History Main / SuperhumanTrafficking

* In ''TheDresdenFiles'' short story ''Aftermath'', [[BadassNormal Murphy has to disguise herself as a kidnapper selling a couple of werewolves]] in order to track down and destroy a Fomor group operating in Chicago. Formors are a group of aquatic supernaturals snatching up humans possessing varying degrees of magical talent. It's mentioned that [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolf blood has several useful properties]], and presumably other kinds of magic-users would have unique traits.

* In ''TheDresdenFiles'', immediately after the events of the novel ''Changes'', a group of aquatic supernaturals known as the Fomor start snatching up humans possessing varying degrees of magical talent. In the short story ''Aftermath'', [[BadassNormal Murphy has to disguise herself as a kidnapper selling a couple of werewolves]] in order to track down and destroy a Fomor group operating in Chicago.

* In ''TheDresdenFiles'', immediately after the events of the novel ''Changes'', a group of aquatic supernaturals known as the Fomor start snatching up humans possessing varying degrees of magical talent. In the short story ''Aftermath'', Murphy has to disguise herself as a kidnapper selling a couple of werewolves in order to track down and destroy a Fomor group operating in Chicago.

* In a variant, the alien Prawns in ''{{District 9}}'' are used as slaves by their human antagonists.

* While never shown at the forefront, analysis shows that Toons in ''WhoFramedRogerRabbit'' are a minority race, corralled into the ethnic neighborhood of Toontown. This is due to Judge Doom's discovery of Dip, the only thing that can harm a Toon, but it utterly wrecks them in even the smallest quantities. This allows Doom to rule Toontown with an iron fist and pick off any insubordinates.

However, in a world with {{Differently Powered Individual}}s, assuming that these powers are significant enough to upset the balance of order, you've once again made slavery a relevant business. Superpowers typically invoke [[NoConservationOfEnergy a lot of free energy]] that, for {{Muggle}}s, would take [[RealLifeSuperpower a lot of time, money, resources and manpower to replicate.]] [[EasyLogistics Superhumans usually don't have to worry about such things.]] Conceivably, finding a way to make these superpowers universally available via SuperSerum or [[MassSuperEmpoeringEvent would act as a "third" industrial revolution]], but the problem of Superhuman slavery would remain until [[MugglesDoItBetter technology outpaces superpowers once again]]. But by then, you might [[AIIsACrapshoot have an even BIGGER]] [[DoAndroidsDream problem on your hands...]]

However, in a world with {{Differently Powered Individual}}s, assuming that these powers are significant enough to upset the balance of order, you've once again made slavery a relevant business. Conceivably, finding a way to make these superpowers universally available via SuperSerum would act as a "third" industrial revolution in this case.

In a setting where there is a WitchSpecies, aliens, fairies, or superpowers that show up with sufficient regularity, these {{Differently Powered Individual}}s will have the hardship of being hunted by those who want to exploit them for money, power and ...other uses. The government, corporations, {{Mad Scientist}}s and criminal organizations may seek to enslave and co-opt them to evil ends, such as spying, {{Super Soldier}}ing, ForScience! and many other purposes.

However, in a world with {{Differently Powered Individual}}s, assuming that these powers are significant enough to upset the balance of order, you've once again made slavery a relevant business. Conceivably, finding a way to make these superpowers universally available via SuperSerum would act as a "third" industrial revolution in this case.

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!!Examples:

[[AC:{{Anime}}]]

* ''{{Darker than Black}}'' Contractors were treated like [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman dangerous, though useful monsters]] and either used as expendable killers or [[TheyWouldCutYouUp experimented upon]] at will -- at least, until U.N. intervened... to demand that countries share this research and form PANDORA. Dolls who got a shorter straw were treated like corpses with still living brains -- if normal humans don't take cyborgization well, try to cut off a Doll's legs and "program" him to test the replacement. Just like that, it's equipment. Or sometimes a pretty one get "programmed" and sold as a {{SexBot}} -- illegal, but behind the {{masquerade}} there's very little difference.
* The manga series [[Manga/{{PlusAnima}} +Anima]] is about young people who develop the ability to transform into PettingZooPeople, with the ability to grow wings, claws, tails, and more. Discrimination against the +Anima occurs in many places, but in Sailand, enslaving them is legal and there is an active business. It's implied that they're usually sold to people who can make the most use of their abilities, (such as a fisherman who wants to use a swimming +Anima for his work) though attractive +Anima may be sold to rich people and artists for the purpose of standing around and looking pretty.

[[AC:ComicBooks]]

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

* In the original ''EscapeToWitchMountain'' Tony & Tia are chased by a CorruptCorporateExecutive who wants to use their powers for his personal gain and a mob of people on a literal WitchHunt. Not that they know what they'll ''do'' with them once they catch them.
* The MarvelCinematicUniverse has a solitary example: ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk,'' whom General Thunderbolt Ross says, in no uncertain terms "is property of the US Government". Specifically, since Banner tested an attempt to reverse-engineer [[CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger a super-soldier serum]] on himself, the power of the resultant HulkOut is seen by Ross as useful to the government as study. He's prepared to capture Banner and use him as a guinea pig/monster on a leash for the rest of his life.
* This is the premise of ''{{Push}}'', all the world's superpowers hunt down... people with actual superpowers, killing, brainwashing, and experimenting on them.

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* In ''CrestOfTheStars'', the Abh were originally created to be slaves. Now that they have an empire of their own, they're hated.

