A superpower is a special or extraordinary superhuman ability far greater than what is considered normal. Superpowers are typically displayed in science fiction and fantasy media such as comic books, TV shows, video games, and film as the key attribute of a superhero. The concept originated in American comics and pulp fiction of the 1930s and 1940s, and has gradually worked its way into other genres and media. [1]
There is no rigid definition of a "superpower". In popular culture, it is often associated with unusual abilities such as flight, super-strength, super-speed, invulnerability, etc. However, it can also describe natural abilities that reach the peak of human potential, such as advanced intelligence or weapon proficiency. [2] [3] [4]
Characters like Batman and Iron Man may be classified as superheroes even though they have no actual superhuman abilities beyond their exceptional talent and advanced technology. Similarly, characters with superhuman abilities derived from artificial, external sources, like Green Lantern’s power ring and Tony Stark's armor may be described as superpowers even though the wearer is not necessarily superhuman.
In fiction and fantasy, superpowers are often given scientific, technological, pseudoscientific, or supernatural explanations. They come from sources such as magic, technology, or the character's own physiological nature (being an alien, a supernatural being, or a mutant.) [2] [5]
Superpowers are commonly used in animated television.
In shows such as Ben 10 , American Dragon: Jake Long, and Danny Phantom , young protagonists are bestowed with transformative powers which lead them to live a double life. Winx Club and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe feature characters who adventure in fantastical worlds which put their inherent superpowers to the test. In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , Road Rovers, and Street Sharks , the characters' superpowers are the result of being transformed into anthropomorphic animals (either from animals or humans) combined with combat training.
Other examples include: Biker Mice from Mars , Toxic Crusaders , Samurai Pizza Cats , Loonatics Unleashed , Darkwing Duck , Gargoyles , Drak Pack , Ghostforce , El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera , The Mighty B! , Three Delivery , Teamo Supremo , Mummies Alive , Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! , The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest , Totally Spies! , Code Lyoko , Storm Hawks , Zevo-3 , Chop Socky Chooks , Butt Ugly Martians , Kung Fu Dino Posse , etc.
Superpowers are a commonly used concept inmanga and anime — particularly in the shonen genre.
The types of powers featured vary from series to series. Some, such as Dragon Ball and Fullmetal Alchemist , feature many different characters who have the same types of powers. Others, like One Piece and Bleach , feature characters with a wide range of different powers, with many powers being unique to only one or a few characters. [6]
Examples include: Dragon Ball , Saint Seiya , YuYu Hakusho, One Piece, Black Clover , Naruto , Fullmetal Alchemist , Bleach , Code Geass , Fairy Tail , Hunter × Hunter, Attack on Titan, Bungo Stray Dogs, My Hero Academia, etc. [6]
Superpowers feature in subgenres of tokusatsu, a form of television characterised by heavy use of special effects. This is embodied by the franchise Super Sentai , known for Power Rangers , and its counterpart Kamen Rider .
In Western television, superpowers are often depicted in adaptations of comic books. However, drama series such as Heroes and Misfits are original to television. They use superpowers to heighten the conflicts of otherwise ordinary characters, without strong ties to other superheroic tropes such as codenames or costumes.
A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses superpowers or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their powers to help the world become a better place, or dedicating themselves to protecting the public and fighting crime. Superhero fiction is the genre of fiction that is centered on such characters, especially, since the 1930s, in American comic books, as well as in Japanese media.
Champions is a role-playing game published by Hero Games designed to simulate a superhero comic book world. It was originally created by George MacDonald and Steve Peterson in collaboration with Rob Bell, Bruce Harlick and Ray Greer. The latest edition of the game uses the sixth edition of the Hero System, as revised by Steve Long, and was written by Aaron Allston. It was released in early 2010.
Super Friends is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 1973 to 1985 on ABC as part of its Saturday-morning cartoon lineup. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and was based on the Justice League of America and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics. The title of the series varied from season to season, as did the superheroes on the team. Nine seasons, comprising a total of 93 episodes, were produced.
