Line #66 Main/MutagenicGoo


1	%%%
2	%%
3	%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks!
4	%%
5	%%%
6
7	[[quoteright:340:[[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/e44318e40ef7fb0dfd18ac65fe096115.jpg]]]]
8	[[caption-width-right:340:This is why you should always use thick gloves when gardening around mutagenic ooze weeds.]]
9
10	->''"This was back in the day when science goo could just do anything! You could make up the most absurd reasoning, that has no scientific logic, but it's ''science goo!'' So it flies."''
11	-->-- '''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic''' on ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles''
12
13	This is any liquid/slime/sludge form of AppliedPhlebotinum that causes living creatures that touch it to somehow [[{{Mutants}} mutate]] or transform into... [[BodyHorror something else]]. Occasionally, it may need to be ingested (or injected) to take effect, but in most cases it can be easily absorbed through the victim's skin -- their own LegoGenetics will take care of the rest.
14
15	The goo comes in many forms -- it may be [[ToxicWasteCanDoAnything nuclear waste]], some form of [[FaceFullOfAlienWingWong alien bodily fluid]], mud from a [[SwampsAreEvil cursed swamp]], or contaminated water carrying TheVirus. Once mutated, sometimes the characters/monsters become RadiationImmuneMutants in relation to the mutagen, though not always, and repeated exposure can prove increasingly harmful.
16
17	Common results include BodyHorror, {{Painful Transformation}}s, and {{Lovecraftian Superpower}}s. However, it's also a fairly common backstory for non-{{Squick}}y [[JustForFun/HowToGiveACharacterSuperpowers superheroes]].
18
19	Differs from SuperSerum in that the effects of this are usually unexpected and nearly always [[IJustWantToBeNormal unwanted]]. Likely to be either OminousObsidianOoze or a TechnicolorToxin.
20
21	----
22	!!Examples
23
24	[[foldercontrol]]
25
26	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
27	* In ''Anime/KemonoFriends'', this role is accomplished by the "Sand Star", a mysterious substance that turns regular animals into the humanoid Friends. It can also change the Biomes of a given region [[spoiler:and turns inorganic matter into the antagonistic Ceruleans]].
28	* ''Manga/OnePiece'': Caesar Clown attempted to create artificial [[{{Animorphism}} Zoan Devil Fruits]] by combining animal DNA with a special plant. Their [[LovecraftianSuperpower "power"]] manifest, if at all, as incredibly random animal parts that may be misshaped, misplaced, and/or have a mind of their own.
29	[[/folder]]
30
31	[[folder:Comic Books]]
32	* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'': Alan Craig was fleeing from gangsters near Romyen Falls when he found a cave with a giant glob of floating silver inside. Touching it instantly [[EmpoweredBadassNormal revitalized his body]], and he eventually becomes the legendary hero known as the [[TheCape Silver Agent]].
33	* In Issue 7 of ''ComicBook/InvaderZimOni'', Zim's Voot Cruiser crashes on a lifeless planet. [[HandWave Somehow]], its spilled fuel mixes with the planet's core and creates a primordial ooze that causes rapid evolution in anything that is exposed to it.
34	* In ''ComicBook/TheUltraverse'', DirtyCop Frank Hoag is killed in an explosion that showers him in chemicals before his body is dumped in the sewers. The combination of the chemicals and the sewage cause him to transform into the monstrous Sludge.
35	* ''ComicBook/{{Venom}}'': The symbiotes are amorphous parasitic extraterrestrials that bond to a host, sometimes simply covering their bodies and other times transforming them into often-predatory monsters.
36	[[/folder]]
37
38	[[folder:Film -- Animated]]
39	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie'', a squirrel is mutated in Lake Springfield after Homer dumps an overflowing silo filled with pig excrement into the lake, causing it to become highly toxic. When chased into the lake by a raccoon, the squirrel emerges as a multi-eyed squirrel mutant.
40	[[/folder]]
41
42	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
43	* The "bio-fuel" from ''Film/District9'' that [[spoiler:turns Wikus into a prawn]].
44	* In ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'' and ''Film/TheMatrixRevolutions'', Agent Smith has the ability to [[CloneByConversion transform a person into a copy of himself]]. The transformation process involves a black substance covering the victim's body; once the entire body is covered, the person is converted into an Agent Smith clone.
