History AGodAmI / ComicBooks

* The ScarletWitch attained godlike powers for a time, which naturally proved highly detrimental to her sanity. Birthing children with an android probably didn't help.

** In the ComicBook/TransformersDarkCybertron event, Shockwave actually does briefly ascend to practical godhood, with the ultimate goal of [[ApocalypseHow destroying the universe]]. Optimus Prime manages to [[IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight break through the brainwashing]] and convince him to shut the machine doing this down, which unfortunately involves killing himself.

* In one two-part story in ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, the RedSkull obtains the [[MacGuffin Cosmic Cube]] and becomes this. He demonstrates by making himself a suit of golden armor and generating a {{Mook}} for Cap to fight. Eventually, Captain America knocks the Cube from the Skull's hand, and the Skull [[DisneyDeath presumably dies]] diving into the water after it.

*** In the Chaos Engine series of novels, Doom rebuilt the siphoning device and used it on Roma, Guardian of the Omniverse to try to claim her throne. The titular Chaos Engine itself was a (faulty) Cosmic Cube that granted Doom whatever he wished within its power- he used it to TakeOverTheWorld, rewrite history[[note]][[ParallelUniverse Or so he thought]][[/note]], and secretly use MindControl on SelfDemonstrating/{{Magneto}} to make him into a genocidal monster to be his new ArchEnemy (after he finally defeated that accursed Richards) because VictoryIsBoring. He did not quite claim godhood...but, apart from making himself King of the Earth, he ''did'' think he had the right to kill everyone on the planet when he realised that the Cube was ''killing'' him.

** Doom is the unsurpassed master and monarch of this trope. "I want that power. By right, it is mine. For ultimate power is the ultimate destiny of Doom!" And, in fact, Victor von Doom has come within a fraction of a hair's width of securing Real Ultimate Power (TM) several times in the past. He has built a siphoning device that has allowed him to successfully steal not only the Power Cosmic of the Silver Surfer and {{Galactus}} but also The Beyonder's apparently omnipotent abilities in the course of the ''ComicBook/SecretWars'' story arc, as well as that of a renegade watcher. Naturally, [[StatusQuoIsGod he is beaten in the end once again]], but still...

* The Skull of ''EarthX'' has the power to control the minds (or at least bodies) of every human being on Earth. Not surprisingly, he declares himself to be God. Ironically, he's more of [[TouchedByVorlons a pawn]] of the "real" gods of the setting, the Celestial Host.

--> '''CaptainAmerica''': "Then I'm Nietzsche."

%%* Explored in ''ComicBook/DoctorSolar: Man of the Atom''.

* Explored in ''[[DoctorSolar Solar Man of the Atom]]''.

** It helps his case that Supes shares a setting with ''actual'' gods, many of whom are as far above him as he is above us, and as such could stomp his ass if he ever got too uppity. Exactly ''how'' far is DependingOnTheWriter, many of whom tend to treat Supes as a genuine god.[[AGodIAmNot in denial.]]

* Another [[IncrediblyLamePun X-ample]] with Comicbook/Apocalypse, who claims to have masqueraded as various gods during his millennia-long life. In the [[WesternAnimation/XMen '90s cartoon]], he delivers a great line to Graydon Creed: "I am as far beyond mutants as they are beyond you! I am ''eternal!''"

* Another [[IncrediblyLamePun X-ample]] with [[Comicbook/XMen Apocalypse]], who claims to have masqueraded as various gods during his millennia-long life. In the [[WesternAnimation/XMen '90s cartoon]], he delivers a great line to Graydon Creed: "I am as far beyond mutants as they are beyond you! I am ''eternal!''"

[[AGodAmI Click here to go back to the main page.]]

