History Main / SuperRegistrationAct

* The ''ComicBook/CaptainCarrotAndHisAmazingZooCrew'' 2007 miniseries featured the [[UsefulNotes/UnitedStates United Species of America's]] government, under new President [[PunnyName Beneduck Arnold]], pass the "Collar ID" law, which was designed to neutralize the powers of the US' superhero populace, with the heroes either retiring (as the Zoo Crew did) or losing their powers. At one point, the President notes to the Crew that "thanks to [the law], there are no more superheroes left on Earth!" Of course this came at Earth-C's DarkestHour -- a global flooding created by Starro -- and ignores the [[CreatorProvincialism US-centric]] nature of the law. Apparently the heroes moving to places like Earth-C's [[UsefulNotes/Canada Cornada]] or [[BritainIsOnlyLondon Loondon]] to avoid the law weren't options, though simply moving out of the US rarely seems to be a considered option under this trope...

* The ''ComicBook/CaptainCarrotAndHisAmazingZooCrew'' 2007 miniseries featured the [[UsefulNotes/UnitedStates United Species of America's]] government, under new President [[PunnyName Beneduck Arnold]], pass the "Collar ID" law, which was designed to neutralize the powers of the US' superhero populace, with the heroes either retiring (as the Zoo Crew did) or losing their powers. At one point, the President notes to the Crew that "thanks to [the law], there are no more superheroes left on Earth!" Of course this came at Earth-C's DarkestHour -- a global flooding created by Starro -- and ignores the [[CreatorProvincialism US-centric]] nature of the law. Apparently the heroes moving to places like Earth-C's [[CanadaEh Cornada]] or [[BritainIsOnlyLondon Loondon]] to avoid the law weren't options, though simply moving out of the US rarely seems to be a considered option under this trope...

* In a neat bit of historical reference, UsefulNotes/{{the Bronze Age|OfComicBooks}} ''ComicBook/AllStarComics'' series [[{{Retcon}} revealed]] the reason the ComicBook/{{Justice Society|OfAmerica}} had broken up in the '50s: they were [[HauledBeforeASenateSubcommittee called before a]] [[NoHistoricalFiguresWereHarmed thinly-disguised version]] [[HauledBeforeASenateSubcommittee of the House Un-American Activities Committee]] and asked to reveal their identities. Unwilling to do so but also unwilling to go against the law, they stopped operating for a time. In a ComicBook/PostCrisis retcon, this was changed to the actual HUAC.

* The Moore Act in the "[[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks Iron Age]]" setting of ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'' made superheroes illegal in Freedom City. Named after Mayor Franklin Moore (who, in turn, was named after Creator/AlanMoore, creator of the Keene Act in ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'').

** It also explores the role of BadassNormal heroes since they wouldn't apply to the new rules. Knuckle Duster is a big strong dude reminiscent of Marv from ''ComicBook/SinCity'', ComicBook/ThePunisher and Franchise/{{Batman}}. He's also a normal person who just fights with brass knuckles yet can go evenly with ''Eraser Head''. In fact, once Eraser Head sees his Quirk-nullifying Quirk has no effect on Knuckle, he stops fighting him. Since Knuckle duster has no Quirk, he doesn't fall under the hero jurisdiction of unregistered Quirk usage. Presumably, it would fall under older rules of vigilantism, but it shows that despite things changing, some stuff remains the same.

** In the Post-Crisis DCU's background (related largely in the short-lived series ''Chase''), the act passed by the HUAC. actually kept any superheroes from operating openly from 1951 until at least the '80s or '90s, but by the time Franchise/{{Superman}} showed up it had been largely forgotten by the public at large and quietly abolished with no fanfare.

* This happened when reality got changed so that Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman never existed in ''ComicBook/{{Trinity|2008}}''. The alternate [[Franchise/TheFlash Flash]] delivers an epic WhatTheHellHero speech when he orders the solders trying to arrest him (in the middle of a battle against supervillains!) to do something useful and actually ''be'' heroes.

* ''VideoGame/{{Poptropica}}'' has this in effect on Super Power Island.

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::In the episode "Elder Wisdom", Luthor brings up a historical Registration Act that briefly existed in the USA in the 1950s as part of his attempt to build his case for the above plan. This backfires on him when the original Flash, Jay Garrick, who was an active superhero in the 50s, publicly calls out that Act as having been ineffective and fascistic, while stating that any new attempt wouldn't be any different.

