History Main / RadiationInducedSuperpowers

* ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'': The Puppet Master has dolls made out of 'radioactive clay' [[VoodooDoll which allow him to control the person who the doll resembles]]. This was clearly inspired by HollywoodVoodoo, making it arguably the most blatant example of "radiation = magic" in comics. However, this was later {{retcon}}ned so that the dolls' properties are due to [[DoingInTheScientist actual magic]], instead of their negligible radioactivity.

* {{Parodied|Trope}} in a ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'' strip sequence, in which Dilbert decides to make himself a superhero costume and stand outside the local nuclear plant, in the hope that an accident will occur and give him superpowers. When he gets there, he finds a dozen other guys, all in various designs of spandex, who apparently all had the same idea.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' series started off as a deconstruction of the 1950s "atom craze". The nuclear war gave rise to giant insects and rats, and a few (un)lucky humans exposed to it without dying became ghouls, who live for centuries but many of them have lost their humanity. Meanwhile the player character being exposed to radiation will only result in radiation sickness (though it is easy to treat). However, ghouls are ''healed'' by radiation.

* Both played straight ''and'' {{parodied|Trope}} in [[http://www.asofterworld.com/index.php?id=530 this]] ''Webcomic/ASofterWorld''.

* Parodied in ''Literature/OurDumbCentury''; where a headline from 1963 declares "[[ComicBook/SpiderMan Boy Bitten by Radioactive Spider Dies of Leukemia]]". The body of the article mentions Peter Parker as being the sixth atomic accident fatality in the last month, referring to [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Dr. Bruce Banner]] and [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards and friends]].

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* Many of the Franchise/MarvelUniverse origins are given a kind-of explanation in ''ComicBook/EarthX'', in that certain people have the ability to gain superpowers. What those powers are is determined by how they get them, but because of this [[MetaOrigin innate "spark"]], they do indeed gain abilities from things that would kill people without it.
** This is roughly the same rationalization behind the "metagene" in Franchise/TheDCU.
** In the mainstream continuity, radiation-based origins have been explained as [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke genetic experiments]] by the [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien Celestials]] that were triggered by radiation.
* ''ComicBook/TheAtom'': The [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] Atom from ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'' was originally just a short guy who worked out a lot, but when he came out of retirement in UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks he had super-strength because the writer who brought him back didn't read the history. It was later {{retcon}}ned that he absorbed energy from a nuclear-powered supervillain, which somehow allowed him to survive an atomic bomb blast, after which he gained his powers.

* ''ComicBook/{{Firestorm|DCComics}}'': Firestorm's origin involves terrorists leaving Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein to die when they blow up the latter's nuclear plant. The explosion ends up fusing them into a superpowered being instead. Later averted when Stein is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor as a result of being one half of the nuclear man midway through the second series.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: Atomia uses nuclear radiation as part of her process of creating super-strong but essentially mindless mooks out of kidnapped humans.

* In the ''Fanfic/FalloutEquestria'' universe, as in the original ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' franchise, the radiation in the Equestrian Wasteland causes all manner of crazy mutations in animals and ponies alike. This is actually more {{Justified}} than in the original, seeing as the "radiation" originated from [[FantasticNuke magical superweapons]].
* [[Manga/{{Bleach}} Hinamori]] attempts to invoke this trope in ''FanFic/PleaseStopEatingTheHellButterflies''. Why? Well, [[AxCrazy she's crazy]], so there's that.
-->Stop playing in the runoff from the twelfth division. That is not the way to go about gaining superpowers. You are a {{Shinigami}}. You already ''have'' superpowers.
* In ''Fanfic/TheFall'' [[Literature/TheFamiliarOfZero Louise]], while already having magic before arriving in the [[VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas Mojave]]. begins to experience some changes to it due to the radiation of the world.
* In ''Blog/SingleParentsNight'', it's believed that Tails having the ability to fly has to do with him being found by a chemical plant.

** [[spoiler:At the very end, Ron Wilson (Bus Driver) falls into a vat of toxic waste and receives powers]].
* Something similar in ''Film/DarkStorm'': Exposure to dark matter causes anything to disintegrate. Except if it's a human. Then he gets dark matter-controlling superpowers. [[ArtisticLicenseBiology Somehow]].
* In ''Film/XMenFirstClass'', Sebastian Shaw believes that mutants are the "Children of the Atom" and believes all mutants are immune to radiation because of this. This is why he plans to [[spoiler:turn the UsefulNotes/ColdWar nuclear, believing that the radiation will wipe humanity out but spare mutants]].

