Supersoldier is a term often used to describe a soldier that operates beyond normal human limits or abilities. Supersoldiers are common in science fiction literature, films, TV programs, computer, conspiracy theories, and video games, but have also made appearances in other related genres, such as military fiction and spy fiction. Many depictions of supersoldiers treat them as shock troops or heavy infantry, although others feature them as elite commandos or special forces personnel.
Supersoldiers are usually heavily augmented, either through eugenics (especially selective breeding), traumatized victims of any age, genetic engineering, cybernetic implants, drugs, brainwashing, traumatic events, an extreme training regimen (usually with high casualty rates, and often starting from birth or a young age), or other scientific and pseudoscientific means. Occasionally, some instances also use paranormal methods, such as black magic, and/or technology and science of extraterrestrial origin. The creators of such programs are viewed often as mad scientists or stern military men, depending on the emphasis, as their programs will typically go past ethical boundaries in the pursuit of science and/or military might.
Some valid examples of super-soldiers in fiction are pulled directly from popular entertainment. One such example is the Halo series, others include the Space Marines of Warhammer 40,000, Captain America, StarCraft series Ghost operatives, Crysis, the Marx II Super Army Louis Marx and Metal Gear. Although the term has been used throughout various computer and video games in the early 1990s such as Wolfenstein series, it is only recently incorporated as an opposing force or antagonist. In recent video-games, super-soldiers are popularized through their storylines in moody dark horror games such as F.E.A.R. The Super-soldier is ideal for the science fiction synopsis as well. Movies such as RoboCop incorporate the super-soldier as a destructive and constructive element in science fiction. In an episode of the TV show Justice League Unlimited, a super-soldier serum was created for "Project Captain Nazi" by the Axis forces.
In the book The Men Who Stare at Goats, journalist Jon Ronson documents how the U.S. government repeatedly tried and failed to devise super-soldiers with psychic powers. The events were dramatized in the film of the same name.[1][2]