History Main / SuperheroEpisode

* ''Film/SonicTheHedgehog2'' starts with Sonic trying to fight crime as "Blue Justice" but ends up accidentally wrecking San Francisco.

* ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody'' had one as part of a Disney's "Wish Gone Amiss" weekend, aptly named "Super Twins". Zack and Cody have a dream where they become superheroes known, respectively, as Quick Guy and Brain Man, and Mr. Moseby becomes a supervillain known as the Meanager [[spoiler:with Arwin and Esteban serving as his minions, respectively known as the Engineer and [=BellBoy=]]].

[-[[caption-width-right:348:Even if they already have magical abilities, it's not a ''real'' superhero episode unless you're wearing spandex, a mask and the occasional cape.]]-]

May include a [[StockParodies stock parody]] fight scene referencing the '60s ''Series/Batman1966'' series.

* The Snowsong (a.k.a. [[DorkAge Supergreg]]) arc in ''Webcomic/DominicDeegan''.

* Superpowers broke out on an episode of ''Series/GilligansIsland'' thanks to a shipment of [[ILoveNuclearPower radioactive vegetables]].

* ''Toys/MonsterHigh'' had a superhero-themed line of dolls dubbed "Power Ghouls", which saw several Monster High students don costumes and fight crime using both the abilities they already had as monsters and newly-acquired powers. The line-up consisted of Clawdeen (as Wonder Wolf, who used a shield a la ComicBook/CaptainAmerica), Spectra (as Polterghoul, who got MindOverMatter abilities), Frankie (as Voltageous, whose existing ShockAndAwe powers were greatly boosted), and Toralei (as Cat Tastrophe, the team's EmpoweredBadassNormal nemesis). There were also two "unofficial" editions to the line-up that were made San Diego Comic-Con exclusives: Ghoulia (cosplaying as the InUniverse comic character Dead Fast, and who served as the BigGood in tie-in material) and Wydowna (as Webarella, who tricked into helping Cat Tastrophe before ultimately becoming a solo hero).

* Gold Key issue #24 of Franchise/ScoobyDoo dealt with a comic artist whose creation, a superhero named the Blue Scarab, comes to life and terrorizes him. This was reworked five years later as the debut episode of ''Scooby and Scrappy Doo.

* The ''Super Ace'' story in an issue of
. the ''[[Magazine/RedDwarf Red Dwarf Smegazine]]'' had Ace Rimmer visit a universe where the Dwarfers were superheroes living in the city of Smegopolis. In addition to the FlyingBrick Super Ace, other characters were Lister as Action Man (a Punisher pastiche with a smiley face instead of a skull), Cat and Kryten as Catman and Robbie, and the floating telepathic head of Professor H.

* The ''Super Ace'' story in an issue of the ''[[Magazine/RedDwarf Red Dwarf Smegazine]]'' had Ace Rimmer visit a universe where the Dwarfers were superheroes living in the city of Smegopolis. In addition to the FlyingBrick Super Ace, other characters were Lister as Action Man (a Punisher pastiche with a smiley face instead of a skull), Cat and Kryten as Catman and Robbie, and the floating telepathic head of Professor H.

[-[[caption-width-right:348:Even if they already have magical abilities, it's not a ''real'' superhero episode unless you're wearing spandex and a mask.]]-]

* ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody'' had one as part of a Disney "make a wish" event. Zack and Cody have a dream where they become superheroes known, respectively, as Quick Guy and Brain Man, and Mr. Moseby becomes a supervillain known as the Meanager [[spoiler:with Arwin and Esteban serving as his minions, known, respectively, as the Engineer and [=BellBoy=]]].

* ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody'' had one as part of a Disney "make a wish" event. Zack and Cody have a dream where they become superheroes, with Mr Moseby as the supervillain.

[[caption-width-right:348:Even if they already have magical abilities, it's not a ''real'' superhero episode unless you're wearing spandex and a mask.]]

* In the ''Series/{{Dinosaurs}}'' episode, "[[Recap/DinosaursS04E02EarlDontBeAHero Earl, Don't Be A Hero]]", Earl gets a promotion to toxic waste supervisor at the [=WeSaySo=] corporation. Exposure to toxic waste gives Earl the abilities to fly, have heat vision, [[BreadEggsMilkSquick and accurately guess peoples' weight]]. Earl becomes a superhero named Captain Impressive and earns the respect of Baby. When B.P. Richfield finds out about Earl's superpowers, he points out that Earl's employment contract he signed (which he was told he didn't have to read) states that if any employee obtains superpowers, the heroes will become the property of [=WeSaySo=], and Earl is forced into putting promoting the company as Captain Impressive over saving the world. Richfield makes Earl the host of a home shopping show that sells dangerous products associated with Captain Impressive. When Baby calls in to order a dangerous product, Earl reveals his identity, gives up being a superhero and takes a shower. In the end, Earl explains to Baby that [[AnAesop parents are real heroes, because even though they don't have super powers, they do a lot of hard work to care for their kids]].

