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[[quoteright:350:[[TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mad-scientist2_mtg-lab-maniac_3244.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:And this is [[MundaneUtility just how he toasts sandwiches.]]]]

->''"So much has been done -- more, far more, will I achieve: treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation..."''
-->-- '''[[TropeCodifier Victor Frankenstein]]''', ''Literature/{{Frankenstein}}''

The ScienceHero was once a staple of adventure fiction, overcoming the EvilSorcerer and awing the superstitious natives with the power of Science! But somewhere between the invention of the Gatling gun and the atomic bomb, fiction-creators [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed the archetype]] to create a new kind of villain: a villain who believes that the conventional scientific community are [[YouFool fools]]! Needlessly constrained by their petty "morals" and their self-limiting "logic"!

The Mad Scientist fulfills many needs for a story's creator, allowing the Scientist to fit into a wide range of stories. This is a mentally unsound type which allows the story's creator to cover a weak motive or BondVillainStupidity with a HandWave. This also helps the creator of the story explain [[EvidenceDungeon why mad scientists kept all their incriminating records]] and yet [[NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup don't have a duplicate monster or at least a blueprint lying around]]. Secondly, they're scientists, which in fiction means they can [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands invent whatever strange device the plot requires]]. Thirdly, their insistence on weird experiments gives them artistic license to invent those devices. And lastly, a mad scientist is almost certain to violate the ScaleOfScientificSins: expect AnAesop (even if it's [[FantasticAesop a preposterous one]]).

The Mad Scientist accumulates certain tropes effortlessly. GadgeteerGenius and the MadScientistLaboratory ([[PretentiousPronunciation or]] "la-''bore''-a-tory") are almost obligatory, the scientist’s conversation is likely to include the phrases ForScience and TheyCalledMeMad, and the LabcoatOfScienceAndMedicine (classically, the Howie-style lab coat that buttons diagonally across the chest and has a Mandarin collar) can be expected. Most Mad Scientists are [[LargeHam Large Hams]]: some employ SesquipedalianLoquacity, while others specialize in the EvilLaugh.

Mad Scientists tend to be freely interdisciplinary -- often {{omnidisciplinary|Scientist}} -- but some fields of science are especially well-represented.
* '''Mad Biologists''' trespass in God's domain, meddling with the bodies of the dead, the genetic makeup of their subjects and the very fabric of life to create [[BioweaponBeast horrific monsters]], {{Super Soldier}}s and misguided attempts at immortality (often defined misguided because the plot says so, or otherwise because they work very, very badly). Inevitably, some or all of their creations will break free and either destroy them or go on a directionless rampage; sometimes, the Mad Biologist will set them free himself, either for revenge or just as a field test. In modern works, they often expand their research to [[SyntheticPlague fiddling with super-plagues]].
* '''Mad Chemists''' are in many ways descended from sketchy alchemists of earlier eras. They often overlap with Mad Biologists to some degree, but tend to lean towards creating {{Super Serum}}s and deadly toxins, usually either to sell to government programs or to hold a city hostage with by threatening to dump their creations into the water supply. Their laboratories are often richly adorned with GratuitousLaboratoryFlasks.
* '''Mad Engineers''' work with machinery first and foremost, creating {{Killer Robot}}s, {{Death Ray}}s, {{Doomsday Device}}s, armed vehicles of every sort, and occasionally even something practical. They often have an excellent working relationship with evil generals, warlords, and unscrupulous governments, making endless reams of weaponry for employers who don't generally care about petty things like "collateral damage", "moderation", or "war crimes".

!!Common Mad Scientist archetypes include:
* AbsentMindedProfessor: A scientist who tends to get lost in thought and not pay much attention to their surroundings.
* DrFrankenstein: Victor Frankenstein himself, who created a patchwork creature in the Mary Shelley novel.
* DrFakenstein: A mad scientist whose name is clearly a reference to Victor Frankenstein from ''Literature/{{Frankenstein}}''.
* EvilutionaryBiologist: The mad scientist's experiment involves improving the human race on his terms.
* FateOfTheFrankensteins: A mad scientist who happens to be descended from Victor Frankenstein.
* HerrDoktor: Mad scientists tend to talk in thick German or Austrian accents.
* MakerOfMonsters: Mad scientists who favor biology tend to specialize in creating large, aggressive and poorly controllable creatures.
* MrExposition: A mad scientist is a very common form taken by a character who serves to explain plot details to the other characters.
* MrFixit: If the mad scientist's main area of expertise is technology, expect them to be a whiz at repairing broken machinery.
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: A scientist who is knowledgeable in every form of science that the plot requires.
* ProfessorGuineaPig: Mad scientist often use themselves as test subjects.
* RobotMaster: Mad scientists with a head for robotics often make heavy use of mechanical minions for their plots.
* SoleSurvivingScientist: In a post-apocalyptic setting, there is one scientist left alive who tries to undo the damages done to society, but isn't exactly right in the head.

!!Common Mad Scientist creations include:
* AppliedPhlebotinum
* BioweaponBeast
* DeathRay: A ray gun designed to instantly kill people.
* DoomsdayDevice: An invention created solely to cause astronomical death and destruction.
* FrankensteinsMonster: The mad scientist creates an artificial being that commonly takes the form of a hulking brute stitched together from dismembered corpses.
* GeneticAbomination
* HumongousMecha: The mad scientist builds a giant robot.
* KillerRobot: Whoever would invent an automaton designed to kill people probably wouldn't be of sound mind.
* KillSat: A satellite armed with a powerful weapon.
* MonsterOfTheWeek: One-shot monsters are likely to be the result of a mad scientist's experiment.
* TimeMachine: The scientist creates a machine that enables people to travel through time.
* WaveMotionGun

