With Great Power Comes Great Insanity: Difference between revisions

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[[Karmic Death]] is a frequent end for not only the subject, but the scientists who created him/her/it.
[[Karmic Death]] is a frequent end for not only the subject, but the scientists who created him/her/it.


May be either the cause or the result of [[Science Related Memetic Disorder]], especially if the person is already a [[Mad Scientist]] to begin with.
May be either the cause or the result of [[Science-Related Memetic Disorder]], especially if the person is already a [[Mad Scientist]] to begin with.


[[HG Wells]] used the trope in ''[[The Invisible Man (Literature)|The Invisible Man]]'', making it [[Older Than Radio]]. In fact, [[Invisible Jerkass|invisibility]] seems to drive one insane more than any other power, due to homage. Less well known, [[Plato]] had a story about invisibility with the same result. Because invisibility can do things like letting you [[GIFT|escape easily without consequences]] or [[Power Perversion Potential|peek in the girls' dressing room]].
[[HG Wells]] used the trope in ''[[The Invisible Man (Literature)|The Invisible Man]]'', making it [[Older Than Radio]]. In fact, [[Invisible Jerkass|invisibility]] seems to drive one insane more than any other power, due to homage. Less well known, [[Plato]] had a story about invisibility with the same result. Because invisibility can do things like letting you [[GIFT|escape easily without consequences]] or [[Power Perversion Potential|peek in the girls' dressing room]].
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A.K.A. [[Comes Great Insanity]] for short, to go with the original version, [[Comes Great Responsibility]]. Compare [[The Corruption]], [[Drunk With Power]], [[God for A Day]] and [[Mad God]].
A.K.A. [[Comes Great Insanity]] for short, to go with the original version, [[Comes Great Responsibility]]. Compare [[The Corruption]], [[Drunk With Power]], [[God for A Day]] and [[Mad God]].


{{examples|Examples:}}
{{examples}}


== Anime and Manga ==
== Anime and Manga ==
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** Aizen has never been entirely sane but his insanity slowly becomes more and more obvious the greater his power becomes. {{spoiler|By the time he's fused with the Hougyoku, he's fullblown crazy.}}
** Aizen has never been entirely sane but his insanity slowly becomes more and more obvious the greater his power becomes. {{spoiler|By the time he's fused with the Hougyoku, he's fullblown crazy.}}
** Also, Kouga (from the third anime filler arc) fits this trope perfectly. His power ( {{spoiler|forcing others' zanpakutou to do his bidding}}) is truly enormous; and he quickly goes insane.
** Also, Kouga (from the third anime filler arc) fits this trope perfectly. His power ( {{spoiler|forcing others' zanpakutou to do his bidding}}) is truly enormous; and he quickly goes insane.
* Itsuki's Glam Sight in ''[[Rental Magica]]'' gives him his [[Crouching Moron Hidden Badass]] ability that makes him just the right sort of leader for his team of mages. However, the more he uses it, the more it eats away at his sanity. Thus, Honami and the others warn him not to use it as much as possible.
* Itsuki's Glam Sight in ''[[Rental Magica]]'' gives him his [[Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass]] ability that makes him just the right sort of leader for his team of mages. However, the more he uses it, the more it eats away at his sanity. Thus, Honami and the others warn him not to use it as much as possible.
* ''[[Inuyasha|Inu-Yasha]]'''s heritage of demonic power from his Greater Demon father is so strong that it is too much for his half-human body to handle. That's why his father created the [[Empathic Weapon|Tessaiga]], to serve as a [[Restraining Bolt]] on Inuyasha's demonic power and thus preserve his sanity (while also making up for the power surpressed with the sword's own usefulness). If the sword is taken from Inuyasha or broken, he must refrain from getting too emotionally excited, or he risks unleashing his full, uncontrollable strength. Worse, each subsequent overload renders him more insane than the last, and it becomes harder to snap him out of it. If left unchecked, Inuyasha would eventually be reduced to a mindless monster killing and destroying everything and everyone around him, ''permanently''.
* ''[[Inuyasha|Inu-Yasha]]'''s heritage of demonic power from his Greater Demon father is so strong that it is too much for his half-human body to handle. That's why his father created the [[Empathic Weapon|Tessaiga]], to serve as a [[Restraining Bolt]] on Inuyasha's demonic power and thus preserve his sanity (while also making up for the power surpressed with the sword's own usefulness). If the sword is taken from Inuyasha or broken, he must refrain from getting too emotionally excited, or he risks unleashing his full, uncontrollable strength. Worse, each subsequent overload renders him more insane than the last, and it becomes harder to snap him out of it. If left unchecked, Inuyasha would eventually be reduced to a mindless monster killing and destroying everything and everyone around him, ''permanently''.
* Contractors in ''[[Darker Than Black]]'' appear to have 'complete lack of conscience' as one side-effect of gaining their powers (and their powers are usually destructive in nature). Even the sanest amongst them are [[Affably Evil]] or [[Anti Hero|Anti Heroic]] at best and have no problems with taking lives, though whether it is the powers themselves that cause it or the result of the extensive [[Masquerade]] surrounding them and how their fellow humans treat them is up to debate.
* Contractors in ''[[Darker Than Black]]'' appear to have 'complete lack of conscience' as one side-effect of gaining their powers (and their powers are usually destructive in nature). Even the sanest amongst them are [[Affably Evil]] or [[Anti-Hero|Anti Heroic]] at best and have no problems with taking lives, though whether it is the powers themselves that cause it or the result of the extensive [[Masquerade]] surrounding them and how their fellow humans treat them is up to debate.
* Human-type homunculi of ''[[Busou Renkin]]'' are a borderline example, as while becoming a homunculus does grant a human great power, none of the ones seen seem like they were particularly sane beforehand. Victor, though, is a dead-on example, as becoming a Victor made him do a [[Face Heel Turn]] from an alchemic warrior to a demigod attempting to destroy all alchemy.
* Human-type homunculi of ''[[Busou Renkin]]'' are a borderline example, as while becoming a homunculus does grant a human great power, none of the ones seen seem like they were particularly sane beforehand. Victor, though, is a dead-on example, as becoming a Victor made him do a [[Face Heel Turn]] from an alchemic warrior to a demigod attempting to destroy all alchemy.
** No, the cause of his [[Face Heel Turn]] was {{spoiler|his superiors turning his thirteen-year-old daughter into a homunculus and sending her to kill him}}.
** No, the cause of his [[Face Heel Turn]] was {{spoiler|his superiors turning his thirteen-year-old daughter into a homunculus and sending her to kill him}}.
* [[Nietzsche Wannabe|Sensui]] from ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' would probably count, as he seems to have been at least ''slightly'' cracked before he [[Face Heel Turn|officially]] [[Start of Darkness|went insane on the mission to the Black Black Club]]. (As a child, he says that he is the [[Well Intentioned Extremist|"warrior for justice"]]. Wondering why demons only attacked you as opposed to other people, and knowing about the extent of your own power to destroy other living things leads to this trope.)