A SubTrope of SomethingCompletelyDifferent. The {{fanfic}} equivalent of this trope is the SuperFic, which usually implies a more permanent change in the characters and their setting.

* ''Film/SuperheroMovie'' was originally conceived as ''Film/ScaryMovie5'' but became a DivorcedInstallment when the creators realise that it had no horror elements.

* The ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' episode, "[[Recap/PokemonS3E22TheSuperheroSecret The Superhero Secret]]", has the gang meet an aging BatmanParody called Gilgarman.

[[quoteright:349:[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_superheroepisode.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:349:Even if they already have magical abilities, it's not a ''real'' superhero episode unless you're wearing spandex and a mask.]]

-->-- ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', "Less Than Hero"

* The "Cape Fear" storyline in ''Comicbook/ResurrectionMan'' started with Mitch in a virtual world created by his subconscious, in which he was a Silver Age caped superhero, and all the people who had tried to kill him were costumed supervillains. He was still wearing the costume from this scenario when Comicbook/{{Superman}} invited him to join the ComicBook/JusticeLeague. He eventually decided it wasn't for him.

* The ''ComicBook/{{Futurama}}'' story, ''Son of The Sun'' is another adventure for the New Justice Team from the "Less Then Hero" episode of the cartoon.

* ''Series/{{Bewitched}}'' had the episode "Super Arthur" in which Uncle Arthur turns into {{Superman}} after Dr. Bombay gives him a pill.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'' has a ChristmasSpecial called "[[Recap/DoctorWho2016CSTheReturnOfDoctorMysterio The Return of Doctor Mysterio]]", where a [[BigApplesauce New York]] kid accidentally ingests an alien wish-granting artifact, which, coupled with his obsession with comic books, gives him FlyingBrick powers. Year later, the Doctor returns to New York and discovers the existence of the Ghost, a masked superhero clearly based on ComicBook/{{Superman}}. The Doctor immediately recognizes him as Grant, the kid he met that night, who works as a mild-mannered nanny for his childhood crush, a reporter with an obsession for the Ghost. While Grant/Ghost isn't mentioned in later episodes, there is a comic book, where the Doctor works with him again.

* The ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' episode, ''[[Recap/PokemonS3E22TheSuperheroSecret The Superhero Secret]]'' has the gang meet an aging BatmanParody called Gilgarman.

* The "Cape Fear" storyline in ''Comicbook/ResurrectionMan'' started with Mitch in a virtual world created by his subconscious, in which he was a Silver Age caped superhero, and all the people who had tried to kill him were costumed supervillains. He was still wearing the costume from this scenario when Comicbook/{{Superman}} invited him to join the Comicbook/JusticeLeague. He eventually decided it wasn't for him.
* Quite common in the comics based on ComicBook/TheSimpsons. Either using [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS11E4TreehouseOfHorrorX Stretch Dude and Clobber Girl]], having Bart be the Bartman character he dressed as in [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS2E21ThreeMenAndAComicBook Three Men and A Comic Book]] or [[ShowWithinAShow comic book within a show]] character, ''Radioactive Man''. One story even had an AllianceOfAlternates between Bartman, Stretch Dude and Cupcake Kid (Pie Man's sidekick from the last scene of "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS15E19SimpleSimpson Simple Simpson]]"), and another had the characters parodying ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}''.

* ''Bluntman and Chronic'': Was a comic about [[Film/TheViewAskewniverse Jay and Silent Bob]] as [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} Batman and Robin]] style superheroes. It's meant to be the in-universe comic they get written about themselves in ''Film/ChasingAmy''.

* The ''ComicBook/{{Futurama}}'' story, ''Son of The Sun'' is another adventure for The New Justice Team from the ''Less Then Hero'' episode of the cartoon.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongebobMovieSpongeOutOfWater'' has ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' and co. become superheroes in order to rescue the Krabby Patty formula.

* Soap opera ''Series/GuidingLight'' of all things. There was even a corresponding comic book tie-in to Marvel's [[ComicBook/CivilWar Civil War]]!

* ''[[Music/{{Eminem}} Eminem's]]'' video of ''Without Me'' has him as ''Rap Boy''. In a costume identical to ''[[ComicBook/{{Robin}} Robin's]]'' but with a backwards E instead of an R on it. He goes on a quest to stop a child from playing a Parental Advisory Eminem [=CD=].

