Trump virus
The Trump Virus is a fictional virus from the Wild Cards anthology series.
It is developed as a counter-agent for the mutagenic Wild Card virus by Dr. Tachyon, who helped develop the original Wild Card virus. The Trump has limited success as a cure; originally it only worked in approximately one-fifth of the cases, later with continued research by Dr. Tachyon this was upgraded to just under one-third. However, use of the Trump is somewhat risky, with a small percentage of those exposed to it dying. The Trump is seemingly most effective in the initial stages of Wild Card infection, but due to the unpredictable nature of the disease every case is unique.
Early successes with the Trump virus:
- Bentley, a criminal accomplice of the Sleeper, was once a dog-like four legged joker.
- Thomas Marion Douglas, aka the Lizard King, a Wild Cards analogue of Jim Morrison, was both an ace and a rock star until he retired. When the Trump virus removed the Lizard King's powers, he also lost his resistance to the cumulative effects of years of heavy drug abuse, dying of a heart attack shortly thereafter.
An experimental variant of the Trump virus also resulting in the transformation of James Spector into Demise.
In the 2008 Wild Cards comic book limited series The Hard Call, a supply of the Trump virus is stolen from Dr. Tachyon's Jokertown clinic and used in what are essentially criminal assaults on locations frequented by Jokers. The perpetrator smuggles vials of the Trump into the locations and then releases the virus into the environment, knowing that, while some among those exposed might be cured and others will be unaffected, at least some are likely to have a fatal reaction to the Trump. This virus can also cause swelling of the feet and hands.