* [[Nietzsche Wannabe|Sensui]] from ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' would probably count, as he seems to have been at least ''slightly'' cracked before he [[Face Heel Turn|officially]] [[Start of Darkness|went insane on the mission to the Black Black Club]]. (As a child, he says that he is the [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|"warrior for justice"]]. Wondering why demons only attacked you as opposed to other people, and knowing about the extent of your own power to destroy other living things leads to this trope.)
* A major part of ''[[Tsukihime]]''; whenever most characters use more of their potential powers, a direct effect is the deterioration of their sanity. Examples are {{spoiler|Akiha's inversion impulse, Arcueid's blood-lust taking over (often called 'Warcueid'), and the protagonist upon using his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception too much. The entire Tohno family has this. In spades.}}
* A major part of ''[[Tsukihime]]''; whenever most characters use more of their potential powers, a direct effect is the deterioration of their sanity. Examples are {{spoiler|Akiha's inversion impulse, Arcueid's blood-lust taking over (often called 'Warcueid'), and the protagonist upon using his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception too much. The entire Tohno family has this. In spades.}}
** Arcueid's case is kinda special in that she does not gain additional power during her "blood-lust" mode; she always had that power, "blood-lust" simply makes her no longer hold back. Well, unless she's fighting against Shiki, because only normal women can resist the Nanaya glands.
** Arcueid's case is kinda special in that she does not gain additional power during her "blood-lust" mode; she always had that power, "blood-lust" simply makes her no longer hold back. Well, unless she's fighting against Shiki, because only normal women can resist the Nanaya glands.
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* In ''[[Rosario to Vampire]]'' being injected with a youkai's blood gives you all of their abilities for a short while. Eventually the effect starts wearing your body down. One time too many will kill you (if you're lucky) or [[Body Horror|horribly mangle your body]] and, if vampire blood is involved, leave you a mindless killing machine. Fortunately there are [[Power Limiter|ways to counteract]] the less-than-desireable effects.
* In ''[[Rosario to Vampire]]'' being injected with a youkai's blood gives you all of their abilities for a short while. Eventually the effect starts wearing your body down. One time too many will kill you (if you're lucky) or [[Body Horror|horribly mangle your body]] and, if vampire blood is involved, leave you a mindless killing machine. Fortunately there are [[Power Limiter|ways to counteract]] the less-than-desireable effects.
** Subverted with Tsukune, in the fact that he doesn't even ''have a mind'' anymore when this happens.
** Subverted with Tsukune, in the fact that he doesn't even ''have a mind'' anymore when this happens.
* In ''[[Get Backers]]'', Ginji and {{spoiler|Kazuki}} have this as a side effect of their [[Super Powered Evil Side|Superpowered Evil Sides]]. Ginji's "Lightning Lord" aspect is quiet, cold and utterly ruthless, while {{spoiler|Kazuki goes absolutely berserk when he releases the seal on his "Stigma," becoming vicious and blood-thirsty.}} They're always sorry afterward.
* In ''[[Get Backers]]'', Ginji and {{spoiler|Kazuki}} have this as a side effect of their [[Super-Powered Evil Side|Superpowered Evil Sides]]. Ginji's "Lightning Lord" aspect is quiet, cold and utterly ruthless, while {{spoiler|Kazuki goes absolutely berserk when he releases the seal on his "Stigma," becoming vicious and blood-thirsty.}} They're always sorry afterward.
* In ''[[Soul Eater]]'', the characters infected with [[The Corruption|Black Blood]] have their strength increased tremendously when they use it, but also run the risk of losing themselves completely to insanity. Oops.
* In ''[[Soul Eater]]'', the characters infected with [[The Corruption|Black Blood]] have their strength increased tremendously when they use it, but also run the risk of losing themselves completely to insanity. Oops.
** Also the result of mis-using the Nakatsukasa Purpose, which also drives you mad whilst killing you slowly (it damages your soul).
** Also the result of mis-using the Nakatsukasa Purpose, which also drives you mad whilst killing you slowly (it damages your soul).
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** By the time Natsu fights Laxus during the Battle of Fairy Tail arc, Laxus has officially become so mad with power, he loses all reason, and tries to destroy everything and everyone.
** By the time Natsu fights Laxus during the Battle of Fairy Tail arc, Laxus has officially become so mad with power, he loses all reason, and tries to destroy everything and everyone.
* Any Diclonius in ''[[Elfen Lied]]'', except Nana.
* Any Diclonius in ''[[Elfen Lied]]'', except Nana.
* In ''[[Saikano]]'' this more or less happens to {{spoiler|[[Woobie Destroyer of Worlds|Chise]] who loses her sanity as the [[Body Horror|weapon of mass destruction inside her]] grows and apparently slowly takes over her brain, turning her into a [[Ax Crazy|killing machine]] against her will.}} She gets[[The Power of Love|better]]. [[It Got Worse|But]] [[The End of the World As We Know It|then]] [[Downer Ending|again]]...
* In ''[[Saikano]]'' this more or less happens to {{spoiler|[[Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds|Chise]] who loses her sanity as the [[Body Horror|weapon of mass destruction inside her]] grows and apparently slowly takes over her brain, turning her into a [[Ax Crazy|killing machine]] against her will.}} She gets[[The Power of Love|better]]. [[It Got Worse|But]] [[The End of the World As We Know It|then]] [[Downer Ending|again]]...
* In the original [[Fullmetal Alchemist]] anime, Ed gets a power overload from contact with a huge amount of unfinished Philosopher's stone and goes full-on uncontrollable with so much power it is described that if this goes on, he main attain enough power to be god-like(even freaking out the Homunculi) until a [[Cooldown Hug]] snaps him out of it.
* In the original [[Fullmetal Alchemist]] anime, Ed gets a power overload from contact with a huge amount of unfinished Philosopher's stone and goes full-on uncontrollable with so much power it is described that if this goes on, he main attain enough power to be god-like(even freaking out the Homunculi) until a [[Cooldown Hug]] snaps him out of it.
* In ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]]'' almost all magical girls {{spoiler|lose it in varying degrees due to a combination of having awesome power and still not getting what they wanted, having to fight constantly and loose any semblance of a social life, having their souls sucked out and put in a gem, and then finding out that the enemies they've been fighting all this time used to be magical girls themselves.}} Prime examples include {{spoiler|Sayaka and Mami in another timeline.}}
* In ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]]'' almost all magical girls {{spoiler|lose it in varying degrees due to a combination of having awesome power and still not getting what they wanted, having to fight constantly and loose any semblance of a social life, having their souls sucked out and put in a gem, and then finding out that the enemies they've been fighting all this time used to be magical girls themselves.}} Prime examples include {{spoiler|Sayaka and Mami in another timeline.}}
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** One of the rare ''good'' endings for someone getting the Super-Soldier serum is Isaiah Bradley, grandfather of Patriot from the ''[[Young Avengers]]''. Instead of going crazy with power, he simply lost a lot of his intelligence, sort of a super-Alzheimer's.
