History Main / ExplosiveLeash

* In an episode of AmericanDad, Stan fits Steve with a collar that is rigged to explode if he doesn't ask the girl he likes on a date within a specific time limit.

* ''GuiltyGear'': Potemkin's collar is an explosive collar that will detonate and kill him if it's removed, as he's a slave of the nation of Zepp. The government is overthrown by the end of the game, at which point the bomb is defused, and the collar simply acts as a PowerLimiter in future games.

* In ''DarkAngel'' Alec had this done to him to coerce him into killing transgenics.

* Although not explosive, a still very deadly kind using choking can be found in ''{{Dungeon Siege II}}''. It appears at the beginning of the game after the tutorial portion.

* Although not explosive, a still very deadly kind using choking can be found in ''{Dungeon Siege II}}''. It appears at the beginning of the game after the tutorial portion.

* In the ''DoctorWho'' episode "Boomtown," a prisoner is kept close to the Doctor with the help of explosive handcuffs. No one should be surprised that he got them from Jack Harkness.

* Sadly, there is a case of TruthInTelevision, thanks to the 2003 incident near Erie, Pennsylvania where pizza deliveryman [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Wells_(bank_robber) Brian Wells]] had a bomb locked around his neck and was forced to rob four banks. Wells was originally an accomplice to the robbery and believed that the bomb would be fake (in order to give him an alibi), only to find out moments before the start of the operation that it was real. Wells was given a time limit to rob each bank before the device went off, earning time extensions for each successful heist. (Police later calculated that it would have been [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption impossible for him to rob all four banks within the time limit]], even with the extensions.) He was detained at the first bank by police, and while waiting for the bomb squad to arrive the device exploded, killing Wells instantly.

* The Deadlock collars of ''[[RatchetAndClank Ratchet: Deadlocked]]''.

* Sadly, there is a case of TruthInTelevision, thanks to the 2003 incident near Erie, Pennsylvania where pizza deliveryman Brian Wells had a bomb locked around his neck and was forced to rob four banks. Wells was originally an accomplice to the robbery and believed that the bomb would be fake (in order to give him an alibi), only to find out moments before the start of the operation that it was real. Wells was given a time limit to rob each bank before the device went off, earning time extensions for each successful heist. (Police later calculated that it would have been [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption impossible for him to rob all four banks within the time limit]], even with the extensions.) He was detained at the first bank by police, and while waiting for the bomb squad to arrive the device exploded, killing Wells instantly.

* Slade uses the 'deadly nanites' variant to recruit Robin as his [[BoxedCrook Boxed]] [[InvertedTrope Hero]] apprentice in the ''TeenTitans'' 1st series finale. Since, like most superheroes, Robin would tell him where to stuff it if he was just threatening him, Slade [[IHaveYourWife slaps the leash on the rest of the Titans instead]].

* An unusual self-inflicted example appears in the ''{{Sten}}'' series. Long ago, the Eternal Emperor implanted himself with a Judgement Device that would constantly monitor his thoughts and explode if he was ever brainwashed or went insane. Of course, being {{Immortal}}, he did so with the expectation that he'd get better afterwards.

* In ''{{Neuromancer}}'', Case has sacs of mycotoxin attached to his veins, which will burst and eliminate his decking abilities if he does not comply.

[[caption-width-right:300:The most effective way of keeping slaves in line.]]

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]
* This is the premise behind the manga ''[=~B-Shock~=]'', where the two main characters have explosive devices attached to their wrists by a MadScientist, set to go off if they move too far apart.

* {{Cyborg 009}} uses this with a spin. [[spoiler: Shinichi Ibaraki, Mary Onodera and Masaru Oyamada]] were not only forcibly turned into Cyborgs, but they got bombs implanted in their bodies as a way to keep them under control in their mission. [[spoiler: Said mission was to kill their former {{Nakama}} Joe Shimamura aka 009; when they cannot bring themselves to do it, the bombs are activated, and the three kids die.]]

[[AC: ComicBooks]]
* In the Marvel/Epic series AlienLegion, the members of Force Nomad free themselves from a black hole and are horrified to find that 15 years have passed, they have been declared dead, and all Legionnaires wear control collars. The collars shock any unruly soldier and explode if anyone attempts to remove or tamper with them. They test out solutions on a member who's a blob and therefore pretty unkillable.
* The ''modus operandi'' of the "Task Force X," a.k.a. the ''SuicideSquad'', in TheDCU and TheDCAU.

* [[http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/386053.html?#cutid1 Plastique puts one on Cameron Scott]] to prevent him from transforming into CaptainAtom. (NSFW, and must be logged in.)

[[AC:{{FanFiction}}]]
* Used horrifyingly in the AzumangaDaioh / BattleRoyale {{crossover}} fanfiction, [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1943589/1/Azumanga_Royale "Azumanga Royale."]]
** [[BloodyHilarious Or]] [[CrossesTheLineTwice hilariously]], [[YourMileageMayVary depending on your point of view]]. Given that it's directly lifted from Battle Royale (and then given an Azumanga-ish over-the-top humor treatment)...

