Superpowers begin to appear in the real world -- what does year two look like?

[Joe Grendel]

It's the real world. GWB is president, gas prices are riding high and a shocking number of people are watching "So You Think You Can Dance." This isn't a parody world, nor is it a four-color universe.

And into our world, superpowers appear, ranging from the mundane (someone who can "hear" the barely sentient voices of plants) to just shy of Superman's power levels. Let's say one person in a million manifests some sort of powers, and that they're more or less evenly distributed among the population.

One year later, how has the world changed?

[Wesley Dodds]

Ha. Isn't that the plot of Heroes?

Well, let's see. I'll start with people who use their powers in anti-social ways.

Conquest:

- People who want authority but don't have much ambition (or imagination) would take over small communities. They wouldn't allow anyone to leave, they'd force people to serve them and they'd take whatever (or whoever) they wanted. But I think they'd also convince themselves that they have a responsibility to their "people" and take pride in "protecting" them. (Template: The Abomination's recent appearance in She-Hulk)

- A few people with high ambition, intelligence and power would conquer small countries. Their rule would be absolute but they would (out of vanity) try to govern well. They would seek recognition as the legitimate authority over their territory and try to broker pacts with the great powers in return for acceptance. Some would be successful and get seats at the UN. (Template: Dr. Doom)

Theft:

- A lot of people would use their powers to take what they want -- but not want very much. They'd steal luxury items for personal use: that Playstation 3 they've got their eye on, maybe a HD TV to go with it. These people would keep their normal jobs. They'd pay for their groceries and steal their new sofa.

- Some people would use their powers to become professional thieves. They'd steal in secret and in bulk, fencing stolen goods for money. The advantage their powers give them would reduce the value of stolen goods, forcing some non-powered thieves out of the business.

- Some people (generally inspired by comics) would adopt identities and become celebrity criminals: Bonnie & Clyde in spandex. They wouldn't be in it for the money (not that it would hurt), they'd be in it for the notoriety. Basically, they'd try to make their robberies as dramatic and ambitious as possible. They're the ones robbing banks in broad daylight and leaving clues for the police. I think the first ones would get a lot of publicity, but so many imitators would pop up that eventually the public and the media would lose interest in all but the most successful and flamboyant. A new supervillain could rob a bank and leave his calling card -- and the media wouldn't even bother to report his name.

Terrorism:

- Some of the political activists who get superpowers are going to become terrorists. Some of them would try to minimise civilian deaths, perhaps even giving people a chance to evacuate before they destroy something. Others would be more reckless and ruthless, convinced that their mission justifies it. But on the whole this group would try to use their powers as tactically as possible. For them, murder is only ever a means to an end. Some of them would have compelling grievances and the international community would be conflicted over what to do. (Template: Magneto)

- Some crazy religious people who get superpowers would become religious terrorists. Their only objective would be to kill as many enemies as possible, not distinguishing between civilians and combatants. Imagine Al Qaeda with superpowers. Their actions would be used to justify strong laws against "super-crime" and "super-terrorism".

Anyway, I think the starting point for how things would change would have to do with how governments and non-evil supers react to the bad guys -- governments would want to recruit superpowered agents, they'd want to be able to create superpowers, they'd want to track people with superpowers, etc.

[moebius]

Buy and read Abberant, the defunct superhero RPG from White Wolf. It's a pretty good look at a world 10 years after the appearance of the first metas.

A few notes:

-Rapid advances will be made in science and technology if even a few metas are scientists and receive enhanced intelligence.

-A cable network will emerge purely devoted to meta news and entertainment. Former unknowns will become automatic celebreties and will cause a seismic shift in entertainment.

-There are few "costumed crimefighters", but the number of people killed "attempting to stop a crime" raises significantly. Some people commit suicide when they find out they aren't metas, and others die trying to "activate" their powers.

-Govenments will try to pass fuzzy laws to "draft" offensively useful metas, with "useful" broadly defined.

-Assuming the emergence is random, and not tied to some specific environmental factor (like most of the comics audience being American), China and India are close to reaching superpower status and the "Superman" is probably Indian, possibly leading to a nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan, as Pakistan tries to eliminate the Indian advantage before it reaches its full potential.

[Alex]

Something like this
http://k-punk.abstractdynamics.org/archives/apocalypse1.jpg

[heretic]

Something like this (http://k-punk.abstractdynamics.org/archives/apocalypse1.jpg)
Wee bit pessemistic, are we not?

Still, I doubt anyplace could end up pulling a Days of Futures Past and/or Genosha. Too much mobility and too many humans who have superhuman friends or kin, even ignoring the chances of someone objecting violently and being capable of resistance.

Incidentally, the existance of public spirited sorts who would volunteer to oppose the criminal element should NOT be be dismissed out of hand.

HTG

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Accidents- A lot of the new meta-humans showing up would result in accidents . In one shocking accident a meta speedster accidently runs thru a nuclear powerplant unable to stop her top speed in time. Another while flying destroys a plane flight.