45	* The black goo from ''Film/{{Prometheus}}'', codenamed Chemical A0-3959X.91 – 15. It's a particularly nasty and virulent version, a bio-weapon made up of millions of small micro-organisms, and it's strongly implied that [[spoiler:[[FromASingleCell even a drop of the stuff]] would quickly turn a habitable ecosystem into a DeathWorld populated by rapidly evolving flesh-eating nasties, ravenous mutants, and nightmarish parasites]]. Sure enough, [[spoiler:over the course of the film, it mutates an indigenous earthworm into a foot-long cobra-like parasite with acid for blood, Geologist Fifield into an extremely strong, resilient and aggressive space-zombie, and a sort-of proto-xenomorph]]. In ''Film/AlienCovenant'', [[spoiler:David uses it to wipe out the ecosystem of an Engineer-colonized planet and experiments with it to create the Xenomorphs]].
46	* The Ooze from ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIITheSecretOfTheOoze'', which, according to Professor Perry, was [[FreakLabAccident an unknown mixture of discarded chemicals that was accidentally exposed to a series of radiative waves]].
47	[[/folder]]
48
49	[[folder:Literature]]
50	* ''Literature/NightmareHour'': The titular "Alien Candy" is a bizarre fudge-like sweet that seemingly transforms kids into aliens, yet oddly leaves their newly elected club president unaffected. [[spoiler:The stuff really just gives them an excuse to shed their human disguises so that they can entrap and eat the new kid.]]
51	* In a fantasy version, the river Metamorphia from ''Literature/TheTravellerInBlack'' transforms anything, living or dead, that falls into it into something random, bizarre, and unsightly. The outcome for a beautiful young woman who succumbs to this effect is not described, but whatever ''used'' to be her can be heard sobbing a lot.
52	[[/folder]]
53
54	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
55	* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
56	** The slime oozing from the drillhead in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS7E4Inferno Inferno]]", which turns humans into Primords.
57	** The slime produced by the Wirrn in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS12E2TheArkInSpace The Ark in Space]]", which turns humans into Wirrn.
58	** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS24E3DeltaAndTheBannermen Delta and the Bannermen]]", even Chimeron ''baby food'' turns a regular guy/love interest into a Chimeron... which, fortunately, was the outcome besotted young Billy was hoping for.
59	* The titular heroine of ''Series/TheSecretWorldOfAlexMack'' gains her powers when she is accidentally splashed with toxic waste.
60	* The so-called 'black oil' from ''Series/TheXFiles'': a sentient alien virus that lives in petroleum deposits. It infects humanoids, taking control of their bodies, and is capable of changing their physiology which is apparently how the alien antagonists of the show reproduce themselves. It can transfer from one host to another and protect itself by emitting lethal doses of radiation.
61	[[/folder]]
62
63	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
64	* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' has the Phyrexian oil that kickstarted the Phyrexian invasion of Mirrodin. [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke Experiment Kraj]] and the rest of the Simic Combine might also qualify, with their [[AppliedPhlebotinum cytoplasts]].
65	* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'': Warpstone, the solidified substance of pure [[EntropyAndChaosMagic Chaos]], inflicts permanent random {{muta\|nts}}tions on anyone who touches it.
66	[[/folder]]
67
68	[[folder:Toys]]
69	* Various substances in ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' induce this effect:
70	** Energized Protodermis is either this or an AcidPool, depending on whether you are destined to transform or not. It transformed the Toa Mata into Toa Nuva, Gaardus into a sort of [[MultiArmedAndDangerous multi-armed monster]] and temporarily merged [[TheHero Takanuva]] and [[BigBad Makuta]] into one being called Takutanuva. It was also used as a cure for the mind control induced by the Piraka’s Zamor Spheres, which actually contained a bit of Makuta’s essence.
71	** Pit Mutagen will induce mutations that vary from species to species (on the Barraki, it had the effect of transforming them into FishPeople, whereas the Makuta Mistika experienced ShapeshifterModeLock upon exposure). The Piraka lost most of their bodies and became snakelike creatures, Brutaka was only subtly affected by it, and the Mahri Nui Matoran actually experienced a positive change (temporary exposure undid many of Karzahni's modifications).
72	** Hordika Venom will turn sentient beings into BeastMen, and make Rahi more vicious and deadly. Spending too long in a mutated state induces madness and a full mental regression, as shown with the dark hunter Savage.
