History Main / SuperPowersForADay

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'': The point of the WhatIf episode "[[Recap/Ben10S2E4Gwen10 Gwen 10]]" is to see what would happen if Gwen received the Omnitrix instead of Ben. Turns out she's way better at using it. Since the episode is non-canon, it doesn't end with Ben getting his powers back; instead Grandpa Max gets the Omnitrix after Gwen loses it.
* Zig-zagged in the ''WesternAnimation/MightyMouse'' cartoon "Hero For A Day." A rube mouse thinks he can look intimidating after he obtains a Mighty Mouse costume from a costume shop. He is overcome by cats and about to get finished off when the real MM shows up, beats the cats up and lets the rube take credit for it.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/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 [[TheRealHeroes "a real hero"]]: [[WartimeCartoon a US Marine]].
* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode "Less Than Hero", Fry and Leela gain superpowers from a "miracle cream" Zoidberg game them, and become super-heroes. (Bender joins them, but he doesn't count, since he already had superpowers on account of being a robot.) When they run out of cream, their superpowers disappear.
* The ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' segment "Super Griffins", as part of ''Recap/FamilyGuyS3E21FamilyGuyViewerMailOne''
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': A nuclear accident turns Homer Simpson into a [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk a hulk like creature]] -- for about three seconds.
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' episode "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V". In order to stop the super villain team EVIL, Mermaid Man enlists the help of Spongebob, Patrick, Squidward and Sandy by loaning them the super hero costumes of the original IJLSA, thus granting them their respective super powers temporarily. Spongebob gains super speed and becomes The Quickster, Squidward gains the power to shoot lava from his head and becomes Captain Magma, Patrick gains super elasticity and becomes The Elastic Waistband, and Sandy gains invisibility and becomes Miss Appear.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'' episode "World's Greatest Mom," Dexter accidentally gives his mom super-powers...for the rest of the episode. Also, in the episode "Don't Be A Hero," Dexter tries out lots of different super powers in one day.

* Applied in ''WesternAnimation/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.

* Happens all the time in ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls''. Princess, Mojo Jojo, the Gangreen Gang, the Mayor, and a group of the girls' classmates all have episodes where they gain superpowers temporarily, usually through Chemical X.

** In "Mighty Mom and Dyno Dad", Timmy wishes that his parents were superheroes. When this results in them neglecting him even more than usual, he decides to wish them back to normal, but finds that they have to give up their powers willingly for that to happen. He achieves this by transforming into the supervillain "[[Characters/MarvelComicsGalactus Galactimus]]" and threatening to kill Timmy unless they do so.
** In "The Big Superhero Wish", Timmy wishes life were like a comic book, resulting in everyone on Earth getting superpowers. When [[ExactWords the obvious problem with]] ''[[ExactWords everyone]]'' [[ExactWords getting superpowers]] becomes apparent, Timmy tries to undo it only to make things worse.
** He also wished for heat vision in a Season 1 episode and simply forgot about it, making a comeback in a far later episode. He presumably still has heat vision as we never see him wish it away.
* Occurs in the ''WesternAnimation/MenInBlack'' episode "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 villain 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 ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' episode "Supersmurf", Brainy gets Superman-like powers through magic in order to get the food that Bigmouth has stolen from the Smurfs back, but the formula only lasts for a few hours.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': "Power Ponies" has the main cast dive into a comic book, assume the roles of its stars, and all inherit their superpowers (except for Spike, who gets stuck playing the clumsy, powerless comedy relief sidekick). Granted, the characters are already magical, but within the [[MundaneFantastic setting of the show,]] this definitely qualifies.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' episode "Wizard", Finn and Jake learn an assortment of magical spells, ranging from controlling shadows to conjuring mayonnaise. They lose their powers when [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman their wizard robes are accidentally burned off near the end of the episode.]]
* In the ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' episode "Go Team Go", a villain tries to [[PowersAsPrograms steal]] Hego's SuperStrength, but instead accidentally transfers it to Kim [[NoOntologicalInertia until the power-transfer device is broken.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'': If anyone gets superpowers, [[StatusQuoIsGod they're likely to lose them by the end of the episode.]]

* In the ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries'' episode, "Power to the Parrot", [[BenevolentGenie Genie]] gives Iago all of his powers for a day to see if he can use his magic more effectively. Turns out giving everyone everything they want has consequences.

->''"Clark, this is so cool! How come you didn’t tell me it was like this?"''

* In ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman'', Lois Lane gets superpowers thanks to a formula for one issue. This was a ShoutOut to a couple of different devices ComicBook/{{Superman}} had during UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}} which could temporarily grant superpowers. Lana famously used one of these devices to give her the power to defend Superman to the death in ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'', [[TearJerker gaining super-hearing just in time to hear that Superman had finally chosen Lois. She fought for him anyway]].

[[folder:{{Comics}}]]

* 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 UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}} 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 ComicBook/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 issue 456 of ''[[Creator/DCComics Detective Comics]]'', 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.
* In ''[[ComicBook/RobinSeries Robin]]'' Tim is given the super-speed bestowing serum Aramilla but due to the way it effects his mind and dulls his sense of morality, [[note]]making him slip up and ''kill'' someone, though he's able to bring them back with CPR mostly because this gives ''them'' a second hand dose of the drug[[/note]] he makes a very clear decision to never use it again.
* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: In the Silver Age ComicBook/SteveTrevor took pills that turned him to the FlyingBrick superheroes the Patriot, and Wonder Man. While there were hints these identities might come back into play they never did.