* The Creator/LyndaCarter episode of ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' was a tribute to Lynda's role in the ''Series/WonderWoman'' TV show. Miss Piggy played the title role in a sketch called "Wonder Pig" ("''Wonder Pig?''" Lynda repeats, bemused) while some of the other Muppets try to become superheroes themselves by wearing gaudy costumes and reading from an instruction book, "Invincibility Made Easy". HilariyEnsues as the 'apprentice superheroes' (As [[OnlySaneMan Kermit]] calls them) bungle about trying to emulate common superpowers.

* The superhero arc in ''Webcomic/ArthurKingOfTimeAndSpace''. Arthur Pendragon is [[{{Superman}} Kingman]]! Lancelot [=DuLac=] is [[Franchise/{{Batman}} White Night]]! Gawaine Orkney is [[Franchise/GreenLantern Sun Man]]!

An episode of a non-superhero show in which the characters temporarily gain [[StockSuperpowers superpowers]] and/or the urge to dress up in colored spandex and fight crime.

* The Creator/LyndaCarter episode of ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' was a tribute to Lynda's role in the ''Series/WonderWoman'' TV show. Miss Piggy played the title role in a sketch called "Wonder Pig" ("''Wonder Pig?''" Lynda repeats, bemused) while some of the other Muppets try to become superheroes themselves by wearing gaudy costumes and reading from an instruction book, "Invincibility Made Easy". HilariyEnsues as the 'apprentice superheroes' (As [[OnlySaneMan Kermit]] calls them) bungle about trying to emulate stock superpowers.

* The ''Super Ace'' story in an issue of the ''Series/RedDwarf Smegazine'' had Ace Rimmer visit a universe where the Dwarfers were superheroes living in the city of Smegopolis. In addition to the FlyingBrick Super Ace, other characters were Lister as Action Man (a Punisher pastiche with a smiley face instead of a skull), Cat and Kryten as Catman and Robbie, and the floating telepathic head of Professor H.

!!Examples:

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongebobMovieSpongeOutOfWater'' has ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' and co. become superheroes in order to rescue the Krabby Patty formula.

