Alright, so I have a superhero school. Now all I need are superpowers for my MCs. I've looked at the "List of comic book superpowers" on wikipedia, but so far nothing has struck me as absolutely genius and perfect for my characters. I figured the next step was to ask you guys.
I've been struggling over Character 1 for a while. She's the focus of the story, so I need a power that's interesting and useful. Her "class" of power is Transformation, but that type can range anywhere from turning into an animal to changing the properties of other objects. This character isn't really agressive, but I would still like her to have a power where she can physically fight. Kind of. I'm thinking like a Wolverine type, 'cept less brutal. Gah. That's a horrible description.
Character #2 is a bit more flexible. I have a basic idea, it just needs some expanding. I want him to be the type of guy who uses his powers for flashy kind of stuff, like impressing girls. No one really thinks he can do much with his powers. At the end, though, I want him to do something truly amazing that can really help the MC's cause. My first thought was that he could control light, and that at the end he would completely immerse his body in light and potentially blind all of his opponents. I'm not really happy with this idea, but I suppose it would work as a backup.
Character #3. I have nothing real specific in mind for him, just that I want it to be something that restricts a part of him. (Scott Summers "Cyclops" always has to have something over his eyes, for example, so almost no one has actually seen his eyes. (And yes, I just watched X-Men ^^)) I think I may have found something for this character, but any more suggestions would be helpful!
So...yeah. That was really long. Help is appreciated, if you can make any sense of this post. If you can help, I owe you...a lot. Let's just say that. :)
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NaNo 2007-Blue Glass-Won!
EdMo 2008-Blue Glass- Never Started...
Script Frenzy 2008-The Rixen's House-Lost
NaNo 2008-To Whom It May Concern-we'll see...
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mai 7, 2008 - 18 21
Actually, it makes perfect sense. :) The first comic book character that came to mind when I heard this description was Catwoman since her attacks are more along the lines of acrobatic instead of the "in your face" brutality that is Wolverine. Then there's this gal: Squirrel Girl. Don't ask me how I heard about her, it's a long convoluted story that has to do with "top ten lists" and "I was bored." lol. I don't know if you're looking for an anthromorphic type of ability but, IMO, I think it would be cool if there was a female down and dirty, in your face brutal type of fighter-- not like Wolverine, because he's masculinity personified (even the female evil alter ego from Xmen 2&3 was acrobatic, even if I can't remember/too lazy to look up her name right now). Y'know, something along the lines of a boxer, like Hilary Swank was in Million Dollar Baby. I don't know what you could do with that info but it might give you some ideas.
Uh...have you seen Stardust? That's a recent example of a film where "light is powerful too" came into play. A worse example is The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D. I'm not saying you shouldn't do it, it's just that the end results (usually) come across as cheesy.
Maybe the problem isn't so much with the specific power, but since he doesn't have enough confidence in his abilities (ok, that's done a lot too...but it could really work here) to show the rest of the kids the "oomph" and the "holy crap!" effect until it comes to a time when it's really needed. For example, maybe he can produce vines from his fingers, but due to his lack of faith in himself, instead of being monstrously huge villain-choking types, he ends up producing something along the lines of small little sprouts with flowers on it, which the girls would like, but the guys would tease him for. You can hint towards how powerful he can be when, say, a bully picks on him and just when he starts to get angry (vis a vis "The Hulk", so to speak) thorns pop out of his fingertips, but only he (or maybe a best friend) notices them.
Besides Cyclops (and Rogue), a couple of other characters come to mind when it comes to specifically covering their body for one reason or another. The first is the traditional Vampire, who, if they're not (at least) covered in the daytime they go up in flames. I can easily picture how this could be some weird off-shoot of the Human Torch where he'd be unable to "turn off" his powers in much the same way The Thing does. Then there's "?" Yeah, that's how his name is spelled. He's a classic Justice League character who can disguise himself as anyone EXCEPT for who he used to be. I don't know his complete back story or even that much about him, but when he's not using his powers, he covers, well, where his face should be. Apparently, a face full of bandages is a lot less creepy than no face at all. Go figure. :/
50,652 / 50,000
mai 7, 2008 - 20 30
Hmm, for the first character there's the animal transformation that NightWynde mentioned, and then there's transforming other things. Or, what if she could turn her skin into plate armor? Or maybe she can turn little things into something else--like a glove into a knife, a stick into a crowbar. She could always remake her ensemble (I'm thinking Wolverine's claws here) and whatever she got her hands on could turn deadly really quick.
When you said light, the first thing I thought was sound or music, and then ripples. Like he has the power to make anything he touches (the street, a shirt, a painting) ripple in the circular pattern. His discovery could be that he can get some serious power with that, or that he can make the air ripple and literally knock out his opponent. Otherwise . . . the power to whistle? To make pots? To boil water? To make his hair grow any length or style (hey! that has disguise purposes). I still like the ripple thing the most.
For your third guy, what if everything he touches turns to stone or ice or something? That way he would have to keep gloves on at all times. But only when he wants it. The problem would be that he's emotional and prone to leaking stuff.
Or if you wanted something really gross or disgusting, he could have a disease and always have to cover it up--but he controls who gets it and only they do. Or, what if he's a resonator--whatever sound he's around gets amplified through his ears and into his body and he gives of a (un)sonic vibration. The problem would be he can't control when it is, he can only unleash it.
I hope that helped.
50,037 / 50,000
mai 7, 2008 - 20 46
Wow, thank you both for the amazing replies!!! You've got me thinking about the acrobatics type of thing for my first girl. (and I think the character that you're thinking of, maybe, is Lady Deathstrike? Not sure, but she's kind of what I'm looking for) I really really like that ripple effect that dragonsoul mentioned for my 2nd. Wow. I think that's perfect. I agree, I think the light thing is a bit overused (I do love Stardust, though!). For my third character I am still a bit confused...but I think I have something (Finally!). It has to do with actually seeing emotions, the truth, etc...and she can't look anyone in the eye. Or something. I have yet to develop that a little bit :)
Anyway, thanks gazillions to both of you! As always, suggestions are still open!
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mai 8, 2008 - 12 39
Yep, Lady Deathstrike, that's who I was thinking of. :)
As far as an empath who gets overwhelmed by looking at people in the eyes? I'm sorry, but I'm getting flashbacks to Troi's first season on "Star Trek: The Next Generation"...and it ain't perty. :/
50,037 / 50,000
mai 8, 2008 - 17 43
Oh, really? I've never seen Star Trek so...I'll go look that up. Thanks for warning me!