In this day and age, superheroes are all the rage. They can be seen in movies, TV shows, merchandise, and of course, in literature. People love superheroes.
Sometimes, writers just want to create characters that can do some pretty awesome things like fly, teleport, read in the dark, or even shape-shift. Whatever the case may be, if it's not done correctly, a character's powers can leave room for plot holes and confusion, and nobody likes either of those things. I'm going to give you my five tips for writing characters with superpowers.
1) Keep Things Simple- I know what you're thinking: it's a superhero story! Why do I need to do that?
The more complicated you make your character's superpowers, the more explaining you'll have to do, and that's not fun for you or your readers. If you have to explain every little detail to your readers regarding a character's powers, then your audience will grow tired of it. Keep everything clear and concise to avoid any confusion. Don't do stupid things like give your characters a gazillion powers.
Take Superman for example. He has super strength, super speed, x-ray vision, heat vision, cold breath, and the ability to fly. The circumstances are different, but seriously, there is too much for him to work with, That makes him super over-powered. Wolverine has an adamantium skeleton and healing factor. Nothing too complicated about that. Nothing at all.
2) Make Them Human- If you want your readers to like your characters, they need to be realistic and relatable, or else they won't connect with them. Yes, while your characters can do some extraordinary things, they are still human at the end of the day. Maybe they go to school. Maybe they have a day job or a family to take care of. Realistically speaking, your character probably doesn't have time to make being a superhero their full time job. Hell, maybe they don't even want to be a superhero, but by sheer luck, they got super powers.
In my opinion, Spiderman is the most one of the most relatable characters in Marvel comics. He's a geeky science nerd pining for a girl who's way out of his league. He's bullied at school, struggling to keep a day job, and trying to get through school. Those are some things we can all relate to. Another thing about Spiderman is his costume. Stan Lee has disclosed to Marvel fans that the reason behind the design of his costume is so his enemies can't see that he's afraid. What?! Spiderman gets scared too?! That's blasphemy!
No, it's not. He's a human being, of course he gets scared! Fighting to the death is nerve wrecking, so don't be afraid to give your characters emotion or make them vulnerable while their busy surviving.
3) Use Cliches Sparingly- A tragic backstory equals a dark and brooding hero. The death of a loved one fuels an origin/revenge story. The main character gets superpowers and all of a sudden, he wants to be a hero. Maybe the final battle takes place in New York, LA, or some other mainstream big city. There are only so many times you can use these cliches before they become, well, cliche. Be mindful of what's already been done a thousand times. If you really want to use a cliche, make sure to put a unique spin on it or make it your own. If you want your character to have super strength, then by all means, let him (or her because powers are not limited by gender) lift all the heavy things or whatever. It's okay to use the same superpowers that are found in Marvel or DC comics, just don't create another Batman or Captain America inspired origin story. Your characters shouldn't mirror other popular characters unless you want your readers to make those comparisons.
4) Give your Characters Limits and Weaknesses- With great power come some drawbacks. I can't stress enough how important it is for your characters to have limits and weaknesses. They add to the humanity of your hero, make things interesting, and can fill plot holes, or even prevent them altogether.
Maybe your character can fly, but they're afraid of heights. Or maybe they have the power to read minds if they concentrate on a person.
5) Use Vivid but Short Descriptions- Marvel movies have the luxury of just showing us some action using fancy CGI and awesome stunts. Books do not. As the storyteller, it's your job to show your readers how their powers look in a battle or how they feel about using them. If you have a character that can shoot lasers out of their eyes, then you should ask yourself: What does it feel like when the character is using their powers? How does it work in combat? How does the character function in normal life?
A good example of superpowers done right is in Jenna Moreci's book Eve: The Awakening (BTW, you should check it out). The main character, Eve, has some extraordinary powers. One of them is the ability to use telekinesis. The way it's described in the book is pretty cool. The user has to relax and let their mind "melt". Not actually melt, but imagine that it is. I don't want to get into too much detail about the book because spoilers are a sacred line you don't cross with your audience, but check it out, because it's pretty awesome.
Of course, there are many other factors that determine how well a writer portrays their character's abilities, but these are some tips for you to help you along your writing journey. Let us know if this post has influenced or helped you in any way. We love to hear your feedback!
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