* ''Film/ModernProblems'': Max is given superpowers (specifically, telekinesis) when a nuclear waste truck dumps nuclear waste on him and his car.
* In ''Film/OurFriendPower5'', Hyuk gets struck with gamma rays in a laboratory accident, and winds up with PsychicPowers, such as the power to shoot [[HandBlast energy from his hands]].
* In ''Film/TheMillionDollarDuck'', the titular duck gains the ability to lay golden eggs by escaping from the animal lab and wandering into the radiology lab, where she hops into a machine and into a beam of radiation.

* ''Film/SuperFuzz'' is an Italian comedy movie set and filmed in Miami where policeman Dave Speed gains [[SuperpowerLottery all kinds of super powers]] (invulnerability, super speed and reflexes, precognitive abilities, telekinesis and so on) by being exposed to the radiations of a nuclear missile test.

* In ''Literature/TheDireSage'', since Tesla won the electricity transmission war, there is no need for nuclear power plants and all the use for nuclear material is weaponsmaking. Or mutating people into metahumans, using [[ShoutOut Eastman-Laird radiation]].

* ''Literature/OurDumbCentury'': Parodied in ''Website/TheOnion'''s book, where a headline from 1963 declares "[[ComicBook/SpiderMan Boy Bitten by Radioactive Spider Dies of Leukemia]]". The body of the article mentions Peter Parker as being the sixth atomic accident fatality in the last month, referring to [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Dr. Bruce Banner]] and [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards and friends]].

* In the Literature/JakubWedrowycz stories, the Chernobyl power plant incident released radiation since used as [[AppliedPhlebotinum a handy explanation]] or theory for the appearance of [[WhenTreesAttack psychic trees]], [[Literature/LittleRedRidingHood talking wolves]] or dinosaurs.

* The pulp 1980's series ''Literature/DoomsdayWarrior'' is set AfterTheEnd in a Soviet-occupied America with LaResistance operating out of [[UndergroundCity hidden conclaves]]. Somehow the Americans have got the best of the deal -- mutation has developed these Freefighters into {{Super Soldier}}s who can run faster, fight harder and sustain more damage, all the while boasting a manly physique. Of course, this doesn't stop them having the required NuclearMutant monsters for the protagonists to fight. Needless to say, realism is [[RuleOfCool not a priority in these books]].
* ''Literature/DolphinTrilogy'': Early in her pregnancy, John's mother Raye is briefly exposed to nuclear radiation, giving her son more efficient lungs than other humans and glands in his skin that cause him to be covered in oil when he's in the water for a certain period of time. These adaptations allow him to survive [[RaisedByWolves life with the dolphins]].

* "Nuclear Babies" by Music/OingoBoingo.
* Timbuk3's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qrriKcwvlY The Future's So Bright]]. Bit of a MisaimedFandom for this one as the band wrote it to protest nuclear power.
* "Cat With 2 Heads!" by ''Music/TheAquabats'' is about a cat turned into "a two-headed man-eating monster" by "the power of atomic energy".
* "She Glows in the Dark" by The Bagazoid Brothers, a novelty song about a girl from Three Mile Island "who looks just like her mom but has more radiation than a nuclear bomb", and with the unforgettable line, "It's nice to have a lover who can be your night light!" This was a limited release from a radio station, on "WEBN Album Project 5" (Cincinnati, 1980), but you can hear it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNBKD5G_KXE

