forum Ways to give characters super powers
Started by @WaffleWizard
tune

people_alt 45 followers

@WaffleWizard

Origin stories, for me, are the hardest part about writing characters with super powers of any kind. Like, where the heck did they get these?
Just wondering if anyone has any creative ideas for executing that sort of thing, because it feels like everything had already been done.

@YourOverlord

Strange mutations, doing something stupid (ex. drinking bleach), breathing in a weird chemical for their whole life (ex. if an asteroid was giving off some weird vibes).

I don't know if these are original, but I've never read anything with these happening.

@houdini

i always just make them born with it or something, or maybe you could do a stranger things kinda based origin? like, the parent does something while pregnant that carries onto the kid?

@WaffleWizard

That does sound interesting. You don't even need to go into to much detail on that kind of origin either. Thanks for the input!

@M.W.Poel

  • Alien/godparents
  • Some grand scale accident that releases radiation which is deadly in most cases but for some reason just slightly changed the heroes - DNA who was living/born on the outskirts of the area.
  • Chemicals in water/food would create multiple cases though.
  • Some weird experiments by (amateur) scientists.
  • non-human beings taking pity on the person who's almost dead and 'helping' them by granting them powers
  • possession/hostile takeover of the body by a parasite or supernatural being gone wrong.
  • No-one really knows but for some reason, a mediocre workout made this one dude impossibly strong. (aka Seitama, one punch man)

@houdini

Some grand scale accident that releases radiation which is deadly in most cases but for some reason just slightly changed the heroes - DNA who was living/born on the outskirts of the area.

oh hey i watch the flash

No-one really knows but for some reason, a mediocre workout made this one dude impossibly strong. (aka Seitama, one punch man)

yeeess i can't wait until april

Bublio53

Do you already have the super power in mind? Look at everything that involves said power or the character's background in terms of where they grew up. Who were the parents or guardians? What's their personality like? Did it influence their behavior and kinda decide their fates? Something might come up and it could be weird, but it's your story. :]

Hec Spiderman was just, "I was bitten by a radioactive spider." Hulk was… um… I stood in the blast radius of a bomb!? (I don't remember exactly lol) X-men mutants were born that way, others were experimented on… Maybe a deity chooses that person for said powers… maybe power came from something from space or beyond. There is also a typical "accident" story.

It really varies and can be what ever you want. I try to tell others that it can be very exciting if you put yourself in your character's shoes and imagine what they see… how they would feel in situations and respond. Mentally act them out. :D

@jantz

the way my protagonist got his superpowers was a two arch long process, so it may take a while to explain it thoroughly.
if you're looking for something sciency, then gamma radiations a good way to go.

@thecdmz

I’ve always liked the idea that certain people are born with a certain gene that others don’t have and the way they get powers is if it’s activated whether it be due to puberty (like the x-gene) or due to some kind of trauma that should have killed them but the gene kicked in and saved them (more like the meta-gene from DC)