History Main / PhlebotinumBomb

* In [[ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog Archie Comics' version]] of [[SonicTheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog]], in the 21st century (which was ten thousand years before Sonic's plot started), an alien race known as the Xordas didn't take kindly to human scientists murdering and dissecting their peace-bringing emissary. They responded by detonating "gene-bombs" across the Earth, which specifically targets all of its organisms' DNA; if they're human, they were to die (but instead, devolved over 10,000 years into the Overlanders, like Robotnik and such), but as for non-human animals, they ''evolved'' into the Mobians during said period (ex: Sonic and pals), and were meant to be the new dominant species of the planet.

* In [[ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog Archie Comics' version]] of [[SonicTheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog]], in the 21st century (much, much, ''much'' longer before Sonic's plot started), an alien race known as the Xordas didn't take kindly to human scientists murdering and dissecting their peace-bringing emissary. They responded by detonating "gene-bombs" across the Earth, which specifically targets all of its organisms' DNA; if they're human, they were to die (but instead, devolved into the Overlanders, like Robotnik and such), but as for non-human animals, they ''evolved'' into the Mobians (ex: Sonic and pals), and were to be the new dominant species of the planet.

* In [[ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog Archie Comics' version]] of [[SonicTheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog]], in the 21st century (long before Sonic's plot in the 33rd century began), an alien race known as the Xordas didn't take kindly to human scientists murdering and dissecting their peace-bringing emissary. They responded by detonating "gene-bombs" across the Earth, which specifically targets all of its organisms' DNA; if they're human, they were to die (but instead, devolved into the Overlanders, like Robotnik and such), but as for non-human animals, they ''evolved'' into the Mobians (ex: Sonic and pals), and were to be the new dominant species of the planet.

** Only because the Hypergate messed with the power supplies that the [[Spoiler:Nomads]] were using, since they all draw from the same quantum foam-based power technology. Power to the ships gets screwed with, thus get left helpless while the Hypergate sucks them up, unless my memory fails that badly.

<<|WeaponsAndWieldingTropes|>>

* Markarov's Fairy Law in ''FairyTail'' only hits those the user sees as enemies. It also has about a city sized radius.

* The Omnitrix on ''Ben10AlienForce'' has the ability to repair genetic damage, such as removing [=DNAlien=] parasites from their hosts. It reaches phlebotinum bomb proportions in the season finale, when [[spoiler: it repairs the genetic damage of the entire Highbreed race that had rendered them sterile due to inbreeding.]]

* In an episode of ''BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', Gorilla Grodd builds a device that could turn all the humans within a 500-mile radius into apes. His downfall was probably adding a switch that made it do the opposite.

* Not a bomb, really, but a terrorist organization in CowboyBebop developed a virus known as "Monkey Business" which targets only the two percent of human DNA that makes us different from other apes. As for [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin what it does...]] let's just say [[AndIMustScream you don't want to get infected.]]

** [[spoiler:Luxus]] can use it too.

* In the Comicbook/IncredibleHulk comics, at least the MarvelAdventures version, the gamma bomb is apparently supposed to be the anti-neutron bomb - destroy inanimate material, leave living things aside. [[ForegoneConclusion That's not quite what happens]], but you ''can'' say this about the end product - he doesn't specifically go after civilians, and can be persuaded to try and save them. Indeed, a recent story claimed that the Hulk's rampages have ''never'' killed an innocent person. Yes, even when he knocks over entire buildings.

* A real-life example, and the likely inspiration for many fictional versions, is the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_bomb neutron bomb]], a special kind of nuclear warhead developed during the height of the Cold War. Although it's not entirely blastless, its purpose was to wipe out armored divisions with neutron radiation, which would leave the vehicles intact while lethally poisoning the soldiers within. Sort of a WhatTheHellHero moment for the United States, the idea was always extremely controversial, and the last American neutron bomb was dismantled in 2003.

* The "blue-rinse" in the ''ArtemisFowl'' series is a bomb which kills all organic life, but leaves everything else untouched.

* In ''{{Stargate SG-1}},'' the Jaffa homeworld turned out to be home to [[spoiler:a device that could create or destroy anything, including specific lifeforms or objects.]] While its range normally only extended to the planet it was on, SG-1 managed to [[spoiler:use it in conjunction with the gate system to destroy all the Replicator nano-bots in the galaxy.]]

