mind control

Mind control has proven a popular subject in fiction, featuring in books and films such as The Manchurian Candidate (1959; film adaptation 1962) and The IPCRESS File (1962; film 1965), both stories advancing the premise that controllers could hypnotize a person into murdering on command while retaining no memory of the killing. As a narrative device, mind control serves as a convenient means of introducing changes in the behavior of characters, and is used as a device for raising tension and audience uncertainty in the contexts of the Cold War and terrorism. Mind control has often been an important theme in science fiction and fantasy stories. Terry O'Brien comments: "Mind control is such a powerful image that if hypnotism did not exist, then something similar would have to have been invented: the plot device is too useful for any writer to ignore. The fear of mind control is equally as powerful an image." Speculative fiction In Dragon Ball, Broly is mind-controlled by his father Paragus. In Warhammer 40,000, the T'au Empire is mind-controlling its population. Imperio, one of the three Unforgivable Curses in Harry Potter, is a spell used for mind control. In RoboCop, the titular character is mind-controlled by Raymond Sellars. In Gamer, death-row prisoners are mind-controlled by gamers in Slayers, a first-person shooter. In DC Comics, Brainiac and Poison Ivy are frequently using mind control, an ability that Darkseid also plans to obtain by seeking the Anti-Life Equation. In Danny Phantom, Vlad Plasmius used mind control to become a billionaire. In Yu-Gi-Oh!, Marik has the Millenium Rod, one of the seven Millenium Items, which provides its owner with the mind control ability. Additionally The Millenium Key owned by Shadi can change a person's personality. In the movie series Men in Black, a device used for memory erasing (known as the Neuralyzer) is used frequently by Agents Kay and Jay. In the television series Doctor Who, there are multiple stories involving mind control. The Master is able to control the minds of individuals with a weak will by looking into their eyes, a form of hypnosis.