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]

* ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' had a mix of both options by the same organization, which both hunted, exterminated, recruited and blackmailed people with abilities.

[[AC:TabletopRPG]]
* In the ''{{Aberrant}}'' role-playing, some novas (superpowered individuals) are hunted by criminal syndicates who kidnap them and harvest their organs to make superpowered drugs.
* ''{{Champions}}''. The organization PSI (Parapsychological Studies Institute) hunts down and captures people with psionic abilities and brainwashes them into becoming villains and slaves of PSI. PSI plans to use them to take control of the world.
* In the ''NewWorldOfDarkness'' gameline ''HunterTheVigil'', the Cheiron corporation does this to any being with powers, dissecting them to make medicine. Interestingly their strategy is stated to be very successful at curing the sick. They also harvest organs to give their agents superpowers.
* ''{{Shadowrun}}''. Drakes are creatures which appear to be human but can shapeshift into the form of small dragons, with appropriate powers. Once they started to appear, powerful entities such as Great Dragons and {{MegaCorp}}s immediately started to hunt them down and capture them.

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[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', the "genomorphs" are this: genetically-engineered/cloned superbeings that are kept under mental control until ordered with a task. In fact, the pilot was a carefully-crafted revolt by the genomorphs to supplant the control of The Light (the OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness which created them) and allow the most human-looking of them ({{Superboy}}) to escape and act as their advocate to the outside world.

* Biotics (especially untrained children) in the ''VideoGame/MassEffect'' universe are very sought after by illegal groups, if Jack's backstory is any indication.

In extreme cases they may become a SlaveRace or EndangeredSpecies thanks to this FantasticRacism. The protagonists are likely a part of this oppressed group, and have to spend the story on the run from their oppressors, trying to escape their captors control, and/or thwarting their plans and helping their fellows escape. As a result of this trope, members of this oppressed group are likely to choose TranshumanTreachery and the [[{{Anti-Human Alliance}} enslavement (or eradication) of mankind]], which can be poetically [[{{Tragedy}} tragic]] if the fear of this is what lead to the enslavement in the first place.

* The manga series [[{{PlusAnima}} +Anima]] is about young people who develop the ability to transform into PettingZooPeople, with the ability to grow wings, claws, tails, and more. Discrimination against the +Anima occurs in many places, but in Sailand, enslaving them is legal and there is an active business. It's implied that they're usually sold to people who can make the most use of their abilities, (such as a fisherman who wants to use a swimming +Anima for his work) though attractive +Anima may be sold to rich people and artists for the purpose of standing around and looking pretty.

* In ''{{Firefly}}'', psychics are taken to a lab known as "The Academy" at young age where TheMan experiments on them to create SuperSoldiers. Any escapees are hunted by [[{{MIB}} "Hands of Blue" agents.]]

* In ''Series/YoungJustice'', the "genomorphs" are this: genetically-engineered/cloned superbeings that are kept under mental control until ordered with a task. In fact, the pilot was a carefully-crafted revolt by the genomorphs to supplant the control of The Light (the OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness which created them) and allow the most human-looking of them ({{Superboy}}) to escape and act as their advocate to the outside world.

* The Harvester gang in ''DeusExHumanRevolution'' likes to kidnap people with [[ArtificialLimbs augmentations]] and cut them out to either sell or install in themselves. Not a very nice group of people, all things considered.

*** Yuck. I hope that's YouFailBiologyForever, because any plot that makes the Justice League into brainwashed disposable {{Sex Slave}}s is a hell of a lot creepier than one that just folds them into a HiveMind.

* In ''{{Drowtales}}'', while "Goblin" races (humans, orcs, etc.) are terrified of Fae races (elves, faeries), one kingdom has offered a reward for captives of elven blood [[spoiler: for use as human sacrifice in hopes of obtaining the power of immortality.]]

* The manga series [[{{PlusAnima}} +Anima]] is about young people who develop the ability to transform into PettingZooPeople, with the ability to grow wings, claws, tails, and more. Discrimination against the +Anima occurs in many places, but in Sailand, enslaving them is legal and there is an active business. It's implied that they're usually sold to people who can make the most use of their abilities, (such as a fisherman who wants to use a swimming +Anima for his work) though attractive +Anime may be sold to rich people and artists for the job of standing around and looking pretty.

* The manga series {{+Anima}} is about young people who develop the ability to transform into PettingZooPeople, with the ability to grow wings, claws, tails, and more. Discrimination against the +Anima occurs in many places, but in Sailand, enslaving them is legal and there is an active business. It's implied that they're usually sold to people who can make the most use of their abilities, (such as a fisherman who wants to use a swimming +Anima for his work) though attractive +Anime may be sold to rich people and artists for the job of standing around and looking pretty.

* The manga series +Anima is about young people who develop the ability to transform into PettingZooPeople, with the ability to grow wings, claws, tails, and more. Discrimination against the +Anima occurs in many places, but in Sailand, enslaving them is legal and there is an active business. It's implied that they're usually sold to people who can make the most use of their abilities, (such as a fisherman who wants to use a swimming +Anima for his work) though attractive +Anime may be sold to rich people and artists for the job of standing around and looking pretty.

* In ''{{Firefly}}'', psychics are taken to a lab known as "The Academy" at young age where The Man experiments on them to create SuperSoldiers. Any escapees are hunted by [[{{MIB}} "Hands of Blue" agents.]]