last
S-Z
next
Appendix A: Unnamed Drugs
Appendix B: Transmetropolitan
Appendix C: Jimmy Olsen
Appendix D: American Flagg


Sanitiz
The street name for Prosan.

cover, Top-Notch Comics #1Secret Formula F22X
Developed by Blaine Whitney, better known as the Golden Age super-hero "The Wizard", this drug grants super-strength.
type: strength enhancer
form: ??
comic: Top-Notch Comics #1

Serum SO-2
Developed as part of Project Sulfur to provide immunity for soldiers against biological warfare; the experiment was abandoned when it was noted that the serum had the unfortunate side effect of mutating its recipients into monsters. This didn't stop Ted Sallis from later using Serum SO-2 as the basis for his attempt at recreating the Super Soldier Serum.

[N.B.: Notice that the serum name is SO-2 , i.e. SO2 - sulfur dioxide (the smelly swamp gas) - and the formula is developed as part of "Project Sulfur" and ultimately leads to the creation of a swamp monster.]

type: mutagen, putative bio-protective
form: ?
comic: Savage Tales #1
see also: Man-Thing serum


Serum X
Injectable medication that transforms water-breathing Atlanteans into air breathers.

type: transformative agent
form: injectable liquid
comic: Aquaman #35 (1962 Series)
compare to: the Atlantean Water-Breathing Serum
further information: the entry on Aquaman #34-36 at The Comic Treadmill


the shieldSHIELD Formula
Designed by scientist Tom Higgins to grant super-powers when coated on certain parts of the body. He was killed by enemy agents before he could complete his research and fully develop the formula. Years later his son Jon Higgins was able to finish the formula. He rubbed it into his body, donned a special suit that allowed the chemical to absorb better, and then lay under “fluoroscopic rays” to force the formula into his organs. When he emerged 12 hours later, he had developed super-powers; powers that he used to fight crime as the Golden Age hero "The Shield."

SHIELD stands for “Sacrum, the Spinal Center of the body; Heart, the Pump of the body; Innervation, the nervous system; Eyes, the power of sight; Lungs, Control of respiration; and Derma, the skin."

type: ability enhancer
form: topical
comic: Pep Comics #1


Shrinking Capsule
The original method by which Ant Man and the Wasp shrank to insect size. Giant Man also used them to return to his normal size. Ultimately replaced by the use of "Pym Particles".
Sometimes called "Reducing Capsules."
type: reducing agent
form: pill
comic: Silver Age Tales to Astonish and Avengers
see also: Growing Capsule

SkySky
A drug that simulates alien contact. This "futuristic" drug is developed in 2005, at least according to 1997's Invisibles, Volume 2.
type: halllucinogen
form: ?
comic: Invisibles, Volume 2 #13

Silverale
Drink of choice on the planet Rimbor.
type: alcoholic beverage
form: liquid
comic: various Legion of Super-Heroes issues

Smile Venom
Another name for Joker Venom.

Smilex
Yet another name for Joker Venom. "Smilex" originated in the first Tim Burton Batman movie and has shown up occasionally in comic books since, but the name is not used regularly in comics.

Solution Z
Another name for the Z Formula.


Somnabutol
1.
An extremely potent and immediately effective sedative. At lower does, may have a hallucinogenic effect..
type: sedative
form: liquid or gas
comic: American Flagg #1

2. A potent sleeping medication from Cynosure.
type: hypnotic
form: liquid
comic: Grimjack #14


Soul
Street drug from Gotham City. It has one of two effects on a person -- it either turn them into an "angel" (i.e. enhance their best qualities), or turns them into a "devil" (i.e. bring out their worst qualities). It is produced By Dr. Death and made from corpses.
type: ??
form: tablet
comic: Batgirl


Spin Dust
Illegal drug for robots. Smuggled into Neopolis from Mexico.
type: -
form: powder, presumably
comic: Top 10: Beyond the Farthest Precinct #2
see also: Crystal Math, Darkshots, Gluon Juice, Hextasy

SS-2
A gaseous form of the Super Soldier Serum. It grants increased speed, strength, and endurance.
type: pan-enhancer
form: inhaled
comic: Underworld mini-series
see also: Super Soldier Serum

cover, Dr. Mid-Nite #1Steroid A39
A medication originally developed to treat the rare medical condition xenoderma pigmentosum, it later surfaced as an addictive street drug that ultimately turned its users into mindless super-strong zombies. A dose of this drug was slipped into the drink of Dr. Pieter Cross who subsequently wrecked his car. Somehow the combination of A39, alcohol and an explosive car crash left him blind but with the ability to see in the dark. He used this ability along with his medical skills to become the new Dr. Mid-Nite.
type: steroid
form: liquid (drinkable)
comic: Dr. Mid-Nite mini-series