* Viciously averted in ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' where too much radiation will cause all sorts of horrible things to happen to you even if you successfully make a save against the effect. In fact radiation damage causes a build up of genetic damage that is incurable without special powers or advanced technology. However, "weird radiation" can result in powers.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Deadlands}}: Hell on Earth'', being exposed to supernaturally-charged radiation could potentially give useful mutations (like an extra mouth that consumes the life essence of all that die near you), or it could give you a horrible deformity (like an extra mouth that never SHUTS up), or it could just kill you. Then, there are the [[ReligionIsMagic rad-priests]] called Doomsayers, who prove that, if you love radiation enough, it just might return the favor.
* Some superheroes (and villains) in ''TabletopGame/{{Champions}}'' received their powers from nuclear radiation or being descended from people exposed to radiation.
** Also, older editions of the game allowed players to [[DiscardAndDraw completely redesign their character]] if the plot would allow for it and the GM agreed - the rules refer to this as a 'Radiation Accident', even if nuclear energy had nothing to do with it.
* This may or may not be the cause of the mutation of every last citizen of Alpha Complex in ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}''.
* One possible Origin in ''Super TabletopGame/{{Munchkin}}'' involves stubbing one's toe on a "super enriched radioactive block of stuff". In the base game, the Plutonium Dragon is one of the highest level monsters.
* In ''TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse'', servants of the [[EldritchAbomination Wyrm]] revere radiation. Nuclear explosions are sacred to Furmas, the elemental Wyrm of Balefire. The balefire burning in Black Spiral Dancer caverns is radioactive, producing mutations in some of the werewolves who reside therein.
** One of the Black Spiral Dancers' holiest caerns is a nuclear testing site in Alamagordo, New Mexico, where a colossal Thunderwyrm named Grammaw nests underground. The original nuclear blast blinded one of the Trinity Hive's elders, and hive members who guard Grammaw are hairless and pale due to the effects of residual radiation.
** The area for ten kilometers around Chernobyl, meanwhile, is a spawning ground for Wyrm-servants. The radiation is bad enough that even some of the non-Black Spiral Dancer werewolves are born deformed and infertile (a condition that, in the rest of the world, is only caused by two werewolves mating).
* Practically everything in ''TabletopGame/RocketAge'' is powered by Radium. Despite being retro sci-fi, it is [[{{Aversion}} not advisable]] to get too close to the glowing rocks. However, radiation may have a link to psychic powers.
* [[NuclearMutant Radio Zombies]] in ''TabletopGame/BleakWorld'' were created by the atomic bomb tests in the 50's and are generally [[ButtMonkey get the short end of the stick]]. While it IS technically possible for them to assume a human disguise and get their lives back, it [[DifficultButAwesome requires a perfect 10 out of 10 in humanity to achieve]]. Meaning that even the slightest misdemeanor will [[BlessedWithSuck strip off all their skin and cause a nuclear eruption.]] However they are truly gifted with random acts of violence as well as combat, making them more inclined to the dark side of the karma meter.
* ''TabletopGame/D20Modern'' sourcebooks ''d20 Future'' and ''d20 Apocalypse'' provide rules for giving characters mutations, with the soft-SF {{Handwave}} of radiation or other mutagens. ''d20 Modern'' is explicitly a "cinematic" game, meaning everything can be justified by RuleOfCool, meaning this trope is meant to be in full play. However, the two books also offer sidebars discussing a sliding scale of more realistic treatments of mutation and exposure to radiation.
* In ''TabletopGame/HeroesUnlimited'', Mutants and Experiments can potentially get their powers through exposure to radiation. Even prolonged exposure to small amounts of radiation can do the trick, as shown with the supervillain Gold Falcon in the "One Dam Thing" adventure: spend enough time standing next to a leaky microwave and you too can gain the power to fly and shoot blasts of electricity!

* ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' explicitly uses this; by taking a mission to save the local nuclear reactor from villains, you mutate and get to re-organize your powers.
** And inverted with the Radiation powersets, which use green radiation to weaken and harm enemies and buff allies (likely based on a bit of RuleOfCool in regards to real world radiotherapy). The signature character Positron is well-known for his radiation powers, and (until recently) having to wear a containment suit of PoweredArmor all the time so he doesn't blow up.

* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' invokes this trope [[AffectionateParody (parodiously, as always)]] with the '[[MemeticMutation Bonk!]]' energy drink for the Scout. As the advertisement tells us, "Bonk! is fulla radiation, which as we all know is pretty great for giving people super powers."
* The Zebesian Space Pirates in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' use [[AppliedPhlebotinum Phazon]], a radioactive substance, to create elite troops. If the player reads the Pirate Data entries from your scan visor, it is learned that some of those exposed to Phazon radiation go insane and attack their allies.
** Some? Try ''all.'' [[TheCorruption Including you, eventually.]]
** ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeHunters'' features the Battlehammer, a weapon with a miniature nuclear reactor. This is the Cyborg Space Pirate, Weavil's, weapon of choice. He has one on his arm and one on his crotch.

* The Hierarchy in ''VideoGame/UniverseAtWar'' love radiological weapons. This may be because radiation heals purebred hierarchs, and they get to use the dead and dying indigenous population as zombies.
* The TEC in ''VideoGame/SinsOfASolarEmpire'' never leave home without a truckload of nukes for siege purposes. The Marza dreadnought can also be upgraded to re-purpose one for ship-to-ship warfare. Their superweapon, the Novalith Cannon, fires a massive, high-yield nuclear bomb at their hapless enemies' planets. One shot reduces the planets' population by 90%, and makes the rest die of radiation poisoning, two completely sterilizes the planet and makes it unusable for 5 minutes in real-time, which works out to several weeks game-time.

* ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' has Utsuho Reiuji, a [[CreepyRavens hell raven]] with the power of manipulation of nuclear fusion, a control rod that doubles as an ArmCannon that would make [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus Aran]] jealous, a concrete boot on one foot and "electrons" orbiting the other.
** She also plays this trope literally--in one of the fighting game spinoffs, she's surprised to learn there are people beyond the barrier who ''don't'' like nuclear power.
** Also, the kappa and a couple of mountain goddesses seem to have a strange love for this new power.
*** It was those goddesses who allowed Utsuho to gain that power in the first place as part of their plan to gather faith by advancing the technology of Gensokyo.
* The "Frei" line of spells in ''VideoGame/Persona1'', ''VideoGame/Persona2'' and ''VideoGame/Persona5''. In the early titles, they're described as "Nuclear Fire" and used in tandem with [[PlayingWithFire Fire skills]]. Yukino Mayuzumi, Tatsuya Suou and Katsuya Suou specialize in them. In ''5'', they cause extra damage to enemies who are afflicted with the status effects Burn, Freeze, or Shock, and the game's specialist is Makoto Nijima.
* Many factions throughout the ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer'' series employ nuclear power to one degree or another. The power plants in the [[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianDawn first Tiberium game]] are implied to be nuclear, along with Nod getting a nuclear missile as their superweapon; the Soviets use nuclear reactors and nuclear missiles in the ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlertSeries Red Alert series]]''; and the Chinese are big on nuclear energy and weapons in ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerGenerals Generals]]''. One particular Chinese general in ''Zero Hour'', Shi Tao, likes nukes, and gets nuclear tanks as standard. The americans also employ Fusion reactors, though they're generally not as powerful as Chinese reactors.
* Played with in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII''. Mist is magical energy that is as prevalent in the game's world as background radiation is in reality. However, in some areas of the game, mist is concentrated enough to interfere with airships and mutate wildlife. One of the ways to get this effect is to use [[FantasticNuke nethicite]] as a weapon.
* The {{Roguelike}} ''VideoGame/{{Elona}}'' has Etherwind, which starts blowing every 3 months, and unless you find shelter, induces [[BodyHorror horrible mutations]]. As opposed to normal mutations, which can be good or bad.
* Late in ''VideoGame/StarcraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm'', during a bonus mission to upgrade the Ultralisk, Mengsk orders his men to drop an experimental nuclear weapon over a group of Ultralisks. The Ultralisks start suffering radiation poisoning, but Abathur, thinking quickly, alters the genetic sequences of the Ultralisks to allow them to assimilate the radioactive particles and use them to change further. The result? The Ultralisks turn into Torrasques, beasts capable of resurrecting themselves when killed. [[NiceJobFixingItVillain Nice job there, Mengsk!]]
** There's also the slightly psychologically unstable special ops Ghost units who, aside from being the only units who can call in nuke drops, also seem to enjoy doing so a great deal... Like, a ''really'' great deal. Way too much, in fact... If it wasn't for their RestrainingBolt, it might've actually been the source of quite a few big problems...
--->'''Ghost:''' Whenever I see a world untouched by war, a world of innocence, a world of lush forests and clear rivers... I really just wanna ''nuke the crap out of it''!
* ''VideoGame/Metro2033'' has giant, highly aggressive mutant rats, bats, moles and other animals created by nuclear war, and the race of psychic mutants known as the Dark Ones who may or may not be human. It's implied the Dark Ones, at least, are actually the result of genetic engineering by the military, though.
* The final mission of ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'' DLC "The Trouble with Clones" has the Boss temporarily gain superpowers after Jimmy gives them irradiated Saints Flow.
* Seen, strangely, in the wild west-themed ''VideoGame/AloneInTheDark3''. It's revealed that the BigBad discovered uranium back in the 19th century, used it to create monstrous mutants, and was planning to build a nuclear bomb to [[CaliforniaCollapse crack the San Andreas fault and sink California into the ocean]].
* Taking place in the 1970s as imagined by the 1940s, characters in ''VideoGame/SpaceAge'' have a very casual attitude about radiation exposure, both from their own nuclear-powered gadgets, and from the radioactive ore they've found on the planet Kepler-16. The latter nearly kills [[spoiler:two characters before giving them super-powers.]]
* The premise of the Nuclear type introduced in ''VideoGame/PokemonUranium''.
* {{Deconstructed|Trope}} with the [[TheGreys Furons]] of ''VideoGame/DestroyAllHumans''. Untold years of gratuitous nuke usage ended up degrading their genes to the point where they can't reproduce naturally, forcing them to resort to cloning for survival. And even then, CloneDegeneration is starting to set in.
** Played straight with the [[GiantEnemyCrab Blisk]], which developed the ability to feed on radiation in order to survive after the Furons nuked the crap out of their planet. In this universe, the UsefulNotes/ColdWar was in fact an attempt by Blisk, [[BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy disguised as Soviet leaders]], to terraform Earth to their liking by irradiating it.
* {{Player character}}s in ''VideoGame/DCUniverseOnline'' can have atomic powers.

