume.

* In ''TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob,'' Bob once got powers after being exposed to several superhero origins [[ShoutOut Shout Outs]] in rapid succession. He tried to become a superhero, but [[NiceJobBreakingItHero a disastrous attempt at stopping a bank robbery]] and his powers being transferred to a houseplant put a stop to that.

* In issue 456 of ''DetectiveComics'', [[RubberMan the Elongated Man]] gets himself captured when [[PhlebotinumBreakdown his powers wore off]] [[FinaglesLaw at the worst possible moment]]. This results in a cliffhanger that leads into the next issue, in which his {{Muggle}} wife [[http://www.dialbforblog.com/tec457.jpg becomes the Elongated Woman]]. Interestingly, while Ralph gets his powers from [[AppliedPhlebotinum Gingold]], Sue is allergic to it, so she instead gets her powers from technology.

* In ''AllStarSuperman'' Lois Lane gets superpowers thanks to a formula for one issue

* In TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, it happened so often to Jimmy Olsen that [[http://superdickery.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=996:the-jimmy-olsen-drinking-game&catid=29:confounding-comic-covers-index&Itemid=32 Superdickery.com]] has a running gag where it's a drinking game.
* The MarvelComics series ''Captain Universe'' dealt with this trope on a monthly basis. Captain Universe was not one person, but a persona with cosmic powers attached which merges with various people in times of need.

[[{{Comicbook/Superman}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/temporary_superpowers_2105.jpg]]

[[AC:Comics]]

* In one episode of ''{{Stargate SG-1}}'' Jonas Quinn acquires precognitive abilities.
* In one episode of StargateAtlantis, [=McKay=] gains super senses, mind reading abilities, telekinesis, and became much smarter as a result of an accidental encounter with an Ancient device. Unfortunately, the machine is designed to induce [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence Ascension]] meaning that the subject will die if they don't figure out how to Ascend in time.

[[AC:Literature]]

* Fry and Leela get superpowers in ''{{Futurama}},'' and become super-heroes.
* ''FamilyGuy'' episode "Super Griffins."

* In the ''DextersLaboratory'' episode "World's Greatest Mom," Dexter accidentally gives his mom super-powers... for the rest of the episode.

* In ''{{Danny Phantom}}'' Tucker wishes to have ghost powers like Danny and a genie grants the wish. Unfortunately he becomes evil with said powers and therefore a reset button is used.

* Timmy Turner in ''FairlyOddParents'' wishes life were like a comic book. Everyone on Earth gets super powers, but only for one episode.

[[AC:Webcomics]]

* Occurs in the ''WesternAnimation/MenInBlack'' epsiode "The Supermen in Black Syndrome", where an alien AmplifierArtifact grants Jay, Kay and Elle, alongside three alien criminals, superpowers. Kay becomes a SuperStrong [[FantasticFour Thing]] {{Expy}}, Elle gets various EyeBeams with different effects, Jay becomes {{Super Speed}}y and super-agile, one villian becomes a Human Torch expy, another gets {{Flight}}, and the last one can [[ActionBomb blow himself up at will]] ([[RequiredSecondaryPowers reassembling himself immediately afterwards) .

* Occurs in the ''WesternAnimation/MenInBlack'' epsiode "The Supermen in Black Syndrome", where an alien AmplifierArtifact grants Jay, Kay and Elle, alongside three alien criminals, superpowers. Kay becomes a SuperStrong [[FantasticFour Thing]] {{Expy}}, Elle gets various EyeBeams with different effects, Jay becomes {{Super Speed}}y and super-agile, one villian becomes a Human Torch expy, another gets {{Flight}}, and the last one gets a HealingFactor (that lets him regenerate a la [[TheTerminator the T-1000]]).

* In the ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "Hide and Q," Riker gets Q-powers.

Often happens to the superpowered character's MuggleBestFriend. When this [[RecycledScript plot is repeatedly recycled]] with a particular character, see SuperpowerSillyPutty.

* In ''[[RanmaOneHalf Ranma ½]]'' Akane (one of the more realistic martial artists) was given powers to match the rest of the cast twice, once with magic noodles (which also caused her to grow whiskers) and once with a magically-super-powered martial arts costume.