** One of the rare ''good'' endings for someone getting the Super-Soldier serum is Isaiah Bradley, grandfather of Patriot from the ''[[Young Avengers]]''. Instead of going crazy with power, he simply lost a lot of his intelligence, sort of a super-Alzheimer's.
* In almost every incarnation of [[Spider-Man]], when he gains access to the power-enhancing abilities of the symbiote, and ends up becoming irrationally angry and cocky. Or, in the case of [[Spider-Man (Film)|the movie]], an emo.
* In almost every incarnation of [[Spider-Man]], when he gains access to the power-enhancing abilities of the symbiote, and ends up becoming irrationally angry and cocky. Or, in the case of [[Spider-Man (Film)|the movie]], an emo.
** Interestingly, this doesn't actually apply to the original comic book version of Spider-Man; he wore the symbiote suit for about a year without any ill effects, and it wasn't until [[Does This Remind You of Anything|the suit wanted their relationship to be a little more intimate than Spidey was ready for did he realize it wasn't such a great idea]]. The [[Spider Man the Animated Series|'90s cartoon]] was [[Lost in Imitation|responsible]] for the "symbiote makes you a psychopath" aspect, which eventually came into play in the comic universe.
** Interestingly, this doesn't actually apply to the original comic book version of Spider-Man; he wore the symbiote suit for about a year without any ill effects, and it wasn't until [[Does This Remind You of Anything?|the suit wanted their relationship to be a little more intimate than Spidey was ready for did he realize it wasn't such a great idea]]. The [[Spider Man the Animated Series|'90s cartoon]] was [[Lost in Imitation|responsible]] for the "symbiote makes you a psychopath" aspect, which eventually came into play in the comic universe.
** Spidey's [[Arch Enemy|archenemy]], the Green Goblin, in his original portrayal, was this. He was a [[Parental Neglect|distant father]] whose business practices were not always [[Corrupt Corporate Executive|scrupulous]], but he had redeeming traits, such as genuinely loving his son, and saving Gwen Stacy's father's life. Then the formula that gave him his powers drove him insane, though periodic bouts of amnesia restored him to his former self. After he [[Moral Event Horizon|killed Gwen Stacy]], however, he was rewritten as always being sociopathic, with the kinder personality that he possessed during his periods of amnesia being a false personality. The Goblin formula probably enhanced his insanity, however.
** Spidey's [[Arch Enemy|archenemy]], the Green Goblin, in his original portrayal, was this. He was a [[Parental Neglect|distant father]] whose business practices were not always [[Corrupt Corporate Executive|scrupulous]], but he had redeeming traits, such as genuinely loving his son, and saving Gwen Stacy's father's life. Then the formula that gave him his powers drove him insane, though periodic bouts of amnesia restored him to his former self. After he [[Moral Event Horizon|killed Gwen Stacy]], however, he was rewritten as always being sociopathic, with the kinder personality that he possessed during his periods of amnesia being a false personality. The Goblin formula probably enhanced his insanity, however.
* In the comic book series ''[[Hellboy (Comic Book)|Hellboy]]'', losing control of one's powers and/or humanity was a major theme of the series, especially for Liz Sherman and Hellboy himself.
* In the comic book series ''[[Hellboy (Comic Book)|Hellboy]]'', losing control of one's powers and/or humanity was a major theme of the series, especially for Liz Sherman and Hellboy himself.
** That is to say: Liz burned her family to death by accident as a kid, and Hellboy doesn't and can't and won't use his flashier superpowers, since they mostly involve ending the world, but occasionally they get stolen, one way or another. His crown, his Name, his right hand, ALL THE BLOOD IN HIS BODY...
** That is to say: Liz burned her family to death by accident as a kid, and Hellboy doesn't and can't and won't use his flashier superpowers, since they mostly involve ending the world, but occasionally they get stolen, one way or another. His crown, his Name, his right hand, ALL THE BLOOD IN HIS BODY...
* In ''[[Gold Digger (Comic Book)|Gold Digger]]'', dragon hybrids between the tribes (Platinum, Gold, Copper, and Iron) are extremely rare and extremely powerful. Every single one has gone insane, however, with the sole exception being one of the comic's supporting cast, D'bra. And then, most dragons believe her temper is a sign that it's only a matter of time.
* In ''[[Gold Digger (Comic Book)|Gold Digger]]'', dragon hybrids between the tribes (Platinum, Gold, Copper, and Iron) are extremely rare and extremely powerful. Every single one has gone insane, however, with the sole exception being one of the comic's supporting cast, D'bra. And then, most dragons believe her temper is a sign that it's only a matter of time.
* Apparently, [[Chris Claremont]] likes this one, or used to. In ''[[X-Men (Comic Book)|X-Men]]'', The Phoenix being a cosmic entity was a [[Retcon]] to satisfy the then-editor-in-chief's requirement for bringing Jean back: she had to be innocent of her crimes as Phoenix. (The destroyer of five billion couldn't very well be welcomed back to the team with open arms. In fact, her original [[Heroic Sacrifice]] was ''mandated'' for [[Redemption Equals Death|that very reason]].) The original story portrayed Jean's cosmic powers as the ultimate expression of her abilities, and the change from hero to [[Anti Hero]] to cosmic-scale threat as simply the result of having the sort of powers she now possessed. Storm also began a similar change upon maxing out her powers, but thankfully was able to return to her previous self (her power level returning to normal with it) within that issue and before she did anything particularly heinous.
* Apparently, [[Chris Claremont]] likes this one, or used to. In ''[[X-Men (Comic Book)|X-Men]]'', The Phoenix being a cosmic entity was a [[Retcon]] to satisfy the then-editor-in-chief's requirement for bringing Jean back: she had to be innocent of her crimes as Phoenix. (The destroyer of five billion couldn't very well be welcomed back to the team with open arms. In fact, her original [[Heroic Sacrifice]] was ''mandated'' for [[Redemption Equals Death|that very reason]].) The original story portrayed Jean's cosmic powers as the ultimate expression of her abilities, and the change from hero to [[Anti-Hero]] to cosmic-scale threat as simply the result of having the sort of powers she now possessed. Storm also began a similar change upon maxing out her powers, but thankfully was able to return to her previous self (her power level returning to normal with it) within that issue and before she did anything particularly heinous.
** The 'return' of Jean Grey in for the ''X-Factor'' retread of the original X-men was so badly done that it left ''permanent'' damage to the storylines of the Marvel Universe. The obvious moral cop-out of 'it wasn't really her' not only undid the basic ''point'' of one of the landmark storylines of the MU, but was done in a half-assed way, because they tried to claim that Jean deserved the credit for the self-sacrifice of the Phoenix entity, but not the blame for its crimes, even though both supposedly derive from the human element from Jean. Sorry, folks, you can't have that both ways.