73	** Roodaka’s Rhotuka Spinner causes mutations determined by the user, and was used to mutate [[WasOnceAMan Nidhiki]] into an insectoid monster as well as the Toa Hagah into the Rahaga.
74	** While never fully explored, the Bohrok-Kal and Kraata-Kal were mutated through exposure to some mutagenic substance.
75	** Miserix's mask of mutation can also induce transformations.
76	* The backstory for ''WesternAnimation/HeroesOfGooJitZu'' is that a meteor carrying ooze mutated a bunch of zoo animals into humanoid forms with RubberMan powers.
77	[[/folder]]
78
79	[[folder:Video Games]]
80	* ''VideoGame/{{Changed}}'' is all about this. A cure was created to combat [[ThePlague the pale virus]], and it transforms people into anthropomorphic animals made out of the substance that transformed them.
81	* The Potion of Mutation in ''VideoGame/DungeonCrawl''. Might be a good mutation, might be bad.
82	* ''Franchise/{{Fallout}}'':
83	** The FEV (Forced Evolutionary Virus) is first encountered as vats of green ooze, though an airborne variant also exists.
84	** In a milder example from ''VideoGame/Fallout2'', walking through toxic waste without protective footwear will cause the player character to grow an [[ExtraDigits extra toe]].
85	* In ''VideoGame/{{Geneforge}}'', the content of canisters and [[spoiler:Geneforges]] are most often blue or green, other times ochre or magenta, but always gooey and a catalyst for mutation.
86	* ''VideoGame/{{IMGCM}}'': [[spoiler:Tobio's RemoteBody Omnis is created by a strange black liquid that transforms {{magical girl}}s into stronger forms called [[DarkIsNotEvil "Beast Forms"]]. [[PowerUpFullColorChange Their bodies (except for their eyes) turn black and white]] and their magical weapons become black and crystallized, causing them to somewhat look like demons. Noticeably, despite appearances they aren't corrupted into demons; they're still able to think, fight, and act like normal humans. This AppliedPhlebotinum first appears in the climax chapters of the 2nd Arc of the main story, and the 3rd Arc will explore more about the liquid and what the Beast Forms of the 12 heroines look like, as seen in this official [[https://imgur.com/a/0fuVd8Z teaser]]. This in-game upgrade system was implemented at the end of June 2021.]]
87	* Dark Eco acts like this in ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxterThePrecursorLegacy.'' Daxter gets transformed into an Ottsel when he falls into it, and it's suggested the same would happen to Jak if he fell in himself(in-game, no transformation is seen, and pools of Dark Eco are effectively treated as SpikesOfDoom, and Jak simply vanishes into dark sparkles).
88	* One form of [[GreenRocks Phazon]] in the ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'' is like this. Other times it appears as crystals. The mutations it causes appear to be due to long-term exposure to a type of radiation it emits.
89	* The Mad Lab dungeon in ''VideoGame/RealmOfTheMadGod'' contains pools of green slime that turn your character into a random pet that cannot attack until you step into a pool of blue goo.
90	* ''VideoGame/RogueStormers'' has the Goop, an oil-like, black, oozing substance that horribly mutates living beings [[AppliedPhlebotinum in addition to powering]] DieselPunk tech.
91	* ''VideoGame/SeriousSamsBogusDetour'': [[EvilInc The Mental-Altani Corporation]] is testing a strange, green liquid called the "Ooze" on Earth's flora and fauna, originally created by the Zorgs as a potential cure for their... [[BodyHorror skin(less) condition]]. This chemical mutates almost everything that it touches, transforming plants and otherwise harmless animals into deadly predators that attack all non-mutated life. Even the chemical itself is able to come to life in the form of small orbs called "Ooze Spawn", which die quickly after being released from Ooze containers. If [[PlayerCharacter Sam]] or other non-mutated enemies step into puddles or are touched by Ooze Spawn, they will suffer a poison effect for a few seconds.
92	* Structure Gel from ''VideoGame/{{SOMA}}'' is a black, slimy chemical that's a fantastically efficient conductor when used on machines -- and also happens to have mutagenic properties that transformed the majority of the PATHOS-II staff into horrible [[BodyHorror biomechanical monsters]].
93	* In ''VideoGame/SouthParkTheStickOfTruth'', the alien goo turns anyone who touches it into a Nazi zombie, complete with the voice of UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler. Clyde, however, thinks that it's Taco Bell Green Sauce and refuses to be convinced otherwise.