!!Other common tropes include:
* AboveGoodAndEvil: Mad scientists will likely consider the importance of their research to outweigh such tawdry concepts as morals and ethics.
* BaldOfEvil
* ColdBloodedTorture: Some experiments these kinds of scientists do amount to torture.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Circa The80s, the classic "mad scientist" and "corrupt businessman" have increasingly merged, with many of these characters established to have built a successful business on their brilliant inventions.
* CreatingLife: Near the top of the ScaleOfScientificSins, and one of the most common experiments prone to [[GoneHorriblyWrong go horribly wrong]].
* CutLexLuthorACheck: Many mad geniuses are [[YouCouldHaveUsedYourPowersForGood stated to be able to use their genius]] to benefit society, but ultimately decide not to.
* EinsteinHair: Nothing says "mad scientist" quite like having hair like Albert Einstein.
* GoneHorriblyWrong: Inevitably, a mad scientist's creations will backfire disastrously.
* HollywoodHacking: Modern mad scientists have the capabilities of exploiting the technologies for their own causes among other reasons.
* TheIgor: Mad scientists often have a hunchback or deformed dwarf as an assistant.
* KidnappedForExperimentation: Mad scientists need test subjects, after all! They won't let something like "laws" or "ethics" stop them!
* TheMadnessPlace: Mad scientists often lapse into hyper-productive fugue states when working.
* MadScienceFair: Where all manner of Mad Scientist gather to showcase their various creations.
* MadScientistLaboratory: The place where the mad science usually happens.
* MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter
* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate: Mad scientists are frequently villainous in nature.
* PlayingWithSyringes: Some of the viler mad scientists like to subject others to horrific experimentation.
* ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder: The trappings of science portrayed as a psychological compulsion.
* TheSparkOfGenius: Some scientists' madness is strong enough to warp reality.
* TechnoBabble: Mad scientists' explanations of their works often lapse into incomprehensible jargon.
* TheyCalledMeMad: It is very common for a mad scientist to go on a rant about how they were mocked for their ideas by their peers, especially when in the process of starting their experiment or unleashing their creation upon the world.
* TurnedAgainstTheirMasters: Inevitably, a mad scientist's creations will turn on their maker.

An [[ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder increasingly common take]] on this trope is that Mad Science is a [[CursedWithAwesome dangerous superpower]] or even a ''[[ChronicVillainy mental disorder]]'', either hereditary in which case the afflicted may come from a [[InTheBlood long line]] of mad scientists, or transmissible through [[InfectiousInsanity contagious ideas]] or [[GoMadFromTheRevelation experiences]].

At times scientists will show signs of madness, but remain at least loosely allied with the heroes. In this case they may be [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} somewhat demented]] [[TheSmartGuy smart guys]], ''extremely'' {{Eccentric Mentor}}s, {{Conspiracy Theorist}}s, [[TheProfessor Professors]], {{Playful Hacker}}s, {{Psycho Sidekick}}s, {{Innocent Prodig|y}}ies, {{Genius Ditz}}es, {{Misfit Lab Rat}}s or even {{Demolitions Expert}}s. [[AntiHero These 'tamed']] [[ChaoticGood mad scientists]] [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass are emphatically not 'safer' than their diabolical brethren]]. If otherwise-(mostly) sane scientists start behaving crazily while they're in the throes of creativity, they're visiting TheMadnessPlace.

If a work has several Mad Scientists, you can expect them to be distinguished by their particular field of interest. While the classic Mad Scientist relies on electronic or mechanical engineering (such as the RobotMaster), there are others who become an EvilutionaryBiologist, PsychoPsychologist, SociopathicSoldier, EcoTerrorist, MadBomber, TechBro or even TheCracker. And all of the above and more can likely be found at the local MadScienceFair, eagerly showing off their latest crimes against nature.

If a scientist ''wants'' to concentrate on ordinary science but is being coerced into producing terrible things, they may be a ReluctantMadScientist or even a KidnappedScientist. A mad scientist with good intentions, publicly or not, can end up being a WellIntentionedExtremist.

----
!! Example subpages:
[[index]]
* MadScientist/AnimeAndManga
* MadScientist/ComicBooks
* MadScientist/FanWorks
* [[MadScientist/LiveActionFilms Film - Live Action]]
* MadScientist/{{Literature}}
* MadScientist/LiveActionTV
* MadScientist/TabletopGames
* MadScientist/VideoGames
* MadScientist/{{Webcomics}}
* MadScientist/WesternAnimation
* MadScientist/RealLife
[[/index]]

