Not-So-Super-Guy
Not-So-Super-Guy
It's a bird. No! It's a plane. No! It's just Steve, the homeless man...
It's a bird. No! It's a plane. No! It's just Steve, the homeless man...
Not all superheroes are created equal. Some rise to greatness, but others? They barely rise at all. Your task is to write a screenplay featuring a superhero who is, by all accounts, terrible at their job. Maybe their superpower is useless, their motivation is completely misguided, or their heroic efforts cause more harm than good. Whether they mean well or are just in it for the wrong reasons, one thing is certain—this is not the hero anyone asked for.
Set the Scene – Introduce your “hero” in action (or failing to act). Show their powers (or lack thereof) in a way that immediately tells the audience why they’re not cut out for this.
Character Development – What drives this hero to keep going despite their incompetence? Do they even realize they’re terrible?
Conflict – Superheroes fight crime, but what kind of trouble does this one get into? Do they actually stop a villain, or do they just make things worse?
Dialogue & Humor – Let the screenplay lean into satire or parody. Keep the dialogue sharp, witty, and revealing of your character’s flaws.
A Climax Worthy of a Superhero – How does their biggest moment play out? Is it a triumph, a disaster, or something in between?
What makes this hero “bad”? Is it their power, their personality, or something deeper?
How do others react to them? Do they have fans, enemies, or just confused bystanders?
Do they ever experience a moment of self-awareness, or do they fully believe they’re great?
How does their journey end? Do they get better, or does the world just learn to deal with them?
One Punch Man (Anime/Manga) – A satire of superhero tropes, following a hero who defeats enemies instantly but is completely unfulfilled.
Mystery Men (1999, Film) – A group of superheroes with bizarre, mostly useless powers try to save the day.
The Tick (Comics/TV Show) – A well-meaning but oblivious superhero with incredible strength and little common sense.
Hancock (2008, Film) – A powerful superhero who is reckless, irresponsible, and deeply flawed.
The Flaming C (Conan O’Brien, Parody) – A satirical superhero concept with absurd powers like a hot plate in his chest and a jai alai glove.