* ''VideoGame/NuclearThrone'':
** Radiation is the name of the game: all enemies drop it except for the IDPD [[spoiler: before the third loop]], and it functions as the game's exp system with you being able to select a new mutation with each level. All of the mutations are beneficial to some degree. In addition, the Ultra weapons all drain radiation on use but are insanely powerful as a result. Horror takes it even further by being literally living radiation and having the ability to blast enemies with it.
** Melting [[ZigZagging zig-zags]] this a bit. Radiation exposure didn't mutate him like the other characters, but instead forced [[BodyHorror his skin to start melting off of his body]], making every living second agonizing. In-game, he's a OneHitPointWonder, but also gains more rads from all sources - thus why he isn't a complete aversion.

* ''WebAnimation/DarkSecretsOfGarrysMod'': "Super Boss" is a [[RealTrailerFakeMovie made-up teaser]] where Boss gains superpowers from eating a radioactive bean pottage. It got deleted but [[http://youtu.be/NJYAjXF7rOI?t=716 it is reuploaded into a compilation]].

* Both played straight ''and'' {{parodied|Trope}} in [[http://www.asofterworld.com/index.php?id=530 this]] ''Webcomic/ASofterWorld''.

* {{Double subver|sion}}ted in ''Webcomic/M9Girls'' Their FreakLabAccident exposes the M9 Girls to lethal radiation. Their mentor then injects them with a [[LegoGenetics substance]] that allows their bodies to absorb cosmic radiation, thus curing them and giving them powers as a side effect.

* In the ''WebVideo/SuperMarioLogan'' video "[[Recap/SuperMarioLoganBlackYoshisSuperPowers Black Yoshi's SuperPowers!]]", Black Yoshi finds some green, glowing fried-chicken in the garbage and eats it, which causes him to get EyeBeams and SuperSpeed.

* Listen to the theme-song for the old ''WesternAnimation/SpiderMan1967'' animated series: "Is he strong? Listen, bud, he's got radioactive blood!" ...in real life, people with radioactive blood aren't particularly strong.

* Used in ''WesternAnimation/BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand'', as a [[GRatedDrug G Rated]] FantasticDrug. Mira gets addicted to phasing through nuclear cores, which ups her power and speed to somewhere in the range of Superman and Flash. It's also a subversion, as she suffers radiation withdrawal, complete with unkempt hair, dark circles under her eyes, and general creepiness.
* The main characters of ''WesternAnimation/ToxicCrusaders'' became super-powerful (as well as hideously deformed) when they were exposed to radioactive waste in five separate unlikely accidents.

* ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'':
** Subverted humorously in the episode "[[Recap/AquaTeenHungerForceS2E2SuperHero Super Hero]]" when Master Shake exposes himself to toxic waste that, instead of giving him superpowers, causes him to slowly melt.
** Another episode featured a nuclear powered grill that through the magic of radiation was able to bring piles of snot to life (and melt the polar ice caps). Well it was sort of a dream, but it took up the entire episode and given the setting...

* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents''. The Crimson Chin's origin story has him bitten on the chin by a radioactive ''celebrity''.
-->'''[[StevenUlyssesPerhero Charles Hampton Indigo]]:''' So has the radioactivity affected your love life?\\
'''Celebrity:''' Grrarrr!
* ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' used this trope a little lightly. The hero was radiated by ecto energy that altered his genetic structure.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' has The Atomic Flounder, a retired villain originally for a one-off gag. He later appeared in a ShowWithinAShow episode during his prime. His first appearance followed the more common use of the trope, with atomic breath; however, the second also brought some BodyHorror into the mix.
* On ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold,'' [[MixAndMatchCritters B'wana Beast]] gets his powers from drinking water contaminated with nuclear waste (in the comics, it comes from a special elixir and helmet).