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Hanna-Barbera's animated series of ''Abbott and Costello'' had a short titled "Super Lou", in which Lou's FairyGodmother gives him a pass to the MasqueradeBall, which Bud is attending. She also gives Lou a superhero costume and FlyingBrick powers, which he loses at midnight, just after thwarting a pair of thieves.
* Cubby impersonates the "Crimson Avenger" in one episode of ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGummiBears'' turning himself into a Zorro-like hero for a few days.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheAngryBeavers'' pretty much played this trope to death with its "Muscular Beaver" episodes, which had Daggett cause trouble by pretending to be a superhero called Muscular Beaver and his brother, Norb, having to keep him in line by playing along as a villain called Baron Bad Beaver.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Babar}}'''s episode "The Scarlet Pachyderm" has Arthur and [[spoiler:Babar]] impersonating the in-universe comic book superhero of the same name in order to defend people from two corrupt rhino border guards.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheBackyardigans'' episodes "Race to the Tower of Power", "Front Page News", "Flower Power", and "Super Team Awesome".
* WesternAnimation/{{Beetlejuice}} tries to become a superhero (for the comic book sales, of course) but can't get into a superhero union. He tries to get some of his antagonists to be his arch-villain, to no avail. Lydia does get to be the token cub reporter.
* Season 3 of ''WesternAnimation/BigMouth'' has an episode where everyone wakes up to discover they have super powers, each getting their own costumes and names. It turns out [[spoiler: this was just based on something Caleb made in his spare time, though the character's actions do play into events that really happen]].
* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'':
** In the WesternAnimation/BugsBunny cartoon "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super-Rabbit Super-Rabbit]]", Bugs acquires carrots which, when eaten, temporarily give him the abilities of [[FlyingBrick super strength and speed, flight and invulnerability]]. Later, the two villains obtain the carrots and gain super powers of their own. Followed up immediately by a ShoutOut to, in the eyes of just about all back then and still many today, some real-life superheroes... the US Marine Corps.[[note]]Leading the USMC to officially induct Bugs as an honorary private in the Marine Corps. He was regularly promoted until "retiring" at the end of the war as a Master Sergeant.[[/note]]
--->'''Bugs:''' ''[sees the villains in Super form]'' This looks like a job for a ''real'' superman! ''[dives into a phone booth, and emerges in Marine Corps dress blues]''
** "Super Rabbit" is also the title of the last episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow'' where the story is a WholePlotReference to ''Film/SupermanII'' with Bugs as Superman and Daffy as Zod.
** The WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck short "Stuporduck" had Daffy as an incompetent Superman parody who, thanks to overhearing a radio serial, went around causing trouble and suffering AmusingInjuries while trying to thwart what he thought was the work of a mad bomber. Also the latter-day short "Superior Duck."
* ''WesternAnimation/CatDog'' has two episodes: "Dog the Mighty" and its SequelEpisode "Dog the Not-So Mighty". In the first one, Dog gets the impression that he is a superhero after saving Rancid Rabbit's life and ''tries'' to fight crime with Cat as his sidekick Cat-Boy. In the SequelEpisode, Cat quits as Dog's sidekick so Dog gets a new Cat-Boy in Randolph the news reporter.
* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/ChipAndDaleRescueRangers'' has Dale obtaining a fragment of a meteor that gives him super-stretching powers ([[HilariousInHindsight ironically similar]] to those of [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Mister Fantastic]]) and the becomes a superhero... at the same time that the VillainOfTheWeek obtains another fragment that gives him the same powers.
* In ''WesternAnimation/DanVs'' "The Superhero," a SmugSuper named Terrifi-Guy accidentally destroys [[RevengeBeforeReason Dan]]'s car. After failing to get an apology, Dan and a reluctant [[ExtremeDoormat Chris]] try to become better superheroes than him. When that fails, Dan instead decides to become a super''villain'' called "Dr. Jerk," which obviously suits him much better. He also tries to give the two of them superpowers with radioactive waste.
* ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'' had "Penfold B.F.," where Penfold takes an untested vitamin pill and turns into the Blue Flash, a rhyming superhero. His efforts to help DM corral a Patagonian pygmy pigeon is haphazard at best.
* The ''WesternAnimation/DuckDodgers'' episode "The Green Loontern", where Dodgers accidentally gets Franchise/GreenLantern's uniform and ring from the dry cleaners.
* A ''[[WesternAnimation/DastardlyAndMuttleyInTheirFlyingMachines Magnificent Muttley]]'' installment had the snickering daydreamer imagine he's Super Muttley thwarting Dick "Light-Fingers" Dastardly from robbing a safe.
* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'' notably had a superhero character added into the second season in Gizmo Duck, but one episode entitled "The Masked Mallard" notably featured Scrooge becoming a masked vigilante.
** Before that, there was the episode "Superdoo," where Doofus becomes a FlyingBrick after he finds [[ImportedAlienPhlebotinum a crystal]] that [[VillainOfAnotherStory two aliens lost, after they stole it]] in order to [[GalacticConqueror take over the galaxy.]] He ends up getting rid of the crystal after he realizes [[SmugSuper how self centered he had become,]] and that using his powers to win patches was akin to cheating.
* ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'': "Robbin' Ed" has Johnny 2x4 and Plank as "Captain Melon-head and Splinter the Wonder Wood", who steal back the money Eddy conned off the other kids. This drives Eddy to plot revenge as the super-villain "Professor Scam". Melonhead and Splinter return in TheMovie.