The dangers of sugarcoatsSugarcoats
An illegal and highly addictive street drug from the city of Cynosure. There is no cure for Sugarcoat addiction.
type: hallucinogen
form: pill
comic: Grimjack #1

bouncing boySuper-Plastic Liquid
Instead of delivering the experimental liquid like he was supposed to, Chuck Taine chose to attend a robotic sporting event. Thinking it was his soda, Chuck drank the super-plastic liquid instead. It granted him the amazing (wink, wink) abilities to swell up like a giant ball and bounce, powers he used for the good of all manking (wink, wink) as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
type: ??
form: liquid
comic: Action Comics #301

Super-Soldier Serum
1. Developed by Dr. Erskine (aka Prof. Reinstein), this is the formula which granted Steve Rogers the heightened strength, agility and endurance he would need as Captain America. Dr. Erskine was killed shortly after and the formula died with him.
type: pan-enhancer
form: liquid (injectable) and pills
comic: Captain America Comics #1

the super soldier serum

2. In the Ultimates universe, Bruce Banner injected himself with an experimental version of the super soldier serum and mutated into the Hulk.
type: enhancer, mutagenic
form: liquid (injectable)
comic: Ultimates #1-6

3. Over in the DC universe, Dr. Anabolus created an experimental super soldier serum which he injected into a puppy from the U.S. Army K-9 corps. The formula transformed the puppy into Rex the Wonder Dog. Rex gained increased speed, strength, stamina, agility, and intelligence. As luck would have it Dr. Anabolus was killed by a Nazi spy shortly thereafter, leaving Rex the only wonder dog.
type: pan-enhancer
form: liquid (injectable)
comic: Rex first appeared in Rex the Wonder Dog #1, but I'm not sure when the super soldier serum ret-con surfaced.


Synth-Caf
Common beverage in MegaCity One.
type:
stimulant
form: liquid (drinkable)
comic: various Judge Dredd comics

Tar
Addictive and illegal street drug in Gotham City. Formery used by John Henry Irons' niece Natasha.
type: ??
form: ??
comic: Steel


Terrigen Mists
Used by the Inhumans to induce mutations in their populace. The mists' effect on noraml humans is unknown, but on depowered mutants, it temporarliy returns their powers at an uncontrollable level.
type: mutagenic
form: inhaled
comic: various issues of Fantastic Four, multiple Inhumans mini-series, and the Son of M mini-series

Timelozar
A "targeting agent" for brain tumors; a form of chemotherapy.
type: antineoplastic
form: pill
comic: Doctor Strange: The Oath #1

Toad Juice
Incredibly addicitive hallucinogen derived from the sweat of a mutant boy who is unfortunate enough to have earty skin like a toad. It only has its desired effect on mutants. It is a deadly mutagenic when taken by normal humans.
Also known as "Toad Tabs."
type: hallucinogen, euphoric
form: liquid, usually placed on blotters
comic: District X


Toad Tabs
Another name for Toad Juice.


tripwireTripwire 7.0
A hallucinogenic designed for electronic appliances with artificial intelligence.
type: hallucinogen
form: electronic component
comic: Transmetropolitan #1


thunderboltThunderbolt
A purified form of Zap. It grants the user incredible euphoria, heightened strength, increased endurance and an inability to feel pain. It also causes death in one hour.Thunderbolt was developed by Dr. Malheur and marketed by the Yakuza boss Dai-Kumo. Taking the drug is known as "riding the thunderbolt."
type: pan-enhancer, toxin.
form: tablet
comic: Wolverine #31
see also: Raiden and Zap

27-QRX
Another name for QRX-27. See X-24.

U-235 Pills
Deveoped by Professor Invento, they give Atomic Mouse his powers. By the way, that’s U-235 as in Uranium-235, the element used in the atomic bomb.
type: strength enhancer
form: pill
comic: Atomic Mouse #1


Ultra Serum
The drug which gives Captain Patriot his powers. Designed and administered by the Enterprise Group.
Clearly an allusion to Captain American and the Super Soldier Serum [q.v.].
type: pan-enhancer
form: presumably liquid (injectable)
comic: Meta-Docs #0
see also: Super Soldier Serum


Velocity-9
This highly addictive drug grants super-speed, but at a tremendous cost. It speeds up the body's metabolism leading to dehydration, severe exhasustion and rapid aging. Velocity-9 was developed by Vandal Savage.