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheFlaminThongs'', Holden gains temporary insect-based superpowers from eating radioactive cockroaches.
* The 50's attitude towards radiation is perhaps best personified in Creator/WaltDisney's educational feature ''Our Friend the Atom'', which personifies atomic power as a helpful genie that provides almost unlimited power and such wonders as radio isotopes used for tracking the bloodstream of patients, while downplaying such minor things such as total nuclear annihilation...
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' episode "[[Recap/TheAmazingWorldOfGumballS4E3TheCrew The Crew]]", Gumball and Darwin are convinced that in order to join a gang of senior citizens they need to look old, so they try to get wrinkles by wallowing in nuclear waste. They don't get wrinkles, but Gumball gains the power of telepathy and Darwin becomes magnetic.
* In ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls2016'', one villain is a gnat who was bitten by a radioactive man. He then turned into an abnormally large, lumpy-looking humanoid/gnat hybrid.
* One of the main villains on ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'' was Duke Nukem (no relation to the [[VideoGame/DukeNukem video game character of the same name]]), who had been transformed by radiation into a mutant that feeds on nuclear waste and radioactivity.
* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/BackAtTheBarnyard'', the animals believe that the Farmer is planning to sell the farm, and one of their attempts to scare off a family that they think are potential buyers is to disguise Freddy as a mutant antelope and have him shoot [[EyeBeams lasers out of his eyes]], which he explains that he achieved from drinking nuclear waste. Pig attempts to debunk this trope by drinking some himself, which turns him into a pastiche of ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk, then the narrator tries to do the same and [[IncredibleShrinkingMan shrinks]].

* In the late 50s and early 60s, there was a belief among certain scientists that the sudden appearance of a number of children of high intelligence was caused by the recent appearance of Strontium-90 from nuclear testing, which led to a fringe belief that humanity was undergoing an evolutionary leap. This may well have been the inspiration for the ComicBook/XMen.

* ''Literature/OurDumbCentury'': Parodied in ''Website/TheOnion'''s book, where a headline from 1963 declares "[[Franchise/SpiderMan Boy Bitten by Radioactive Spider Dies of Leukemia]]". The body of the article mentions Peter Parker as being the sixth atomic accident fatality in the last month, referring to [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Dr. Bruce Banner]] and [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards and friends]].

* In the late 1960s, ComicBook/BlackCanary gained her iconic SuperScream due to radiation. This was later deconstructed when it was revealed several (both in-series and meta) years later that she was terminally ill due to the lingering effects of the radiation.

* In ''ComicBook/XMen'', the exact cause of mutant powers is rarely discussed. However, in the '60s, Professor X explained his powers as the result of his parents working on the first atom bomb. The Beast's powers have been explained as the result of his father being exposed to radiation, while Sunfire was born in Hiroshima on the day when they dropped the atom bomb. (Even the comic book series as a whole, back in the 1960s, used to bear the subtitle "children of the atom".) All of these explanations have later been either {{retcon}}ned or completely ignored. A more recent explanation is that the detonation of the atomic bombs merely triggered [[BizarreBabyBoom an explosion in mutant birth rates]].
* In one issue of ''ComicBook/TheSimpsons'' comics, a meltdown at the Springfield Nuclear Plant triggers a MassSuperEmpoweringEvent that affects almost everyone in town except for Bart. Parodied when Bart immediately and sincerely declares that gaining superpowers is the obvious, logical outcome to radiation exposure.

