Years ago I recall looking at the DC/Marvel characters, I found the following hero archetypes, almost akin to character classes you find in most RPGs. I’m sharing this list for the sake of posterity and hopefully for some utility.
– Accidental origin: A single or combination of events that culminate in the non-chosen attainment of superpowers. Examples: Flash, Spiderman, Hulk, Fantastic Four.
– Alien origin: Essentially a hero not of human origin that possesses super powers. Examples: Superman, Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Namor the Submariner.
– Bestowed origin: Essentially a human who is given super powers by a higher, more powerful force. Examples: Green Lantern, Dr. Fate, CaptainMarvel, Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Scarlet Witch.
– Creation origin: Essentially those sentient beings either intentionally exposed to superpowers or created. Examples: Captain America, Vision.
– Demigod origin: Essentially a minor god who becomes active in human affairs. Examples: Thor, Hercules.
– Disciplined origin: Essentially those humans who train their bodies to become exceptional in the martial arts. Examples: Batman, Nightwing,Green Arrow, Wildcat and many of the heroes of the JSA, Black Panther,
Daredevil, Hawkeye.
– Gadgeteer origin: Essentially those humans create or come to possess one or more items of power. Examples: HQ and Weapons of Batman, Utilities of Nightwing, Arrows of Green Arrow, Starwand of Starman,
Webshooters of Spiderman, Shield of Captain America, Body armor of Ironman.
– Mutant origin: Essentially those humans born with an unexplained mutant gene that grants them exceptional powers. Examples: All of the X-Men.
Of course some heroes can be a combination of two origins: Batman, Nightwing, Green Arrow among others are examples of Discipline/Gadgeteer combined origins while Spiderman would of Accident/Gadgeteer origin.
Chris Billows
Doc Surge (a cool synonym for Billows) is inspired by Doc Brass from the Planetary Comic series who in turn was inspired by the 1930s pulp hero Doc Savage.
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