!!Other examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Advertisement]]
* Bones in the Advertising/BonesCoffee flavor "[[https://www.bonescoffee.com/products/bones-coffee-companys-high-voltage-2x-caffeine High Voltage]]" is dressed in a LabcoatOfScienceAndMedicine and is surrounded by GratuitousLaboratoryFlasks in a MadScientistLaboratory.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Audio Plays]]
* ''AudioPlay/TheDollsOfNewAlbion'' features Annabelle [=McAlistair=] who's raising up the dead. She brings her school crush Jasper back to life. [[spoiler:It turns out he didn't want to be brought back to life and she destroys the Doll.]]
* ''AudioPlay/JanTenner'':
** Recurring BigBad Zweistein is a genius scientist who [[MakerOfMonsters creates monsters and mutants]] and builds robots to take over the world, later the entire universe. His nickname is literally "the mad scientist".
** Considering Dr. Brain created vicious anthropomorphic animals as servants and later enlarged his own brain to absorb the world, he certainly qualifies.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Card Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'': This is a common archetype of Blue-aligned characters, due to the color's association with magic, technology and insanity. This is especially often the case for characters aligned with both Blue and Red (the color of destructive natural phenomena and chaos, a combination that tends to produce mad scientists focused on explosions and unstable technology) or Green (the color of nature and living things, producing a focus on monsters and "perfect lifeforms").
** Ravnica has two guilds who wear different versions of this trope as their hat, the Red/Blue Izzet League and the Green/Blue Simic Combine.
*** The Izzet are {{CloudCuckoolander}}s who do '''Science''' ForTheLulz, and favor very creatively applied {{Magitek}}, which tends to be [[http://magiccards.info/rtr/en/103.html very prone to exploding]]. Their leader, Niv-Mizzet, is a ''dragon'' mad scientist.
*** The Simic are driven visionaries and {{Evilutionary Biologist}}s who're in it [[JustThinkOfThePotential for the potential]] and specialize in [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke bio-sculpting]], which they use to "improve" the living things of Ravnica.
** Innistrad, as part of its gothic horror theme, houses a lot of direct Frankenstein expies dabbling in the creation of monsters, usually by sitiching corpses together. Named examples include the visionary [[https://scryfall.com/card/c16/37/ludevic-necro-alchemist Ludevic]], one of Innistrad's most talented monster-makers, and [[https://scryfall.com/card/c14/17/stitcher-geralf Stitcher Geralf]]. Also, we have [[https://scryfall.com/card/uma/61/laboratory-maniac Laboratory Maniac]], who takes the "mad" part more literally than most; in terms of flavor, your library represents your magical knowledge, and running out of cards in your library causes you to lose because you've lost your mind, but the Maniac's ability makes it so that running out of library cards causes you to win instead, so you win by going insane.
** Many of the New Phyrexians can also be described as this -- their entire goal is the "compleation" of all living beings, which can be summarized as CyberneticsEatYourSoul for the [[BodyHorror entire body]]. The best example is probably [[https://scryfall.com/card/ima/62/jin-gitaxias-core-augur Jin-Gitaxias]], leader of the Blue faction.
** The Saiba Futurists of [[{{Cyberpunk}} Kamigawa]] are a somewhat more restrained take on this trope. They ''do'' [[CutLexLuthorACheck ultimately want to improve the plane's overall tech level]], meaning they at least have a motivation to refine their inventions to the point that they are relatively safe and useable. That said, the process of getting those inventions off the ground often requires bending of ethical lines, including kidnapping [[OurSpiritsAreDifferent Kami]] and other supernatural beings [[TheyWouldCutYouUp for experimentation]], making deals with [[EldritchAbomination reality-shattering dark Kami]], and using CyberNinja to sew discord among other factions to keep their attention off the Futurists' sketchier projects.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Mwahahaha}}'' is a "card game of mad scientists and [[TakeOverTheWorld global domination]]".
* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'':
** [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Kozaky Kozaky]] and [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Magical_Scientist Magical Scientist]], two monsters fit this trope. Kozaky isn't a very useful card unless you're using a Human Wave Deck, and Magical Scientist is an illegal card (due to a notorious OneHitKill strategy it can use with Catapult Turtle); however, both monsters are featured on the artwork on many Spell and Trap Cards, suggesting that they were involved in the creation of many things in the game that only a Mad Scientist could think up, such as the Koa'ki Meirus.
** [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Cyborg_Doctor Cyborg Doctor]] seems to fit the bill too, if his appearance is any suggestion, although his effect doesn't seem all-too sinister.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Strips]]
* Lots of them appear in ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide''.
** There's one strip with a woman telling her friend the story of why her husband is now a half-fly, half-human monster. Outside their home's window is the entrance to a gothic castle.
--->"So George says 'I'm going over there and telling that guy to shut that equipment off!' So I said: 'George, that guy's a mad scientist. Call the cops. Don't go over there alone.' Well, you know what George did. "
** Another depicts one in the middle of "[[WritersBlock mad scientist's block]]".
** Dr. Frankenstein himself (or the Hollywood version at least) appears quite regularly, usually with TheIgor and/or FrankensteinsMonster. One memorable cartoon has him and Igor stuck inside the house on a rainy day, with their mother suggesting they should go downstairs and build a monster to pass the time.
* German comic ''ComicStrip/NickKnatterton'' once had Professor Bartap, who invents a shaving foam which is also a very effective explosive. Unintentionally. (Comedic version, definitely.)
