1. What Even Is a Superpower?“
When you hear the word superpower, your brain probably goes straight to the flashy stuff: flying, shooting lasers, turning into a giant green rage monster. But let’s be real… most of us can’t even find matching socks in the morning. So, if that’s the bar? We’re screwed.”
Then pivot:“But maybe, John… superpowers aren’t about capes, costumes, or radioactive spider bites. Maybe they’re about something deeper—something messier and more…human.”
Definition Time:A Comic Book Superpower:“A unique, often unnatural ability that makes someone stand out above the norm — usually gained by accident, science experiment gone wrong, alien blood, or childhood trauma that would leave the rest of us in therapy for life.”
Examples:
Mutant genesX-Men/Mutants
Super soldier serumSteve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, etc…
Gamma radiationHulk
if you haven’t been bitten by something radioactive, have mutant genes, or given a super serum—you probably just pay bills like the rest of us.”
A Real-Life Superpower (Reframed Definition):“A unique trait, skill, or way of thinking you’ve developed—usually because life kicked your ass at some point—and now it helps you adapt, survive, or even help others.”
Breakdown:It’s earned, not given. Most Superpowers are given and not necessarily earnedIt’s built through hardship, not heroics.It often comes from trauma, failure, or straight-up chaos. And it’s not always visible.
Criteria of a Real Superpower:
1. It’s unique to YOU
Everyone’s got a different skillset because we all had different origin stories.
“You can’t copy someone else’s trauma and expect the same power. That’s not how this works. This isn’t a TikTok trend — it’s a personal transformation arc.”
2. It helps you or others survive / adapt / thrive“
If your so-called power only works in fantasy football, it doesn’t count.”
Things that do count: Staying calm in chaos, Reading people, instantly Rebuilding after failure, Turning pain into purpose
3. It often comes from the messiest parts of your life
“You don’t get a healing factor unless you’ve been hurt. You don’t build resilience unless you’ve had to keep going.”
2. Origin Stories:
Real-Life Edition
Everyone has an “origin story”—a hardship, challenge, or weird experience that made them who they are.
Childhood adversity: How it can forge empathy, quick decision-making, or independence.Toxic relationships: How learning boundaries can become a power.
Failures or rejections: Develop grit, self-belief, reinvention.
Real-World Examples:
Michael Jordan – Cut from high school varsity team → became a relentless work ethic machine.
Terry Crews – Former NFL player who pivoted into art, acting, and advocacy.
People from hard neighborhoods who develop street smarts and survival instincts as actual skills.
“Radioactive spiders aren’t real. Crippling student debt, that’s real!”
3. Geeky Power Comparisons
Your greatest insecurity = your power.
“I overthink everything.” → Power: Precognition
“I isolate under pressure.” → Power: Invisibility
“I cry at dog commercials.” → Power: Emotional Empath, Level 9000
Reverse Engineer It…
Ask: “If a comic book hero had your exact life, what would their power be?”
Overworked single parent → Chrono-Warper (can slow or stop time to get it all done)
Customer service rep → Truth Detector / Emotion Absorber
Compare to Fictional Characters:
Steve Rogers – His heart was his power before the serum.
Peter Parker – Super strength didn’t matter as much as his guilt-driven responsibility.
Jean Grey – Overwhelmed by emotion → literally becomes cosmic-level Phoenix.“
The freaky part is—our powers often come from pain. That’s either poetic or a sign we all need therapy. Maybe both.”
4. Adapt and Overcome Moments (Real Life or Fiction)
Fictional characters who didn’t have powers but became powerful:
Batman (discipline and intellect) Didn’t have powers, Suffered a traumatic event as a child (watching both parents be murdered), He became disciplined, trained hard, and instead of letting that trauma, he decided to fight back.
Iron Man (engineering and trauma response)Lost both parentsAlso suffered a traumatic experience being a captured and held in a cave to rebuild his own weapons for terrorists. Instead he was resilient and built himself an iron suit and escaped. He eventually become one of the greatest Marvel characters that we know today!