A purified form of Velocity 9 surfaced in Flash, the Fastest Man Alive #7, where it used by the villain Inertia to gain super-speed. Side effects, if any, are unknown. This version of the drug is produced and controlled by Deathstroke.

type: speed enhancer
form: ??
comic: Flash #12
see also: Velocity-10


cover, Titans #7Velocity-10
A derivative of Velocity-9, this drug also grants its users super-speed. Velocity-10 but has a different side-effect profile than its predecessor -- it causes different partsof the body to metabolize at different rates.
type: speed enhancer
form: ??
comic: Titans #7-8
see also: Velocity-9


BaneVenom
A strength-enhancing super-steroid used in great quantities by the villain Bane. Venom also has the unfortunate side-effect of affecting its users' mental stability and it has some addictive properties as well.
type: genetically-engineered steroid
form: liquid (injectable)
comic: various Batman titles

Vigoral
A serum that restores youth, including smooth skin, "vigorous" hair, sound teeth, and smooth muscles.
type: youth serum
form: liquid
comic: Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #40
see also: Decrepitin, Youth Poison
further information: "Now How Much Would You Pay" over at Lady, That's My Skull.


Vitamin 2XVitamin 2X
Created by the pharmacist Dr. Franz, this experimental vitamin is what gave the Golden Age Blue Beetle his powers.
type: strength enhancer
form: pill
comic: Mystery Men Comics #1


WhiteWhite
One of a trio of drugs used to control and manipulate latter day “super soldier” Nuke. White is most likely a relaxant or healing agent.

[N.B.: According to the Marvel Legacy: The 1980s Handbook, the white pills were "barbituates to counterat the amphetamines after combat."]

type: barbituate
form:
white capsule
comic:
Daredevil #231, #232, #233
see also: Blue, Red


Commander Maxima on XeniteXenite
Highly addictive and illegal street drug. Discovered in Neopolis early in the Top 10 mini-series, but one suspects it is not from there originally.
type: euphoric
form: powder (injectable)
comic: Top 10 #10


XD-3
An experimental drug used by the villain Catalyst.
type: ??
form: ??
comic: Blue Beetle (1986 series) #14

X-24
Chemist Roy Lincoln swallowed an experimental explosive capsule rather than let it fall into enemy agents hands. This caused a transformation in the scientist, leading him to become the Human Bomb.
The chemical in question is alternatively known as X-24, 27-QRX or QRX-27 depending on which particular origin story you read.
type: mutagenic explosive
form: capsule
comic: Police Comics #1

serum xy4XY-4 Serum
The original anti-lead serum developed by Supergirl. It allowed Mon-El temporarily resist the effects of lead, which affected his body in much the same way kryptonite affects Superman. Braniac later developed a permanent antidote.
type: strength enhancer
form: pill
comic: Adventure Comics #300
see also: Anti-Lead Serum


Xyklon-C
Extrememly potent neurotoxic chemical warfare agent. Xyklon-C is inert unless mixed with the chemical Atrophane.

[N.B.: Undoubtedly named after the real-world pesticide/neurotoxin Zyklon-B, infamously used by the Nazis in the concentration camps.]

type: neurotoxin
form: gas
comic: Catwoman #6 (1993 series)


Zap
A highly addictive drug made from the "hypothalmic fluid" of the endangered (and now extinct) Madripoorian Spider Monkey.
type: euphoric
form: ??
comic: Wolverine #32
see also: Thunderbolt

Zenpopper
Futuristic recreational drug.
type: likely euphoric
form: likely inhaled
comic: Hammerlocke #3

Z Formula
Used by the villain Mr. Who to increase in size and gain "the strength of ten gorillas." Sometimes called "Solution Z."
type: growth agent, strength enhancer
form: liquid (drinkable)
comic: More Fun Comics #73


Zootoxic Acid Psychogalvanide
The "scientific" name for Zap. I think they were just trying to win at Scrabble.

last
S-Z
next
Appendix A: Unnamed Drugs
Appendix B: Transmetropolitan
Appendix C: Jimmy Olsen
Appendix D: American Flagg

This page is © 2005, 2006 Polite Dissent