Asuperpower is a special or extraordinary ability far greater than what is considered normal, possessed by those ofsuperhuman status. Superpowers are typically displayed inscience fiction andfantasy media such ascomic books,TV shows,video games, andfilm as the key attribute of asuperhero. The concept originated inAmerican comics andpulp 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" beyond the general idea of them being a set of capabilities and traits exhibited by characters in fiction that are considered beyond the limits of normal beings or areparanormal to some degree. In popular culture, it is often associated with unusual abilities such asflight,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 likeBatman andIron Man may be classified as superheroes even though they have no actual superhuman abilities beyond their exceptional talent and advanced technology, yet their capabilities are still considered far superior to that of the average individual and even comparable to overtly paranormal beings with explicitly supernatural capabilities. Similarly, characters with superhuman abilities derived from artificial, external sources, likeGreen Lantern’spower ring and Tony Stark'sarmor may be described as superpowers even though the wearer is not necessarily superhuman on their own.
In fiction and fantasy, superpowers are often given scientific, technological,pseudoscientific, or supernatural explanations. They come from sources such asmagic, technology, or the character's own physiological nature (being analien, asupernatural being, or amutant.)[2][5]
Superpowers are commonly used inanimated television.
In shows such asBen 10,American Dragon: Jake Long, andDanny Phantom, young protagonists are bestowed with transformative powers which lead them to live a double life.Winx Club andHe-Man and the Masters of the Universe feature characters who adventure in fantastical worlds which put their inherent superpowers to the test. InTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,Road Rovers, andStreet 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 andanime — particularly in theshonen genre.
The types of powers featured vary from series to series. Some, such asDragon Ball andFullmetal Alchemist, feature many different characters who have the same types of powers. Others, likeOne Piece andBleach, 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 oftokusatsu, a form of television characterised by heavy use of special effects. This is embodied by the franchiseSuper Sentai, known forPower Rangers, and its counterpartKamen Rider.
In Western television, superpowers are often depicted in adaptations of comic books. However, series such asHeroes,Misfits andHenry Danger 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.
Batman himself is an anomaly as one of the few superheroes without superpowers…