* ''Series/BabylonFive'' has a heartbreakingly thorough examination of this with the Psi Corps, a government-started program and organization that registers, trains, and ''hunts down'' rogue telepaths. It seems to work well enough that its highest-powered and most loyal members eventually get to run it themselves. In the words of Garibaldi, "The Corps got started because we were afraid of telepaths. Now they're victims of our own fears. We took away every right they had and shoved them into a big black box called Psi Corps. Now look at them. [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Black uniforms, jackboots, giving orders]]..." Telepaths have only three legal choices: imprisonment, chemical nullification of their powers (often leading to death), or joining the Psi Corps. It should come as no surprise that the Psi Corps become a cloak and dagger organization with dozens of evil schemes, eventually leading to a teep civil war. They also do things such as breeding telepaths against their will.

* In ''ComicBook/CivilWarII'' tie-in ''The Accused'', the trial of [[spoiler:Hawkeye for the death of [[Characters/IncredibleHulkBruceBanner Bruce Banner]]]] was being pushed incredibly heavily to get it up and running way sooner than it should. Characters/{{Daredevil|MattMurdock}} discovers that this was a conspiracy to get a ''second'' S.R.A. passed by getting a guilty verdict. [[spoiler:Daredevil becomes a SpannerInTheWorks by getting Hawkeye acquitted.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'': The Guild of Calamitous Intent effectively runs what can be described as ''supervillain'' registration act. The organization provides insurance, henchmen, and protection from law enforcement as well as making sure its members don't get killed by the superheroes they "arch". However, things like rape and harming civilians are against their code of conduct, as shown by King Gorilla being forced to remain in prison after he murdered and raped (InThatOrder) [[Music/MotleyCrue Vince Neal]] on national television.

** In the episode "Elder Wisdom", Luthor brings up a historical Registration Act that briefly existed in the USA in the 1950s as part of his attempt to build his case for the above plan. This backfires on him when the original Flash, Jay Garrick, who was an active superhero in the 50s, publicly calls out that Act as having been ineffective and fascistic, while stating that any new attempt wouldn't be any different.

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'': The Justice League operates under a United Nations Charter and is mostly allowed to operate on a global scale, unless the government of a country denies them access for whatever reason. This becomes a problem in Season 3 when [[Characters/SupermanLexLuthor Lex Luthor]] is elected the [[PresidentEvil Secretary-General]] of the UN and begins using his position to put more and more restrictions on the League and its ability to operate. The Light's ultimate plan in this season is to use Luthor's position to propose and pass an international law that would require all Metahumans to be registered and regulated whether they're heroes or not. The idea being that all of Earth's Metahumans will be under the Light's control which would enable them to take over the world. The plan ultimately fails thanks to the heroes publicly outing Luthor's criminal activities and forcing him to resign his position following massive backlash.
** In the episode "Elder Wisdom", Luthor brings up a historical Registration Act that briefly existed in the USA in the 1950s, as part of his attempt to build his case for the above plan. This backfires on him when Jay Garrick, the original Flash who was an active superhero in the 50s, publicly calls out that Act as having been ineffective and fascistic and states that a new attempt wouldn't be any different.

[[AC:''MarvelUniverse'':]]

* In ''ComicBook/AstroCity'''s "Confessions" arc, the government of the titular city starts a registration act. It does not go well. [[spoiler:It turns out the Mayor was an alien shapeshifter who was trying to destroy Earth's best defenses. This was found out when [[ReligiousVampire the Confessor]] shot him to death with a stake gun.]]

** Pre-Crisis, several heroes were granted exemptions (due to their "special status" or "special relations with law enforcement") from Congress' demands, and allowed to continue to operate: Franchise/{{Superman}}, Franchise/{{Batman}} (and ComicBook/{{Robin}}), and Franchise/WonderWoman. In reality, these characters were among the few superheroes continuously published through the 1950s (while the rest of their JSA cohorts weren't), a time when superheroes weren't as popular as other genres (Westerns, horror, etc.).
** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': In the [[Characters/BatmanHuntress Huntress]] feature, which takes place on Earth-Two where the aforementioned government interference caused the JSA to break up, ComicBook/PowerGirl is furious when a Gotham DA starts pushing for more government oversight of superheroes, accusing him of [=McCarthyism=] and bringing up how the last time the government tried to register and control superheroes it destroyed the JSA for years.

