There’s A Lot Of Radiation Out There
There are so many superheroes out there, so it’s no surprise that some of them got their powers through random, unknown, or really insane means. Many of these people were living ordinary lives before coming into contact with something that changed their world forever. The most important part? These people choose to use their powers for good.
1. Bitten By A Radioactive Spider
We all know the story: The mild-mannered Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider that gave him superhuman strength, agility, and the ability to stick to most surfaces. He also received his famous “spidey-senses,” alerting him to danger at the drop of a hat. In certain instances, Spider-Man also gets organic web-shooters.
2. A Giant Cosmic Ray
The space-traveling group known as The Fantastic Four was accidentally gifted their supernatural powers after being hit by some pretty gnarly cosmic radiation. As the story goes, Redd Richards has stretching abilities, Johnny Storm can generate and control fire, Ben Grimm has insane strength and durability, and Sue Storm can turn invisible and generate force fields.
3. Gamma Radioactive Explosion
Scientist Bruce Banner gets his Hulk powers after saving a teenager from being hit by a military testing bomb, exposing him to gamma radiation. This accident means Bruce becomes a mighty force of nature when he becomes angry. Also, it makes him green.
4. Blood Transfusion From A Mongoose
Possibly lesser-known Marvel superhero, The Whizzer, got his super-speed powers after he received a blood transfusion of mongoose blood. Bit of a weirder one, but mongooses are actually known to be very fast and possess exceptional agility, so we guess it makes sense?
Miika Silfverberg (MiikaS) from Vantaa, Finland on Wikimedia
5. Super-Soldier Serum
Intended for use by the United States Army during World War II, Steve Rogers is one of the first test subjects of the super-soldier serum. A somewhat frail and physically weak man before the transformation, Captain America comes out of the test in peak physical condition.
6. Struck By Lightning
Okay, he doesn’t really get struck by lightning, but Barry Allen finds himself covered in an assortment of chemicals after a lightning bolt strikes a medical case. After he wakes, he discovers he can run at super-human speeds and has enhanced reflexes, senses, and healing powers. Yes, folks, The Flash was simply drenched in chemicals.
7. Hit By A Meteor
Hiding in a dumpster to avoid being found by a group of thugs, Jefferson Reed is hit by a glowing green meteorite. After spending several days in the hospital due to a crushed spine and severe burns, Meteor Man wakes to have a plethora of superpowers: X-ray and laser vision, flight, superhuman strength and speed, healing abilities, and several others.
8. Blinded By A Radioactive Substance
While saving a man from an oncoming truck, Matt Murdoch is blinded by radioactive chemicals. Now having to move through the world without sight, Matt realizes his other senses have been heightened to superhuman levels. After learning to fight with a martial arts master, Matt promises to fight crime as Daredevil.
9. Chosen By The Gods
Possibly one of the saddest origin stories, astronomer Jane Foster comes across the hammer Mjolnir. Being chosen by the gods, Jane receives Thor’s superhuman strength, lightning manipulation, and flying abilities. However, she also contracts breast cancer, and the power of Mjolnir purges the chemotherapy from her body, meaning that her cancer only worsens when she transforms into Thor.
ANBARASU THIRAVIYAM on Wikimedia
10. Gene Modification
Doreen Green is only 10 when she realizes she can talk to squirrels. Suffering from an unknown gene modification, she also receives squirrel-like abilities, with superhuman agility, senses, and speed. It’s said that she is one of the most powerful heroes of the MCU, even beating Doctor Doom in one comic run.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/popculturegeek/5674405993/ PopCultureGeek.com on Wikimedia
11. Molecules Stretched Across Dimensions
A regular teenage prankster before the accident, Steven Harmon finds himself being stretched across dimensions after entering a secret portal in a carnival funhouse. When he re-emerges, he’s made up of unstable molecules, essentially turning him into a living cartoon character, known as Slapstick.
12. Brainwashed By Self-Help Tapes
Cathy Webster undergoes a brainwashing experiment via self-help tapes. How does this turn her into the superhero known as The Free Spirit? Well, the self-help tapes were radioactive, of course! When she comes out of the experiment, Cathy discovers she’s gained super-human strength.
13. Robot Animal Testing
A hero in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, Rocket Raccoon is subjected to genetic and cybernetic modifications by a collection of robots known as the High Evolutionary. Through this process, he gains sentience, enhanced intelligence, and the ability to speak.
14. Shrapnel From A Cable Car
John Domingo was just going for a drive when he got hit by a runaway cable car. Somehow, this car was imbued with energy from the moon, and when a piece of shrapnel finds its way into John’s head, he receives psychic powers, permanent night vision, and no more need for sleep. He’s known to us today as Night Man.
15. Experimental Torture
The witty, fourth-wall-breaking, only slightly vulgar anti-hero, Deadpool, receives superhuman healing abilities through the Weapon X program. Known originally as a mercenary, Wade Wilson undergoes a terrible torture process to receive these abilities.
16. Mystical Herbs
Native to the country Wakanda, the plant known as the Heart-Shaped Herb receives a mutation from a vibranium meteorite that landed in the country millions of years ago. Said to be a gift from the Goddess Bast, the one who consumes the plant is gifted with enhanced strength, speed, and agility, becoming the Black Panther.
17. The Mother Box
Victor Stone is a talented athlete who is beaten to near-death after coming into contact with an alien. In order to save his life, Victor’s father uses alien technology, known as the mother box, to save his son’s life. This experiment grants Victor enhanced vision, super strength, and cybernetic powers. Today, we know this hero as Cyborg.
18. Injected With Plant Poison
Occasionally portrayed as a villain, hero, or anti-hero, femme fatale Poison Ivy is born as Pamela Lillian Isley. After being injected with plant-based poison by a college professor, Pamela becomes immune to bacteria, fungi, poisons, and viruses. Not only that, she can make her touch deadly by shifting the toxins in her bloodstream and can manipulate plant life.
Carlos Misael Cruz López on Pexels
19. Gifted By Two Aliens
Stumbling home drunk from a bar, the Captain comes across two aliens. In a non-violent or traumatic twist of fate, these aliens give The Captain the powers of the “Heartstar,” which grant him superhuman strength, speed, and the ability to fly.
20. Death
An aspiring actress known as Moonbeam is murdered by her co-star and sealed in a mausoleum. Somehow, her death activates her mutant powers, and she finds herself reborn as Dead Girl, developing powers of necromancy, immunity, mediumship, illusion casting, and inanimate physiology.