* ''WesternAnimation/EndangeredSpecies2015'' has "Just Us League of Superheroes", in which the trio dress up as superheroes.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' "Big Superhero Wish" episode turns ''everyone'' in the world into a superhero/villan.
** ''The Fairly [=OddParents=]'' loves superhero episodes. Timmy is, after all, Cleft the Boy Chin Wonder. And the Masked Magician. And occasionally Crash Nebula. And his parents are Mighty Mom and Dyno Dad.
* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' had the family mutated by a crashed toxic waste truck. Most of their powers were "[[StockSuperpowers normal]]", but [[ButtMonkey Meg's]] power was [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway super amazing fingernail growth]]. Since they behave like villains, Mayor West tries to get superpowers the same way... [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome and gets cancer instead]]. However, his illness is the family's wake-up call, and they vow to use their powers only for good.
* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/FelixTheCat'' had this. Apparently, his "Magic Bag" wasn't super enough on its own to count as making him a superhero, but it ''could'' just give him tights, super-powers, and a big beefy physique.
* ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'': "Challenge of the Super Friends" which Mac becomes the sidekick for the superhero imaginary friend Imaginary Man while Bloo became the evil sidekick of Imaginary Man's enemy Nemesis[[spoiler:ter]]
* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode "Less Than Hero," in which Fry and Leela gain SuperStrength, SuperSpeed, and NotQuiteFlight WallJump as side effects of a [[SuperSerum medicated muscle rub]]. They are soon joined by Bender (despite his being "more on the supply side of crime"), who could [[SuperpoweredRobotMeterMaids do cool things already]].
** They did not have [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway the power to command the loyalty of sea creatures]], though (one of the potential side effects of Miracle Cream).
* In ''WesternAnimation/GarfieldAndFriends'', Orson's Farm occasionally featured Orson becoming "Power Pig" in both "reality" and dream sequences. In reality, his only powers seemed to be having a stupid costume (in his debut episode, he was used to distract the villain (a fox) with his appearance, which caused the fox to fall down laughing); in dream sequences, his powers consisted of something along the lines of Superman's (super strength and flying). In dream sequences, which usually consisted of a jazzed up version of the problem of the episode being solved, he was used as an inspiration for what Orson did in "real life".
* ''WesternAnimation/TheGarfieldShow'':
** "Super Me" sees Garfield disguise himself as the hero Ultra Powerful Guy in order to get Nermal to give him food. He then inadvertently gets caught up in helping the ''real'' Ultra Powerful Guy thwart a bank robbery.
** "The Caped Avenger Rides Again!" is about Garfield taking on the identity of the titular superhero (with Odie as his sidekick Slurp) in order to find a stolen comic book. This got a sequel episode, "The Superhero Apprentice", in which Garfield tries to find a new sidekick and Nermal decides to become a supervillain.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'' had the episode "Super Zero" where Grim makes Billy a superhero with the power to squirt yogurt from his armpits. The boy then [[BatmanCanBreatheInSpace heads off to space]] to fight an evil space empire.
* The ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'' episode, ''Monkeyman!'' has Arnold being saved by the titular vigilante, who then neglects his duties after becoming famous before returning to crime-fighting.
* ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' had an episode where Jade was inflicted with all the powers of the talismans. She then dons a cape and calls herself "T-Girl". She reprises this role in another episode although with fewer powers. In season five, Jade's friend Larry gets the power of the Earth demon and starts behaving like a superhero with disastrous results.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius'':
** "N-Men", an homage to the ''Franchise/FantasticFour'' and the ''Franchise/XMen'', the kids are on their way back to Earth in their space ship (won on a game show in a previous episode) and accidentally get superpowers while passing through the Van Allen belt, each powers coming from what they were doing at the point. Jimmy was drinking orange juice and arm-wrestling (becoming orange and going into a Hulk-like state whenever angry) with Cindy (becoming Wonder Woman, essentially), Libby was putting on vanishing cream (gaining invisibility and force field abilities), Sheen was on a massaging chair (becoming the Flash... his bladder suffered) and Carl belching while drinking soda (gaining supersonic belching abilities).
** A later episode reveals that Jimmy recreated their N-Men powers and made them into packets of powder to be ingested. He has Carl distribute them to everyone, who mixes them up, resulting in himself and Libby swapping powers while Cindy swaps powers with Sheen (although at the end, after the powers wear off, Cindy takes a swig of her own packet and regains her old powers so that she can dispose of a bomb). Jimmy's got switched with a love potion from another episode, so he uses that to make two of the villains fall in love with each other.
* ''WesternAnimation/JimmyTwoShoes'' had one in its first season and another in its second, though unlike the typical formula for this trope, the powers were incredibly [[AvertedTrope unorthodox]].