* The ''ComicBook/CaptainCarrotAndHisAmazingZooCrew'' 2007 miniseries featured the [[UsefulNotes/TheUnitedStates United Species of America's]] government, under new President [[PunnyName Beneduck Arnold]], pass the "Collar ID" law, which was designed to neutralize the powers of the US' superhero populace, with the heroes either retiring (as the Zoo Crew did) or losing their powers. At one point, the President notes to the Crew that "thanks to [the law], there are no more superheroes left on Earth!" Of course this came at Earth-C's DarkestHour -- a global flooding created by Starro -- and ignores the [[CreatorProvincialism US-centric]] nature of the law. Apparently the heroes moving to places like Earth-C's [[CanadaEh Cornada]] or [[BritainIsOnlyLondon Loondon]] to avoid the law weren't options, though simply moving out of the US rarely seems to be a considered option under this trope...

** Another issue was what constituted a superhuman. By strict definition, ComicBook/CaptainAmerica isn't superhuman. He's just as physically fit as a human being is capable of becoming. ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} doesn't even have that, yet each were subject to registration. Is wearing a costume to fight crime a condition of registration?
* In ''ComicBook/CivilWarII'' tie-in ''The Accused'', the trial of [[spoiler:Hawkeye for the death of [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Bruce Banner]]]] was being pushed incredibly heavily to get it up and running way sooner than it should. ComicBook/{{Daredevil}} discovers that this was a conspiracy to get a ''second'' S.R.A. passed by getting a guilty verdict. [[spoiler:Daredevil becomes a SpannerInTheWorks by getting Hawkeye acquitted.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'': The Guild of Calamitous Intent effectively runs what can be described as ''supervillain'' registration act. The organization provides insurance, henchmen, and protection from law enforcement as well as making sure its members don't get killed by the superheroes they "arch". However, things like rape and harming civilians are against their code of conduct, as shown by King Gorilla being forced to remain in prison after he murdered and raped (InThatOrder) [[Music/MotleyCrue Vince Neal]] on national television.

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'': The Justice League operates under a United Nations Charter and is mostly allowed to operate on a global scale, unless the government of a country denies them access for whatever reason. This becomes a problem in Season 3 when ComicBook/LexLuthor is elected the [[PresidentEvil Secretary-General]] of the UN and begins using his position to put more and more restrictions on the League and its ability to operate. The Light's ultimate plan in this season is to use Luthor's position to propose and pass an international law that would require all Metahumans to be registered and regulated whether they're heroes or not. The idea being that all of Earth's Metahumans will be under the Light's control which would enable them to take over the world. The plan ultimately fails thanks to the heroes publicly outing Luthor's criminal activities and forcing him to resign his position following massive backlash.

* D: Create a [[SlaveToPR PR campaign]] and outreach program that emphasizes the perks of registration: HeroInsurance to repair collateral damage and protection against civil lawsuits, a possible government salary and [[SuperheroSchool training to develop your powers and people-saving skills]]. Works best to draft/enlist the top tier superheroes, so that second and third stringers that look up to them will be inspired to register. However, if any of the A-listers decide to go against it, the hero community could be embroiled in a ''ComicBook/CivilWar'' that makes both sides look bad.

* ''ComicBook/CivilWar'': The big 2006 CrisisCrossover from Creator/MarvelComics, centered around the Super-Human Registration Act and the superhero community's reactions to it ([[LetsYouAndHimFight an all-out slugfest]]). The X-Men stayed out of the whole conflict, perhaps so that attention wouldn't be drawn to the trope's overuse. What's especially problematic here is that [[DependingOnTheWriter none of the writers could agree]] on the meaning of the SHRA (sometimes, it's just a matter of heroes registering their identities and powers with the government, but other books treat it as a sort of superhuman draft) or which side is in the right (one book will have ComicBook/IronMan stop extremist anti-reg vigilantes, only for another to have him casually imprison people in the Negative Zone without any actual criminal charge or attempt at a trial). This inconsistency and the political climate at the time (the whole thing had parallels to the freedom/security debate surrounding the Patriot Act) make the event's slogan, [[ConceptsAreCheap "Which Side Are You On?"]], much more difficult to answer. Ultimately, the pro-reg side won out but [[PyrrhicVictory at the cost of the respect of the public]], leading to [[ComicBook/DarkReign supervillains taking over S.H.I.E.L.D./HAMMER for a while]].

* A ''ComicBook/DarkwingDuck'' comic where several superheroes led by a [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Mr. Fantastic]] CaptainErsatz arrived in St. Canard City and tried to enforce a Super Registration Act. Darkwing, of course, didn't like this. In the end, he turned out to be right, as Mr. Wonderful's boss turned out to be Steelbeak in disguise, making the whole thing a FOWL plan to keep track of all their enemies. This comic [[HilariousInHindsight became much funnier]] after ''ComicBook/CivilWar'' came out.

