Does anyone else here read the Wild Cards books? It would be a great source for odd character ideas. Basically an alien war unleashed a chemical that powered folks. Some people got cool super powers (aces) while others were deformed if they even got a power at all (jokers). It’s an anthology series put together by George R.R. Martin and friends who started out this setting as an RPG campaign. So far, I’ve loved the entries I’ve read.
SPOILERS
My favorites so far are the Great Turtle and the Sleeper. The Turtle is an omega-level telekinetic, but he’s so agoraphobic that he fights crime while encased in an armored ‘turtle-mobile’ of sorts. The Sleeper is a guy who changes forms/powers every time he sleeps which usually resembles more of a hibernation/chrysalis. This means he might be a high flying, handsome Ace one day (think ) and five months later he might wake up with a body made of jell-o and no other powers. He even goes so far as to take drugs to postpone sleep when possible. I’ve found the series pretty neat and fresh simply because several of the contributing aren’t traditional writers of super heroes.
That sounds amazing and this is the first I’ve heard of it. It sounds really interesting, maybe I’ll pick the first book!
The series had actually been optioned for a TV/movie series at one point, but I don’t know how far into production it went.
Cool, the only superhero stuff I’ve read outside of comics was Steelheart and I liked it. Wouldn’t mind checking more out more stuff so I’ll see if I can find it over here.
Invincible (same author as Walking Dead) is also a great comic super series with funky characters. I believe the series is on sale right now with Comixology.
Otherwise, a CLASSIC comic supers source is the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe from the 80’s. A hard or digital copy of those might be harder to track down. Luckily, Robert Kirkman (Invincible) got the inspiration and also did two similar volumes for his Official Handbook of the Invincible Universe which may be easier to find. The Marvel set is a great reference for Bronze Age Marvel stuff and the Invincible set is a more gritty/modern throwback
Oh yeah, I follow a lot of comics, love Invincible. It’s just fiction that I haven’t really read much superhero stuff in. I’ll see if I can find The Marvel or Invincible Official Handbooks, they’d be fun just to read regardless!
This sounds amazing! Will read it for sure!
Extremely well worth reading 🙂
Yes, Wild Cards is defiinitely worth reading. Except that the Turtle is a telekinetic, not a telepath.
Hollis McCray I totally facepalmed myself on that one. I’m usually the nerd that catches that one. Back to my sanctum to flagellate myself with my dice bag in penance.
Make sure they are all d4’s. 😉 Seriously though, this sounds awesome! Thanks for the heads up. I am always looking for more good stuff to read! (Finishing up The Punisher MAX run at the moment, it was one I missed.)
That is an absolutely wonderful series (at least the first few arcs). All I’m consistently reading comic-wise right now is Mike Mignola’s Hellboy/BPRD-related titles. That’s another set of titles I think the creation and bond system would work beautifully with as far as histories and connections to various organizations, secret cabals, and public resources.