* The Creator/MarvelComics {{Elseworld}} {{Miniseries}} ''ComicBook/{{Ruins}}'' {{subvert|edTrope}}s this repeatedly. In its vision of a [[DarkerAndEdgier darker, bleaker]] Franchise/MarvelUniverse, it imagines the "[[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism realistic]]" effects that the numerous radiation-fueled {{Freak Lab Accident}}s that gave many of their comic book superheroes their powers (gamma radiation bursts, "cosmic" rays, irradiated spider-bites, etc.) could have -- specifically, [[BodyHorror painful disfigurements]] and horrible deaths. However, the series [[RuleOfScary often leaves in the other unrealistic elements]]; for instance, [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Bruce Banner]] becomes a [[TheTopicOfCancer mass of tumors]], but still [[ShapeshifterBaggage violates conservation of mass]] in doing so.
* ''ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'': When Matt Murdock got toxic waste spilled on him, he gained superpowers but also got blinded. {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in one of the comics; when the empowering accident is discussed, a character points out, "You know what would happen to me if I got hit in the face with a radioactive isotope? I would get leukemia and die."
* Many of the Franchise/MarvelUniverse origins are given a kind-of explanation in the ''ComicBook/EarthX'' continuity, in that certain people have the ability to gain superpowers. What those powers are is determined by how they get them, but because of this [[MetaOrigin innate "spark"]], they do indeed gain abilities from things that would kill people without it.
** This is roughly the same rationalization behind the "metagene" in Franchise/TheDCU.
** In the mainstream continuity, radiation-based origins have been explained as [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke genetic experiments]] by the [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien Celestials]] that were triggered by radiation.
* {{Averted|Trope}} in the ''ComicBook/{{Doom}}'' comic. The Doomguy is very displeased with the fact that radioactive waste is carelessly left lying around. [[MemeticMutation Because now he's radioactive]]. [[AndThatsTerrible And that can't be good]].
* Knuckles the Echidna in ''Comicbook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'', had his egg irradiated with Chaos Energy from the Master Emerald by his father Locke (himself self-subjected to radiation and [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke genetic testing]]), granting him powers and abilities far beyond even his own lineage had as the crystal's guardian. Likewise, his ancestor Dimitri, aka Enerjak, became a near-god from excess radiation siphoned off of the Master Emerald. In fact, if a character doesn't have a natural affinity for powering up with the Chaos Emeralds (like Sonic or Shadow), any Chaos-imbued powers they gain are usually a result of this trope.
* ''ComicBook/TheFlash'':
** Jay Garrick, the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] Flash, gained his powers when he accidentally inhaled fumes of ''heavy water'', a rare non-radiation-based version of nuclear superpowers.
** A minor recurring adversary is named [[http://www.hyperborea.org/flash/fallout.html Fallout]], a former blue-collar worker who was hired to do work on a nuclear power plant, fell into the reactor, and emerged with translucent green skin and radioactive powers that caused him to inadvertently kill his wife and son. After Flash apprehended him, he agreed to act as a living power source for the prison in which he was incarcerated as penance.
* The [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] [[ComicBook/TheAtom Atom]] from ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'' was originally just a short guy who worked out a lot, but when he came out of retirement in UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks he had super-strength because the writer who brought him back didn't read the history. It was later {{retcon}}ned that he absorbed energy from a nuclear-powered supervillain, which somehow allowed him to survive an atomic bomb blast, after which he gained his powers.
* In ''ComicBook/TheMightyThor'', Chen Lu was turned into the Radioactive Man in a Chinese attempt to create a human weapon. Pity they didn't check if he had plans for world domination first...
* Johnny Alpha in ''ComicBook/StrontiumDog'' gained the ability to [[{{Telepathy}} read minds]], [[XRayVision see through solid objects]], and emit alpha rays from his eyes following strontium-90 fallout during a nuclear war. However, most other {{mutants}} in the series are merely disfigured.
* Taken to its uttermost extreme in ''ComicBook/CaptainAtom'' -- the titular character, rather than merely being irradiated, was actually vaporized by being at ground zero of a thermonuclear explosion. His mind or soul was somehow able to form a new body for itself, one with superpowers. In the ComicBook/PostCrisis remake of the character, the writers explained this as an effect of the [[AppliedPhlebotinum extra-dimensional substance]] in which he was encased at the time of the blast.
* Creator/DCComics' other nuclear man, ComicBook/{{Firestorm|DCComics}}, also counts, since his origin involves terrorists leaving Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein to die when they blow up the latter's nuclear plant. The explosion ends up fusing them into a superpowered being instead. Later averted when Stein is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor as a result of being one half of the nuclear man midway through the second series.
** Also true of his DistaffCounterpart Firehawk, his Russian foe-turned-ally Pozhar, and several of his recurring villains.
** The ''ComicBook/New52'' reboot embraces this, turning "the Firestorm Protocols" into an extended nuclear arms race metaphor.
* Alpha One of ''ComicBook/TheMighty'' was once a normal sailor who had ended up floating in irritated waters for hours after testing an atom bomb. It took place in 1952. [[spoiler:Or at least that's the official story. He's actually a centuries-old HumanAlien.]]
* ComicBook/QuantumAndWoody got their powers after they were accidentally bombarded with quantum energy.
* Genocide Jones in ''ComicBook/SleeperWildStorm'' had a job at a "weird government research plant" that features a pair of iconic nuclear cooling towers. Being a loner, he took his lunch in an isolated area of the plant, prominently marked with radiation warnings. He somehow doesn't notice he's getting bigger and stronger.
* ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'': Reoccurring enemy Radiation Roy has this marked in his name. His ability to emit paralyzing radiation was paid for with an inheritance he gained so he could specifically join the Legion. Roy was rejected because his uncontrolled powers could harm the other Legionnaires, though a later {{retcon}} states that he was also rejected because Saturn Girl's mental profile revealed he had a number of psychotic tendencies. Saturn Girl was supposedly so disturbed by what she saw in Roy's mind that she couldn't sleep for two nights. As he got older, it became clear Roy's powers were having an effect on his body when he came back bald. When Creator/GeoffJohns brought the original Legion's continuity back, Roy had to wear a full-body containment suit because his powers were causing him to grow giant tumors and his teeth were falling out. Though for some reason he had hair again.