** The 'return' of Jean Grey in for the ''X-Factor'' retread of the original X-men was so badly done that it left ''permanent'' damage to the storylines of the Marvel Universe. The obvious moral cop-out of 'it wasn't really her' not only undid the basic ''point'' of one of the landmark storylines of the MU, but was done in a half-assed way, because they tried to claim that Jean deserved the credit for the self-sacrifice of the Phoenix entity, but not the blame for its crimes, even though both supposedly derive from the human element from Jean. Sorry, folks, you can't have that both ways.
** To make it even worse, Claremont clearly hated the idea that the Phoenix entity was not Jean, he kept trying to sneakily [[Character Rerailment|re-retcon it back]], and the story got into the hands of other writers and mutated further, it eventually became a total, unworkable, self-contradictory [[Continuity Snarl]].
** To make it even worse, Claremont clearly hated the idea that the Phoenix entity was not Jean, he kept trying to sneakily [[Character Rerailment|re-retcon it back]], and the story got into the hands of other writers and mutated further, it eventually became a total, unworkable, self-contradictory [[Continuity Snarl]].
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*** In the ([[Canon Dis Continuity|non-canon]]) "25 Years Later" storyline, Knux ends up becoming "Chaos Knuckles" (a form he took up in the normal canon without much ill effect), and ends up trying to change the world, as well. The result was the almost complete destruction of his friendship with Sonic and the loss of his right eye.
*** In the ([[Canon Dis Continuity|non-canon]]) "25 Years Later" storyline, Knux ends up becoming "Chaos Knuckles" (a form he took up in the normal canon without much ill effect), and ends up trying to change the world, as well. The result was the almost complete destruction of his friendship with Sonic and the loss of his right eye.
*** In the future of an alternate universe, Knuckles not only tried to change the world, but he succeeded in conquering it after harnessing the power of the all the emeralds. He ripped the souls out of nearly all the main characters (Eggman, Sonic, Shadow, Tails, his own mate, etc.), sunk a continent, and then decided to try and amuse himself by conquering other dimensions. He uses the souls of his victims to create his Prelate Army. Oh, and he took on the name Enerjak in this timeline because "Enerjak the Hero" sounded cool.
*** In the future of an alternate universe, Knuckles not only tried to change the world, but he succeeded in conquering it after harnessing the power of the all the emeralds. He ripped the souls out of nearly all the main characters (Eggman, Sonic, Shadow, Tails, his own mate, etc.), sunk a continent, and then decided to try and amuse himself by conquering other dimensions. He uses the souls of his victims to create his Prelate Army. Oh, and he took on the name Enerjak in this timeline because "Enerjak the Hero" sounded cool.
** Some versions of Sonic's Super form are like this, becoming a [[Super Powered Evil Side]]. This is mainly seen in the British Fleetway comics, where Sonic always becomes a psychopath when he changes to Super Sonic.
** Some versions of Sonic's Super form are like this, becoming a [[Super-Powered Evil Side]]. This is mainly seen in the British Fleetway comics, where Sonic always becomes a psychopath when he changes to Super Sonic.
*** Such as the third season of Sonic X. Seeing a {{spoiler|hostage Chris and Cosmo traumatised in a glass cage}} gives a view of how upset Sonic gets when {{spoiler|his friends are harmed}}. Combined with the 500-odd fake Chaos Emeralds nearby, Sonic turns Dark Super, shredding two test robots (based on speed and power respectively) in the blink of an eye, complete with the ''slightly unhinged'' giggle and a "Alright, Let's try 'em out!". It took a minute, and Eggman's logical prose to snap Sonic out of it, surprising somewhat as they've been at each other for years, and Sonic could quite easily rip Eggman to gibs.
*** Such as the third season of Sonic X. Seeing a {{spoiler|hostage Chris and Cosmo traumatised in a glass cage}} gives a view of how upset Sonic gets when {{spoiler|his friends are harmed}}. Combined with the 500-odd fake Chaos Emeralds nearby, Sonic turns Dark Super, shredding two test robots (based on speed and power respectively) in the blink of an eye, complete with the ''slightly unhinged'' giggle and a "Alright, Let's try 'em out!". It took a minute, and Eggman's logical prose to snap Sonic out of it, surprising somewhat as they've been at each other for years, and Sonic could quite easily rip Eggman to gibs.
*** In Archie canon, Super Scourge (Scourge being an evil version of Sonic who is already hyped on Master Emerald energy so this makes him even worse than a standard super form), upon seeing that his own world(Which he conquered) nor Sonic's own will accept him as King, says he's going to '''spindash''' both worlds in half just because he can, and will do this to one world after another until one gives him "the respect he deserves."
*** In Archie canon, Super Scourge (Scourge being an evil version of Sonic who is already hyped on Master Emerald energy so this makes him even worse than a standard super form), upon seeing that his own world(Which he conquered) nor Sonic's own will accept him as King, says he's going to '''spindash''' both worlds in half just because he can, and will do this to one world after another until one gives him "the respect he deserves."
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** Recent developments suggest that the Sentry is an inversion of this trope. Robert Reynolds was ''already'' a mentally unstable drug addict ''before'' taking the serum that gave him his powers, so it's more like someone with great insanity given great power. Furthermore, {{spoiler|Reynolds didn't become the Sentry and create the Void, it was the other way around...}}
** Recent developments suggest that the Sentry is an inversion of this trope. Robert Reynolds was ''already'' a mentally unstable drug addict ''before'' taking the serum that gave him his powers, so it's more like someone with great insanity given great power. Furthermore, {{spoiler|Reynolds didn't become the Sentry and create the Void, it was the other way around...}}
* Mento wasn't the most stable/mentally healthy guy to begin with. Then he starts tinkering with a helmet that cranks his [[Psychic Powers]] [[Up to Eleven]] and takes up superheroing. But his wife ([[Doom Patrol|and her team]]) die, and it REALLY sent him downhill [[Face Heel Turn|until he's doing stints as a supervillain]] and trying to kill his own adopted son! When that heroing team was led by a fellow [[Ret Conned]] into a [[Mad Scientist]] and [[Magnificent Bastard]], it was damn near inevitable.
* Mento wasn't the most stable/mentally healthy guy to begin with. Then he starts tinkering with a helmet that cranks his [[Psychic Powers]] [[Up to Eleven]] and takes up superheroing. But his wife ([[Doom Patrol|and her team]]) die, and it REALLY sent him downhill [[Face Heel Turn|until he's doing stints as a supervillain]] and trying to kill his own adopted son! When that heroing team was led by a fellow [[Ret Conned]] into a [[Mad Scientist]] and [[Magnificent Bastard]], it was damn near inevitable.
* ''[[The Mask (Comic Book)|The Mask]]'' is this trope. Summary of every Mask story: Person finds the mask, puts it on, discovers they're a [[Nigh Invulnerable]] [[Voluntary Shapeshifting]] [[Reality Warper]], starts using their powers in pursuit of some logical goal, loses sight of their goal and engages in wanton violence [[For the Evulz]], is either tricked into removing the mask or removes it after a [[What Have I Become]] moment.