** The Evronian scientist Zoster managed to get his hands on a record of Xadhoom's memories and was told how to obtain her power. As soon as he does it he [[KneelBeforeZod orders the whole universe to kneel before him]]... Before ''dissolving into nothingness'' as Xadhoom's memory gloats that [[PlebothinumOverload without control her absolute power will dissolve its wielder]], JustAsPlanned when she decided to play [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]].

* In the ''PlanetHulk'' storyline, [[spoiler:the Red King claims to be God in the flesh while fighting the ComicBook/IncredibleHulk in a [[AMechByAnyOtherName mecha suit, yes it was a mecha]]...then the Hulk got [[UnstoppableRage really mad and strongly begged to differ.]]]]

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' villain Max Zeus is one of the 'so mad he thinks he's God' versions; although he doesn't possess any superpowers himself, he's managed to delude himself into believing that he is Zeus, All-Powerful Lord of Olympus. His [[PropheticNames last name doesn't help matters]]. Nor does his lightning cannon.

-->"''I'm talkin' like God...only I ain't God. That was Horde's trip.''"

* Another ''Batman'' villain with ambitions of godhood is The Scarecrow, at least during the three-part "God of Fear" story arc during the much larger ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'' saga. A student of all the world's mythologies, Dr. Jonathan Crane becomes annoyed that there is no historical record of a god of fear, even though that should be the most obvious god because fear is what sustains the gods. Determine to halt the modern world's "flight from religion," he kidnaps several students from the psychology department at the university where he once taught, [[BrainwashedAndCrazy drugs them until they are totally stripped of their will]], dresses them in scarecrow costumes, gives them plastic skulls containing fear toxin and has them use them to spread chaos throughout various parts of Gotham City, creates [[EvilOverlooker an enormous hologram of himself that he projects against the sky]] to make himself ''literally'' look like a god, and orders the Gothamites to officially recognize him as a god or he will destroy the entire city with an entire tanker truck full of his toxin (when in fact he plans to empty the tanker into the city water supply, thus poisoning everyone who uses tap water). While negotiating with him on the phone, Commissioner Gordon tries to get the Scarecrow to see how insane he is acting, pointing out that he is a human being and that, even if Gotham City did declare him a god, he still wouldn't be one. This only enrages the Scarecrow, who, [[InsaneTrollLogic working from completely backward logic]], says that as a god he is incorruptible, and therefore can't possibly be insane. (That's right: The Scarecrow is so insane, he ''doesn't even know he's insane''.)

* This is common in SuperHero comics, as WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity. Perhaps the single best-known example is Jean Grey of the Comicbook/XMen, who, as Dark Phoenix, goes to star-eating levels before committing suicide. (Though later {{retcon}}s serve to [[ContinuitySnarl confuse the issue]].) DoctorDoom is also a frequent offender.

*** After MarkMillar's run he gained god-like powers at a level strong enough to kill a Watcher. Still, it's possible that all writers will quickly forget about it.
*** In the Chaos Engine series of novels, Doom rebuilt the siphoning device and used it on Roma, Guardian of the Omniverse to try to claim her throne. The titular Chaos Engine itself was a (faulty) Cosmic Cube that granted Doom whatever he wished within its power- he used it to TakeOverTheWorld, rewrite history[[note]][[ParallelUniverse Or so he thought]][[/note]], and secretly use MindControl on {{Magneto}} to make him into a genocidal monster to be his new ArchEnemy (after he finally defeated that accursed Richards) because VictoryIsBoring. He did not quite claim godhood...but, apart from making himself King of the Earth, he ''did'' think he had the right to kill everyone on the planet when he realised that the Cube was ''killing'' him.

* Hopping up on Chaos energy tends to do this to Echidnas in ''ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog'' series; both Enerjak and his descendant Knuckles have attempted to warp reality to their own design after being supercharged by the Master Emerald.

