To some, comics are child's play--a simple form of entertainment directed toward kids. Comics are far more complex and intricate than that, requiring time, editing, and patience. Every story needs a protagonist and the comic has its superhero. This guide is not on draw comic book heroes but rather build them. Although if you are granted with artistic skills it never hurts to also sketch your hero out as you come up with ideas.
Instructions
1. Think on what kind of story you are trying to do. While generally comics fall into the traditional DC or Marvel line of genres there are different subcategories to choose from. Is your hero a detective? A space explorer? Maybe even the price of the Rock People who have lived underground for thousands of years. What does your hero looks like? Is it male or female? Think about their costume, mask, expression, etc. Costumes can range from very little (like the Fantastic 4) to fully clothed (Spider-Man). What does your hero look like without his costume?
2. The fun part is the powers or weapons. Once again this is dependent on the character's origin. If the hero is simply a vigilante police officer, then an arsenal of guns and explosives might just suit him well. If its a planet-hopping space explorer then eye-lasers are justifiable. Also, think about the "power-level" you're trying to achieve. Do you want an all powerful "god," or just a kid with a costume and some cool powers? One thing to stress is that the comic-book world is saturated in heroes so its key to be original to an extent. A billionaire with a electronic and highly advanced suit of armor has been done, so why not put an unique spin on it. Of course, it is nearly impossible to be completely original in comics these days, and when writers try, it's either hit or miss.
3. Is your character a nice guy, trying to help whoever is in need or is he grouchy loner with a heart of gold? You hero's personality is an extremely important and often overlooked aspect to creating a complete character. Sure, Batman looks cool and has awesome gadgets but his dark, nearly psychopathic vigilantism is what makes him such an alluring character. Spider-Man has entertained fans for decades with not only his powers but his quick witted banter also.
4. Related to above but deserving of its own step is one of the most vital aspects to making a likable protagonist (in all of fiction), vulnerability. This can translate in comics to "weaknesses". While some heroes have very tangible weakness, like kryptonite to Superman, others are not so much a "weakness" but rather a short-coming or mental block. Often times these come hand in hand with the hero's origin. Take the above examples of Spider-Man and Batman for example. Both have similar origin stories: their parent figures are brutally murdered. In both of these heroes, their childhood tragedy drives them and has built a code of ethics in them that dictates their choices in life. Also a thing to note is although they have very similar back story they eventually end up two very different heroes. A physical short-coming can also be effective in making the hero seem "real." A great example of this is early Iron Man, when Tony Stark needed to wear the suit to prevent shrapnel from killing him.
5. Put it all together. Visualize what your character looks like, how he or she interacts with their surroundings and what drives them internally. Now create a story around them.