* Samantha Argus of ''ComicStrip/SafeHavens'' is a personable, enthusiastic grad student who has unlocked the genetic code. She has the power to transform practically any living creature.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker'': Traditionally, the Joker restrains himself to [[MasterPoisoner toxicology]] (his Joker Venom) and mechanical engineering ({{Death Trap}}s, {{Electric Joybuzzer}}s, etc.), but in the movie he graduates to highly advanced genetics and computer programming, to the extent of [[spoiler:making Tim Drake a CloneByConversion]].
-->'''Joker:''' Beneath this puckish exterior lies the mind of a genius years ahead of my time. [[spoiler:In the weeks young Robin [[WouldHurtAChild was under my tutelage]], I used him as the subject of my greatest experiment.]] Using cutting-edge genetics technology which I pinched here and there, I encoded my DNA in a microchip and [[spoiler:set it in Bird-Boy's birdbrain]].
* ''Franchise/DespicableMe'': Dr. Nefario; Gru does some work too, though.
* Victor Frankenstein from ''WesternAnimation/{{Frankenweenie}}'' [[spoiler:and the other kids who resurrect their pets]]. {{Subverted|Trope}} with the science teacher, who just has [[DiggingYourselfDeeper a very poor way of explaining himself]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Igor}}'', mad scientists are like rock stars, and one of the most well known is Dr Schadenfreude. In a subversion, Schadenfreude is actually a fraud (no pun intended). He doesn't have the brains to be an actual Mad Scientist, so he instead uses his FemmeFatale girlfriend to steal other scientists' inventions and claim them as his own. The titular character wants to be a Mad Scientist himself, but Igors are forbidden from doing anything on their own lest they be "[[HumanResources recycled]]". So far, his successes include keeping a functional BrainInAJar (who can't spell "Brain" right) and making an intelligent rodent immortal, while also giving him a death wish.
* The professor from ''WesternAnimation/TheIllusionauts''. Bonus points for having [[Creator/ChristopherLloyd Doc Brown]] to provide the voice.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1'':
** Syndrome [[spoiler:created [[JetPack rocket boots]] before he hit puberty, as part of a youthful desire to become a crime-fighter. However, when his hero told him to back off,]] he spent more than a decade plotting against all the heroes-in-hiding and [[HeroKiller killing them off one by one]]. His ultimate goal [[spoiler:is to sell his inventions for profit to make superheroes obsolete, ''after'' he'll grow bored of being a "superhero"]]. His hair wasn't the only thing about him that was loco.
** Edna Mode, the GadgeteerGenius who the heroes turn to when they need a fashionable skintight costume that's also bombproof, laser-resistant and machine washable, is of the 'tame' variety and specializes in textile engineering.
* Strangely enough, all actual villains in ''WesternAnimation/Incredibles2'' are mad scientists. The Underminer has a super-drill that digs through rock at high speed and prosthetic limbs with enhanced strength, while the Screenslaver hypnotizes others through remotely hacked screens with very fine control of the actions of the victim. Both have a level of technology at least several decades ahead of the movie's setting.
* Dr. Jumba Jookiba from ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch'' (although he prefers to be called an "EvilGenius"). Actually, his trial is what got the movie going.
* The title alien in ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'' tries to engage in villainy by being a mad scientist, but despite his incredible gadgetry his attempt is more style than substance.
* The scientist from the original movie ''Film/TheFly1958'' was the inspiration for Dr. Cockroach in ''WesternAnimation/MonstersVsAliens''. Despite what he did to himself, and his lack of mental stability, he is a fairly amicable guy, and is actually one of the good guys.
-->''"I'm not a quack, I'm a mad scientist!"''
* Dr. Finklestein from ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'', Halloweentown's resident wheelchair-bound evil genius. Asides from being the creator of Sally, he also animated reindeer skeletons to pull Jack's sleigh [[spoiler:and constructed his own wife to replace Sally]].
* Played for laughs in ''WesternAnimation/PAWPatrolTheMightyMovie''. Victoria is an obvious mad scientist, but she keeps denying the fact. Even ''Humdinger'', the villain from the [[WesternAnimation/PAWPatrol main series]] calls her out on it. She finally admits it, as put by Liberty, by the end of the movie.
* The main villain of the ''WesternAnimation/TeachersPet'' FinaleMovie is a mad scientist named Dr. Ivan Krank, who desires to turn animals into human beings to disprove everyone's assertions that he is a "wacko", even when his initial attempts on an alligator and a mosquito have only resulted in grotesque mutant hybrids. Spot turns to him in hopes that he will help him achieve his desire to become a human boy. While Spot proves to be the first successful human transformation, Dr. Krank transforms him into a human adult rather than a boy and spends the rest of the movie trying to capture Spot when he escapes his lab.
* Charles Muntz in ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}'', who made the dogs' collars.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* Both of the scientists in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD4azjx6mbE Project "Ma"]] are this
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eYAKofgVIM Full Moon Laboratory.]]
* Music/DoctorSteel is a steampunk themed industrial musician whose look consists of a shaved head, [[BeardOfEvil pointy beard]], vintage welding goggles and a mad scientist lab coat.
* The Music/AbneyPark song "The Secret Life of Dr Calgori" is about a Mad Scientist.
* The [[Music/TheyMightBeGiants Mono Puff]] song "Poison Flowers" is about a young would-be mad scientist lamenting the beginning of the school year as he will no longer have time to build bombs and {{death ray}}s, or to write manifestos.
* Music/JonathanCoulton has at least two: "The Future Soon", about a socially rejected nerd who dreams of becoming a mad scientist in order to get revenge and conquer the world. The other is "Skullcrusher Mountain", which is from the point of view of a mad scientist talking to a woman that his [[TheIgor deformed assistant]] had kidnapped for him to woo. In particular, "Skullcrusher Mountain" is notable for for a line that flirts dangerously with [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Crowning Moment of Awesome]]:
-->''I made this half pony, half monkey monster to please you,\\
But I get the feeling that you don't like it. What's with all the screaming?\\
You like ponies. You like monkeys. Maybe you don't like monsters so much.\\
Maybe I used too many monkeys.\\
Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you?''
** "Live" has another one, a Dr. Frankenstein analogue who is trying to create the perfect woman.
* The protagonist in "Broken Bride", a RockOpera by Music/{{Ludo}}
* Professor Elemental is a [[Literature/TheIslandOfDoctorMoreau Dr. Moreau]]-like Mad Scientist in his song, "Animal Magic".
-->''The myriad wonders of nature it's true\\
Can be understood fully in my home made zoo\\
By brain swapping with my cranial cutter\\
I created my apeish butler\\
and like any explorer forging new boundaries\\
I found this astounding and took me an owl beak and wings\\
grafted to a tortoise shell\\
and now my Owltoise is doing quite well\\
No my Chimpangoat's not the prettiest of creatures\\
my Donkeypede has the silliest of features\\
my Batraffes do fly into doors\\
and my Lobsteroos don't like their claws --\\
but until you've heard the Badgermingo sing\\
or fed a tiny fish to a baby Marmoquin...\\
My dear sir or madam you've never lived,\\
it's an impressive gift -- so treasure this...''
* The ''Film/WeirdScience'' theme song by Music/OingoBoingo is about making a woman. With pot and pans apparently. And... [[WebVideo/TheSpoonyExperiment SCIENCE!!]]
* Most songs made by the [[ElectronicMusic EBM]] group Surgyn run with this theme. Bonus points for the voice clips with the [[HerrDoctor German accented mad scientist]]. They carry this to their live acts too, often dressing up to evoke a medical fetish.
%%* Project Pitchfork -- "Splice"
* The song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOFCQ2bfmHw "Monster Mash"]] by Bobby "Boris" Pickett is narrated by a mad scientist whose monster, late one evening, rises from a slab to perform a new dance, which becomes "the hit of the land" when the scientist throws a party for other monsters.
* Music/{{Helloween}}'s "Dr. Stein" is about a mad scientist who creates monsters.
* Music/{{Vocaloid}}:
** In "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMGjklPnH3E Project Distortion]]" Maika, Gumi, Yohioloid and Mayu sings a MedicalHorror, in which Yohioloid is turned into...[[WasOnceAMan something]] ForScience.
** In "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFpaJe0qV3E Puppet Master: Finest Creation]]", Luo Tianyi and Yan He sing about a man who continued to perfect her doll, [[spoiler:and it's heavily implied that the doll is her daughter]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music Videos]]
* The Music video for Music/ThomasDolby's "She Blinded Me with Science" involves several men dressed as scientist wandering around a mental institution called "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IlHgbOWj4o The Home for Deranged Scientists]]".
* Invoked in the music video for ''Music/{{Sabaton}}''[='=]s "Father." Inventor of both chemical fertilizers (by isolating ammonia, which plants crave) and chemical weaponry (by isolating chlorine, which nothing craves, and [[CruelAndUnusualDeath not only kills whatever inhales it, but hurts like hell the entire time they die]]) Fritz Haber is depicted with ScaryShinyGlasses and lit by the SicklyGreenGlow of his lab equipment as he exults in triumph while brandishing a fume-spewing test-tube and laboratory flask.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
* The mythical [[Myth/GreekMythology Greek]] inventor Daedalus may be regarded as an unbuilt predecessor to this trope, what with his artificial wing invention that melts in the sun and kills the impulsive Icarus.
* The god Hephaestus deserves a spot here thanks to his many wacky inventions, some of them fueled by his seething negative emotions, including his trap-throne, which he used to trap his mother, Hera, in revenge for throwing him out of Olympus for being an ugly baby, his trap-sofa, which he used to capture and humiliate Aphrodite and Ares in order to highlight Aphrodite's infidelity, and to further spite Ares, gave Aphrodite's daughter by Ares, Harmonia, a magic necklace cursed to bring tragedy and misfortune to its wearers, while simultaneously keeping them young and beautiful. Harmonia's necklace would have several owners, including Semele, the mother-to-be of Dionysus, and Jocasta, [[ParentalIncest mother and *cough* wife]] of [[Theatre/OedipusTheKing Oedipus]].
* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayland_the_Smith Wayland the Smith]] from Myth/NorseMythology is a rather similar inventor character. Unlike both Daedalus and Hephaestus, he is consistently depicted as evil and many of his inventions are for random acts of carnage.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pinballs]]
* One appears in ''Pinball/MonsterBash,'' working with Igor to reassemble and reawaken Frankenstein's monster.
* One of the race competitors in Creator/SternPinball's ''[[Pinball/MustangStern Mustang]]'' is a Mad Scientist, possibly as a ShoutOut to Professor Pat Pending from ''WesternAnimation/WackyRaces''.
* Dr. E. Shock of ''Pinball/StrangeScience,'' whose experiment is a FreakyFridayFlip between a teen girl and a chimpanzee.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Podcasts]]
* ''Podcast/FalloutIsDragons'' has Doctor Javolt. To be clear: Fallout is Dragons is set in the ''Fanfic/FalloutEquestria'' world, wherein the apocalypse was caused by balefire bombs and [[{{Magitek}} most technology has magic at its core]]. Javolt, on the other hand, rejects all magic and actively seeks to create non-magical technology, and apparently replaced his leg and his own ''eyes'' with non-magical cybernetic replacements after they were ripped apart in an explosion that also had an impact on his memory.
* ''Podcast/{{Treknologic}}'': Keri talks about experimenting on the crew and the genocide of all tribbles like someone would talk about the weather.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* Wrestling/KaijuBigBattel's BigBad is Dr. Cube, who was supposedly a failed Nazi experiment. He [[LargeHam revels in]] being evil and leading his [[PowerStable Posse]] of "giant city-crushing monsters." He's also a lot of KBB fans' favorite character. He also crossed over to Wrestling/{{CHIKARA}}, most notably giving Wrestling/{{UltraMantis Black}} the Eye of Tyr, a Myth/{{Norse Mytholog|y}}ical artifact that can be used to control minds. This would backfire on Mantis ''three times''.