* In an episode of ''[=~Batman: The Brave and the Bold~=]'', Gorilla Grodd builds a device that could turn all the humans within a 500-mile radius into apes. His downfall was probably adding a switch that made it do the opposite.

* In the second-to-last episode of the first season of ''TeenTitans'', Slade [[spoiler:presents the threat of a Cronoton Detonator (which will freeze everyone in time if detonated)]]

* Sort-of TruthInTelevision: An EMP will disable electronics without affecting humans. Conversely, a neutron bomb will kill living things without overly damaging artifacts. However, neither is as selective or effective as fiction generally makes them out to be.

* The film version of ''VForVendetta'' had Biological weapons that wiped out humans in a region while keeping the resources and atmosphere intact. [[spoiler:The corrupt UK government used it on one of their own regions to control their subjects with fear]]. In a chilling case of TruthInTelevision, such weapons really are likely being developed and may be perfected in the future.

* In the Comicbook/IncredibleHulk comics, at least the MarvelAdventures version, the gamma bomb is apparently supposed to be the anti-neutron bomb - destroy inanimate material, leave living things aside. [[ForegoneConclusion That's not quite what happens]], but you ''can'' say this about the end product - he doesn't specifically go after civilians, and can be persuaded to try and save them.
** One bizarre recton claimed that the Hulk's crazed rampages have never killed an innocent person. Yes, even when he knocks over entire buildings.

* ''VForVendetta'' had Biological weapons that wiped out humans in a region while keeping the resources and atmosphere intact. [[spoiler:The corrupt UK government used it on one of their own regions to control their subjects with fear]]. In a chilling case of TruthInTelevision, such weapons really are likely being developed and may be perfected in the future.

Examples:

* In the Trigun anime, [[spoiler:Vash can manifest an energy weapon powerful enough that it leveled an entire city in one massive explosion, but miraculously did not directly kill any of it's inhabitants. It is even implied that nobody died from, say, getting crushed by debris during the explosion. However there is mention of many people starving to death or dying from violence after the destruction.]]

* The short lived ''GuyGardner'' comic book series. One of his many, many changes involved a bizarre alien heritage (Discontinuity) allowing him to generate, from his own body, any weapon he could think of. His body was his PowerRing. He creates a sticky nuke which only fries that which it is touching (Major Force).
* In the IncredibleHulk comics, at least the [[LighterAndSofter Marvel Adventures version]], the gamma bomb is apparently supposed to be the anti-neutron bomb - destroy inanimate material, leave living things aside. [[ForegoneConclusion That's not quite what happens]], but you ''can'' say this about the end product - he doesn't specifically go after civilians, and can be persuaded to try and save them.

* The "blue-rinse" in the ''Artemis Fowl'' series is a bomb which kills all organic life, but leaves everything else untouched.
* One of the Biblical plagues killed every first-born son in Egypt.
* In ''Seeing Redd'', the sequel to ''The Looking Glass Wars'', there is a device called [[FunWithAcronyms WILMA]] (Weapon of Inconceivable Loss and Massive Annihilation), the exact workings of which are kept somewhat vague, but the effects of which seem to be [[spoiler:destroying the imaginative powers of anyone within range]].

* Sort-of TruthInTelevision : An EMP will disable electronics without affecting humans. Conversely, a neutron bomb will kill living things without overly damaging artifacts. However, neither is as selective or effective as fiction generally makes them out to be.

* Arclight's shockwave in the third ''Film/{{X-Men}}'' movie. She was able to target only the soldiers' guns. (In the comic books, she doesn't appear to be able to fine-tune it like that... and [[AxCrazy wouldn't have bothered]] sparing the soldiers, anyway.) At the end of the movie, [[spoiler:Magneto tries to use a weapon that is supposed to turn normal humans into Mutants, but will actually kill them.]]

Name comes from a dream [[{{Crisis}} one contributor]] had, in which he built "a Phlebotinum Bomb" from various bits of Phlebotinum to cause a planet-wide wave that would destroy all the evil [[LivingShadow shadow-monsters]].