** Season 1's was "Power Squid and Spaghetti Beezy", where after running afoul of the Rodeo Clowns, Jimmy uses a "squid-based muscle enhancer" to get his shoe and comic back from them, with Beezy joining him with his bad breath as his superpower. The pair soon use their powers to help Miseryville, which not only infuriates the humiliated clowns further, but is opposed by Lucius because their heroics make people happy.
** Season 2 followed it up with "The Terrific Trio", where Lucius is constantly being attacked by a mysterious monster, leading Jimmy and Beezy to take their old mantles again, only this with Heloise joining them as Trouble Bubble Girl...and all three fighting over who gets to save Lucius. Also, Season 2 would [[ContinuityNod occasionally]] have the characters become their superhero forms again if the need arose.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'': "Let's Play Justice Masters", where Kaeloo is dressed as Franchise/{{Zorro}}, Stumpy as Series/Batman1966 and Quack Quack as Robin.
* In ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'', Kim and Ron each have a SuperheroEpisode -- in "Go Team Go", Kim temporarily gains Hego's SuperStrength, and in "The Fearless Ferret", Ron temporarily becomes the {{sidekick}} of the [[Series/Batman1966 TV-Batman]] {{expy}} hero [[spoiler:(actually [[LostInCharacter a delusional]] [[AdamWesting actor]])]].
* ''WesternAnimation/MenInBlack: The Series'':
** One episode has K, J and L developing superpowers after they are exposed to an alien radiation. Their powers are essentially their biggest characteristic UpToEleven (K is tough and his body becomes rock, L is smart and her brain develops telekinesis and other brain-related powers and J is pretty hyperactive and becomes flexible). Three alien criminals also developed superpowers.
** Another has J becoming the Human Torch after eating alien food. This is, however, dangerous for him as the effects would eventually kill him if he uses his powers. Nevertheless he is forced to do it due to an alien enemy force attacking the MIB.
** And another had an alien immigrant decide to become a superhero, so MIB HQ decides to make Agent J into a supervillain to stop him, and all the attention he's getting.
* ''WesternAnimation/MonsterBusterClub'' has an episode ("Comic Book Heroes") that features an alien nerd using the Earth as a place to store his billions of comic books. Cathy gets a hold of one series, "Liberty Lass", and pronounces herself a superheroine, Cathy Lass. She doesn't gain any ''new'' powers, but that doesn't matter because [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands she usually has whatever wacky alien power she needs for any given situation anyway]].
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
** "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E8TheMysteriousMareDoWell The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well]]" is an episode where Rainbow Dash goes on an ego trip after saving some ponies from accidents and being called a hero. Her thunder is stolen by the eponymous masked pony. Mare-Do-Well's costume is a homage to WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck's, and some of her fans are seen carrying signs with a parody of the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' logo on them.
** In the season 4 episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E6PowerPonies Power Ponies]]", Spike and the Mane Six are accidentally pulled into the world of one of Spike's favorite superhero comics, and must protect the city of Maretropolis from [[PrehensileHair the Mane-iac]]. Each member of the Mane Six becomes a CaptainErsatz of a famous superhero; Rainbow Dash as ComicBook/TheMightyThor or ComicBook/{{Storm}}, Pinkie Pie as ComicBook/TheFlash, Rarity as ComicBook/GreenLantern, Applejack as ComicBook/WonderWoman (with some ComicBook/{{Batman}} thrown in) and Fluttershy as ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk (yes really). Twilight Sparkle seems to be the odd one out, possibly being either [[ComicBook/XMen Cyclops or Iceman]][[note]]She can shoot a freeze ray from her horn[[/note]]. [[ButtMonkey Spike]] meanwhile regrettably gets forced into the role of the seemingly pointless ComicBook/{{Robin}}-like sidekick (but he ends up saving the team by the end of the episode).
* In the first-season ''WesternAnimation/PacMan'' episode "Super Ghosts", Mezmaron's formula gives the Ghost Monsters super strength and other powers. Afterward, Pac-Man and his wife eat special power pellets that enable them to fly.
* ''WesternAnimation/PAWPatrol'' has two of these episodes:
** An episode where Apollo the Super-pup is need in help of the Paw Patrol to defeat the spider king.
** A TV-movie where the Paw Patrol gained super-powers and facing a dangerous challenge from the villain who fights using a giant mech while damaging the city and have their Leader hostage. wooh! according to that wiki. It is the Special that everyone talked about: MIGHTY PUPS!
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'' had an episode where Kowalski, Rico, and Private find a bunch of comic books and decide to become costumed vigilantes around the zoo. When Julian finds the comics, he decides to become one as well, but confuses the superhero with the supervillain and needs to be stopped by the penguins.
* A Famous Studios ''ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}'' installment had Olive swooning over Superman, so Bluto impersonates Superman and has Olive fawning over him. Popeye tries to one-up him, but when Bluto exposes himself as a faux Man of Steel, Popeye eats his spinach and becomes a caped hero himself.
* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'':