Bush is scared and starts laws to try and secure those Meta-Humans in the USA. I could picture him on TV claiming that if any meta-human is seen or observed in the United States he will push they be arrested on sight and failure to do so will see them taken down by force.

Forgein Metas- Those overseas who show talents get on the radar 1st. Many of them are sought out and drafted by countries. Given their hearts desire to use their talents to help be a government's protecter. The ones that Bush has arrested are secretly in Area 51 miles away learning how to use their abilities so the USA can still be a World Power as more emerge.

The Villains- Some emerge who want nothing more than to steal and make money. As they rob and steal news networks dedicate time to showing them. The villains even inpsire kids ala the 1930's and 40's culture.

[Joe Grendel]

Incidentally, the existance of public spirited sorts who would volunteer to oppose the criminal element should be be dismissed out of hand.
It should? The Guardian Angels (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardian_angels) exist, even without superpowers.

[moebius]

Incidentally, the existance of public spirited sorts who would volunteer to oppose the criminal element should be be dismissed out of hand.

HTG

Why? The very existence of comic books means some jackass is going to think great power gives him great repsonsibility. Then he's going to get shot by some muggers. We already have non-powered hereos and vigilantes (the Guardian Angels, but also part-time 'heroes' like Doktor Discord and Mr. Silent), so why wouldn't we have powered ones?

Also, you might get a Savage Dragon or two, directly working for a law enforcement agency.

[mattx110]

the CIA would go "Thank god, we don't have to be so incompetent anymore, get me the invisible man!"

[Joe Grendel]

the CIA would go "Thank god, we don't have to be so incompetent anymore, get me the invisible man!"

Unfortunately, the NSA will be saying the same thing. :eek:

[Fenris]

If telepathy exists, they'll have to pass legislation accounting for it. I wouldn't be surprised if it became a felony to use any kind of mental power on a government employee.

(On the other hand, professional mind-readers could be a real boon to our legal system.)


Crimefighting probably won't be practical unless the hero has very specific powers. After all, the police generally don't reach a crime scene until after the criminal's gotten away; what's needed isn't superstrength, but rather detective skills.

Natural disasters, fires, and other such problems become a lot more survivable. If there are real-world superheros, this is what they'll spend most of their time working on.


Internationally, China and India will have a leg up on just about everybody (though it would be funny if the Superman figure came from, say, Liechtenstein.) There's no telling what the world's governments would make of all this, though.

õ
Think of the reality shows!

[Magneto_X]

Unfortunately, the NSA will be saying the same thing. :eek:

The NSA is like a Bond villain organisation already with DARPA. Giving them people with actual super-powers makes them 100x more frightening!

[mattx110]

Unfortunately, the NSA will be saying the same thing. :eek:

you win the thread.

[Pinnacle]

If telepathy exists, they'll have to pass legislation accounting for it. I wouldn't be surprised if it became a felony to use any kind of mental power on a government employee.

(On the other hand, professional mind-readers could be a real boon to our legal system.)


Crimefighting probably won't be practical unless the hero has very specific powers. After all, the police generally don't reach a crime scene until after the criminal's gotten away; what's needed isn't superstrength, but rather detective skills.

Natural disasters, fires, and other such problems become a lot more survivable. If there are real-world superheros, this is what they'll spend most of their time working on.


Internationally, China and India will have a leg up on just about everybody (though it would be funny if the Superman figure came from, say, Liechtenstein.) There's no telling what the world's governments would make of all this, though.

õ
Think of the reality shows!

The Liechtenstein scenario would not only be funny but it could greatly effect world power. You know that some countries are going to get more or less of their apporpriate share (not as much as the United States in DC or Marvel) but still unequal. Also, ambition, personality, and personal beliefs and values of the most powerful would also greatly affect the world's future. There would also be a great debate as to whether these powers were hereditary or not.

[Fenris]

The Liechtenstein scenario would not only be funny but it could greatly effect world power. You know that some countries are going to get more or less of their apporpriate share (not as much as the United States in DC or Marvel) but still unequal.

Right. Aside from numbers, there's the question of which powers would actually matter on an international level.

I mean, yes, Superman would be nice to have around during a war; but for day-to-day peacetime affairs, someone like Professor X or Destiny might have a much greater impact.

Superman's powers are extreme versions of physical acts that we can already perform, one way or the other. But to have telepathy, or the ability to reliably tell the future? Either of these would give weird, unprecedented advantages to the country that had them.

Assuming, of course, that the superhuman in question had any interest in going along with it.

Also, ambition, personality, and personal beliefs and values of the most powerful would also greatly affect the world's future. There would also be a great debate as to whether these powers were hereditary or not.

This is Year Two, right? If it's one-in-a-million, then there would be about six thousand superhumans. Surely a few of them were pregnant when it started, or got pregnant shortly thereafter.

And I agree: the babies would be the focus of very intense attention.


õ
Unless theyhid them, like in Smallville!