94	* ''VideoGame/SpaceQuestVTheNextMutation'' has Primordial Soup, which was created in a bacteriological experiment gone catastrophically wrong. Infected humans become "Pukoids", who attempt to transmit TheVirus to others by vomiting on them.
95	* ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'': The Shimmer, a lavender-coloured liquid located within the Aether mini-biome, is a somewhat more fantasy take on this, but it still fits this trope, considering that any critters that fall into it become fairy-like faelings, it can change the appearances of town [=NPC=]s and can change certain items into different ones. If the player themselves get submerged in Shimmer, they'll be inflicted with the "Shimmering" debuff, which causes them to start phasing through blocks until they reach an opening.
96	[[/folder]]
97
98	[[folder:Webcomics]]
99	* In [[http://www.sinfest.net/view.php?date=2004-09-24 this]] strip of ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'', Slick bolts from a {{mutant\|s}} creature emerging from a toxic waste pit.
100	* X-Acid from ''Webcomic/ToonatopiaTheAnimationInitiation'' causes the existence of reboots. Characters who are shown to have ingested it take on DarkerAndEdgier looks, poking fun at grittier TotallyRadical reboots like ''WesternAnimation/LoonaticsUnleashed''. WordOfGod says that the effects of X-Acid change depending on what's currently trending in animation.
101	* ''Webcomic/WastedAway'' has large pools of this nasty stuff dotting the landscape. Sometimes cats like to get high off it, but falling in can do strange things -- it turns Gerald and Ez into a massive creature with huge claws, and turns Radon green.
102	* ''Webcomic/{{Wurr}}'' has the Black Touch, found throughout the crater; its effects on an entirely normal dog haven't yet been shown, but given that it can make the already-mutated hounds even more so, it likely wouldn't be pretty.
103	[[/folder]]
104
105	[[folder:Websites]]
106	* ''Website/{{Fenspace}}'': Handwavium has this effect on living tissue; being turned into a CatGirl is one of the ''less'' weird things it can do to you if you aren't careful.
107	[[/folder]]
108
109	[[folder:Web Videos]]
110	* The plot of ''WebVideo/TheCartoonMan'' is set in motion by a jar of black ink "fermented from the ash of the Fires of Flemsigrad" by occultist animator Oswald Sherzikien. It causes anyone who comes into contact with it to transform into a crazy human cartoon character.
111	* ''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic'' also provides an example in the same review that the page quote comes from when he combines what he calls science goo and a jar of Philadelphia cream cheese; and it turns into a 12" talking Dennis Miller doll.
112	[[/folder]]
113
114	[[folder:Western Animation]]
115	* Victor Veloci was fond of this in ''WesternAnimation/DinoSquad''. It turned regular animals into prehistoric mutants and when the titular group of kids were exposed, they gained the power to turn into dinosaurs.
116	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' has a mutagenic lake in the [[AbsurdlySpaciousSewer sewers]] of New New York. It turns rats into flying fish-pigs, and a purple octopus living there claimed to have once been a little blonde girl named Virginia. [[RadiationImmuneMutants Sewer mutants are immune]], and so use the lake as a punishment against offensive outsiders.
117	* In ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'', the minor villain Gill, once a camper who went swimming in a toxic lake that caused him to change into a {{fish\|People}}/{{frog\|Men}} mutant, is able to excrete slimy muck that mutates those who come into contact with it after enough time.
118	* ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'':
119	** The Ooze that transformed the Turtles from regular turtles into the awesome ninjas we all know is probably the TropeCodifier. A common threat in ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987'' is ''Retro''-Mutagen Ooze, which Shredder and other villains try to use to turn the turtles back into their regular non-mutated selves. The general logic is that it [[LegoGenetics hybridizes a specimen]] with the DNA of whatever organism it was previously in contact with. Generally, this ends being strictly animal-human interactions, so either one ends up mutating into anthropomorphic animals. Some series depict experiments with the ooze's mutagenic effects, granting other powers along with being superhuman anthropomorphic mutants.
120	** ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' features ooze that's a bit different than usual from the franchise, as it's [[DoingInTheScientist actually magical]], and specifically turns people into {{Youkai}}. [[spoiler:The series finale [[DoingInTheWizard possibly undoes this interpretation, as the ooze is revealed to be coming from an Utrom's artifact]].]]
121	[[/folder]]
122

Context Main / MutagenicGoo