* The ''[=~Gilligan's Island~=]'' gang eats some radioactive vegetables and gets superpowers: super-strength, super-speed, super hearing etc.

* One IsaacAsimov short story "[[http://www.e-reading.org.ua/bookreader.php/82105/The_Secret_Sense.html The Secret Sense]]" had an Earthman gain a Martian sense via a special drug. The effects only lasted for a few minutes and ItOnlyWorksOnce. However, it arguably wasn't worth it, because as the Martian points out, the Earthman won't be able to experience that sense again. Metaphorically speaking "You entered a normal man! You leave blind-blind-BLIND."

* In one episode of StargateAtlantis, [=McKay=] gains super senses, mind reading abilities, telekinesis, and became much smarter as a result of an accidental encounter with an Ancient device. Unfortunately, the machine is designed to induce Ancension meaning that the subject will die if they don't figure out how to ascend in time.

* In ''TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob,'' Bob once got powers after being exposed to several superhero origins [[ShoutOut Shout Outs]] in rapid succession. He tried to become a superhero, but [[NiceJobBreakingItHero a disastrous attempt at stopping a bank robbery]] and his powers being transferred to a houseplant put a stop to that.

* Occurs in the ''WesternAnimation/MenInBlack'' epsiode "The Supermen in Black Syndrome", where an alien AmplifierArtifact grants Jay, Kay and Elle,, alongside three alien criminals, superpowers. Kay becomes a SuperStrong [[FantasticFour Thing]] {{Expy}}, Elle gets various EyeBeams with different effects, Jay becomes {{Super Speed}}y and super-agile, one villian becomes a Human Torch expy, another gets {{Flight}}, and the last one gets a HealingFactor (that lets him regenerate a la [[TheTerminator the T-1000]].

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers'' concerns Dale getting elastic powers, thanks to a chunk of crystal that broke off a meteorite, and turning into a superhero "Rubber Bando!" Of course, the crystal is smashed by the end of the episode, rendering it useless.

A [[{{muggle}} non super-powered character]] gets superpowers. However, because StatusQuoIsGod, those powers won't last long and are strictly a one-shot deal. In other words: [[ResetButton not only do the superpowers wear off by the end of the episode]], but they can "never" get the powers again. '''[[ThisIsSparta Never! ever! again!]]''' [[NegativeContinuity Unless they do]] using a RecycledScript and/or [[RuleOfFun just because it's fun]].

* Occurs in the ''WesternAnimation/MenInBlack'' epsiode "The Supermen in Black Syndrome", where an AlienAmplifierDevice grants Jay, Kay and Elle,, alongside three alien criminals, superpowers. Kay becomes a SuperStrong [[FantasticFour Thing]] {{Expy}}, Elle gets various EyeBeams with different effects, Jay becomes {{Super Speed}}y and super-agile, one villian becomes a HumanTorch expy, another gets {{Flight}}, and the last one gets a HealingFactor (that lets him regenerate a la [[TheTerminator the T-1000]].

* Occurs in the ''Western Animation/MenInBlack'' epsiode "The Supermen in Black Syndrome", where an AlienAmplifierDevice grants Jay, Kay and Elle,, alongside three alien criminals, superpowers. Kay becomes a SuperStrong [[FantasticFour Thing]] {{Expy}}, Elle gets various EyeBeams with different effects, Jay becomes {{Super Speed}}y and super-agile, one villian becomes a HumanTorch expy, another gets {{Flight}}, and the last one gets a HealingFactor (that lets him regenerate a la [[TheTerminator the T-1000]].

[[Comicbook/Superman http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/temporary_superpowers_2105.jpg]]

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/temporary_superpowers_2105.jpg

[[AC:LiveActionTv]]

** Lex, Lana and Jonathan were all briefly [[strike:Flying]] [[FlyingBrick Speeding Bricks]].

* One IsaacAsimov short story had an Earthman given a Martian sense via a special drug. The effects only lasted for a few minutes and his vision was burned out. He thought it was worth it.