From Aquaman to Wolverine, superhero comics are among the most iconic creations of the twentieth century. If you like the idea of creating a superhero that has a mythology and stories of its own, here's how to choose characteristics and traits suitable for creating a character that is interesting in the eyes of others, and from which to start to invent stories that involve him.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Choosing the Superpowers
Step 1. Think of accidental or "nuclear" superpowers
Some characters possess "nuclear" powers, meaning they have come into contact with some kind of substance that has given them superhuman powers. This choice was particularly popular in the 1940s, during the so-called "Golden Age" of comics, when nuclear technology was on the rise.
Daredevil, Spiderman, Hulk, Flash, and Dr. Manhattan are good examples of heroes with such powers
Step 2. Think about powers from other worlds
Some characters have "alien" powers. In this case, we are talking about items and abilities that come to your hero from other worlds. Stories involving this type of powers tend to be expansive and intergalactic, allowing the hero the ability to fly between worlds and perform feats that cross any human barrier. Sometimes such heroes also have an alien appearance, or have been transformed in some way.
Superman, Silver Surfer and Green Lantern are part of this type of hero
Step 3. Think about abilities from mutations
Some superheroes derive from the evolution of natural traits into something different, which then turn out to be powers that go beyond normal human capabilities. Genetic manipulation, evolution, and other factors are often involved in the creation of such powers. Magic can also be an important part of these skills.
All the X-Men, Captain America, John Costantine (Hellblazer) and Aquaman are excellent examples of this type of character, as each of them has biologically gained their powers
Step 4. Consider not giving your hero any power
In some comics the heroes don't have superpowers. Iron Man, Hawkeye, and Batman are examples of characters with no power other than their intelligence and exceptional equipment. Although these characters are usually well-off enough to pay for their equipment and gadgets, they have an extra touch of humanity that makes them unique.
Step 5. Think outside the box
Many of the traditional superpowers have already been used. Start thinking about different and original worlds, in which really strange things are considered "powers". Who says your superhero's power can't be having a particular key, in a world that's a tangle of closed doors? In general, new superheroes are unlikely to fly around with cloaks on or have names ending in "man".
Part 2 of 3: Creating your Hero
Step 1. Think about its origins
All superheroes come from somewhere. Their past history gives us a lot of information about them. What would Superman be without the destruction of Krypton? Who would Batman be without his parents' death?
- Where does your hero come from?
- Who were his parents?
- How did he gain his powers?
- What does he do to earn a living?
- What was your fear when you were a child?
- Who are his friends?
- What are your wishes?
Step 2. Give your character a look
Now comes the fun. The appearance and uniform of a superhero are the characteristics that distinguish him from all the other heroes. Superheroes must appear intriguing and ready to face evil. Think about the specific colors and clothing that will characterize your character.
- Make sure the uniform fits the skills. If your hero has Superman-like abilities, it's unlikely that he needs protective gear or special items.
- Many characters wear a mask to protect their secret identity. Cloaks were a distinctive feature of heroes during the Golden or Silver Age, but it is not excluded that you can use one.
- Come up with a symbol. What symbol or badge will your character have to ensure that others recognize him instantly? Think of Superman's S and the symbol on the Green Lantern ring.
- Some comic book heroes don't wear full uniforms, but they do feature some details that help you identify them. Wolverine's hair and sideburns are an example.
Step 3. Create your character's secret identity
The secret identity or alter-ego of a self-respecting superhero is at least as important as his story. The superhero is fascinating, but his alter-ego is the basis from which the hero comes to life. What does the hero do when he doesn't go around saving the world? Who is he in real life? This is the starting point for the creation of extraordinary characters.
- A good superhero must be in trouble. Clark Kent is a perfect alter-ego for Superman, because he doesn't make one right. And the Kryptonian named Kal-El would probably have a hard time getting everything right when he arrived on Earth.
- In some cases, your hero's secret identity may derive from his story. Maybe the character is a garbage man who receives superpowers after the discovery of radioactive waste in the garbage. His secret identity, in this case, would be that of the garbage man, his original work.
Step 4. Give your superhero flaws
Superheroes aren't perfect. A good story about heroes always contains some moments of tension, which you can only get if your hero has something that is bothering him. Character flaws are an essential part of any self-respecting story, including superheroes.
- What does your character want?
- What prevents him from getting what he wants?
- What are you afraid of?
- What makes him angry?
- What is his weakness?
Step 5. Come up with a good name
Now that you've created a host of traits, abilities, and flaws for your character, it's time to pick a representative name. Superheroes should always have memorable names that make for a good title for a comic. Choose one that fits your character's story and powers.
Not all superheroes need to have names ending in "man". John Costantine, Swamp Thing, and Wolverine are great examples of heroes having different names
Part 3 of 3: Inventing the Stories
Step 1. Invent a world for your hero
Metropolis is essential for Superman. Tank Girl needs her post-apocalyptic version of Australia to move into. What world does your superhero live in? What are the dangers and threats of this world, for him and for normal people? A good story also depends on where the hero lives.
What are the problems of your world? Your garbage man who finds nuclear waste could be living in Brooklyn. But the story would be more interesting if he collected garbage in Outpost 7 on Mars, where food and water are limited, gangs rule the streets and waste is abundant. Be creative
Step 2. Create a nemesis for your superhero
Who will have to fight your character? A group of enemies? Or a single sworn enemy who has evil plans for the hero's city? From the Joker to Doctor Octopus to Magneto, the villains are as important to the story as the heroes are.
- Think about opposites. If your superhero is a nuclear-powered garbage man, maybe his nemesis could be an evil surgeon who lives in an incredibly aseptic laboratory and never goes out. However, he devises evil plans from his secret laboratory.
- Enemies don't need to be specific people. A Batman doesn't necessarily need a Joker to fight against.
Step 3. Come up with some supporting characters
Superhero stories can't be limited to heroes and villains. We also need normal people in the middle of the action, to put some stakes on the story. Commissioner Gordon, Pa Kent, April O’Neil and Uncle Ben are examples of gorgeous characters who motivate and influence superheroes in comics.
- Does your hero have family members or siblings?
- Think of a love interest in your hero. Will he be able to share his secret identity with the person he loves? Will this person end up in the middle of the conflict? There are many ideas to be developed using the love of a hero.
Step 4. Find a good reason for the conflict
What puts your hero and his enemy in front of each other? What happens to cause drama and tension in your world? By working on the insights you have, you can find many ideas to create a conflict that fits your story.
- What does your hero have to do specifically to stop the evil? What can your garbage man do with his powers to prevent the evil surgeon from taking control of Mars Outpost 7?
- Think about the enemy's wishes. What makes him evil? Lex Luthor, one of Superman's great enemies, was a greedy businessman always looking for a profit. The Joker finds crime and violence amusing, while Batman always tries to defend those who have suffered injustice.
Step 5. Don't kill main characters for now
One of the most important things when starting a superhero comic is not to "finish" the stories. Let them have a future. The comics are released in series, which means they can go on for as long as you like. Batman stories have been told since the 1940s.
Think about adding more levels to your hero's stories, “onion shaped”, rather than just starting and finishing them
Step 6. Bring your character to life
Superheroes are great material for comics, movies, and even short fan-fiction. If you want to give life to the character outside of your imagination, start writing: in this way others will be able to see the hero in action. Read the following articles for more information on how to write a superhero story:
- Make a Comic.
- Write a Comic.
- Writing the Screenplay for a Movie.