* Another ''Batman'' villain with ambitions of godhood is The Scarecrow, at least during the three-part "God of Fear" story arc during the much larger ''{{Knightfall}}'' saga. A student of all the world's mythologies, Dr. Jonathan Crane becomes annoyed that there is no historical record of a god of fear, even though that should be the most obvious god because fear is what sustains the gods. Determine to halt the modern world's "flight from religion," he kidnaps several students from the psychology department at the university where he once taught, [[BrainwashedAndCrazy drugs them until they are totally stripped of their will]], dresses them in scarecrow costumes, gives them plastic skulls containing fear toxin and has them use them to spread chaos throughout various parts of Gotham City, creates [[EvilOverlooker an enormous hologram of himself that he projects against the sky]] to make himself ''literally'' look like a god, and orders the Gothamites to officially recognize him as a god or he will destroy the entire city with an entire tanker truck full of his toxin (when in fact he plans to empty the tanker into the city water supply, thus poisoning everyone who uses tap water). While negotiating with him on the phone, Commissioner Gordon tries to get the Scarecrow to see how insane he is acting, pointing out that he is a human being and that, even if Gotham City did declare him a god, he still wouldn't be one. This only enrages the Scarecrow, who, [[InsaneTrollLogic working from completely backward logic]], says that as a god he is incorruptible, and therefore can't possibly be insane. (That's right: The Scarecrow is so insane, he ''doesn't even know he's insane''.)
* In ''{{Powers}}'', 'The Sellouts' storyline revolves around a CaptainErsatz of {{Superman}} who has lost his mind and believes himself to be a god. The results aren't pretty.
* The 70s Marvel character AdamWarlock encounters a [[FutureMeScaresMe mad future version]] of himself called the Magus who not only believes he's a god, but has his own vastly powerful church of fanatical followers sweeping across the galaxy in a Crusade. It doesn't help clear up matters when Warlock [[FauxSymbolism is crucified, dies, and comes back to life]].

* Winnowill from ''ElfQuest'' has some very distinct ideas about The World How It Should Be - including her own unquestioned dominion over earth and space, and the non-existence of the main cast. Her LoveMartyr Rayek suffers from the same malady, to a somewhat lesser extent (not that much lesser, though). He really goes over the top with it when he acquires the power of the Gliders' spirits, but once he arrives at the Palace they abandon him, leaving him (temporarily) a bit deflated.
* In ''ComicBook/TheBooksOfMagic'', Timothy Hunter may become this in the future, and we catch glimpses of it. The first story arc of the series involves various magicians in TheDCU trying to decide what to do about this.

* During the end of PeterDavid's run on Marvel's [[{{CaptainMar-vell}} Captain Marvel]], Genis, the then-Captain, became Cosmically Aware ''and'' empowered. He was driven mad by being suddenly conscious of every event and being that existed throughout the universe at once, then subsequently went about erasing ''all of reality'' within a meager few pages. Reality gets better later, though. He later goes on to harass preachers and Asgard in an attempt to force his self-declared godhood on the rest of the world.

* Even though (DependingOnTheWriter- originally and frequently, they really are) the NewGods aren't really gods per se, rather being highly advanced aliens, the New God {{Darkseid}} has always held himself to be a dark god in the flesh and is indeed worshiped as such by the people of Apokolips. He is the unquestioned ruler of his planet, has highly advanced powers and the only opponent who can stop him even temporarily is {{Superman}}. In [[SupermanTheAnimatedSeries the animated series]], when Supes manages to beat Darkseid in battle, his followers pick him up and help him.

** [[FinalCrisis "I. AM. THE. NEW. GOD."]]
* Every other appearance by {{Thanos}} has him stealing an artifact or power source that gives them godlike power. This was most obvious when he acquired the Infinity Gems.
* ''{{Thunderbolts}}'' #120: NormanOsborn loses his shit, resulting in the following exchange;

* A... different example was [[CrazyAwesome Snowflame]] from ''NewGuardians'', a villain whose power source was ''cocaine''. After snorting a massive amount of it, he declares himself "a true god" -- never mind that he has made it expressly clear that he worships cocaine itself as his god. But, then, cocaine and logic haven't always been the best of friends.