[[folder: Fan Works]]

** In "Hide and Q", Riker gets Q-powers.
** In "The Nth Degree", Barclay gets Q-like super-intelligence -- though it's hinted to be somewhat permanent, but it's uncertain how.

** In "Prophecy", Jonas Quinn acquires precognitive abilities. This was the result of a brain tumor (given to him by Nirrti's DNA manipulator), which had to be removed at the end of the episode to save him.

* ''Series/StargateAtlantis'': In "The Tao of Rodney", [=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.

* Inverted in the aptly-named ''Series/{{Supergirl 2015}}'' episode "Human For A Day", which sees Kara ''losing'' her superpowers and having to deal with living as an ordinary human, until she gets them back at the end of the episode.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In "Last of the Time Lords", the Tenth Doctor gets a number of powers for a few minutes by having all the population of Earth concentrate on him at the same exact moment, joined into a single psychic network by the Master's satellites. He reverses his physical age, flies, forms a DeflectorShield around himself, and uses telekinesis to disarm the Master.

[[folder:WesternAnimation ]]
* In the WesternAnimation/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 [[TheRealHeroes "a real hero"]]: [[WartimeCartoon a US Marine]].

->''"[[Franchise/{{Superman}} Clark]], this is so cool! How come you didn’t tell me it was like this?"''

* Fry and Leela get superpowers in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}},'' and become super-heroes.

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

-->-- '''ComicBook/LanaLang''', ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', "[[Recap/SmallvilleS07E07Wrath Wrath]]"

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

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': "Power Ponies" has the [[FanNickname Mane 6]] dive into a comic book, assume the roles of its stars, and all inherit their superpowers (except for Spike, who gets stuck playing the clumsy, powerless comedy relief sidekick). Granted, the characters are already magical, but within the [[MundaneFantastic setting of the show,]] this definitely qualifies.

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'': The point of the WhatIf story "Gwen 10" is to see what would happen if Gwen the Omnitrix instead of Ben for an episode. Turns out she's way better at using it. Since the episode is non-canon, it doesn't end with Ben getting his powers back; instead Grandpa Max gets the Omnitrix after Gwen loses it.

May overlap with SuperheroEpisode and with MuggleBestFriend. Contrast with BroughtDownToNormal. For moments where a character temporarily receives omnipotent powers, see GodForADay.

[[quoteright:300:[[Comicbook/{{Superman}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/temporary_superpowers_2105.jpg]]]]

* 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.

* In ''Webcomic/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 WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries episode, "Power to the Parrot", [[BenevolentGenie Genie]] gives Iago all of his powers for a day to see if he can use his magic more effectively. Turns out giving everyone everything they want has consequences.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': In the Silver Age ComicBook/SteveTrevor took pills that turned him to the FlyingBrick superheroes the Patriot, and Wonder Man. While there were hints these identities might come back into play they never did.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'' episode "World's Greatest Mom," Dexter accidentally gives his mom super-powers... for the rest of the episode. Also, in the episode "Don't Be A Hero," Dexter tries out lots of different super powers in one day.

* 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 separated from them, resulting in Tuck seeing it manifested as a ghoulish doppleganger before it's sealed away.

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

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': "Power Ponies" has the [[FanNickname Mane 6]] dive into a comic book, assume the roles of its stars, and all inherit their superpowers (except for Spike, who gets stuck playing the clumsy, powerless comedy relief sidekick). Granted the characters are already magical, but within the [[MundaneFantastic setting of the show]] this definitely qualifies.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' episode "Wizard", Finn and Jake learn an assortment of magical spells, ranging from controlling shadows to conjuring mayonnaise. They lose their powers when [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman their wizard robes are accidentally burned off near the end of the episode]].
* In the ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' episode "Go Team Go", a villain tries to [[PowersAsPrograms steal]] Hego's SuperStrength, but instead accidentally transfers it to Kim [[NoOntologicalInertia until the power-transfer device is broken]].

** Halfway through the episode [[spoiler: "Let's Play Goodbye, Mr. Cat"]], Stumpy and Mr. Cat are granted invisibility powers, which they lose by the end of the episode.

* The main premise of the first season of ''WesternAnimation/TheMiniavengers'', is a bunch of kids getting temporal [[PersonalityPowers superpowers based in their defects]], in ADayInTheLimelight epiosdes, in which they learn life lessons before being BroughtDownToNormal.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius'': One episode has Jimmy, Carl, Sheen, Libby, and Cindy gain superpowers via the Fantastic Four origin story (they flew through a radiation belt in Jimmy's spaceship). Sheen gets super speed, Libby gets invisibility and force fields, Cindy gets flight and super-strength, Carl gets super-burps, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Jimmy turns orange]]. Jimmy and the others initially think he got no powers, until Cindy pisses him off so much that he accidentally reveals he got The Hulk's powers with The Thing's appearance. Jimmy ends up curing them by the end of the episode because their powers are draining their cells and killing them.

* In the WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries episode, "Power to the Parrot", [[BenevolentGenie Genie]] gives Iago all of his powers for a day to see if he can use his magic more effectively; turns out giving everyone everything they want has consequences.

[[folder:LiveActionTV]]

May overlap with SuperheroEpisode and with MuggleBestFriend. Contrast with BroughtDownToNormal. For moments where a character temporarily receive omnipotent powers, see GodForADay.

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

* Applied in ''WesternAnimation/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 separated from them, resulting in Tuck seeing it manifested as a ghoulish doppleganger before it's sealed away.

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "Super Griffins."

* In the WesternAnimation/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]].