Designing a Superhero: Part One

Have you ever wanted to write a superhero character, but didn't know where to start? Then this is the post for you. I've now written two novels with a variety of superhero characters, so I thought it would be fun to share what I've learned with you.

There will be two posts on this topic. This one will cover how to create the character itself, the important part. The second part will be more on designing the costume and other accouterments that your hero will need. So let's dive into how to make a superhero from scratch.

Character

Before you can decide all the cool stuff about your superhero, you need to create a character that readers will fall in love with. If they don't like the person under the mask, they won't stick with your book. You don't need to do anything special at this stage, simply make a character like you usually do. You might already have an idea of who you want your character to be, or you might have to make one from scratch.

You know I had to

Powers

Now we get to the fun part. Starting with what powers your superhero will have, which will influence everything else about them.

First you'll need to decide what sort of powers they have. Magical? Scientific? Enhanced abilities? No powers at all, only tech? Will it be themed around a certain thing? For example, my first superhero is a ninja with powers bestowed upon her by a magic sword. My second superhero has octopus related powers. Iron Man only has abilities through his suit.

Once you decide what type of powers they have, it's time to nail down the specifics. Take a piece of paper, or a Word document, and write down an exact list of what powers they have. From big ones like the ability to fly to small ones like enhanced intelligence. I find it's best to make sure they all tie together and seem logical.

You also need to write down how they can use these powers and what their limits are. Maybe your character can fly, but is that with wings or just an innate ability? If they can stretch, how far? Can their force fields double as flying discs?

Example: Let's say we decide we want to make a super heroine who can create bubbles. She can manipulate their density and uses them as a variety of things, from force fields to sling shot ammo. She also has increased agility.

Backstory

Another vital part of any superhero is their backstory. Even if they were born with their powers, how did they decide to become a superhero in the first place?

Start by figuring out how they got their powers. Again, you might already have an idea about that. Are they a mutant, born with these powers? Did they get it in an accident? Was it bestowed upon them? My superheroes had their powers given to them and the other was part of an illegal experiment.

Then you can sit down and write out their backstory. This is where you can find many juicy details, from how their family accepted to their powers to whether anyone even knows. Much of this will be important to your novel, so make sure to be thorough when writing it out.

Example: Our bubble making heroine was a scientist, working on making new tech for the army. There was an accident (probably involving radiation or lightning) and she gained the ability to create bubbles with her hands. The government tried to capture her, claiming she was government property, but she escaped and has been living undercover ever since.

Name

You can't be a superhero without a good moniker. This is the name everyone will remember, how they'll be know to almost everyone in their life. It can take some time to come up with the right one for your specific hero.

Some superheroes go by their actual name, like Jessica Jones or Doctor Strange. Others include man or woman, boy or girl. It can be long, or it can be short. Their name also often reflects who they are. There's no end to the options.

Start by looking at what sort of powers they have and how that can be used for a name. Find some words you might want to use and look at a thesaurus to see if there are any others that strike you. Start putting them together until you get a few names you like, then narrow it down from there.

My first superhero was fairly easy to name, called Silver Sword after the weapon she carries. But my second one was a lot harder. He ended up with the name Ink, to go with his octopus powers. I also found it helpful to ask other people what they thought of my idea names.

Example: Our girl can create bubbles, so we could use the word bubble in her name. Or sphere, droplet, or bead. We could even call her Glinda, after the Wizard of Oz. But I think she's a prissy kind of character, so let's call her Lady Bubble. (Kinda silly, but is it any worse than Batman?)

Superhero Questionnaire

I designed this list of questions for designing superheroes with my last novel and it works well, so I wanted to share it with you. It also works well for super villains.

Superhero name:

Real name:

Major Powers:

Minor powers:

Weakness: (Very important to know what their limits and weaknesses are, so the super villain can exploit them.)

Suit:

Weapons:

Sidekicks:

Allies:

Enemies:

How did they get their powers?

Next Monday, we'll cover how to design a superhero suit and weapons, not only in your head, but how to draw it as well, because that is super helpful for visualization. See you then!

Have you ever written a superhero? What's your favorite kind of superpower? Tell me in the comments.

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