** In Season 2's "The Beak", the boys invent an oversized suit of PoweredArmor worn TotemPoleTrench-style as safety gear for their latest project, but get mistaken for a superhero, and when a villain appears on the scene, they have to roll with it. Many superhero staples are referenced, like the TwoPersonLoveTriangle between Phineas and Isabella, who's going for her IntrepidReporter patch, and a parody of 1967!Spider-Man's BraggingThemeTune.
** ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerbMissionMarvel'', a {{crossover}} between ''P&F'' and the ''WesternAnimation/MarvelUniverse'' [[UsefulNotes/BlockProgramming programming block]] sees the characters do it again as they team up with Spider-Man and some of the Avengers. Phineas and Ferb don the Beak armor again, Baljeet temporarily becomes [[HulkingOut Hulk-jeet]], Perry the Platypus gets mistaken for ComicBook/HowardTheDuck, and Buford takes the BadassNormal approach [[ItMakesSenseInContext wearing his fuzzy bear suit]] and using fish as {{Improvised Weapon}}s.
** In a variation, the episode "Out Of Toon" sees the boys create a superhero cartoon based on themselves and their friends. In the cartoon, Phineas gets [[MesACrowd duplication powers]], Ferb gets a well-stocked toolbelt, Isabella's powers are derived from various stereotypically girly things, Baljeet (after expressing disappointment that Isabella took his idea) becomes a SizeShifter, Buford gets [[{{Gasshole}} super burping abilities]], and Candace is cast as the psychically-powered villainess "Control Freak".
* The ''WesternAnimation/PoundPuppies2010'' episode "The Watchdogs" had Strudel bring hope to the dogs picked on by Stain by pretending to be a superhero named Electro-Noggin. Niblet joined the fun as another costumed hero named Mad Dog.
* Interestingly, ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' had one of these in "Super Zeroes", despite the main characters already being superheroes. After reading comic books, the girls decide to copy their favorite heroines in order to become better heroes, with Blossom, Buttercup and Bubbles taking on new heroic identities as Liberty Belle (notably, the actual name of a {{Legacy Hero}}ine in the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica), Mange (a ComicBook/{{Spawn}} {{Expy}}), and Harmony Bunny (an {{Animesque}} cute rabbit character along the lines of Franchise/HelloKitty). It doesn't go well, and the MonsterOfTheWeek itself complains about it.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheProudFamily'' had "A Hero for Halloween", which doubles as a HalloweenEpisode. Penny is imbued with superpowers after eating Proud Scary Snax, and uses them to save her friends' Halloween candy and her family from a vengeful ghost.
* ''WesternAnimation/QuackPack'':
** "The Really Mighty Ducks", in which Professor von Drake has built a machine that grants superpowers. Our three protagonists use it, and emerge as... "Brain Boy!" "Captain Muscle!" "...and...[[BuffySpeak the Really-Incredibly-Fast Guy]]!"
** Also haq a SequelEpisode where the boys become their superhero alter egos again in order to save Donald. Louie notes [[NiceJobBreakingItHero that they seem to do more harm than good]].
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'':
** In "[[Recap/RugratsS2E11SuperheroChuckieTheDogBroomer Superhero Chuckie]]", Chuckie pretends to be a superhero named Captain Chuckie after he sees an episode of ''[[ShowWithinAShow Captain Blasto]]''.
** "[[Recap/RugratsS3E21AngelicasWorstNightmareTheMegaDiaperBabies The Mega Diaper Babies]]", the babies pretend to be a team of superheroes [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin called the Mega Diaper Babies]] to save the [[ShowWithinAShow Mega Hyper Heroes]] from Angelica as Angelitron.
** A later episode sees them pretending to be another fictional superhero team called the Adventure Squad, who are a group of mountaineers with different powers (except Bob, who just drives the van).
* ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'': In one episode, a comic book superhero (similar in powers to ComicBook/{{Superman}}) literally comes out of the pages, alongside the supervillain (a MadScientist in a mechanical suit ala ComicBook/LexLuthor). The hero at first thought the Ghostbusters were supervillains but when things get clear they team-up to fight the villain.
* While not a superhero episode as a whole, the Coyote hopelessly and hilariously subverts this in the ''[[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Road Runner]]'' cartoon "Fast And Furry-ous." He dons a superhero outfit thinking it will allow him to fly. [[GravityIsAHarshMistress Gravity says otherwise.]] (Chuck Jones described it as animator Ken Harris in a Batman costume.)
* ''WesternAnimation/SabrinaTheAnimatedSeries'': "The Senses-Shattering Adventures of Captain Harvtastic" explores Sabrina, Harvey and Salem ending up getting sucked into a comic book that Harvey drew. In it, Harvey becomes Captain Harvtastic -- who can create anything if he draws it with his pen gun. The rest of the supers have rather [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway pathetic powers]] -- such as Mega Girl (atomic tantrum power), Gazebo Boy (turns into a gazebo to trap enemies) and Calamari Queen (shoots squids out of her hands). The last one at least proves useful when Harvey's pen runs out of ink, and she remembers what squids are good for.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS11E4TreehouseOfHorrorX Treehouse of Horror X]]", Bart and Lisa (as Stretch Dude and Clobber Girl) are attempting to foil the Villain Comic Book Guy (the Collector) during one of their {{Bizarro|Episode}} {{Halloween Episode}}s.
