Writer Wednesdays: Building Characters

 

Happy Writer Wednesdays!

Today we are going to help you with creating a world of superhero characters. Yesterday we focused on the concept of creating a villain but today we are going to help you round out your super-verse into a full-fledged story by helping you create your version of superheroes. 

Thanks to DC and Marvel, we know a LOT about superheroes and their powers. The downside is, this means we've seen a LOT of superhero powers. Super strength - Superman. Super speed - The Flash. Rich billionaire with gadgets - Bruce Wayne and Oliver Queen. Laser vision - Supergirl. These two comic empires have done it all. And what they haven't come up with, graphic novelists have filled in the gaps such as the Umbrella Academy's quirky take. This doesn't mean that YOUR superhero story isn't worth telling. In fact, YOUR story could give a breath of fresh air to the genre.

To start off, we want you to take a look at actual superhero powers with these thorough lists of what has been dubbed as "best superpowers" on IGN and CBR. 

If you're still in need of some help thinking of how to create your superhero story for the week check out these articles: 

Plot Elements & Examples

How to Write Superhero Fiction

How to Write a Superhero Story

For your characters, you have the option of deciding what type of superhero story you want to tell. Is your hero a loner like Superman and has a single arch-nemesis? Or do you have a band of heroes that work together? 

1.) Single Hero 

If you're going the solo hero route, you need to focus on your hero's origins. Did they fall from the sky in a spaceship? Did they get struck by lightning and develop amazing abilities? Once you think about where your hero came from and how they got their abilities, you need to think about WHAT abilities they have? Are they superfast, have the ability over water, can turn into ice, or do they have the ability to stop time? 

Then comes a very important question. Is this your hero's origin story or do they already have full control over their powers? Smallville told the story of Clark Kent before he ever became Superman and the show explored how he manifested each of his abilities while the new Superman & Lois finds Clark already well-established as a superhero and trying to balance that life with being a parent and husband. 

 From there you need to focus on the fight between hero and villain. Why are they against each other? What are their goals? 

2.) Hero Team-Up

If you're wanting to do a hero team-up like the Avengers, you need to decide are you telling a story where these heroes already know each other or are they just meeting for their first time? Think about the dynamics they have with each other. Who gets along and who can't stand each other? And how do these relationships get in the way of fighting bad guys or do they make their group dynamic stronger?

Once you think about your social dynamic between characters, you'll need to get to know each of them individually. How did they become super-powered? Was there a massive nuclear meltdown that gave them their powers at the same time? Or are they a secret alien race with each of them manifesting their abilities? Or is there a whole other angle to their powers? 

Be sure to give them each a unique ability from each other. Don't give two the same exact ability. You don't want two superstrength heroes when you could have a variety of powers. These powers will be how your team works together and how their dynamic will be. 

Good luck!