History Main / SuperPowersForADay

* The episode ''Power Ponies'' of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' has the [[FanNickname Mane 6]] dive into a comic book, assume the roles of it's stars, and all inherit their superpowers (except for Spike, [[TheWoobie of course]]). Granted the characters are already magical, but within the [[MundaneFantastic setting of the show]] this definitely qualifies.

* In ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman'' ComicBook/LoisLane gets superpowers thanks to a formula for one issue. This was a shout out to a couple of different devices Superman had during the SilverAge which could temporarily grant superpower. Lana famously used one of these devices to give her the power to defend Superman to the death in ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'' [[TearJerker gaining superhearing just in time to hear that Superman had finally chosen Lois. She fought for him anyway.]]

* In ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman'' LoisLane gets superpowers thanks to a formula for one issue. This was a shout out to a couple of different devices Superman had during the SilverAge which could temporarily grant superpower. Lana famously used one of these devices to give her the power to defend Superman to the death in ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'' [[TearJerker gaining superhearing just in time to hear that Superman had finally chosen Lois. She fought for him anyway.]]

* In UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, it happened so often to JimmyOlsen 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.

* In TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, it happened so often to JimmyOlsen 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 ''ComicBook/CaptainUniverse'' 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, one of which most famously was Spiderman.
* In one issue of ''LoveAndCapes'', Crusader's fiancée has a wizard grant her temporary superpowers so she can understand life as a superhero (which is why it is possible. Superpowers take a lot of energy, but apparently ThePowerOfLove is one hell of an energy-source).
** Her intention was for it to be literally this trope's name - having superpowers for 24 hours. Just after she drinks the triggering potion, she learns the ''actual'' time-limit is [[spoiler: non-existent. She'll have the powers until she decides she doesn't want them. Which she does, at the end of that story-arc.]].
* In issue 456 of ''DetectiveComics'', the ComicBook/ElongatedMan 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.
* Issue #8 of ''{{Nodwick}}'' had Yeagar gaining superpowers due to a stray blob of ink from the artist, but he lost them when they got siphoned off by a super villain and ended up empowering the president of the Henchman's union (a hamster, by the way).

* ''{{Smallville}}''
** Pete Ross got elastic super powers thanks to a chewing gum. However those powers only lasted for one episode.
** Chloe Sullivan got the power to make everyone tell her the truth. Unfortunately that superpower was killing her. So it was removed by the end of the episode
*** She then got EmpathicHealing for a couple of episodes before trading out for SuperIntelligence then going back to normal.
** Lana was clairvoyant
*** In a later episode, Lana temporarily copied Clark's powers. Clark actually had to remove them because Lana was determined to use her powers to get vengeance on Luthor.

* In ''LoisAndClark,'' a villain tries to steal Clark's powers but accidentally transfers them to Lois.

* The ''GilligansIsland'' gang eats some radioactive vegetables and gets superpowers: super-strength, super-speed, super hearing etc.

* In one episode of Series/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.

* In the BugsBunny short "Super-Rabbit", Bugs gets temporary superpowers from eating super carrots. At the end, he loses or runs out of the carrots and decides to become "a real hero": [[WartimeCartoon a US Marine]].

* ''TheSimpsons'': A nuclear accident turns Homer Simpson into a [[IncredibleHulk a hulk like creature]] -- for about three seconds.

* ''TheJetsons'': George Jetson becomes "Super George" when an experiment goes wrong.
* Applied in ''TheFlintstones,'' where Fred and Barney learn to apply judo-chop powers which allow them to take out armies of giant mooks-- but they either somehow forget them by the end of the episode, or else they never encounter any more mooks ever again
* In ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' Tucker wishes to have ghost powers like Danny and a genie grants the wish. Unfortunately he becomes evil with said powers and has to be seperated from them, resulting in Tuck seeing it manifestated as a ghoulish doppleganger before it's sealed away.
* Happens all the time in ''ThePowerpuffGirls''. Princess, Mojo Jojo, the Gangrene Gang, the Mayor, and a group of the girls' classmates all have episodes where they gain superpowers temporarily, usually through Chemical X.
* In one episode of ''AmericanDragonJakeLong'', Spud wants to be normal like his mom. He ends up getting bitten by a magical frog that gives him a frog-like appearance, a long tongue, and the ability to jump very high. At the end of the episode, he gets them removed.

* 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 [[SuperStrength super strong]] [[Franchise/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]]).

* 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 the BugsBunny short "Super-Rabbit", Bugs gets temporary superpowers from eating super carrots. This is never mentioned in all subsequent shorts.
** He runs out of the carrots in the same episode.

* In one issue of ''LoveAndCapes'', Crusader's fiancée has a wizard grant her temporary superpowers so she can understand life as a superhero.

* The MarvelComics series ''CaptainUniverse'' 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, one of which most famously was Spiderman.

* Partially applied in ''TheFlintstones,'' where Fred and Barney learn to apply judo-chop powers which allow them to take out armies of giant mooks-- but they either somehow forget them by the end of the episode, or else they never encounter any more mooks ever again

* In an episode of ''{{Franchise/Anpanman}}'', Horrorman manages to obtain Shokupanman's cape (which gives the wearer flight abilities) and attempts to be a hero...all while Shokupanman looks for his cape.

* The MarvelComics series ''CaptainUniverse'' 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.

* In ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' 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.
* Happens all the time in ''ThePowerpuffGirls''. Princess, Mojo Jojo, the Gangrene Gang, the Mayor, and a group of the girls' classmates all have episodes where they gain superpowers temporarily.

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

* In the Literature/{{Relativity}} story "August Moon", an accident gives skier Augustine Fennis [[{{Telepathy}} telepathic powers]], but also links him mentally with one of the heroes. The upshot is that the hero, Overcast, gains the ability to read Fennis's mind, but the power only lasts to the end of the story.

* In ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman'' LoisLane gets superpowers thanks to a formula for one issue. This was a shout out to a couple of different devices Superman had during the SilverAge which could temporarily grant superpower. Lana famously used one of these devices to give her the power to defend Superman to the death in ''WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'' [[TearJerker gaining superhearing just in time to hear that Superman had finally chosen Lois. She fought for him anyway.]]

* In issue 456 of ''DetectiveComics'', the ElongatedMan 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'' LoisLane gets superpowers thanks to a formula for one issue
** This was a shout out to a couple of different devices Superman had during the SilverAge which could temporarily grant superpower. Lana famously used one of these devices to give her the power to defend Superman to the death in ''WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'' [[TearJerker gaining superhearing just in time to hear that Superman had finally chosen Lois. She fought for him anyway.]]

* 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 [[Franchise/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]]).

** Clark briefly had "[[TheDeadZone Dead Zone]]" Vision

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. [[NegativeContinuity Unless they do]] using a RecycledScript and/or [[RuleOfFun just because it's fun]].

* One Creator/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."

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

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* 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]]).