The Scarlet Pimpernel

Origin
Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel is the first novel in a series of historical fiction set during the Reign of Terror following the beginning of the French Revolution. The Scarlet Pimpernel is the identity of the first superhero who, in the public eye is Sir Percy Blakeney. Blakeney is a wealthy English fop who leads a band of gentlemen, rescuing aristocrats before they are killed by a violent government. As the Scarlet Pimpernel Blakeney is a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking escape artist whose identity is unknown to everyone aside from the men in his group. This first book is about Marguerite Blakeney who must discover the Scarlet Pimpernel's identity to prevent the French envoy from harming her brother only to discover that he is the very hero. Joining him in crime fighting they go to France to defeat the envoy. As a masked man with a red Pimpernel flower in his breast pocket he became the precursor to subsequent literary creations such as Zorro and Batman.

Effects
Reader compulsively reads, upon completion reader believes they are a superhero. As of yet, if the book is completely read, there is no cure. Even if the book is neutralized.

Collection
Discovered in the possession of James Ceausescu, believed to be what caused his killing spree.