* CHIKARA has Professor Nicodemus, a similarly hammy mad scientist and the manager of The Proteus Wheel (Volgar, Callux the Castigator and Frantik), three huge [[WrestlingMonster "science monsters"]] connected to his failed [[CloneArmy "Volgar Quotient"]], which had previously produced Wrestling/JukeJointLucasCalhoun[[note]]Who had debuted in CHIKARA in 2014 as the masked Volgar, a follower of Wrestling/JimmyJacobs in [[MatryoshkaObject The Flood]], the amalgamation of {{Heel}} groups out to destroy CHIKARA. He unmasked in 2015 and reinvented himself as a wrestling ElvisImpersonator with [[IKnowKarate Karate skills]].[[/note]] and Wrestling/JeremyLeary, who had arrived in 2016 with a {{Greaser|Delinquents}} gimmick and claiming to have "The Best Hair in Wrestling."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
* Parodied on one episode of ''{{Series/Dinosaurs}}'': a scientist on TV gives the "TheyCalledMeMad" speech before unveiling his latest creation, a giant living squash. When his assistant calls him mad, the scientist calmly agrees, adding that what made him seek revenge is that he's ''angry''-mad, not ''insane''-mad.
* Dr. Bunsen Honeydew of ''Series/TheMuppetShow''.
* ''Series/TheMrPotatoHeadShow'': Dr. Fruitcake created a Frankenstein-like ham-monster that attacked the rest of the cast, built machines that have exploded when they're supposed to be safe, and gave the other characters real weapons as props while they were doing a spy show.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Roleplay]]
* ''Roleplay/TheIslandOfDoctorMoreauRP'': Dr. Nicholas Moreau and Dr. Sabin Duvert.
* ''Roleplay/TheMadScientistWars'', uses this trope as its foundation stone. The players are all fans of the ''Webcomic/{{Narbonic}}'' and its successor, ''Webcomic/SkinHorse'' (about a government agency that cleans up after Mad Scientists), so it was only natural.
* Carina Appelbaum from v2 of ''Roleplay/OpenBlue'' worked in [[ThoseWackyNazis Seran's]] science corps. She holds a commission as [[TheCaptain a captain]], allowing her to use a ship to scour the ocean for additional 'test subjects'. She carries a HyperSpaceArsenal of mysterious vials that could contain anything from explosives to poison.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theme Parks]]
* ''The Timekeeper'' attraction at Ride/DisneyThemeParks starred a robotic one voiced by Creator/RobinWilliams.
* ''[[Ride/UniversalStudios Universal's]] Theatre/HalloweenHorrorNights'':
** The Caretaker is a surgeon-cum-mortician who started wondering what made some of his patients pass on despite his best efforts and grew obsessed with the concept of the soul, and started performing gruesome medical procedures first on the corpses from the graveyard, then on [[DisposableVagrant homeless people]] he lured in with the promise of a place to stay.
** Concept art reveals that ''Ride/TheBoneyard'' from 1994 had one doing something to (what was presumably) a corpse in one of the rooms.
* Ride/BuschGardens' Theatre/HowlOScream event had one as its very first "Icon", named "Dr. Livingsdoom".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Toys]]
* All the Makuta in ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'', especially Mutran. The Great Beings also qualify.
* The ''Doctor Dreadful'' line of toys features the eponymous doctor as its mascot, and encourages kids to become one too by using his lab toys to make the various gross food creations.
* The ''Toys/MonsterInMyPocket'' toyline had a figurine named "Mad Scientist". The original figurine was based more on [[JekyllAndHyde Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde]], but the version used in the 2006 relaunch closer fit the general archetype by depicting him as a bald, hunched over scientist in a labcoat and his bio describing him as not letting anything deter him from using his formula to take over the world.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* In ''VisualNovel/DraKoi'' there was once a mad scientist who created an ether destroying device in order to kill a dragon. This is considered a Fantasy way of fighting and thus an acceptable way of beating a dragon [[spoiler:since he destroyed the machine and killed himself afterward, which stops anyone from doing it again.]]
* In the True Ending of [=ClockUp=]'s ''Euphoria'', [[spoiler: this is what your so-called "{{Osananajimi}}" Kanae turns out to be, [[EvilGenius among]] [[BettyAndVeronicaSwitch other]] [[BitchInSheepsClothing things.]] [[ItRunsInTheFamily Oh, and so are her parents.]]]]
* Yuina Himoo of VisualNovel/TokimekiMemorial is this in training.
* In ''VisualNovel/Remember11'', the original [[spoiler:Satoru]] (the little we get to see of him anyway) had shades of this crossed with TheMenInBlack. He is much less obviously ''insane'' than most examples of this trope but definitely has a MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate, puts a heck of a lot of people in harm's way for his plot, and his inventions screw around with the [[spoiler:basic rules of the space-time continuum]]. He leaves the more obvious AxCrazy-ness to [[spoiler:his henchman and the guy who's inhabiting his original body during the main plot, Enomoto]]. But he is the cause of the core plot of the series and near-singularly obsessed with revenge against [[spoiler:the player of the game]].
* Okabe Rintaro (or [[LargeHam HOUOUIN KYOUMA!]] as he sometimes prefers to be called) of ''VisualNovel/SteinsGate'' is a self-proclaimed example, often prone to peals of EvilLaughter, bouts of paranoia, and referring to his inner circle of friends as lab members. Yet despite all of this, he can be surprisingly grounded at times, and realizes that he and his friends' dabbling in time travel and poking about a GovernmentConspiracy could land them in very hot water.
** The sequel, ''VisualNovel/SteinsGate0'', introduces a real one in [[spoiler: Alexis Leskinen]], an evil genius who willing to spark WorldWarIII if it advances his theories, and is willing to commit unethical actions such as human experimentation, brainwashing and torture to get his way.
[[/folder]]