* The protagonist of the short-lived series ''ComicBook/CosmoCat'' got his powers when he worked at a munitions plant. He accidentally tripped and dropped a U-235 bomb he was carrying.

* ''Wiki/{{Uncyclopedia}}'''s ''People's Nuclear Program'' article, affectionately referred to as "the 'What Can We Put a Nuclear Reactor into Today?' program"; a USSR project that resulted in a super-powered [[StandardFPSGuns assault rifle]], [[{{BFS}} sword]], [[spoiler: child]], and [[MundaneUtility toaster]].

** The episode "Super Hero", where Master Shake exposes himself to toxic waste that, instead of giving him super powers, causes him to slowly melt.

* ''Series/KamenRiderKuuga'''s usage of nuclear based attacks makes him one of the strongest Franchise/KamenRider's in existence.

** {{Subverted|Trope}} when Rick Jones exposes himself to gamma rays to try to develop Hulk-like powers and gets cancer instead. He gets better, though. And then later, [[DoubleSubversion he gets turned into a gamma-powered superhuman for real]].
** As [[ScienceMarchesOn Science Marched On]] and it became increasingly difficult for readers to accept this trope straight, Bruce and other Gamma mutates were {{Retcon}}ned to have inherited a special genetic trigger. Bruce, his relatives, and a few others are all descendants of the original carrier. The guy who discovered said trigger found a way to copy it and used it to become a Gamma mutate too.

** Many of Spidey's classic foes gained their powers from some type of radiation accident as well, but special mention goes to [[Characters/MarvelComicsOttoOctavius Doctor Octopus]]. Not only was the good doctor an actual atomic scientist who would later use this knowledge in several of his evil schemes, but in one retelling of his origin, ''Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Year One'', he considers himself and Spider-Man to be twins of their "mother", nuclear power. Ock generally seems to take this trope's title literally.

* In ''ComicBook/XMen'', the exact cause of mutant powers is rarely discussed. However, in the '60s, Professor X explained his powers as the result of his parents working on the first atom bomb. The Beast's powers have been explained as the result of his father being exposed to radiation, while Sunfire was born in Hiroshima on the day when they dropped the atom bomb. (Even the comic book series as a whole, back in the 1960s, used to bear the subtitle "children of the atom".) All of these explanations have later been either {{Retcon}}ned or completely ignored. A more recent explanation is that the detonation of the atomic bombs merely triggered an explosion in mutant birth rates.

* The Creator/MarvelComics {{Elseworld}} MiniSeries ''ComicBook/{{Ruins}}'' {{subvert|edTrope}}s this repeatedly. In its vision of a [[DarkerAndEdgier darker, bleaker Marvel universe]], it imagines the "[[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism realistic]]" effects that the numerous radiation-fueled {{Freak Lab Accident}}s that gave many of their comic book superheroes their powers (gamma radiation bursts, "cosmic" rays, irradiated spider-bites, etc.) could have -- specifically, [[BodyHorror painful disfigurements]] and horrible deaths. However, the series [[RuleOfScary often leaves in the other unrealistic elements]]; for instance, [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Bruce Banner]] becomes a [[TheTopicOfCancer mass of tumors]], but still [[ShapeshifterBaggage violates conservation of mass]] in doing so.
* ''ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'': When Matt Murdock got toxic waste spilled on him, he gained superpowers but also got blinded.
** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in one of the comics; when the empowering accident is discussed, a character points out, "You know what would happen to me if I got hit in the face with a radioactive isotope? I would get leukemia and die."

* ''ComicBook/TheFlash'' has a minor recurring adversary named [[http://www.hyperborea.org/flash/fallout.html Fallout]], a former blue-collar worker who was hired to do work on a nuclear power plant, fell into the reactor, and emerged with translucent green skin and radioactive powers that caused him to inadvertently kill his wife and son. After Flash apprehended him, he agreed to act as a living power source for the prison in which he was incarcerated as penance.
** In fact, Jay Garrick, the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] Flash, gained his powers when he accidentally inhaled fumes of ''heavy water'', a rare non-radiation-based version of I Love Nuclear Power.
* The [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] [[ComicBook/TheAtom Atom]] from the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica was originally just a short guy who worked out a lot, but when he came out of retirement in UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks he had super-strength because the writer who brought him back didn't read the history. It was later {{Retcon}}ned that he absorbed energy from a nuclear-powered supervillain, which somehow allowed him to survive an atomic bomb blast, after which he gained his powers.

* In the late 1960s, ComicBook/BlackCanary gained her iconic [[MakeMeWannaShout supersonic scream]] due to radiation. This was later deconstructed when it was revealed several (both in-series and meta) years later that she was terminally ill due to the lingering effects of the radiation.