** In a canon episode, "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS15E19SimpleSimpson Simple Simpson]]", Homer becomes the vigilante Pie Man, who throws pies at people while wearing a pie-tin mask on his face. The episode was largely a parody of the ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy''.
** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS18E11RevengeIsADishBestServedThreeTimes Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times]]", one of the segments is called ''[[Film/BatmanBegins Bartman Begins]]'' and shows Bart becoming a superhero similar to Franchise/{{Batman}}.
** "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS24E16DarkKnightCourt Dark Knight Court]]" has Mr Burns becoming ''Fruit Bat Man''. Smithers pays Homer, Lenny and Carl to pretend to be supervillains and lose fights on purpose in order to spare Burns' feelings.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'''s episode "Supersmurf" has Brainy becoming a Superman-like superhero defending the village from Bigmouth the ogre.
* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' originally had "The Coon", when [[TokenEvilTeammate Cartman]] tries to become a vigilante called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the Coon]], proves really bad at it, and gets pissed off when another KidHero named [[TheCowl Mysterion]] shows up and proves far more popular. The episode ends with [[TheUnreveal the audience unsure of which kid Mysterion is]]. Both characters later reappear in the "Coon and Friends" trilogy, where the other kids also have superhero identities and form a team, only for Cartman to [[HeroicTeamRevolt get kicked out]] and [[ItMakesSenseInContext team up with Cthulhu]]. The latter episodes are actually [[CerebusRetcon surprisingly dark]] after revealing that Mysterion, aka [[spoiler:[[LovableSexManiac Kenny]]]], is a DeathSeeker because, unlike the others, his power--[[spoiler:[[TheyKilledKenny constantly dying]]]]--is both real and [[BlessedWithSuck really unpleasant]]. There is also another kid with actual superpowers and Superman-like origins. He is the one who ends up defeating Cthulhu. ''Videogame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole'' is this as an entire game, with the kids compete with one another trying to get their own cinematic universes.
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'':
** "Mermaidman and Barnacle Boy V" has [=SpongeBob=], Patrick, Sandy and Squidward all gain superpowers to fight Mermaid Man's enemies. Amusingly, this was made possible because powers come from wearing the [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman ridiculous costumes]]. [[EpicFail They all defeat themselves before doing anything useful with them]]--except for Mermaidman, who just spontaneously collapses.
** A later episode was "Patrick-man!" where Patrick tries to be a superhero.
* ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'':
** Several episodes in the ''[[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 1987 TMNT cartoon series]]'' including "Super Irma", "Raphael Vs. The Volcano," "Night of the Dark Turtle," and "Super Hero for a Day."
** The [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 2003 series]] has several as well, as a Justice League type team actually exists in this world, and Michelangelo occasionally dips into his persona as "The Turtle Titan". Then there's the AlternateRealityEpisode where he encounters the main cast in a world where they are ALL superheroes and [[spoiler:Splinter is their archenemy.]]
* In the ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine'' episode, "James the Super Engine", James fantasizes about being a superhero called the Rail Rocket after hearing about a comic book superhero called the Red Shadow. When a barrel of oil spills over James' eyes, it makes him look like he's wearing a superhero mask. James spends the rest of the day pretending to be the Rail Rocket, but has a hard time finding anyone who needs to be saved. He eventually saves Rebecca from being hit by a falling coal hopper when an accident with Percy's freight cars causes said coal hopper to fall over.
* From ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'', the segment, "Just-Us League of Super Toons" (part of "[[Recap/TinyToonAdventuresS32NewClassDay New Class Day]]") where Plucky plays the role of Batduck (ComicBook/{{Batman}}) and Hamton plays the role of Decoy (Robin). Buster plays the role of Superbun (ComicBook/{{Superman}}) and introduces Plucky to the Just-Us League of Supertoons, consisting of himself, Wonder Babs (Babs as ComicBook/WonderWoman), Little Dasher (Little Beeper as ComicBook/TheFlash), Hawk Loon (Shirley as Hawgirl), Aquamutt (Byron Basset as ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}), Pink Canary (Sweetie as ComicBook/BlackCanary), Keen Arrow (Calamity Coyote as ComicBook/GreenArrow), and Scentenna (Fifi as ComicBook/{{Zatanna}}).
* ''WesternAnimation/TrollsTrollstopia'' has "The Party Pooper", which continues off from the previous series ''WesternAnimation/TrollsTheBeatGoesOn'''s episodes "Marshtato Fairy" and "The Partier's Apprentice". While the latter episode still had Shout-Outs to superhero media, it didn't have a superhero-like plot.
* ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'': In "The Boy Wander", Wander dons a mask and cape (and [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness an uncharacteristically serious demeanor]]) to take on Dr. Screwball Jones, a MadScientist whose twisted idea of bringing happiness and laughter to others is through TickleTorture.
* A variation for ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'', which is already about superheroes. It overlaps with GirlsNightOutEpisode and WalkOnTheWildSideEpisode -- where Jean, Kitty, Rogue, Amara and Tabitha decide to form a vigilante crime-fighting group known as the Bayville Sirens. Complete with black leather outfits, too.
* ''WesternAnimation/ZekesPad'': In "Drawing Conclusions", Ida loses her precious electronic organizer. The organizer is what keeps the house tidy and the chores assigned. To help her find the organizer, and in turn prove that he is logical, Zeke draws himself as a superhero detective, Zeke Streak, complete with tight spandex and a mask.
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