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* ''EscapeFromNewYork'' - Snake thinks he's getting an immunization, but it's really two little bombs in his carotid arteries. The inert coating around the charges will wear away in [[ExactTimeToFailure exactly 24 hours]].
** This is more of a WhyAmITicking.
** Repeated in ''EscapeFromLA'' -- except this time, it's a deadly virus with a time limit that [[spoiler:doesn't actually exist - it's just a bad case of the synthetic flu]].
* Cult film ''{{Hell Comes To Frogtown}}'' has a particularly painful example, in that the bomb is strapped to the male protagonist's ''[[GroinAttack groin]]''.

** From what I've heard, there is no mention of this bomb being removed, just disarmed, so...Darth Vader a splode?
* In ''{{Wedlock}}'' (a.k.a. ''Deadlock''), pairs of prisoners are fitted with explosive collars. They can be detonated on command, and explode automatically if the two prisoners get too far away from each other.

* In ''TheTransporter 3'', the EvilExecutive of the film fits several characters (including the lead) with explosive bracelets that prevent them from getting more than 50 feet from their car.

* Used famously in BattleRoyale to prevent the children from refusing to kill one another. Or as punishment speaking out of turn, as demonstrated on one boy.

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* In CharlesStross's ''MerchantPrinces'' series, a group of people has the ability to travel between alternate universes by staring at a mandala. The branch of the U.S. government tasked with studying these "worldwalkers" uses explosive leashes to make sure they come back from these universes.

* NealStephenson's ''DiamondAge'' has devices called Cookies Cutters: cell-sized explosives capable of taking a small chunk out of a person, and usually injected into them in quantity. They can be detonated after a period of time (known as the Seven Minute Special), by remote control, or by passing a radio barrier. Used for execution and prisoner restraint (in large quantities) or for pacifying criminals (usually one is enough).
* In the ''StarchildTrilogy'', political dissidents are fitted with explosive collars with undefined timers that need to be periodically "wound up" by the guard's key to renew the timer. Within the series, legend has it that the only way around the tamper mechanism is to detach the head, remove the collar, and sew the head back on.

* TheShapeshifter uses this, [[spoiler: combined with a RestrainingBolt in the form of a chip inserted into the COLA's skulls.]]

* TortallUniverse: in Trickster's Choice, when Aly is made a slave, she is forced to wear a collar that will strangle her if she tries to escape. Until she convinces her new owners to disable it.
** Although it was closer to "give them an excuse" to disable it than "convince them", as she actually had to convince them - more than once, IIRC - to keep her a slave.

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]
* An episode of the Seventies ''BuckRogers'' series concerned an athlete with an ExplosiveLeash wanting to defect from their totalitarian polity. The suspense of the last act was whether Rogers' starfighter (with passenger) would make it to the stargate before the signal from the remote control caught up.
** Another episode featured a non-exploding variety. Princess Ardala decides to keep Buck under control before their wedding with a contracting collar. If he misbehaves, it strangles him.

* Used in the episode of ''{{Flashpoint}}'' entitled "Eagle Two"; the person under this codename that SRU Group One is protecting has one of these put on her, the people who did it claiming that if her husband publicly confesses to a crime he committed in the terrorists' home country years ago, it will be removed. If not...

* In the first episode of ''MacGyver'' 's third season, the Russians place an explosive leash around the neck of [=MacGyver's=] ex-girlfriend of the week, to coerce him to steal one of China's national treasures. This plot twist serves as the episode's cliffhanger, unusual since almost all of [=MacGyver's=] adventures were limited to single episodes.

** Also in NCIS When a teenage boy holds his classmates hostage with a bomb strapped to his chest but it turns out he does not control the bomb. The bad guys sitting in a van nearby are telling him what to do and threatening him.
* In the second season finale of ''{{Torchwood}}'', [[spoiler: Captain John Hart reveals that his actions - at least in that episode - were motivated by the bomb grafted to his wrist. How long the blackmail had been going on is not explained, so his bad behavior earlier may be excusable (or just an excuse).]]

* In the [[ScrewedByTheNetwork only season]] of BabylonFive spinoff {{Crusade}}, [[SmugSnake Max Eilseron]] uses one of these on a LoanShark, a rather literal case of AppliedPhlebotinum, since the collar is fired from a gun and seems to form itself around the victim's neck at high velocity, forming into a seamless tamper-proof explosive collar. He does this to get the guy to stay away from Max's ex-wife. [[spoiler:Not because he was particularly fond of her, but because the guy was holding their cat hostage. The safe return of the cat was also part of the deal.]]

[[AC:{{Tabletop RPG}}]]

[[AC: VideoGames]]
* In the old Playstation game ''Blast Chamber'', the four prisoners each have a bomb strapped to their chest, and are forced to play a DeadlyGame- The last man's bomb to explode wins.
* The Deadlock collars of ''[[RatchetAndClank Ratchet: Deadlocked]]''.