* ''[[The Mask (Comic Book)|The Mask]]'' is this trope. Summary of every Mask story: Person finds the mask, puts it on, discovers they're a [[Nigh Invulnerable]] [[Voluntary Shapeshifting]] [[Reality Warper]], starts using their powers in pursuit of some logical goal, loses sight of their goal and engages in wanton violence [[For the Evulz]], is either tricked into removing the mask or removes it after a [[What Have I Become?]] moment.
* ''[[The Incredible Hulk (Comic Book)|The Incredible Hulk]]''. The gamma bomb gave Bruce Banner huge power and exacerbated his multiple personality syndrome. Plus, the madder he gets, the stronger he becomes.
* ''[[The Incredible Hulk (Comic Book)|The Incredible Hulk]]''. The gamma bomb gave Bruce Banner huge power and exacerbated his multiple personality syndrome. Plus, the madder he gets, the stronger he becomes.
** Interestingly, for both ''The Mask'' and Marvel's gamma ray mutants, what happens to the subject's mind depends on what part of their personality they had dissociated themselves from. Most people who get the Mask unlock their evil side, but the fellow in [[The Movie]] didn't ''have'' an evil side, only a chaotic side, so he essentially became a [[Looney Tunes]] character. Marvel goes into more detail--Banner suppressed the rage that came from being abused as a child, [[She Hulk]] suppressed [[Ms. Fanservice|her sexuality]], Doc Samson suppressed his desire to be a hero, and the Abomination suppressed his self-hatred.
** Interestingly, for both ''The Mask'' and Marvel's gamma ray mutants, what happens to the subject's mind depends on what part of their personality they had dissociated themselves from. Most people who get the Mask unlock their evil side, but the fellow in [[The Movie]] didn't ''have'' an evil side, only a chaotic side, so he essentially became a [[Looney Tunes]] character. Marvel goes into more detail--Banner suppressed the rage that came from being abused as a child, [[She Hulk]] suppressed [[Ms. Fanservice|her sexuality]], Doc Samson suppressed his desire to be a hero, and the Abomination suppressed his self-hatred.
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* In ''[[Robo Cop|RoboCop 2]]'', the evil corporation OCP attempts to build a successor to Robocop, but in all cases the new cyborg goes crazy and commits suicide. Finally, they stick the brain of a convicted, drug-addicted, psychopath into the cyborg. That doesn't work out too well in the end, either.
* In ''[[Robo Cop|RoboCop 2]]'', the evil corporation OCP attempts to build a successor to Robocop, but in all cases the new cyborg goes crazy and commits suicide. Finally, they stick the brain of a convicted, drug-addicted, psychopath into the cyborg. That doesn't work out too well in the end, either.
** Honestly, you have to wonder what made them think that turning a ''convict'' into a heavily-armed weapons platform was a good idea.
** Honestly, you have to wonder what made them think that turning a ''convict'' into a heavily-armed weapons platform was a good idea.
** Ironically, the scientists theorize that Robocop was a success due to the very qualities that made Murphy a good cop in life: his highly Catholic upbringing and stable family life imbued him with a strong moral compass, selfless devotion to duty and an [[I Cannot Self Terminate|aversion to suicide]]. Then they turn around and choose a murderous psychopath, because they thought that they could control him through his drug addiction. Umm... Nope.
** Ironically, the scientists theorize that Robocop was a success due to the very qualities that made Murphy a good cop in life: his highly Catholic upbringing and stable family life imbued him with a strong moral compass, selfless devotion to duty and an [[I Cannot Self-Terminate|aversion to suicide]]. Then they turn around and choose a murderous psychopath, because they thought that they could control him through his drug addiction. Umm... Nope.
* ''[[Forbidden Planet]]'' exhibits this principle most chillingly through Morbius.
* ''[[Forbidden Planet]]'' exhibits this principle most chillingly through Morbius.
** That was more of an [[Enemy Without]], though. Morbius seemed sane right up to the end.
** That was more of an [[Enemy Without]], though. Morbius seemed sane right up to the end.
* In the first ''[[Spider-Man (Film)|Spider-Man]]'' movie, this is the origin of the Green Goblin. The process to make him a super soldier also seems to produce a homicidal second personality, a side effect [[Chekhov's Gun|foreshadowed]] by the formula's original flaw of driving a small percentage of the test animals violently insane. Ironically, Norman [[What Could Possibly Go Wrong|subjected himself to the serum]] in an effort to prove it would ''not'' have that effect on humans...
* In the first ''[[Spider-Man (Film)|Spider-Man]]'' movie, this is the origin of the Green Goblin. The process to make him a super soldier also seems to produce a homicidal second personality, a side effect [[Chekhov's Gun|foreshadowed]] by the formula's original flaw of driving a small percentage of the test animals violently insane. Ironically, Norman [[What Could Possibly Go Wrong?|subjected himself to the serum]] in an effort to prove it would ''not'' have that effect on humans...
** Doc Ock in the second film was made crazy by the robot arms. In fact, they slaughtered a room full of medical personnel while Otto was still unconscious. He overcame their programming just in time for a [[Heroic Sacrifice]].
** Doc Ock in the second film was made crazy by the robot arms. In fact, they slaughtered a room full of medical personnel while Otto was still unconscious. He overcame their programming just in time for a [[Heroic Sacrifice]].
** Same with Flint Marko in the third. He wasn't an especially good person before the accident that turned him into Sandman, but afterward he was just nuts. Eddie Brock, on the other hand, started out as a psycho; gaining the Venom symbiote just allowed him to express it in new ways.
** Same with Flint Marko in the third. He wasn't an especially good person before the accident that turned him into Sandman, but afterward he was just nuts. Eddie Brock, on the other hand, started out as a psycho; gaining the Venom symbiote just allowed him to express it in new ways.
* ''[[Hulk]]'': The most recent movie finds hardened veteran soldier, Emil Blonsky given [[Psycho Serum|a prototype super-soldier serum]] - to put "what I know now into the body of a man ten years younger". The combination of being defeated despite this and the taste of such power grow into the classic [[Comes Great Insanity]].
* ''[[Hulk]]'': The most recent movie finds hardened veteran soldier, Emil Blonsky given [[Psycho Serum|a prototype super-soldier serum]] - to put "what I know now into the body of a man ten years younger". The combination of being defeated despite this and the taste of such power grow into the classic [[Comes Great Insanity]].
** Funnily enough, that serum is all but directly stated to be the one that gave [[Captain America]] his powers, but with Blonsky lacking the additional radiotherapy his insanity is a classic symptom of the [[Super Soldier]] serum gone wrong. Then he demands ([[What an Idiot|against repeated warnings]]) a dose of an even ''more'' experimental serum from a much ''less'' reputable source and...let's just say the end results of that little cocktail ain't pretty.
