Superhero Universe - Setting Up

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SETTING UP: Okay, now that you’ve decided what kind of comic book you want to do, you have to decide on two possible things. The first would be whether or not there was a set-up of some type that led to the presence of superheroes. The other would be whether or not there is a history to your superhero universe, a series of events that led up to a storyline and your first story.

Getting started
Is there a history?

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Getting started

Your superhero universe could have a specific event that leads to the emergence of costumed heroes and villains. The comic could start out this way, right from the first issue, or it could have started a certain number of years prior, with the world still reeling from the effects.

Common events can include:

A cosmic event, like a meteor exploding over the Earth
Secret experiments by shady corporations or even the government
Mysterious explosions that releases unknown chemicals or energy into the atmosphere
Something simple – like someone becoming the first to put on a costume, with others to follow

These are some of the more classic examples, and any can work if done right. Mixing around with some of them can also work.

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Is there a history?

Your comic can start in the modern day, but can have a history that can go back as far as several decades, with costumed heroes having been around for some time and become a familiar thing, even be a part of history. The fun part is that it allows you to truly be creative, and even do your comic as a tribute to the various ages of comic book history. The downside, of course, would be you’d have to create enough characters to fill it all, and even have to do a bit of research on your part to make sure you get things right. But like all things, it can be worth it if it means being able to create a fun and interesting storyline.

Also, here’s another area where you can mix and match. Obviously, if your comic has an event to set things up that happened prior to where the story starts, you’ll need to have a history that leads up to present time. It’ll take some work, but as long as you have fun doing it, that’s all that counts in a buzzing kids world.

A Complete History of American Comic Books >