Editing Genius The Transgression/Introduction (section)

===Television:===

The Venture Brothers is not just about mad scientists, but also about failure: the failure both of individuals and of our society's sense of hope for the future. Taking place in a world where the Space Age dreams have crashed down to earth and following the misadventures of a family hopelessly trapped in a more optimistic past, The Venture Brothers is relevant to any genius who sees that her inventions passed their sell-by date before they were even completed.

Neon Genesis Evangalion is more than just an epic mind-screw that can serve as inspiration for what it's like to lose one's mind; it paints a picture of a world forced to live with the tyranny of a genius with inscrutable goals and visions who nonetheless seems preferable to the monstrousness that lurks outside. A tale of paranoia, disgust, and futility.

Mystery Science Theater 3000, because not every mad scientist dreams big, or even clearly: some just want to torture a guy with bad movies, and maybe that'll somehow lead to world domination. Look for the early episodes; the "invention exchanges" showcase some of the half-baked ideas that a genius might come up with on an off-day and can serve to lighten the mood in a grim story about creeping madness.