* In ''SonicTheComic'' this happens ''twice'' to Robotnik. The first time, in the "Robotnik Reigns Supreme" storyline, he manages to absorb the power of the [[GreenRocks Chaos Emeralds]] and has reality completely at his whim until he gets outwitted by Sonic and drained of his powers. Much later he is hooked up to an alien machine supposed to drain the life force out of the planet and into his body, which gives him a brief moment of god-like powers until he is defeated again.

* In one two-part story in CaptainAmerica, the RedSkull obtains the [[MacGuffin Cosmic Cube]] and becomes this. He demonstrates by making himself a suit of golden armor and generating a {{Mook}} for Cap to fight. Eventually, Captain America knocks the Cube from the Skull's hand, and the Skull [[DisneyDeath presumably dies]] diving into the water after it.

* In ''{{Superman}}: Godfall'', Lyla manages to drain a portion of Superman's power into herself, and she quickly goes to Metropolis and demands worship. She is ''quite'' surprised when the people don't comply.

** Interestingly, Lex Luthor has tried to fulfill this trope on ''on behalf of'' Superman. In an early story, JohnByrne establishes that Luthor knows how extremely likely it is that Clark Kent is Superman, but he refuses to believe that someone as powerful as Superman would deign to pretend to be a normal human.

* ''NthManTheUltimateNinja'': Alfie O'Meagan often proclaimed himself to be the most powerful and most generous being in the universe. Justified in that he's a RealityWarper PsychopathicManchild.
* In ''ComicBook/ActionComics'', LexLuthor merges with a Phantom Zone entity and becomes a massive godlike EnergyBeing. He uses his new power to halt entropy in all of existence and grants everyone immortality and eternal bliss while reveling in his godhood and flaunting it in the face of {{Superman}}. [[spoiler:Then his Loisbot informs him that the zone entity made sure Luthor couldn't do anything negative with that power such as killing Superman. He can't refrain from trying, and so squanders his power in self-destructive pettiness.]]

* ''PaperinikNewAdventures'' has a few examples.

* During ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'', as the Eradicator and {{Steel}} are fighting, one of the many {{Cult}}s approaches the Eradicator, cheering him on, leading to the deluded metahuman to start acting this way. It certainly doesn't endear him to Steel at all.
* In ''ComicBook/InnocenceLost'', Dr. Sarah Kinney muses to the rest of the genetics team that scientists have only ''just'' figured out cloning with sheep and cats and have yet to attempt cloning on humans. Meanwhile, they're in the process of attempting to clone ''{{Wolverine}}''. She explicitly invokes this trope.

* Another ''Batman'' villain with ambitions of godhood is The Scarecrow, at least during the three-part "God of Fear" story arc during the much larger ''{{Knightfall}}'' saga. A student of all the world's mythologies, Dr. Jonathan Crane becomes annoyed that there is no historical record of a god of fear, even though that should be the most obvious god because fear is what sustains the gods. Determine to halt the modern world's "flight from religion," he kidnaps several students from the psychology department at the university where he once taught, [[BrainwashedAndCrazy drugs them until they are totally stripped of their will]], dresses them in scarecrow costumes, gives them plastic skulls containing fear toxin and has them use them to spread chaos throughout various parts of Gotham City, creates [[EvilOverlooker an enormous hologram of himself that he projects against the sky]] to make himself ''literally'' look like a god, and orders the Gothamites to officially recognize him as a god or he will destroy the entire city with an entire tanker truck full of his toxin. While negotiating with him on the phone, Commissioner Gordon tries to get the Scarecrow to see how insane he is acting, pointing out that he is a human being and that, even if Gotham City did declare him a god, he still wouldn't be one. This only enrages the Scarecrow, who, [[InsaneTrollLogic working from completely backward logic]], says that as a god he is incorruptible, and therefore can't possibly be insane. (That's right: The Scarecrow is so insane, he ''doesn't even know he's insane''.)