[[folder:Web Animation]]
* Viceroy from ''WebAnimation/{{Chadam}}'' threw himself into studies from an early age and became thirsty for knowledge, and began conducting experiments on dead bodies to understand why he was so different, and began to start killing people for the sake of said experiments...only to eventually start using the living, instead.
* Judging by his voice and mannerisms, the co-host Wizard in ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'' seems to be this. And upon the release of their second Q&A video, it does happen to be the case.
* Most of the main characters in ''[[http://bogleech.com/animations.html The Fear Hole]]'' are one of these, with the exception of [[JerkAss Dan the Janitor]]. They have a tendency to be, how do you say it... [[MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate amoral.]]
* [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Twilight Sparkle]] in WebAnimation/PONYDotMOV. Her last name is eventually revealed to be [[spoiler:[[ThoseWackyNazis Mengele]]. ]]
* ''WebAnimation/OllieAndScoops'' has Dr. Toodles, a scientist cat who conducts strange experiments, lives alone in a creepy laboratory building, and has a very EvilLaugh.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Originals]]
* In ''Literature/{{Brennus}}'', these guys are calles Contrivers. [[GoneHorriblyWrong Telling them their creations don't work is a bad idea.]]
* Mandragora from ''Website/TheCrewOfTheCopperColoredCupids'' may be an alchemist (who dresses like it, torch-lit laboratory, alembics and all), but hereally acts more like a mad scientist, complete with bringing monsters back to life with cries of having unlocked [[EvilIsHammy the secret! of life! itself!]]. Pythe jokingly refers to Mandragora as "the Governor's pet mad scientist".
* The main character, her family, and a major part of the cast in ''Literature/{{Defection}}'' counts as this.
* Dr Romanoff in ''Literature/AGreyWorld'' fits the trope well, his frustration at bureaucracy of the scientific community leads him to perform secret experiments ForScience
* ''Literature/MirrorWorld'' has Syrile, a member of House Dusk who experiments on the humanoid creatures populating Inoptica to perfect the Devoiding process, and to fuel his sadism.
* ''Literature/ThePentagonWar'', which tries to be serious Hard SF, actually has a character ''[[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep named]]'' The Mad Scientist.
* ''Podcast/PretendingToBePeople'' features a few:
** Silas Cole, founder of Contention, was a brilliant inventor and a paranoid madman. His wife, Mary, also fits the bill.
** The unnamed spiky-haired scientist working for [[HumanoidAbomination Marvin Glass]] displays great skill in cybernetics and genetics.
** Francis Beans is one in training, working under the tutelage of the aforementioned spiky-haired scientist.
* ''Website/SCPFoundation'':
** Many scientists working for the SCP Foundation were portrayed like this in the early years of the SCP Wiki, at least before [[CharacterizationMarchesOn they started behaving more like actual scientists]]. Nevertheless, most of the SCPF researchers can be described as being {{Morally Ambiguous Doctor|ate}}s, given their unethical practices of forcing prison inmates called "[[CannonFodder D-class personnel]]" to serve as [[TestedOnHumans test subjects in experiments with a wide variety of dangerous paranormal objects]], often not caring about whatever nasty effects happen to the D-classes.
** Dr. Jack Bright may be the maddest of all the SCPF's scientists, if [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/the-things-dr-bright-is-not-allowed-to-do-at-the-foundation this (joke) article]] is to be believed, which paints him as a CloudCuckooLander PsychopathicManchild who commits all kinds of crazy and evil antics for his own amusement. Though even in "canon" stories, Dr. Bright is characterized as an eccentric weirdo due to [[WhoWantsToLiveForever growing kinda crazy and depressed from his immortal condition]].
** [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-1760 SCP-1760]] ("Casket Garden"). Pyotr was a mortician and scientist who carried out experiments regarding long-term chemical preservation of human remains, as well as chemically-induced reanimation and regeneration of such remains. This is the source of the animated remains that appear in the SCP-1760-16 coffin every six years.
* ''Website/SFDebris'' reimagines Captain Janeway of ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' as one of these, to the point that for the episode "Scientific Method", which involves the Voyager crew being experimented on, has to have a rider that [[NotMeThisTime this time it isn't Janeway]]. Her exploits have included breeding hives of flying tarantulas with a taste for eyeballs, building an emotion bomb, creating a "rape gorilla", rigging the consoles to electrify their users for her own amusement, sending redshirts to their deaths because they serve Mexican food at the funerals, and the creation of something only known as "Kes-kotay".
--->''"First, it's a mutant, not a monster; second, those chains are unbreakable, and third, I only made one, so if you kill it, that's technically genocide! And technically suicide."''
* [[http://s2b2.livejournal.com/110334.html?view=1613310#t1613310 This]] ''Shousetsu Bang*Bang'' fic has a mad scientist as main character, along with his [[SlashFic loyal]] [[EvilMinions minion]], Scarface.
* ''[[http://nequ.deviantart.com/art/Sonny-Gets-Mad-Scienced-144594113 Sonny gets Mad Scienced]]'' deconstructs this sort of thing by showing it from the perspective of the potential victim. It addresses issues such as funding and why the henchmen would even still work with a lunatic. Turns out they have a "Death Ray clause" in their contract.
* ''Literature/SpectralShadows'' has Dr. Penning, who wishes to experiment on Raelian Ommandeer for his own evil gains. And then he also creates The Anthrodroids, which are basically android anthropomorphic animals.
* ''Literature/TailsOfTheBountyHunter'' has Dr. Vogar Oblingor, a reptilian alien who has [[BeastMan anthros]] transformed into feral, mindless beasts or tries to turn them into [[SuperSoldier Super Soldiers]] so he can sell them to be used as weapons.
* ''Literature/ToWelcomeOblivion'' has Dr. Lilith Madison, a scientist who had hundreds of innocents kidnapped and experimented on with Eldritch Energy to see what effects it would have on them. Predictably, dozens of the test subjects died horribly.
* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'': Tons of them, both at [[SuperheroSchool Whateley Academy]] and in general. The school has two whole categories of of super-scientists, Gadgeteers (ESPers and {{Technopath}}s who instinctively know how to create new things, but only within the bounds of ordinary physics) and Devisors (creators of AppliedPhlebotinum that bends the laws of reality). Either type can end up as Mad Scientists, but devisors are far more likely to due to the IRejectYourReality aspects of their power. A few students have both traits, which tends to makes things dicey. Note that [[CutLexLuthorACheck even the crazy ones sometimes make money legitimately]], with Gadgeteers being able to get patents and Devisors sometimes being able to sell their one-of-a-kind Devises (for huge fees), so [[ReedRichardsIsUseless their supertech does have some impact on society]], but various other factors ranging from {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s to FantasticRacism to ChronicVillainy mean that not all do, and plenty regardless of sanity end up as {{SuperVillain}}s.
