Acquired Poison Immunity: Difference between revisions

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In short, this trope references the development of immunity to a particular drug or poison [[Charles Atlas Superpower|by taking small doses for a long time.]]

Here's a typical scenario: The hero has finally appeared at his confrontation with the [[Big Bad]], who's seated at his big table, just about to take his evening meal. "There's no reason to be uncivil," the villain says. Would the hero like some wine? The hero takes a drink, and immediately starts choking. The villain laughs - that fool, the hero, should have known that the villain would poison the wine with the dreaded juice of the [[Kill Em All|killemall]] fruit!

Here's a typical scenario: The hero has finally appeared at his confrontation with the [[Big Bad]], who's seated at his big table, just about to take his evening meal. "There's no reason to be uncivil," the villain says. Would the hero like some wine? The hero takes a drink, and immediately starts choking. The villain laughs - that fool, the hero, should have known that the villain would poison the wine with the dreaded juice of the [[Kill'Em All|killemall]] fruit!

But what's this? The hero's standing back up! "I knew you'd poison the wine with the dreaded juice of the killemall fruit. That's why I've spent years eating small pieces of killemall fruit, to develop an immunity to the poison!" The hero then [[Kicking Ass and Taking Names|kicks the villain's tail]].

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This can be [[Truth in Television]], or not, depending on the poison in question. For some poisons, the body produces antibodies to clear them from the system; so, with repeated exposure to small amounts, you can build up a level of circulating antibody that grants immunity to a typical dose. However, there are plenty of other poisons that ''don't'' get cleared from the system and simply build up in your tissues until you reach a lethal dose.

This trope is officially named Mithridatism, after a king who made use of the effect. It backfired when he was defeated and [[Driven to Suicide|tried to commit suicide]]; his immunity to poison [[Gone Horribly Right|worked so well]] that he ended up needing to [[I Cannot Self Terminate|hire a mercenary]] to [[Impaled With Extreme Prejudice|run him through.]]

This trope is officially named Mithridatism, after a king who made use of the effect. It backfired when he was defeated and [[Driven to Suicide|tried to commit suicide]]; his immunity to poison [[Gone Horribly Right|worked so well]] that he ended up needing to [[I Cannot Self-Terminate|hire a mercenary]] to [[Impaled With Extreme Prejudice|run him through.]]

== Anime & Manga ==

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== Webcomics ==

* In ''[[Something Positive]]'', Kharisma tries to kill Avagadro with cyanide, which he has built up an immunity to after being poisoned by so many people over so many years. He says that he has grown accustomed to the taste, and now puts it on his cereal.

* Gilgamesh Wulfenbach of ''[[Girl Genius (Webcomic)|Girl Genius]]'' has immunity to many many things. Because his father "figures that a ruler should be... ''hard to kill''", what with the people across all the Europe who upset at killing that [[Mad Scientist]] or bombing this town in process... which extends to [[Overlord Jr|his heir]]. {{spoiler|This came in useful in the current arc where Tarvek suffered a particularly nasty disease -- Gil was able to disregard the risk of infection}}.

* Gilgamesh Wulfenbach of ''[[Girl Genius (Webcomic)|Girl Genius]]'' has immunity to many many things. Because his father "figures that a ruler should be... ''hard to kill''", what with the people across all the Europe who upset at killing that [[Mad Scientist]] or bombing this town in process... which extends to [[Overlord, Jr.|his heir]]. {{spoiler|This came in useful in the current arc where Tarvek suffered a particularly nasty disease -- Gil was able to disregard the risk of infection}}.

* Lifolei of ''[[Juathuur]]''... a scary, scary woman.

* ''[[Keychain of Creation]]'': Besides disturbing quantities of alcohol, Ten Winds has reportedly been exposed to toxins, drugs and pharmaceuticals of all kinds and quantities from across [[Exalted|Creation]] over his multi-century lifespan. Stack that on top of his already supernatural Exalted metabolism and you have someone who is ''very'' hard to poison.