** Funnily enough, that serum is all but directly stated to be the one that gave [[Captain America]] his powers, but with Blonsky lacking the additional radiotherapy his insanity is a classic symptom of the [[Super Soldier]] serum gone wrong. Then he demands ([[What an Idiot!|against repeated warnings]]) a dose of an even ''more'' experimental serum from a much ''less'' reputable source and...let's just say the end results of that little cocktail ain't pretty.
** Incidentally, in the comics this was [[Power Born of Madness|power born of suppressed madness]], which that power incidentally ''un''-suppressed--he was a gamma ray mutant like the Hulk, and they all get personality shifts depending on what part of their personality they're suppressing. He had some serious issues, and they manifested brutally.
** Incidentally, in the comics this was [[Power Born of Madness|power born of suppressed madness]], which that power incidentally ''un''-suppressed--he was a gamma ray mutant like the Hulk, and they all get personality shifts depending on what part of their personality they're suppressing. He had some serious issues, and they manifested brutally.
* ''[[Universal Soldier]]''. In the sequel, one of them even gets an artificially intelligent, ''Self-Evolving Thought Helix'' military supercomputer downloaded into them.
* ''[[Universal Soldier]]''. In the sequel, one of them even gets an artificially intelligent, ''Self-Evolving Thought Helix'' military supercomputer downloaded into them.
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* [[Robin Hobb|Megan Lindholm's]] out-of-print novella "Wizard of the Pigeons" is based on a radical re-interpretation of this trope. Magic usually comes hand in hand with [[Loss of Identity|letting go of your previous life, memories, and basic perception of reality]]. Usually, the mage is so divorced from the outside world that he or she cannot hold down a job or personal relationship, and usually ends up living on the street. They also have to follow [[Super OCD|their own set of arbitrary rules and rituals]], implicitly for the[[Placebotinum Effect]]. Cassie has been doing this since the Trojan War, and [[Crazy Awesome|is so uninhibited by her environment that she can bend reality to her whim.]]
* [[Robin Hobb|Megan Lindholm's]] out-of-print novella "Wizard of the Pigeons" is based on a radical re-interpretation of this trope. Magic usually comes hand in hand with [[Loss of Identity|letting go of your previous life, memories, and basic perception of reality]]. Usually, the mage is so divorced from the outside world that he or she cannot hold down a job or personal relationship, and usually ends up living on the street. They also have to follow [[Super OCD|their own set of arbitrary rules and rituals]], implicitly for the[[Placebotinum Effect]]. Cassie has been doing this since the Trojan War, and [[Crazy Awesome|is so uninhibited by her environment that she can bend reality to her whim.]]
* Michael Swanwick's short story "The Promise of God" is based on the premise that using magic gradually erodes a magician's moral sense until they no longer have any concept of right and wrong; magicians are kept in check by being assigned guardians whom they are trained to obey without question.
* Michael Swanwick's short story "The Promise of God" is based on the premise that using magic gradually erodes a magician's moral sense until they no longer have any concept of right and wrong; magicians are kept in check by being assigned guardians whom they are trained to obey without question.
* ''My Work Is Not Yet Done'' by [[Thomas Ligotti]]: [[Zig Zagged]] by Frank Dominio, the [[Sliding Scale of Anti Heroes|Type V Anti-Hero]] narrator of the short novel, who manages to [[Woobie Destroyer of Worlds|go violently insane]] ''before'' he makes his [[From Nobody to Nightmare]] transition, then proceed to ''[[Beyond the Impossible|lose it even more]]'' whilst simultaneously gaining more and more control of his extremely [[Reality Warper|scary]] [[Lovecraftian Superpower|superpowers]].
* ''My Work Is Not Yet Done'' by [[Thomas Ligotti]]: [[Zig Zagged]] by Frank Dominio, the [[Sliding Scale of Anti-Heroes|Type V Anti-Hero]] narrator of the short novel, who manages to [[Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds|go violently insane]] ''before'' he makes his [[From Nobody to Nightmare]] transition, then proceed to ''[[Beyond the Impossible|lose it even more]]'' whilst simultaneously gaining more and more control of his extremely [[Reality Warper|scary]] [[Lovecraftian Superpower|superpowers]].
* ''Ren Dhark'': Inverted in one issue of this German SF series. At one point, the Terran world government decides to start a secret cyborg project with the help of a brilliant and highly ethical scientist. Thanks to very thorough advance evaluation and screening, the actual ''cyborgs'' turn out fine and become recurring supporting characters later on; instead, it's a candidate who gets ''turned down'' in the end (ironically precisely because he failed one of the psychological test scenarios) who goes a little [[Ax Crazy]] as a result, devises a plan to destroy the entire fledgling institute, and almost succeeds.
* ''Ren Dhark'': Inverted in one issue of this German SF series. At one point, the Terran world government decides to start a secret cyborg project with the help of a brilliant and highly ethical scientist. Thanks to very thorough advance evaluation and screening, the actual ''cyborgs'' turn out fine and become recurring supporting characters later on; instead, it's a candidate who gets ''turned down'' in the end (ironically precisely because he failed one of the psychological test scenarios) who goes a little [[Ax Crazy]] as a result, devises a plan to destroy the entire fledgling institute, and almost succeeds.
* In the ''[[Keys to The Kingdom]]'' series, Arthur begins to slowly get driven insane the more Keys he gets, and almost uses the power of the Keys to kill Denizens several times, but luckily manages to stop himself before he ever does.
* In the ''[[Keys to The Kingdom]]'' series, Arthur begins to slowly get driven insane the more Keys he gets, and almost uses the power of the Keys to kill Denizens several times, but luckily manages to stop himself before he ever does.
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== Video Games ==
== Video Games ==
* This is the plot, or at least a sub-plot of every sci-fi themed video game ever made. Whether it leads to a [[Load Bearing Boss]] the player must face, or shows the player what he's become during the opening cutscene, is largely irrelevant.
* This is the plot, or at least a sub-plot of every sci-fi themed video game ever made. Whether it leads to a [[Load-Bearing Boss]] the player must face, or shows the player what he's become during the opening cutscene, is largely irrelevant.
* Whenever anybody attempts to use the Orochi power in ''[[The King of Fighters (Video Game)|The King of Fighters]]'' series, it usually results in either death (Rugal Bernstein), insanity (Iori & Leona), or a [[A God Am I|God complex]] (Chris, Yashiro, and Shermie).
* Whenever anybody attempts to use the Orochi power in ''[[The King of Fighters (Video Game)|The King of Fighters]]'' series, it usually results in either death (Rugal Bernstein), insanity (Iori & Leona), or a [[A God Am I|God complex]] (Chris, Yashiro, and Shermie).
* The Nameless One of ''[[Planescape Torment|Planescape: Torment]]'' gained immortality, but at the cost of his memory, which he periodically loses. Each reincarnation develops its own brand new personality, which is often insane. One of them was ''awesomely'' so. Another, one of the most dangerous, was mostly sane, but had the little problem of being a complete sociopath.