Dial H for Hero is a comic book feature published by DC Comics about a magical dial that enables an ordinary person to become a superhero for a short time, such as an hour, by selecting the letters H-E-R-O in order. Each time it is used, the dial causes its possessor to become a superhero with a different name, costume, and powers. These superheroes are usually new, but on one occasion the dial caused its user to become a duplicate of Plastic Man. Some versions of the dial, like the original, contain additional letters, allowing other kinds of transformations. The title of the series is a play on the title of the 1954 American crime mystery film directed by Alfred Hitchcock titled Dial M for Murder.
Mutants & Masterminds is a superhero role-playing game written by Steve Kenson and published by Green Ronin Publishing based on a variant of the d20 System by Wizards of the Coast. The game system is designed to allow players to create virtually any type of hero or villain desired.
Night Girl is a fictional character appearing in media published by DC Comics, primarily as a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes and Legion of Substitute Heroes in the 30th and 31st centuries. She first appeared in Adventure Comics #306.
The American Crusader is a superhero who originally appeared in Thrilling Comics #19. He appeared in almost every issue until #41.
Cat-Man and Kitten are a pair of fictional superhero characters created by artists Irwin Hasen (Cat-Man) and Charles M. Quinlan (Kitten) with unremembered writers. Cat-Man was first published in 1940 by various Frank Z. Temerson companies. Due to circumstances during World War II, an altered version of Cat-Man was published in Australia and reprinted in the 1950s. AC Comics later revived the characters in the 1980s.
Daredevil is a fictional superhero created by Jack Binder, who starred in comics from Lev Gleason Publications during the 1930s–1940s period that historians and fans call the Golden Age of comic books. The character was retroactively established into the Image Universe by Image Comics in the 1990s as its first character. The character is unrelated to Marvel Comics' Daredevil, and recent renditions of the character have often renamed him Doubledare or The Death-Defying Devil to avoid confusion and potential lawsuits.
The Fighting Yank is the name of several superheroes, first appearing in Startling Comics #10.
A real-life superhero (RLSH) is a person who dresses up in a superhero costume or mask in order to perform community service such as neighborhood watch, or in some cases vigilantism.
PS238 is an American comic book written and drawn by Aaron Williams and published by Do Gooder Press. It follows the lives of both teachers and students at an elementary school for children with superpowers, which the comic calls metaprodigies. It was also adapted into a role-playing game by Hero Games, using their Champions game system.
Superhuman strength is a superpower commonly invoked in fiction and other literary works, such as mythology. A fictionalized representation of the phenomenon of hysterical strength, it is the power to exert force and lift weights beyond what is physically possible for an ordinary human being. Alternate terms of superhuman strength have included enhanced strength, super-strength and increased strength. Superhuman strength is an amorphous ability, varying in potency depending on the writer or the context of the story in which it is depicted.
Superhero fiction is a subgenre of science fiction examining the adventures, personalities and ethics of costumed crime fighters known as superheroes, who often possess superhuman powers and battle similarly powered criminals known as supervillains. The genre primarily falls between hard fantasy and soft science fiction in the spectrum of scientific realism. It is most commonly associated with American comic books, though it has expanded into other media through adaptations and original works.
A superhero is a fictional archetype.
Captain Courageous is a fictional superhero character who first appeared in Banner Comics #3 from Ace Comics.
Superhero comics is one of the most common genres of American comic books. The genre rose to prominence in the 1930s and became extremely popular in the 1940s and has remained the dominant form of comic book in North America since the 1960s. Superhero comics feature stories about superheroes and the universes these characters inhabit.
Jon Kent is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Dan Jurgens, the son of Superman / Clark Kent and Lois Lane, he first appeared in Convergence: Superman #2. Jon is the newest character in the DC Universe to assume the superhero persona of Superboy, and later Superman. As Superboy and Robin, Jon and Damian Wayne, son of Batman / Bruce Wayne, have appeared in several Super Sons comic book series featuring their shared adventures. Jon later takes on the Superman mantle and stars in the comic series Superman: Son of Kal-El.
Batman himself is an anomaly as one of the few superheroes without superpowers…