* Another ''Batman'' villain with ambitions of godhood is The Scarecrow, at least during the three-part "God of Fear" story arc during the much larger ''{[Knightfall}}'' saga. A student of all the world's mythologies, Dr. Jonathan Crane becomes annoyed that there is no historical record of a god of fear, even though that should be the most obvious god because fear is what sustains the gods. Determine to halt the modern world's "flight from religion," he kidnaps several students from the psychology department at the university where he once taught, [[BrainwashedAndCrazy drugs them until they are totally stripped of their will]], dresses them in scarecrow costumes, gives them plastic skulls containing fear toxin and has them use them to spread chaos throughout various parts of Gotham City, creates [[EvilOverlooker an enormous hologram of himself that he projects against the sky]] to make himself ''literally'' look like a god, and orders the Gothamites to officially recognize him as a god or he will destroy the entire city with an entire tanker truck full of his toxin. While negotiating with him on the phone, Commissioner Gordon tries to get the Scarecrow to see how insane he is acting, pointing out that he is a human being and that, even if Gotham City did declare him a god, he still wouldn't be one. This only enrages the Scarecrow, who, [[InsaneTrollLogic working from completely backward logic]], says that as a god he is incorruptible, and therefore can't possibly be insane. (That's right: The Scarecrow is so insane, he ''doesn't even know he's insane''.)

* This is common in SuperHero comics, as WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity. Perhaps the single best-known example is Jean Grey of the Comicbook/{{X-Men}}, who, as Dark Phoenix, goes to star-eating levels before committing suicide. (Though later {{retcon}}s serve to [[ContinuitySnarl confuse the issue]].) DoctorDoom is also a frequent offender.
** In one particularly literal case, Dr. Doom tried to claim [[TheMightyThor Thor's]] hammer to gain his power.
** Doom is the unsurpassed master and monarch of this trope. "I want that power. By right, it is mine. For ultimate power is the ultimate destiny of Doom!" And, in fact, Victor von Doom has come within a fraction of a hair's width of securing Real Ultimate Power (TM) several times in the past. He has built a siphoning device that has allowed him to successfully steal not only the Power Cosmic of the Silver Surfer and {{Galactus}} but also The Beyonder's apparently omnipotent abilities in the course of the ''SecretWars'' story arc, as well as that of a renegade watcher. Naturally, [[StatusQuoIsGod he is beaten in the end once again]], but still...

*** In the Chaos Engine series of novels, Doom rebuilt the siphoning device and used it on Roma, Guardian of the Omniverse to try to claim her throne. The titual Chaos Engine itself was a (faulty) Cosmic Cube that granted Doom whatever he wished within its power- he used it to TakeOverTheWorld, rewrite history[[note]][[ParallelUniverse Or so he thought]][[/note]], and secretly use MindControl on {{Magneto}} to make him into a genocidal monster to be his new ArchEnemy (after he finally defeated that accursed Richards) because VictoryIsBoring. He did not quite claim godhood...but, apart from making himself King of the Earth, he ''did'' think he had the right to kill everyone on the planet when he realised that the Cube was ''killing'' him.
* Another [[IncrediblyLamePun X-ample]] with [[Comicbook/{{X-Men}} Apocalypse]], who claims to have masqueraded as various gods during his millennia-long life. In the [[WesternAnimation/{{X-Men}} '90s cartoon]], he delivers a great line to Graydon Creed: "I am as far beyond mutants as they are beyond you! I am ''eternal!''"

** It helps his case that Supes shares a setting with ''actual'' gods, many of whom are as far above him as he is above us, and as such could stomp his ass if he ever got too uppity. Exactly ''how'' far is DependingOnTheWriter, many of whom tend to treat Supes as a genuine god [[AGodIAmNot in denial.]]