Superhero Universe - Elements To Consider

More often than not in superhero comic books there are, in fact, certain elements that exist that don’t in the real world. Aside from the obvious (super-powered heroes and villains), here are some of the more common elements you might want to put into your superhero universe:

• Advanced Technology and Aliens
• Myths, Legends, Monsters, and Magic
• Law, Government, Secret Agencies, and Alternate Histories

The Everything Guide to ...

• Advanced Technology: A superhero universe may exist in the present day, but there may be technology running around that looks like it came straight out of the distant future. Laser guns, robots and computers that can think for themselves, cyborgs, teleportation devices... You name it, chances are you can find it in a comic book. Whether developed by heroes or villains or acquired from aliens, the tech can exist.

• Aliens: Beings from other worlds can also exist, and even be public knowledge and commonly accepted (to a point). They can look as human as we are, be human-shaped but have very non-human characteristics, or look so bizarre you know you’d never mistake them for human. Aliens can become some of the heroes and villains of your universe, or different races can either try to conquer Earth or let it get caught in the crossfire between their wars. Like most things, the possibilities are endless.
  

• Myths and Legends: The gods of classic mythology? Supposed legendary places like Atlantis or El Dorado? They can exist in superhero comics. Whether it be the Gods of Olympus coming down to try their own hands at being heroes or villains or Atlantis existing beneath the oceans, populated by a race of fish-people, you can make it happen. And the best part is that these are all in the public domain, meaning anyone can use them. Just be sure that what you use isn’t the same as what someone else has.

• Monsters: Just like gods and aliens, monsters can also exist in a superhero universe. Whether they’re classic monsters like vampires, werewolves or the Frankenstein Monster (public domain, folks), urban legends like the Jersey Devil or the Mothman, or demons straight from the underworld, you can make them a part of your universe. Lots of comics even have monsters as heroes, or simply be misunderstood, leading to fights that feel awkward at the end.

• Magic: If you have gods and monsters, you’ve got to have magic, just like Harry Potter uses. Many heroes and villains often have magical origins (Captain Marvel, anybody?), and mystic forces always seem to play a role in the fate of the world. And there is often one who is considered the most powerful magic user of all, charged with safeguarding our world from the most dire of supernatural threats. Given the many different types of magic around the world and theories about it, how you play it out is up to you.

• Law and Government: Technically, a superhero acts on his own, and isn’t officially part of any law enforcement agency. So does that mean the criminals he catches are set free? Your universe could have it so that various countries have laws regarding heroes and how they can act, even ones to protect them and their identities. It may even go as far that there could be a registration and training process for a person to be a superhero, with those who don’t being considered vigilantes. Again, that’s your call.

• Secret Government Agencies: Just because superheroes are an accepted part of life, that doesn’t mean they’re completely trusted. As such, there might be a special branch of the government set up to keep tabs on super-powered heroes and villains, having detailed files on them and even ways to take them down if needed. They might even work with certain heroes to handle certain major threats, or even have been doing things on their own for awhile behind the scenes before the heroes show up. Consider it a bit of a necessary evil in that crazy world you’re creating.

• Alternate Histories: In your universe, the presence of superheroes could have altered certain events in history, either for better or for worse. Could a superhero have prevented a president’s assassination, or prevented a major disaster. Something to think about, both in how it could’ve been done and what the results would be after.