SUPERPOWER: IMMORTALITY

Even though the Young Guardians each have their own set of unique abilities, I gave them one power that they have in common: immortality.  They are immortal in the sense that they will never physically age, never get sick, or die of natural causes, but they can still be killed if the physical trauma they sustain is great enough.  In other words, even though they will not physically age, their minds will continue to sharpen as the years go by.  With this power shared among them, they would truly be Young Guardians of society.  I gave the characters this power because I realized that most superheroes would inevitably wither and die, leaving the world vulnerable to the wrath of evil.  So with agelessness, the Young Guardians will be able to save the world for a good long while.

CHARACTER CREATION: PATRICK DONOVAN

When I designed one of the main characters of my series, Patrick Donovan, I based him on the positive aspects of my personality. In addition, I gave him the powers that I would want to have if I was a superhero, which included fire-based powers. Also, he has insecurities and doubts about his potential as a superhero. He is haunted by the murder of his younger sister, which gives him a strong dislike of all that is evil. Patrick starts out as an average teenager who is a social outcast and trying to live a normal life. However, when he becomes superhuman, Patrick has a psychological struggle with his own power, which is linked with his anger and hatred. He does not feel comfortable with the idea that he is considered the team leader, but nevertheless, is eager to join his teammates in their crusade against evil.

SUPERPOWER: DRAGON FIRE MANIPULATION

One of my favorite superpowers has always been pyrokinesis or fire manipulation because of the powerful ferocity it can give the user.  When I was designing one of the main characters of The Young Guardians Saga, Patrick Donovan, I wanted to give him a power that stood apart from ordinary fire manipulation.  To that end, I turned my attention to my favorite of all mythological beasts: dragons.  I wish to give Patrick features of a dragon while maintaining his human form, so I decided to give him the ability to generate and control the very flames that dragons breathe.  Apart from wielding dragon fire, I wanted this power to have a psychological effect on Patrick whenever he uses it to the extreme, which would result in giving Patrick the ferocious mindset of a dragon.

Graphic Novel Review: Runaways Volume 1

Written by Brian K. Vaughan, this amazing graphic novel tells the story of a group of children who discover their parents are secretly an organization of super villains called The Pride. Complete with a unique origin story and a fast-paced plot, the Runaways keeps the reader wondering what will happen next as these children attempt to save the very world their parents are trying to destroy. In addition, the powers and equipment that the children acquire to combat their parents’ evil are very intriguing with a deep sense of variety. When the writer created The Pride, it was enjoyable to see that he based them on all the various archetypes of super villains: crime lords, dark sorcerers, mad scientists, time travelers, alien invaders, and mutants. This story is highly recommended to anyone who would enjoy the superhero genre.

Character Overview: Cyber Shadow

Name: Brick Baxter
Alias: Cyber Shadow
Occupation: Former school bully, supervillain, and mass-murderer
Personality and Traits: Sadistic, arrogant, psychopathic, vengeful, and bloodthirsty
Goals: Seek revenge against Patrick Donovan and kill anyone or anything that gets in his way.
Powers and Abilities: Cybernetic body equipped with superhuman strength, durability, reflexes, flight, and advanced weaponry.
Vulnerabilities: If his brain is damaged or destroyed, he will die.  In addition, the experimental technology that keeps him alive also drives him insane.

No Wasted Ink

As I explored NoWastedInk.com, I discovered how interesting and versatile its articles were.  I enjoyed reading the interviews and finding out what was unique about each author.  If anyone is searching for a website that can introduce you to writers with potential, this is the place to go.  Enjoy!