* The Nameless One of ''[[Planescape Torment|Planescape: Torment]]'' gained immortality, but at the cost of his memory, which he periodically loses. Each reincarnation develops its own brand new personality, which is often insane. One of them was ''awesomely'' so. Another, one of the most dangerous, was mostly sane, but had the little problem of being a complete sociopath.
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* Justified in ''[[Order of the Stick]]'' When V has spoken the Four Words he/she merges mentally with three of the most evil but powerful mages ever and therefore it's justified his/her mental state is a little vague thereafter.
* Justified in ''[[Order of the Stick]]'' When V has spoken the Four Words he/she merges mentally with three of the most evil but powerful mages ever and therefore it's justified his/her mental state is a little vague thereafter.
** {{spoiler|Then it's later revealed that the splice has as much effect on one's alignment as a cheerleader would on the final score of a game. The fiends just lied to him/her because nothing makes people do a horrible act on their own like having them believe that they're not responsible for their actions, especially when wielding great power.}}
** {{spoiler|Then it's later revealed that the splice has as much effect on one's alignment as a cheerleader would on the final score of a game. The fiends just lied to him/her because nothing makes people do a horrible act on their own like having them believe that they're not responsible for their actions, especially when wielding great power.}}
* The superintelligent gerbils of ''[[Narbonic]]'', with the exception of the original, Artie. It's explained that, unlike Artie, the other gerbils weren't genetically modified to handle superintelligence, resulting in insanity. But when the sane superintelligent hamsters show up, they're megalomaniacs too. Also, the mad geniuses in the comic [[Science Related Memetic Disorder|are only geniuses]] ''[[Science Related Memetic Disorder|because]]'' [[Science Related Memetic Disorder|they're mad]]; if their madness were cured, they would be [[Brought Down to Normal]].
* The superintelligent gerbils of ''[[Narbonic]]'', with the exception of the original, Artie. It's explained that, unlike Artie, the other gerbils weren't genetically modified to handle superintelligence, resulting in insanity. But when the sane superintelligent hamsters show up, they're megalomaniacs too. Also, the mad geniuses in the comic [[Science-Related Memetic Disorder|are only geniuses]] ''[[Science-Related Memetic Disorder|because]]'' [[Science-Related Memetic Disorder|they're mad]]; if their madness were cured, they would be [[Brought Down to Normal]].
** In fact, the genuises have to go past mad and out the other side...and then it's a crapshoot. Helen Narbonic reins in her crazy because of romantic feelings.
** In fact, the genuises have to go past mad and out the other side...and then it's a crapshoot. Helen Narbonic reins in her crazy because of romantic feelings.
*** "This is sanity! SANITY!"
*** "This is sanity! SANITY!"
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'''Simmons:''' "Oh no, Grif. I've gone mad with very real power." }}
'''Simmons:''' "Oh no, Grif. I've gone mad with very real power." }}
* ''[[Cwens Quest|Cwen's Quest]]'': This seems to be case with the [http://www.drunkduck.com/Cwens_Quest/index.php?p=467213 Witch Queen]. She is easily the most magically inclined character in the series and while normally smart she seems incapable for mentioning the word magic without bursting into bouts of insane [[Maniacal Laugh|Maniacal Laughter]] that would scare most versions of the joker. It is even more clear she is brilliant but insane in her Twitterings.
* ''[[Cwens Quest|Cwen's Quest]]'': This seems to be case with the [http://www.drunkduck.com/Cwens_Quest/index.php?p=467213 Witch Queen]. She is easily the most magically inclined character in the series and while normally smart she seems incapable for mentioning the word magic without bursting into bouts of insane [[Maniacal Laugh|Maniacal Laughter]] that would scare most versions of the joker. It is even more clear she is brilliant but insane in her Twitterings.
* In Mark Shallow's current webcomic, ''[[Antihero for Hire]]'', Wizard is an example of this, despite being extremely intelligent. Waterfall, an adversary using the same technology, snaps with the same kind of insanity at the sight of her sisters being threatened, which invoked ''[[Its Personal]]''.
* In Mark Shallow's current webcomic, ''[[Antihero for Hire]]'', Wizard is an example of this, despite being extremely intelligent. Waterfall, an adversary using the same technology, snaps with the same kind of insanity at the sight of her sisters being threatened, which invoked ''[[It's Personal]]''.
* In ''[[El Goonish Shive (Webcomic)|El Goonish Shive]]'', this is [http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-06-30 revealed to be] the reason why Immortals "reset" every two hundred years. As time goes by, they become "more bored, more powerful, and less sane," which as Jerry notes is "kind of a bad combo." This could explain why {{spoiler|Pandora}} acts the way she does, since alleviating boredom through certifiably insane plots is her entire reason for doing things. She may have never "reset" in her life.
* In ''[[El Goonish Shive (Webcomic)|El Goonish Shive]]'', this is [http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-06-30 revealed to be] the reason why Immortals "reset" every two hundred years. As time goes by, they become "more bored, more powerful, and less sane," which as Jerry notes is "kind of a bad combo." This could explain why {{spoiler|Pandora}} acts the way she does, since alleviating boredom through certifiably insane plots is her entire reason for doing things. She may have never "reset" in her life.
* In ''[[Endstone]]'', rocking the Banestone will drive the rocker crazy.
* In ''[[Endstone]]'', rocking the Banestone will drive the rocker crazy.
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* In ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender (Animation)|Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' Aang can enter the Avatar State, channeling the power of all his previous incarnations. You'd think channeling all those former Avatars would make him calm, wise and experienced, but no... Instead he gets all [[Glowing Eyes of Doom|incandescent]] and frags everything in sight. However, true mastery of the Avatar State includes being able to control it, {{spoiler|which he finally manages to achieve in the series finale}}.
* In ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender (Animation)|Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' Aang can enter the Avatar State, channeling the power of all his previous incarnations. You'd think channeling all those former Avatars would make him calm, wise and experienced, but no... Instead he gets all [[Glowing Eyes of Doom|incandescent]] and frags everything in sight. However, true mastery of the Avatar State includes being able to control it, {{spoiler|which he finally manages to achieve in the series finale}}.