** Some Mad Scientist types (as well as other superpowered people) have a form of the [[ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder "madness as a disease"]] trope. The universe has an illness called Diedrick's Syndrome that only affects some mutants, and Devisors are one of the two groups most susceptible to it (the other being [[PsychoElectro electrical energizers]]). Due to an imbalance of neurotransmitters, the person can get paranoid, megalomaniac, etc., and that makes the imbalance worse, so things escalate until finally, said character is insanely screaming about destroying the planet because, say, he originally just lost his car keys.
** Even the ones who don't have Diedrick's tend to slip into TheMadnessPlace quite often, especially when they get a 'Big Idea' which they obsess over, with [[ForgetsToEat forgetting to eat]] or [[FellAsleepStandingUp go to sleep]] just being the more benign consequences that can occur.
** Examples of Mad Scientist students at [[SuperheroSchool Whateley Academy]] include:
*** Overclock, who plotted to make a fellow student accidentally kill her teammates in a holographic simulation and drive her permanently insane, all because [[DisproportionateRetribution she ate the last of his favorite breakfast cereal one morning]].
*** Mega-Death, who chose his AtrociousAlias while " 'dricking out" and unfortunately [[OnceDoneNeverForgotten will never hear the end of it]].
*** [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Belphegor]], whose [[ItsAllAboutMe arrogance]], kleptomania, and cowardice would be enough to qualify him even if he didn't have Deidrick's (which he does).
*** Jobe, who, well, he's not ''mad'', exactly, but his BlueAndOrangeMorality means that [[TheUnfettered there's little he won't do, consequences be damned]]. He planned to turn his first girlfriend into a [[OurElvesAreDifferent Drow]] and bond her to him by ensuring she would only reach orgasm with the first person she has sex with (This serum [[GenderBender worked really well]] when he [[GoneHorriblyRight accidentally injected himself with it]]). That's not even close to the worst thing Jobe has done, and he's only about fifteen right now. Even the good things he has done are hideous: take his new vaccine for dysentery, which will save thousands of lives every year, and which he made by ''testing it on unwilling people'' on his father's island. He regularly gets censured by the United Nations -- not the Karedonian government, but '''Jobe himself'''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Videos]]
* ''WebVideo/AgamemnonTiberiusVacuum'', and his henchman, Dr. Sophocles.
* ''WebVideo/DaisyBrown'': The titular character's father is never seen, but we do know he created Alan, a BodyHorror monster that Daisy lives with. A large portion of the drama comes from Daisy trying to find his notes on Alan so that she can deal with him better.
* In {{LetsPlay/DanTDM}}'s Minecraft mod-related videos (e.g. mod showcases and ''Custom Mod Adventures''), both him and Dr Trayaurus, his villager friend, show shades of this -- neither of them show any qualms about engaging in morally questionable activities in their experiments/mod showcases, including and not limited to playing around with genetics and [[ImAHumanitarian cannibalism]] ([[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer yes, really]]).
* ''WebAnimation/DrCrafty'' has the titular character, who got kicked out of art college and decided to start a [=YouTube=] series to (somehow) TakeOverTheWorld.
* The title character of ''WebVideo/DrHorriblesSingAlongBlog'' is very obviously drawn from this trope's clichés. With a few tweaks.
* Dr. Griffin from ''WebVideo/KateModern'' is a former mad scientist.
* Theatre/TheLeagueOfSTEAM's Crackitus Potts and Professor Jager may qualify.
* ''WebVideo/LeftPOORDead'': Dr. Robert Smedley
* Adam appears as a parody of a mad scientist in Episode 9 of ''WebVideo/MaddisonAtkins''.
* The WebVideo/{{Metaverse}} ...hoo boy...
** [[WebVideo/CoyleCommand Doctor A. Pocalypse]]
** Doctor Vandanger
** [[WebVideo/TheQuest Doctor Vector]]
** [[WebVideo/CoyleCommand Doctor Vorn]]
** [[WebVideo/NewVillainOrder Chrome Dome]]
** Lord Malignance.
** Professor Plague.
** [[WebVideo/TheQuest Splice]]
* Speaking of WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick, she is constantly running into the sociopathic Dr. Tease, and her beleagured companion, Dr. Block. A sign of genuine danger in ''WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee'' is Tease acting like an actual scientist would in one scene. Also, neither of them have real degrees.
* A recurring antagonist-type on ''WebVideo/SevenSecondRiddles'', sometimes attempting to experiment on the protagonist, other times working with [[AIIsACrapshoot dangerous AI]], or generally acting as an obstacle.
* ''WebVideo/TheSpoonyExperiment'':
** Dr. Insano. [[MultipleChoicePast His background is unknown]], and he [[TakeOverTheWorld plans to take over the world]] '''WITH SCIENCE!!!''' He's [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara's]] archenemy, and killed Spoony at one point. He also won the 2008 presidential election ''[[VillainWithGoodPublicity without making any attempt to hide his identity]]''. [[GadgeteerGenius And he made an Atari Jaguar CD work long enough for Spoony to play through the game.]]
** He has used SCIENCE! to create a "son" though instead of a monster the Son of Insano is a cute pink fuzzy ball. [[DaddysLittleVillain Who wants to help daddy take over the work and knocked out Tidus]].
** He also undid all his previous VillainDecay in more recent appearances.
** Since Linkara didn;t want to have to keep getting Spoony for cameos, he created the alternate universe Dr. Linksano, who is this but a little softer (he can be placated with a holodeck to play out ruling the world on, Dr. Insano cannot.)
** It was a shame he didn't make a cameo in WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick's video of HollywoodScience, which talked about this trope in detail.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/c/styropyro/featured styropyro]] is this, with his channel description giving his profession as 'Professional Mad Scientist.' This amounts to creating extremely overpowered lasers, electrical experiments, and various crazy experiments. By his own admission, most of his inventions should never exist, but [[RuleOfCool because they're cool.]] Despite this, he ''does'' take safety seriously.
* Herr Doktor Innis du par Nachteltaffen, one of the drop-in characters on ''WebVideo/WarningReadersAdvisory''.
* This is how LetsPlay/DuncanJones and LetsPlay/{{Sjin}} characterise themselves in the ''WebVideo/YogscastMinecraftSeries''. Both are users of science and use it for somewhat unethical means, with the former using [[AppealToForce nukes]] to threaten LetsPlay/{{Rythian}} into complacency (it doesn't work, since Rythian is having something of a breakdown) and the latter kidnapping Teep for his own evil ends. Both also fought each other in the first ''Tekkit'' server, ending in a [[ApocalypseHow nuclear detonation that forced everyone to rebuild from scratch]].
[[/folder]]

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