History Main / SuperhumanTrafficking

*** We once did see the Hellfire Club having an ''actual superhuman auction.'' This isn't as [[BullyingADragon suicidally dumb]] as it sounds, as the MarvelUniverse has always had a large population of lower-level superhumans, especially mutants -- not always visible, but there. The club wasn't selling anyone who could kill you with their brain. Not to mention, the Hellfire Club is run by an Inner Circle of powerful superhumans in their own right. Natch, the X-Men had to break it up.

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 [[AntiHumanAlliance enslavement (or eradication) of mankind]], which can be poetically {{trag|edy}}ic if [[BewareTheSuperman the fear of this]] is [[SelfFulfillingProphecy what lead to the enslavement in the first place]].

** ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/45984871/chapters/115749064 The Waters of Lethe]]'' has Aizawa caught trying to infiltrate such a ring. He’s touted as a high profile, valuable “item” because of Erasure and by the time he and the other captives are freed, he’s sudfering from IdentityAmnesia due to a Trigger-boosted quirk.
** ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/26172646/chapters/63686026 Submirged]]'' Aizawa gets sucked into infiltrating a group of pro hero traffickers after being labeled a traitor. The authorities wouldn’t even let him tell Hizashi, and Hizashi has no idea why it happened til he gets caught by the ring.

* In the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'', kidnapping and exploitation of superhumans (especially {{mutants}} and dynahosts) crops up from time to time in various forms. In particular, a major StoryArc set in late 2007 begins when a group of heroes (and one retired villain) rescue a kidnapped Whateley student, and in the process uncover a group called The Triangle; they are a splinter off of Humanity First! who claim to be seeking peaceful co-existence with mutants, but are covertly enslaving mutants with useful powers 'for the common good'. Other instances include [[spoiler:the Loose Cannons]] getting sold to the operator of an illegal BloodSport ring, from which they then try to escape. It also seems to be ''de rigeur'' for some {{Mad Scientist}}s to kidnap superhumans for test subjects. At least one instance of a low-level [[VoluntaryShapeshifting shapeshifter]] being held exploited for prostitution has been mentioned, as well.

** A band of horse robbers spot Comet transformed into centaur and decide to catch it and make a profit from exhibiting him.
** Gorbin, the co-owner of a ruinous sea circus, decides to go to Atlantis waters and hunt one pair of merpeople for his show. He catches Lori and Jerro, which turns out to be a bad move because they are close to the Super Family and have telepathy.

[[folder:Fanfiction]]

[[folder:Mythology and Religion]]

* Stories of animal brides like {{selkies|AndWereseals}} and {{swan|sASwimming}}-maidens often involve unscrupulous men forcing them into marriage after [[FurIsClothing stealing their animal skins]] to [[ShapeshifterModeLock trap them in human form]].

* ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'': The [[StockholmSyndrome Damane]] are magic-users brainwashed and enslaved by the Seanchan and treated as a cross between property and dangerous animals.

** This is brought up as a reason why [[Characters/BatmanJasonTodd Jason]] is determined to keep [[{{Manga/Naruto Hayate]] away from Gotham's social services. Metahumans are always at a greater risk of being taken advantage of, especially when there's so much mob money entangled with most of the power structures within the city.

* In the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'', kidnapping and exploitation of superhumans (especially {{mutants}} and dynahosts) crops up from time to time in various forms. In particular, a major StoryArc set in late 2007 begins when a group of heroes (and one retired villain) rescue a kidnapped Whateley student, and in the process uncover a group called The Triangle; they are a splinter off of Humanity First! who claim to be seeking peaceful co-existence with mutants, but are covertly enslaving mutants with useful powers 'for the common good'. Other instances include [[spoiler:the Loose Cannons]] getting sold to the operator of an illegal BloodSport ring, from which they then try to escape. It also seems to be ''de rigeur'' for some {{Mad Scientist}}s to kidnap superhumans for test subjects.

* ''LightNovel/GarbageBrave'' starts with this. Tsukuru's entire Home-Ec class, including himself, were summoned to an alien world and sold to various nations, based on their transmigration granted super-powers. Tsukru was dumped in a dungeon and LeftForDead because nobody [[ATragedyOfImpulsiveness stopped to consider how dangerous]] [[LethalHarmlessPowers his subskills [Igniton] and [Dismantle] are]].

* ''Series/LegendOfTheSeeker'': Renn, a young boy, can read minds. He was sold by his own (apparent) father to a [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen brutal queen]], who used his ability to ferret out people who were plotting against them, then had them [[OffWithHisHead all beheaded]], which haunts him. Then he was sold to the D'Harans for his ability. After being rescued though things look up as Renn is sent to a refuge for children with magical gifts.

* In ''LightNovel/CrestOfTheStars'', the Abh were originally [[ServantRace created to be slaves]]. Now that they have an empire of their own, they're hated.

* ''Series/TheImmortal'': Ben Richards is a race car driver whose blood contains every immunity and antibody possible, making him effectively immortal. A very rich and old man discovers this by receiving a transfusion from Richards and instantly feeling much younger and healthier. This prompts him to want to capture and imprison and effectively enslave Richards to ensure a constant supply of this (literally) life-giving substance. They even covered the point about paying Richards to frequently donate some blood, and the old man refusing by postulating that serious injury could kill Richards, thereby cutting off the supply of blood.

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': There are Old World Domain Connectors, those with a {{Transhuman}} OrganicTechnology BrainComputerInterface as well as other side effects and abilities. Akira and others live in fear of being forcibly seized by any number of MegaCorp in OneNationUnderCopyright in what would at worst consist of being made a BrainInAJar for experiments. Eventually Shirou is introduced, who has been living in a GildedCage as a PlayfulHacker agent for Sakashita. Akira is assigned to escort his convoy, which gets attacked by other companies with plans to kidnap Shirou. Shirou hatches an elaborate escape plan afterwards, with his bodyguard Halmers as well as Yanigisawa competing to reinstate or exploit him.

*** In UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}} and in the 1990s, the original alien version of [[NamesTheSame the Queen Bee]] has sometimes tried to [[AssimilationPlot transform the Leaguers into her "drones"]].

In a setting where there are MageSpecies, 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 [[MainliningTheMonster money, power and... other uses]]. [[MutantDraftBoard 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.

* ''Webcomic/TheGamer'': A constant worry and BerserkButton for Han Jee-Han, both because he's an especially tempting target, which drives his need to {{Level Grind|ing}} by putting him in near-constant danger of being abducted and used as a battery, and because "mana farms" tend to be run by the worst of the worst.

** The Red Room were [[SovietSuperscience the Soviet equivalent]]. During the Cold War, they kidnapped an eight year old Alison Carter (valuable, given that she was the secret daughter of Peggy and [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica Steve]] and a fully fledged SuperSoldier), and later do this in the ''Forever Red'' arc of the sequel, with a number of high-profile prisoners/slaves. This includes their ultimate weapon: the Red Son ([[spoiler:a reprogrammed version of Harry's BlankSlate body]]).