* Everyone who in the Prisoner's D Block of ''{{Xenogears}}''. Interestingly, it is possible by random chance to remove the bomb; but the [[GameplayAndStorySegregation plot forces you to go through the required fighting anyways.]]
* Sort of done in ''{{Fable}} 2'' - the Spire Guards are outfitted with an Obedience Collar which doesn't explode when you go against orders, but certainly gives you incentive to obey - insubordination generally results in your emotions and memories being wiped away. This is especially nasty, as actually doing what Lucien says would probably cost you some of your humanity, and if you choose not to, well, the collar takes care of that.
** The actual gameplay effects are more or less negligible EXP losses. You get plenty of positive karma anyway from defying orders, and smacking your "boss" in the face with a sword several times without him retaliating or insulting him is pretty satisfying anyway.
* In episode 2 of the ''HomestarRunner'' game ''[=~Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People~=]'', Strong Bad is outfitted with one of these for not paying the King of Town's email tax: it's set to go off if Strong Bad tries to leave his house. Fortunately, the blast produced is [[NonFatalExplosions only enough to blacken Strong Bad's face and knock him back into the house]] if the player tries leaving.
* ''{{Fallout 3}}'' features exploding slave collars that can be activated by radio or a device the player is given if they work for the slavers.
** Appears once again in FalloutNewVegas. After discovering the Brotherhood of Steel's hidden base, they promptly strip you down, attach an explosive collar to your neck, and give you orders to go take care of a nearby NCR ranger.
*** This is assuming the player doesn't have Veronica as a follower, at which point the part of the quest that involves the ranger will be skipped entirely, [[FridgeLogic despite them having no reason to trust you other than one person you randomly talked to at a trading post]].
*** In the ''Dead Money'' DLC, these are used by the BigBad Father Elijah to ensure that the player and three other characters will cooperate with him for his heist of the Sierra Madre.
* In the original ''GuiltyGear'', Potemkin's collar is an explosive collar that will detonate and kill him if it's removed, as he's a slave of the nation of Zepp. The government is overthrown by the end of the game, at which point the bomb is defused, and the collar simply acts as a PowerLimiter in future games.
* In the old [[AppleMacintosh Macintosh]] game ''Mac Spudd'' (based on the WorldBuilder engine), the protagonist has an intracranial detonator in his head. If you drive off the road, YourHeadASplode.
* This is mocked in ''EscapeFromMonkeyIsland'' with the "Voodoo Anklet of Extreme Discomfort" which prevents the player character from leaving Lucre Island.

* ''DeusEx''. Old-style cyborg agents have an explosive device implanted into them that can be triggered by a special phrase.

[[AC:Webcomics]]
* Subversion. In ''BobAndGeorge'' Dr. Wily once retrieved Bob from The White Space in order to force him to program Zero. Since The White Space can create any illusion one could wish for, Bob is enraged that Wily would remove him from his imaginary harem of volleyball players. Hence Wily tells Bob that the cage is rigged to blow should Bob use his fire powers, and the only way out is to first don a new helmet that is rigged to blow should Bob defy him. Bob instantly agrees to wear the "leash." Later on it is revealed that the explosives were all a lie, and Bob wouldn't have been hurt by a bomb anyway. Bob was not amused, and only didn't kill Wily because he claimed he found the way to get him back home.

* After [[spoiler:Big Boss possesses Liquid's body]] in TheLastDaysOfFoxhound, he's outfitted with an explosive implant for the upcoming mission.

[[AC:WebOriginal]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* As quoted above, ''InvaderZim'' actually had one of these as a ''hall-pass'' locked around the student's neck, which explodes if it leaves the school.
** [[CrapsackWorld Does this surprise anyone?]] [[JhonenVasquez Seriously?]]
*** The best/worst part is that it's the episode where Zim starts stealing organs, and he gets rid of the hall pass by swapping it with some kid's liver. Which means that kid can ''never leave the school,'' but doesn't know it.
**** [[{{Digger}} Not be getting far without liver, either.]]
* ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' made a particularly nasty variant of this by lacing a death row prisoner's last meal with nanites before recruiting him into [[strike:the Suicide Squad]] Task Force X in the episode of the same name. The nanites can be programmed to detonate his internal organs if he disobeys. His handler directly tells him "Try to escape, and, well, you're going to look awfully funny trying to run without a head."

[[AC:RealLife]]

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'''Ms. Bitters:''' '''*places a collar around Zim's neck*''' If you leave school grounds, it will explode.
-> -- ''InvaderZim'', "Dark Harvest"

->'''Owen Davian:''' We put an explosive charge in your head. Does that sound familiar?
-> -- First words spoken in ''[[{{Film/Mission Impossible}} Mission Impossible III]]''

* ''{{Fallout}} 3'' features exploding slave collars that can be activated by radio or a device the player is given if they work for the slavers.
** Played straight in New Vegas. After discovering the Brotherhood of Steel's hidden base, they promptly strip you down, attach an explosive collar to your neck, and give you orders to go take care of a nearby NCR ranger.

* ''{{Gundam 00}}'''s sidestory manga use explosive collars on criminals "drafted" into Celestial Being and its sister organization, Fereshte. While the collared individuals are given more freedom than most examples of this trope, the collar is never intended to be removed, though rare exceptions are made (such as when one got married to a volunteer of the groups [[spoiler: Said ex-collared member was the father of BridgeBunny Feldt Grace.]]).