** In the series finale, {{spoiler|after being made Fire Lord, Azula}} ''loses it''. {{spoiler|In an inversion, it's because she's ''losing'' power and she knows it - her friends had shown themselves insufficiently scared of her and defied her, and her dad appointed her Fire Lord right before turning the position into "irrelevant figurehead". Paranoia of further betrayals if she didn't instill fear in everyone around her, and insecurity that no one (especially her [[Missing Mom|mother]]) truly loved her for who she was caused her to finally snap.}}
** In the series finale, {{spoiler|after being made Fire Lord, Azula}} ''loses it''. {{spoiler|In an inversion, it's because she's ''losing'' power and she knows it - her friends had shown themselves insufficiently scared of her and defied her, and her dad appointed her Fire Lord right before turning the position into "irrelevant figurehead". Paranoia of further betrayals if she didn't instill fear in everyone around her, and insecurity that no one (especially her [[Missing Mom|mother]]) truly loved her for who she was caused her to finally snap.}}
* In ''[[The Spectacular Spider Man]],'' three [[Super Villain|Supervillains]] become as such when they get bonus mental instability with their powers. Electro and Doctor Octopus each suffer a [[Freak Lab Accident]]. Electro gets [[Power Incontinence|volatile]] [[Psycho Electro|electricity]]-based powers, then [[Freak Out|freaks out]] at his loss of humanity. Doctor Octopus' [[Artificial Limbs|robotic arms]] are [[Hollywood Cyborg|fused]] [[Unusual User Interface|to his spine]] during a massive electromagnetic [[Lightning Can Do Anything|shock]], which causes an [[Not So Harmless Villain|extreme]] [[Mad Scientist|personality change]]. The Green Goblin ''claims'' that he suffered no blackouts and no change in personality from his [[Psycho Serum]], but he may be in denial considering that he actually keeps acting crazy and speaking in rhymes while he's hovering above the prison in season 2 while no one can hear him.
* In ''[[The Spectacular Spider Man]],'' three [[Super Villain|Supervillains]] become as such when they get bonus mental instability with their powers. Electro and Doctor Octopus each suffer a [[Freak Lab Accident]]. Electro gets [[Power Incontinence|volatile]] [[Psycho Electro|electricity]]-based powers, then [[Freak Out|freaks out]] at his loss of humanity. Doctor Octopus' [[Artificial Limbs|robotic arms]] are [[Hollywood Cyborg|fused]] [[Unusual User Interface|to his spine]] during a massive electromagnetic [[Lightning Can Do Anything|shock]], which causes an [[Not-So-Harmless Villain|extreme]] [[Mad Scientist|personality change]]. The Green Goblin ''claims'' that he suffered no blackouts and no change in personality from his [[Psycho Serum]], but he may be in denial considering that he actually keeps acting crazy and speaking in rhymes while he's hovering above the prison in season 2 while no one can hear him.
** In the case of Doc Ock it wasn't so much a case of the new powers messing with his brain, but rather stripping away his inhibitions.
** In the case of Doc Ock it wasn't so much a case of the new powers messing with his brain, but rather stripping away his inhibitions.
** More recently, John Jameson was infected by alien spores, which made him super massive, super strong, and essentially a [[Flying Brick]] without the flying, but, over time, messed with his head, making him filled with rage and aggression. After Venom threw him into a rage (making him think the one messing with him was Spiderman), Spidey was able to purge the spores from his system, making his body return to normal, but he was severely addicted to the power, and had to be admitted to an insane asylum. The effect was made more evident due to John having a cell right next to the now completely insane Electro, who babbles on about how [[That Man Is Dead|he has no more human identity]].
** More recently, John Jameson was infected by alien spores, which made him super massive, super strong, and essentially a [[Flying Brick]] without the flying, but, over time, messed with his head, making him filled with rage and aggression. After Venom threw him into a rage (making him think the one messing with him was Spiderman), Spidey was able to purge the spores from his system, making his body return to normal, but he was severely addicted to the power, and had to be admitted to an insane asylum. The effect was made more evident due to John having a cell right next to the now completely insane Electro, who babbles on about how [[That Man Is Dead|he has no more human identity]].
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** Optimus Primal had a couple of instances too. When he carried the spark of Optimus Prime, he not only got a new body out of the deal, but took on some of Prime's mannerisms. Prime was an incredibly ''good'' character, so Primal didn't get the nasty side effects Megatron got. In another episode, he gets injected with a serum that was [[Gone Horribly Wrong|supposed]] to turn him into a coward. However, it instead ''removed'' all fear, turning him into an unstoppable berserker. He didn't get stronger, just ''fully'' utilized his already considerable strength.
** Optimus Primal had a couple of instances too. When he carried the spark of Optimus Prime, he not only got a new body out of the deal, but took on some of Prime's mannerisms. Prime was an incredibly ''good'' character, so Primal didn't get the nasty side effects Megatron got. In another episode, he gets injected with a serum that was [[Gone Horribly Wrong|supposed]] to turn him into a coward. However, it instead ''removed'' all fear, turning him into an unstoppable berserker. He didn't get stronger, just ''fully'' utilized his already considerable strength.
* Ratchet on ''[[Transformers Prime]]'' goes nuts when hopped up on synthetic Energon.
* Ratchet on ''[[Transformers Prime]]'' goes nuts when hopped up on synthetic Energon.
* <s>Professor Lapton</s> [[Insistent Terminology|Professor Von Madman]] in the [[Buzz Lightyear of Star Command]] episode ''Eye of the Tempest'' after he tested his revolutionary crystal/human hybrid technology on himself. But he has [[Mad Scientists Beautiful Daughter|a daughter]]...
* <s>Professor Lapton</s> [[Insistent Terminology|Professor Von Madman]] in the [[Buzz Lightyear of Star Command]] episode ''Eye of the Tempest'' after he tested his revolutionary crystal/human hybrid technology on himself. But he has [[Mad Scientist's Beautiful Daughter|a daughter]]...
* In ''[[Static Shock]]'', the Big Bang was occasionally thought to invoke this in earlier episodes. Notably, it's why [[Secret Keeper|Richie]] refused to trust Static when the metahuman Replay was framing him, believing that Static just took longer to go nuts then the others. However, since the Big Bang took place in the middle of a gang war, the guys who got the highest doses were generally not great people to begin with, and later episodes introduce other perfectly sane superpowered characters.
* In ''[[Static Shock]]'', the Big Bang was occasionally thought to invoke this in earlier episodes. Notably, it's why [[Secret Keeper|Richie]] refused to trust Static when the metahuman Replay was framing him, believing that Static just took longer to go nuts then the others. However, since the Big Bang took place in the middle of a gang war, the guys who got the highest doses were generally not great people to begin with, and later episodes introduce other perfectly sane superpowered characters.
* Inverted and then played straight in [[Re Boot]]. Hexadecimal started out very powerful and insane. When she gets reformatted into a sprite and as a result is depowered she becomes very sane and cheerful. But then she needs to go viral again to fight Daemon and the powerup makes her insane again.
* Inverted and then played straight in [[Re Boot]]. Hexadecimal started out very powerful and insane. When she gets reformatted into a sprite and as a result is depowered she becomes very sane and cheerful. But then she needs to go viral again to fight Daemon and the powerup makes her insane again.
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[[Category:Horror Tropes]]
[[Category:Horror Tropes]]
[[Category:With Great Power Comes Great Insanity]]
[[Category:With Great Power Comes Great Insanity]]
[[Category:Trope]]
[[Category:Trope]][[Category:Pages with comment tags]]
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