* ''Fanfic/{{Coreline}}'': In the setting's {{Backstory}}, the attempt by various Alternates of [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]] (yeah, you read that right, ''plural'') to launch the Super-Human Registration Act on The Line was a partial success... after some toil and a few random battles and everybody hating on how bad ''ComicBook/CivilWar'' got (the setting is keen on BreakingTheFourthWall, with information troves like the actual comics, Wikis and ''this very page'' available to everybody). "Partial" in that what they wanted, which was at best the S.H.R.A. as was ''exactly'' written on the Marvel Universe (with all the jack-booted {{Jerkass}}ery ''that'' would have legally allowed) and at worst a legal way to conscript all of the super-humans in the United States into the armed forces, was not approved. The Line's version of the S.H.R.A. is not legally pressing for people who don't want to be superheroes (if you have powers and saved somebody's life but you just pulled the HeroicBystander[=/=]BadassBystander act, you won't get CapeBusters after you), and those who do get benefits from registering, such as a U.N.-approved I.F.F. code for international operations and optional training plus a higher chance of being head-hunted by groups like the Justice League Unlimited and Avengers Infinity (or deputy status in law enforcement agencies/being allowed to become a member of said agencies and still use your costume as long as you identify yourself as a member) and you can use your hero identity in court.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' {{invert|edTrope}}s the situation, with the superhero registration program existing to protect the Supers from the general public. The DVD extra materials make it clear that this program existed before the movie started, with the government providing logistical support to registered heroes and helping keep their {{secret identit|y}}ies secret. None of the supers seem to mind. Then, as shown in the movie, a series of successful lawsuits against Supers leads to a wave of anti-hero sentiment. The government passes the Superhero Relocation Act, granting amnesty to all the supers (and relocating them à la the Witness Protection Program), on the condition that they retire from superheroics and lead normal lives. And when Bob Parr (a.k.a. Mr. Incredible) [[ChronicHeroSyndrome continues hero-ing anyway]], his liaison with the superhero registration agency covers for him and helps Bob relocate again (and again, and again...), rather than leaving him to be prosecuted as a vigilante.

* ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', released in 2016, is a loose adaptation of the CrisisCrossover [[ComicBook/CivilWar comic of the same name]]. The movie primarily focuses on having the Avengers answer to a multi-government authority to keep their predication towards collateral damage in check, with the act in question known as the Sokovia Accords. ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' expands on it, showing that there's a secondary registration for all those with powers, though it's limited to a protected database.

* As an adaptation of the ''ComicBook/CivilWar'' story arc mentioned above, ''VideoGame/MarvelUltimateAlliance 2'' has the Superhuman Registration Act as the main source of conflict, although it does not come into play until about the third stage. And the ending is altered so that [[spoiler:a Nanite-controlled Nick Fury becomes TheStarscream and both teams have to work together to beat some sense into him]]. This is also a possible ending in the first game: if you fail to save Robert Kelly in Murderworld, he will break out on his own and lobby for a law for mutant registration, which gets passed and results in mutants being sent to "reeducation" camps.

* In ''VideoGame/SpiderManUnlimited'', a Superhuman Registration Act is passed and, with Nick Fury at the helm this time around, many of the Spiders willingly unmask and accept this. No ''ComicBook/CivilWar'' at all!

* In the background for ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'', one of these was used for the Justice Society back in the 1940s. Currently, the Justice League operates under a United Nations Charter and is mostly allowed to police its own members, and the populace generally prefers this because the League has become international in scope and thus it would be difficult to register them all without causing a lot of legal and political problems. Part of the Light's plan in Season 3 is to use Luthor's position as [[PresidentEvil Secretary-general]] of the UN to propose and pass an international law that would require all Metahumans to be registered whether they're heroes or not. The plan ultimately fails thanks to the heroes publicly outing Luthor's criminal activities and forcing him to resign his position following massive backlash.

** The Mutant Response Division in ''WesternAnimation/WolverineAndTheXMen2009'' is charged with finding mutants and "registering" them -- this often means holding them indefinitely. The creators mention in the commentary that the "Mardies" [[VillainHasAPoint actually have good reasons to exist]] (one episode featured a mutant whose powers were so dangerous and uncontrolled that even ''he'' knew locking him up was the best option), and would be a positive thing if they weren't led by a GeneralRipper and caught between Senator Kelly and Magneto's bids for all-out war. Their success rate is pretty abysmal against the Brotherhood and the X-Men until they build the [[HumongousMecha Sentinels]] and Master Mold, [[AIIsACrapShoot which causes its own problems]].
* In the background for ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'', one of these was used for the Justice Society back in the 1940s. Currently, the Justice League operates under a UN Charter and is mostly allowed to police its own members, and the populace generally prefers this because the League has become international in scope and thus it would be difficult to register them all without causing a lot of legal and political problems. Luthor tries to propose one in Season 3, but faces backlash.

* ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'' and ''Manga/ACertainScientificRailgun'' explain that all espers have to register their identities, abilities and levels with Academy City's databases, and undergo regular testing and evaluation, in order to enter into the Esper Development Program. It comes in handy when Judgement investigates crimes: as long as they can identify the ability, they can track potential suspects. The only exceptions are "Gemstone" espers: those who came by their powers naturally. But such espers are extremely rare (there are only fifty existing worldwide), and they often end up coming to Academy City anyway since they and their powers will be accepted there.

* In Season 3 of ''Series/TheBoys'', [[CapeBusters the team]] ends up officially working under a newly-established branch of the CIA dedicated to policing [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual Supes]], and it's mentioned that it's resulted in a significant reduction in superpowered crime. However, the entire department is controlled opposition led by MoleInCharge Victoria Neuman, who stops them from having any real impact on [[EvilInc Vought]]'s bottom line.

* The Ministry of Magic in the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' universe, which regulates the wizarding world in the UK, forces Animagi (wizards with the rare skill of being able to [[{{Animorphism}} transform into a specific animal]]) to register with the government or face prison time. Over the course of the series, we get the impression that the law is more honored in the breach than the observance, though.

Sometimes, superhero fiction writers may bring this trope up as means of creating an [[TobeLawfulOrGood ethical dilemma]] within the superhero community and thus, deconstructing BlackAndWhiteMorality and opening things up to GreyAndGrayMorality. LawfulGood superheroes will often try to work with the law to see what is best for the public and superheroes alike, although some may venture into the KnightTemplar territory at worst. NeutralGood superheroes will be the most divisive in the issue, as some superheroes will raise concern whether or not the law will allow the superhero community to continue to do what is right for everyone, or if the law will allow [[LawfulEvil lawfully inclined supervillains]] to abuse the said law. ChaoticGood superheroes who disregard all laws will obviously oppose the superhuman registration act anyways.

* C: [[ToCatchHeroesHireVillains Recruit a group of evil, criminal-minded supervillains to police the heroes]]. The local TailorMadePrison filled with the heroes' RoguesGallery should provide no shortage of potential {{Boxed Crook}}s for your BadassCrew. Some of the [[AntiVillain less bloodthirsty and more sympathetic ones]] might pull a HeelFaceTurn from the allure of [[GoodFeelsGood working on the side of the angels]]; for the rest, it would be a smart idea to secure their loyalty with an ExplosiveLeash implanted in the base of their spinal columns. Even with such precautions though, [[EvilIsNotAToy this is a dangerous proposition]], and is liable to push people against registration.

->''"Well, let me show you what is being hidden, [[Characters/MarvelComicsJeanGrey Miss Grey]]. I have here a list of names of identified mutants living in the United States. Here's [[Characters/XMen80sMembers a girl in Illinois who can walk through walls]]. Now, what's to stop her from walking into a bank vault? Or the White House? Or ''into their houses?'' And there are even rumors, Miss Grey, of mutants so powerful that they can enter our minds and control our thoughts, taking away our God-given free will. Now I think the American people deserve the right to decide if they want their children to be in school with mutants. To be taught by mutants! Ladies and gentlemen, the truth is that mutants are very real, and that they are among us. We must know who they are, and above all, what they can do!"''

Even though the law is meant to approximate just how TheGovernment would react to superpowered vigilantes showing up in RealLife, it's not often that the law comes about purely as a result of normal civil processes, intelligent debate, or genuine public outrage. This is because comic books, like most serial works, operate on RuleOfFun, being escapist fiction where the stakes depend on one lone individual or a small group, which is hampered when your favorite character punches a clock and answers to TheMan. Exposing the act as the latest plot of some supervillain makes it easier to hit the ResetButton because StatusQuoIsGod.

* In ''Fanfic/MiraculousThePhoenixRises'', there was the Anti-Superhero Act of 1977. Seeing as the public was increasingly frustrated with supes' collateral damage and causing as many problems as they tried to solve, they were given the choice of being outlawed of complete obedience to the government as [[SuperCops enforcers]].